WO1992013599A1 - Gilet de plongee et systeme de tuba - Google Patents

Gilet de plongee et systeme de tuba Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992013599A1
WO1992013599A1 PCT/US1992/000932 US9200932W WO9213599A1 WO 1992013599 A1 WO1992013599 A1 WO 1992013599A1 US 9200932 W US9200932 W US 9200932W WO 9213599 A1 WO9213599 A1 WO 9213599A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tube
air
snorkel
cap
inflation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/000932
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John Paul Chace
Brandon Chace
Original Assignee
John Paul Chace
Brandon Chace
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by John Paul Chace, Brandon Chace filed Critical John Paul Chace
Publication of WO1992013599A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992013599A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
    • B63C11/04—Resilient suits
    • B63C11/08—Control of air pressure within suit, e.g. for controlling buoyancy ; Buoyancy compensator vests, or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
    • B63C11/12—Diving masks
    • B63C11/16—Diving masks with air supply by suction from diver, e.g. snorkels

Definitions

  • the instant invention relates to devices for aiding
  • Patent No. 4,778,307 issued to Faulconer on October 18, 1988.
  • a dive vest and snorkel system is provided.
  • the dive vest is constructed of air and water impervious material having an inflation chamber capable of receiving and storing air and further having an exhaust port which automatically exhausts the air stored in the inflation chamber when the wearer of the dive vest places the headmost end of the dive vest lower than the exhaust port prior to diving below the water's surface.
  • the snorkel is a flexible breathing tube with a mouthpiece attached in the middle. One end is attached to the strap which holds a dive mask in place, at the back of the head of the driver. There, a cap placed over an inner tube at the end of the breathing tube opposite the mouthpiece prevents water washing over the head of the diver from entering the flexible tube.
  • the cap and inner tube may also work together to close the end of the tube.
  • the dive vest or snorkel may be used individually as well as in combination with each other.
  • the dive vest is worn on the ventral or front side of a snorkeler.
  • the dive vest is preferentially attached to the snorkeler around the neck and waist of the snorkeler and extends essentially from the neck area of the snorkeler to an area between the crotch and the knees of the snorkeler.
  • the dive vest is essentially an air bladder formed by attaching two pieces of water and air impervious material together to form an internal inflation chamber.
  • the inflation chamber is sealed on three sides, leaving open in the preferred embodiment, an exhaust port at the bottom or most legward part of the dive vest.
  • the water and air impervious material may be of any number of kinds of such materials as is common with other types of dive vests.
  • a hollow inflation tube is sealingly connected to the dive vest preferably at the most headward end of the dive vest.
  • the inflation tube allows air to be passed into the inflation chamber of the dive vest.
  • the other end of the inflation tube is preferentially attached to the exit port of a common purge valve on a snorkel.
  • another purge valve is located where the inflation tube attaches to the inflation chamber. Of course, in alternate embodiments, either purge valve may be removed leaving the other.
  • purge valves operate in such a way that the movement of air from the snorkel into the inflation tube and subsequently into the inflation chamber is controlled.
  • the purge valves prevent air under pressure in the inflation chamber from exiting the inflation chamber through the inflation tube and either exiting to the outside or exiting back into the snorkel.
  • air under pressure provided by the diver's exhaled breath may be passed through the purge valve into the inflation tube in the preferred embodiment or through the inflation tube and then through the purge valve where it enters the inflation chamber.
  • the purge valve operates to pass air into the inflation chamber and keep it from escaping from the inflation chamber.
  • the purge valve When the purge valve is located on the snorkel, the purge valve passes air into the inflation tube and keeps it from re-entering the snorkel in exactly the same manner that water is traditionally passed out of the purge valve and prevented from re-entering the snorkel.
  • the purge valve is located in the snorkel or where the inflation tube enters the inflation chamber, it is also within the scope of the invention to include purge valves in both places in an embodiment or to move the purge valve to any other location so long as air may be directed into the inflation chamber and prevented from escape therefrom.
  • the dive vest in the preferred embodiment, also includes a buoyancy chamber which extends around the neck and into the chest area of the dive vest. This buoyancy chamber is a sealed chamber which exists in addition to the inflation chamber.
  • the buoyancy chamber may be inflated by either of two sources.
  • a C0 2 cartridge such as is commonly used with buoyancy compensator vests, attached to the buoyancy chamber may be punctured as is common for such devices thereby allowing the compressed C0 2 gas within the cartridge to enter and inflate the buoyancy chamber.
  • a manual inflation tube is attached at one end to the buoyancy chamber. This manual inflation tube has a valve at the end away from the buoyancy chamber so that the diver may actuate the valve and blow air into the buoyancy chamber through the valve and tube. Thereafter, the valve can be deactuated thereby preventing air from leaving the buoyancy chamber through the manual inflation tube.
  • a dive vest is provided without a buoyancy chamber.
  • a C0 2 cartridge as described above, is attached directly to the inflation chamber so that when the C0 2 cartridge is punctured, the compressed C0 2 gas will enter the inflation chamber thereby inflating it.
  • a manual inflation tube is attached at one end to the inflation chamber in addition to the ordinary inflation tube.
  • the end furthest from the attachment to the inflation chamber contains a valve which may be actuated to allow air to be blown through the valve and manual inflation tube into the inflation chamber by the diver. Thereafter the valve may be deactuated, preventing air from leaving the inflation chamber through the manual inflation tube.
  • the operation of the inflation chamber and exhaust port is the same despite the different embodiments containing the buoyancy chamber with the C0 2 cartridge and the embodiment where the C0 2 cartridge and the manual inflation tube are attached to the inflation chamber.
  • the snorkel itself is modified with an improved water interfacing end located on the dive mask strap at the back of the head of the diver.
  • the improved end serves the dual purpose of preventing water from entering the tube of the snorkel itself, and interacts with the purge valve to direct air under pressure through the inflation tube into the inflation chamber.
  • the dive vest is worn on the front of the diver and is attached to the diver as explained above. The snorkeler then places the snorkel mouthpiece in his mouth and proceeds to enter the water.
  • the snorkeler Immediately upon entry into the water, the snorkeler, while in a substantially vertical position fills the inflation chamber with air, as will be described hereafter, thus providing a floating cushion upon which the snorkeler may rest in a prone or semi-prone position while floating in the water.
  • the difference in specific weights between air and water causes the air present in the inflation chamber to rise to the top of the inflation chamber in response to the water pressure from the water.
  • the exhaust port of the dive chamber is at a lower elevation than the upper part of the inflation chamber, no air will escape through the exhaust port despite there being no sealing means present. Inflation of the inflation chamber takes place in the preferred embodiment by first closing the water interfacing end of the snorkel.
  • the diver then forcibly exhales into the snorkel through the mouthpiece thereby forcing air under pressure through the purge valve into the inflation chamber.
  • the diver may simply blow directly into the inflation tube thereby forcing air past the purge valve located between the inflation tube and the inflation chamber.
  • the snorkeler With the inflation chamber filled, the snorkeler may swim across the surface of the water at his leisure in a relaxed manner. Because the inflation chamber provides buoyancy for the diver, the snorkeler need not exert any additional effort in order to maintain a prone or semi-prone position in the water, despite any natural tendency the individual snorkeler may have not to float.
  • the snorkeler may remain completely motionless in the prone or semi-prone position while floating in the water, allowing the snorkeler to effortlessly rest on the surface of the water or view the underwater scenes through a snorkeler's dive mask.
  • the snorkeler desires to dive below the water surface, the snorkeler need only bend at the waist and rotate his body into the familiar dive position in a manner well known to ordinary snorkeling. In this configuration, the snorkeler's head will be lower than the snorkeler's leg area. This results in the exhaust port being the highest point of the dive vest, allowing air stored in the inflation chamber to vent through the exhaust port, thereby leaving the dive vest. Because the air is removed from the inflation chamber, the dive vest loses its buoyancy, thus allowing the snorkeler to dive below the water surface.
  • the venting of air from the inflation chamber through the exhaust port occurs automatically when the snorkeler assumes the traditional snorkeling dive position.
  • the buoyancy chamber must not have appreciable amounts of gas contained therein.
  • the snorkeler may wear a weight belt around his waist. Whether the weights are worn between the snorkeler's body and the improved dive vest or on the outside of the vest, experience has shown that the air within the inflation chamber is automatically vented as the diver turns to dive as described above. While on the surface, the negative buoyant effect of the weight belt may be counteracted by inflating the improved dive vest allowing the snorkeler to remain motionless on the surface of the water.
  • Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the improved dive vest and snorkel.
  • Fig. 2 is a side schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the improved dive vest.
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of the dive vest uninflated and laid flat.
  • Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the dive vest.
  • Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the dive vest of Fig. 9.
  • Fig. 6 is a side view of the snorkel of the invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the snorkel assembly in position on the head of a diver.
  • Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the water interfacing end of the snorkel assembly.
  • Fig. 9 is a front view of a human snorkeler wearing the improved system.
  • Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a human snorkeler wearing the improved system.
  • Fig. lla is a side elevational view of the novel spring.
  • lib is a top view of the novel spring of Fig. lla.
  • Fig. 12a shows the assembled adjusters used to adjust the strap of the mask.
  • Fig. 12b is a partially exploded view of the adjuster of Fig. 12a.
  • Fig. 12c is an exploded view of the end tube, spring and end plugs of the adjuster of Fig. 12a.
  • Fig. 13 is a side view of the adjuster of Fig. 12a in position between a mask and strap.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The improved dive vest is shown generally in Fig. 1 by the numeral 12, while the improved snorkel is shown generally by the numeral 30.
  • the dive vest 12 is preferentially constructed by joining together an upper piece 17 and a lower piece 19 (Fig.
  • Inflation chamber 14 is defined at its headmost end by upper and middle pieces 17, 18, sealed side seams 28, and top seam 29.
  • Inflation chamber 14 is defined at its bottom end by upper and lower pieces 17, 19, sealed side seams 28 and exhaust port 20 which, in the preferred embodiment, is an unsealed edge opposite top seam 29 A C(Figs. 1 and 3) .
  • Buoyancy chamber 40 extends from its bottom seam 42 ⁇ Caround the neck strap 22, between top neck seam 41 and neck seam 27 (Fig. 4) , to form a sealed chamber.
  • inflation chamber 14 and buoyancy chamber 40 are two distinct chambers.
  • the sealing of seams 28, 29, 41, 42 may be by any well known method.
  • side seams 28 taper towards each other from top seam 29 to exhaust port 20 (Fig. 4).
  • dive vest 12 may be attached to the front of a wet suit or similar dive suit along side seams 28 and top seam 29. This attachment may be by such means as zippers, hooks, or clips. However, these means of attachment are given by means of example and not for limitation.
  • Neck strap 22 holds the dive vest 12 in position around the snorkeler's neck.
  • waist straps 24 (Fig. 5) are provided to hold the dive vest 12 in position at the front- of the diver.
  • waist straps 24 are attached to side of the vest 12 closest to the diver at an area corresponding to the crotch of the diver. The waist straps 24 may then be placed between the legs of the diver and then brought around the diver's waist through rings attached to the sides of the vest where waist straps 24 may be joined.
  • Waist straps 24 may be joined by any of a number of common methods for joining straps including, but not limited to, a buckle assembly or a hook and loop closure system such as that marketed under the trademark VELCRO.
  • a back strap 25 extends from neck strap 22 to a back strap connector 26 on lower piece 19 (Fig. 5) .
  • Back strap 25 is removably connected to back strap connector 26 by means of a hook and loop closure system such as that marketed under the trademark VELCRO with back strap 25 having either a series of hooks or loops and the back strap connector 26 having a series of corresponding loops or hooks.
  • Dive vest 12 is of a sufficient length so that exhaust port 20 will be at a position between the diver's crotch and knees when the dive vest 12 is worn by the snorkeler.
  • the buoyancy chamber 40 is a sealed chamber. Buoyancy chamber 40 may be inflated, in the preferred embodiment, by one of two means.
  • C0 2 inflation device 50 is attached to the outside of lower piece 19.
  • C0 2 inflation device 50 contains a cartridge base 51 attached by an airtight seal to the outer surface of lower piece 19, and a cartridge 52 filled with compressed C0 2 gas (Fig. 5) .
  • Cord 53 ending in a tag 54 is attached to a pin within cartridge base 51 so that when tag 54 is pulled, cord 53 pulls the pin into contact with cartridge 52 puncturing it and releasing compressed C0 2 gas from cartridge 52 through C0 2 inlet 55 into buoyancy chamber 40, thereby inflating it. Because cartridge base 51 is in airtight contact with lower piece 19, the compressed C0 2 gas inflates buoyancy chamber 40 without escaping.
  • manual inflation tube 48 which is attached at one end to buoyancy chamber 40.
  • the other end of manual inflation tube 48 preferably contains a valve 49 which may be actuated so that air may be blown into buoyancy chamber 40 while valve 49 is actuated. Thereafter, valve 49 is deactuated so that air within buoyancy chamber 40 may not escape through manual inflation tube 48. Further, when it is desired that C0 2 gas from C0 2 inflation device 50 should be expelled from buoyancy chamber 40, valve 49 may be actuated allowing the C0 2 gas to escape buoyancy chamber 40 through manual inflation tube 48.
  • buoyancy chamber 40 is a separate sealed chamber from inflation chamber 14, a safety valve 43 connects buoyancy chamber 40 with inflation chamber 14.
  • Safety valve 43 allows excessive pressure present in buoyancy chamber 40 to be vented into inflation chamber 14 rather than remaining in buoyancy chamber 40 where it might rupture the seams of buoyancy chamber 40. Venting the excess pressurized gas into inflation chamber 14 provides a safeguard for dive vest 12 allowing inflation chamber 14 to become more buoyant.
  • the addition of buoyancy chamber 40 to dive vest 12 provides an emergency floatation system which may be actuated rapidly by pulling tag 54 thereby inflating the buoyancy chamber 40. Because buoyancy chamber 40 is a sealed chamber, gas within buoyancy chamber 40 from either C0 2 inflation device 50 or manual inflation tube 48 provides buoyancy to dive vest 12 despite the orientation of dive vest 12 or the diver wearing dive vest 12.
  • C0 2 inflation devices 50 or manual inflation tube 48 may be attached directly to inflation chamber 14.
  • Inflation chamber 14 in addition to being inflated from snorkel 30, as will be described in detail hereafter, may be inflated by either pulling tag 54 thereby releasing C0 2 gas under pressure from cartridge 52 into the inflation chamber 14, or through manual inflation tube 48, as described above.
  • gases stored within inflation chamber 14 are susceptible to being vented through exhaust port 20 if exhaust port 20 is raised above inflation chamber 14. So long as exhaust port 20 stays lower than inflation chamber 14, this embodiment provides an additional way to inflate inflation chamber 14 and thereby provides added safety to the diver.
  • a snorkeler is provided with a snorkel generally designated as 30, as described hereafter, to allow the snorkeler to breath while swimming on the surface of the water with the snorkeler's face in the water.
  • the snorkel 30 is of the basic "J"-shaped variety having a tube 34 with a mouthpiece 32 (Fig. 6) .
  • a purge valve 36 is provided, such as is common to snorkels, to allow water within the snorkel to be easily expelled.
  • purge valve 36 is attached to inflation chamber 14 via inflation tube 16 to allow the diver's exhaled breath to be expelled through purge valve 36 as will be explained hereafter.
  • Inflation tube 16 is attached to inflation chamber 14 near the end of the inflation chamber 14 nearest the head of the snorkeler (Fig. 9) .
  • Purge valve 36 and inflation tube 16 work together with snorkel 30 to direct air expelled from the snorkeler through mouthpiece 32 into tube 34, past purge valve 36 and subsequently into inflation chamber 14. This is done through the interaction of purge valve 36 and the water interfacing end 60 of snorkel 30 which is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
  • a purge valve 36 may be placed where the inflation tube 16 enters the inflation chamber 14.
  • Inflation tube 16 may or may not be attached to a snorkel as desired. If inflation tube 16 is not attached to a snorkel, a diver may force air into the inflation chamber 14 by blowing directly into inflation tube 16. It has been found that it is much easier to force air into inflation chamber 14 through inflation tube 16 if inflation tube 16 has an inside diameter of at least 1/2". This prevents a pressure build-up within inflation tube 16 which hinders blowing air into inflation chamber 14.
  • Attached to the upper end of tube 34 is a flexible upper tube 38 which ends in a base block 61 which is preferably manufactured of hard plastic material.
  • Base block 61 has a centrally located base block chamber 62 connected to upper tube 38 so that air may pass from upper tube 38 into base block chamber 62. Between tube 34 and base block 61, upper tube 38 enters strap 44 which preferably positions a dive mask 47 on the head of a diver (Fig. 7) . As shown in Fig. 8, strap 44 is comprised of a upper strap cloth 45 and a lower strap cloth 46. Within strap 44, upper tube 38 and base block 61 are located between upper and lower strap cloths 45, 46. Strap 44 is adjustably attached to mask 47. The means for adjusting the fit of strap 44 is preferably through elongated adjusters 80. (Fig. 12).
  • the adjusters 80 have a rigid central tube 82 with two parallel central tube apertures 84 extending entirely through the adjusters at right angles to the elongated axis of central tube 82 near the ends of central tube 82.
  • End tubes 86a,b having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of central tube 82, are placed in each end of central tube 82.
  • Each end tube 86a,b is tube shaped with a closed end facing the inside of centra tube 82.
  • Preferably end tubes 86a,b abut each other i central tube 82 at their respective closed ends.
  • each end tube 86a,b has an end tube apertur A C88 extending entirely through each end tube 86a,b at a righ angle to the elongated axis of the end tubes 86a,b.
  • Each en tube aperture 88 is of the same diameter as central tube aperture 84.
  • End plugs 90a,b having an inside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of end tubes 86a,b are placed in the non-closed ends of the respective end tubes 86a,b.
  • Each end plug 90 has an end plug aperture 92a,b extending entirely through end plug 90 at a right angle to the axis of end plug 92.
  • End plug apertures 92 have a diameter equal to the diameters of both central tube apertures 84 and end tube apertures 88.
  • the loop of cord 96 is connected to mask 47 through apertures or similar fastening means.
  • Central tube 82 is in turn attached to strap 44.
  • the bias of springs 94 push end plugs 90 away from end tubes 86 thus misaligning end plug apertures 90 from end tube apertures 88 and central tube apertures 84.
  • cord 96 passes through the respective apertures, misalignment of the apertures clamps cord 96 between end plugs 90 and end tubes 86. This clamping effectively holds cord 96 in a constant position with respect to adjusters 80. Therefore, once mask 47 is positioned on the diver's face, end plugs 90 may be depressed allowing cord 96 to pass through adjusters 80 until a comfortable fit with strap 44 is obtained.
  • a cap block 63 preferably manufactured of a hard plastic corresponding in abutting size to base block 61 is placed on upper strap cloth 45 above base block 61. Passages 64 pass from base block chamber 62 through upper strap cloth 45 and cap block 63. In the preferred embodiment, there are three or four cylindrical shaped passages 64 arranged symmetrically around a common central point and extending from base block chamber 62 through upper strap cloth 45 and cap block 63.
  • Screws 65 pass through cap block 63 and upper strap cloth 45 into base block 61 in order, when tightened, to hold cap block 63 tightly against upper strap cloth 45 and base block 61 to provide an air and watertight seal between base block 61 and cup block 63 except at passages 64.
  • glue or any other well known means for fastening may be used to hold cap block 63 tightly against upper strap cloth 45 and base block 61 as described above.
  • Extending upward from cap block 63 and surrounding passages 64 is a rigid inner tube 66.
  • Inner tube 66 is securely fastened to cap block 63 so that passages 64 are accessed only through inner tube 66.
  • a spring 67 is located within inner tube 66 and rests upon cap block 63 around passages 64.
  • Spring 67 is preferably made from semi-rigid plastic tubing having slits 77 cut through the outer walls along the elongated axis of the spring. (Fig. lla) . Slits 77 do not extend completely to either end of spring 67 so that well defined and non-slit ends 78a,b are presented. When ends 78a,b are pushed toward each other, side walls 79 are pushed away from the central axis of spring 67, separating from each other along slits 77. (Fig. lib). Side walls 79 are resistant to bending as they are pushed outward as ends 78a,b are pushed together. As side walls 79 are bent outward, they retain an inherent tendency to attain their pre-bent position.
  • the bent side walls 79 provide a force pushing ends 78 a,b apart in similar fashion to a common coil spring which is compressed.
  • This spring 67 is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Further, because spring 67 is made from plastic tubing, it does not rust and is resistant to corrosion. Of course, spring 67 may also be of the conventional coil spring variety if desired.
  • a cylindrical inverted cap 68 having a radius larger than inner tube 66 is placed over inner tube 66 resting upon spring 67.
  • a screw 70 extends from between cap block 63 and upper strap cloth 45 through the center of inner tube 66 into an airtight threaded contact with cap 68.
  • An air and watertight seal 69 is placed across the inner surface of cap 68 opposite inner tube 66.
  • cap 68 is manually pressed towards cap block 63 against the bias of spring 67 until seal 69 comes in air and watertight sealing contact with the upper edge of inner tube 66.
  • the improved snorkel 30 allows both air and water to be expelled from the tube 34 through purge valve 36.
  • the snorkeler may blow an air bubble into tube 34 through mouthpiece 32 while the snorkeler is diving below the surface of the water. This air bubble will travel through tube 34 where it will come in contact with cap 68. Because cap 68 is an inverted cup shape, the air bubble will get trapped in the closed end of cap 68. The air bubble in this position will prevent water from entering the top of inner tube 66.
  • the snorkeler Because water is prevented from entering inner tube 66 while the snorkeler is under water, the snorkeler will not need to blow out the water ordinarily found in the tubes of ordinary snorkels upon reaching the water's surface. Since blowing water out of a snorkel tube is very tiring to snorkelers, the instant invention provides a snorkel that is much less tiring to use than ordinary snorkels.
  • the snorkeler may immediately take a breath through snorkel 30.
  • the dive vest 12 is attached to the snorkeler by placing neck strap 22 around the neck of the snorkeler. Waist strap 24 may be attached around the snorkeler's waist so that dive vest 12 is held in position on the front side of the snorkeler.
  • the dive vest 12 extends from the snorkeler's neck down to an area between the crotch and knees of the snorkeler.
  • the snorkeler then enters the water whereupon air may be placed in the inflation chamber 14. This is done by pushing cap 68 toward the diver's head thereby bringing seal 69 into contact with inner tube 66. Thereafter, the diver blows into the mouthpiece 32 as described above. Air is then forced through purge valve 36 and inflation tube 16 into inflation chamber 14. There, due to the pressure of the water, air in chamber 14 will tend to rise to the upper portion of inflation chamber 14, which is directly opposite exhaust port 20. In this way, air placed in inflation chamber 14 will remain within inflation chamber 14 and not exit through exhaust port 20.
  • inflation chamber 14 because of the tapered shape of inflation chamber 14 as mentioned above, air within inflation chamber 14 will tend to be bottled up in the top portion of inflation chamber 14. This tapering provides an additional aid to hinder air from escaping out of exhaust port 20.
  • a small weight may be added to the side of the open seam embodiment of the exhaust port 20 closest to the body of the snorkeler. This small weight will be pulled downward by gravity when the dive vest 12 is inflated and the snorkeler is in a prone or semi-prone position. This downward orientation of this part of exhaust port 20 will tend to seal the opposite sides of the open seam of exhaust port 20, thereby further hindering the escape of air from inflation chamber 14.
  • Air in inflation chamber 14 will act in addition to the snorkeler's natural buoyancy thereby comfortably supporting the snorkeler on an effective air pillow in the water in a prone or semi-prone position. This will allow the snorkeler to effortlessly remain on the surface of the water. In this position the snorkeler may rest or observe the underwater scenery by means of an ordinary dive mask, without any exertions to keep from sinking or to maintain the prone or semi-prone position. By maintaining the snorkeler in the prone or semi-prone position, the invention also facilitates easy travel through the water with a minimum of effort by ordinary strokes involving the arms and legs. When the snorkeler desires to descend beneath the surface of the water, the snorkeler may bend at the waist and rotate his body so that his head is in a downward position.
  • Air within inflation chamber 14 will then be vented through exhaust port 20 with the result that the net positive buoyancy caused by the air within inflation chamber 14 will be replaced by net negative buoyancy caused by the dive belt, thereby allowing the snorkeler to remain underwater with no additional effort.
  • inflation chamber 14 is bounded on one side by exhaust port 20 which is an opening formed between the two pieces of water and air impervious material making up inflation chamber 14 and which has no form of closure
  • exhaust port 20 may be equipped with any of a number of closures which are easy to open and close.
  • the snorkeler must manually open exhaust port 20 as the snorkeler moves into the traditional dive position.
  • a hook and loop closure system such as that sold under the trademark VELCRO may be used to close exhaust port 20.
  • the dive vest is not intended to be primarily used as a life preserver, it is recognized that it may be used as such and that it has inherent characteristics which are useful to snorkelers or other users who may become tired in the water or who could use a flotation device. Further, the dive vest 12 or snorkel 30 may be used individually as well as in combination with each other.
  • the instant invention has been described in what is considered to be the preferred embodiment. Although the description of the invention was given in the form of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the description is given by means of example and not by means of limitation. It is understood that additions and modifications to the description may be made within the scope of the invention. Further, obvious changes and modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Abstract

Gilet de plongée (12) et système de tuba (30). Le gilet de plongée (12) est réalisé en une matière imperméable à l'air et à l'eau présentant une chambre de gonflage (14) capable de recevoir et de stocker de l'air, et présentant également un orifice d'évacuation (20) évacuant automatiquement l'air stocké dans la chambre de gonflage (14) lorsque l'utilisateur du gilet de plongée (12) place l'extrémité de tête du gilet de plongée au-dessous de l'orifice d'évacuation (20) avant de plonger sous la surface de l'eau. Le tuba est un tube flexible doté d'une embouchure (32) au niveau d'une extrémité (34). L'autre extrémité (38) est attachée à la sangle (44), laquelle maintient le masque de plongée (47) en place, à l'arrière de la tête du plongeur. A ce niveau, une interface (60) avec l'eau empêche que l'eau se trouvant au-dessus de la tête du plongeur ne pénètre dans le tube flexible, et présente un resserrement (60) destiné à fermer l'extrémité du tube (38).
PCT/US1992/000932 1991-02-06 1992-02-06 Gilet de plongee et systeme de tuba WO1992013599A1 (fr)

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US65370591A 1991-02-06 1991-02-06
US653,705 1991-02-06

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Citations (7)

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FR736745A (fr) * 1931-09-08 1932-11-28 Masque respiratoire pour faciliter l'exercice de la natation
US2317236A (en) * 1939-12-22 1943-04-20 Charles H Wilen Breathing apparatus for swimmers
US2534568A (en) * 1947-01-25 1950-12-19 Pirelli Submarine mask
US3138155A (en) * 1959-06-23 1964-06-23 Dunlop Rubber Co Underwater swimming and diving suits
US4022201A (en) * 1975-09-04 1977-05-10 Diggs Richard E Rebreathing cap for skin divers in combination with floating snorkel attachment
US4673366A (en) * 1984-12-05 1987-06-16 Btr Plc Exposure suit with an attached lifejacket

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1084106A (en) * 1913-03-17 1914-01-13 William Wright Pelton Garment for bathing.
FR736745A (fr) * 1931-09-08 1932-11-28 Masque respiratoire pour faciliter l'exercice de la natation
US2317236A (en) * 1939-12-22 1943-04-20 Charles H Wilen Breathing apparatus for swimmers
US2534568A (en) * 1947-01-25 1950-12-19 Pirelli Submarine mask
US3138155A (en) * 1959-06-23 1964-06-23 Dunlop Rubber Co Underwater swimming and diving suits
US4022201A (en) * 1975-09-04 1977-05-10 Diggs Richard E Rebreathing cap for skin divers in combination with floating snorkel attachment
US4673366A (en) * 1984-12-05 1987-06-16 Btr Plc Exposure suit with an attached lifejacket

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