Diving devices configured to make and/or to emit distinct noises and associated methods for the use of the diving devices

Abstract

A set of diving devices and methods of using the same in, for example, a water-based game, are provided. The devices comprise two or more diving devices, each being configured to be tossed into a body of water and upon entry to cause a water entry noise that is distinct from water entry noises corresponding to each of the other diving devices in the set of diving devices. The distinctness of the water entry noise for each device in the set is due at least in part to at least one of a size of each of the diving devices, a shape of each of the diving devices, a density of each of the diving device, and/or a weight of each of the diving devices. The methods involve users attempting to retrieve devices based upon distinct water entry noises and/or emitted audio signals, with points being awarded thereupon.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A set of diving devices configured to be tossed into a body of water and comprising:
 two or more diving devices,   wherein:
 at least one of the two or more diving devices has a first size, a first shape, and a first density; 
 at least one other of the two or more diving devices has a second size, a second shape, and a second density; 
 at least (a) the first and second densities differ relative to one another, and (b) at least one of: (i) the first and second sizes differ relative to one another, or (ii) the first and second shapes differ relative to one another; and 
 upon being incident upon the surface of the body of water, the at least one and the at least one other of the two or more diving devices each cause respectively distinct water entry noises relative to one another due to the differing densities and sizes and/or shapes across the at least one and the at least one other of the two or more diving devices. 
   
     
     
         2 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1  wherein at least one diving device comprises an audio emitting component. 
     
     
         3 . The set of diving devices of  claim 2  wherein the audio emitting component is one of a mechanical audio emitting component or an electronic audio emitting component. 
     
     
         4 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein each diving device comprises:
 at least one power source;   at least one audio emitter; and   at least one circuitry portion configured to be powered by the at least one power source and cause the at least one audio emitter of each diving device to emit an audio signal distinct to each diving device.   
     
     
         5 . The set of diving devices of  claim 4  wherein the emitted audio signal is one of a constant audio signal or a repeating pulsed audio signal. 
     
     
         6 . The set of diving devices of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one circuitry portion comprises at least one switch. 
     
     
         7 . of diving devices of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one switch comprises either:
 an on/off switch configured to, when in the on position, cause the audio emitter to emit the audio signal, and, when in the off position, cause the audio emitter to not emit the audio signal; or   at least one dial, wherein the at least one dial is configured to control at least one of a volume, a frequency, or a tone of the audio signal.   
     
     
         8 . The set of diving devices of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one power source, at least one audio emitter, and at least one circuitry portion are housed in a waterproof or water resistant housing within the corresponding diving device. 
     
     
         9 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein each diving device is devoid of sharp edges and corners about the exterior of the diving device. 
     
     
         10 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diving devices is configured to float at least just above the bottom surface of a body of water. 
     
     
         11 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the diving devices is configured to sink to the bottom surface of a body of water; and   the at least one of the diving devices that is configured to sink to the bottom of the surface of the body of water is weighted such that the diving device has a preferred bottom side.   
     
     
         12 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diving devices comprises at least one of a clip or a recess configured to at least one of attach or receive an external component upon the diving device. 
     
     
         13 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the diving devices is at least one of mound-shaped, hockey puck-shaped, or star fish-shaped;   at least one other of the diving devices is at least one of mound-shaped, hockey puck-shaped, or star fish-shaped; and   the at least one and the at least one other of the diving devices are differently shaped relative to one another.   
     
     
         14 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diving devices comprises an internal bladder for adjusting at least one of the weight or the buoyancy of the diving device. 
     
     
         15 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second densities differ relative to one another and at least one of the first and second sizes and the first and second shapes differs relative to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The set of diving devices of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the two or more diving devices comprises three diving devices;   the third of the two or more diving devices has a third size, a third shape, and a third density; and   at least one of: (a) the first, second and third sizes differ relative to one another, (b) the first, second and third shapes differ relative to one another, or (c) the first, second and third densities differ relative to one another.   
     
     
         17 . A method of at least one player using a set of diving devices, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a set of diving devices, the set of diving devices comprising two or more diving devices, wherein:
 each diving device is configured to be tossed into a body of water and, upon being incident upon the surface of the body of water, cause respectively distinct water entry noises relative to one another due to at least one differing characteristic across each of the two or more diving devices; and 
 each diving device comprises at least one audio emitter configured to emit a distinct audio signal for each diving device of the two or more diving devices; 
   tossing at least two of the diving devices of the set of diving devices into a body of water; and   attempting to retrieve at least one of the diving devices from the body of water, wherein said step of attempting to retrieve at least one of the diving devices involves the sub-steps of:
 above the surface of the body of water, identifying, based solely on hearing the distinct water entry noise associated with each diving device, a location of each diving device within an area defined by the body of water; and 
 below the surface of the body of water, identifying, based solely on hearing the distinct audio signal emitted by each diving device, the location of each diving device relative to the at least one player. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of awarding points for retrieval by the at least one player of at least one of the diving devices from the body of water, wherein the points awarded are based at least in part on at least one of the at least one diving device retrieved, an order of retrieval of the at least one diving device, or a time to retrieve the at least one diving device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each diving device comprises:
 at least one power source; and   at least one circuitry portion configured to be powered by the at least one power source and cause the at least one audio emitter to emit the distinct audio signal for each diving device in the two or more diving devices.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of, prior to tossing the at least two diving devices into the body of water, activating the audio emitter of at least one diving device to emit an audio signal.