Marine Anti-Fouling Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to device for preventing fouling of marine piles and the like. There is provided a marine pile antifouling device including a buoyant, substantially annular body for installation about a pile or the like, and having a working clearance about said pile or the like, wherein at least the outer surface of said body may be constructed of polymer foam or closed surface plastic. In one embodiment a marine pile antifouling device including a buoyant, resilient, unitary and substantially annular body, openable against said resilience for installation about a pile, and having a working clearance about said pile is provided. It has been surprisingly determined that a body of quite soft material representing no risk to the integrity of the pile surface is capable of maintaining the pile surface substantially free of marine fouling and growth.

1 . A marine pile antifouling including comprising:
 a buoyant, resilient, unitary and substantially annular body, openable against said resilience for installation about a pile or the like, and having a working clearance about said pile or the like.   
   
   
       2 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least the outer surface of said body is constructed of polymer foam or closed surface plastic. 
   
   
       3 . A marine pile antifouling device comprising:
 a buoyant, substantially annular body for installation about a pile or the like, and having a working clearance about said pile or the like,   
     wherein at least the outer surface of said body is constructed of polymer foam or closed surface plastic. 
   
   
       4 . A device as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said body is an assembled body comprising two or more individual segments. 
   
   
       5 . A device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the entirety of said body is constructed of polymer foam or closed surface plastic. 
   
   
       6 . A device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said polymer foam is a low density polyethylene foam. 
   
   
       7 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body is solid. 
   
   
       8 . A device defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body is hollow. 
   
   
       9 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said device is closeable. 
   
   
       10 . A device as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said device is reversibly closeable. 
   
   
       11 . A device as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said device comprises a closure mechanism. 
   
   
       12 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein at least a part of said closure mechanism is integral with said body. 
   
   
       13 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein at least a part of said closure mechanism includes parts separate to the body. 
   
   
       14 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said closure mechanism includes said body having opposing ends, whereby said opposing ends interact with each other to close said device. 
   
   
       15 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the closure mechanism includes extensions positioned at ends of said body, whereby said extensions associate to close said device. 
   
   
       16 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the closure mechanism is a casing including one or more individual segments, said casing being applied to at least a part of the outer surface of said body. 
   
   
       17 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said closure mechanism is independent of said body and is applied to at least a part of the outer surface of said body to close said device about said pile or the like. 
   
   
       18 . A device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said closure is mechanism comprises an independent casing. 
   
   
       19 . A device as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said closure is mechanism comprises a C-shaped casing. 
   
   
       20 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises one or more fasteners, wherein said fastener aids in preparing and maintaining the device in a closed position. 
   
   
       21 . A device as defined in  claim 20 , where said one or more fasteners are not integral with said body of said device. 
   
   
       22 . A device as defined in  claim 20 , where said one or more fasteners are selected from the group consisting of strapping, rope, belt and buckle, zip tie, clips, butterfly clips, loops, hooks, mating male (hook) and female (loop) strips, and studs, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       23 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body is substantially ring shaped. 
   
   
       24 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body is substantially conical. 
   
   
       25 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said body is formed of a deformable material. 
   
   
       26 . A device as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said body is hollow. 
   
   
       27 . A device as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said body is at least partially filled with liquid. 
   
   
       28 . A method of inhibiting attachment of matter to a marine pile or the like, said method comprising placing a device as defined in  claim 1  around said pile or the like, such that said device floats on the water's surface and is capable of movement about said pile in response to ocean forces. 
   
   
       29 . A method as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said device is placed around said pile or the like after the pile or the like was previously in place. 
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A marine pile antifouling device comprising:
 a buoyant, substantially annular body, that may be opened for installation about a pile or the like and closed to retain it about the pier or the like, said body being arranged and configured to have a working clearance about said pile or the like such that said device floats on the water's surface and is capable of movement about said pile in response to ocean forces.