ODDO-P.O.D. (personal overboard device)

Abstract

From the beginning of mankinds encounters with the sea there have been great perils involved with oceanic voyages and so few ways to protect ones self from them. Over the years as population has increased and more and more people are navigating waterways the demand for life saving devices has grown enormously. The devices that do exist are just adequate and very costly because you can't simply buy one device that contains all the components required for survival at sea. There is clearly a market for a device that has multirole capabilities and contains all the necessary components for surviving at sea.

1 . A Personal Overboard Device (POD) for any person that traverses water which can contain a two man raft, hand held GPS unit, flare gun, Hand held flares, dye packs, food/water provisions and other items deemed necessary for survival while awaiting rescue. 
     
     
         2 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 1 , wherein the device consists of two compartments an upper compartment known as the cap and lower compartment known as the base. 
     
     
         3 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein it is recommended that the upper compartment contain a hand held GPS unit, flare gun, hand held flares, dye packs, strobe light, food/water provisions, reflective mirror, and other essential items. 
     
     
         4 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein the lower compartment contains the two man raft with the inflator. 
     
     
         5 . The Personal Overboard device of  claim 4 , wherein the rafts inflater is a standard air tool sold over the counter with a universal air chuck that will fit any scuba divers BC. 
     
     
         6 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein the two compartments are fastened together with said draw latches. 
     
     
         7 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 6 , wherein said draw latches are fastened to upper and lower compartments with aluminum rivets. 
     
     
         8 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 6 , wherein the two compartments when unlatched and separated are held together with said tether. 
     
     
         9 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein the two compartments are constructed of polyester resin and biaxle 12 oz cloth. 
     
     
         10 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein a teflon spacer is attached to the bottom of the lower compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 10 , wherein the teflon spacer is attached with an adhesive locktite PL8X. 
     
     
         12 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein the upper compartment comprises a lid. 
     
     
         13 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 12 , wherein said lid is attached to the cap with draw latches. 
     
     
         14 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 13 , wherein said latches are fastened to lid and cap with aluminum rivets. 
     
     
         15 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein the POD base consist of a ballist weight. 
     
     
         16 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 15 , wherein the ballist weight is constructed of formed lead and is installed and uninstalled by means of a 3/16 stainless steel eyebolt that threads into a female coupler mounted in the POD base, also the ballist weight can be reduced in size if configured on the end of a 30″ long by ½″ sch. 40 PVC rod. 
     
     
         17 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 3 , wherein the upper compartment consist of a ½″ threaded female adapter which allows the flagpole to be threaded into during operation. 
     
     
         18 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 2 , wherein lower compartment can be flooded with water and thethered to said raft providing sea anchor benefits such as stability by keeping the bow of the raft into the oncoming seas. 
     
     
         19 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 1 , wherein the POD can be thethered to a diver and used as a dive marker indicating the location of the submerged diver. 
     
     
         20 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 15 , wherein the ballist weight can be removed and placed inside the POD by screwing into the threaded coupler located in the POD base for stowing. 
     
     
         21 . The Personal Overboard Device of  claim 1 , wherein the intire POD can be thrown into the water and used as a floatation device by a person in need of rescue.