Partially flooding spar buoy

Abstract

A partially flooding buoy includes a buoy body having a substantially cylindrical shape defining a cavity therein and a mooring mechanism attached to the buoy body to allow the buoy to be moored. The partially flooding buoy can be partially flooded with water after the buoy is deployed. The cavity is adapted to accommodate ballast therein. The buoy also includes at least one handle to allow more convenient handling of the buoy, wherein the handle is an opening formed within the buoy body.

1 . A buoy comprising:
 a buoy body defining a cavity therein, said buoy body having two ends with each end having an opening; and   a mooring mechanism attached to the buoy body to allow the buoy to be moored;   wherein the cavity can be flooded with water after the buoy is deployed.   
   
   
       2 . The buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the cavity is a substantially cylindrical opening passing through the buoy body. 
   
   
       3 . The buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the cavity is adapted to accommodate ballast therein. 
   
   
       4 . The buoy body according to  claim 1  wherein the buoy includes at least one flooding opening to allow water to pass therethrough into the cavity. 
   
   
       5 . The buoy according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one flooding opening is formed within the buoy body. 
   
   
       6 . The buoy according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one flooding opening is formed within a lower portion of the buoy body to be submerged under water. 
   
   
       7 . The buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the mooring mechanism comprises a plate attached to the buoy body and mooring means for allowing the buoy to be attached to the mooring. 
   
   
       8 . The buoy according to  claim 7  wherein the mooring means is a ring. 
   
   
       9 . The buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the mooring mechanism is attached to the buoy body by at least two bolts. 
   
   
       10 . The buoy according to  claim 1  having at least one handle to allow more convenient handling of the buoy. 
   
   
       11 . The buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the handle is an opening formed within the buoy body. 
   
   
       12 . The buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the buoy is fabricated from plastic foam or plastic foam sheeting material. 
   
   
       13 . A buoy comprising:
 a buoy body having a substantially cylindrical shape defining a cavity therein, said buoy body having two ends with at least one end being an open end;   wherein the cavity is partially flooded with water after the buoy is deployed.   
   
   
       14 . A buoy comprising:
 a buoy body having a substantially cylindrical shape defining an opening therein, wherein the opening is adapted to accommodate ballast therein.   
   
   
       15 . A buoy comprising:
 a buoy body having a substantially cylindrical shape forming a cavity therein,   wherein the cavity is adapted to accommodate ballast therein.   
   
   
       16 . The buoy according to  claim 15  wherein the ballast is added after the buoy is deployed. 
   
   
       17 . The buoy according to  claim 15  wherein the ballast is rocks. 
   
   
       18 . The buoy according to  claim 15  wherein the ballast is chain. 
   
   
       19 . The buoy according to  claim 15  wherein the buoy is partially flooded after deployment. 
   
   
       20 . A method of deploying a spar buoy comprising the steps of:
 lowering the spar buoy into a body of water; and   adding ballast into a cavity formed within the spar buoy to properly deploy the buoy in the body of water.   
   
   
       21 . The method of deploying the spar buoy according to  claim 20  comprising an intermediate step of:
 allowing the cavity formed within the spar buoy to flood with water.   
   
   
       22 . The buoy according to  claim 14  wherein the ballast is added after the buoy is deployed. 
   
   
       23 . The buoy according to  claim 13  wherein both ends are open.