Back to results
US 6,926,577 B2Granted
Underwater device and method of play
OwnerEdwin Thorne, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for recreational and educational use includes a substantially cylindrical section having a first end, and a second end. A cavity is disposed within the substantially cylindrical section to receive fluid when the device is immersed in a body of fluid. The substantially cylindrical section decreases in radius toward the first end and present a low drag profile to impinging fluid flow. Control surfaces are included on the substantially cylindrical section. A stabilizer is coupled with the substantially cylindrical section, to stabilize motion of the device in the body of fluid when the device is launched by a user. The device can be hand-launched by a user. Energy storage assisted launch mechanisms are also described that assist the user during submarine launch of the device.
Claims35
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical section having a first end, a second end, and a cavity disposed therein to receive fluid, wherein the substantially cylindrical section decreases in radius toward the first end, the substantially cylindrical section further including control surfaces disposed thereon;
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical section, to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user;
- an elastic membrane attached to the substantially cylindrical section dividing the cavity into a forward portion and an aft portion;
- a fluid intake port to allow fluid to enter the forward portion;
- and
- a launch member coupled with the elastic membrane, the launch member extending through a hole in the first end wherein the launch member terminates into a means for gripping, such that when the user is to pull the means for gripping to elongate the elastic membrane, the forward portion of the cavity is to shrink and the aft portion of the cavity is to expand and fluid is to be expelled from the second end while more fluid is to fill the forward portion through the fluid intake port, and the apparatus is to be propelled through the body of fluid.
3 more elements
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the launch member is to elongate under load to store energy.
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical section having a first end, a second end, and a cavity disposed therein to receive fluid, wherein the substantially cylindrical section decreases in radius toward the first end, the substantially cylindrical section further including control surfaces disposed thereon;
- and
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical section, to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user, wherein the stabilizer is in the shape of a tentacle.
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical section having a first end, a second end, and a cavity disposed therein to receive fluid, wherein the substantially cylindrical section decreases in radius toward the first end, the substantially cylindrical section further including control surfaces disposed thereon;
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical section, to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user;
- and
- an aft member having a forward end and a rear end wherein the forward end is coupled with the second end and the rear end is coupled with an aft body.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical section having a first end, a second end, and a cavity disposed therein to receive fluid, wherein the substantially cylindrical section decreases in radius toward the first end, the substantially cylindrical section further including control surfaces disposed thereon;
- and
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical section, to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user, wherein the stabilizer has a length and a cross sectional area, wherein the cross sectional area decreases as a function of the length.
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical section having a first end, a second end, and a cavity disposed therein to receive fluid, wherein the substantially cylindrical section decreases in radius toward the first end, the substantially cylindrical section further including control surfaces disposed thereon;
- and
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical section, to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user, wherein the stabilizer is releasably coupled with the substantially cylindrical section and the cavity is sealed by the stabilizer.
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical head having a first end, a second end, and a wall thickness defining a cavity therein to receive a fluid, wherein the substantially cylindrical head decreases in radius toward the first end, the substantially cylindrical head further including control surfaces disposed thereon;
- a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an internal void continuously extending along the longitudinal axis, the substantially cylindrical body coupled with the second end of the substantially cylindrical head;
- and
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical body to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical head having a first end and a second end, wherein the substantially cylindrical head decreases in outer radius toward the first end, and the substantially cylindrical head having a cavity disposed therein to receive a fluid, the cavity opening at the second end;
- a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an internal void continuously extending along the longitudinal axis, the substantially cylindrical body coupled with the second end;
- and
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical body to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user, wherein the stabilizer is in the shape of a tentacle.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical head having a first end and a second end, wherein the substantially cylindrical head decreases in outer radius toward the first end, and the substantially cylindrical head having a cavity disposed therein to receive a fluid, the cavity opening at the second end;
- a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an internal void continuously extending along the longitudinal axis, the substantially cylindrical body coupled with the second end;
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical body to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user;
- and
- an aft member having a forward end and a rear end wherein the forward end is coupled with the second end and the rear end is coupled with an aft body.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical head having a first end and a second end, wherein the substantially cylindrical head decreases in outer radius toward the first end, and the substantially cylindrical head having a cavity disposed therein to receive a fluid, the cavity opening at the second end;
- a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an internal void continuously extending along the longitudinal axis, the substantially cylindrical body coupled with the second end;
- and
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical body to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user;
- wherein the stabilizer has a length and a cross sectional area, wherein the cross sectional area decreases as a function of the length.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical head having a first end and a second end, wherein the substantially cylindrical head decreases in outer radius toward the first end, and the substantially cylindrical head having a cavity disposed therein to receive a fluid, the cavity opening at the second end;
- a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an internal void continuously extending along the longitudinal axis, the substantially cylindrical body coupled with the second end;
- and
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical body to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user, wherein the stabilizer is releasably coupled with the substantially cylindrical body and the internal void is sealed by the stabilizer.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical head having a first end and a second end, wherein the substantially cylindrical head decreases in outer radius toward the first end, and the substantially cylindrical head having a cavity disposed therein to receive a fluid, the cavity opening at the second end;
- a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an internal void continuously extending along the longitudinal axis, the substantially cylindrical body coupled with the second end;
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical body to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user;
- and
- means for sealing the internal void.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical head having a first end and a second end, wherein the substantially cylindrical head decreases in outer radius toward the first end, and the substantially cylindrical head having a cavity disposed therein to receive a fluid, the cavity opening at the second end;
- a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an internal void continuously extending along the longitudinal axis, the substantially cylindrical body coupled with the second end;
- a stabilizer coupled with the substantially cylindrical body to stabilize motion of the apparatus in a body of fluid when the apparatus is to be launched by a user;
- and
- an internal void plug to seal the internal void from the body of fluid.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.