U.s.d. Corp.

U.S. Divers Company, Inc.

Other

Mark Faulconer

Scott E Greatrake

Allan R Langton

The specification discloses a diver's snorkel having an elongated tube with a fitting at the end incorporating a mouthpiece. Distal from the mouthpiece is a water drainage purge chamber extending away from the mouthpiece. The entrance conduit interconnecting the elongated tube to the mouthpiece and the purge chamber is at an angle sloping downwardly from the mouthpiece during use. The purge chamber is angled inwardly toward a diver's chin when in use so that the axis thereof is at an angle to the axis of the mouthpiece. The purge chamber has a purge valve distal from the mouthpiece and incorporates a chamber of significant volume for drainage from the mouthpiece and the elongated tube in an unobstructed manner.

Divers' snorkel purge reservoir

Diver's mouthpiece fixture

The specification herein sets forth a combination buoyancy compensator, backpack and suspension system for divers. The suspension system incorporates a spider which is made of elastomeric foam and a knitted material that conforms closely to a user's body. The backpack is formed from an inverted T, the lateral portions of which surround a user's waist and the upright portion is adapted for receipt of a cylinder of breathing gas. The buoyancy compensator is attached to the spider at the shoulder portions and the waistband portions. The attachment is by means of adjustable loops which allow for independent suspension of the buoyancy compensator so that when it is filled it does not bind a diver. The straps interconnecting the spider, shoulder portions and the waistband portion are in a crisscross configuration to allow for freedom of movement of a diver's arms.

Diver's buoyancy compensator and backpack with independent suspension

Diving meter

Buoyancy compensator with an adjustable strap

The disclosure in the specification sets forth a digital diving meter providing information on an axis to be readily observed in reading the information along the axial line of the display. The display is incorporated within the diving meter movement having a cover thereover. The cover comprises a cover for the digital dive meter having a handle extending therefrom at an axis form the axial line of display for ease of holding and reading the information.

Digital diving meter

Diver's buoyancy compensator backpack support

A buoyancy compensator adjustment for a diver's buoyancy compensator having a backpack and a back portion terminating in side and shoulder portions. The shoulder portions and side portions are each secured by straps overlying the chest extending from the side portions to the shoulder portions. The straps are looped through belt loops to provide a bight under tension which is loosened upon lifting or disengaging one of the belt loops.

Adjustable diver's belt

A diver's buoyancy compensator belt to be used with a diver's buoyancy compensator of the type that allows for increases and decreases of air to be provided thereto, depending upon the amount of buoyancy that is required. The buoyancy compensator belt has a first belt made of webbing for attachment to a buoyancy compensator and a backpack that in turn receives a tank connected thereto. The buoyancy compensator belt retains the buoyancy compensator around a diver's waist at distinct locations to allow for movement thereof which allows for the belt to expand and contract, due to the belt being made from an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material allows for a stretching and contraction of the belt, due to various pressure conditions and can be made of elastomeric foam having discrete cells therein. As the belt expands and contracts due to the discrete cells being pressurized at various depths, it compensates for the depth. This provides for overall control of the belt that is accommodated for at various depths so that the belt can expand and contract commensurately with wetsuits underlying the belt that are also made of foamed elastomeric cellular material.

Diver's buoyancy compensator belt

A buoyancy compensator insertable backpack is disclosed herein in the form of a configured insert having an inverted T conformation. The inverted T conformation has an upright portion with ribs thereon which provide rigidity to the upright and includes at least one set of slits therethrough in order to secure a breathing gas tank by a metal band passing therethrough and around the tank. The lower or transverse portion of the inverted T shaped backpack is curved to follow the contour of a person's torso so that support can be provided to the upright portion by having a load distributed across a person's torso in the pelvis, small area of the back, or hip area. The entire insertable backpack is implaced with a buoyancy compensator so as to provide for support of a breathing gas tank on the backpack within the buoyancy compensator, all of which are secured on a user's body for providing buoyancy compensation and attendant support of a breathing gas tank.

Buoyancy compensator insertable backpack

Two instrument dive console

Three instrument dive console

A strap and retainer for a diver's mask, or other mask to be held on a user's face. The retainer is comprised in part of a molded portion of the frame of the mask with a movable clip portion therein which is pivotally mounted into a molded pocket in the frame of the mask that receives the clip. The clip comprises a main lever portion that is pivotally mounted in the pocket with an angular spring arm portion that rides within the base of the pocket. At the other end of the pivotal lever portion from the spring portion is an angular barb or tooth having a substantially upright angular face portion and a sloping angular face portion. The strap comprises a plurality of ribs, one side of which is substantially normal to the longitudinal relationship of the strap, while the other side has a sloping angular portion which can slide under the tooth of said lever against the sloping angular face portion thereof, while said normal angular face portion is engaged against the upright angular face portion of said lever tooth to block the movement thereof when it is under tension and impressed thereagainst. The strap is connected to the mask frame by a cylindrical transverse roller mounted into the pocket around which the strap is looped.

Strap and retainer for a divers mask

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.

Growing community of inventors

Costa Mesa, CA, United States of America

Mark Faulconer