Marker buoy
OwnerRonald Eckardtinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A marker buoy is provided for use with a flexible line tied to a weighted sinker. The buoy includes a watertight, transparent dome assembly with an interior light source positioned therein. The dome assembly resides on a buoyant housing with a bottom aperture and line guide for receiving and guiding a flexible line for winding on a reel assembly positioned within the housing. The reel assembly utilizes a spiral coil spring that is wound as the line unwinds from the spool and acts to return excess line to the spool as the sinker attached to the line comes to rest on its intended submerged surface. In one embodiment a reduction gear is provided to increase the number of spool turns available before the spring winds completely.
Claims25
A marker buoy for winding and rewinding a flexible line attachable to an underwater object such as an anchor, comprising:
- a buoyant housing, the housing having a flotation ring and a bottom, the housing bottom having an opening;
- a reel assembly within the housing having:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end, the shaft first end protruding through the housing;
- a handle attached to the shaft first end for rotating the shaft;
- a spool joined to the shaft second end for rotation as the shaft rotates, the spool being adapted for winding and unwinding the flexible line thereon, the line entering the housing through the housing bottom opening;
- and
- a coil spring having a first end and a second end, the coil spring first end being fixedly attached to the housing, the coil spring second end being attached to the spool such that the coil spring is wound when the line is being unwound, and released when the line is being wound back on to the spool.
A marker buoy for winding and rewinding a flexible line attachable to an underwater object such as an anchor, comprising:
- a buoyant housing, the housing having a bottom, the housing bottom having an opening;
- a reel assembly within the housing having:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end, the shaft first end protruding through the housing;
- a handle attached to the shaft first end for rotating the shaft;
- a spool joined to the shaft second end for rotation as the shaft rotates, the spool being adapted for winding and unwinding a flexible line thereon, the line entering the housing through the housing bottom opening;
- a first gear and a second gear, the second gear being larger than the first, the first gear being positioned on the spool such that the first gear rotates as the shaft is rotated, the second gear being positioned for rotation by the first gear;
- and
- a coil spring having a first end and a second end, the coil spring first end being fixedly attached to the housing, the coil spring second end being attached to the second gear such that the coil spring is wound when the line is being unwound, and released when the line is being wound back on to the spool.
A marker buoy, comprising:
- a buoyant housing, the housing having a bottom, the housing bottom having an opening;
- a flexible line;
- a weighted member attached to the flexible line;
- a reel assembly within the housing having:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end, the shaft first end protruding through the housing;
- a handle attached to the shaft first end for rotating the shaft;
- a spool joined to the shaft second end for rotation as the shaft rotates, the spool being adapted for winding and unwinding the flexible line thereon, the line entering the housing through the housing bottom opening;
- a first gear and a second gear, the second gear being larger than the first, the first gear being positioned on the spool such that the first gear rotates as the shaft is rotated, the second gear being positioned for rotation by the first gear;
- and
- a coil spring having a first end and a second end, the coil spring first end being attached to the housing, the coil spring second end being fixedly attached to the spool such that the coil spring is wound when the line is being unwound, and released when the line is being wound back on to the spool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.