Shark Deterrent Swim Float With Rigid Core and Hard End Caps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shark deterrents are inadequate in providing both effective floatation and shark deterrence, often requiring the use of hands or feet, which can be risky in a shark encounter.

Innovation Solution

A recreational floatation device with a soft outer sleeve, hard end caps, and a rigid core that functions as a spear or prod to deter sharks by poking them on sensitive areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bather uses hands or feet to deter sharks, then the bather can defend themselves, but the bather risks injury from the shark

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshark deterrence effectivenessVSAvoidbather injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a floatation device as an intermediary tool between the bather and the shark. The device includes hard end caps that can be used to prod or poke the shark, allowing the bather to defend themselves without using their hands or feet directly, thereby reducing the risk of injury while maintaining deterrence effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The floatation device is segmented into distinct functional components: a buoyant body for flotation and hard end caps for shark deterrence. This segmentation allows the device to serve dual purposes - providing safety through buoyancy while enabling defensive action through the hardened tips, resolving the contradiction between needing effective deterrence and avoiding self-injury

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If existing shark deterrents are used, then some level of protection is provided, but they do not provide effective floatation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshark deterrenceVSAvoidfloatation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two previously separate functions into a single device: shark deterrence and floatation support. The floatation device incorporates hard end caps for deterrence while maintaining buoyant properties, allowing bathers to have both protection and flotation capability from one integrated device rather than requiring separate deterrent and floatation equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If a floatation device is designed for comfort and buoyancy, then it provides good floatation, but it cannot be used as a shark deterrent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloatation capabilityVSAvoidshark deterrence

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The floatation device applies local quality by having different parts with different properties: the main body is soft and buoyant for comfort and flotation, while the end caps are hard for shark deterrence. This localized differentiation of material properties allows the device to excel at both floatation and deterrence functions simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Provides effective buoyancy and comfort while offering a safe means to deter sharks using the floatation device as a weapon, enhancing safety for bathers.

Implementation Method 1

The soft outer sleeve facilitates gripping of the device and provides buoyancy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS20260008531A1Shark deterrent swim float

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 BROWN JAMES PALMER

AI summary

A shark deterrent swim float may be used by bathers for floatation and—in the event of an approaching shark—as a shark deterrent. The shark deterrent swim float may be used as a barrier between bather and shark and may be used as a prod to ward off an approaching shark.