An underwater breathing apparatus

Abstract: An underwater breathing apparatus (1) includes a handle by which the cylinder (2) of the breathing apparatus (1) can be grasped and which is able to be attached, together with a collar (6), to the neck (3) of the cylinder (2) without being clamped too tightly or being too free to move, which would be irritating, the attachment being achieved by the tightening of a screw-threaded pin (19) in a hinge (16) defined by two wings (9) of the collar (6) and a central element (17) of the handle (15), the central element (17) of the handle (15) further including a cleft (22) extending substantially transverse the pin (19).

Description: The present invention relates generally to breathing apparatus of the type including a cylinder which has a neck, a collar tightened around the neck by a pin having opposite ends which are screw-threaded and engaged in two opposing wings of the collar, and a handle pivotally connected to the collar by a hinge. More particularly, the present invention relates to an underwater breathing apparatus in which the hinge is defined by the wings of the collar and by a central element of the handle located between the wings and traversed by the pin. As is known, breathing apparata of the type specified are provided with handles to enable the cylinders, which are very heavy and bulky, to be carried by hand. For greater convenience, the handle remains fixed to the cylinder even when the underwater breathing apparatus is not carried manually, for example during underwater activities. Indeed the dismantling of the collar is a complicated operation, particularly on a small boat, and requires a suitable key which is not always available. Different models of known breathing apparatus may have cylinders with necks of slightly different diameters. For this reason it is necessary to adapt the collars to them by tightening the threaded pin by which the handle is fixed to the collar to a greater or lesser extent. Consequently, in some cases, no mechanical interference is created between the central element of the handle and the wings of the collar, a clearance being left which renders the handgrip free to move under the slightest force. Such movements may be particularly inconvenient, for example during underwater activities and when the breathing apparatus is being carried since the knocking of the handle against the cylinder causes an irritating noise. Moreover since the handle does not remain fixed in a predetermined position, it may be troublesome and may even get caught and be subject to serious damage. On the other hand it can happen that the pin which is needed to attach the collar is screwed so tightly as to clamp the handgrip immovably so that it is unusable. The technical problem which is at the root of the present invention is that devising of an underwater breathing apparatus which has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome these problems. This problem is resolved by apparatus of the type specified, characterised in that it includes a cleft in the central element of the handle extending substantially transverse the pin. The main advantage of the breathing apparatus according to the invention lies in the fact that the central element of the handgrip acquires an elasticity such that it is possible to tighten the pin without clamping the handle immovably while, however, maintaining mechanical interference between the central element and the wings of the collar. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: figure 1 is a partial perspective view of an underwater breathing apparatus according to the invention, and; figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the underwater breathing apparatus of figure 1. In the drawings, underwater breathing apparatus of the type which supplies a breathing mixture, for example air, is indicated 1. It is shown without the supply equipment from which the divers breath the mixture. The breathing apparatus 1 includes a cylinder 2 containing compressed air which has a neck 3 at its upper end to which there is fitted a delivery valve 4 of the breathing apparatus 1 which is operable manually by means of a knob 5. Around the neck 3 of the cylinder 2 the breathing apparatus 1 includes a collar 6 constituted by a ring with two free ends 8 and respective opposing wings 9 formed on the free ends 8. The collar 6 is of semi-rigid, resiliently-deformable material and is located so as to surround the neck 3 of the cylinder 2. The collar 6 is tightened against the neck 3 of the cylinder 2 by a pin 19 having opposite ends 20 which are screw-threaded and engaged in the wings 9 of the collar. The collar 6 has a circular aperture 10 defined by its inner surface 11, this latter being intended to fit tightly around the neck 3. The breathing apparatus 1 has a pair of cavities 12 in the inner surface 11 arranged symmetrically facing one another. The breathing apparatus 1 further includes a pair of friction elements 13 which can be housed in the cavities 12. In the present embodiment, the friction elements are constituted by rubber elements 13, preferably of interchangeable type, each of which has a head 14 intended to be pressed against the neck 3 to limit the rotation of the neck 3 relative and the collar 6. The breathing apparatus 1 includes a handle 15 which is pivotally connected to the collar 6 by means of a hinge 16. The hinge 16 is defined by the two wings 9 of the collar 6 and by a central element 17 of the handle 15 located between the wings 9 and traversed by the pin 19. The handle 15, and more particularly its central element 17, is of a resiliently deformable, semi-rigid material. The screw-threaded ends 20 of the pin 19 are formed with seats 21 for receiving the cooperating end of a suitable tool for tightening the pin 19. The pin 19 also defines the axis A of the hinge 16 about which the handle 16 can pivot. The breathing apparatus 1 according to the invention includes a cleft 22 in the central element 17 of the handle 15. The cleft 22, formed along the entire length of the central element 17, extends transverse to the pin 19 and, at rest, has a predetermined width. In the present embodiment of the breathing apparatus 1 of the invention, the cleft 22 is preferably straight and perpendicular to the pin 19. Moreover, the cleft in the central element 17 has an open end 23a within the collar 6 and a closed end 23b facing the handle 15. At the closed end 23b, the breathing apparatus 1 includes an aperture 24 which defines a split ring having a diameter greater than the predetermined width of the cleft 22. The underwater breathing apparatus 1 further includes a cover 26 of soft material over a handgrip portion 25 of the handle 15. In order to fix the collar 6 to the neck 3 of the cylinder 2 of the breathing apparatus 1 according to the invention, the collar 6 is located around the neck with the central element 17 of the handgrip 15 between the wings 9 of the collar 6 and the pin 19 is inserted. The ends 20 of the pin 19 are then turned until the heads 14 of the rubber elements 13 are suitably compressed against the neck 3 of the cylinder 2 so that the collar 6 is fixed to the cylinder 2. In this situation, the central element 17 of the handle 15 is compressed laterally by the wings 9 tightened against it by the pin 19. The cleft 22 makes the central element 17 resiliently deformable, the width of the cleft being reducible in accordance with the relative dimensions of the collar 6 and the neck 3 so that the collar 6 can be adapted to fit the neck 6. The resilience of the central element 17, thus compressed, causes frictional interference between the handle 15 and the collar 6 at the hinge 16 so that the handle 15 may be pivoted about the axis A of the hinge 16 by the application of adequate manual force without being clamped by excessive tightening of the pin 19. This effect is enhanced by the presence of the aperture 24. If the handle 15 is subject to external forces such as tossing, knocks or the like, it will, however, remain in position, without moving and knocking against the cylinder 2 so as to cause irritating noises which could even put an end to the underwater activity itself. Thus the handle 15 may remain fixed to the cylinder 2 during underwater activities or during transport of the underwater breathing apparatus 1. If, in the latter case, the breathing apparatus 1 were to be subject to vibrations which, in turn, were able to make the handle 15 vibrate, the soft cover 26 can prevent any intermittent noises as well as facilitating the gripping of the handle 15. In addition to the advantages mentioned above, the underwater breathing apparatus according to the invention is structurally simple and easy and cheap to manufacture. An expert in the art may make numerous variation to the underwater breathing apparatus described above in order to satisfy particular requirements without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims: An underwater breathing apparatus (1) comprising: a cylinder (2) which has a neck (3); a collar (6) which is tightened round the neck (3) by a pin (19) having respective screw-threaded ends (20) engaged in two opposing wings (9) of the collar (6); a handle (15) pivotally connected to the collar (6) by a hinge (16) defined by the wings (9) and by a central element (17) of the handle (15), located between the wings (9) and traversed by the pin (19); characterised in that it includes a cleft (22) in the central element (17) of the handle (15) extending transverse to the pin (19). An underwater breathing apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the cleft (22) is straight and perpendicular to the pin (19). An underwater breathing apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the central element (17) of the handle (15) is of semi-rigid material. An underwater breathing apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, which includes an aperture (24) at a closed end (23b) of the cleft (22) which defines a split ring. An underwater breathing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collar (6) has an inner surface (11) intended to fit tightly around the neck (3) and the underwater breathing apparatus (1) includes a pair of cavities (12) in the inner surface (11), located symmetrically facing one another, and a cooperating pair of friction elements (13) housed in the cavities (9). An underwater breathing apparatus (1) according to Claim 5, wherein the friction elements are constituted by small interchangeable rubber elements (13) each of which has a head (14) intended to be compressed against the neck (3) of the cylinder (2). An underwater breathing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which includes a cover (26) of soft material around a handgrip portion (25) of the handle (15).

Inventors: SEMEIA ROBERTO, SEMEIA, ROBERTO
Applicants: SCUBAPRO EUROP, SCUBAPRO EUROPE S.R.L.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B63C11
IPC codes: B65D23, B63C11