Marine organism repellent covering for protection of underwater objects and method of applying same

Claim 3

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cayenne pepper material applied to the waterproof adhesive layer is in particulate form.

Claim 4

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cayenne pepper material is mixed with the waterproof adhesive prior to the step of applying the layer of adhesive to the surface to be protected.

Claim 5

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the repellent properties of the cayenne pepper material diffuse through the permeable layer and cooperate with the repellent properties of the permeable layer to intensify the hostile environment for marine organisms on the surface to be protected.

Claim 6

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adhesive is an acrylic material.

Claim 7

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the permeable layer is comprised of copper granules.

Claim 8

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the permeable layer is comprised of copper wire mesh screen.

Claim 9

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the permeable layer is comprised of a non-woven mat of copper wires in a random pattern.

Claim 10

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the permeable layer is comprised of short lengths of copper wire deposited in random orientation on the waterproof adhesive layer.

Claim 11

An anti-fouling covering for preventing the growth of marine organisms on the exterior of submerged objects comprising: (A) a waterproof adhesive layer including cayenne pepper material having the property of being repellent to marine organisms, said layer covering the surface to be protected when submerged underwater; and (B) a permeable layer of copper containing material attached to the outer surface of the adhesive layer and retained thereby on the surface to be protected; (C) the permeable layer being of such a configuration as to leave certain areas of the outer surface of the adhesive layer exposed to the ambient environment of the submerged object through open portions of the permeable layer; (D) said permeable layer having the property of being repellent to marine organisms.

Claim 12

An anti-fouling covering for preventing the growth of marine organisms on the exterior of submerged objects comprising: (A) a waterproof adhesive layer including cayenne pepper material having the property of being repellent to marine organisms, said layer covering the surface to be protected when submerged underwater; and (B) a permeable layer of copper containing material attached to the outer surface of the adhesive layer and retained thereby on the surface to be protected; (C) the permeable layer being of such a configuration as to leave certain areas of the outer surface of the adhesive layer exposed to the ambient environment of the submerged object through open portions of the permeable layer; (D) said permeable layer having the property of being repellent to marine organisms.

Claim 13

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cayenne pepper material in the waterproof adhesive layer is a particulate material at least partly embedded therein and lying beneath the permeable layer.

Claim 14

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 11 wherein the repellent properties of the cayenne pepper material react through interstices of the permeable layer in combination with the repellent properties of the permeable layer to intensify the hostile environment for marine organisms on the surface to be protected.

Claim 15

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 10 wherein the permeable layer is at least partly imbedded in the waterproof adhesive layer and the adhesive layer extends into interstices in the permeable layer.

Claim 16

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 10 wherein the permeable layer is comprised of copper granules.

Claim 17

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 10 wherein the permeable layer is comprised of copper wire mesh screen.

Claim 18

An anti-fouling covering for preventing the growth of marine organisms on the exterior of submerged objects comprising: (A) a waterproof adhesive layer covering the surface to be protected when submerged underwater; and (B) a deposit of cayenne pepper material distributed over the adhesive layer and retained in position thereby; (C) said cayenne pepper material containing repellent properties which create a hostile environment for marine organisms in the area of the submerged object to be protected and which organisms would otherwise attach themselves to the object to be protected.

Claim 19

An anti-fouling covering for preventing the growth of marine organisms on the exterior of submerged objects comprising: (A) a waterproof adhesive layer covering the surface to be protected when submerged underwater; and (B) a deposit of cayenne pepper material distributed over the adhesive layer and retained in position thereby; (C) said cayenne pepper material containing repellent properties which create a hostile environment for marine organisms in the area of the submerged object to be protected and which organisms would otherwise attach themselves to the object to be protected.

Claim 20

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 16 including an interrupted layer of copper containing material attached to the adhesive layer and retained thereby, the interrupted layer leaving certain areas of the outer surface of the adhesive layer and the cayenne pepper material exposed to the ambient environment of the submerged object through open areas in the interrupted layer.

Claim 21

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 17 wherein the interrupted layer is comprised of copper granules adhered to the adhesive layer.

Claim 22

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cayenne pepper material is at least partially imbedded in the adhesive layer.

Claim 23

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cayenne pepper material is liquid oleoresin capsicum which is mixed with the waterproof adhesive layer.

Claim 24

An anti-fouling covering as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cayenne pepper material is in particulate form and distributed over the outer surface of the adhesive layer.

Claim 25

A protective covering for repelling marine organisms from the exterior of submerged objects comprising: (A) a waterproof coating formulated to withstand continual submersion under water; (B) said waterproof coating containing a capsicum derivative material; (C) said capsicum derivative having repellent properties which create a hostile environment for marine organisms in the area of the submerged object to be protected which would otherwise attach themselves to the object to be protected.

Claim 26

A protective covering for repelling marine organisms from the exterior of submerged objects comprising: (A) a waterproof coating formulated to withstand continual submersion under water; (B) said waterproof coating containing a capsicum derivative material; (C) said capsicum derivative having repellent properties which create a hostile environment for marine organisms in the area of the submerged object to be protected which would otherwise attach themselves to the object to be protected.

Claim 27

A protective covering as claimed in claim 22 wherein the waterproof coating is an ablative paint.

Claim 28

A protective covering as claimed in claim 22 wherein the waterproof coating is a urethane formulation.

Claim 29

A protective covering as claimed in claim 22 wherein the waterproof coating is an epoxy formulation.

Claim 30

A protective covering as claimed in claim 22 wherein the capsicum derivative is particulate cayenne pepper.

Claim 33

The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the waterproof coating is an epoxy based paint.

Claim 34

The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the waterproof coating is a urethane composition.