# US 4,099,281 A · Navigational buoy

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- Number: US 4,099,281 A
- Document ID: US4099281A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 05/730,670
- Filed: 1976-10-07
- Granted: 1978-07-11
- Earliest claimed: 1976-10-07
- Assignees: Hydra Corporation
- Inventors: Wallace W. Bowley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4099281A

## CPC

- B63B 22/16: specially adapted for marking a navigational route (signalling or lighting devices B63B45/00)
- B63B 51/02: with anchored lightships; by use of lighthouses
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

A navigational buoy is provided having a buoy and an inflatable anchor. The buoy and anchor are connected by a hollow stem that is itself flexible or is rigid and is connected to the anchor by a flexible elastomeric bearing. The stem is adapted to provide fluid communication with the anchor so that the anchor can be inflated after being positioned below the sea bottom. The flexibility of the stem is regulated by the materials used to form the stem, solid or liquid fillers in the stem and pneumatic pressure in the stem.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A navigational buoy which comprises an inflatable buoy and an inflatable anchor connected by a stem comprising a hollow member adapted to provide fluid communication with the interior of said anchor and said buoy, said stem having sufficient mechanical strength to support said buoy and means for rendering said stem sufficiently flexible to withstand time-varying loads exerted by wind and water, said means comprising a flexible material for forming said stem.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The navigational buoy of claim 1 wherein the anchor and at least a portion of the stem are filled with a liquid or solid filler.