Underwater retrieval game method employing a submersible target

Abstract

An underwater retrieval game system employs a submersible target having a combination of features that make it difficult to locate underwater. The body portion of the submersible target is translucent and has a density greater than water. The target may be tossed in a swimming pool and sink to the bottom. A game player may jump into the water and try to locate the target. A combination of additional features such as size, shape, and surface texture may make it more difficult to spot the target underwater. A submersible target may comprise a detection device, such as a small light, that is activated after a certain period of time or is activated remotely by a wireless signal. A game player may be challenged to find the targets before the detection device is activated, for example.

Claims

1. A submersible target retrieval game method comprising: a) providing a submersible target comprising: i) a body portion that is substantially transparent in water being made of a material having an index of refraction of no more than 1.5 and no less than 1.2; wherein the submersible target has a density of 1.0 g/cc or more; wherein the body portion is a polymeric material; b) placing the submersible target in water contained within a pool; c) allowing the submersible target to sink in said water to a bottom of the pool; and d) swimming in said pool and locating the submersible target and retrieving the submersible target; and wherein the submersible target has a top and side surfaces when resting on a bottom of a pool and wherein said top and side surfaces are discontinuous outer surfaces having no continuous surface area greater than 5 cm2 with a surface roughness of less than 0.35 μm Ra; wherein the body portion has a substantially discontinuous perimeter having no linear segments or continuous curve segment of more than about 10 cm in length; and wherein the discontinuous perimeter comprises edges between surfaces and wherein the edges are substantially discontinuous edges having no linear segments or continuous curve segment of more than about 10 cm in length; whereby the discontinuous outer surfaces, the substantially discontinuous perimeter with substantially discontinuous edges produce an irregular shadow on said bottom of said pool when the submersible target is resting on said bottom of said pool to make said submersible target difficult to locate.

2. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, wherein the submersible target consists of a polymeric material.

3. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, wherein the body portion is an elastomeric material.

4. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, wherein the submersible target consists of an elastomeric material.

5. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, wherein the body portion has a density greater than 1.0 g/cc to cause the target to sink in said water.

6. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, wherein the submersible target further comprises a sinker having a density greater than 1.2 g/cm.sup.3 and an index of refraction of no more than 1.5 and no less than 1.2.

7. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 6, wherein the sinker comprises glass.

8. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 6, wherein the sinker is no more than 25% of the submersible target by volume.

9. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 8, wherein the body portion consists of a polymeric material.

10. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a plurality of protrusions extending from the body portion.

11. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of protrusions are fins that extends outward from the body portion.

12. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 11, wherein the body portion is cylindrical in shape.

13. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, wherein the submersible target further comprises a light detection device.

14. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 13, wherein the submersible target comprises a controller and a timer, and wherein the detection device is automatically activated after a period of time determined by the timer.

15. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 1, further comprising a covering layer configured around the body portion and having a thickness of 2 mm and a refractive index between 1.08 to 1.58.

16. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 15, wherein the body portion comprises a hydrogel.

17. The submersible target retrieval game method of claim 15, wherein the body portion comprises deuterium oxide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary submersible target having a discontinuous body portion, a sinker, a light detection device and a wireless receiver.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the exemplary submersible target shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of a child game player retrieving a submersible target from the bottom surface of a pool.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of a game activator on the deck of the pool activating a light detection device to help the child game player find the submersible target.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary submersible target having a discontinuous body portion, a sinker, a light detection device and a wireless receiver.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a top view of the exemplary submersible target shown in FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side cross-sectional view of the submersible target shown in FIG. 5.

(9) Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Some of the figures may not show all of the features and components of the invention for ease of illustration, but it is to be understood that where possible, features and components from one figure may be included in the other figures. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

(10) As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

(11) Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary underwater retrieval game system 10, includes a submersible target 40 that has a body portion 41 with a discontinuous outer surface 50 comprises of a plurality of protrusions 52, such as fins 54 as shown. The discontinuous outer surface may make is more difficult for a game player to locate the submersible target, as described herein. Also, the discontinuous outer surface 50 may be effectively rough, wherein there is no smooth surface over an area of 5 cm.sup.2 or more, as defined herein. Also, the body portion and protrusions, such as fins, may be made out of a material that has an index of refraction that is substantially the same as water, or no more than about 1.5 and no less than about 1.2. The body portion and/or the protrusions may be an elastomeric material that is translucent and may have an effective density cause the submersible target to sink in water. The body portion has a height 43 from the bottom 44 to the top 42 and a width 45 of the widest part of the body portion extending orthogonally from the height. Note that a width may be a diameter of the body portion.

(13) The exemplary submersible target also has a sinker 60, that may be configured within the body portion to aid in sinking the submersible target to the bottom surface of a pool. A sinker may have a density greater than 1.0 g/cc to that will cause the submersible target to sink in water. As described herein the sinker may be made out of material that has an index of refraction that is substantially the same as water, or no more than about 1.5 and no less than about 1.2, such as glass. Also, the sinker may be effectively transparent. As shown, the sinker may be configured proximal to the bottom 44 of the body portion 41 of the submersible target 40. The location of the sinker may be configured to cause the submersible target to sink and rest on the bottom 38 of the pool 30, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(14) The exemplary submersible target has a detection device 65, such as a light 67. The light may be very small, such as a LED light, to prevent easy detection of the submersible target when underwater. The light may be configured to turn on after a period of time after submersion in water which may be determined by the timer 74. A controller 70 may activate the light to turn on after a set time from submersion, as detected by the submersion detector 78. Alternatively, the timer may be activated by an activation button 79. A user may activate the time and toss the submersible target into the pool and the light will automatically turn after the set time has expired. A small battery 72, such as a button battery, may be used to power the controller, detection device and the like.

(15) As exemplary submersible target may be configured with a wireless signal receiver 76, wherein the detection device 65, such as the light 67, may be activated by remote electronic device 80, such as a mobile phone 82. The remote electronic device 80 may send a wireless signal 86 from a transmitter 84 that activates the detection device to turn on. The controller 70 may control the functions of the detection device and may include a microprocessor.

(16) Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the exemplary submersible target is shown without all the references as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or FIGS. 5-7. As shown in FIG. 3, a game player 20, a child, is diving down into the water 34 of a pool 30 to retrieve the submersible target 40. The target is below the water level 32 and is resting on the bottom 38 or bottom surface of the pool. A parent or game activator 22 is standing on the deck 36 of the pool. The parent has a remote electronic device 80, such as a mobile phone 82 that may activate a game detection device.

(17) As shown in FIG. 4, the game activator 22 has activated the detection device, the light 67 to come on. The game activator 22 interfaced with the remote electronic device 80 to produce a wireless signal 86 that is recognized by the controller when received by the receiver. The child is swimming away from the submersible target and therefore the game activator as activated the detection device to make it easier to locate.

(18) Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, the exemplary submersible target 40 has a discontinuous outer surface, wherein the discontinuous outer surfaces 50 are not planar or a continuous curved surface. Rather, the surfaces are undulating or wavy having a plurality of protrusions 52 that project a shadow that is also wavy and discontinuous, thereby making the submersible target very difficult to find when submersed in a pool. The discontinuous outer surface may have no area greater then 5 cm.sup.2 that is planar or follows a smooth curve. The coin shaped submersible target forms a perimeter that is also a substantially discontinuous perimeter 56, wherein when viewed from any angle, the perimeter is substantially non-linear or follows a continuous curve. As shown, the perimeter is undulating and irregular, whereby the undulations are not regular. Also, the edges, or the area between surfaces, such as the top surface 42 and the side surfaces 46, are substantially discontinuous edges 58, whereby they are non-linear or follow a continuous curve. Again, the edges are undulating and irregular, whereby the undulations along the edges are not regular in pattern. Again, the shadows produced by this submersible target would make the target very difficult to find when submersed in a pool.

(19) The exemplary coin shaped submersible target has a cover layer 90 that may be made out of a different material that a material contained within the cover layer. As described herein the cover layer may be thin, such as less than 2 mm and may have an index of refraction that is substantially the same as water. The cover layer and an interior material may have indexes of refraction that are different, by as much as about 0.1 more, about or 0.2, about 0.3 or more, or even about 0.4 or more. This difference in index of refraction may distort the light passing through the submersible target, making it difficult to identify or locate when submersed in a pool.

(20) The exemplary coin shaped submersible target has a detection device 65, such as a light 67. The light may be very small, such as a LED light, to prevent easy detection of the submersible target when underwater. The light may be configured to turn on after a period of time after submersion in water which may be determined by the timer 74. A controller 70, such as a microprocessor, may activate the light to turn on after a set time from submersion, as detected by the submersion detector 78. Alternatively, the timer may be activated by an activation button 79. A user may activate the time and toss the submersible target into the pool and the light will automatically turn after the set time has expired.

(21) As exemplary submersible target may be configured with a wireless signal receiver 76, wherein the detection device 65, such as the light 67, may be activated by remote electronic device 80, such as a mobile phone 82. The remote electronic device 80 may send a wireless signal 86 from a transmitter 84 that activates the detection device to turn on. The controller 70 may control the functions of the detection device and may include a microprocessor.

(22) It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.