Disposable variable depth anchor cable pack

Abstract

A low cost, disposable cable pack for small buoy anchors providing a simple, standardized means to mechanically adjust for proper depth. The cable pack is comprised of two concentric hollow cylinders and a perpendicular plate. Depth settings are controlled by inserting or removing retaining pins that release predetermined lengths of anchor cable wound inside the anchor pack that pay out during anchor descent. The cable pack also has a time release Buoy securing device to keep the buoy submerged and out of the way of traffic until needed as well as a method to create a water soluble species of the cable pack.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an outer covering;    an inner cylinder placed inside said outer covering, said inner cylinder being hollow having an open top end and an open bottom end and having a diameter such as to allow a space to exist between the inner surface of the outer covering;    a cable, said cable running longitudinally through the center of the inner cylinder having a first distal end and a second distal end and wound around the outside surface of said inner cylinder;    a set of pins; and,    a set of holes set into the side of the said outer cover and directly opposing a set of holes set into the side of said inner cylinder, the said holes accepting and allowing to pass the said set of pins through the outer cover and inner cylinder.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first attachment means connected to the first distal end, wherein the first attachment means secures a buoy to the cable;    a second attachment means connected to the second distal end, the second attachment means securing the cable to a weight;    a supporting member connecting the outer cover to the inner cylinder; and    one or more attachment points connected to the cable.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a buoy securing device, wherein the buoy securing device temporarily attaches a buoy to the apparatus while submerged, wherein further the buoy securing device releases the buoy during a predetermined time frame.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the buoy securing device is constructed from a water soluble material.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein one or more of the inner cylinder, outer cover, cable, pins, securing member, attachment points, first attachment means, second attachment means and weight are constructed at least partially of water soluble materials.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the weight is a container further comprising a closure means, a weight attachment means and a container shell containing a quantity of naturally occurring substances wherein the closure means secures the natural substances inside the container shell and the weight attachment means attaches the weight to the second attachment means.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an outer cover;    an inner structure placed inside said outer covering;    a cable wound around the outside surface of said inner structure;    a set of pins; and,    a set of holes set into the side of the said outer cover and directly opposing set of holes set into the side of said inner cylinder, the said holes accepting and allowing to pass the said set of pins through the outer cover and inner cylinder, securing the outer cover and the cable to the inner cylinder.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the outer cover, inner structure, cable and set of pins is one of formed, molded and extruded from at least one of a water soluble and biodegradeable material.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the water soluble material is a blended polymer compound based on one of cellulose gum, carboxy methyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyaspartic acid, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, propyl cellulose, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyalkylene oxides.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the blended polymer retains its mechanical integrity for a predetermined time frame while dissolving slowly in water at a temperature below at least 37° C.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the blended polymer is rapidly hot water soluble and slightly coldwater soluble.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the closure means, the weight attachment means and the container shell is rapidly hot water soluble and slightly coldwater soluble.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the closure means, the weight attachment means and the container shell comprises a laminate of at least two layers of a water soluble polymer.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein one of the outer covering, inner structure and pins are constructed of a plurality of laminations of at least to different water soluble materials.  
   
   
       15 . A method to control the mechanical integrity of a water soluble apparatus while submerged comprising: 
 selecting one or more water soluble materials based on their initial mechanical integrity and water solubility characteristics;    determining an arrangement of one or more layers of the water soluble material that will provide a desired level of mechanical integrity and a desired dissolution speed    binding the one or more layers of each selected water soluble material together by one of lamination process and a coating process to produce an integrated water soluble feedstock; and,    from the integrated water soluble feedstock, manufacturing a desired article by one of a extrusion process and a molding process.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  including inserting a mesh between any of two layers of water soluble material.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  including inserting a mesh within a layer of water soluble material.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the cable is constructed from Solvron™.