Suppa, Vito;

Droppable airborne buoy

An airborne buoy droppable from an aircraft into water, comprising, as a float, a balloon which inflates during its fall. Before being dropped the balloon is protected by a hood locked by a bent blade bearing on a wedge. During the fall, the scoop-shaped mechanical parts lift up, a cloth placed below an opening in the scoops inflates and frees the hood by drawing back the wedge fixed on the tongue forming an extension of the cloth.

What is claimed is:

1. A buoy capable of being dropped onto water from an aircraft, comprising: an inflatable balloon attached to a container; said balloon being inflated during its descent by a forced intake of air at the base thereof; said buoy having adjustable openings in the form of scoops; said forced intake of air taking place through the opening of these scoops; each of said scoops comprising a window covered inside by a flexible cloth; said cloth being inflated when the scoops lift up during the drop of said buoy; said cloth actuating a freeing mechanism for releasing a protecting hood capping said balloon.

2. A buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said freeing mechanism comprises a tongue forming an extension of said cloth; said tongue passing along a flexible blade forming a hinge for each of said scoops; there being fixed on said blade a wedge which bears on a locking blade forming a spring, one bent end of which serves for locking said hood before inflation of said cloth.

3. A buoy as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking blade and said hinge are made from the same piece.