Tensioning device of the belt for the fastening of the compressed gas bottles to the back of a jacket or the like for underwater activity

Abstract: Tensioning device of the belt (1) for the fastening of the compressed gas bottles (2) to the back (3) of a jacket or the like for underwater activity, characterized in that between the two ends of the bottle (2) fastening belt (1) it is inserted a pneumatic jack (9), connected to a suitable compressed gas source, proper to provide for an optimal belt (1) tensioning power for its locking on the bottle (2) itself.

Description: The present invention refers to a tensioning device of the belt for the fastening of the compressed gas bottles to the back of a jacket or the like for underwater activity, proper to prevent a slipping of said bottles both under and out of the water. Up to now, the system most adopted to fasten the bottles to said backs included a belt, passed around the bottle, which was first simply pulled and secured through a Velcro or other system, and then subjected to an extra-tensioning through a lever acting as a cam. This system has a big disadvantage, it is to say that it is necessary to use very long levers to give the belt a sufficient extra tension otherwise it proves to be very hard to lock said levers, in particular for users with not sufficient strength, such as women and children. Moreover this system can cause complications of mechanical kind, since it proves to be not always easy to remember which is the correct passing of the belt around the lever itself. Finally, since this tension is normally put with dry belts, when the belts get wet they give a little so the bottle fastening belt during or at the end of the immersion has no more the same tension it had at the beginning of the diving. In document US-A-5626439 is described a tightening device for securing an air tank to a vest element; the device operates by air pressure supplied from the diver's air tank, and the tightening of the belt is achieved by the pressurized extension of a piston within a cylinder. Such a device improves the tensioning of the belt; however, the same device shows some evident drawbacks. Primarily, in the document there is no mention of the way to release the air tank from the belt. Furthermore, as it can be seen from the appended drawings, the shaft 62 can be damaged owing to the stress induced by the belt, resulting in a subsequent bad operation of the fastening device. Moreover, the whole tensioning charge is supported by the assembly piston/cylinder, so that in the case of failure of pressure, the fastening becomes ineffective. Aim of the present invention is then to avoid the disadvantages of the known systems for the fastening of the bottles to the bottle supporting backs, providing a fastening system proper to provide for an optimal bottle fastening power under any use condition, without requiring any physical effort by the users. According to a main feature of the present invention, said aim is obtained by inserting between the two ends of the bottle fastening belt a pneumatic jack connected to a suitable compressed gas source, proper to provide for an optimal locking power on the bottle itself; said jack is connected to said compressed gas source through a one way loading valve, being moreover said jack provided with valve means for the exhaust of the said compressed air. Advantageously, the pressure energy for said jack is provided by the diver compressed air bottle itself. Anyway, said energy can be also provided by a special compressed fluid little bottle used for this aim, or even by a suitable external source. According to a further feature of the present invention, said jack is most preferably provided with releasable mechanic locking means guaranteeing the maintenance of the locking power even in case of leak of compressed air from the jack itself. Advantageously, said jack most preferably includes two parallel plungers to make the effort more balanced. Further features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment form of the invention, shown in the enclosed drawings, where: Fig. 1 is a perspective view with parts in section of a bottle fastening belt, provided with the pneumatic tensioning device according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially sectioned, of the pneumatic tensioning device of figure 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device of figures 1 and 2, integral with a diver jacket back, having a compressed air bottle locked to the back itself. Fig. 4 is an elevation view of the assembly of figure 3, seen from the rear side, it is to say from the side of the bottle fastened to the back and, Fig. 5 is a detail of a security mechanical check device of the rack and pawl type apt to maintain the tension put to the bottle fastening belt. With reference to the drawings, and with particular reference to figures 1 to 3 of the same ones, the numeral 1 shows a belt for the belting of a bottle 2, for its hooking for example to the back 3 of a jacket 4. At one end of the belt is steady fastened a rectangular annular loop 5. The other end of the belt 1 is passed around a second rectangular annular loop 6 and is led on the inner side of belt 1 to which it is fastened through, for example, a Velcro fastening element 7. With 9 it is shown the covering of a pneumatic jack including a front head 109 provided, in the shown case, with two holes 209, 209' each one provided with a watertight gasket for the passing and the sliding guide of the shafts 8, 8' for the aim that will be later described. Within the body 9, in axis with the holes 209, 209' and consequently with the shafts 8, 8', there are two cylinders 11, 11' within which a plunger 12, 12' slides watertight. The cylinders 11, 11' are both connected on the side adjoining the head 109 with a one way valve 13 for the loading of the compressed air, and with a valve 14 for the exhaust of the compressed air, for the aims which will be better described later. The ends of the two shafts 8, 8' are fastened in an articulated way to the loop 6. Said shafts 8, 8' are then led through the holes 209, 209' of the head 109 of the pneumatic jack 9 into the cylinders 11 and 11'. As shown, the loop 5 is steady connected to the jack 9 body for example by welding. The device is completed by a security mechanic locking device, consisting of the shaft 15 articulated at one end to the loop 6, and going with its other end into an element 16 fastened to the jack body 9. As better shown in figure 5, said shaft 15 can be a shaft provided with rack teeth, and the device 16 can house a pawl element co-operating with the rack teeth of the shaft 15, or can be an undercut locking device or the like, for the aims described later. The functioning of the described device will become clear. The bottle 2 is ringed by the belt 1, provided with the jack 9, by making the belt 1 free end pass around the loop 6 and locking it in position of pre-tensioning through the Velcro 7. At this time, once this precautionary belting is made, the bottle will be properly locked. To this aim compressed air is introduced through the valve 13, said compressed air coming from a suitable source and, for example, from the same bottle 2, connected to the valve 13 through a suitable intake (not shown) so that the plungers 12, 12' slide within their cylinders 11, 11', pulling by means of the shafts 8, 8' the loop 6 and then steady locking the belt 1 around the bottle 2. At the same time, it is also operated the mechanic locking 15-16, which provides that the pneumatically applicated traction doesn't decrease in case of some leak of compressed air from the cylinders 11, 11'. The bottle will then remain steady fastened to the back 3 of the jacket 4 for the whole duration of the diving. Since this fastening can be easily made even underwater, it can eventually be useful to check the tensioning of the belt 1 during the diving, this is to say with the belt wet. Once the diving is ended, to release the bottle it is sufficient to let the air in the cylinder 11, 11' exhaust by operating on the exhaust valve 14. It's good to notice that the plungers 12, 12' during their belt 1 tensioning stroke compress a certain quantity of air contained between said plungers and the bottom of the cylinders 11, 11', so when exhausting the air introduced between the plungers 12, 12' and the head of said cylinders 11, 11', this air, which has been compressed during the belt 1 tensioning active stroke, elastically drives back the plungers 12, 12' to their starting position, so releasing the belt 1. Even if the shown device includes a two parallel cylinders jack, it is clear that it's possible to use as well a jack provided with just one cylinder. Obviously, the mechanical security system 15, 16 shown can be of another type, or at the worst it can be absent, since its presence is not necessary for the good working of the device, but it just represents an additionally security measure. Moreover, as mentioned before, the compressed gas necessary to start up the pneumatic jack 9 can be provided by the diver bottle itself, can be provided by a suitable little bottle integral with the system of the jacket or the back, or can be provided by any external source. Moreover, said feeding can occur intermittently, or the jack 9 loading valve can be constantly connected with a compressed gas source. For its connection to the compressed gas source, the loading valve 13 can be provided with a quick insertion system for the connection, for example, of a intake connected to a compressed gas source, or it can be connected to said intake through a threaded or bayonet clutch, or the like. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the shown and/or described embodiment forms, but it includes all those variations and changes in the sphere of the invention concept, substantially as claimed later on.

Claims: A tensioning device for the belt (1) for the fastening of the compressed gas bottles (2) to the back(3) of a jacket or the like for underwater activity, between the two ends of the bottle (2) fastening belt (1) being insertable a pneumatic jack (9), connected to a suitable compressed gas source, proper to provide for an optimal belt (1) tensioning power for its locking on the bottle(2) itself, characterized in that said jack (9) is connected to said compressed gas source through a one way loading valve (13), being moreover said jack (9) provided with valve means (14) for the exhaust of the said compressed air. A device according to claim 1, where the said compressed gas source is the same diver breathing compressed air bottle (2). A device according to claim 1, where said compressed gas source is a compressed gas bottle different and separate from the diver breathing air bottle (2). A device according to claim 1, said compressed gas source is a suitable compressed gas external source. A device according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, where said jack (9) is connectable to one end of the belt (1) and includes at least one cylinder (11, 11') within which a plunger slides (12, 12'), being the shaft (8, 8') of said plunger connected in an articulated way to a loop (6) connectable to the other end of the belt (1). A device according to claim 5, in which the said one way loading valve (13) is arranged near an end of the said cylinder (11, 11'), the portion of the said cylinder on the opposite side of the plunger (12, 12') being provided with means of elastic yield. A device according to claim 6, in which the said one way loading valve (13) is arranged near the end of the cylinder (11, 11') in which the shaft (8, 8') of the said plunger (12, 12') enters in the said jack (9). A device according to claim 6 or 7, in which said means of elastic yield is a compressible fluid. A device according to any of the preceding claims 6 to 8, where said jack (9) includes two parallel cylinders (11, 11'), within which the plungers (12, 12') slide, being the shafts (8, 8') of said plungers both connected in an articulated way to said loop (6) of said belt (1). A device according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 9, where said loading valve (13) is constantly connected to a compressed gas source. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said loading valve (13) is provided with a quick insertion system for an intake connected to a compressed gas source. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said jack (9) is provided with releasable means (15, 16) for the mechanic locking of the belt (1) tensioning position.

Inventors: GAROFALO GIOVANNI, MINOPOLI GIUSEPPE, GAROFALO, GIOVANNI, MINOPOLI, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: HTM SPORT SPA, HTM SPORT S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B63C11
IPC codes: B63C11, A62B9