Buoy and buoy assembly

Abstract

A barrier comprising a plurality of elongate shafts which are positioned end-to-end, a respective connection between each pair of adjacent shafts to allow for limited pivotal movement of one shaft relative to an adjacent shaft, a plurality of axially spaced buoys rotatably mounted to the shafts, wherein each buoy comprises at least two buoyant sections which are secured together, a plurality of deterrent discs on the shafts wherein at least one disc is respectively positioned between each adjacent pair of buoys, and wherein each said connection between adjacent shafts is respectively flanked by two spaced apart discs which inhibit access to the connection.

1 . A buoy comprising a body which is formed from at least two buoyant sections and a fastening arrangement which secures the sections together, and wherein a passage extends through the body. 
     
     
         2 . A buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the body has a first end which is hemispherical or which is tapered and a second end which is hemispherical or tapered and a section between the first end and the second end which comprises a spherical section or a cylindrical section. 
     
     
         3 . A buoy according to  claim 1  wherein each section has an outer surface and an inner surface and is formed with a respective channel on the inner surface, and wherein the sections, when secured together by means of the fastening arrangement, have the respective inner surfaces in contact with each other and the channels form the passage. 
     
     
         4 . A buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the passage has a first end and a second end and, at each end, the passage terminates in a respective recess, the buoy including a shaft which is located in the passage, a first retention member which is fixed to the shaft and which is positioned inside the recess at one end of the passage and a second retention member which is fixed to the shaft and which is positioned inside the recess at an opposing end of the passage, the retention members being configured to restrict movement of the buoy in an axial direction relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . A buoy according to  claim 1  wherein the fastening arrangement comprises a plurality of elongate fastening straps which are engaged with respective grooves in the outer surfaces of the buoyant sections and which are actuated with an over-centre action to urge the sections together. 
     
     
         6 . A buoy assembly which comprises at least two buoys, each buoy being according to  claim 1 , and a shaft which extends through the passages in the buoys, and retention members which are fixed to the shaft and which are positioned to retain the buoys rotatably engaged with the shaft in respective positions on the shaft and which restrict axial movement of the buoys relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . A buoy assembly according to  claim 6  which includes an anchor component for tethering the buoy assembly, when it is in water, to an anchor which is on a submerged surface. 
     
     
         8 . A combination of at least two adjacent buoy assemblies, wherein each buoy assembly is according to  claim 6 , wherein an end of the shaft in one buoy assembly is secured to an end of the shaft in the other buoy assembly such that one shaft is pivotally movable to a limited extent relative to the other shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A combination according to  claim 6  which includes at least one respective disc fixed to the shafts between each adjacent pair of buoys, and wherein the ends of the shafts, which are joined together, are positioned between two spaced apart discs which hinder access to the joined ends. 
     
     
         10 . A buoy assembly according to  claim 6  which includes a net suspended in water below the buoys to act as an anti-dive component. 
     
     
         11 . A barrier comprising a plurality of elongate shafts which are positioned end-to-end, a respective connection between each pair of adjacent shafts to allow for limited pivotal movement of one shaft relative to an adjacent shaft, a plurality of axially spaced buoys rotatably mounted to the shafts, wherein each buoy comprises at least two buoyant sections which are secured together, a plurality of deterrent discs on the shafts wherein at least one disc is respectively positioned between each adjacent pair of buoys, and wherein each said connection between adjacent shafts is respectively flanked by two spaced apart discs which inhibit access to the connection.