PRIORITY DOCUMENT

This application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No.

2016905172 entitled "Aquatic Apparel Item" filed on 14 December 2016, the contents of which are to be taken as incorporated herein by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] This invention relates to devices for affecting the behaviour of chondrichthyans such as rays, skates and sharks.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Recorded shark attacks have steadily increased in recent times, while at the same time the desire to offer conservation and protection to sharks has also increased as populations dwindle significantly.

[0003] It is known that all chondrichthyans such as predatory sharks have highly sensitive electrical receptors called the "Ampullae of Lorenzini" located in their snouts. These tiny gel filled sacs sense electrical current from prey, but only at very close distances, typically less than one metre.

[0004] Conventional shark repelling devices are arranged to generate a localised electrical field that causes the ampullae to spasm and consequently the shark to move away from the generated field.

[0005] One typical such conventional device is described in US 7,412,944 which describes a device including a trailing antenna with two electrical contacts in electrical communication with the surrounding water, and an electric field generator arranged to generate an electric field across the contacts of sufficient intensity to produce the desired effect to the ampullae of a shark that is sufficiently close to the antenna. However, for some aquatic activities, such as surfing, it is undesirable to have a trailing antenna as such an arrangement may produce undesirable drag. [0006] United States Patent Publication 2005/019768 discloses a shark protection swimsuit including a pair of electrodes for radiating an electromagnetic field through water and between the first and second electrodes. However, the separation between the electrodes of United States Patent Publication 2005/019768 results in the necessity for a relatively high powered electric field which may result in undesirable muscle skin stimulation effects on a wearer.

[0007] It would be desirable to provide an aquatic apparel item which provides an electric field which is suitable for repelling sharks, but which has an acceptably low level of undesirable muscle stimulation in use.

SUMMARY

[0008] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure there is provided an aquatic apparel item including:

a user wearable item; and

at least three spaced apart electrodes disposed on or within the user wearable item, wherein plural paired combinations of the least three electrodes are selectable for inclusion in a respective circuit for radiating an electric field having a field pattern directed across a respective portion of the user wearable item.

[0009] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure there is provided an aquatic apparel item including:

a user wearable item including a body portion and at least two limbs portions extending from the body portion; and

at l east two pairs of spaced apart electrodes, each pair of electrodes disposed on or within a respective one of the limb portions of the user wearable item,

wherein each electrode is selectable for inclusion in a respective circuit with another one of the electrodes to radiate an electric fi eld.

[0010] The spaced apart electrodes may be considered as forming an "array" of electrodes distributed across the user wearable items. By providing an array of electrodes in this way, pairs of electrodes may be selected to provide plural spatially distributed local electric fields. Preferably the spatially distributed local electric fields have the combined effect of providing an electric field pattern directed over different portions of the user wearable item. Providing an array of electrodes arranged to generate plural spatially distributed local electric fields may provide for reduced power requirements when compared to prior art arrangements involving a single pair of electrodes providing an electric field pattern with a field pattern covering a greater extent of the user wearable item.

[001 1 ] The user wearable item may include a wetsuit, such as a wetsuit fitted with a suitable electrical wiring arrangement to electrically connect the electrodes to a control unit. One example of a suitable wiring arrangement includes a flexible printed circuit. The wetsuit preferably includes an electrical insulating layer which electrically insulates a wearer from the spaced apart electrodes. In an embodiment, the wiring arrangement is integrated within the insulating layer of the user wearable item.

[0012] Each of the spaced apart electrodes disposed on or within the user wearable item may include an electrode disposed on a surface of the insulating layer of the user wearable item . Each electrode is formed of a material having suitable electrical conductivity characteristics. One example of a suitable material is a metallic material such as stainless steel. Another example of a suitable material is a conductive plastic material. Other suitable conductive materials would be well understood by a skilled addressee. In one example, each electrode is encapsulated with a conductive material, such as a conductive elastomer.

[0013] In an embodiment, the aquatic apparel item includes means for attaching a control unit to the user wearable item to form an electrical interface with the wiring arrangement and thus the electrodes. The control unit may include a processor, a power source and a signal generator. Sensing means may also be provided to provide to the processor with one or more a sensed signals having an attribute depending on a respective associated one or more associated spaced apart electrodes being in contact with water.

[0014] Accordingly, in an embodiment, the aquatic apparel further includes:

plural sensing means, each sensing means being positionally associated with one or more of the spaced apart electrodes for providing a sensed signal having an attribute depending on the respective associated one or more associated spaced apart electrodes being in contact with water; and a processor for receiving sensed signals from each of the plural sensing means and selecting one or more paired combinations of the spaced apart electrodes depending on the associated sensed signals.

[0015] Each of the plural sensing means is preferably operatively associated with a respective one or more of the spaced apart electrodes. In one embodiment, each of the one or more spaced apart electrodes is a respecti ve sensing means.

[0016] In an embodiment, multiple pairs of the spaced apart electrodes are

simultaneously selectable to form separate circuits for generating an electric field having a field pattern directed across a respective portion of the user wearable item. In another embodiment, multipl e pairs of the spaced apart electrodes are sequentially selectable to form separate circuits for generating an electric field having a field pattern directed across a respective portion of the user wearable item.

[0017] The user wearable item may include two upper and/or two lower limb portions such that each of the two upper and/or two lower limb portions have at least one associated electrode. In one embodiment, the user wearable includes four limbs and wherein each limb includes at least two associated electrodes in a spaced apart arrangement, such that each selectable paired combination of electrodes includes a pair of electrodes located on a respective limb.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with referen ce to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 shows an aquatic apparel item according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0020] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a control unit suitable for use with an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0021 ] Figure 3 A is a schematic block diagram of an electrode interface suitable for incorporating in a control unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure; [0022] Figure 3B is an example enabling of a paired combination of electrodes shown in the schematic block diagram of Figure 3 A;

[0023] Figure 4 is a table showing selectable combinations of pairs of electrodes of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figures 5 A to 5F show example fields formed between different ones of the paired combinations shown in Figure 4;

[0025] Figure 6 shows an example of a field formation formed by selecting multiple pair combinations simultaneously; and

[0026] Figure 7 shows an aquatic apparel item according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0027] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Figure 1 depicts an aquatic apparel item 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment the apparel item 10 is depicted in the style of a user wearable item in the form of a wetsuit made of flexible neoprene material that is contoured to the shape of a wearer. A wetsuit of this type may be used for, for example, aquatic sports and/or recreational activities, such as surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, open water swimming or diving. This is however merely an example, and the suit (hereinafter referred for convenience as an aquatic apparel item) could be of other types and made of other materials. For example, the apparel item may include other user wearable items such as survival suits worn typically by sailors and aviators in the event that they fall into the water. For the remainder of this description, and for ease of explanation, the user wearable item will herein be referred to as a "suit".

[0029] As shown, the aquatic apparel item 10 includes a suit 12 and plural spaced apart electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 (shown labelled as electrodes "A", "B", "C", and "D" respectively) disposed on or within the suit 12. In the present case, the illustrated embodiment will be described in relation to a suit including four electrodes. However, it will be appreciated that a different number of electrodes may be used with the minimum number of electrodes being three electrodes to provide at least two selectable pair combinations of electrodes.

[0030] As will be explained in more detail below, in embodiments of the disclosure, plural paired combinations of the electrodes, which in the described example are shown as electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20, are selectable for inclusion in a respective circuit for radiating an electric field having a field pattern directed across a respective portion of the suit 12. In this way, by suitable placement of the electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 and suitable selection of electrode pairs for inclusion in a respective circuit, a field pattern can be fonned over, or in proximity to, different portions of the suit 12. Generating field patterns in this way may provide for a spatial distribution of field patterns across the different portions, with each field pattern having a field strength and direction depending on the selected pairs of electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20.

[003 1 ] In the illustrated embodiment, and as previously described, four electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 are disposed on or within the user wearable item 12. A first and second electrode 14, 16 are located on upper limb portions 22 of the suit 12, and third and fourth electrodes 18, 20 are located on lower limb portions 24 of the suit 12. In this arrangement, and as will be explained in more detail following, a field pattern may be formed between, for example, the electrodes 18, 20 of the lower limb portions 24, or between the electrodes 14, 16 of the upper limb portions 22, or between an electrode 14, 16 of the upper limb portion 22 and an electrode 18, 20 of the lower limb portion 24. In the present case, the upper limb portions 22 are arm portions of the suit 12, and the lower limb portions 24 are leg portions of the suit 12.

[0032] Each electrode 14, 16, 18 and 20 may be formed of any suitable conductive material. Examples of suitable materials include graphene, metal, or a conductive polymer. One example of a suitable metallic electrode is a metallic electrode made from stainless steel (for example, 316L stainless steel) having a suitable configuration. Each electrode 14, 16, 18, 20 may include a plate or mesh-like element. For example, in some embodiments, each electrode 14, 16, 18 and 20 may include a woven or grid-like mesh arrangement of a suitably conductive material. A mesh type electrode may be a preferred arrangement since it provides improved flexibility and thus improved suit integration compared with a panel type electrode.

[0033] In one embodiment, the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 may be incorporated into the suit 12 by stitching, i.e. in the same manner other panels of the suit 12 are joined together. Although this is a preferred arrangement, in other embodiments each electrode 14, 16, 18 and 20 could be moulded into a conductive elastomer (eg. rubber) securing the electrode to an insulating layer of the suit. Suitable conductive elastomers would be known to a skilled person.

[0034] Each electrode 14, 16, 18 and 20 will preferably have a configuration which provides an area suitable for radiating an electric field having a desired field pattern directed across a respective portion of the user wearable item.

[0035] One example of a suitable electrode configuration is a 1 10mm x 1 10mm ovoid shaped electrode having a material thickness of between 0.9 mm and 1.2 mm. Another example of a suitable electrode configuration is a 72 mm x 60 mm ovoid shaped electrode having a material thickness of between 0.9 mm and 1.2 mm. Yet another example of a suitable electrode configuration is an 88 mm x 80 mm ovoid shaped electrode having a material thickness of between 0.9 mm and 1.2 mm. Still another example of a suitable electrode configuration is a 72 mm x 60 mm x 80 mm ovoid shaped electrode having a material thickness of between 0.9 mm and 1.2 mm.

[0036] In embodiments, the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 are arranged to provide an inter electrode distance which allows for a localised (that is, localised to the portion of the suit 12 for which the field is formed) electric field strength which is effective at repelling sharks, but which minimises discomfort to the wearer of the suit 12. By selecting the electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 in plural paired arrangements so as to form respective electric fields covering different portions of the suit 12, less power may be required to provide the same electrical field strength as a single pair of electrodes arranged to form an electric field having a similar coverage, and thus having a greater inter electrode spacing.

[0037] In preference, each electrode 14, 16, 18 and 20 is located so as to provide an inter electrode distance between any pair of the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 which does not exceed 1500 mm. In some embodiments, the inter electrode distance between any pair of the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 may not exceed 750 mm. The particular inter electrode distance may vary between different suit configurations and indeed the intended use of a suit.

[0038] As shown in Figure 1 , conductors 26 are incorporated in the suit 12 to electrically connect each electrode 14, 16, 18, 20 to a control unit 28. The conductors 26 are, in this embodiment, incorporated into the material of the suit 12. The conductors 26 are preferably made of a non-corrosive metal which is also preferably multi-stranded. One example of a suitable conductor 26 configuration is a "ribbon-like" conductor having a suitable shape and configuration. Such a configuration may be formed, for example, from a flexible "ribbon" cable.

[0039] In another arrangement the conductors 26 may be supplied pre-fitted or incorporated into a ribbon-like carrier whi ch is suitable for stitching or adhering to the suit 12 by suitable methods. In one embodiment, the conductors 26 may include a conductive elastomer, flexible PCB cabling and/or a printed flexible conductor, such as a graphene printed flexible conductor.

[0040] During manufacture, the suit 12 may be constructed to provide hollow channels or tunnels within the material of manufacture, which may receive the conductors 26 for electrically connecting the various elements of the aquatic apparel item 10. Connectors at each end of the conductors 26 may be provided for connecting, at one end, to a respecti ve electrode 14, 16, 18, 20 and at the other end to the control unit 28.

[0041 ] The control unit 28 may be permanently incorporated in the suit 12 or it may be releasably connected thereto to by a suitable attachment means, such as by way of one or more suitable electrical and mechanical connectors. In an embodiment, the aquatic apparel item 10 thus includes means for attaching the control 28 unit to the user wearable item 10 to form an electrical interface with the conductors 26 forming a wiring arrangement and thus also with the electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20.

[0042] The control unit 28 can be releasably connected to the suit 12 in a number of ways. One example of a suitable approach is in a neoprene pocket having a releasable containment strap or straps by which the control unit can be secured into the pocket during use. Such an arrangement may be specifically arranged to allow the user easy access to the control panel (typically having an on/off switch which is preferably of the double action type so as to prevent accidental turn off) and an electromagnetic field booster control.

[0043] Turning now to Figure 2, in the embodiment illustrated the control unit 28 includes a processor 200, a power source 202 (such as a battery), a signal generator 204, and electrode interface electronics 206. Status indicators 210 (on/off status, power low) are also arranged to be readily viewable by the suit wearer.

[0044] Processor 200 may include, for example, one or more processors executing resident configured logic, where such computing devices include, for example, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, or any suitable combination of hardware, software and/or firmware containing processors and logic configured to at least perform the operations described herein.

[0045] Processor 200 can include an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), or other processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, or other data processing device. The processor 200 executes embedded application software 212 that interfaces with any resident programs in the memory 214 of the control unit 128. The memory 214 can include read-only or random-access memory (RAM and ROM), EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to computer platforms. The control unit 28 may also include a local storage device 216 that can hold applications not actively used in memory 214. The storage device 216 is typically a flash memory cell, but can be any secondary storage device as known in the art, such as an EEPROM, or the like.

[0046] The control unit 28 may have installed on it, or may otherwise download, one or more software applications for controlling the selection and operation of th e electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20. Such software applications may be stored on the local storage device 216 when not in use.

[0047] Sensing means are also provided to provide to the processor 200 with one or more sensed signals ("sense") having an attribute depending on a respective associated one of the one or more pairs of spaced apart electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 being in contact with water. In the present case, the sensing means are the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20.

However, it is possible that separate sensing means may be provided. [0048] In the present case, in response to sensing that one or more pairs of electrodes are in contact with water, processor 200 provides select signals to an electrode interface 206 to switch a signal from the signal generator 204 to one or more of the paired combinations of the electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 having an associated sensed signal indicating that the paired combination of electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 is in contact with (for example, immersed in) water.

[0049] Turning now to Figure 3A, in an embodiment, sensing one or paired combinations of the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 in contact with water involves the processor 202 sensing, via sensing channels 310, an impedance between a pair of electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20. In particular, when each electrode 14, 16, 18 and 20 of a paired combination is not immersed in (salt) water, a high impedance is sensed (that is, an open circuit impedance) by the processor 200, whereas when the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 of a paired combination are immersed in (salt) water, the impedance between the electrodes of the paired combination approximates a short circuit or low impedance pathway

(approximately 1 ohm) which is sensed by the processor 200.

[0050] In this respect, depending on the location and configuration of the electrodes, a "short circuit impedance" between any paired combination of the el ectrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20 may be sensed, for example, when an arm(s) of the suit 12 is immersed in water, such as when paddling, or when a leg(s) of the suit 12 is immersed in water, such as when sitting on a surf board.

[0051 ] As shown in Figure 3 A, plural sensing channels 310 are provided such each electrode 14, 16, 18 and 20 has an associated one of the sensing channels 310. Each sensing channel 310 is provided as an input to the processor 200 for monitoring the impedance across pairable combinations of the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20.

[0052] In the present case, when a short circuit impedance is sensed across two sensing channel s 310 associated with a particular paired combination of the electrodes 14, 16, 18 and 20, the paired combination of the electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 associated with the sensed short circuit impedance is "enabled" using the appropriate select channels 312 output from electrode pair selector 300 (under the control of the processor 200). Enabling an electrode pair combination fonns a respective circuit for radiating an electric field having a field pattern directed across a respective portion of the user wearable item.

[0053] In the present case, in an enabled electrode pair, the signal I/P 314 is electrically connected to a first one of the electrodes of the electrode pair by enabling its associated switch. The return path of the electrode pair circuit is provided by the other (that is, the second) electrode of the electrode pair and the associated sensing channel 310.

[0054] For example, and with reference now to Figure 3B, if a short circuit impedance was sensed across electrodes "Electrode A" and "Electrode B", forming the circuit for radiating an electric field having a field pattern directed across a respective portion of the user wearable item would involve: a. processor 200 signalling selector 300 to enable switch 302; b. applying signal I/P 314 across "Electrode A" and "Electrode B" via the circuit including switch 302 and the sensing channel 310 for "Electrode B".

[0055] The signal I/P is generated by a suitable electrical signal generator 204. Any suitable electrical signal generator 204 can be used, such that it will generate electrical signals for application across the first and second electrodes of an enabled electrode pair to radiate an electric field therebetween that will repel chondrichthyans. An example of one suitable signal generator is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,643 hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0056] Turning now to Figure 4, in an embodiment, the selectable pairs of electrodes (ie. the pairable combinations of electrodes) depend on the state of the respective sensed signal associated with each electrode 14, 16, 18, 20 such that only electrode pairs having a sensed signal indicating that the associated electrode is in contact with water is selectable to form a paired combination of electrodes. Similarly, and as is shown in Figures 5 A to 5F, the portion of the suit 12 covered by an electric field 500 formed by a respecti ve paired combination of electrodes depends on the position of the electrodes comprising a paired combination. [0057] It is to be noted that in some embodiments, paired combinations of electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 are simultaneously selectable to form separate circuits for generating an electric field having a field pattern directed across a respective portion of the user wearable item. For example, Figure 6 shows an example in which a first pair of electrodes (shown here as electrodes "A" and "B") and a second pair of electrodes (shown here as electrodes "C" and "D") are simultaneously selected to form respective separate electric fields 602, 604.

[0058] In some embodiments, when a wearer is completely immersed in water, a predetermined configuration of paired combinations of electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 may be sequentially selected to create a desired distribution of field patterns. For example, some embodiments may selectively enable pre-determined sets of electrode pairs, rather than attempt to power all pre-determined pairs simultaneously. For example, the processor 200 may sequentially select particular paired combinations of electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 every at a fixed interval, such as every 0.5 second, for example. The sequentially selection of particular paired combinations of electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20 may be based on Coulomb electrical field software modelling, and in water physical electrical field strength measurements.

[0059] Turning now to Figure 7 there is shown another embodiment of an aquatic item 700 according to an embodiment. The embodiment shown in Figure 7 is similar to the embodiment illustrated and described with reference to Figure 1 except that the embodiment 700 provides additional electrodes 702, 704, 706, 708 for forming paired combinations. In the present case, the additional electrodes are located on a respective limb of the suit 12 so that each limb includes two spaced apart electrodes. Arranging the electrodes 14, 16, 18, 20, 702, 704, 706, 708 in this way provides pairable electrodes located on each limb, with each limb located pair being selectable when the respective limb is immersed in water, such as may be the case during a paddling action on a surf board. When so selected, a pair may provide plural spatially distributed local electric fields extending along an extent of a respective limb

[0060] In a broad sense, the above has described a chondrichthyan repelling system for repelling chondrichthyans from a suit including plural electrodes, the repelling system including an electrical signal generator for connection plural paired combinations of plural electrodes and for generating electrical signals to cause a selected pair of electrodes to form an electric field therebetween to, in use, repel the chondrichthyans.

[0061] It is therefore clearly apparent that the prior problems are eliminated or much reduced in the prefen-ed embodiment of the invention described herein and the protection effect remains with the suit wearer in way which reduces potential discomfort effects caused by the position of the electrodes of the apparatus.

[0062] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular element and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

[0063] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise" and "include" and variations such as

"comprising" and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0064] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0065] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.