DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A SAFE MARITIME AREA AND METHOD FOR MONITORING WAVE-BREAKING

Abstract

The device for providing a safe maritime area includes a structure having vertical filtering walls over the entire periphery of same and a base linking the lower portions of all filtering walls. The structure is provided with buoyancy, so as to keep the base submerged and the upper portions of the filtering walls above the waterline. At least one portion of the surface of the base is sealed. The sealed surface includes a first face inclined transversely relative to the horizontal in an increasing slope from a front wall and a second face extending from the first face to a rear wall. The invention also concerns a method for monitoring wave-breaking.

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention is related to the field of development of a maritime area for sports activities.

[0006] In particular, the invention relates to a device for providing a secure maritime area, and a method for monitoring wave breaking.

[0007] The invention finds a preferred, but in no way restrictive application in making secure the nautical and aquatic "gliding" sports activities in a marine environment, such as for example surfing and bodyboarding, but also kitesurfing and windsurfing.

[0008] In a known way, the "gliding" sports activities are becoming increasingly spread in the world. Sports using sliding or plunging wave breaking have been developed, multiplying the number of practitioners.

[0009] In line with this development, there are increasingly more accidents related to the environment in which sportsmen evolve. Among them, the injuries on reefs, the jellyfish attacks and, even more serious, the shark attacks.

[0010] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

[0011] There exists no structure to ensure the safety and the protection of the users. Currently, the main security solutions are of a human kind, through the deployment of live-savers whose only task is to alert the sportsmen in case of seeing a shark and to intervene in case of an accident in order to provide first aid, or of material kinds, such as the protection nets, preventing determined marine species from penetrating into a so delimited area.

[0012] The current context for the different shark attacks, namely for the surfers and other sportsmen using the waves, is the reason why the practice of these sports has become very risky. Serenity and security are increasingly less present. In addition, studies are conducted on the behavior of the sharks in order to understand the evolution of the increasingly larger number of attacks occurring in recent years. One solution consists in "collecting" the sharks, in order to reduce their presence on the sites of sports activities, but this fishing has an adverse impact on the ecosystem.

[0013] The current solutions are obsolete and have a destructive effect on the marine fauna and flora.

[0014] In addition, there are multitudes of reefs for optimizing the waves by inclination of a false shore. With these reefs are associated various methods of assembling. However, all these multitudes of reefs do not meet the need for safety of the sportsmen through a monitoring of the wave breaking associated with a protection area. Moreover, these artificial reefs are located on the seabed, subjected to a destructive phenomenon of burial at medium term.

[0015] In the related field of swimming, solutions have been devised for protecting the users by monitoring a bathing area, in order to recreate a natural pool.

[0016] A first solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,925,175, which relates to a cage with wire-mesh peripheral walls and a sloping bottom, also made of wire mesh, but covered with a coating in order to protect the feet of the swimmers. This coating can namely be formed of a cloth or rubber, materials that do not explicitly have sealing characteristics, letting the water circulate. Indeed, the purpose of this coating is clearly and only to protect the feet of the swimmers, and need not be watertight. In addition, the inclination of this bottom is provided for imparting a slope and an increasing level of water for the swimmers, like the gradients of the bottom of a swimming pool.

[0017] Another similar solution is described in DE 92 03 178, with perforated walls designed with perforations permitting water to pass through and a planar bottom. In addition, only the movements of the device are stabilized by means of articulated arms located in the shell of such a mobile pool in order to counter the swell effects, such as the swinging of the device.

[0018] Another similar solution of floating enclosure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,770 relating to a similar enclosure with a bottom formed of two inclined walls forming a V, so that the depth at the center along the length is larger than on the sides. In addition, this bottom is designed as a perforated wall ensuring the circulation of water from the bottom between the inside and the outside of the so formed enclosure.

[0019] A last similar solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,092,782 relating to a water-pervious and inclined bottom. This inclination can be adjustable in order to change the depth for swimming. To this end, the device is provided with retractable and articulated arms associated with a structure of nets that prevents the intrusion of parasites.

[0020] An alternative solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,571,819 relating to an enclosure located on the seabed, having a natural slope like a beach. Such an enclosure simply restricts access from the outside to the inside, and vice-versa. In addition, the slope of the bottom causes the wave breaking.

[0021] The currently known solutions are limited to surround a secure swimming area. None of them considers monitoring the wave breaking in order to ensure the safety of the swimmers and sportsmen.

[0022] A related device, described in DE 23 41 845, consists of a floating breakwater anchored in the seabed. Such a device is characterized by an inclination that can vary between 30° and 60° in the direction of wave propagation. Its main purpose is to protect the littoral by arranging several modules, by stopping the swell. Indeed, such a device comprises, in the upper portion above water, a curved bend to deflect the wave burst in the opposite direction, creating a roller acting against the natural swell.

[0023] However, such a device and its inclination, combined with the above-mentioned solutions of a floating enclosure and their inclination, would not ensure the safety of the swimmers, but instead would confer a surf that could be dangerous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The aim of the invention is to cope with the disadvantages of the prior art by providing to monitor the wave breaking within a secured floating enclosure. This monitoring is performed in particular by attenuating said swell.

[0025] Thus, the present invention permits to practice these sports fully safely by monitoring the elements entering into the wave through a device for providing a secure area for this purpose. It respects the marine environment while ensuring fully safe sports activities. The structure forming said device acts as a true sieve against the undesirable elements within the structure, in particular the sharks.

[0026] The peculiarity of this invention is that it is possible to monitor the aquatic environment in which the sportsmen evolve, namely to monitor the wave, from its swelling to its breaking, in order to stop the evolution of the surfer on said wave and to avoid him from leaving the enclosure of the structure.

[0027] It should be noted that the term "parasites" in the meaning of the present invention means all potentially dangerous things for the sportsman within the secure area by means of said device.

[0028] The aim of the present invention is therefore to cope with the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a device for providing a secure maritime area. Such a provision of a secure area is intended, on the one hand, to delimit an area not accessible for the parasites through a periphery designed filtering, but which lets the wave pass, and, on the other hand, to monitor in said area the breaking of waves passing through it.

[0029] To this end, such a device comprises a structure formed, on the one hand, over its entire periphery, of filtering vertical walls and, on the other hand, a bottom connecting the lower part all of said filtering walls, said structure being provided with buoyancy means, so as to keep said bottom submerged and said filtering walls above water at the upper portion. It is characterized in that said bottom comprises at least a portion of its tight surface and in that said tight surface of said bottom comprises a first face inclined transversely to the horizontal with an increasing slope from a front wall and a second face extending from said first face to a rear wall.

[0030] It should be noted that the orientation of the device from the first face to the rear wall is chosen depending on the direction and the direction of wave propagation, in order to permit the monitoring of its swell.

[0031] In addition, if the first face is designed inclined with respect to a specific direction, the second face is, in turn, logically flat or inclined in another direction, preferably a slope the degree of inclination of which is opposite to that of said first slope.

[0032] Moreover, according to further additional features, said second face can be horizontal or inclined transversely with an increasing or decreasing slope from said first face to said rear wall.

[0033] According to one embodiment, said base can be divided into at least one tight surface and at least one filtering surface.

[0034] Advantageously, said filtering walls and said filtering surface can be formed at least partly by a lattice.

[0035] Preferably, said lattice may be at least partially flexible, semi-rigid and/or rigid. In particular, said lattice of each filtering wall can be secured to a fixed frame formed, on the one hand, at the level of each of its side edges of at least one vertical post and, on the other hand, at the level of its lower edge of at least one lower beam connected to each vertical post.

[0036] Alternatively, said fixed frame may comprise in its upper portion at least one movable portion.

[0037] According to a specific feature, said buoyancy means may be formed at least in part by floats.

[0038] Finally, said device can comprise damping means in the form of peaks made of flexible material arranged in at least one protruding line placed at least at the level of the junction between the first and second faces or at the level of the filtering walls.

[0039] The invention also relates to a method for monitoring the wave breaking, wherein:

[0040] the swell is filtered at the entering;

[0041] wave formation is caused, then their swelling through a slope increasing in the direction of propagation of said wave;

[0042] Such a method is characterized in that it consists in:

[0043] attenuating the energy generated by the wave breaking through a flat surface and/or a decreasing slope after the increasing slope; then

[0044] stopping the progression of the attenuated swell through a filtering and/or tight surface; and

[0045] the swell is filtered at the exit.

[0046] In particular, such a method permits to achieve a reduction, even up to the cancellation, of the progression of the foam resulting the swell, ensuring a slowing down, up to the stopping, of the sportsmen, which permits them to practice sports, namely surfing, very safely.

[0047] Such a method consists in implementing the device according to the invention by causing, then monitoring the wave breaking through the inclination of the faces forming the walls of the bottom.

[0048] In addition, the formation of a quiet area with no wave clearly results from monitoring the swell after having caused it, by attenuating it until stopping the waves after said swell. This monitoring is clearly achieved by managing the swell in order to attenuate it, thus permitting to stop the waves.

[0049] Conversely, the aim of the device according to the invention is to recreate the wave breaking within a secure area, so that at the periphery of the secure area the energy generated by the wave breaking is zero. Therefore, said device is designed so that after swell in the form of a white foam, there remains no or nearly no energy at the peripheries of the device.

[0050] The common aim of said device and the method is to protect very well the swimmers and the sportsmen by attenuating the wave breaking, preventing the waves from driving the user against the walls. This is therefore one and the same inventive concept connecting said device and said method according to one and same invention. Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of non-restrictive embodiments of the invention, with reference to the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention.

[0052] FIG. 2 schematically shows a vertical cross-sectional view along a median plane of FIG. 1.

[0053] FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of said device.

[0054] FIGS. 4 and 5 are two schematic views, showing two different embodiments of a detail of the device, namely the peripheral walls.

[0055] FIG. 6 schematically show a top plan view of a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] It should be noted that FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 schematically show different progressions of the wave traveling along the different parts forming said device.

[0057] The present invention relates to a device 1 for providing a secure maritime area. Such a device 1 is intended to be installed at sea, whether or not near the coasts, so as to delimit a volume forming said area. In addition, first of all, said device 1 permits to prohibit access, from the outside to the inside, to the area by parasites, especially sharks. Furthermore, in combination, said device 1 is designed to allow the passing through the wave and to monitor its swell within said area.

[0058] According to a first feature, the device 1 provides to delimit an area into which no parasite can penetrate. To this end, said device 1 comprises a structure globally forming a cage open in the upper portion, but completely closed at the lower portion, namely located at least partly under the level of the water.

[0059] More specifically, said structure is formed, on the one hand, over its entire periphery, of filtering vertical walls 2 and, on the other hand, a bottom 3 connecting at least in the lower portion all said filtering walls 2. In addition, said bottom 3 is formed at least in part of a tight surface 30. It can also be formed of at least one filtering surface 31. In brief, said bottom 3 closes from below the filtering walls 2, preferably at the level of their respective lower edges, but said filtering walls 2 may also extend at least partially under said bottom 3, i.e. protruding and sinking deeper under the latter.

[0060] In addition, the filtering nature of said walls 2 corresponds to a sieving, in the manner of a grid, but arranged vertically, or acting as a net. To this end, said filtering walls 2 and said filtering surface 31 are formed at least partly of a lattice. The latter may consist of a lattice of cross-webs formed of wires or cables, rods or bars.

[0061] This lattice configuration offers the advantage of impeding access to all parasites, depending on the spacing of the meshes, while letting the current pass through each filtering wall 2, in particular the wave, while opposing a lower resistance to this ocean current.

[0062] In addition, said lattice is at least partially flexible, semi-rigid and/or rigid. Preferably, a portion of the lattice is made of a flexible material, in the way of a net, while another part is made of a rigid material, in the way of a grating. The flexibility and the rigidity can be obtained by interweaving the webs, for example orthogonally in columns and rows, or in an undulated manner, for example in zigzag, in such case forming rhombuses. These characteristics can also be obtained through the material being used, i.e. plastic and composite material for flexible webs or metal for obtaining a determined rigidity.

[0063] According to an additional feature, said lattice of each filtering wall 2 is secured to a fixed frame 4 formed, on the one hand, at the level of each of its side edges 40 of at least one vertical post 5 and, on the other hand, at the level of its lower edge 41 of at least one lower longitudinal beam 6 connected to each horizontal post 41.

[0064] It should be noted that said frame then has an overall U-shape, when the wall has a parallelepiped shape, as can be seen in FIG. 4, said longitudinal beam 6 then being horizontal. However, this longitudinal beam 6 may be designed at least in part inclined, when one of said posts 5 is longer than the other one, forming a trapezoidal wall or in the form of a complex polygon, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

[0065] Moreover, several intermediate posts may be arranged vertically at regular intervals between the two end posts 5. These intermediate posts permit to improve the rigidity of the frame and the hold of the lattice forming each filtering wall 2, strengthening the latter.

[0066] In addition, transverse wirings can be added, namely at the level of the upper edge, forming a bracing, in order to improve the rigidity of said frame.

[0067] Finally, the frames of the adjacent filtering walls can be made integral with each other, forming a fence surrounding the periphery of the device 1, as well as with the bottom 3, closing the area from below.

[0068] According to a particular embodiment, said fixed frame of each filtering wall 2 comprises in the upper portion at least one movable portion 7. The latter is designed slidable in vertical translation relative to said fixed frame. This displacement is subjected to the swell, in particular its undulating movement, so that at least a height of each movable portion 7 protrudes above the level of the water, while the rest is submerged, and the fixed frame is still submerged. This height above water impedes parasites from passing over the filtering walls 2.

[0069] In this respect, said structure is provided with buoyancy means, so as to keep said bottom 3 submerged and said filtering walls 2 above water in the upper portion, namely at the level of their mobile portion 7.

[0070] To this end, according to a first embodiment, said buoyancy means may be formed at least in part of floats. Such floats may be secured to each filtering wall 2, in particular at the level of their respective frames. These floats can be submerged, made integral with the fixed frame, or partially floating when they are secured to the moving portions 7.

[0071] Note that, according to a particular embodiment, said floats can be formed at least in part by the posts 5 and the longitudinal beams 6, designed hollow and tightly closed, the inner volume of which ensures at least part of the buoyancy of the whole device 1.

[0072] According to another embodiment, said buoyancy means may be formed at least in part of at least one anchoring on the seabed. Such anchoring may be formed of a rigid supporting structure resting on the seabed and anchored into the latter, even partially buried. Said anchoring may also be formed of cabling connecting the structure to the seabed, the tension of which impedes the device 1 from drifting.

[0073] According to another possible implanting, the device 1 can at least partly rest directly on the seabed, or on an artificial raising fixed and/or buried at the level of said seabed. Said raising can then be like an artificial reef. Therefore, the bottom 3 rests at least partially on the upper portion of this artificial raising.

[0074] Thus, the device 1 is kept afloat, defining an area closed for parasites, but through which passes the wave.

[0075] In this respect, according to another essential feature, the device 1 permits to monitor the wave breaking in the area it delimits. This monitoring occurs through the orientation and the inclination of the various elements forming the structure of the device 1.

[0076] It should be noted that this monitoring consists, in a first step, in causing the swell, according to an amplitude or a range of amplitudes, to guide the breaking waves and to attenuate, even stop, the progression of the foam resulting from the swell.

[0077] To this end, first of all, the surface of at least a portion of said bottom 3 is designed tight. This surface then forms a floor. Therefore, the swell is split into two when it passes through the device 1. In particular, the undulation of the wave is divided, remaining identical or substantially equivalent under the device 1 and the portion of which that passes through it in the upper part will be modified.

[0078] In this respect, the tight surface of said bottom 3 comprises a first surface 8 inclined transversely to the horizontal with an increasing slope from a front wall 9 and a second face 10 extending from said first face 8 to a rear wall 11. Said front wall 9 is located upstream relative to the direction of displacement of the wave, while the rear face 11 is located downstream.

[0079] Therefore, the inclination of the first face 8 simulates an increase of the seabed, so that the amplitude of the wave artificially generates the swell in the form of waves. In short, this first inclined face 8 forms a rising floor that will slow down the wave and cause it to break in the form of breaking waves.

[0080] It should be noted that the degree of inclination of the slope of the first face 8 as well as its height and its width determine, with respect to the level of entering of the wave within the device 1 (depending on the level of its waterline), the height of the so created waves. In particular, this height is varying, depending on the characteristics of the wave, but the configuration of the first face 8 permits to obtain waves in a defined range of sizes and strengths. In particular, this configuration permits to obtain roller-type breaking waves for the practice of surfing.

[0081] According to various embodiments, the degree of inclination can be constant, forming a uniformly rectilinear slope, such as a single plane, but this level can also be designed varying, forming a plurality of planes with different slopes, even forming a first concave or convex surface 8 if the degree of inclination also varies in the longitudinal direction, from one side to the other side of said device 1.

[0082] This wave generation is schematically modeled in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0083] According to a particular embodiment, at the junction between portions 8 and 10 and/or on at least part of the portion 10 can be placed, perpendicularly to the forward motion of the foam, protruding damping means. These means can be in the form of peaks or blades 100, arranged side-by-side on at least one line, preferably located at least at the level of the top 12. Several lines of peaks 100 can also be disposed, spaced apart at regular intervals or not, protruding at the surface of at least a first part of the portion 10.

[0084] According to another embodiment, these peaks 100 can be designed protruding with respect to the filtering walls 2.

[0085] In addition, said peaks 100 can be made of a flexible material, namely in plastic form, namely of natural or synthetic rubber. Thus, the foam arriving perpendicularly to the peaks 100 applies a transverse thrust, which bends them. The energy is thus transmitted to the peaks by this twist. After the passage over the flexible peaks 100, there is little or no foam. These peaks can be placed in one or several rows. They can be secured to the junction or ridge line 12 between the portions 8 and 10. Since the peaks 100 are flexible, the safety of the sportsman and his equipment remains intact.

[0086] For its implementation, the device 1 is specifically oriented relative to the direction of propagation of the wave, as modeled in FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, at least said first face is oriented facing the direction of displacement of the swell, orthogonally or obliquely.

[0087] Like a beach, the rising face 8 causes the formation of waves, their breaking, then their swell along its increasing slope, up to an upper point 12 located at the level of the junction with said front face 8 and the rear face 10.

[0088] In addition, it should be noted that the breaking can be oriented laterally, from one side to the opposite side of the front face 8, or from the center towards both lateral sides. To this end, the front face 8 may be designed inclined laterally accordingly. Thus, it is possible to monitor the direction of evolving of the waves during their breaking, namely to the left or to the right, or both at the same time.

[0089] Once the wave is broken, at the level of the upper point 12, there remains only foam driven by the force resulting from the previous swell. In order to avoid the sportsman from continuing to be taken along and striking against the rear wall 11, the device 1 permits to attenuate the driving force of the foam, slowing down its progression, even to cancel it.

[0090] Thus, in a second step, the function of the second rear face 10 is to kill the wave after its swelling and to stop its progress. To this end, at the end of the travel distance of the wave is simulated an increase in depth, through the inclination of the portion of the device 1 located after the swell.

[0091] To this end, said second face 10 may include at least one horizontal or substantially horizontal landing over part of its width, or have a gradient according to a decreasing slope.

[0092] Like the first face 8, the second face 10 may be similar at least in part, over a first portion, to a flat and/or descending floor.

[0093] In this respect, as shown in FIG. 2, said second face 10 may also be designed inclined transversely with a decreasing slope from said first face 8 to said rear wall 11. In addition, the surface of this second face 10 may be provided at least on its first tight portion, then at least on a second filtering portion. In the latter case, this filtering creates a vacuum after the descending floor, the foam meeting then the water contained at the level of this portion and communicating with the exterior of the device 1. By experience, the energy after swelling contained in the foam dissipates more quickly with a deep seabed. This effect is adapted within the device 1 by the implementation of filtering at the level of the second surface 10, stopping the progress of the foam and stopping at the same time the displacement of the sportsman.

[0094] It should be noted that this filtering also permits to prevent access from below to the inside of the device 1 by any parasite.

[0095] Preferably, the second face 10 may be integrally formed of a filtering surface. Thus, the foam resulting from the swell dissipates more quickly by simulating a gap between the first portion 8 and the rear wall 11. This gap is ensured by the implementation of filtrations that will ensure a filtering function by decreasing more rapidly the foam resulting from the swell. Like for the filtrations 2 and 9, this portion can be fixed to the portion 8 by a longitudinal beam, then reinforced by posts or horizontal or inclined longitudinal beams.

[0096] Though a flat portion permits to slightly limit the progression of the foam, its downward slope simulates a subsidence of the seabed, attenuating more strongly this progression, even up to stopping it.

[0097] It should be noted that the slope of the rear face 10 can extend until reaching the water level at the rear of the device 1. According to the embodiment visible in FIG. 2, the rear wall 10 extends and descends under the sea level at the rear of the device 1.

[0098] According to an additional embodiment, a vertical and tight structure can be placed under the portion 8 so as to further simulate the effect of a shore at the arrival of the swell at the level of the portion 8.

[0099] As mentioned above, the device 1 permits to guide the swell of the waves, in particular to guide the attenuation of the progression of the foam after the swell.

[0100] To this end, at least said second face 10 is inclined longitudinally from said upper point 12 at the level of said first face 8 to a lower point 13 at the level of the rear portion between 10 and 11.

[0101] Thus, the swell will be reduced, even stopped, at the end of travel, at the level of the junction between the portions 8 and 31. In order to prevent the foam from damaging the structure and from throwing the sportsman onto the walls, the surface 31 is extended until the rear of the structure.

[0102] Preferably, this attenuation will be obtained through the filtering surface 31 of the bottom 3. For this purpose, said filtering surface 31 is formed of a filtering face, namely formed of a lattice, at least inclined longitudinally with a decreasing slope from said first 8 and second 10 faces inclined to at least a lower filtering point 14 at the level of least one of said filtering walls 2. The filtering surface 31 then forms a pit in which the waves die. Afloat, this pit then forms a quiet area, without waves, as visible in FIG. 3.

[0103] As mentioned above, the degree of inclination of the slope of the first face 8 as well as its height and its width determine, with respect to the level of entering of the wave into the device 1 (depending on the level of its waterline) as well as the inclination of the first face 8, the distance being traveled and the speed of the waves as well as their attenuation. These various parameters can be taken into consideration to create a device 1 made to measure, depending on the level of the practitioners, especially of the surfers and their requirements.

[0104] Moreover, the arrangement of the device 1 relative to the swell, in particular its average direction 15, as well as the ocean currents, has an influence on the previously mentioned monitoring. As visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 1 is installed so that the front wall 9 is arranged facing the direction and the major direction of the swell 15, modeled by a thick arrow. Said front face 9 can be orthogonal to or intersecting according to a different angle with the direction 15 of the swell.

[0105] According to another embodiment, the bottom 3 can be designed partially articulated between these portions it is formed of. In particular, the junction between the tight surface 30 and the filtering surface 31 can occur by means of points or a junction line ensuring the mobility of its two walls relative to each other. In particular, this junction can occur through a pivotal connection, permitting the rotation of the filtering surface 31, now movable in rotation relative to the tight surface 30, then fixed.

[0106] In addition, this junction can be designed removable, in order to permit the removal of the filtering surface 31, namely in order to disassemble this movable portion of the device 1 in case of a heavy swell likely to cause damage to it.

[0107] In addition, it should be noted that additional means can be added to connect one and/or the other one of said surfaces 30 and 31 to each other, or one and/or the other one to the bottom, separately and independently. In the latter case, separate submarine foundations connecting each surface 30, 31 can be considered.

[0108] Alternatively, said device 1 may comprise a rear area, not shown, partially whether submerged or not, forming a rest or pleasure area.

[0109] It should be noted that such a device 1 for providing a secure area can have large dimensions, extending in length and width over several tens of meters, even more than one hundred meters, as well as in height over several meters, even at least ten meters.

[0110] Under these circumstances, a sportsman, even a beginner, can easily walk down the so artificially generated waves the force and travel distance of which can be controlled so as to end within said calm area. The latter also permits to access the area upstream the area of waves formation at the level of the first surface 8.

[0111] The device 1 according to the invention thus forms an arrangement offering increased safety through monitoring the swell within its structure, the aim looked for being to control the shape of the wave and then to stop it by reducing the previously generated energy, permitting to stop a user during his displacement, keeping him inside this so secured area.

[0112] The invention also relates to a method for monitoring the wave breaking, namely within the device 1 as described above.

[0113] Such a method consists in filtering the wave when entering; causing the formation of waves, then their breaking through an increasing slope in the direction of propagation of said wave; then filtering wave at the exit after wave breaking.

[0114] Advantageously, said method consists in attenuating the wave breaking through a flat surface and/or a decreasing slope after the increasing slope and before the filtering at the exit.

[0115] Therefore, the swell will be attenuated, even stopped, at the end of the travel distance, at the level of the junction between the portions 8 and 31. In order to prevent the foam from damaging the structure and from throwing the sportsman onto the peripheral walls, the surface 31 may be extended as far as the rear of the structure, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0116] In brief, after having created the swell, the resulting energy is reduced, in order to prevent damaging the filtering means at the exit and to ensure a slowing down of the sportsman.

[0117] At the arrival of the wave at the level of the structure, it is thus filtered by the front filtering area. There is a difference in depth between the seabed and the artificial bottom, which causes an increase in amplitude of the swell as it penetrates into the structure. The orientation of the inclination of the structure with respect to the horizontal and the vertical permits an optimal wave breaking depending on the requirements by the surfers and other sportsman of this kind.

[0118] At the end of the structure, the swell-stopping portion permits to control the shape of the wave and to stop it. The aim looked for is to stop the user during his displacement, while keeping him in the secure structure. This portion has characteristics different from the previous area.

[0119] The rear portion is intended to reduce the energy resulting from the swell perpendicularly to the direction of propagation of the wave.

[0120] The external filtering on the sides occurs by a structure similar to the front filtering area. The function of the latter is to evacuate the energy resulting from the wave and to avoid the intrusions from outside.

[0121] All the walls are assembled together and/or on the seabed by means permitting to keep them in position and to bring them into position.

[0122] The monitoring of the swelling of the wave is comprised of a combination of several portions, elements or modules, which all meet a specific need.

[0123] The wave is growing when arriving in the structure and passes through a first area for filtering parasites, then there is a wave breaking by the artificial bottom and this swell is reduced, then stopped via a swell-stopping area. Moreover, this portion permits to reduce the energy released after the swell, in order to prevent the filtering system on the sides from regaining too much force. Immediately after the swell, there is a lot of energy. In addition, the safety of the sportsman is increased by avoiding the latter from being applied against the rear filtering area. Thus, the water is filtered over 360°, over the entire periphery of the device, preventing the intrusion of any undesirable things into the protected and secure area.

[0124] In a second aspect of the invention, the materials the filtering elements are made of are chosen, on the one hand, rigid and/or flexible and, on the other hand, fixed and/or movable. This filtering ensured by these elements exceeds the maximum height of the outgoing waves and the waves entering from the sides towards the interior of the secure area. The chosen filtering is higher than the maximum potential the water can reach around the structure. The areas for monitoring the wave, forming the bottom, whether they are tight or pervious, ensure a filtering function from underneath the structure.

[0125] In a third aspect, the selected filtering means is held in position by a fixed damping or even movable structure between the front filtering area and one of the rear portions of the structure, or the seabed, in order to prevent the safety by sieving to be removed around the structure.

[0126] In a fourth aspect may be added reinforcing elements along the structure in order to distribute the forces on the filtering elements. These elements are placed at the level of the walls or on the seabed. The reinforcing is ensured by a suitable beam structure. Therefore, the bending due to the forces applied with the solution being chosen is lower than a determined value. This bending prevents the filtering from plunging at determined locations into the water. So solidified on the front face, there is no risk that the filtering system sinks or plunges under the applied forces. Solidification structures are placed in the same way in order to ensure the strength of the swell-stopping and user-displacement stopping portions.

[0127] In a fifth aspect, the swell- and sportsman-displacement stopping area is comprised of devices having this function. This swell ending occurs by changing the characteristics of the portion for the wave-break. The characteristics of this portion of the structure meet the need for filtering the parasites, either through its tightness or by its sieving process.

[0128] Thus, the user evolves freely and safely in the structure.

Claims

1. A device for providing a secure maritime area, comprising: a structure having a periphery and being comprised of filtering vertical walls over said periphery; and a bottom connecting, in a lower portion, said filtering walls, wherein said structure further comprises a buoyancy means, so as to keep said bottom submerged and said filtering walls above water at an upper portion, wherein said bottom comprises at least a portion of a tight surface, said tight surface being comprised of a first face inclined transversely to horizontal with an increasing slope from a front wall and a second face extending from said first face to a rear wall.

2. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 1, wherein said second face is horizontal or inclined transversely with an increasing or decreasing slope from said first face to said rear wall.

3. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 1, wherein said bottom is divided into at least one tight surface and at least one filtering surface.

4. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 3, wherein said filtering walls have a filtering surface formed at least partly of a lattice.

5. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 4, wherein said lattice is at least in part flexible, semi-rigid and/or rigid.

6. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 5, wherein said lattice of each filtering wall is secured to a fixed frame being comprised of at least one vertical post at each of lateral edge and at least one lower longitudinal beam, at a lower edge, said at least one lower longitudinal beam being connected to each vertical post.

7. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 6, wherein said fixed frame comprises at least one movable portion in an upper portion.

8. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 1, wherein said buoyancy means are comprised of floats.

9. The device for providing a secure maritime area, according to claim 1, further comprising: a damping means being comprised of peaks of flexible material arranged along at least one protruding line placed at least at a level of a junction between first and second faces or at a level of filtering walls.

10. A method for monitoring wave breaking, said method comprising the steps of: filtering a swell upon entering a device of claim 1; forming a wave; swelling said wave through a slope increasing in the direction of propagation of said wave; wherein the step of swelling comprises: attenuating energy generated by wave breaking through a flat surface and/or a decreasing slope after the increasing slope; and stopping progression of an attenuated swell through a filtering and/or tight surface; and filtering said attenuated swell upon exit of said device.

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