Patent Publication Number: US-11046400-B2

Title: Balancing jacket with variable trim for underwater diving

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of priority of Italy Application No. 102019000021744, filed Nov. 20, 2019. The above-identified related application is incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF USE 
     The present invention relates to a buoyancy control jacket for scuba diving with a replaceable abdominal closing strap. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Buoyancy control jackets (or buoyancy control devices—BCDs) have been known and 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 comprises 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 is 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 maintenance conditions and reliability that such elements of the garment must be able to guarantee and maintain throughout the useful life of the BCD, in order to ensure the total safety of the diver during the dive, is thus clearly evident. 
     The abdominal closing strap is clearly subject to the most wear, as it undergoes coupling and release operations by the diver at every dive, and often various adjustments in the event that the BCD is subsequently used by different divers. 
     These straps are traditionally replaceable, but are fixed to rigid or soft back supports positioned in the central part of the BCD with coupling systems that require more time for assembly/disassembly and which cannot rotate in order to better adapt to the different builds of divers. 
     A type of jacket having a harness fitted with interchangeable accessories, including two abdominal closing half-straps and two shoulder straps, also exists in the market. 
     The harness in this case also supports the expandable pneumatic bladder, configured as a structurally independent and separate element that can be coupled to and released from the harness. 
     In this case, it is thus possible to personalise the jacket by replacing only the shoulder straps and/or the abdominal half-straps according to the diver&#39;s size, but only at the expense of a greater complexity of the product. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical task of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a buoyancy control jacket for scuba diving that enables the aforesaid technical drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome. 
     Within the scope of this technical task, one object of the invention is to provide a buoyancy control jacket for scuba diving which is versatilely adaptable to the diver&#39;s size and at the same time simplified in its construction but extremely robust. 
     The technical task, as well as these and other objects, are achieved according to the present invention by providing a buoyancy control jacket for scuba diving comprising at least one air chamber with a variable volume delimited by an outer wall and an inner wall, an abdominal closing strap, and a removable association device between said inner wall and said abdominal strap, characterised in that said removable association device comprises first and second connection means respectively attached to said inner wall and to said strap, a retaining means for retaining said second connection means relative to said first connection means along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to said strap, and a means of rotation about said axis of said second connection means relative to said first connection means. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, said abdominal closing strap comprises two half-straps having first ends that are reciprocally engageable in a disengageable manner, and second ends having said second connection means. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, said first and second connection means comprise at least one pin and a corresponding engagement terminal. 
     In one embodiment of the invention said retaining means comprises, on said engagement terminal, a sliding perimeter engagement groove for a head of said pin and an elastic tab with a free beaklike end for retaining said head of said pin in said groove. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, said rotation means comprises a cylindrical perimeter surface of the head of the pin having diametrically opposed cylindrical generatrix of contact with the groove. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcement means is provided for reinforcing said inner wall for the distribution of forces transmitted by said second connection means to said first connection means. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention said association device is configured for a quick coupling, particularly a snap coupling. 
     Advantageously, therefore, thanks to the removable association device, it is possible to eliminate the harness of a known jacket: in particular, the shoulder straps as well as the support for positioning the compressed air cylinder can be secured to the air chamber. 
     The replaceability of the abdominal strap allows the same air chamber to be maintained for divers of all sizes. 
     The articulated fastening of the abdominal strap to the air chamber improves the wearability of the jacket with variations in the size of the diver. 
     The reinforcement means, by opposing the bending moments transmitted during use by the abdominal strap, contributes to preserving the structural integrity of the air chamber. 
     The rotatable connection between the first and second connection means, by freeing the rotation of the abdominal strap, limits or prevents the transmission of torsional moments to the air chamber, once again contributing to preserving the structural integrity thereof. 
     In one embodiment, the abdominal strap comprises at least one elastic zone to further improve the adjustment according to the size of the diver. 
     Other features of the present invention are also defined in the claims hereinbelow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the buoyancy control jacket for scuba diving according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows an overall inside view of the buoyancy control jacket; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of an abdominal closing half-strap and of the first and second connection means (BCD not represented for the sake of image clarity), half-strap not coupled; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view of an abdominal closing half-strap and of the first and second connection means (BCD not represented for the sake of image clarity), half-strap coupled; 
         FIG. 4  shows a detailed section AA of  FIG. 3  with the half-strap coupled. 
         FIG. 5  shows a detailed section BB of  FIG. 3  with the half-strap coupled 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the face of the first connection means intended to come into contact with the second connection means. 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the face of the second connection means intended to come into contact with the first connection means. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the aforementioned figures, they show a buoyancy control jacket denoted in its entirety by the reference number  1 . 
     The buoyancy control jacket  1  substantially comprises an air chamber with a variable volume  2  and comprising an outer wall  2   a  and an inner wall  2   b  (see  FIG. 4 ), with reference to the diver&#39;s body. 
     The air chamber has a substantially doughnut shape, and in the central part thereof  40 , the jacket comprises means for attaching the cylinder, not illustrated in the figure. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the broken lines  41   a  and  41   b  highlight the perimeter seal of the air chamber. 
     The buoyancy control jacket  1  is fit tightly to the body by means of a strap, preferably formed by two abdominal half-straps  4   a  and  4   b  advantageously supported by the air chamber  2 . 
     The buoyancy control jacket  1  is worn by the diver by means of shoulder straps  3   a  and  3   b  supported by the air chamber  2 . 
     The support (not shown) for the compressed air cylinder is also supported by the air chamber, in particular on the outer delimiting wall  2   a.    
     In this manner, there is no need to provide for a dedicated harness to support the components of the jacket  1 , given that the air chamber  2  also acts as a support element for all the main elements making up the jacket  1 . 
     The two abdominal half-straps  4   a ,  4   b  have first ends that are reciprocally engageable in a disengageable manner, for example, but not necessarily, with quick-connect means  5   a  and  5   b  and with the overlap of the Velcro strips  6   a  and  6   b.    
     Advantageously, the jacket  1  has a removable association device between the inner wall  2   b  of the air chamber  2  and the abdominal strap  4   a ,  4   b.    
     The association device comprises first connection means  20   a ,  20   b  and second connection means  11   a ,  11   b  respectively attached to the inner wall  2   b  of the air chamber  2  and to the abdominal strap  4   a ,  4   b , a retaining means for retaining the second connection means  11   a ,  11   b  relative to the first connection means  20   a ,  20   b  along an axis L that is substantially orthogonal to the strap  4   a ,  4   b , and a means of rotation about the axis L of the second connection means  11   a ,  11   b  relative to the first connection means  20   a ,  20   b.    
     The second connection means  11   a ,  11   b  comprise, for each half-strap  4   a ,  4   b , a terminal positioned at a second end of the half-straps  4   a ,  4   b.    
     The first connection means  20   a ,  20   b  comprise, for each half-strap  4   a ,  4   b , a pin  27   a ,  27   b  engageable in the corresponding terminal. 
     Below we will describe only the part of the association device pertinent to the half-strap  4   a , given that the part of the association device pertinent to the half-strap  4   b  is identical. 
     The retaining means comprises, on the terminal, a sliding perimeter engagement groove  31   a  for the head  29   a  of the pin  27   a  and an elastic tab  13   a  with a free beaklike end  14   a  for retaining the head  29   a  of the pin  27   a  in the groove  31   a.    
     The perimeter groove  31   a  and the elastic tab  13   a  thus delimit a snap coupling seat  10   a  for the head  29   a  of the pin  27   a.    
     The rotation means comprises mating surfaces between the head  29   a  of the pin  27   a  and the snap coupling seat  10   a.    
     The snap coupling seat  10   a  is therefore elastically disengageable from the head  29   a  of the pin  27   a  of a mating shape. 
     In greater detail, the head  29   a  of the shaped pin  27   a  engages slidingly, thanks to its mating shape, within the perimeter groove  31   a , during the coupling of the half-strap  4   a , until coming up against a limit stop  12   a ; along its sliding path within the perimeter groove  31   a  that leads to the snap coupling seat  10   a  the head  29   a  of the shaped pin  27   a  meets and elastically bends the elastic tab  13   a.    
     On reaching the travel limit and coming up against the limit stop  12   a , the head  29   a  of the shaped pin  27   a  is disengaged from the elastic tab  13   a , which elastically returns into its initial position, engaging the head  29   a  of the shaped pin  27   a  by means of its free beaklike end  14   a , thus securing the half-strap  4   a  onto the air chamber  2 . 
     Advantageously, thanks to the pivoted connection about the axis L, it is possible to freely orient the half-strap  4   a  once connected to the air chamber  2 . 
     A suitable through opening  15   a  in the terminal enables an easy manual elastic disengagement of the beak  14   a  from the head  29   a  of the shaped pin  27   a , thus allowing the reverse sliding of the pin  27   a  in the perimeter groove  31   a  and therefore freeing the half-strap  4   a  from the coupling and from the air chamber  2 . 
     The half-straps  4   a ,  4   b , in addition to being freely orientable, can comprise an elastic zone, interposed between the first and second ends, in order to even better improve the versatility of use on divers of a different size. 
     Advantageously, the jacket comprises a reinforcement means for reinforcing the inner wall  2   b  of the air chamber  2  for the distribution of forces transmitted by the second connection means  11   a ,  11   b  to first connection means  20   a ,  20   b.    
     Below we will describe only the part of the reinforcement means pertinent to the half-strap  4   a , given that the part of the reinforcement means pertinent to the half-strap  4   b  is identical. 
     The reinforcement means thus comprises an anchorage base  21   a  anchoring to the outer face of the inner delimiting wall  2   b.    
     More precisely, the pin  27   a  extends according to the axis L from the anchorage base  21   a , in particular from the centre of the anchorage base  21   a.    
     The shaped pin  27   a  has, between the head  29   a  and the anchorage base  21   a , a recess  28   a  which enables the engagement of the head  29   a  along the perimeter groove  31   a.    
     The pin  27   a  has, in particular, a cylindrical configuration with a discontinuity in diameter between the part defining the head  29   a  and the part defining the recess  28   a.    
     The anchorage base  21   a  is formed, for example, by a flat rigid or semi-rigid plate. 
     The shaped pin  27   a  is preferably made in one piece with the anchorage base  21   a.    
     The pin  27   a  and the anchorage base  21   a  are preferably made of plastic. 
     The anchorage base  21   a  is anchored to the outer face of the inner wall  2   b  of the air chamber  2  by means of through stitching  22   a , positioned on a lowered perimeter plane  23   a  relative to the base  21   a.    
     Inside the air chamber  2 , a sealing element  25   a  circumscribing the through stitching  22   a  is coupled on the inner face of the inner wall  2   b.    
     Advantageously, the zone of coupling between the sealing element  25   a  and the inside of the inner wall  2   b  continuously circumscribes the stitching  22   a.    
     The sealing element  25   a  can have, as shown, larger dimensions than the anchorage base  21   a.    
     In particular, in the case shown, the zone of coupling between the sealing element  25   a  and the inner face of the inner wall  2   b  is configured as a strip  26   a  closed on itself which continuously circumscribes the anchorage base  21   a.    
     Given that the strip  26   a  sealing the sealing element  25   a  to the inner face of the inner delimiting wall  2   b  circumscribes the stitching  22   a , the mechanical stresses transmitted by the half-strap  4   a ,  4   b  to the air chamber  2  are not propagated to the sealing line, which will thus not deteriorate over time. 
     Alternatively, it is possible to provide for a zone of coupling between the sealing element  25   a  and the inner face of the inner wall  2   b  configured as a strip closed on itself positioned between the stitching  22   a  and the perimeter edge  30   a  of the base  21   a.    
     The outer wall  2   a  and inner wall  2   b  of the air chamber  2  and the sealing element  25   a  are flexible elements arranged in layers, in particular but not necessarily made of thermoplastic materials. 
     For example, the material used to make the air chamber  2  of the buoyancy control jacket  1  can be a thermoplastic Cordura nylon fabric spread internally with PU to ensure the airtightness thereof; in such a case the sealing element  25   a  is likewise made of a thermoplastic fabric, so that the sealing of the sealing element  25   a  on the inside of the inner wall  2   b  takes place by high-frequency ultrasonic bonding. 
     Typically, the shape of the enlarged base  21   a  can be circular; the sealing element  25   a  as well can thus typically have a circular shape, with a diameter larger than that of the enlarged base  21   a ; a high-frequency ultrasonic bonding takes place between the sealing element  25   a  and the inside of the inner wall  2   b , thus defining a circular crown that surrounds the enlarged base  21   a.    
     The functioning of the buoyancy control jacket for scuba diving according to the invention appears evident from what has been described and illustrated and, in particular, is substantially the following. 
     In the case of a first application or replacement of a semi abdominal strap  4   a  on the buoyancy control jacket  1 , the user brings the end of the half-strap  4   a  that has the snap coupling seat  10   a  near the head of the shaped pin  27   a , making it slide in the groove  31   a  of mating shape until it comes up against the limit stop  12   a , where the elastic tab  13   a  locks it by means of its beaklike end  14   a.    
     To remove the semi abdominal strap  4   a  from the buoyancy control jacket  1 , the user acts manually through the appropriate opening  15   a  until elastically disengaging the beak  14   a  from the head of the shaped pin  27   a , thereby enabling the reverse sliding of the shaped pin  27   a  and thus freeing the half-strap  4   a  from the coupling and from the air chamber  2 . 
     It has in practice been found that a buoyancy control jacket according to the invention is particularly advantageous because of the closure achieved with an abdominal strap consisting of two removable half-straps, which are reliable and easily removable in total safety, by means of elastically disengageable mechanical fastening means. 
     The buoyancy control jacket thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within in the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details may be replaced with 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.