AU2005100455B4

AU2005100455B4 - VU board

Info

Publication number: AU2005100455B4
Application number: AU2005100455A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Melrose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-30
Filing date: 2005-05-30
Publication date: 2005-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-30
Also published as: AU2005100455A4

Description

04 Jun 05 08:41a Dave 04 un 5 8:4a Dve0755732271 p.

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SPECIFICATION

NAME OF INVENTION: VU BOARD The following statement is a full description of this invention including, the best method o of performing it known to me: The invention is described in the following statement: ~fl For many years, tourists have been visiting exotic snorkeling and diving resorts to view 0 fish, sea life etc. Until today, the only available means to view below the surface of any o body of water, whether ocean, river, lake etc. has been by the use of a facemask and snorkel. Therefore, the only means of viewing under the surface of the water have been the above and in some circumstances glass bottomed boats for larger numbers of people o who would rather not get in the water. Sometimes it may be that a person is for o psychological reasons not capable of putting their head under water.

The VUJ BOARD is a device, on which a person (see Plan 1) can float on top of the surface of the body of water and see below the surface just as clearly or perhaps more clearly than through the traditional above mentioned means.

The VU BOARD comprises of a floating base that can be made of foam, wood, fiberglass, plastic, polystyrene or practically any material that can float and support a human's weight. It has bull-nosed edges for comfort. It has a hole at its front to facilitate a rope or cable with which it can be pulled along the surface of the water.

Within this floating base is a viewing window or lens through which a person/people can view below the surface. All parts, including all sides of this window or lens can be made of Perspex, clear plastic or any other translucent material and can be set anywhere inside the abovemnentioned base. Any one given base can contain numerous viewing windows within it (see Plans 1, 2 The top edges of the window or lens are covered by a soft material such as rubber or foam for the viewer's comfort. The lens can be as a fixed part of the board or it can be made as a retractable piece. The benefit being retractable, is that should water splash onto the top part of the window or lens, it can be easily emptied/cleaned.

The VU BOARD can be made as a single board for personal use, or it can be made as a raft type device on which a number of people can lay and view together. (see Plan 2) It can also be made as a hand held device. Which a person can place on top of the surface of water from a stationary platform without having to physically get in the water and view below the surface. (see Plan3).

The screen or lens can either be made flush to the bottom side of the board or, made to protrude below the board for more depth. The thickness of the board can also vary according to personal requirements.

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COMS ID No: SBMI-01282870 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:43 Date 2005-06-04

Claims

1. A flotation and underwater viewing device comprising board on which a human can lay, a viewing window or lens through which a person can view C) C, below the surface of a body of water, the viewing window located in an 00 5 opening through the board and at least a portion of the viewing window forcibly extendable below the board by the user once in the water to increase the viewing angle and a hole to facilitate a rope or line for towing or handling.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 being made of any floatable material which can be covered with smooth latex type products and has bull-nosed edges. 0 o 10

3. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the viewing window or lens is moveable for cleaning purposes.

4. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the viewing window includes an open topped, three dimensional cavity with at least one sidewall having an upper edge, the upper edge of the at least one sidewall being covered by soft type material such as rubber or foam for the viewer's comfort. A flotation and underwater viewing device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 28th day of September 2005 David Melrose By his Patent Attorneys Cullen Co.