US 12,473,054 B2
Submersible buoy
Dave Cotton, Gaspé (CA); and Jacques Dufresne, Gaspé (CA)
Assigned to OCEAN-CAM INC., Gaspé (CA)
Appl. No. 18/022,391
Filed by OCEAN-CAM INC., Gaspé (CA)
PCT Filed May 26, 2022, PCT No. PCT/CA2022/050845
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 21, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/246563, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 1, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/194,363, filed on May 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0109622 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B63B 22/06 (2006.01); B63B 22/18 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 22/06 (2013.01) [B63B 22/18 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A submersible buoy adapted to be attached to a submersible object via a line, the submersible buoy comprising:
a central body having a first end and a second end axially spaced apart along a central axis extending between the first end and the second end, the central body adapted to have the line wound therearound;
a first floater unit connected to the first end of the central body and having a first buoyancy;
a second floater unit connected to the second end of the central body and having a second buoyancy, the second buoyancy being of a value relative to the first buoyancy such that a total buoyancy force exerted on the submersible buoy, at equilibrium when submerged, is substantially perpendicular to the central axis; and
a line release mechanism including a line retention device operable between a closed position and a released position, the line retention device in the closed position retaining the line to prevent unwinding of the line, the line retention device in the released position releasing the line to allow the line to unwind, the line release mechanism being operatively linked to a controller unit, the controller unit controllable remotely for remote actuation of the line release mechanism from the closed position to the released position.