Patent ID: 9290249
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: A44B,B63C

Claim Text:
1. A buoyancy compensator having a locking system having a forward direction and a backward direction includes: a vest having a pocket in which a ballast is removably inserted; a cover flap configured to openably close an opening of the pocket; a locking system configured to openably close the cover flap; the locking system includes a releasing unit attached to the ballast; a female locking unit attached to the pocket; and a male locking unit attached to the cover flap and configured to be engageable with the female locking unit; wherein: the releasing unit includes a turn leg and an operation knob on the turn leg; the female locking unit includes a frame including both side portions, a front end portion, an arrangement space defined by the both side portions and the front end portion, and a pair of first claws in the guide grooves; the male locking unit includes a stationary member and a movable member, the stationary member is provided with a pair of hook arms each having a second claw, the movable member is slidably inserted in the stationary member by a certain movement range in the forward and backward directions with being urged in the forward direction by a spring interposed between the stationary member and the movable member of the male locking unit; in an engagement of the male locking unit to the female locking unit, the turn leg is arranged between the front end portion of the female locking unit and the movable member of the male locking unit, with the turn leg brought in contact with the front end portion and the movable member, the first claws of the female locking unit and the second claws of the hook arms of the male locking unit are releasably hooked to each other, when the turn leg is forcedly turned at a certain angle in a turn direction thereof by turn operation of the operation knob, the movable member of the male locking unit is pressurized by the turn leg of the releasing unit so as to slide in the backward direction against urge of the movable member by the spring in the forward direction, whereby the second claws of the hook arms of the male locking unit that are hooked to the first claws of the female locking unit, are shifted to sides that hooking of the first and second claws are released, as a result, the engagement of the male locking unit to the female locking unit is released.