Backpack for underwater breathing gas tanks.

Abstract: Backpack for underwater breathing gas tanks including a substantially flattened body (1), at one side of which is connected at least one tank (2), being the other side destined to the connection with the diver back, and provided with catching means; said catching means (3, 103) are positioned in one cavity (301) formed, in a substantially central position, in the side designed to the connection with the diver back.

Description: The present invention refers to a backpack for underwater breathing gas tanks. The backpacks for underwater breathing gas tanks are generally formed by a body, for the most part monolithic and substantially flattened, one side of which is designed for the coupling with one or more tanks, while the other is provided with the means used to fasten said backpack to the diver back. Normally these backpacks are provided, for their transport once connected to the tank/s, with catching means generally applied in connection to the end of the backpack body turned to the end of the tank with the supplying means. The so positioned catching means can have certain disadvantages, such as the carrying uneasiness, even if just for short ways, due to the remarkable height of the backpack and tanks assembly. Also the distribution and the disposition of the load contribute to make the previously described setting not very handy. From DE 44 36 726 a device for the rapid attachment and release of breathing tanks to and from a back structure is known, comprising a rigid support which is connected to the tanks by means of belts and is provided at one end with a blocking recess, and a back structure which can be connected to the stabilizer jacket and is fitted with a transverse-bar which couples with the recess in the rigid support. The said back structure is provided near the end opposite the transverse bar with a pin which may be coupled to a mating hole disposed near the end opposite the recess. A spring clamp cooperates with said hole so as to disengageably lock said pin whenever inserted in said hole. Accommodated within the said rigid support, beneath the said back structure, is a belt which, whenever said support is disconnected from said back structure, may be gripped in order to transport the air cylinder. The above operations are not so easy to be carried out, and also the transport of the cylinders by means of said belt is uncomfortable. Aim of the present invention is then to provide for a backpack for underwater breathing gas tanks which can be carried in an easier way, without introducing, for this reason, structural changes such to damage its functionality during a dive. Object of the present invention is then a backpack for underwater breathing gas tanks including a substantially flattened body, at one side of which is connected at least one tank, being the other side designed for the connection with the diver back, and provided with catching means, characterised in that said catching means are positioned in a cavity molded, in a substantially central position, in the side designed for the connection with the diver back. Further advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will be more clearly undersood by referring to the description below and the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the backpack according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the backpack of Fig. 1. In Figure 1 one embodiment of the backpack according to the present invention is shown. According to this embodiment, by reference numeral 1 the body of said backpack is shown. Said body 1 is substantially flattened and has two molded wings 201 turned to the backpack side designed for the connection with the diver. The backpack is connected, through the belts 101, to the tank 2 which is provided at its end 102 with the compressed air valve means 202 for controlling the amount of air delivered by the tank 2. In a substantially central position of the backpack, on the side destined to the connection with the diver, the cavity 301 is provided, on the side wall of which, at a position near the end wall 321, the slit 311 is formed. In the loop 341 formed at one end of the cavity 301 the stem 103 of the handle 3 is housed. In Figure 2 the backpack of the invention is shown in a longitudinal section. The handle 3 and its stem 103 are shown housed in the cavity 301. The stem 103 is provided, at the end opposite to the one with the handle 3, with a pin 203 inserted in the recess 331 formed in the slit 311 inside the loop 341. In figure 2 the handle 3 is shown by dash and dot line, also in the raised position like that of fig. 1. The operation of the backpack according to the invention will be evident. The handle 3 is connected to the backpack body 1 through the pin 203 projecting from the stem 103 of said handle 3 into the recess 331 of the slit molded in the wall of the cavity 301. When the handle 3 is in the position shown in figure 1, the user catches the back-bottles assembly with much more easiness and handiness. When said handle 3 is not used to carry the backpack, it is inserted back into the cavity 301 formed in the backpack body 1. Advantageously, the handle is inserted with the stem pin 203 inserted in the recess 331 of the slit 311; in this way the handle 3 is led to active position, indicated with 3 in Figure 2, or inactive position, indicated with 3', by simply rotating it around said pin. The slit 311 is made in such a way that the pin 203 is inserted into the same and then led into the recess 331; the end of the cavity resiliently stretches the pin 203 towards said recess 331, helping its correct positioning.

Claims: A backpack for underwater breathing gas tanks including a substantially flattened body (1), at one side of which at least one tank (2)may be connected, the other side being connectable to the diver's back, and provided with catching means (3, 103) positioned in a cavity (301) molded, in a substantially central position, in the side of the said backpack designed for connection with the diver's back, characterised by the fact that said catching means include a handle (3) provided with a stem (103), and in which said stem (103) is provided, on the end opposite to said handle (3), with at least one pin (203) which is inserted in a housing (331) formed in said cavity (301), for inserting the handle (3) into said cavity (301) by swinging. A backpack according to claim 1, where said cavity (301) includes a side wall and an end wall (321), on which it is made a slit (311), and a loop (341) formed on one side of said cavity (301), and where said housing for said pin (203) includes a recess (331) formed along said slit (311) in connection with said loop (341).

Inventors: BELLONI ALBERTO, BELLONI, ALBERTO
Applicants: HTM SPORT SPA, HTM SPORT S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B63C11
IPC codes: B63C11, A45C13, A45F3, A62B9, A62B25