Patent Publication Number: US-2016244134-A1

Title: Individual swimming device and body for same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national stage application of a PCT application PCT/RU2014/000850 filed on 10 Nov. 2014, whose disclosure is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, which PCT application claims priority of a Russian Federation patent application RU2013150123 filed on 11 Nov. 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention is related to diving technology, namely to devices for displacement of divers under water and personal diver towing apparatuses. The devices that make up this Invention may be used in any application related to transporting persons under water or on the water&#39;s surface: for example, in the military, in tourism, as well as in marine rescue operations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is known an equipment (SCUBA suit) for people (divers) performing diving operations and shallow-depth dives comprises a tank of compressed air or breathing mixture weighing approximately 20 kg.; the regulator—apparatus for decrease of pressure of gas, supplied from the tank, as well as for supplying gas mixture for breathing and elimination of exhaled products lead weight belt, usually weighing 6 to 10 kg (10% of the diver&#39;s weight); a buoyancy compensator also called a buoyancy control device, BCD, is a piece of diving equipment containing a bladder which is worn by divers to establish neutral buoyancy underwater and positive buoyancy on the surface, when needed. Its weight is also 6-10 kg. 
     In order to perform a dive using common gear all this gear weighing approximately 40 kilograms must be put on the diver. Diving off a flat shore in all that gear is technically possible but physically challenging: the diver, wearing all the gear and the swim fins on, has to walk unassisted to the desired depth, then to swim to the desired dive site; after underwater physical exertions, the return to the shore is even more challenging. For this reason the dives are performed from a specially equipped ship or pier. 
     The composition of the kit provided by the aforementioned related art is fairly complicated, therefore putting on the whole kit and preparing it for use requires the help of an assistant, which should take 5 to 30 minutes. When diving off the board of a ship (which is similar to diving off a pier) the diver usually has to put on all the gear and swim fins while sitting down, then get up, walk to the edge of the deck and step into water, while holding the mask and mouthpiece by hand in order to keep them from being washed off the face. First, it is physically hard, second, jumping into water for a height of approximately 1.5 meters is psychologically difficult (especially for novice divers); a significant amount of adrenalin is injected into the blood stream, therefore the diver has to spend an additional 5-7 minutes on the surface to recuperate after such psychological and physical stress. Besides, after significant physical exertions under water getting back on board or on pier with all the gear still on is even harder and may lead to injuries. 
     The main factor influencing the duration of the dive is the rate of air consumption by the diver. The higher the physical and psychological stress is, the higher the air consumption. The physical exertion related to preparation and transportation of gear, as well as the stress make for a sharp increase in oxygen consumption in the first minutes of the dive. 
     Other commonly used equipment is ill-suited for allowing the diver to move along the surface of the water, as in a SCUBA suit the diver&#39;s center of gravity is shifted upwards (towards the back) and so in order to move on the water surface the diver has to either swim on his back or expend air from the tanks. 
     The above-mentioned drawbacks of commonly used equipment (mainly the time required for gear preparation) is ill-suited for emergency dives, for example in marine rescue. Besides that, transportation of the rescued persons is made more difficult by the necessity to maintain him/her on the surface, taking into account that movement on surface while in SCUBA gear is difficult enough as it is. The rescued person may panic and damage the scuba gear, endangering the life of the diver himself. 
     The difficulties related to the preparation of equipment, physical exertions, and the above-mentioned restrictions on the use of SCUBA gear make diving impossible for people of certain physical capacities, physiological make-up as well as those unable to overcome the psychological barrier. Diving using common gear also requires the use of a specially equipped vessel or pier. 
     A common gear has to be fitted to the diver&#39;s body and some elements (like the BCD) come in a variety of sizes, i.e. one size does not fit all. 
     The above-mentioned diver kit is the closest prior art (prototype) of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The problem facing the inventors of the present invention was the creation of a personal versatile device suitable for swimming on the surface as well as under the surface of water that would make the processes of diving and returning to shore or vessel easier for the diver and would provide the ability to dive off flat shores. Besides that, the developers faced the problem of expanding the number of available swimming equipment platforms. 
     This problem has been solved by designing a personal swimming device for a diver, which device comprises: at least one gas source; a buoyancy control means; a housing adapted to be mechanically connected to the at least one gas source and the buoyancy control means; wherein the housing includes a means for fastening on the diver&#39;s body. 
     The technical result of the present invention consists in simplifying the diving and returning of the diver to a shore or a vessel as well as the providing a possibility of diving off flat shores. 
     In addition to that, the disclosed solution allows for extending the duration of the diver&#39;s dives. 
     In addition to that, the disclosed solution allows the diver to move on the surface of water without expending the gas from the gas source (or at least reduces the difficulty of such movement). 
     In addition to that, the inventive device allows the diver to perform diving and swimming with practically no physical limitations and with a much lower psychological barrier. 
     In addition to that, the inventive device allows for diving in the absence of a specially equipped ship or pier. 
     In addition to that, the inventive device simplifies the transportation of persons during marine rescue operations. 
     In addition to that, the inventive device is highly versatile and fits practically any diver&#39;s individual parameters. 
     Below, in the present description, the disclosed invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top (plan) view of the device, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top (plan) view of the device, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view, in accordance with the alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention (see  FIGS. 1-4 ), the inventive personal swimming device comprises at least one gas source  1 . Moreover, it is characterized in that it comprises: a buoyancy control means; a housing  2 , adapted to be mechanically connected to the at least one gas source  1  and the buoyancy regulating means (described below); wherein, the device is adapted to be positioned at the person&#39;s chest level. 
     Preferably, the gas source  1  is manufactured in the form of a gas tank made of steel, aluminum or composite (thin-walled metal bottle reinforced with carbon fiber), being a reservoir of cylindrical or another shape, suitable for storage and transportation of air and other breathing mixtures. 
     The gravity center of the device must be located in a way to allow the device to maintain its operational position when afloat or submerged (i.e. must have a predefined stability). It is preferable that the center of gravity of the device is located below the center of buoyancy. That requirement should be taken into account when distributing the main components of the device, in particular, the at least one gas source  1  and the buoyancy control means. In order to preserve a stable position while submerged as well as afloat, it is preferable to place the gas tank at the center of the device along its movement axis or symmetrical to the line passing through the center of gravity of the device, parallel to its movement axis. For example, in the embodiment with one gas source in the form of a tank, the tank should by preference be placed in the middle of the device along the axis of movement, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Several gas sources may be used in some embodiments. In such cases an equal distribution of mass must be provided in order to avoid the shifting of the gravity center of the device. 
     The buoyancy control means may comprise at least one, and, in the preferred embodiment, two buoyancy compensators  3  that serve to regulate a variable buoyancy. The buoyancy control means may also include a means  4  for bearing weights that serve to maintain a substantially constant buoyancy of the inventive device. 
     The buoyancy compensator  3  (or BCD) is a piece of diving equipment comprising a bladder which is worn by divers to establish neutral buoyancy underwater and positive buoyancy on the surface, when needed. The buoyancy is controlled by adjusting the volume of air in the bladder. The bladder is filled with gas from the diver&#39;s air tank or from the diver&#39;s mouth. The BCD comprises bladders that can be filled with air from the gas tank and a valve manifold, allowing to fill and bleed the air from the bladders, providing the diver with a positive or negative buoyancy. The buoyancy control device  3  may be fastened to the housing  2  by means of belts or any other known means in such a way as to make sure its air chambers are in direct contact with water when in operating state. The housing  2  may comprise at least one cavity or groove for the bladder of buoyancy control means  3 , in the preferred embodiment of the invention, two cavities or grooves. The buoyancy control means  3 , in the preferred embodiment, is adapted to be pneumatically connected to one source of gas  1 . Such pneumatic connection may be provided by an inflator that consists of a buoyancy control panel and a corrugated connection hose. The housing  2  may comprise a groove for housing the inflator, in particular, the hose that may be manufactured with a possibility of closure in order to improve the swimming safety. This provides for minimizing the possibility of accidental damage to the diver&#39;s gear, as well as a gear damage during marine rescue operations, when the risk of damaging the gear is higher due to psychological and physical conditions of the rescued person. The buoyancy compensator also comprises a separate gas source that is pneumatically connected to it via the inflator. The control panel may be located on a handle (not shown). 
     For purposes of the present description, the term “cavity” describes an inner space, a receptacle. This receptacle may be open, enclosed or openable. For purposes of this description, the term “groove” implies a depression in the wall of housing  2 . 
     The housing  2  of the device may be manufactured mainly from metal (for example aluminum) or an alloy, as well as from polymeric materials and their combinations. A composite material containing textile fibers, impregnated with a hardening solution, may be used as the polymeric materials. Fiberglass polymers, basalt fiber reinforced polymers and other common substances may also be used as the polymeric materials. In order to improve the strength of the housing  2  it may be reinforced by any known means as well as incorporate strengthening ribs. 
     The shape of housing  2 , in the preferred embodiment of the invention, has a preeminent width, that is the dimension horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of movement. The smallest dimension in the preferred embodiment of the invention is the height of the housing. The housing is streamlined in order to reduce the hydrodynamic resistance to the movement. 
     The shape of the housing, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, when viewed from the top, resembles the manta fish ( FIG. 1 ). In this case, the housing  2  also comprises a means for maintaining the course (a direction followed by the diver) of movement in the form of at least two wings  5 . With a change of depth, the pressure also changes, changing the volume of gas in the chambers of the buoyancy compensator  3 . In order to regulate the buoyancy in these conditions a constant supply/bleeding of air to/from the chambers of the buoyancy compensator  3  is necessary. The presence of a means for maintaining the course, for example in the form of wings  5 , allows to avoid the fine tuning of buoyancy while moving, as the vertical course and depth stay relatively stable. 
     In the alternative embodiment of the invention, the housing  2  is designed in a way that resembles an equilateral trapezoid with rounded angles when viewed from the top. The side planes of the trapezoid and the adjoining housing parts act parts of the wings. In addition to that, in the alternative embodiment, the wings  5  may comprise cavities for fastening the buoyancy compensators  3 . 
     The housing  2  as described in the present invention is adapted to be mechanically connected to the at least one gas source  1  and to the buoyancy control device. The possibility of connection of the at least one source of gas  1 , in the preferred embodiment, is provided by the presence of a tank cavity. In place of, or besides that, the possibility of attachment of the at least one source of gas  1  may be provided by the availability of fastening belts or other common means suitable for a mechanical connection. 
     All directions and sides mentioned in the present Application refer to the operational position of the device, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The housing  2 , as described in the present invention, includes a means for fastening on the person&#39;s body (not shown). The means for fastening on the person&#39;s body may be adapted to be fastened at the chest level in front of the person, on the back or in any other suitable manner. The means for fastening on the person&#39;s body may comprise belts that embrace the body of the person. 
     The housing of the device may comprise at least one handle mechanically connected to the housing. Here, the handle should be understood to mean a part of the device that serves to hold it manually. This provides the possibility to place the device (its enclosure) at chest level of the person. Moreover, in order to make holding the device close to the body more comfortable, the device&#39;s housing may comprise a groove  10 , for example, the one depicted between the tank receptacles on  FIG. 4 . Such groove  10  may also contribute to the alignment of the gravity centers of the device and the human body, increasing the overall maneuverability of the device. The handle may also comprise means of control of the device&#39;s components. 
     In case, the device comprises at least one, or—by preference, two handles—the device is adapted to be positioned at a chest level in front of the person. Moreover, the location of the device at the chest level is provided mainly by the diver&#39;s holding at least one of the handles by hand. Additional fastening may be done by means of belts. 
     The device per present invention may also comprise a means for supplying the breathing gas. The means for supplying the breathing gas may comprise a breathing mixture regulator  7 , connected pneumatically with the gas source  1 , for example by screwing onto the discharge port of the tank. The inflator of the buoyancy compensator  3  may also be pneumatically connected to the gas source  1  by means of the regulator  7 . The regulator  7  may comprise an additional and/or spare breathing hose that provides additional means useful in rescue missions and other emergency situations. The housing  2  may comprise an additional cavity for placement of an auxiliary hose or hoses that are not commonly used. All pneumatic connections may be located, in dedicated grooves, and it would be preferable that the only hose extending beyond the housing  2  of the device the in operational condition would be the breathing air supply hose with the mouthpiece  9 . The absence of device parts susceptible to damage, unprotected by the housing  2 , increases the overall safety of the device. 
     All grooves and cavities referred to in this description may be designed lockable. 
     The device, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises a means  4  for bearing weights, and the housing  2  may be connected with the means  4  for bearing weights. The means  4  for bearing weights may be designed as a container or cavity in the housing  2  of the device. Also, the ballast weights may have an option to be attached to the device by any other means, preferably detachable. The possibility of positioning of weights on or inside the housing  2  of the device also leads to an increase of usability of the device, eases the boarding and un-boarding of the person and also simplifies diving off flat shores, as the weights mass is in the range from 6 to 12 kg, and, in the known gear, they are attached to the body of the diver. Moreover, positioning of weights as well as other elements of the device fastened onto the housing  2  or inside the housing  2  increases the safety of swimming, simplifying the fastening of all equipment on the human&#39;s body. In an emergency situation, it becomes significantly simpler for the diver to detach the entire device and swim to the surface. 
     The device may be put in motion by means of muscular force of the diver or by other auxiliary means. 
     The device may comprise at least a towing means  8 , mechanically connected to the housing. The towing means  8  may be used as such. The housing  2  may be adapted to be connected to at least one towing means  8 . The design of towing means  8  may be similar to, for example, the design of another towing means using a propulsion screw or another means of propulsion, for example an underwater scooter-tower APOLLO AV-2E. 
     The device may also comprise means for changing the course of moving the device. As such, the housing may be adapted to be connected to controllable flaps for changing the course in the vertical direction, as well as with a rudder (not shown) similar to a ship&#39;s for course-changing in the horizontal direction. The rudder may be comprised of a vertical plate (rudder blade) rotatable around an axle. Besides that, the rudder may also be used for maintaining the course. Besides that, the towing apparatus may be rotatably connected to the housing  2  with the possibility of rotation around the housing  2 . In this case it may be used for changing the course. 
     The means for controlling and managing the course changing, the towing means, and the buoyancy control means may be mounted on the housing of the device. The device may also comprise a means for maintaining course. Means for changing the course may be actuated by any common electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, geared or any other drive as well as by a manual effort. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, is placed on the surface of water before operation. At that time the buoyancy control means is set to allow the device to remain afloat: by preference the buoyancy compensator(s) chambers are actually filled with gas. After that the person lays on top of the device (in the device embodiment with means of attachment at chest level) and activates the means for fastening on the person&#39;s body, for example fastens the attachment belt. The means for supplying the breathing gas, for example a mask with a mouthpiece may be put on before the attachment of the device to the diver&#39;s body as well as after that. When submerging, the diver holds on to the handles and may reduce the pressure in the chambers of the buoyancy control means using the means of control of the device&#39;s elements and, by working the swim fins, may descend to the depth of 0.5-1 meter where the towing means  8  may be activated (if present). The depth of submersion may further be regulated by means of bleeding and pumping air into the chambers of the buoyancy compensators. For emerging, the diver needs to pump air into the chambers of the buoyancy compensator  3 . In order to return to shore after emerging it is only necessary to detach the means for fastening on the person&#39;s body and return to shore without the gear, making it much faster and easier than landing using common means. It is obvious that the return to water is also done much simpler and faster as it can be performed without all the gear. The buoyancy control means may be pre-adjusted by means of attaching, using the means for bearing weights, of weights equal in sum to the physical characteristics, abilities and/or preferences of the diver. It must be noted that the mass of the weights to be installed is not directly related to the physical characteristics of the diver as the human body density does not vary much and the regulation of buoyancy may be performed at a great range by means of the buoyancy compensator  3  as well as the lungs of the diver himself. Therefore, the device, once adjusted, may be used by practically anybody. 
     In order to move while remaining afloat, the buoyancy compensator&#39;s bladders must be filled in such a way as to maintain the device as well as the diver on the surface of water, and activate the means of propulsion that may be represented by the muscular effort of the diver or a towing means. In these conditions it is obvious that the combined gravity center of the device and the diver is shifted lower and movement on the surface of water becomes much simpler and faster and may be performed without expenditure of gas from gas source. 
     The speed and simplicity of submerging and return to the shore when using the device give an additional advantage in emergency situations, for example in case of a danger of attack by water predators. 
     Besides, the diver often needs to perform small repairs of submerged equipment and take out the spare air hoses. On common devices, it is a complicated procedure, as one needs to take off the breathing apparatus. It is made even more difficult by the reduced angle of view of the diving mask, so it often requires the help of another diver. Using the device disclosed in the present description, all these manipulations are performed without even detaching the attachment belt. Therefore the diving safety is significantly increased by using the device described in the present invention. 
     In case the equipment has received damages that prevent its further operation or the equipment is stuck under water, the device described in the present invention is much simpler to detach and emerge without it. That also increases the safety of its operation. 
     It must be noted that the fact that, as the device does not require wearing it out of the water and is much simpler to handle, it allows for safer use by people with more restricted physical abilities and level of training than is required by common devices. It is ensured by the fact that the mass of the device does not significantly influence the submerging/emerging procedures and the efforts they require of the diver. 
     The present invention is described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, but it is evident that it can be implemented in different embodiments without going beyond the claimed scope of legal protection defined by the claims of the invention.