Patent Publication Number: US-2011057009-A1

Title: Dive valve quick release connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/240,215, filed on Sep. 6, 2009, In the United States Patent &amp; Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mounting bracket, and more particularly, a quick release connector. 
     The quick release connector offers divers a way to effortlessly separate their gear for washing and storage. The present invention can assist recreational and professional divers in quickly breaking down their gear in a timely fashion with little strain. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Divers cannot break down their dive gear with the dive valve clamped onto the bouncy compensator. Leaving the items attached may make the cleaning and packing of the regulators and bouncy compensator awkward and heavy. Standard methods of separating the diving equipment may be time consuming. A quick and efficient method for breaking down diving equipment is needed. 
     Numerous innovations for diving equipment have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,389. Issued on Sep. 19, 1978, to Bohmrich et al. teaches a diver&#39;s buoyancy compensator that employs a constant volume chamber which is controllably pressurized with air from the diver&#39;s SCUBA tank, and water is admitted to or emitted from the tank by one or the other of two manually operated valves. 
     A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,554, Issued on Oct. 25, 1988, to Courtney teaches a backpack for use with scuba gear wherein the backpack includes a rigid housing substantially enclosing an air tank, an interior chamber vented to the surrounding water and formed by the rigid housing for receiving an inflatable buoyancy compensator and a mounting for receiving and securing an adjustable amount of retrievable ballast. The rigid backpack provides a particularly streamlined configuration for the scuba gear, greater puncture resistance for the buoyancy compensator and greater variation in the amount of ballast carried by the diver. The backpack is preferably configured to better support the weight of the scuba gear upon the diver with a trim bladder separately inflatable by the diver and arranged between the backpack and the diver for allowing the diver to adjust for variations in slack, particularly at different diving depths. A power inflator device for the scuba gear preferably includes a single control device for sequentially and adjustably pressurizing a buoyancy compensator, a life vest and/or an inflatable device or transport raft attached to the air tank, a separate control device being provided for permitting the diver to pressurize the trim bladder independently of the buoyancy compensator. An emergency marking device also forms a portion of the scuba gear of the invention. 
     A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,167, Issued on Oct. 31, 1989, to McNemar teaches a retention system particularly adapted to be used by divers which includes at least one lanyard having first and second ends, a first clip having a hook for securing thereon an implement, such as a dive light, slate, knife, etc., a slidable fastener associated with the first clip for sliding movement between opened and closed positions in the latter of which the implement can not be inadvertently dislodged from the hook, a second clip in the form of a loop having opposite ends between which is sandwiched an edge of a garment, such as a pocket edge of buoyancy control device (BCD), at least one fastener spanning the ends of the second clip and penetrating the garment edge to create a generally permanent connection between the second clip and the BCD pocket, and a releasable connector between the second clip and the second end of the lanyard whereby the implement is positively and permanently secured to the BCD and can be retained in the pocket thereof yet by quickly manually releasing the releasable connector, the implement can be quickly removed from (or reconnected to) the second clip. 
     A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,672, Issued on Apr. 27, 1993, to Stinton teaches a diver&#39;s weight assembly for attaching diver&#39;s weights to a belt that includes one or more weight packs and an attachment and quick release mechanism for attaching each weight pack to a belt. The attachment and release mechanism includes a fastener assembly releasably securing the weight pack to the belt, and a release device for releasing the fastener assembly. The release device has a handle for operating the release device, and the handle is secured to the weight pack so that the weight pack can be pulled away from the body via the handle once released. 
     A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,387, Issued on Dec. 21, 1993, to Murray teaches a harness connector for securing a first tank to a second tank, for example for fastening an auxiliary air tank to a main air tank in scuba diving applications. The connector comprises a receiving member adapted to be secured to the first tank by a pair of tank clamps, and an attachment member adapted to be secured to the second tank by another pair of tank clamps. The receiving member and attachment member are formed so as to mate with one another, such as an attachment member with a T-shaped cross section mating with a receiving member with a U-shaped cross section. The harness connector further comprises locking means for selectively locking and unlocking the attachment member to and from the receiving member, such as a quick release type connector pin. 
     A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,886, Issued on Feb. 21, 1995, to Lawner et al. teaches an improved quick disconnect device and consists of a female bracket mountable to one scuba tank and a male bracket mountable to another scuba tank. The male bracket can engage with the female bracket and be retained thereto. A mechanism is for allowing the male bracket to be disengaged from the female bracket when the mechanism is removed therefrom. 
     A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,559, Issued on Apr. 9, 1996, to Hermansen teaches a safety valve for a buoyancy compensator that has an inlet for connection to one end of an inflation hose for supplying gas to the buoyancy compensator, an outlet for connection to a gas inlet of the buoyancy compensator, and a passageway connecting the inlet to the outlet. A vent chamber has an orifice communicating with the passageway for allowing gas to vent through the orifice and out via vent outlets in the chamber. A valve member is pivotally mounted in the chamber for movement between a position closing the orifice and a pivoted position at an angle to the orifice. A pull cable extending through the inflation hose is directly coupled to the valve member so that pulling on the pull cable will tilt the valve member into the pivoted, open position. 
     AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,485, Issued on May 28, 1996, to Hermansen teaches a power inflator housing which has a pressurized gas inlet for connection to a gas supply hose, an inflation outlet for connection to a buoyancy compensator inflation hose, a passageway connecting the gas inlet to the inflation outlet, and a valve actuating stem extending through part of the passageway into the gas inlet for selectively actuating a control valve at the outlet end of a gas supply hose coupled to the gas inlet. A manually operable button on the housing is linked to the stem for selectively urging the stem outwardly into an operative position to open the hose control valve. The stem is biased towards an inoperative, retracted position. 
     A NINTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,282, Issued on Apr. 15, 1997, to Stinton teaches a buoyancy compensator assembly that includes an inflatable bladder for supporting on a diver&#39;s back. Inflation of the bladder and venting of the bladder are controlled from a control unit carried at the front of the diver. The bladder has a passageway extending under a portion of the bladder for guiding hoses from the outside of the bladder at the rear of the diver towards the control unit at the front of the diver. A guide sleeve extends from the bladder over the diver&#39;s shoulder for holding hoses close to the diver&#39;s body. 
     A TENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,504, Issued on Apr. 7, 1998, to Walters teaches a variable overpressure relief valve for a buoyancy compensator including an open hole base member for securement to a buoyancy compensator and a pair of spring biased floating disks in the base member sealing the hole and biased apart and held in place by a vented cover secured to the base member and having an adjustment button for changing the spring bias separating the floating disks. 
     AN ELEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,836, Issued on Mar. 30, 1999, to Back teaches a quickly assembled and disassembled mounting bracket assembly for cylindrical objects, such as pressurized gas (e.g., oxygen) tanks. The bracket assembly has two interconnecting parts: a bracket section and a base plate. The bracket section is slidable within the base plate, similar to a rail system. The two interconnecting pieces slidably interlock via spaced-apart T-shaped connectors disposed on distal side portions thereof. Assembly movement is minimal so that the two pieces can be joined quickly. Limiting stops provide mating alignment. Once in the aligned position, one or more locking detent pins are inserted through alignment holes disposed in the mating sections to secure the two parts in place. 
     A TWELFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,640, Issued on Jun. 22, 1999, to Bortner teaches a weight drop pocket for a SCUBA diver comprising a flap closed pocket for containing a weight with a stiffener secured to the pocket and having an opening through which a projection from a mating element secured to a skin diver apparatus may be inserted with the pocket and mating element retained in a preselected orientation and held in place by a spring biased rod inserted through the projection thereby locking it to the mating element until the rod is withdrawn by a force which overcomes the spring bias. 
     A THIRTEENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,213, Issued on Sep. 19, 2000, to Stinton teaches a diver&#39;s buoyancy control device (BCD) that comprises a jacket configured to be worn by a diver. The jacket includes a back portion for overlying a diver&#39;s back and a pair of side portions connected to the back portion for overlying the diver&#39;s chest. A scuba tank can be releasably connected to the back portion of the jacket. An inflatable bladder is connected to the back portion of the jacket and a mechanism is provided for selectively inflating and deflating the bladder with a pressurized gas from the scuba tank. The base of a shoulder yoke that includes a pair of shoulder straps is adjustably connected to the back portion of the jacket at a plurality of preselected vertical positions for permitting easy and rapid size adjustment. A waist belt has a pair of segments each of which has a rear end that is attached to a corresponding location on a corresponding side of the back portion of the jacket. A first mechanism is provided for releasably coupling a pair of mating forward ends of the waist belt segments. A pair of shoulder strap extensions are provided, each of which has a lower end connected to a corresponding waist belt segment. A second mechanism is provided for releasably coupling an upper end of each shoulder strap extension to a corresponding shoulder strap of the shoulder yoke. The waist belt is provided with a quick release weight system to enable emergency ascent. The bladder may have extra buoyancy cells connected to an outer wing of each side portion of the jacket for increased surface flotation capability. Stay straps connected to the waist belt may connect to the wings to counter their buoyant force. 
     A FOURTEENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,524, Issued on Dec. 5, 2000, to Legler et al. teaches a lock to releasably secure a first member to a second member. The lock has two brackets, one attached to the first member and the other attached to the second member. The first is a locking slotted bracket and the second is a locking pin bracket. The locking pin bracket has pins with heads that extend outwardly from the locking pin bracket. The locking slotted bracket has a T-shape to receive the pins, and a lock lever that snaps into a locking position between the pin heads in the slot to hold the pins in the slot. The heads can be removed by deflecting the lock lever and sliding the heads of the pins out of the T-shaped slot. The lock lever is biased and flexible so that it rests in a locked condition. For longer or heavier structures or where position is important, a slotted bracket with a keyhole-shaped slot may be provided. The keyhole-shaped slot receives a head of a pin which will slide into a wider slot and into an undercut where it is retained. 
     A FIFTEENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2005/0103959, Published on May 19, 2005, to Lee teaches two aluminum brackets for the purpose of better assisting the SCUBA diver with mounting the SCUBA tank and accessories to the BCD (buoyancy compensating device) for SCUBA diving. The BCD is a harness the diver wears to carry the SCUBA tank and accessories that provides proper buoyancy in the water. One bracket is attached to the SCUBA tank. The second bracket is attached to the BCD. They are then interconnected by means of the triangle shaped male and female Dovetail design feature and locked in place with Detent pins. The two brackets stay attached individually to their respective articles, with exception for periods of maintenance. The invention reduces the divers&#39; pre dive set up time and levels of stress ensuring a more secure and balanced dive. 
     A SIXTEENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2006/0175492, Published on Aug. 10, 2006, to Cooper teaches a two piece mounting system. For a marine application, as, for example, mounting a pair of air tanks together, a first piece is attached to one tank and a second piece is attached to the other tank. A pair of cooperatively dimensioned cavities and protrusions on the front of both pieces permit easy and rapid mounting of the first piece to the second piece. A built-in spring loaded, indexing plunger mechanism automatically locks the two pieces together at an automatically predetermined positioned dictated by the length of one protrusion and a built-in stop in a cavity. Quick dismounting is permitted by simply displacing the handle on the plunger mechanism. A number of other applications, including mounting a fire extinguisher to a wall, is discussed. 
     A SEVENTEENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 7,465,125, Issued on Dec. 16, 2008, to Carmichael teaches a girth adjustable waist belt that easily converts to a diver&#39;s buoyancy compensator with/without integrated weight system and can also easily convert to a utility backpack and belt in which one single size will fit the general population. The mega-adjustable feature also provides secure yet expandable lower back and abdominal support offering physical protection in stressful work conditions. A dive belt is also provided for use by divers during underwater activities, such as scuba diving. The belt comprises a body member and a rapid release weight system which is quickly removal while the belt remains in place on the diver. The belt can also provide for horizontally mounted supplemental air supply system, for use in the event a main air supply is lost or not wanted. In all embodiments, an elastic depth compensator can be built into the belt, insuring a snug fit of the belt at any depth. The belt has a plurality of D-rings for convenient equipment management. A quick release tow clip is attached to the belt and may be used in conjunction with a surface air supply system for pulling the surface air supply system. 
     AN EIGHTEENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2009/0044742, Published on Feb. 19, 2009, to Adams teaches an apparatus for underwater propulsion. The apparatus may include a hydrofoil, a buoyancy compensator connected to the hydrofoil, a tank containing air, and a controller regulating the passage of air from the tank into the buoyancy compensator. The controller may also regulate the escape of air from the buoyancy compensator. By positioning the hydrofoil underwater and alternating between positive and negative angles of attack, a diver may generate forward propulsion by manipulating the controller to correspondingly alternate the buoyant force produced by the buoyancy compensator between levels below and above neutral buoyancy. 
     A NINETEENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2009/0056718, Published on Mar. 5, 2009, to Lindgren teaches a breathing apparatus for providing pressurized air to a swimmer. The breathing apparatus is based on a geometrically shaped structure that provides superior floatation characteristics in all sea conditions. The breathing apparatus includes a spherical shaped buoyant housing that is mounted above a half spherical shaped submersible housing. The buoyant housing provides a reservoir for pressurized air that is delivered to one or more swimmers by use of flexible air hoses. A battery powered air compressor and motor to produce the pressurized air is positioned within the submersible housing. An air intake for the air compressor receives air by a snorkel, the snorkel stores in a second position suitable for use as a handle while towing the apparatus on wheels. A rechargeable battery is positioned within the submersible housing to power the air compressor with cycling provided by use of a pressure switch. The rechargeable battery and air compressor operate as ballast within the submersible housing. The housings include bracket assemblies to provide handholds above and below the surface of the water. 
     A TWENTIETH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office, Publication No. 2009/0136301, Published on May 28, 2009, to Carmichael teaches an active control releasable ballast system for dive equipment which in one embodiment includes a removable pocket that is secured with a side release buckle within a fixed pocket. The buckle is required to be opened before the weight contained in the pocket can be dropped or given to another individual in or out of the water. Thus, the release of the weights is a conscious and deliberate act. 
     A TWENTY-FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2009/0295522, Published on Dec. 3, 2009, to Fullerton et al. teaches a compressed gas system component coupling device and method that use correlated magnets to enable a first component to be secured and removed from the second component. Some examples of components of the compressed gas system include a first stage regulator, a second stage regulator, an air pressure gauge, a dive computer, an air hose, a tank valve and a buoyancy control device. Furthermore the compression force created by the correlated magnets mounted on the first and second components create a hermetic seal therebetween. 
     It is apparent now that numerous innovations for have been provided in the prior art that are adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a quick release connector that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a quick release connector that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a quick release connector that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a quick release connector which comprises a flat plate having a flat arm extending upwardly therefrom. A mechanism on the flat plate is for securing the flat plate to a buoyancy compensator waist strap. A mechanism on the flat arm of the flat plate is for removably attaching a valve block thereto. 
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings are briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the present invention per se, showing the second housing member inserted into the first housing member; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 2 , showing the second housing member removed from the first housing member; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view taken in the direction of arrow  4  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the present invention per se, showing the diver carrying the dive valve quick release. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
       110  quick release connector
 
 112  flat plate of connector  110 
 
 114  flat arm of flat plate  112 
 
 116  securing mechanism of connector  110 
 
 118  waist strap or belly belt
 
 122  removably attaching mechanism of connector  110 
 
 124  valve block
 
 126  flat bar of securing mechanism  116 
 
 128  fastener of securing mechanism  116 
 
 130  first housing member of removably attaching mechanism  122 
 
 132  front slot in first housing member  130 
 
 134  fastener of removably attaching mechanism  122 
 
 136  spring loaded pull pin of removably attaching mechanism  122 
 
 138  side of first housing member  130 
 
 140  second housing member of removably attaching mechanism  122 
 
 142  recess in side  144 
 
 144  side of second housing member  140 
 
 146  fastener of removably attaching mechanism  122 
 
 148  rear surface of the valve block  124 
 
 150  stainless steel metal
 
 152  high tensile base plastic material
 
 154  first low pressure hose
 
 156  one way check valve of valve block  124 
 
 158  second low pressure hose
 
 160  knob assembly of valve block  124 
 
 162  third low pressure hose
 
 164  dry suit inflator hose
 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The present invention is a quick release connector  110  which comprises a flat plate  112  having a flat arm  114  extending upwardly therefrom. In  FIGS. 1-2 , a mechanism  116  on the flat plate  112  is for securing the flat plate  112  to a buoyancy compensator waist strap  118 . A mechanism  122  on the flat arm  114  of the flat plate  112  is for removably attaching a valve block  124  thereto. 
     The securing mechanism  116  comprises a pair of flat bars  126 . A plurality of fasteners  128  affix the flat bars  126  in spaced apart relationships onto the flat plate  112 , whereby the waist strap  118  can be inserted between the flat bars  126  and the flat plate  112 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the removably attaching mechanism  122  comprises a first housing member  130  having a front slot  132  therein. A first set of fasteners  134  affix the first housing member  130  onto the flat arm  114  of the flat plate  112 . A spring loaded pull pin  136  is carried in one side  138  of the first housing member  130 . A second housing member  140  has a recess  142  in one side  144  thereof. The second housing member  140  is sized to slide fit into the front slot  132  in the first housing member  130 . The spring loaded pull pin  136  can engage with the recess  142  in the second housing  140  member to retain and release the second housing member  140 . 
     A second set of fasteners  146  affix the second housing member  140  onto a rear surface  148  of the valve block  124 . 
     The flat plate  122 , the pair of flat bars  126  and the plurality of fasteners  128  are comprised out of stainless steel metal  150 . The spring loaded pull pin  136 , the first set of fasteners  134  and the second set of fasteners  146  are also comprised out of the stainless steel metal  150 . The first housing member  130  and the second housing member  140  are comprised out of high tensile base plastic material  152 . 
     In summary the quick release connector  110  attaches the valve block  124  in a removable manner to the waist strap  118  (or belly belt). By manually pulling the spring loaded pull pin  136  the second housing member  140  attached to the valve block  124  will separate from the first housing member  130 , thereby allowing easy removal therefrom. The valve block  124  mounted to the second housing member  140  is removably attached to the first housing member  130  on the flat arm  114  of the flat plate  112  which is connected to the waist strap  118 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 4-5 , a first low pressure hose  154  from a main scuba tank (not shown), is coupled to a one way check valve  156  that is part of the valve block  124 . A second low pressure hose  158  from an emergency bailout scuba tank (not shown), is coupled to a knob assembly  160  that is part of the valve block  124 . A third low pressure hose  162  to a dive mask (not shown), is coupled directly to the valve block  124 . A dry suit inflator hose  164  is also coupled directly to the valve block  124 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a quick release connector, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.