WO2005032296A2

WO2005032296A2 - Universal sealing and pressurisation device for using and protecting electronic or fragile objects underwater

Info

Publication number: WO2005032296A2
Application number: PCT/FR2004/002447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Meslin; Sarah Meslin
Original assignee: Jean-Pierre Meslin; Sarah Meslin
Priority date: 2003-10-03
Filing date: 2004-09-24
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: FR2860497A1; AU2004277727A1; WO2005032296B1; WO2005032296A3; EP1681955A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a tight envelope consisting of a flexible and transparent material enabling the controls of the equipment to be protected (electronic or otherwise) to be actuated, and provided with a system for pressurising the unit during underwater dives. Said envelope is provided with a tight closing system and optionally a fixing and/or handle system in order to facilitate the anchoring or gripping thereof, in addition to a support for positioning an underwater photographing device inside the envelope. Said envelope can also be provided with tight earphones with a tight cable passing though the wall of the envelope, for connecting to an internal appliance such as a stereo headset.

Description

UNIVERSAL PRESSURIZATION AND SEALING DEVICE FOR THE USE AND PROTECTION OF ELECTRONIC OR FRAGILE OBJECTS IN THE UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENT

The invention relates to the use and / or protection of objects, in particular electronic and / or fragile, against sea water or fresh water and the phenomena of pressure and depression generated during underwater activities. marine, surface nautical or even exposed to natural atmospheric phenomena such as rain, wind, dust, snow.

There are a large number of pocket or envelope systems making it possible to shelter objects. Much less of them have a real seal, even less a device for regulating pressurization, and none to our knowledge allows the universal use of electronic objects, in particular portable music players, radio sets or mobile phones in the environment. -sea (up to the inherent capacities of said objects, because electromagnetic waves are quickly limited by the depth of water).

As for the rigid waterproof cases dedicated to underwater cameras, these are by definition and design totally specific to each model of camera, and are limited in depth by the manufacturer because they are not pressurized (the performance report / price constituting the marketing target sought).

The invention consists of a set of two joint devices, having the following characteristics:

First device: the container: • Made up of a universal envelope and its sealed closure system, the shapes and dimensions of which will be chosen from a range depending on the dimensions of the objects to be used and / or to be protected, including photography and video cameras.

• The said envelope will be made of a flexible and transparent plastic material, so as to be able to view all displays or indicators, and manually actuate the various buttons, sliders, pushers and knobs allowing its submerged use (up to the technical limitations inherent in said objects , as mentioned above).

• In addition, said envelope will optionally be fitted with headphones and / or microphone, the wires of which will pass through the wall of the envelope in a sealed manner. The non-envelope part of these accessories, in particular the little ears, will also be waterproof themselves. 1. Said envelope may include any attachment device by loops, straps and / or handles in order to facilitate its use according to the destination of the objects, such as for example: simple protective envelope to be slipped into a pocket (electronic keys, papers, cards , mobile phone, ...), envelope with earphones and straps (portable music players, CD or MP3 players, underwater noise recorder, ...), or an envelope with external handles (cameras, cameras, ...).

Second device: underwater pressurization system (optional, not compulsory on the surface): device allowing to regulate the pressure of the air pocket trapped in the tank (opped by the bypass of the air coming from the bottle of diving or breath of the user. The very fact of compensating for the ambient pressure theoretically allows any depth, however the advantage of the device lies essentially in the use, or failing that, the protection of any object, in particular electronic There are three possible applications for this regulation, from the simplest to the most sophisticated:

1, Presence of an oral inflation orifice, fitted with a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve relative to the ambient environment. The setting of the inflation valve should be around 0.1 bar relative, while the setting of the pressure relief valve will be set to 0.2 bar. This device is intended for surface water activities or shallow dives (less than 3 meters) such as recreational snorkeling (fins + mask + snorkel). Detailed below under the reference DSS-01 (figure 1b).

2. Economical device for recreational diving (depth less than 40 meters): consists of the presence of a connector to be inserted by hand in the mouthpiece opening of the diver's emergency regulator, and connected to the pocket to be pressurized by uni low pressure flexible hose. This connector must be able to be instantly disconnected by the diver in order to use the emergency regulator, security required. However, this disconnection, via a guided movement, will automatically close the connector opening so as not to allow water to enter the pocket. System identified DSS-02 (see Figure 1c). The advantage of this second regulating device lies in the use of the properties and characteristics of a secondary diving regulator: during the descent, the ambient pressure gradually increases (1 bar every 10 meters), so the flexible pocket also until it conforms to the shapes of the object, as a result of which the air contained in the connector + hose + pocket + object assembly is found in a situation of low depression; the regulator, via the connection to the DSS-02 connector, calls for the admission of a very small amount of air, as the lungs of the diver would do, although in a smaller amount. Conversely during the ascent, the air contained in the entire device relaxes and therefore the bag increases in volume, and ends up slightly increasing pressure; here again, the emergency regulator will play its role of exhaust as during the expiration of a plunger. 3. Third device, for diving professionals (DSS-03): consists of inserting a r-shaped “T” derivative between the Medium Pressure air supply (15 to 20 bars) and the inflator port of the compensating vest buoyancy, thus avoiding the use of the emergency regulator. This bypass is provided with a complete and autonomous secondary regulator (functions: lowering of pressiop, call for air during a depression e \ exhaust in overpressure). The use of this “T” branch is useless if the diver has a medium pressure outlet available at the outlet of the first expansion stage.

Presentation of diagrams;

• Fig 1a: minimal device without pressurization seen in section ψ Fig 1b: device with mouthpiece for pressurizing (DSS-01).

• Fig 1c: device with automatic pressurization by connector on emergency regulator (DSS-02). • Fig 1d: device with automatic pressurization vja a dedicated regulator (DSS * 03) connected by iine T-branch (or flexible available) at medium pressure (primary regulator outlet).

• Fig 2: top view of the envelope device, fitted with the headphones option (possible in all configurations). • Fig 3: Option of the device with handles: allows the aiming and] st manipulation of the shooting devices (possible in all configurations).

Benchmarks shown in the diagrams, depending on the configuration adopted: Benchmark 1 object to use and / or protect * Benchmark 2 sealed envelope made of flexible transparent material Benchmark 3 sealed opening and closing device. Mark 4 option for headphones passing through the wall of the enclosure (2). Item 5 sealing system for wires (4) through the wall (2). Mark 6 flexible connection pipe. • Rejtère 7 sealing system connecting the pipe (6) to the envelope (2) Mark 8 option buccal inflator (DSS-01). 9-pin connector mark on mouthpiece of the emergency regulator (DSS-02). Reference 10; dedicated regulator option (DSS-03). Item 1: "T" branch option to be connected by "DirectSystem ®" (so-called "quick" connector to snap), for example to be inserted between the medium pressure hose and I buoyancy vest inflator. Unnecessary if an additional medium pressure hose can be installed at the outlet of the primary regulator.

• Item 12: handles + external support to ('envelope,

• Reference 13: support internal to the envelope, provided with a hole + nut-wheel, standard fixing of camera or camera (1).

• Reference 14: sealed connection system between the support for external handles (12) and the internal support (13).

Realization: The envelope can be made in different ways ;, whose implementation depends on the material chosen. Examples include molding for most thermoplastic materials and silicone, or the assembly of flexible P.V.C. sheets by high frequency welding. The thickness of the material can vary in important proportions according to quality and resistance chosen (from 300 μm for PΛ .C. Flexible up to the millimeter for silicone in order to be able to actuate the buttons).

The tightness of the closure of the envelope (3) can be obtained, for example by clipping band of the ZipLoc® type in the simplest strip configurations up to the system for pressurizing thick and rigid lips.

The flexible hose can be made of various inexpensive materials, having minimum resistance to abrasion, while the connections to the bag (2) and to the connector (8 or 9), or to the regulator (10) can be entrusted to screwed barbed ends, provided with ad hoc seals.

The connector (9), as well as the mouth inflation tip (8) can be obtained by molding plus the addition of parts such as valves, pressure relief valves, distributor piston with balancing chamber and accessories such as springs, collars, pushers , seals, ...

Expansion valve (professional version): standard, diving market adapted to the hose outlet.

"T" branch: to be connected by "DirectSystém ®" or other similar standards in use by manufacturers specializing in diving equipment. Internal and external handle supports: stainless steel sheet and / or plastic.

Claims

1. The invention consists of a device for the use and / or protection of objects, in particular electronic and / or fragile (1), in the aqueous medium and the phenomena of pressure and depression generated during activities underwater, surface nautical or even exposed to natural atmospheric phenomena such as rain, wind, dust, snow, consisting of: • A waterproof envelope made of flexible and transparent material (2), allowing the vision of indicators and the use of all types of manual actuators through the thickness of the wall of this envelope. • Provided with an opening (3) in order to be able to slide an object in this envelope before its use and with a tight closing system. • By design, this envelope is universal because it is not dedicated to a specific brand or model of object to be used in marine activities or exposed to atmospheric phenomena up to the dimensions of the envelope in relation to the object. • May optionally be fitted with a pair of waterproof earphones (4) (or any other accessory to be connected), the wires of which pass through the wall of the enclosure in a sealed manner (5), wires connected to an electronic card. inside of this enclosure intended to be connected to any electronic device provided with the corresponding additional connectors. • May be fitted with internal and external loops, straps or supports (12, 13 and 14) allowing it to be moored or handled in the aquatic environment or subject to weathering. The presence of a hole + standard fixing wheel on the internal support to the envelope will allow to fix a camera, while a rigid window will allow the aiming under acceptable optical conditions (which does not allow necessarily the transparency of the envelope material).

The invention will be characterized by the presence of a joint device for pressurizing the envelope containing the object to be used and / or to be protected.

2. Device according to the first claim characterized by the presence of a buccal inflator in order to pressurize the envelope (8), equipped with a pressure relief valve, and connected to the envelope by a flexible pipe. This inflator can be used on the surface or in immersion.

3. Variant of the device according to the preceding claim characterized by the presence of an automatic pressurization connector (9) to be inserted by hand in the mouthpiece of a secondary relief regulator for the diver equipped with an autonomous diving suit, provided with 'a device preventing the entry of water into the envelope or disconnection 5 accidental or not in Er and place of the buccal inflator.

4. Variant of the device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the presence of a pressurization connector fitted with a pump, actuating manually to be fitted in the same manner as in claim No. 3 in an emergency regulator valve.

10 td. Variant of the device according to claim number 3 characterized by the presence of an autonomous low pressure regulator (1O) _s dedicated to the casing, to be connected at the input by a quick connection nozzle on a flexible medium pressure hose coming from the first stage regulator of the diving tank instead of the inflator

} 5 buccal.

6. Variant of the device according to the preceding claim, characterized by the rapid connection of the dedicated regulator on a “T” branch (11) interposed between a flexible medium pressure hose and the connection orifice of the inflator of the compensation vest 20 diver's buoyancy.