Patent Publication Number: US-2010107363-A1

Title: Detachable pull handle for an inflator regulator airway hose

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to scuba diving equipment, and in particular, second-stage inflator/regulator devices. Specifically, the invention relates to a detachable pull handle that enables a diver to separate the regulator portion of the device from a mechanism used to connect to a buoyancy compensator. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Scuba divers typically use several standard pieces of equipment. Two standard pieces are buoyancy compensators and pressurized air tanks. These two pieces of equipment work in tandem. The buoyancy compensator is an inflatable pack that allows the diver to adjust and control the overall buoyancy of the diver and his heavy equipment. The buoyancy compensator enables the diver to achieve neutral buoyancy, remain at constant depth, or to descend and ascend in a controlled manner. The pressurized air tank contains compressed air that can either be used to breathe or to inflate the buoyancy compensator during a dive. The air delivery from the air tank is controlled by a first and a second stage regulator. In some cases, the buoyancy compensator and the pressurized air tank are connected by a second-stage regulator device that can simultaneously switch between providing air to breathe or to inflate the buoyancy compensator. 
     Second-stage regulator devices that integrate both air supply and inflation functions are well known in the art. These inflator-regulator devices typically have two hoses, one connected to the buoyancy compensator and one connected to the first-stage regulator. The hose that connects to the buoyancy compensator is typically a corrugated hose which connects to the second-stage inflator-regulator. 
     Many divers, however, fail to maintain the inflator-regulator on a regular basis because the inflator-regulator&#39;s hoses are often difficult to disconnect from the pressurized air tank and buoyancy compensator. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an easy method to detach the buoyancy compensator from the second stage inflator-regulator without having to remove the secure fittings used to attach the hoses between the inflator-regulator and pressurized air tank and buoyancy compensator respectively. 
     At present, there is only one known system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,163 to Toth. The Toth patent discloses a second-stage inflator regulator having a threaded sleeve whereby multiple adapters can be used to connect different size buoyancy compensator hoses. The Toth patent discloses the ability for a diver to remove a hose by unscrewing it where it connects to the inflator-regulator. This allows the diver to remove the buoyancy compensator hose from the inflator-regulator for storage purposes. The Toth patent, however, has two primary disadvantages. First, the threaded connections for the buoyancy compensator hoses must be tightly secured to the inflator-regulator. This means the hoses are not easily removed by hand and often will require a pliers or small wrench to loosen the hose from the inflator-regulator. Second, the threaded connector design being located at the inflator-regulator, it does not allow the diver to deflate its buoyancy compensator when the inflator-regulator is in the diver&#39;s mouth. 
     Therefore, it would be advantageous if a diver could have a simple means to detach a buoyancy compensator hose from an inflator-regulator without the need for any special tools that would enable easy detachment of the buoyancy compensator for storage and maintenance purposes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a second-stage inflator regulator apparatus used by scuba divers that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art; 
     It is a further object to provide a disconnectable pull handle embedded within a scuba diving airway that enables a diver to sever the airway between the second-stage inflator-regulator and the buoyancy compensator to simplify the storage and maintenance of the buoyancy compensator; 
     It is a further object to provide a disconnectable pull handle that comprises two individual hoses that hook together by a locking mechanism; 
     It is a further object to provide a locking mechanism that engages by joining two mating connectors that are locked into position when they are rotated in opposite directions; 
     It is a further object of the pull handle that when the two connectors are locked into position that an airtight seal is created through the use of an o-ring seal; 
     It is a further object of the pull handle that when the diver wishes to detach the pull handle that the locking mechanism is disengaged; 
     It is a further object of the pull handle that when the locking mechanism disengages, the two mating connectors are rotated and pulled in opposite directions with minimal effort from the diver; 
     The description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention to the example shown and described, because those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains will be able to devise other forms thereof within the ambit of the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side close-up view of the pull handle showing the two connectors separated from each other; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the pull handle showing the two connectors in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the pull handle showing the lower connector in the open position after it has been turned one quarter counterclockwise from the position shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the pull handle showing the lower connector separated from each other in a position immediately after it has been pulled downward from the position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the pull handle section; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the entire inflator-regulator with the pull handle device shown in the center portion of the airway tube. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT 
     By way of one example of many to serve as background in understanding the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 6 , is a complete breathable inflator regulator system  100  used by scuba divers. Typically, a medium pressure hose  150  is connected to a pressurized air tank by way of a first-stage regulator (not shown). A diver can breathe air provided from the air tank at the mouthpiece  130  from the hose  150  through the inflator-regulator  240  presuming the cut-off valve  210  is in the open position. When the power inflation button  220  is activated, the pressurized air can also be used to inflate a buoyancy compensator (not shown), which is connected to the relief valve  180 . When desired, pressurized air will flow through the inflator-regulator  240  up the airway  140  through the relief valve  180  into the buoyancy compensator so that the compensator will fill to the desired amount. In most inflator regulator systems, the airway  140  consists of a single tube typically in the form of a corrugated hose. 
     A pull handle  170  is typically found on the airways of many inflator-regulators—typically in the middle portion of the airway  140 . The pull handle  170  is a unitary element that is typically used to release air from the buoyancy compensator by pulling down on the pull handle  170  during a dive. In the preferred embodiment, the pull handle  170  has been improved to allow a diver to disconnect the airway  140  into two distinct pieces, an upper hose  120  and a lower hose  110 . By disconnecting the upper hose  120  from the lower hose  110 , the diver can store the inflator-regulator  240  with his breathing equipment instead of his buoyancy control equipment. This allows the diver to maintain his buoyancy control equipment more easily. Additionally, the pull handle  170  allows an inflator-regulator design without the typical quick disconnection on the pressure hose  150  found on most inflator-regulators. 
     A close up view of the pull handle  170  in the fully locked position is shown in  FIG. 2 . The pull handle  170  joins the upper hose  120  and lower hose  110 . When a diver wishes to detach the upper hose  120  and lower hose  110 , the diver simply turns the lower hose  110  counterclockwise (or the upper hose  120  clockwise) to the unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 3 . Once the lower hose  110  and the upper hose  120  are in the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the diver can detach the upper hose  120  and lower hose  110  by simply pulling the two hoses apart as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a more detailed view of how the pull handle is secured or unlocked. A first clamp  310  provides an airtight seal between the upper hose  120  and the pull handle  170 . The lower hose  110 . The pull handle  170  comprises an upper connector  300  that includes a securing bar  290  that stretches across the diameter of the upper portion  295  of the upper connector  300 . The upper connector also includes a pair of pressurized hose guides  200  and  305  to secure the pressurized hose  150  to the pull handle  170 . 
     A second clamp  250  provides an airtight seal between the lower hose  110  and the lower connector  260 . The lower connector  260  further comprises an o-ring  270 , which secures an airtight seal between the upper hose  120  and lower hose  110  when the pull handle is in the locked position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The lower connector  260  also includes an additional pressurized hose guide  190 , which is used to secure the pressurized hose  150  to the lower hose  110 . The upper portion of the lower connector  260  comprises a rotatable mating connector  265 . The rotatable mating connector  265  further comprises a first  267  and second  268  protrusion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower hose  110  and upper hose  120  are secured when the lower connector  260  and upper connector  300  are axially joined together. When the lower connector  260  and upper connector  300  are joined, the rotatable mating connector  265  rests on top of the securing bar  290 . When the rotatable mating connector  265  is rotated a quarter turn clockwise, such that the first protrusion  267  and the second protrusion  268  snap on to the securing bar  290 , the upper hose  120  and lower hose  110  are secured in an airtight fashion. Although the pull handle  170  will typically remain locked when it is secured as shown in  FIG. 2 , it is recommended that the pressurized hose  150  be fixed firmly into the guides  190 ,  200 , and  305  during a dive to ensure that the pull handle  170  is not accidentally unlocked. 
     As stated above, to unlock the upper connector  300  and lower connector  260 , the lower connector  260  needs simply to be rotated a quarter turn in the counterclockwise direction such that the first  267  and second protrusions  268  snap off of the securing bar  290 , which will enable the upper hose  120  and lower hose  110  to be pulled apart. 
     While the apparatus for practicing the within inventive method, as well as said method herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to one or more particular preferred embodiments, persons possessing ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains will appreciate that various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.