Abstract:
An underwater motive device provides an integrated front cone and handle assembly with a mechanical link between the front cone and handle assembly to the main body of the unit which includes the battery compartment, motor, propeller and guard. The sealing between the cone and handle assembly and main body is accomplished by a double annular projecting seal having a rear ribbed portion extending deep into a slot in the main unit, and a forward more rounded ribbed unit which provides sealing in a front cone and handle assembly chamber. A battery cassette is provided for loading a number of commercially available flash light type cyclindrical cells, the battery cassette having an uneven pentagonal cross section so that it is inserted into a matching uneven pengagonal cross section within the main unit, but only where the battery cassette is of the proper orientation. The battery cassette also has a female plug which mates with a male plug extending from the rear of the battery cassette matching space within an opening in the main housing. A mechanical link enables handles located on the forward nose cone to mechanically communicate with a switch on the inside of the main housing through a flexible membrane on the seal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to improvements in the technology relating to in water and underwater mechanical motive structures and particularly to improvements relating to an underwater device which has a more commercially available and easier to change power supply and, and has an improved access structure which stably enables easier access. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Powered underwater motive devices have been known since the 1950&#39;s. Most of those earlier devices were metal and were built like small submarines. Access was had through hatches which had to be securely bolted or clamped in order to resist taking on water at depth. Water is harmful to both motors and batteries and must be sealed out. As a result, the underwater motive devices were large, bulky and designed with a mind to limit outside access to limit the sealing areas provided for service access. 
   Recent improvements in underwater motive devices have related to the safety of operation, including a slight delay in starting to prevent inadvertent operation. In addition, sealed chambers have been introduced to keep water out of the battery and motor compartments. 
   However, for small motive devices, providing an integral housing complete with sealing of the battery and motor compartment has proved difficult for users to easily access the battery and motor compartment. The only alternative to a strong seal was unacceptable as a weaker seal would cause the taking of the device to depth to result in cyclical pressure leakage. Where the device is used in salt water, even the slightest leakage can be disastrous. 
   Seals achieve their integrity by resilient sealing force and area. Both force and area contribute to the necessity for high force of replacement and removal. In a prior underwater motive device, air pressure and a pump were utilized to provide internal assist pressure to unseal the battery and motive compartments. Battery exchange required some setup and interconnectivity time. 
   In another underwater motive device, a cam system is used to provide significant sealing and un-sealing force. In underwater motive devices which are more oblong, the placement of battery, actuaction switch, sealing member, motor and the like can be arranged in a more orderly fashion. Further, where an underwater motive device is of a larger variety, it is expected that a larger more specialized battery will be supplied and which will have a longer residence time. Further, longer, more powerful devices will achieve greater depth for longer periods of time and the ability to seal out high pressure is paramount. 
   Where a power supply, typically a battery is to be used, the design of underwater motive devices can generally allow sealing to be accomplished most effectively during manufacturing, but not around the battery. Batteries for such service should be sealed to the extent possible but most are not made for pressurized submersion for any period of time. Any water leakage and especially salt water leakage can ruin a battery. Where an underwater motive device has a larger power supply a larger and more expensive battery is at risk. Further, as the assembly of the underwater motive device is large, larger seals and more complex battery and battery connection arrangements have to be made. For smaller underwater motive devices, there are significant problems associated with the placement of the handles, operating switch, motor and accommodating battery change out. 
   Another problem for underwater motive devices is the sophistication and time required in battery changeout. For professional divers, a larger more expensive unit which is capable of longer operation is required. Because commercial divers are paid a high hourly contract rate, the equipment used will be dictated by minimizing battery changeout and maintenance time. Underwater motive devices have generally not been available to more economically minded swimmers and skin divers. 
   Any more simplistic underwater motive device should be more available based upon both cost and operability. To expand the useage of the underwater motive device, younger and weaker users should be able to operate a much more inexpensive device. The aspects to be overcome are cost, ability to access the battery department and the ability to operate from batteries which are less specialized and more common, as well as lowering the sophistication of the individuals who can maintain and operate the underwater motive device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An underwater motive device provides an integrated front cone and handle assembly with a mechanical link between the front cone and handle assembly to the main body of the unit which includes the battery compartment, motor, propeller and guard. The sealing between the cone and handle assembly and main body is accomplished by a double annular projecting seal having a rear ribbed portion extending deep into a slot in the main unit, and a forward more rounded ribbed unit which provides sealing in a front cone and handle assembly chamber. 
   A battery cassette is provided for loading a number of commercially available flash light type cyclindrical cells, the battery cassette having an uneven pentagonal cross section so that it is inserted into a matching uneven pengagonal cross section within the main unit, but only where the battery cassette is of the proper orientation. The battery cassette also has a female plug which mates with a male plug extending from the rear of the battery cassette matching space within an opening in the main housing. The battery cassette remains unconnected until it is insertion to eliminate any possibility of injury from handling wiring, or manually touching connectors to be connected. 
   A mechanical link enables handles located on the forward nose cone to mechanically communicate with a switch on the inside of the main housing through a flexible membrane on the seal. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of the underwater motive device of the present invention illustrating the front cone and handle assembly, seal, battery cassette and main housing; 
       FIG. 2  is a view looking into the front face of the main housing and illustrating further details thereof, including a very closely following rearward projecting generally housing following second portion of the seal; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a view looking into the rear portion of the front cone and handle assembly in a partially transparent view to further illustrate details of the mechanical actuation link used to switch the motor “on” and “off”; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken through a portion of the main housing near and slightly rearward of the small latch to show the approach of the circular latch members and an opening which admits the small latch into the inner periphery of the circular latch member; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the circular latch member seen in  FIG. 4 , but taken at a right angle with respect to the section seen in  FIG. 4  to illustrate the first step in dual engagement of both a small latch member and an oppositely located internal latch member  107 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the circular latch member seen in  FIG. 5  to illustrate the final position for locked engagement of both a small latch member and an oppositely located internal latch; and 
       FIG. 7  is an end view of the battery cassette  27  and illustrating a female plug compatible with the mail plug seen in  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The description and operation of the invention will be best initiated with reference to  FIG. 1 . An underwater motive device  21  is shown in exploded view and includes a front cone and handle assembly  23 , seal  25 , battery cassette  27  and main motor and propeller housing  29 , which contains a motor operably connected to a propeller, with the propeller further surrounded by protective structures which will permit water to enter and be forced out while protecting the user from direct contact with the bladed propeller. 
   The front cone and handle assembly  23  has a pair of circular latch members  31 , only one of which is seen in  FIG. 1 . Each of the circular latch members  31  includes a snap cover  33  which serves to both cover and capture a main threaded member (not seen) which secures the circular latch member  31  to the front cone and handle assembly  23 . The circular latch member  31  has an opening (not seen in  FIG. 1 ) which admits a small latch  35  seen surrounded by a circular flat area  37  on the main motor and propeller housing  29 . Once the circular latch member  31  is turned, the small latch  35  is both captured and pulled toward the circular latch member  31  to complete the attachment and sealing of the front cone and handle assembly  23  to the main motor and propeller housing  29 . A portion of motor  39  is seen. 
   A pair of handles  41  and  43  are seen with handle  41  having a protruding actuation button  45  which operates a link located just to the inside of the front cone and handle assembly  23  and through a specialized actuation area  47  on the seal  25  and then to a switch  49  located on the face of the main motor and propeller housing  29 . The specialized actuation area  47  is a structure which can allow the switch  49  to be actuated without undue force through the seal  25 . Since the area surrounding specialized actuation area  47  will not be called upon to seal or to be impressed by any force from either the front cone and handle assembly  23  or the main motor and propeller housing  29 , it can be thin enough to provide no significant additional force requirements to operate the switch  49  beyond the spring loading of switch  29  itself. 
   Turning attention again to the seal  25 , the seal  25  has a main planar portion  51  with a forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53  and a rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55 . The forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53  simply engages the gently conically sloping smooth inside portion of the front cone and handle assembly  33  (not seen in  FIG. 1 ) and forms a seal to protect the battery cassette  27  from moisture. 
   Referring to the main motor and propeller housing  29 , at the left front is a front face  57  haiving a shaped opening  59  matching the overall cross section of the battery cassette  27 . Note that the outermost periphery of the front face  57  has four corner devices. A thin slot  61  extends just inside the outermost periphery of the front face. Thin slot  61  is about one to two centimeters deep and accommodates the about the and accommodates the rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55  of the seal  25 . The rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55  has a ribbed shape and is typically packed with silicone on the inside and outside and is also typically installed at the factory although it can be removed and re-packed with silicone if desired. By providing a deep rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55 , moisture would have to enter the space between the main planar portion  51  of the seal  25  and the thin edge of the front face  57  outward of the thin slot  61 , and then past the interface between the inwardly facing wall of the thin slot  61  and the outward face of the deep rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55  of the seal  25 , and then around the distal edge of the deep rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55  of the seal  25 , and then between the outwardly facing wall of the thin slot  61  and inward face of the deep rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55  of the seal  25 , before any moisture would be able to enter the shaped opening  59 . 
   By providing significant depth of the deep rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55  of the seal  25 , controlled waterproofing is attained without sigificant pressure structures. At the front of the seal  25 , the forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53  is flexible, but a supporting projection  65  which is inward of the slot  61  can provide additional support to the flexible forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53 . As the front cone and handle assembly  23  is brought onto the front of the forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53 , the ribs of the forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53  begin to frictionally sweep and seat with respect to the internal smooth matching surface of the inside of the front cone and handle assembly  23  to form a seal. Any moisture entering between the main planar portion  51  and the rear edge of the front cone and handle assembly  23  must flow past the forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53 . Any moisture entering would likely not reach the battery cassette  27  as it is not designed to hold liquid. Any liquid entering the shaped opening  59  cannot travel farther as the shaped opening  59  is closed. Only a male electrical plug (now shown) extends from the rear wall of the shaped opening  59 . 
   The battery cassette  27  is seen as containing a number of batteries  67 . In the preferred embodiment, ten such batteries  67  will fit into the cassette to give an overall nominal voltage of about 15 volts. Because the cassette  27  is fitted with tabs and springs, there is no question about the orientation of the batteries, the negative end of the battery  67  going against a spring with the positive end against a tab. 
   The exploded view of  FIG. 1  illustrates how easy it would be for even a young child or a weak adolescent, to replace the batteries  67 . Once the underwater motive device  21  is removed from the water, the pair of circular latch members  31  are turned to free the front cone and handle assembly  23  from the main motor and propeller housing  29 . The battery cassette  27  is removed and the individual batteries  67  are removed from the cassette  27 . A fresh set of batteries are replaced in the battery cassette  27  and the battery cassette  27  is replaced into the shaped opening  59 . The orientation of the battery cassette  27  can only be two ways. The correct way is for the female plug on the battery cassette  27  to be directed into the shaped opening  59 . When this happens, electrical connection is made and the battery cassette  27  is seated into the shaped opening  59 . 
   In the event that the the battery cassette  27  is inserted into the shaped opening  59  in a reverse position, the female connector (not shown) would be predominant and, the battery cassette  27  would not seat and the front cone and handle assembly  23  would not be able to be moved into position such that the pair of circular latch members  31  could engage the small latches  35  to even allow enagement to begin. Thus, the foolproof level of the system of the underwater motive device  21  is high. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a view looking into the front face  57  of the main motor and propeller housing  29  illustrates further details thereof. As stated earlier, a very closely following rearward projecting generally housing following second portion  55  of seal  25  extends into a thin slot  61 . The thin slot  61  is formed by some of the material contiguous to the front face  57  and by a thin layer of material  71  of the main motor and propeller housing  29 . 
   The seal  25  also includes a series of insertion tabs  73  which extend inwardly, inside of the forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53 , and inserted at right angles into support bores (not shown) so as to provide additional fixation for the seal  25 . As can be seen the seal  25  can be seen to extend from the tabs  73  to the forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53 , thence throughout the main planar portion  51  and then dissappearing at the point of turning toward and into the thin slot  61  (not seen in FIG.  2 ) adjacent the thin layer of material  71 . 
   Also seen in  FIG. 2  is a rear wall  75  which supports a two prong plug  77  which is oriented and positioned to insert into a female plug (not shown) on the battery cassette  27 . Also shown in plan view is the specialized actuation area  47  which surrounds the switch  49  by a thin projecting encasement of material which is preferably completely continuous wiht the material of the seal  25 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a view looking into the rear portion of the front cone and handle assembly  23  in a partially transparent view to further illustrate details of the front cone and handle assembly  23 . A smooth inner surface  81  of a conical projection  83  is provided for engagement with the forward projecting generally rounded first annular portion  53  of seal  25 . In the embodiment shown, the smooth inner surface  81  is provided in such a way that a space  85  exists between the conical projection  83  and an external wall  87  of the conical projection  83  of the front cone and handle assembly  23 . In the configuration shown, the conical projection  83  forms a seal for the area surrounding a portion of the battery cassette  27 . Any water which may enter the space  85 , especially through the periphery of the protruding actuation button  45  and the handle  41  will not be able to enter the space inside the conical projection  83 . 
   The view inside the handle  41  is transparent and although one set of structures will be shown, other structures not shown can be used to actuate the switch  49  just as well, and these are only one set of structures. The protruding actuation button  45  is connected to a first pivoting link  91  which pivots about a rotating link  93  which may be supported within a rotation sleeve  95 . Rotation sleeve can be provided for a close fit for rotation sleeve  95 , or for friction compatibility. A second pivoting link  97  is connected to the opposite end of the rotating link  93 . At the distal end of the second pivoting link  97  a projection finger  99  which is angled with respect to the second pivoting link  97 . 
   The arrangement shown translates depression of the protruding actuation button  45  into a rearward pivoting action of the first pivoting link  91 , with resultant rotation of the rotating link  93 , which causes rearward pivoting of the second pivoting link  97  which causes the projection finger  99  to extend rearward and contact the switch  49  through the specialized actuation area  47  of the seal  23 . This mechanical arrangment has allowed the handles  41  and  43  to be mounted on the forward cone in this instance. The mechanical arrangement is a novel method of eliminating the problems which would be associated with having an electrical connection between the front cone and handle assembly  23  and the main motor and propeller housing  29 . This in turn has allowed an underwater motive device  21  having an overall shorter length with handles  41  and  43  located more forwardly for greater stability. The mechanical arrangement which enables actuation through the seal  23  without breaching its prophylactic integrity similary does not create the problems which a direct mechanial linkage would create. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a sectional view taken through a portion of the main motor and propeller housing  29  near and slightly rearward of the small latch  35 , is seen. The small latch  35  is positioned such that an opening  101  in the circular latch members  31  is aligned with the small latch  35  to enable the main motor and propeller housing  29  and its small latch  35  to be brought forward with respect to front cone and handle assembly  23 . 
   This action occurs on both sides of the front cone and handle assembly  23 . Also seen in  FIG. 4  is an internal table  103  on the right side of circular latch member  31  which will be brought underneath an upper projecting portion of the small latch member  35 . An internal table  103  on the left side of circular latch member  31  can be brought underneath a corresponding upper projecting portion of a matching the small latch member (not shown) within the circular latch member  31  in order that the circular latch member  31  can act to evenly hold two latch members together, as will be seen. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a cross sectional view of the circular latch member  31  at a right angle to the section seen in  FIG. 4  illustrates both the small latch member  35  and an oppositely located internal latch member  107 . As can be seen the latch members  35  and  107  each have an upper projecting portion underneath which the internal tables  103  and  105  of the circular latch member  31  will fit to form a more stable semi-locked position. This enables the circular latch member  31  to hold the latch members  35  and  107  evenly and will not place any tortion on a central threaded member about which the circular latch member  31  rotates (not shown and removed for simplicity and to enable viewing of the internal table  103 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , once the main motor and propeller housing  29  is brought forward with respect to front cone and handle assembly  23 , the circular latch member  31  can be rotated so that the internal tables  105  and  103  of the circular latch member  31  will fit underneath the latch members  107  and  35 , respectively, to hold the main motor and propeller housing  29  and front cone and handle assembly  23  together. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a view of oone possible configuration of the battery cassette  27  illustrates an appropriately positioned female plug  111  which is compatible with and engagable with respect to the male two prong plug  77  seen in  FIG. 2 . 
   While the present invention has been described in terms of an underwater motive device, &amp; more particularly to a particular structure and system which utilizes a user-friendly battery access system, controller which provides power delay, and ease of servicing, this mechanism can be applied to other devices. 
   Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.