Patent Publication Number: US-11649025-B2

Title: Buoyancy control device with a connection adaptor between a snap coupling terminal of a shoulder strap and an articulated connector fastened to the body of the device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of priority of Italy Application No. 102020000021298, filed Sep. 9, 2020. The above-identified related application is incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF USE 
     The present invention relates to a buoyancy control device for scuba diving comprising at least two shoulder straps, each shoulder strap having an upper portion and a lower portion joined by a closing buckle comprising a male buckle element and a female buckle element, which has a first connection means for connecting to the upper portion of the shoulder strap and a second connection means for connecting to the male buckle element. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Buoyancy control devices (BCD) have been present on the market for some time as individual accessories for scuba diving used to increase the diver&#39;s ability to control the level of depth to be maintained or varied during a dive. 
     A BCD substantially consists of an expandable bladder, generally made of synthetic materials, worn like a jacket into which air coming from the cylinder is injected, and whose volume is regulated by inflation and deflation valves directly controlled by the diver: the increase or decrease in volume has a direct effect on hydrostatic thrust and therefore helps the diver to maintain or reach the hydrostatic balance required and desired at the various diving depths. 
     In the forms used, the BCD also has, on the rear dorsal part thereof, systems for securing the compressed air cylinder, as well as other elements for securing other accessories used during diving. 
     Good wearability of the BCD for the diver and the adherence thereof to the body are thus of extreme importance, both during the preparatory phases prior to the dive and, even more importantly, during the dive itself. 
     The BCD is worn by the diver like a backpack/vest, with two adjustable shoulder straps and a quick-coupling abdominal closing strap, normally integrated with a superimposable Velcro strap: the importance of the optimal conditions of wearability and comfort that such wearable elements must be able to guarantee in order to ensure the total safety of the diver during the dive is thus clearly evident. 
     During the inflation and deflation process, the expandable bladder also substantially changes its configuration: the change in size can cause a subsequent tightening or loosening of the constraints of the device around the diver&#39;s body, compromising the comfort thereof during the dive. 
     It is known that in order to remedy this drawback, various buoyancy control devices propose systems for securing the device to the diver&#39;s body which have a wide variety of adjustment systems, including systems allowing the relative rotation of reciprocal fastening elements. 
     It is known that U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,769 A proposes several solutions in this regard. 
     As is known, such solutions entail complex, particularly costly materials with a specific design. 
     There is thus a felt need to simplify the structure of the known buoyancy control devices for scuba diving. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical task of the present invention is therefore to provide a buoyancy control device for scuba diving which enables the aforesaid technical drawbacks of the prior art to be eliminated. 
     Within the scope of this technical task, one object of the invention is to provide a buoyancy control device for scuba diving that comprises at least two shoulder straps, wherein each shoulder strap has two portions joined by a closing buckle that allows the relative rotation of the two portions and uses simple, standard, and inexpensive closure systems. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a buoyancy control device wherein the closing buckle of the shoulder straps has optimal characteristics of resistance to the tensile forces acting on the buckle itself. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a buoyancy control device wherein the closing buckle of the shoulder straps guarantees the possibility of relative rotation of the two portions also under conditions of high tensile forces. 
     The technical task, as well as these and other objects, according to the present invention are achieved by providing a buoyancy control device for scuba diving comprising at least two shoulder straps, each shoulder strap having an upper portion and a lower portion joined by a closing buckle, said buckle comprising a male buckle element and a female buckle element having a first connection means for connecting to said upper portion of said shoulder strap and a second connection means for connecting to said male buckle element, characterised in that said female buckle element comprises a first part having said first connection means, a second part having said second connection means, and an articulated connection pin for connecting said first part to said second part. 
     Other features of the present invention are defined, moreover, in the subsequent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Additional features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of a buoyancy control device for scuba diving comprising at least two shoulder straps according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows an overall view of a buoyancy control device; 
         FIG.  2    shows an overall view of a closing buckle of a shoulder strap; 
         FIG.  3   a    shows a top view and  FIG.  3   b    a bottom view of the first part of the female element of the buckle; 
         FIG.  4   a    shows a top view and a  FIG.  4   b    a bottom view of the second part of the female element of the buckle; 
         FIG.  5   a    shows a top view and  FIG.  5   b    a bottom view of the closed buckle; 
         FIG.  6    shows a section AA of the closed buckle; 
         FIG.  7   a    shows a top view and  FIG.  7   b    a bottom view of the closed buckle, with an indication of the maximum angle of relative rotation of the first part and the second part. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the aforementioned figures, they show a buoyancy control device for scuba diving denoted in its entirety by the reference number  1 . 
     The buoyancy control device comprises at least two shoulder straps  100 ; each shoulder strap  100  has an upper portion  101  and a lower portion  102  joined by a closing buckle  200 . 
     The upper portion  101  and the lower portion  102  of the shoulder strap are typically made of a polymeric material, woven or braided, with characteristics of high tensile strength, typically in a standard width of 50 mm. 
     The upper portion  101  is generally of a limited length, and is directly fastened at one end to the upper body of the buoyancy control device at the diver&#39;s shoulder. 
     The lower portion  102  is generally the portion of greater length and is fastened at one end to the lower part of the buoyancy control device, directly or through other wearable elements of the device. 
     The buckle  200  comprises at least one male buckle element  300  and one female buckle element  400 . 
     Advantageously, according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the male buckle element  300  is a known element of a reciprocally elastic fastening system of a fast type, which is widely disseminated, readily available and low-cost. 
     The male buckle element  300  is fastened to the free end of the lower portion  102  by means of a known connection means, also adjustable, which is not shown in the figures. 
     Advantageously, according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the female buckle element  400  comprises a first part  500  that comprises a first connection means  501  for connecting to the free end of the upper portion  101  of the shoulder strap  100 . 
     In the present preferred embodiment, the connection means  501  is of a known type and reciprocally secures the first part  500  of the female buckle element  400  to the upper portion  101  of the shoulder strap  100 . 
     The female buckle element  400  comprises a second part  600  that comprises a second connection means  601  for connecting to the male buckle element  300 : advantageously, according to the present invention, the second connection means  601  is a known means, with a simple and standardized design, and consistent with a reciprocally elastic fastening system of a fast type, which is widely disseminated, readily available and low-cost. 
     Advantageously, according to the present invention, the first part  500  and the second part  600  of the female buckle element  400  are connected by means of an articulated connection pin  602 . 
     The articulated connection pin  602  extends along a Z axis which is orthogonal to the main plane in which the female buckle element  400  lies and allows the relative rotation of the first part  500  and the second part  600  in parallel planes, orthogonal to the Z axis. 
     The articulated connection pin  602  is integral with the second part  600  of the female buckle element  400 , and is obtained by monolithic moulding of the second part  600  in a single piece made of polymeric material, preferably acetal resin. 
     Consistently, the first part  500  is likewise obtained by monolithic moulding in a single piece made of polymeric material, preferably acetal resin. 
     The articulated connection pin  602  is preferably cylindrical in shape, has a shaft  603  and a head  604  of a larger diameter than the shaft  603 , and is of a size consistent with the forced elastic passage of the head  604  in the direction of the Z axis through a circular hole  502  provided in the first part  500 , in the area towards the terminal end  520  in a position opposite the first connection means  501 . 
     The circular hole  502  has an axial extension  503  along an axis X coinciding with the longitudinal middle axis of the closing buckle  200  and substantially coinciding with the middle axis of the shoulder strap  100 , in the further direction of the terminal end  520  in an opposite position to the first connection means  501 . 
     The axial extension  503  has a size and shape adapted to receive the shaft  603  slidingly towards the terminal end  520 : the diameter of the shaft  603  is smaller than the transversal dimension of the extension  503  and allows the rotation thereof integrally with the second part  600 ; the diameter of the head  604  is larger than the transversal dimension of the extension  503  and prevents the extraction thereof in the direction of the Z axis. 
     Consequently, the first part  500  of the female buckle element  400  is rotatably integral with the second part  600  by means of said articulated connection pin  602 . 
     In accordance with at least one innovative feature of the present invention, the first part  500  and the second part  600  of the female buckle element  400  have cooperating means, respectively  510  and  610 , for opposing the tensile forces N of the shoulder strap acting on said female buckle  400 . 
     The cooperating means  510  and  610  are positioned at the ends of the first part  500  opposite the terminal end  520 , and at the end of the second part  600  opposite the terminal end  520  near the position of the articulated connection pin  602 , along the longitudinal middle axis X. 
     The cooperating means  510  and  610  for opposing the tensile forces N comprise at least two conjugate lips, respectively a first internal lip  511  on the first part  500  and a second external lip  611  on the second part  600 , reciprocally engaged. 
     The first internal lip  511  and the second external lip  611  extend along a circumferential arc with its centre coinciding with the Z axis of the articulated connection pin  602 . 
     Advantageously, the first internal lip  511  and second external lip  611  remain reciprocally engaged during the relative rotation of the second part  600  with respect to the first part  500  about the Z axis of the articulated connection pin  602 . 
     The second part  600  has two lateral protrusions  605 A,  605 B that are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X, and which, in the relative rotation of said second part  600  about the articulated connection pin  602 , engage alternately with the lateral walls of the first part  500 , limiting the maximum angle of relative rotation A between the first part  500  and the second part  600  to the corresponding circumferential arc on which the conjugate first internal lip  511  and second external lip  611  remain reciprocally engaged. 
     On the longitudinal axis X, the first part  500  has an upper element  530  projecting over said second part  600  at the cooperating means  510  and  610 ; the projecting upper element  530  does not prevent the relative rotation of the second part  600  about the articulated connection pin  602 , but prevents the exit thereof from the plane of relative rotation and the overturning of the end according to the Z axis, and the consequent disengagement of the first internal lip  511  from the second external lip  611 . 
     Conveniently, the upper element  530  is projecting over the second part  600  up to the maximum angle of relative rotation A with respect to the first part  500  defined by the alternate engagement of the two lateral protrusions  605 A,  605 B, which are symmetrical with the lateral walls of the first part  500 . 
     The first part  500  also has, on the lower surface opposite the relative sliding surface during rotation of the first part  500  and the second part  600 , a plurality of projecting ribs  505   i  parallel to the X axis and a protrusion  506  enveloping the terminal end  520 . 
     The plurality of ribs  505   i  and the protrusion  506  constitute a reinforcement of the stiffness and resistance of the first part  500  when it is subjected to the axial action of the tensile forces N at the cooperating means  610  and at the articulated connection pin  602 . 
     The operation of the buoyancy control device for scuba diving according to the invention appears clear from what is described and illustrated and, in particular, is substantially the following. 
     The male buckle element  300 , fastened to the free end of the lower portion  102  of the shoulder strap, is elastically engaged with the connection means  601  of the second part  600  of the female buckle element. 
     The second part  600  is free to rotate relative to the first part  500  by means of the articulated connection pin  602  engaged in the axial extension  503  of the first part  500 . 
     The upper portion  101  of the shoulder strap  100  is fastened and reciprocally secured by the connection means  501  to the first part  500  of the female buckle element  400 . 
     The tensile forces N acting in an equally and contrary manner on the two portions  101  and  102  of the shoulder strap along the X axis of the closing buckle  200 , transfer their load to the buckle  200  at the connection means  601  of the second part  600  and the means  501  of the first part  500 . 
     The loads of the tensile forces are reciprocally transferred from the first part  500  to the second part  600  by means of the articulated connection pin  602 . 
     The articulated connection pin  602  is made of polymeric material, preferably acetal resin. 
     Whenever the loads of the tensile forces N are particularly high, the elastic deformation of the shaft  603  of the pin  602  will cause a relative sliding of the first part  500  with respect to the second part  600  in a substantially axial deformation along the X axis of the buckle  200 . 
     The relative sliding brings the cooperating means  510  and  610  closer and causes the operative engagement thereof by reciprocally engaging the first internal lip  511  with the second external lip  611  along the entire circumferential arc engaged by the reciprocal rotation of the first part  500  and second part  600 . 
     The large extent of the reciprocally engaged conjugate surfaces of the internal lip  511  and the external lip  611  and the stiffness and resistance of the first part  500  increased by the plurality of ribs  505   i  and the protrusion  504  enable the transfer, in safety, of the tensile loads N, also considerable ones, between the first part  500  and the second part  600  of the female buckle element  400  of the closing buckle  200 , without preventing the reciprocal rotation thereof. 
     In practical terms, it has been observed that a buoyancy control device according to the invention is particularly advantageous due to the possibility that the closing buckle may allow the relative rotation of the two portions and use simple, standard, and low-cost closure systems. 
     A buoyancy control device according to the invention is particularly advantageous, moreover, since the closing buckle of the shoulder straps has good characteristics of resistance to the tensile forces acting on the buckle itself. 
     A buoyancy control device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the subsequent claims. 
     Furthermore, all of the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements. 
     The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be any whatsoever, according to needs and the state of the art.