WO2009135874A2

WO2009135874A2 - Buoyancy compensator jacket

Info

Publication number: WO2009135874A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/055478
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giampaolo Ricuperati
Original assignee: Manufatture Rit-Mo Kft
Priority date: 2008-05-06
Filing date: 2009-05-06
Publication date: 2009-11-12
Also published as: WO2009135874A3; ITMI20080164U1

Abstract

Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) which comprises: a structure (10) suitable for wrapping around at least one portion of the back and sides of a user and which comprises a dorsal portion from which a first and a second section extend; a first and a second shoulder strap (21,22) of adjustable length fixed in a first and a second point of said dorsal portion and to said first and second section; an adjustable ventral belt comprising a first and a second belt element (31,32) which can be coupled to each other and fixed to said first and second section; a ventral band comprising a first and a second portion of band (41,42) which can be coupled to each other and coupled to said first and second belt element; a first and a second thigh piece (51,52) fixed in a third point of said dorsal portion and, respectively, to said first and second section.

Description

"BUOYANCY COMPENSATOR JACKET"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a buoyancy compensator jacket for diving. More specifically, the present invention relates to a buoyancy compensator jacket for diving with improved characteristics of practicality and flexibility of use, maintaining the characteristics of safety which the same must guarantee the wearer in an underwater environment.

Buoyancy compensators (BCs) are normally used in diving to adjust the buoyancy of the diver during submersion or emersion, or to improve control of the depth level and maintain a stable buoyancy and constant depth.

Normally buoyancy compensator jackets of known type consist of a vest incorporating one or more bladders which vary in volume according to the quantity of air introduced and the external pressure exerted by the water, consequently varying the buoyancy of the diver. On the outside of the back of the jacket a cylinder support can be positioned which generally constitutes an integral part of said jacket. Furthermore buoyancy compensator jackets normally comprise an inflation valve which can be connected to the cylinder by means of a low pressure direct feed and a bleed valve for emptying the bladders and, if necessary, an automatic relief valve in the event of excess pressure inside the bladder. A ventral or pectoral closing and fastening system is furthermore provided to secure the jacket to the body in a stable manner.

The present invention aims at providing a buoyancy compensator jacket with high flexibility of use in terms of adaptability to the diver's body, without losing the characteristics of safety which the same must guarantee the wearer during submersion.

Furthermore, the present invention is aimed at providing a buoyancy compensator jacket which is highly reliable and relatively easy to produce at competitive costs.

The buoyancy compensator jacket, according to the present invention, comprises a structure suitable for wrapping around at least one portion of the back and sides of a user, said structure comprising a dorsal portion from which a first and a second section extend; the jacket furthermore comprises a first and a second adjustable-length shoulder strap attached to a first and a second point of said dorsal portion and to said first and second section. The jacket according to the present invention also features an adjustable ventral belt which comprises a first and a second belt element that can be connected to each other and are fixed to said first and second section. The jacket also comprises a ventral band comprising a first and a second portion of band that can be connected to each other and are connected to said first and second belt element. Lastly, the jacket according to the present invention features a first and a second thigh piece fixed in a third point of said dorsal portion and to said first and second section.

The buoyancy compensator jacket produced as above offers numerous advantages connected above all with its flexibility and practicality of use, while maintaining the required safety characteristics. In particular, it easily adapts to and can be adjusted on the diver's body, adhering to the diver's body and guaranteeing greater stability and safety.

Further characteristics and advantages of the jacket according to the invention will become clearer from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is a perspective view of a buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention, shown in a completely open position; figure 2 is a first detailed view of a buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention, which illustrates some details of the ventral fastening; - figure 3 is a second detailed view of a buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention, which illustrates further details of the ventral fastening; figure 4 is a third detailed view of a buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention, which illustrates the ventral fastening in the closed position; figure 5 is a fourth detailed view of a buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention, which illustrates some details of a shoulder strap.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 according to the present invention, in its most general embodiment, comprises a structure 10 which is suitable for wrapping around at least one portion of the back and sides of a user. In particular, said structure 10 comprises a dorsal portion 15 from which a first 11 and a second 12 section extend; in practice the structure 10 constitutes the dorsal and ventrolateral portion of a vest suitable for being closed at the front of the user.

The buoyancy compensator jacket 1 furthermore comprises a first 21 and a second 22 adjustable-length shoulder strap fixed in a first 151 and a second 152 point respectively of said dorsal portion 15, in particular fixed in the upper part of the dorsal portion 15 in a position substantially symmetrical to it and to said first 11 and second 12 section.

The ventral closure of the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 according to the present invention comprises an adjustable ventral belt comprising a first 31 and a second 32 belt element which can be connected to each other and are fixed to said first 11 and second 12 section respectively, in addition to a ventral band which comprises a first 41 and a second 42 portion of band that can be connected to each other and are connected to said first 31 and second 32 belt element respectively.

Furthermore, the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 also comprises a first 51 and a second 52 thigh element which are fixed in a third point 153 of said dorsal portion 15 and to said first 11 and second 12 section respectively. In practice the third point 153 is located on the lower edge of the dorsal portion 15, in a substantially central position with respect to it.

Advantageously said ventral belt and said ventral band are made of elastic material.

With particular reference to the figures from 1 to 4, the buoyancy compensator jacket

1 according to the present invention features a ventral fastening in which preferably said first 41 and second 42 portion of band comprise a first 411 and a second 422 end respectively on which a first 43 and a second 44 slit are respectively positioned in which said first 31 and second 32 belt element are respectively inserted. In other words, as can be seen in figures 2 and 3, the first and second belt element 31 and 32 are positioned outside the respective first 41 and second 42 portion of band, passing through a slot or buttonhole 43 and 44 and emerging on the internal dorsolateral portion of the jacket. For the purposes of the present invention, the terms internal, external, upper and lower refer to the jacket as worn.

As illustrated in figure 4, the first and second belt element 31 and 32 comprise a fastening and adjustment system, consisting for example of a system of buckles, which permits closing of the belt and adaptation thereof to the diver's body. In turn, the first 41 and second 42 portion of band comprise a third 413 and a fourth

424 end respectively which can be overlapped and connected by means of a closing system, for example Velcro, permitting closure of the ventral band.

In this way, due to the structure of the unit formed by ventral belt and ventral band, in addition to their elasticity, it is possible to adjust the ventral closure on the surface before submersion. The elastic ventral belt and band adapt to the movements of the body, reducing fatigue, and do not require further adjustment, during and after submersion, according to variation in the water pressure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 according to the present invention, illustrated with reference to figures 1 and 5, said first 21 and second 22 shoulder strap are conveniently each made of two portions of fabric tape. In other words, the shoulder straps 21 and 22 comprise a first 211 and a second 222 tape respectively which are fixed to said first 11 and second 12 section respectively; the shoulder straps 21 and 22 furthermore comprise a third 213 and a fourth 224 tape respectively, fixed in said first 151 and second 152 point respectively of said dorsal portion 15; furthermore the first 211 and third 213 tape, and said second 222 and fourth 224 tape are connected to each other in a reversible manner.

In practice each shoulder strap consists of a portion of tape 211 and 222 fixed by one end to the sections 11 and 12 respectively in the ventral or ventrolateral position, while the other end is provided with a means for reversible coupling, for example a first element of a snap buckle; the portions of tape 213 and 224 constitute the upper part of the shoulder straps and are fixed at a shoulder point of the dorsal portion 15, a second snap buckle element being positioned at their free end, which can be coupled to the corresponding first buckle element present on the portions of tape 211 and 222. This makes it easier to put the jacket 1 on. Obviously this shoulder strap structure divided into two sections can also be present on only one of the two shoulder straps.

Furthermore, in order to improve the wearability and adaptability of the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 to the body, the first 211 and second 222 tape preferably comprise means for adjusting the length, for example length-adjusting buckles. In a preferred embodiment of the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 according to the present invention, illustrated in detail in figures 1 and 2, said first tape 211 of said first shoulder strap 21 is fixed in a first 111 and in a second 112 point of said first section 11 forming a slit into which said first belt element 31 and said first portion of band 41 are inserted; in the same way, with particular reference to figure 2, the second tape 222 of said second shoulder strap 22 is fixed in a first 121 and in a second 122 point of said second section 12 forming a slit into which said second belt element 32 and said second portion of band 42 are inserted. In other words, the first and second tape 211 and 222 fixed in this way constitute a seat inside which the belt elements 31 and 32 are positioned, in addition to the band portions 41 and 42, contributing to the stability of the ventral fastening system. With reference to figure 5, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 according to the present invention, said third tape 213 is coupled with a first band 25 inserted in a first loop 26 positioned at said first point 151 of said dorsal portion 15; in turn said first band 25 is coupled in an adjustable manner to said first loop 26, for example by means of a Velcro fastening system. In the same way said fourth tape 224 is coupled with a second band 27 inserted in a second loop 28 and positioned at said second point 152 of said dorsal portion 15; also in this case said second band 27 is coupled in an adjustable manner, for example by means of a Velcro fastening system, to said second loop 28.

In practice, each band 25 and 27 can run inside the corresponding loop 26 and 28 and be fixed inside it depending on the desired length of the shoulder strap. Both the bands 25 and 27 and the loops 26 and 28 can be appropriately shaped so as to prevent, or at least obstruct, the band slipping out of the corresponding loop. For example, as illustrated in figure 5, the loops can have a trapezium shape while the bands can have a width which increases at their ends so as to make it difficult for them to slip out of the corresponding loops.

The shoulder straps are therefore adjusted both by adjusting the length of the tape 211 and 222 and by locking the band 25 and 27 in the desired position inside the loop 26 and 28. In this way both wearability and flexibility of use of the jacket 1 are considerably increased, since it can be easily adapted to bodies of different size. This is a very useful result, in terms of both construction and use, as there is no need to provide different models with different size (for example XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL for both men and women). In other words, it is possible to produce a first size that covers XS, S, M and a second size that covers M, L, XL, XXL.

Preferably, the first 51 and second 52 thigh piece comprise a fifth elastic tape 515 having a first end 511 fixed to said first section 11 and a second end 512 fixed to said second section 12; furthermore said fifth elastic tape 515 is fixed at an intermediate point 513 in said third point 153 of said dorsal portion 15. In practice with one single tape appropriately positioned and fixed to the structure 10 it is possible to produce two elastic rings which form the thigh pieces 51 and 52. This creates an elastic area that closes around the groin thus causing the jacket 1 to adhere more tightly to the diver's body, guaranteeing greater stability and safety.

Preferably, in order to make it easier to put the buoyancy compensator jacket 1 on, said fifth tape 515 is fixed to said first 11 and/or second 12 section in a reversible manner, for example via snap buckles. In the same way and for the same purposes, the fifth tape 515 can be fixed in a reversible manner also in said third point 153 of said dorsal portion 15, for example via a snap buckle. The tape 515 can furthermore be provided with length adjustment means, for example adjustment buckles, which permit greater adaptability to the diver's body.

As can be seen from the description provided, the buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention offers numerous and considerable advantages with respect to the jackets of known type.

The possibility of adjusting both the ventral fastening system, comprising the belt and band, and the shoulder straps results in high flexibility of use and adaptability to the user's body, at the same time also improving safety and stability. The fact that the ventral fastening and thigh pieces are made of elastic material allows the jacket to easily adapt to the diver's body as the pressure varies, without requiring continuous regulation or adjustment of the fastening systems.

Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the buoyancy compensator jacket according to the present invention can be easily adapted to bodies of different size, with considerable advantages in terms of both use (for example the same jacket can be used by persons of different size) and production and sale, since it is not necessary to keep in stock the entire size range (for example from XS to XXL) for both men and women.

In addition to comprising the essential elements (air bladders and relative valves, cylinder support, etc.), the jacket according to the present invention can furthermore comprise all the accessories normally present in buoyancy compensator jackets, for example back protections, integrated weighting systems, cylinders for emergency inflation, pockets and safety hooks.

On the basis of the description provided, other characteristics, modifications or improvements are possible and evident to a person averagely skilled in the art. Said characteristics, modifications and improvements should therefore be considered a part of the present invention. In practice, any materials, dimensions and contingent forms can be used according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) characterised in that it comprises: a structure (10) suitable for wrapping around at least one portion of the back and sides of a user, said structure comprising a dorsal portion (15) from which a first (11) and a second (12) section extend; a first (21) and a second (22) shoulder strap of adjustable length fixed in a first (151) and a second (152) point respectively of said dorsal portion (15) and to said first (11) and second (12) section; an adjustable ventral belt comprising a first (31) and a second (32) belt element which can be connected to each other and fixed to said first (11) and second (12) section respectively; a ventral band comprising a first (41) and a second (42) portion of band which can be connected to each other and connected to said first (31) and second (32) belt element respectively; - a first (51) and a second (52) thigh piece fixed in a third point (153) of said dorsal portion (15) and to said first (11) and second (12) section respectively.

2. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said ventral belt and said ventral band are made of elastic material.

3. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first (41) and second (42) portion of band comprise a first (411) and a second (422) end respectively provided with a first (43) and a second (44) slit respectively into which said first (31) and second (32) belt element are inserted respectively.

4. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said first (41) and second (42) portion of band comprise a third (413) and a fourth (424) end respectively which can be overlapped and coupled by means of a Velcro fastening system.

5. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first (21) and second (22) shoulder strap comprise respectively a first (211) and a second (22) tape respectively fixed to said first (11) and second (12) section, and a third (213) and a fourth (224) tape respectively fixed in said first (151) and second (152) point of said dorsal portion (15), said first (211) and third (213) tape and said second (222) and fourth (224) tape being connected to each other in a reversible manner.

6. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said first (211) and second (222) tape comprise length adjustment means.

7. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterised in that said first tape (211) of said first shoulder strap (21) is fixed in a first (111) and in a second (112) point of said first section (11) forming a slit into which said first belt element (31) and said first portion of band (41) are inserted, and in that said second tape (222) of said second shoulder strap (22) is fixed in a first (121) and in a second (122) point of said second section (12) forming a slit into which said second belt element (32) and said second portion of band (42) are inserted.

8. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in one of the claims from 5 to 7, characterised in that said third tape (213) is coupled with a first band (25) inserted in a first loop (26) positioned at said first point (151) of said dorsal portion (15), said first band (25) being coupled in an adjustable manner to said first loop (26), and in that said fourth tape (224) is coupled to a second band (27) inserted in a second loop (28) positioned at said second point (152) of said dorsal portion (15), said second band (27) being coupled in an adjustable manner to said second loop (28).

9. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said first (25) and second (27) band are coupled to said first (26) and second (28) loop respectively by means of a Velcro fastening system.

10. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first (51) and second (52) thigh piece comprise a fifth elastic tape (515) having a first end (511) fixed to said first section (11) and a second end (512) fixed to said second section (12), said fifth elastic tape (515) being fixed in an intermediate point (513) in said third point (153) of said dorsal portion (15).

11. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said fifth tape (515) is fixed to said first (11) and/or second (12) section in a reversible manner.

12. Buoyancy compensator jacket (1) as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterised in that said fifth tape (515) is fixed in said third point (153) of said dorsal portion (15).