GB2155841A - Sub-aquatic knife - Google Patents

Abstract

A knife for use under water the handle 2 of which is formed with a number of receptacles 8 for the accommodation of various devices 9 eg: a digital watch, the blade being adapted to be retained in a sheath 10 (Figure 2) having a small compartment 12 housing a reel for filiform material eg: a synthetic thread joined to a cover of the compartment. The compartment cover is releaseable and lighter than water such that when released it will float to the surface of the water to establish a warning indication. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sub-aquatic knife The invention concerns sub-aquatic knives, particular survival knives.

Survival knives, for use on land are known, and the present Applicants have proposed such knives elsewhere, including multiple-use knives, which, as well as having a cutting blade and tools, include (on the knife per se or on accessories therefor) components which allow orientation, the calculation of distances, the lighting of fires, etc., as well as a number of other activities associated with survival in hostile territory.

Nevertheless, where man finds himself most at risk such as occurs in subaquatic activities, until now the knife has simply been a cutting tool which usually has a blade configured to allow it to be used for sawing, scraping, etc. However, the known subaquatic knives do not normally include other features having structural and/or functional aspects (a combined device being a knife and flashlight is known).

An object of the invention is to provide a knife specifically designed for use in subaquatic activities, which knife, as well as being a tool with wide possibilities of usage incorporates information components of use to the user, which components are also complemented by a location device both simple and effective forming a safety aid for a user faced with any eventuality.

The blade of the proposed knife has, on one side, a conventional cutting edge and, on the opposite side, a front region with a corrugated edge suitable for scraping and a rear region which is sawtoothed to form a sawing part. The point of the blade has a blunt end which allows it to be used as a lever or screwdriver etc., and adjacent the handle the blade has a deep, oblique cutting throat The handle of the knife is made of a material such as aluminium in its core and an elastomer in its cover, which combination brings together the best qualities of lightness, grip, adaptation and resistance.In the said handle and in the transverse direction there exists, in each one of its two faces, a cylindrical receptacle which allows the embedding under pressure, by means of tapping or a similar solution, of components on the lines of small pans which include apparatus such as a compass for orientation, a depth gauge, a chronometer and a thermometer, all of which have a digital or else analogue display.

In the region of its cross the handle has a transverse rebate thanks to which a trigger, situated in the sheath or case, effects the automatic retention of the knife when this penetrates the sheath, which carries a frontal push-button integral with the said trigger through a frame which allows, very easily, but only when the user so desires, the unlocking of the knife in its sheath. This sheath remains fixed to the body of the submariner by means of straps which are simple to fix, by means of clasps rapidly actuated by pressure.

On the outer face of the sheath there exists a housing of the bayonet type in which there is normally fitted a reel of fine nylon thread; the said reel constitutes a closed and hollow cylinder having a high ability to float, which includes moreover on one of its bases lobes which can automatically unfold and which constitute a whole which is highly visible because of its volume and colouring.

Normally the reel is fixed in its housing of the sheath, but faced with any eventuality and with a simple twist it is released, rising towards the surface and unfolding, so that the thread which joins it to the sheath constitutes an invaluable guidance component for locating any object or person.

As can be seen from all that which has bee n mentioned up to now, the model which is now being advocated constitutes a novel component which brings to the field of subaquatic activities the advantages of a multiple tool, intended for the said activities, as well as the advantages of a signalling and information component which is small in volume and highly reliable.

In fact, the knife which is the object of the present invention such as can be seen from what has been described up to now has been created with the intention of covering different needs which may occur in subaquatic activities, such as freelung dives, within submarine fishing or recreational submarining, or else dives with air bottles or including diving with a diving suit or any other type of subaquatic operation, which needs can be summarised according to the following headings.

1. Operativecategory As has been pointed out previously, the knife incorporates in its blade all the cutting edges, teeth and recesses necessary for proceeding both to the severing of ropes, lines, nets, rigging, etc., and sawing rigid bodies, and including the gathering and cleaning of molluscs, crustaceans, etc.

Likewise, this blade has been designed as a complementary tool, in functions such as those of leverage, unscrewing, decapping, etc.

2. Informative category The same knife which is the object of this invention provides the user with information, both regarding the temperature of the water, and the diving time, depth, orientation, etc., all data which is fundamental in deep dives, with bottles and with a diving suit, and many of which are equally necessary for free-lung dives, in which it is very important to know the temperature of the water, time of stay therein, depth and, including in some cases, the said orientation.

3. Safety category Although the different solutions previously quoted assist by themselves in bringing much greater safety for the user in his practice of diving, there is the fact, moreover, that the same knife incorporates solutions directed to that end and for this it has the said floating buoy device, valid both for making known an emergency and a location, object, etc.

4. Category of reliability in use The knife is designed to offer total reliability in its use, both as regards its fitting on the user, and its conveyance by the said user, and its gripping or grasping during the usage phase. In this sense and for the fitting the sheath incorporates the aforesaid straps, with high-speed clasps, by pressure, which allow immediate fitting or removal and full adaptation to the contour of the limb of the body of the user on whom such fitting occurs and which is generally one of the two legs; so that in any case it girds this limb sufficiently such as to ensure firm retention of the whole and as to permit at the same time a correct blood flow of the said limb, without rendering difficult its necessary internal arterial pressure.

In the conveyance phase, the coupling of the knife, by means of the solution of a pawl or trigger, avoids the emergence of the knife with respect to its case while it is not actuated, on purpose, in that sense, and at the same time, when it is actuated, immediate release occurs. This makes it possible to avoid one of the most common mishaps in submarining, which is loss of the knife in descents and ensures, on the other hand, the ability to rely rapidly on the knife when so required, an important condition given the urgency which this action at times requires.

In the usage phase, the constitution of the handle, formed by a core of aluminium covered with elastomer polyturethane, allows a comfortable and safe grasp, great adaptation and all of this being obtained with conditions of complete sturdiness.

This entire series of improvements, in the categories which have been quoted solely as a non-restrictive example, modify the condition of the knife as such, with respect to all that which has been known up to now, and endow it with a life proper of its own.

Figure 1 shows a view in front elevation of the improved knife proper.

Figure 2 shows a view in front elevation of the sheath (1) for the preceding knife with a partial section showing its retention mechanism.

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the knife lodged in its sheath (10).

Figure 4 shows in perspective the configuration of the retention mechanism housed in the case (10).

Figure 5 shows a sectioned view in front elevation of the float capsule (12).

Figure 6 is a plan view of the previous Figure.

Figure 7 is a sectioned view in front elevation of the compartment of the float capsule (12).

Figure 8 shows schematically and in perspective the operation of the float capsule (12).

Figure 9 is a perspective view, exploded and schematic, of one of the closure clasps (17).

In the said Figures the main parts and components which make up the entirety of the invention have been given reference numbers, the references of which match up in the following manner: 1. - Blade 2. - Handle 3. - Point 4. - Corrugation 5. - Toothing 6. - Throat 7. - Notch 8. - Receptacies 9. - Instrument 10. - Sheath 11. - Compartment 12. - Float capsule 13. - Frame 14. - Push-button 15. - Trigger 16. - Strap 17. - Clasps 18. - Knurling 19. - Discs 20. - Protuberances 21. - Grooves 22. - Bores 23. - "U" component 24. - Bent lever 25. - Spring.

The model which is the object of this invention is an improved knife for subaquatic activities which constitutes, together with its sheath and some components incorporated in them, a whole of great usefulness for the submariner, not only as a complete tool, but also as a component for information, rescue, etc. As is conventional, the knife, see Figure 1, is composed of a blade (1) and a han dle (2), the first being introduced into this second and remaining retained by tubular rivets which allow the mounting of the knife in a simple and safe manner.

The blade (1), as can be seen in table at its tip (3) as a flat component which allows it to be used as a lever, unscrewer, etc., on the other hand this blade (1), along one of its edges, defines a sharp cutting edge and on the opposite side to this cutting edge the blade (1) defines, in its front region, a corrugated toothing (4) which makes it possible to carry out functions of scraping, situated behind which region there is a toothing (5) of triangular sawtooth components, suitable for sawing hard materials, finally next to the handle (2) the blade (1) has a deep throat (6) with a cutting edge which can be used for the convenient cutting of filiform components and the like.

The handle (2) of the improved knife is made up of a core of light aluminium alloy which is covered in its entirety by a polyurethane elastomer, which forms patterns which improve the grip of the whole, in the region of the cross the handle (2) has a notch (7), in which there fits automatically a retention mechanism situated in a case (1) when the knife is introduced into this, thus ensuring effective fixing without problems of losses and allowing, when so desired, rapid extraction of the knife.

The rear region of the handle (2) has, as can be seen in Figure 1, a cylindrical receptacle (8) on each face, in which there can be inserted either by pressure, or by means of tapping or by any other suitable solution, instruments (9) lodged in a complementary cylindrical carcass of the said recepta cles (8): the said instruments will preferably be a compass, depth gauge, watch and thermometer, constituting a whole which is extremely useful to the conventional submariner which, on the other hand, can easily be withdrawn from the either for its adjustment or else for its replacement by another type of apparatus. These instruments can have a digital or analogue display and can be complemented by other receptacles or else with more data within those already existing.

The sheath (10) of the improved knife, shown in Figure 2, is preferably made up of a rigid material of a synthetic type, having in its entirety, see Figure 3, a shape complementary to that of the knife and including also the fastening points for straps (16), the retention mechanism of the knife and also a warning and signalling component: as can be appreciated in the partial section of Figure 2 and in Figure 4, the retention mechanism is made up of a frame (13) integral through a lower extension with a trigger (15) which can be fitted, because of its position and dimensions, in the notch (7) of the handle (2), the frame (13) is hinged to the sheath (10) through a transverse spindle, there existing also coiled on the said spindle an elastic or spring component which causes it to occupy a raised position, a push-button (14) becoming visible through a bore of the sheath (10).

When the knife penetrates into the sheath (10), the cross of the handle (2) causes displacement of the trigger (15), which, because it has the shape of a slide, allows entry of the knife until it faces the notch (7), the spring of the frame (13) causes it to fit therein, thus retaining the knife. To extract the knife it is necessary to effect, simultaneously with its haulage from the case (10), a pressure on the push-button (14) which frees the fitting together of the trigger (15) with respect to the notch (7).

For its fixing on the user, the case (10), see Figures 2 and 3, has recesses through which there can be made to pass straps (16) which at one of their ends are fixed to a rapid closure clasp (17) of extreme simplicity and effectiveness which is made up, see Figure 9, of a "U" component (23) of variable height and between the arms of which is hinged a bent lever (24) under which and through eccentricity there can be firmly trapped and in any position the free end of the strap (16); this hingeing is achieved with a spindle having rebated ends to facilitate its fitting, rebates existing for the same purpose in the approach of the lever (24), see details of Figure 9. Thus a secure and adaptable pressure closure occurs, which can be fastened and undone rapidly and which allows adaptation to any dimension of the contour of the limb of the user.

The sheath (10) carries in the front region the component for signalling and location which has been mentioned previously and which is formed by a float capsule (12) with thread wound around it and which is locked, by a bayonet closure, above a compartment (11), see Figure 7, defined in a onepart component made of open synthetic material and having stepped diameters, securely integral with the sheath (10) which has internally bayonet closure grooves (21), as well as bores (22) of small diameter which allow the guide thread to be fastened.

The float capsule (12), see Figures 5 and 6, is made up of a cylindrical component which is closed and widened in the end regions of its bases and the holiow core of which allows the whole to float under any circumstance, between its two widened bases the capsule (12) is shaped in the manner of a reel on which is wound a fine thread of synthetic material integral by one end with the float capsule (12) and by the other with the compartment (11), that is to say with the sheath (10).

In the upper region the float capsule (12) has, on the periphery of its widening, a knurling (18) or simiiar roughening which allows it to be grasped in a simple manner even beneath the water, in order to be unfastened by means of a simple twist when so required.

In the lower region the capsule (12) defines protuberances (20) for lodging in the grooves (21) of the compartment (11) as well as also support components for spindles on which are locked, with the possibility of rotation, discs (19) defined by a planesurface, of a highly conspicuous colour, with a radial expansion which incorporates a transverse end spindle fitted in the supports of the capsule (12) and with a concentric elastic component formed by a spring (25) which has a tendency to unfold its corresponding disc (19).

When the submariner through any circumstance wishes to establish a position by signalling on the surface or to warn of any emergency, it is sufficient for him merely to unlock the float capsule (12) from its compartment (11), with a simple twist: so that at the moment when the capsule is freed it automatically tends to go towards the surface, remaining thereon with the discs (19) unfolded forming a highly visible whole, see Figure 8, which remains joined by a thread to the sheath (10), making known unequivocally the submerged position thereof.

Claims (10)

1. An improved knife for subaquatic activities, characterised in that the knife incorporates, in its grasp region, receptacles for the accommodation therein of components such as a compass, depth gauge, chronometer and thermometer, at the same time in the region of its cross it remains retained by a trigger which can be actuated from the front of the sheath through a push-button existing for that purpose; which sheath has, moreover, a small compartment housing a reel for a filiform component joined to the cover of the compartment, which cover has a floating constitution and which is capable of being loosened by means of a small twist in order to aim itself towards the surface of the water where it establishes a situation of warning of an emergency.

2. An improved knife for subaquatic activities, wholly in accordance with the preceding claim, characterised in that provision has been made for the fact that the warning of an emergency is preferably optical, by means of a possible solution of the unfolding of laminar bodies placed back to back with the cover and provided with colouring for that purpose.

3. An improved knife for subaquatic activities, wholly in accordance with the first claim, characterised in that the blade of the knife, in addition to its cutting edge and its point usable as a lever or unscrewer, has, on its other edge, respective different toothings, one in a sawtooth manner, for functions characteristic of sawing, and the other corrugated for functions of scraping, a recess or scallop likewise existing on this edge and close to the cross.

4. An improved knife for subaquatic activities, wholly in accordance with the first claim, characterised in that for fastening the sheath to the user provision has been made to provide it with the corresponding straps, each strap of which has one free end and the other provided with a pressure clasp, this clasp being formed by a support part joined to the strap and a rotating part grasping the other end of this strap.

5. An improved knife for subaquatic activities, wholly in accordance with the first claim, characterised in that preferably the realisation of the receptacles of the components such as the compass, depth gauge and the like takes place by means of orifices transverse to the handle, these orifices being receivers, by means of tapping, pressure or the like, of pan bodies in the interior of which are accommodated the constituents of such components, the said handle being defined for this purpose in a frame of aluminium covered with elastomeric polyurethane.

6. An improved knife for subaquatic activities, wholly in accordance with the first claim, characterised in that the trigger retaining the knife forms part of a frame which incorporates a spring component collaborating in this function, which frame likewise comprises the frontal actuating push-button.

7. A knife for use under water the handle of which is formed with receptacles for accommodating devices usable under water, the cross of which is configured to enable the knife to be retained in a sheath.

8. A sheath for an under water knife said sheath including a compartment having a cover and housing a reel of filiform material joined to said compartment cover, a said cover being lighter than water and releasable from said compartment to enable said cover to float to the surface of the water.

9. The combination of a knive as claimed in Claim 7, with a sheath as claimed in Claim 8.

10. A knife substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.