Clamshell float bouy for lines

Abstract

Two half shells joined together to form a float. A line can be routed along a line pathway, such as along a centerline, and be captured between the two half shells. An interior wall has a notch therein and end walls have portals therein which allow a line to pass along the line pathway of the two half shells which are joined together to form the float. Teeth in the notch engage the line sufficient to keep the line from translating along the centerline. Multiple foam core pieces can reside within hollow interiors of the half shells to provide robust buoyancy to the float. In various embodiments, tabs and grooves along seam edges of the half shells fit together, with the half shells being identical in form and to provide a secure seam between the two half shells. Clips fit into slots to secure the two half shells together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 : A clamshell float, comprising in combination:
 a first half having a central compartment between ends, and a side wall, said side wall terminating at lateral edges;   a second half having a central compartment between ends and a side wall, said side wall terminating at lateral edges;   a line pathway extending through said ends and said central compartment of said first and second halves; and   at least one fastener holding said first half to said second half, with said line pathway between said first half and said second half, with said lateral edges of said first half adjacent to said lateral edges of said second half.   
     
     
         2 : The float of  claim 1  wherein said sidewall is a hemi-spheroid in shape. 
     
     
         3 : The float of  claim 1  wherein said sidewall is a semi-spheroid in shape. 
     
     
         4 : The float of  claim 3  wherein said ends include a semi-circular portal in each of said ends, said semi-circular portal aligned with said line pathway. 
     
     
         5 : The float of  claim 4  wherein teeth extend into said line pathway, said teeth supported by at least one of said halves, said teeth positioned to engage with a line extending along said line pathway to resist translation of a line located along said line pathway. 
     
     
         6 : The float of  claim 5  wherein at least one inner wall is provided within each of said halves and spaced from one of said ends, said teeth located within a mid-notch formed in said inner wall at a location where said inner wall is adjacent to said line pathway. 
     
     
         7 : The float of  claim 6  wherein said at least one inner wall includes two inner walls oriented parallel with each other, said at least two inner walls spaced from each other by a main central compartment and with end compartments between each of said inner walls and said ends. 
     
     
         8 : The float of  claim 7  wherein said main central compartment includes said foam in at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
         9 : The float of  claim 8  wherein said solid foam fills a majority of said main central compartment. 
     
     
         10 : The float of  claim 9  wherein said end compartments include foam therein. 
     
     
         11 : The float of  claim 1  wherein teeth extend into said line pathway, said teeth supported by at least one of said halves, said teeth positioned to engage with a line extending along said line pathway to resist translation of a line located along said line pathway. 
     
     
         12 : The float of  claim 11  wherein at least one inner wall is provided within each of said halves and spaced from one of said ends, said teeth located within a mid-notch formed in said inner wall at a location where said inner wall is adjacent to said line pathway. 
     
     
         13 : The float of  claim 12  wherein said at least one inner wall includes two inner walls oriented parallel with each other, said at least two inner walls spaced from each other by a main central compartment and with end compartments between each of said inner walls and said ends. 
     
     
         14 : The float of  claim 1  wherein said lateral edges of said first half and said second half include a left lateral edge and a right lateral edge, at least one of said lateral edges including a groove extending into a face, and with at least one of said lateral edges including a tab extending up from a face, said tab sized to fit within said groove such that said first half and second half can be put together with tabs of each of said halves within grooves of each of said halves. 
     
     
         15 : The float of  claim 14  wherein said left lateral edges of said first half and said second half include slots passing therethrough and wherein right lateral edges of said first half and second half include clips extending beyond said lateral edges and aligned with said slots, such that said clips can engage within said slots when said lateral edges of said first half and second half are brought together to hold said first half and said second half together. 
     
     
         16 : The float of  claim 14  wherein at least one screw can pass between said first half and second half to hold said first half and second half together. 
     
     
         17 : The float of  claim 16  wherein a bore adjacent to one of said lateral edges is aligned with a post adjacent to one of said lateral edges, said post and said bore alignable together with a screw passing through said bore and into a blind bore extending axially into said post for threadable engagement of said screw within said blind bore inside of said post extending adjacent to one of the lateral edges. 
     
     
         18 : The float of  claim 17  wherein a foam core is located within each of said first half and second half, said foam core including a trough extending along said line pathway. 
     
     
         19 : A method for connecting a float to a line, the method including the steps of:
 placing a line between a first half and a second half, each of the halves having a central compartment between ends and a side wall, the side wall terminating at lateral edges, the line extending along a line pathway between the first half and the second half; and   fastening the first half to the second half with the line therebetween.   
     
     
         20 : The method of  claim 19  including the further step of securing the line between the first half and the second half by including teeth extending from at least one of the first half and the second half and extending into the line pathway at least somewhat, for engagement between the teeth and the line.