Patent Publication Number: US-2023150626-A1

Title: Backrest provided with a support for fastening a weight pocket

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102021000028805, filed Nov. 12, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a backrest for a scuba diver with a weight pocket. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Backrests for scuba divers, that is, back support elements for one or more air cylinders for scuba diving, have been present on the market for some time in an extreme variety of shapes and sizes, both in a simple configuration and in a configuration integrated into a buoyancy control device (BCD), and are constrained to the scuba diver&#39;s body in various ways, generally with flexible straps. 
     It is well known that a plurality of straps and a corresponding plurality of connections and closures are generally interpreted by a scuba diver as an annoyance during donning, and even more so during doffing, which, under emergency conditions, may need to be simple and rapid. 
     As is known, there are backrests for scuba divers on the market that are provided with a single strap for constraining them to the diver&#39;s body and in which the strap, in a first upper part thereof, acts as a support for the weight of the cylinder(s) on the diver&#39;s shoulders and, in a second part thereof, suitably routed, allows a coupling of the two ends in an abdominal position. 
     As is known, as an alternative or in addition to the traditional weight belt, the weight carried by a scuba diver for underwater diving can be inserted in pockets directly fashioned in the buoyancy control device, or in independent pockets that are suitably configured to be directly fastened onto the constraining strap of the backrest, in the abdominal portion constraining it to the scuba diver&#39;s body. 
     It is likewise known that such pockets, commonly defined as weight pockets, when loaded with the weight, tend to subject the constraining strap of the backrest to a torsional load, typically in proximity to a first slide-through element, thus precluding the smooth sliding required by the scuba diver at the time of donning (and/or doffing) and adjusting the backrest. 
     A need is thus felt to improve the structure of the known backrests for scuba diving. 
     SUMMARY 
     The technical task of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a backrest for a scuba diver diving that enables the aforementioned 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 backrest for a scuba diver constrained to the diver&#39;s body with a single strap enabling the support of at least one weight pocket in a simple and effective manner. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a backrest for a scuba diver configured to oppose the torsion of the weight pocket on the single strap constraining it in the abdominal position. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a backrest for a scuba diver wherein the adjustment and/or release of the single strap constraining it in the abdominal position is extremely simple and not hindered by the torsion applied by the weight pocket on the strap itself. 
     The technical task, as well as these and other objects, are achieved according to the present invention by providing a backrest for a scuba diver comprising a shaped plate for supporting at least one air cylinder, at least a first strap comprising an upper right portion configured to fit around the scuba diver&#39;s right shoulder, an upper left portion configured to fit around the scuba diver&#39;s left shoulder and a lower portion configured to fit around the scuba diver&#39;s abdomen, said shaped plate having a first right slide-through element and a first left slide-through element, adapted to connect said upper right portion and said upper left portion, respectively, to said lower portion of said first strap, at least one weight pocket, said at least one weight pocket being constrained to said lower portion of said first strap, characterised in that there is provided an anti-torsion means connecting said at least one weight pocket to said shaped plate and configured to oppose the torsion of said first strap in proximity to at least one of said first slide-through elements. 
     In a preferred embodiment, said anti-torsion means comprises a fastening block for fastening the weight pocket to the shaped plate. 
     In one embodiment, said at least one fastening block is configured not to interfere with said first right slide-through element or with said first left slide-through element of said first strap. 
     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 become more apparent from the description of a first preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the backrest for a scuba diver according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows an overall front view of the backrest, the constraining strap and the weight pocket; 
         FIG.  2    shows an overall rear view of the backrest, the constraining strap and the weight pocket; 
         FIG.  3    shows a detailed front view of the left wing of the backrest, the fastening block and the weight pocket; 
         FIG.  4    shows a detailed rear view of the left wing of the backrest, the fastening block and the weight pocket; 
         FIG.  5 A  shows a front view of the fastening block for the weight pocket; 
       and 
         FIG.  5    B shows a detailed section AA of the fastening block for the weight pocket. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description makes reference to the appended drawings, which form a part thereof. 
     In the drawings, similar reference numbers typically identify similar components, unless the context indicates otherwise. 
     The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description and in the drawings are not intended to be limiting. 
     Other embodiments may be used and other modifications may be introduced without departing from the spirit or the scope of the subject matter presented herein. 
     The aspects of the present description, as generally described in the present context and illustrated in the figures, may be arranged, replaced, combined and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, which are all explicitly envisaged and are part of this description. 
     With reference to the above-mentioned figures, they show a backrest for a scuba diver denoted in its entirety by the reference number  1 . 
     The backrest for a scuba diver  1  comprises a shaped plate  2  for supporting at least one air cylinder (not shown in the drawings), at least a first strap  3  comprising an upper right portion  3 A 1  configured to fit around the scuba diver&#39;s right shoulder, an upper left portion  3 A 2  configured to fit around the scuba diver&#39;s left shoulder and a lower portion  3 B configured to fit around the scuba diver&#39;s abdomen, a first right slide-through element  2 D and a first left slide-through element  2 S, adapted to connect the upper portions  3 A 1  and  3 A 2 , respectively, to the lower portion  3 B of the first strap  3 . 
     The upper portions  3 A 1  and  3 A 2  of the first strap  3  are disposed through specific pass-through elements  2 ′D and  2 &#39;S of the shaped plate  2  and are fastened to the shaped plate  2  preferably by means of one or more specific bolts (not shown) tightened in one or more through-holes  30  of the shaped plate  2 . 
     The backrest for a scuba diver  1  comprises at least one weight pocket  10  constrained to the lower portion  3 B of the first strap  3 . 
     The weight pocket  10  is typically made of flexible textile materials and on the rear has one or more second slide-through elements  11  by means of which it is constrained to the first strap  3 . 
     Conveniently, innovatively and advantageously according to the present invention, there is provided an anti-torsion means for the lower portion  3 B of the first strap  3 . 
     The anti-torsion means connects the weight pocket  10  to the shaped plate  2  and is configured to oppose the torsion of the first strap  3  caused by the weight of the weight pocket  10  on the first strap  3  in proximity to at least one first slide-through element: in the drawings the first left through element  2 S is typically illustrated and the description refers to that zone; symmetrically, and/or additionally, the drawings and description may refer to the right zone. 
     Conveniently, innovatively and advantageously according to the present invention, the anti-torsion means comprises at least one fastening block  20 , constrained respectively to the shaped plate  2  and the weight pocket  10 . 
     The fastening block  20  has a preferably removable means of constraint to the shaped plate so that it can be supplied together with the weight pocket  10  as a kit for adaptation to backrests already on the market. 
     The constraint of the fastening block  20  to the shaped plate  2  is typically achieved with two small bolts  21  A and  21  B that engage in mating holes  22  A and  22  B in the lower wing of the shaped plate  2 . 
     The constraint of the fastening block  20  to the weight pocket  10  is typically achieved with two small bolts  23  A and  23  B that engage in one side of a suitable connecting piece  12  protruding from the weight pocket  10 : the connecting piece  12  can be flexible or adequately rigid or stiffened so as to limit the suitable degree of freedom of the weight pocket  10  for adaptation to the scuba diver&#39;s hip. 
     Conveniently, the side of the connecting piece  12  fastened to the fastening block  20  has a length that is no less than the width of the first strap  3 . 
     Conveniently, the fastening block  20  is configured not to interfere with the first left slide-through element  2 S. 
     The fastening block  20  in particular has a flat longitudinal base  20  A having at one end the holes for the bolts  23  A,  23  B for fastening to the piece  12  and at the longitudinally opposite end the holes for the bolts  21  A,  21  B for fastening to the backrest, provided on a thickened portion  20  B of the longitudinal base  20  A which is on top of an orthogonal terminal flap  40  of the backrest. 
     The operation of a backrest for a scuba diver according to the invention appears clear from what is described and illustrated and, in particular, is substantially the following. 
     The first strap  3  is engaged at least in the first left slide-through element  2 S of the shaped plate  2  and then in the second slide-through elements  11  of the weight pocket  10 . 
     The weight pocket  10  is constrained at the connecting piece  12  to the fastening block  20  rigidly constrained to the shaped plate  2 . 
     The fastening block  20  is configured not to interfere with the first left slide-through element  2 S of the first strap  3 . 
     The weight of the weight pocket  10  is substantially transferred to the shaped plate  2  by means of the fastening block  12 . 
     The weight of the weight pocket  10  does not act, therefore, on the first strap  3  through the second slide-through elements  11 , and thus does not apply a torsion action on the first strap  3 . 
     The first strap  3  remains free to slide in the first slide-through element  2 S, also when the weights are loaded in the weight pocket  10 , enabling the scuba diver to simply and effectively adjust the first strap  3  around his or her body while donning and/or doffing the backrest. 
     It has been ascertained in practice that a backrest for a scuba diver according to the invention is particularly advantageous for opposing the torsion of the weight pocket on the single constraining strap in the abdominal position. 
     A further advantage of the invention is that of providing a backrest for a scuba diver in which the adjustment and/or the release of the single strap constraining it in the abdominal position is extremely simple and not hindered by torsion applied by the weight pocket on the strap itself. 
     A backrest for a scuba diver thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the 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.