GB2252231A

GB2252231A - Wet-suit hood

Info

Publication number: GB2252231A
Application number: GB9101268A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Watkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-21
Filing date: 1991-01-21
Publication date: 1992-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-21
Also published as: GB9101268D0; GB2252231B

Abstract

The hood has a neck aperture 14 and a face aperture 16 and a wall of the hood has a watertight compartment 20 for receiving electrical or electronic apparatus 28 ... 34, a resealable watertight opening 38 being provided to allow access to the compartment. Enables use of inexpensive C-B type radio apparatus at the surface for communication to a service boat. <IMAGE>

Description

Hood for Divers The invention relates to hoods for divers and particularly the kind of soft flexible waterproof hood used in conjunction with a 'wetsuit'.

Voice communication under water is possible using umbilical cables and other bulky and restrictive equipment. Most divers are engaged in sub-aqua work use unpressurised wet suits made from synthetic rubber. Such divers communicate below surface by hand signals and writing tablets. There is a need however for such divers to be able to communicate quickly and efficiently after they have surfaced, for example to summon assistance from a service boat some way away or for emergencies.

The present invention seeks to provide a means for using inexpensive, readily available, low power, transceivers of the kind which in the United Kingdom either do not require a licence or require only a citizens' band licence, to achieve such surface communication.

The invention provides a hood for divers having a neck aperture and a face aperture, a wall of said hood having a watertight compartment for receiving electrical or electronic apparatus, a resealable watertight opening being provided to allow access to said compartment.

Preferably the hood is of twin wall construction, the walls being made of waterproof material to define said compartment therebetween.

Desirably there is provided at least one shaped pocket in an outer wall of the hood. Preferably at least one pocket is shaped to receive a small transceiver. In a most preferred embodiment two such shaped pockets are provided. Preferably one pocket disposed in an area overlying, in use, a wearer's ear to receive an earpiece and one disposed in an area overlying the nape of a wearer's neck to receive the transceiver. The compartment may be arranged to receive an antenna associated with said transceiver such that the antenna overlies, within said compartment, the top of a wearer's head.

Alternatively, an antenna may be disposed externally of the hood with a waterproof connection passing through said outer wall of the hood for connection to the transceiver inside said compartment. The hood may incorporate a metal mesh disposed between said antenna and the wearer's head to protect the wearer from the effects of the electromagnetic radiation radiated by at the antenna.

The resealable watertight opening is preferably provided by a waterproof sliding-clasp fastener disposed ideally in an outer wall of the hood for example on one of the pockets, or most preferably overlying the occipital region of a wearer's head, allowing access to the compartment including the or each pocket.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing the single figure of which is a schematic side elevational view shown partially cut away of a hood according to the invention.

The hood is of twin-wall construction comprising an outer wall 10 and an inner wall 12 shaped to have a neck aperture shown generally as 14 and a face aperture shown generally as 16. The walls are bonded together at their peripheries as indicated at 18 to define therebetween a watertight compartment shown generally as 20.

Two pockets 22 and 24 are provided respectively at the nape of the neck and over an ear region of the hood, these being provided in the outer wall 10 to receive a transceiver 26 and an earpiece 28 therefor (shown in broken line). Wires 30 within compartment 20 connect the transceiver 26 and earpiece 28 and also a throat microphone 32 provided at a front neck region of the hood. An antenna 34 of the transceiver 26 is received in compartment 20 overlying the wearer's head. A wire mesh gauze 36 (shown in part only) grounded at the transceiver and insulated from the antenna overlies the inner wall and provides protection for the wearer against electromagnetic radiation from the antenna.

A waterproof sliding-clasp fastener 38 gives access to the compartment 20 for maintenance of the transceiver, earpiece and microphone; and for changing batteries etc.

The shape and disposition of the pockets 22 and 24 may be chosen to suit the electrical or electronic apparatus to be used with the hood. The sliding-clasp fastener 38 may be disposed at any suitable location even on one of the pockets 22, 24. More than one sliding-clasp fastener may be provided. Any other suitable watertight resealable fastening may be provided instead of the sliding-clasp type. The hood is prefera'oly made from neoprene but any other suitable material may be used.

An antenna may be provided on the outside of the hood, having a watertight connection through the outer wall and a plug and socket or other connection to the transceiver so that the latter can be removed leaving the antenna in place. The hood would be used with a low power, low cost transceiver which would thus require no waterproofing itself, for communication with another transceiver on a boat or nearby shore.

It is to be understood that whilst the invention is suitable for surface communication by skin-divers in wetsuits, the invention may be used in any wet environment. For example, by water skiers, towed hang gliders, and parascenders, especially but not exclusively for communication with the tow boat, by cavers, potholers and in other suitable circumstances.

It is also to be understood that the electronic and electrical components described in this specification form no part of the invention but are shown and described to illustrate the use of the invention.

Claims

1. A hood for divers having a neck aperture and a face aperture, a wall of said hood having a watertight compartment for receiving electrical or electronic apparatus, a resealable watertight opening being provided to allow access to said compartment.

2. A hood as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the hood is of twin wall construction. The walls being made of waterproof material to define said compartment therebetween.

3. A hood as claimed in Claim 2 wherein there is provided a shaped pocket in an outer wall of the hood the pocket being shaped to receive a small transceiver.

4. A hood as claimed in Claim 2 wherein two such shaped pockets are provided.

5. A hood as claimed in Claim 4 wherein one pocket is disposed in an area overlying, in use, a wearer's ear to receive an earpiece and one disposed in an area overlying the nape of a wearer's neck to receive the transceiver.

6. A hood as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the compartment is arranged to receive an antenna associated with said transceiver such that the antenna overlies, within said compartment, the top of a wearer's head.

7. A hood as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hood may incorporate a metal mesh disposed between said antenna and the wearer's head to protect the wearer from the effects of the electromagnetic radiation radiated by at the antenna.

8. A hood as claimed in any of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 wherein the antenna is disposed externally of the hood with a waterproof connection passing through said outer wall of the hood for connection to the transceiver inside said compartment.

9. A hood as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the resealable watertight opening is preferably provided by a waterproof sliding-clasp fastener disposed in an outer wall of the hood.

10. A hood as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the resealable watertight opening is disposed so as to overlie an occipital region of a wearer's head.