The invention relates to a retrieval device for retrieval of an object in case of submersion into water.

After dropping an object such as a mobile electronic communication device it is typically non-trivial to retrieve said object, especially if the object is out of sight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a retrieval device for retrieving an object such as a mobile electronic communication device after submersion into the water. Thereto, according to the invention, a water activated retrieval device is provided, comprising a base module attachable to the object, a floating module releasably coupled to the base module and a coupling mechanism coupling the base module to the floating module, wherein the device further comprises a water soluble tablet associated with the coupling mechanism such that the tablet in dry circumstances locks the coupling mechanism in a coupled state and in wet circumstances releases the coupling mechanism towards a decoupled state.

By applying a water soluble tablet locking and releasing the coupling mechanism in dry and wet circumstances, respectively, a device is obtained having a quick reaction performance in case of submersion into water as water soluble tablets may dissolve quickly in wet conditions.

Preferably, the coupling mechanism includes a movable element that is kept in a locking position by the water soluble tablet, in the coupled state, thereby effectively maintaining the coupled state in dry conditions and enabling the decoupled state in wet conditions.

Advantageously, the coupling mechanism may include a biasing unit for biasing the movable element away from the locking position, thereby accelerating the releasing process. Optionally, the device includes a retrieval line interconnecting the base module and the floating module, preferably wound up on a spool, for easy retrieval of the submerged object.

Advantageously, the device may include a biasing element biasing the base module and the floating module away from each other, for acceleration of the releasing process.

The invention also relates to an object provided with a water activated retrieval device, such as a mobile electronic communication device.

The base module of the water activated retrieval device may be integrated with a housing or a cover of the object, or may be attached as a separate component to the object.

Further advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the following claims.

It should be noted that the technical features described above or below may each on its own be embodied in a system or method, i.e. isolated from the context in which it is described, separate from other features, or in combination with only a number of the other features described in the context in which it is disclosed. Each of these features may further be combined with any other feature disclosed, in any combination.

The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments and an accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic partially exploded view of an object provided with a water activated retrieval device according to the invention, in a coupled state, and

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the object shown in Fig. 1 in a decoupled state.

It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to the invention. In the figures, the same reference numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts. Figure 1 shows a schematic partially exploded view of an object 1 provided with a water activated retrieval device 10 according to the invention. The object 1 comprises a mobile electronic communication device, more specifically a mobile phone having a camera 2 on its backside 3.

The water activated retrieval device 10 comprises a base module 12 including a frame 13 attached to the backside 3 of the mobile phone 1. Further, the device 10 includes a floating module 14 releasably coupled to the base module 12. The floating module 14 includes a generally plate shaped cover 15, as well as a floating element 16 and a spool 17 accommodated in said cover 15.

The water activated retrieval device 10 also has a coupling mechanism coupling the base module 12 to the floating module 14. The coupling mechanism includes a first coupling module 18 provided with a movable element 19. The first coupling module 18 is associated with the base module 12. In the shown embodiment, the first coupling module 18 is mounted on and/or in the frame 13 of the base module 12. The coupling mechanism further includes a second coupling module 28 associated with the floating module 14. In a coupled state of the water activated retrieval device 10, as shown in Fig. 1, the second coupling module 28 is coupled to the first coupling module 18.

Further, in the shown embodiment, the second coupling module 28 includes a coupling structure that is clamped by the first coupling module 18, in the coupled state. In the shown embodiment, the coupling structure 28 is formed as a stud or pillar 28 extending from an inner surface 15’ of the plate shaped cover 15 generally transversely towards the base module 12 and the mobile phone 1.

The movable element 19 of the first coupling module 18 may be formed as an arm, as shown in Fig. 1, being pivotable with respect to a pivoting axis PA between in a first rotational position RP1 and a second rotational position RP2. In the first rotational position RP1, the arm 19 induces a coupling force on the coupling structure 28 of the second coupling module 28. In the shown embodiment, the arm 19 is provided with a cutout 19’ having a mainly circular contour for at least partly surrounding the coupling structure 28 of the second coupling module, in the first rotational position RP1, so as to exercise or induce a clamping force on said coupling structure 28 of the second coupling module. Here, the coupling structure 28 extends from the plate shaped cover 15 towards and beyond the arm 19 of the first coupling module 18, traversing the cutout 19’ of the arm 19. In the second rotational position RP2, the coupling force induced by the arm 19 on the coupling structure 28 of the second coupling structure is weakened or even completely removed. During a pivoting movement from the first rotational position RP1 towards the second rotational position RP2, the coupling force weakens.

Generally, the first rotational position RP1 of the arm 19 defines a locking position of the coupling mechanism so as to couple the base module 12 to the floating module 14, in the coupled state. In the second rotational position RP2, the arm 19 releases the coupling structure 28 of the second coupling module so as to decouple the base module 12 from the floating module 14, in a decoupled state.

The water activated retrieval device 10 further comprises a water soluble tablet 20 associated with the coupling mechanism such that the tablet 20 in a dry circumstances locks the coupling mechanism in the coupled state and in wet circumstances releases the coupling mechanism towards the decoupled state.

Advantageously, the water soluble tablet 20 and the coupling mechanism are integrated in a force-closed or form -fitting manner realizing a coupling structure mechanism that is arranged for reliably and optionally reusably releasing the floating module from the base module in dry conditions only. Preferably, the assemblage of the coupling mechanism and the water soluble tablet are implemented as a relatively thin, preferably mainly flat structure, forming a thin design of the device, i.e. dimensions of the device along the object 1 are relatively large compared to a dimension transverse to said object 1. As an example, the floating module and the base module, when coupled, may have a thickness less than circa 5 mm, e.g. circa 4 mm or even less than circa 4 mm.

In the shown embodiment, the tablet 20 is accommodated in a cavity 21 formed by the frame 13 of the base module 12, thereby keeping the arm 19 in the locking position corresponding to the first rotational position RP1 of the arm 19. In dry circumstances the tablet 20 prevents movement of the arm 19, thereby maintaining the coupled state of the device 10. In wet circumstances, the tablet 20 at least partially dissolves thereby allowing the arm 19 to pivot or move away from the first rotational position RP1 towards the second rotational position RP2 so as to decouple the floating module 14 from the base module 12.

In the shown embodiment, the tablet 20 is provided with an internal hole 20’ such as a through hole or recess that may be mainly concentric with a body axis of the generally cylindrical tablet 20. By providing a hole 20’ or recess, also referred to as a cavity such as a blind hole, in the tablet 20, its exterior surface is increased considerably, e.g. with a factor of circa two, thereby also increasing its dissolving capacity. Further, by providing the tablet 20 with a hole 20’ or recess, the tablet 20 may dissolve from its axial center portion so as to avoid that the tablet 20 blocks the arm 19. Also, as tablet material may expand radially inwardly towards the hole 20’ or recess, a radially outwardly expansion effect of tablet material may be reduced or even avoided, so as to counteract that the tablet 20 blocks a movement of the arm 19 towards the second rotational position RP2, during the dissolving process. After a first dissolving phase, the tablet 20 may break into parts thereby even further increasing its dissolving capacity and allowing the arm 19 to pivot or move away.

Generally, the tablet 20 is arranged to dissolve in wet circumstances for allowing the arm 19 to move from the locking position so as to weaken the coupling force exerted by the arm 19 to the coupling structure 28 of the second coupling module, thereby releasing the floating 14 from the base module 12. The water soluble tablet may contain salt particles and/or form a salt tablet.

In the shown embodiment, the coupling mechanism includes a biasing unit such as a single or a multiple number of springs 22 or another resilient structure for biasing the movable element 19 away from the locking position.

It is noted that the movable element of the first coupling module 18 can be implemented as an arm 19, as shown in Fig. 1, or as another movable structure such as a lever or another structure for pivotal and/or translational movement. The movable element may have another shape, geometry or moving principle. Further, in the shown embodiment, the frame 13 of the base module 12 includes a frame module 23 defining a movement range of the movable element 19. Also, in the shown embodiment, the frame module 23 includes an aperture 23’ aligned with the coupling structure 28 and the cutout 19’ of the arm for aligning purposes.

In the coupled state of the water activated retrieval device 10, the base module 12 and the floating module 14 form an enclosure accommodating the floating element 16, the spool 17, the coupling mechanism and the water soluble tablet 20. The cavity 21 formed by the frame 13 of the base module 12 houses the tablet 20. Preferably, the device 10 includes at least one aperture, in the shown embodiment at least two apertures 24, 25 allowing water to enter the cavity 21 in case the device 10 has submerged into water. The device 10 further includes a biasing element 26 biasing the base module 12 and the floating module 14 away from each other.

In case the mobile phone 1 drops into water, water flows into the cavity 21 thereby dissolving at least partly the water soluble tablet 20. Then, the movable element 19 moves away from the locking position thereby releasing the coupling mechanism towards a decoupled state thereby releasing the floating module 14 from the base module 12 and the mobile phone 1. The biasing module 22 biasing the movable element 19 away from the locking state and/or the biasing element 26 biasing the floating module 14 away from the base module 12 may accelerate the process of releasing the floating module 14 from the base module 12 and the mobile phone 1 so as to avoid that the mobile phone 1 reaches a bottom of the water and in a position wherein the backside 3 of the phone 1 rests on the bottom surface in the water.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the object 1 shown in Fig. 1 in a decoupled state. The mobile phone 1 has submerged into the water 50, e.g. sea water having a sea floor 40. The mobile phone 1 rests on said sea floor 40, while in the meantime the released floating module 14 has reached the water surface 51.

A retrieval line 31 wound up on the spool 17 interconnects the base module 12 and the floating module 14. The line 31 may have a length ranging from circa 10 meter to circa 25 meter or more, e.g. circa 50 meter. Here, the spool 17 is mounted on the floating module 14 while a free end 32 of the retrieval line 31 is connected to the base module 12 for retrieval purposes. As the floating module 14 remains in a neighborhood of the mobile phone 1, said mobile phone 1 can be easily located and retrieved optionally by pulling the retrieval line 31 upwardly out of the water 50.

After the floating module 14 releases from the base module 12, the retrieval line 31 unrolls from the spool 17 allowing the floating module to float upwardly. In the shown embodiment, the spool 17 is supported on bearings 17’ to enhance the unwinding process.

It is noted that, as an alternative, the spool 17 is mounted, preferably bearing-mounted, to the base module 12 while the free end 32 of the retrieval line 31 is connected to the floating module 14.

The floating element 16 of the floating module 14 includes a substance lighter than water, e.g. a gas for providing a floating capacity to the floating module 14.

In the shown embodiment, the floating body 14 is provided with an optional mass element 33, at a side thereof to balance the floating body 14 in a predetermined orientation. In principle, also the spool 17 may have a balancing function due to its mass. Further, in the shown embodiment, the floating body 14 is provided with an optional light emitting element 34, preferably at a side of the floating body 14 opposite to the side where the mass element 33 is located.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

As an example, the location of the first and second coupling modules can be interchanged such that the first coupling module is associated or mounted on the floating module while the second coupling module is associated or mounted on the base module. Also, the movable element of the first coupling module may induce directly or via a further movable element a coupling force on the second coupling module, e.g. via an intermediate engaging element. As a further example, the coupling mechanism may be based on a coupling principle that is not based on clamping forces, e.g. a locking mechanism.

Further, the device may be provided without the biasing module and/or without the biasing element.

The water activated retrieval device may be used for retrieval of a mobile phone or another mobile electronic communication device such as a tablet or electronic token. In principle, the device is also applicable to other objects such as a bunch of keys.

The water activated retrieval device may be mounted as a separate discrete component on the object or may be integrated with a housing or a cover of the object.

These and other embodiments will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.