Missile launching apparatus

Claim 1

APPARATUS DESIGNED FOR ASSOCIATION WITH A MISSILE HAVING A NOSE PORTION AND AN EXHAUST REGION, SAID MISSILE BEING LAUNCHABLE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM A BODY OF WATER, SAID MISSILE NORMALLY POSSESSING INSUFFICIENT INHERENT BUOYANCY TO REMAIN UPRIGHT AT OR NEAR THE SURFACE OF SUCH BODY OF WATER IN A POSITION SUITABLE FOR LAUNCHING, WHEREIN THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF IS ESSENTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE WATER SURFACE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE BUOYANT CHAMBERS OF GENERALLY SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION DISPOSED TO ENCIRCLE SAID MISSILE BETWEEN ITS CENTER OF GRAVITY AND THE NOSE PORTION THEREOF; MEANS FOR SECURING EACH OF SAID BUOYANT CHAMBERS TO SAID MISSILE SO THAT EACH SUCH CHAMBER CONTACTS THE MISSILE''S OUTER SURFACE AND IS FORCEFULLY COMPRESSED THEREAGAINST; AND MEANS FOR RELEASING EACH OF SAID BUOYANT CHAMBERS FROM SAID MISSILE SO THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER SECURED THERETO; WHEREUPON THE COMPRESSION OF EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS IS TERMINATED, AND THE FORCE DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF SUCH TERMINATION ACTS AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE MISSILE TO PROPEL EACH OF THE BUOYANT CHAMBERS IN A RADIAL DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE MISSILE''S LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SO THAT, FOLLOWING SUCH EJECTION, THE SAID BUOYANT CHAMBERS ARE BEYOND THE REGION WITHIN WHICH SUBSEQUENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MISSILE IS LIKELY TO OCCUR.