Floating breakwater

Claim 2

A floating breakwater comprising a series of floats orientated in spaced parallel rows, the floats in each row being spaced from each other and offset from the floats in an adjacent row, each of said floats comprising a hollow, rigid, inherently buoyant member which is sufficiently buoyant so as to float with a substantial portion thereof exposed above the surface of the water and in the path of wave movement, a bottom embedded anchor associated with each rigid float, a flexible member extending between each anchor and the corresponding float, said flexible member being of a length enabling vertical movement of the float with the tides while retaining a substantial portion of the float exposed under all tide conditions, each float being spherical, each float including a pressure relief opening therethrough venting the hollow interior thereof to the atmosphere and precluding internal pressure buildup.

Claim 3

The breakwater of claim 1 wherein each hollow buoyant float includes ballast positioned interiorly therein to counteract a predetermined portion of the inherent buoyancy of the float.

Claim 4

The breakwater of claim 2 including internal anchoring means fixed directly to each float therein, the ballast in each float being engaged with the associated internal anchoring means and secured by the internal anchoring means to the float against movement therein.

Claim 5

A floating breakwater comprising a series of floats orientated in spaced parallel rows, the floats in each row being spaced from each other and offset from the floats in an adjacent row, each of said floats being sufficiently buoyant so as to float with a substantial portion thereof exposed above the surface of the water and in the path of wave movement, a bottom embedded anchor associated with each float, a flexible member extending between each anchor and corresponding float, said flexible member being of a length enabling vertical movement of the float with the tides while retaining a substantial portion of the float exposed under all tide conditions, each float being hollow, spherical and rigid, each float including a pressure relief opening therethrough, each float including ballast positioned interiorly therein, internal anchoring means fixed directly to each float, the ballast in each float being engaged with the associated anchoring means and secured by the anchoring means to the float against movement therein, the internal anchoring means in each float being in the nature of an elongated rod having inwardly directed offset portions therein.

Claim 6

A floating breakwater comprising a series of floats orientated in spaced parallel rows, the floats in each row being spaced from each other and offset from the floats in an adjacent row, each of said floats being sufficiently buoyant so as to float with a substantial portion thereof exposed above the surface of the water and in the path of wave movement, a bottom embedded anchor associated with each float, a flexible member extending between each anchor and corresponding float, said flexible member being of a length enabling vertical movement of the float with the tides while retaining a substantial portion of the float exposed under all tide conditions, each float being hollow, spherical and rigid, each float including a pressure relief opening therethrough, each float including ballast positioned interiorly therein, internal anchoring means fixed directly to each float, the ballast in each float being engaged with the associated anchoring means and secured by the anchoring means to the float against movement therein, the internal anchoring means in each float being in the nature of an elongated rod having inwardly directed offset portions therein.

Claim 7

The breakwater of claim 4 including an external ring fixed to each float generally opposed from the pressure relief opening therein.

Claim 8

The breakwater of claim 5 wherein each bottom embedded anchor is in the nature of an elongated rod having upwardly and outwardly angled members fixed thereto.

Claim 9

A breakwater forming float, said float being rigid, Hollow, generally spherical, and inherently buoyant, a bottom embedded anchor, and an elongated flexible member engaged between said anchor and said float, said float being sufficiently buoyant so as to float partially above the surface of the water, said flexible member being of a length so as to enable a vertical movement of the float with the tides while maintaining the partially exposed orientation of the float at all tides, said flexible member, at the maximum tide, extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the ground embedded anchor, said float including internally located ballast for maintenance of the float approximately half submerged in a body of water, and internal anchoring means within the float, said internal anchoring means being rigidly affixed to the float and including projecting portions thereon for rigid engagement with the ballast, and a float anchored external ring for engagement with the flexible member, the internal anchoring means comprising an elongated rod having inwardly directed offset portions therein.

Claim 10

A breakwater forming float, said float being rigid, Hollow, generally spherical, and inherently buoyant, a bottom embedded anchor, and an elongated flexible member engaged between said anchor and said float, said float being sufficiently buoyant so as to float partially above the surface of the water, said flexible member being of a length so as to enable a vertical movement of the float with the tides while maintaining the partially exposed orientation of the float at all tides, said flexible member, at the maximum tide, extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the ground embedded anchor, said float including internally located ballast for maintenance of the float approximately half submerged in a body of water, and internal anchoring means within the float, said internal anchoring means being rigidly affixed to the float and including projecting portions thereon for rigid engagement with the ballast, and a float anchored external ring for engagement with the flexible member, the internal anchoring means comprising an elongated rod having inwardly directed offset portions therein.

Claim 11

A floating breakwater comprising a series of floats orientated in spaced parallel rows, the floats in each row being spaced from each other and offset from the floats in an adjacent row, each of said floats comprising a hollow, rigid, inherently buoyant member which is sufficiently buoyant so as to float with a substantial portion thereof exposed above the surface of the water and in the path of wave movement, a bottom embedded anchor associated with each rigid float, a flexible member extending between each anchor and the corresponding float, said flexible member being of a length enabling vertical movement of the float with the tides while retaining a substantial portion of the float exposed under all tide conditions, each hollow buoyant float including ballast positioned interiorly therein to counteract a predetermined portion of the inherent buoyancy of the float, internal anchoring means fixed directly to each float therein, the ballast in each float being engaged with the associated internal anchoring means and secured by the internal anchoring means to the float against movement therein, the internal anchoring means in each float being in the nature of an elongated rod having inwardly directed offset portions therein.

Claim 12

A floating breakwater comprising a series of floats orientated in spaced parallel rows, the floats in each row being spaced from each other and offset from the floats in an adjacent row, each of said floats comprising a hollow, rigid, inherently buoyant member which is sufficiently buoyant so as to float with a substantial portion thereof exposed above the surface of the water and in the path of wave movement, a bottom embedded anchor associated with each rigid float, a flexible member extending between each anchor and the corresponding float, said flexible member being of a length enabling vertical movement of the float with the tides while retaining a substantial portion of the float exposed under all tide conditions, each hollow buoyant float including ballast positioned interiorly therein to counteract a predetermined portion of the inherent buoyancy of the float, internal anchoring means fixed directly to each float therein, the ballast in each float being engaged with the associated internal anchoring means and secured by the internal anchoring means to the float against movement therein, the internal anchoring means in each float being in the nature of an elongated rod having inwardly directed offset portions therein.