Inflatable diving safety marker

Abstract

The present invention is an inflatable safety marker for a diver comprising a cylindrical hollow housing having a lid, a puncture plate, an inflatable bladder and a length of line connecting the bladder to the housing. The lid is hingably affixed to one end of the housing. The puncture plate is affixed within the housing below the lid. The puncture plate comprises a pierce needle positioned at the center with the sharp end exposed on the lower surface of the plate and the other end of the pierce needle exposed on the upper surface of the plate. The puncture plate also has a threaded cylindrical skirt depending from the lower surface about the sharp end of the pierce needle. The threaded cylindrical skirt is able to receive a threaded end of a canister containing gas for inflating the bladder. The inflatable bladder is positioned on the upper surface of the puncture plate with its open end removably affixed to the other end of the pierce needle. A length of line connects the bladder to the housing.

1 . An inflatable safety marker for a diver comprising:
 a. a cylindrical hollow housing having a top end and a bottom end;   b. a lid hingably affixed to said top end;   c. a puncture plate fitted inside the cylindrical housing below said lid wherein said puncture plate comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and a pierce needle positioned at the center of said puncture plate, said pierce needle having a sharp end exposed on the lower surface of said puncture plate and the other end being exposed on said upper surface of said puncture plate, wherein said puncture plate has a threaded cylindrical skirt depending from said lower surface and wherein said sharp end of said pierce needle is disposed at the middle of said threaded cylindrical skirt;   d. an inflatable bladder positioned on said upper surface of said puncture plate wherein the open end of the bladder is removably affixed to said other end of said pierce needle; and   e. a length of line having one end connected to said cylindrical housing and the other end connected to said bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical hollow housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said upper portion and said lower portion rotate independently. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable safety marker further comprises a canister containing gas affixable within said cylindrical hollow housing, wherein said canister has a threaded neck to be received by said threaded cylindrical skirt depending from said lower surface of said puncture plate. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said bladder further comprises at least one light electronically connected to an energy source through a switch, said switch activated when said lid is released from said top end of said cylindrical hollow housing. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said bladder has a reflective surface. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 5 , wherein said reflective surface reflects light or a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said bladder further comprises at least one sound frequency emitter electronically connected to an energy source through a switch, said switch activated when said lid is released from said top end of said cylindrical hollow housing. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 4 , wherein said light emits visible light or infrared light. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 3 , wherein said gas canister contains a gas that allows said bladder to rise to the surface of the water. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 3 , wherein said gas canister contains a gas that allows said bladder to rise above the surface of the water. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable safety marker according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for fastening said marker to a diver. 
     
     
         12 . A method of deploying an inflatable diving safety marker wherein the inflatable safety marker comprises:
 a. a cylindrical hollow housing having a top end and a bottom end;   b. a lid affixed to said top end;   c. a puncture plate fitted inside said cylindrical hollow housing below said lid wherein said puncture plate comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and a pierce needle positioned about the center of said puncture plate, said pierce needle having a sharp end exposed on said lower surface of said puncture plate the other end being exposed on said upper surface of said puncture plate, wherein said puncture plate has a threaded cylindrical skirt depending from said lower surface wherein said sharp end of said puncture needle is disposed at the middle of said threaded cylindrical skirt;   d. a canister having a threaded neck affixed within said threaded cylindrical skirt;   e. an inflatable bladder positioned on said upper surface of said puncture plate having an opening wherein said opening of said bladder is removably affixed to said other end of said puncture needle; and   f. a length of line having one end affixed to said cylindrical housing and the other end affixed to said bladder wherein said method comprises the steps of:   twisting said canister in a clockwise direction with respect to said cylindrical hollow housing until said lid releases and said bladder is deployed.