Buoyant alarm device

Claim 1

A bouyant alarm device for indicating a disturbance to the quiescent level of a body of water in which the device is placed comprising: a. a cover assembly including a cover member having a lower surface thereof and a support member; b. said cover and support members forming a water-tight chamber therebetween; c. an annular shaped bouyant body formed of a polymer plastic and adapted to float in a body of water in which it is placed and to support said cover assembly above a quiescent level of said body of water; d. screw engaging means comprising an internally-threaded aperture formed in said bouyant body and an elongated, externally-threaded, electrically-insulative, polymer-plastic post rigidly mounted to and depending from said support member, said post adapted to engage said threaded aperture and to support said cover assembly on said bouyant body in adjustable spaced relationship for adjusting the position of said cover assembly above said body of water; e. a first electrode supported by said cover member and extending about said bouyant body; f. a second electrode comprising a conductive means positioned in said post and having a distal segment thereof positioned adjacent a distal segment of said post for providing continuous electrical contact with said body of water when said device is placed in said body of water; and, g. control circuit means positioned in said water-tight chamber; h. said circuit means and said first and second electrodes inter-coupled for initiating an alarm indication when an electrically conductive path is established by said body of water between said electrodes.