# US 6,293,841 B1 · Foldable under water viewing window > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,293,841 B1 - Document ID: US6293841B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/537,383 - Filed: 2000-03-29 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2000-03-29 - Inventors: Steven Safilian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293841B1 ## CPC - B63C 11/49: Floating structures with underwater viewing devices, e.g. with windows {; Arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices, e.g. on boats (arrangement of visual equipment on submarines B63G8/38)} - B63C 11/48: Means for searching for underwater objects (means for indicating the location of sunken objects B63C7/26; locating by use of the reflection or reradiation of radio or other waves G01S {; mountings of acoustic transducers in underwater equipment G10K11/006}) - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) ## Abstract A floating window for viewing underwater life, which has an unfolded viewing configuration and a folded storage configuration for transport and/or storage. Floating end walls are attached to a central viewing window and have sufficient buoyancy to prevent the device from sinking beneath the surface. The central window is secured on either end to a floating end wall. The central window is flexible and curve upward on the edges extending between the floating end walls such that a cavity is formed with a central viewing area. The central window is attached to the floating end walls such that the central viewing area is held below the surface of the water and the edges of the central window extend above the surface of the water to prevent water from spilling onto the top surface of the central viewing area. The central window is secured to slots on the inside surface of each floating end wall by a pressure fit. In the storage configuration, the floating end walls are removed from the central window, placed adjacent one another, and secured together by wrapping the flexible central window around the floating end walls and securing it with an elastic strap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foldable underwater viewing window, comprising: a central viewing window; at least one floating outer wall; the central viewing window secured to the floating outer wall such that a water tight seal is made between the central viewing window and the floating outer wall; and the central viewing window further having a transparent central viewing area that extends below the surface of water such that light refraction from the surface of the water is eliminated; whereby the aquatic environment underneath the surface of the water can be clearly viewed without interference from light refraction on the surface of the water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 1, wherein the central viewing window is flexible. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 2, wherein: the central viewing window is detachably attached to the floating end wall; and means to secure the central viewing window to the floating end wall when the central viewing window is detached from the floating end wall such that the central viewing window and the floating end wall are secured in a storage configuration; whereby the foldable underwater viewing window has an unfolded viewing configuration and a foldable storage configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 3, wherein the weight of the foldable underwater viewing window is selected such that the foldable underwater viewing window is sufficiently buoyant to float on the surface of water and sufficiently heavy that the viewing window is below the surface of the water when the foldable underwater viewing window is floating on the surface of the water. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 4, further comprising: a slot in the floating end wall, the slot sized such that when the central viewing window is inserted into it the central viewing window is secured to the floating end wall with a pressure fit that is sufficiently tight to substantially prevent water from leaking onto the upper surface of the central viewing window. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 1, wherein the central viewing window is secured to two floating end walls, each end wall attached to an opposing side of the central viewing window. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 6, wherein: the central viewing window is flexible; the central viewing window is flex to such that when attached to the two floating end walls, a central viewing area is formed and two upwardly projecting side walls are formed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 7, wherein the weight of the foldable underwater viewing window is selected such that the foldable underwater viewing window is sufficiently buoyant to float on the surface of water and sufficiently heavy that the viewing window is below the surface of the water when the foldable underwater viewing window is floating on the surface of the water. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 8, wherein: the central viewing window is detachably attached to the floating end wall; and means to secure the central viewing window to the floating end wall when the central viewing window is detached from the floating end wall such that the central viewing window and the floating end wall are secured in a storage configuration; whereby the foldable underwater viewing window has an unfolded viewing configuration and a foldable storage configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A foldable underwater viewing window, as in claim 9, further comprising: a slot in the floating end wall, the slot sized such that when the central viewing window is inserted into it the central viewing window is secured to the floating end wall with a pressure fit that is sufficiently tight to substantially prevent water from leaking onto the upper surface of the central viewing window. ### Claim 11 A method of viewing underwater environments with a floating surface window, including the steps of: attaching a central viewing window to at least one floating outer wall; securing the central viewing window to the floating outer wall such that a water tight seal is made between the central viewing window and the floating outer wall; positioning the central viewing window below the surface of water such that light refraction from the surface of the water is eliminated; and using a flexible transparent panel for the central viewing window; whereby the aquatic environment underneath the surface of the water can be clearly viewed without interference from light refraction on the surface of the water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method, as in claim 11, including the additional steps of: detachably attaching the central viewing window to the floating end wall; and securing the central viewing window to the floating end wall when the central viewing window is detached from the floating end wall such that the central viewing window and the floating end wall are secured in a storage configuration; whereby the foldable underwater viewing window has an unfolded viewing configuration and a foldable storage configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method, as in claim 12, including the additional step of selecting the weight of the foldable underwater viewing window such that the foldable underwater viewing window is sufficiently buoyant to float on the surface of water and sufficiently heavy that the viewing window is below the surface of the water when the foldable underwater viewing window is floating on the surface of the water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method, as in claim 13, including the additional step of forming a slot in the floating end wall, the slot sized such that when the central viewing window is inserted into it the central viewing window is secured to the floating end wall with a pressure fit that is sufficiently tight to substantially prevent water from leaking onto the upper surface of the central viewing window. ### Claim 15 A method of viewing underwater environments with a floating surface window, including the steps of: using two floating end walls; attaching a central viewing window to the two floating end walls such that the two floating end walls are attached to opposing sides of the central viewing window; securing the central viewing window to the floating end walls such that a water tight seal is made between the central viewing window and the floating end walls; and positioning the central viewing window below the surface of water such that light refraction from the surface of the water is eliminated; whereby the aquatic environment underneath the surface of the water can be clearly viewed without interference from light refraction on the surface of the water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method, as in claim 15, including the additional steps of: forming the central viewing window with a flexible transparent panel; and attaching the two floating end walls to the central viewing window such that a central viewing area is formed and two upwardly projecting side walls are formed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method, as in claim 16, including the additional step of selecting the weight of the foldable underwater viewing window such that the foldable underwater viewing window is sufficiently buoyant to float on the surface of water and sufficiently heavy that the viewing window is held below the surface of the water when the foldable underwater viewing window is floating on the surface of the water. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method, as in claim 17, including the additional steps of: detachably attaching the central viewing window to the floating end wall; and securing the central viewing window to the floating end wall when the central viewing window is detached from the floating end wall such that the central viewing window and the floating end wall are secured in a storage configuration; whereby the foldable underwater viewing window has an unfolded viewing configuration and a foldable storage configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method of, as in claim 18, including the additional step of forming a slot in the floating end wall the slot sized such that when the central viewing window is inserted into it, the central viewing window is secured to the floating end wall with a pressure fit that is sufficiently tight to substantially prevent water from leaking onto the upper surface of the central viewing window.