U.s.d. Corp.

Allan R Langton

Mark Faulconer

The following specification discloses a buoyancy compensator bladder and method of manufacture therefor. The bladder has a plurality of gussets implaced therein in order to rigidify and maintain a pre-established general configuration to the bladder. A plurality of insets or pleats are implaced around the shoulder area to provide for a generally arcuate curvilinear conformation therearound. A nylon plastic coated material is used for the gussets having one side that can be bonded to the inner side of the bladder, while the other side is formed from a nylon having a higher melting temperature. The gussets that are made from the nylon coated material are folded and implaced within the bladder or cavity formed from a plurality of sheets, the combination of which is brought together and heatset by means of an RF heater, or other suitable heater. The gusset material is formed from a nylon fabric having a polyurethane coating thereon formed from a liquidous first coating with two sheets adhered thereto to form a thickened polyurethane coating over one surface thereof without completely penetrating through the interstices to the other side to the extent where it would melt and bind during the forming operation.

Buoyancy compensator, bladder, and process of manufacture

The following specification sets forth a conformable buoyancy compensator that conforms to a user's body in a uniform manner during use. The buoyancy compensator incorporates an interior bladder having a plurality of heat sealed pleats or insets around the shoulder area in order to provide conformity of the buoyancy compensator to a user's body. The bladder further comprises interior reinforced gussets that retain the conformation of the bladder in a plurality of air channels or pockets that conform to the frontal areas of a user's body. The arm openings are free and open for a user to extend one's arms. Between the front and back portions of the air channels are a plurality of side panels that can be made of spandex, elastic, or can be configured of suitable strapping. The buoyancy compensator has vents. Vented pockets are provided for the receipt of a second stage regulator therein, as well as providing for other specific storage of items used by a diver. The combination of notches, pleats, and insets that have been heat set into the shoulder portion in combination with the heat set reinforced gussets within the bladder in the frontal and rear portion of the buoyancy compensator allow for a conformable configuration that conforms to the body. The foregoing configuration eliminates bulges and undue expansion of the buoyancy compensator into an extended relationship as is known in the prior art.

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Aukland, New Zealand

Allan R Langton