Mar 3, 2026

US12566051 - Floating barrier system

A floating barrier system has a plurality of connected floating barrier units. Capture net segments are positioned on the floating barrier units by support post members, forming a barrier to vessel passage. Lanyards attach the ends of the capture net segments to the floating barrier units. Upon a vessel striking the capture net segments with sufficient force, the capture nets detach from the support post members and/or pull the support post members over, and the forces from the vessel are transferred via the lanyards to the floating barrier unit. The vessel is prevented from fully passing over the floating barrier unit, thus itself forming a barrier to passage by other vessels.

Assignee: OCEANETICS, INC.
Inventors: Erick Knezek, Matthew Marcy, David Delleart, Mark Wood, William Newton Seelig, Eric Jacobs
Filing date: 2022-03-02

The patent describes a floating barrier system composed of interconnected units designed to prevent vessel passage by utilizing capture nets that detach upon impact. The system transfers forces from a striking vessel through lanyards to the horizontal members of the barrier units, maintaining a barrier against further vessel movement.

Claim 1

1 . A floating barrier system, comprising a plurality of connected floating barrier units, said floating barrier units comprising: a horizontal member with a plurality of float members attached thereto; a plurality of support posts attached to said horizontal member and extending upwardly therefrom; a capture net connected to said support posts and extending upwardly from said horizontal member; a plurality of lanyards connecting said capture net to said horizontal member, whereby forces imposed on said capture net by a vessel striking said capture net are transferred to said lanyards and then to said horizontal member; and a connector connected to said horizontal members of adjacent floating barrier units, thereby connecting said adjacent floating barrier units, wherein said float members comprise sufficient buoyancy to float said floating barrier unit on a waterbody, and wherein a capture net on one floating barrier unit extends beyond an end of said horizontal member and connects to a support post on an adjacent floating barrier unit. a horizontal member with a plurality of float members attached thereto; a plurality of support posts attached to said horizontal member and extending upwardly therefrom; a capture net connected to said support posts and extending upwardly from said horizontal member; a plurality of lanyards connecting said capture net to said horizontal member, whereby forces imposed on said capture net by a vessel striking said capture net are transferred to said lanyards and then to said horizontal member; and a connector connected to said horizontal members of adjacent floating barrier units, thereby connecting said adjacent floating barrier units, wherein said float members comprise sufficient buoyancy to float said floating barrier unit on a waterbody, and wherein a capture net on one floating barrier unit extends beyond an end of said horizontal member and connects to a support post on an adjacent floating barrier unit.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12566051

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12566051