Patent Publication Number: US-8973516-B2

Title: Pneumatic signaling device for scuba divers

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to audible signaling devices for divers, and more particularly to such signaling devices which can produce an effective signal both above the surface of the water and below the surface of the water. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Scuba divers in the past have typically relied on either pneumatic surface signaling devices or pneumatic sub-surface signaling devices to attract the attention of others, both above and below the surface of the water. More recently, signaling devices such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,265 have included in one device both surface and sub-surface elements with two separate activation arrangements, or an additional element which is capable of diverting air under pressure in the device to either the sub-surface signaling element or to the surface signaling element. 
     It is desirable, however, to have a signaling device which can redirect air under pressure between a sub-surface signaling element to a surface signaling element, without the need for two separate control members. Such a combined device, however, must still be able to audibly signal divers underwater and others above the surface of the water. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the audible alarm device for divers, comprising: a coupling assembly having an inlet for connecting to a source of air from a diver&#39;s air tank, the coupling assembly further including an air valve which when operated permits air under pressure to move from an outlet in the coupling assembly through a valve channel; and a chamber assembly having an internal chamber, an opening to the internal chamber to receive the valve channel of the coupling assembly, a bi-stable piston and a percussion diaphragm mounted to the internal chamber, the chamber assembly having an exhaust channel which connects the internal chamber to the exterior of the device, wherein when the coupling assembly and the chamber assembly are moved to a first relative position, the air valve is opened, allowing air to move into the internal chamber of the chamber assembly, acting on the bi-stable piston to produce an underwater sound, and wherein when the coupling assembly and the chamber assembly are moved to a second, closer relative position, the exhaust channel is blocked, forcing the air in the internal chamber into air passages leading to a horn assembly which includes a horn diaphragm which produces an above surface noise in response to the air from the internal chamber when the device is above surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side section view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the horn housing assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the chamber housing assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the coupling housing assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side section detail of an alternate configuration of the chamber housing and chamber of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side section detail of an alternate configuration of the chamber and piston of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is another side section view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is another top plan view of the coupling housing assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of one side of the chamber housing assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the chamber housing assembly. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the horn housing assembly. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear elevational view of the horn housing assembly. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1  there is shown a surface audible housing element  1 , a sub-surface audible housing element  2  and an air coupling adapter integration element  3 . These three elements are modular and easily separated from each other so as to be more easily assembled and serviced when necessary. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail shown in side section,  FIG. 2 , there is shown a surface horn diaphragm  4 , a chamber  5  for a bi-stable piston  6 , a valve  7 , an impact underwater percussion diaphragm  8 , a male air coupling  9 , a female air coupling  10 , an exhaust air passage  11 , air under pressure pass-through  12  and a locking ring  13  to avoid accidental activation. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail shown in side section,  FIG. 3 , there is shown a front side view showing a surface audible housing element  1 , a sub-surface audible housing element  2  and a locking ring  13  to avoid accidental actuation. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 4  there is shown a side view showing a surface audible housing element  1 , a sub-surface audible housing element  2  and an air coupling adapter integration element  3 . 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 5  there is shown a perspective of a surface audible horn housing element  1  detached from other previously mentioned elements. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 6  there is shown a sub-surface audible chamber housing element  2  detached from other previously mentioned elements. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 7  there is shown a coupler housing element  3  detached from other previously mentioned elements. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 8  there is shown a side section of an alternate configuration of the chamber housing element  2  with chamber assembly  18 , bi-stable piston  14 , air under pressure inlet port  15 , exhaust air port  16 , and additional dual exhaust air ports  17 . Dual exhaust air ports  17  are in fluid communication with dual exhaust ports  21  which are in fluid communication with horn housing causing surface horn diaphragm  4  to move and create loud horn noise, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 9  there is shown a side section of an alternate configuration of the chamber assembly  18 , bi-stable piston  14 , and dual exhaust air ports  17 . 
     Further, the invention is selectively activated when chamber housing element  2  and coupler housing element  3 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , are selectively squeezed together in the scuba diver&#39;s hand to open valve  7  to release air under pressure from pass-through  12 , allowing fluid communication into chamber housing  5  to activate bi-stable piston  6 , thus causing it to rapidly strike percussion diaphragm  8 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Further, it should be noted that as chamber housing element  2  and coupler housing element  3 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , are selectively squeezed together harder, exhaust air passage  11  is blocked, and exhaust air under pressure is forced more completely through exhaust air passage  19  and then through exhaust air passage  20  into horn housing  1 , causing surface horn diaphragm  4  to move rapidly, thus creating loud horn noise, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Still further, and now in more detail, the audible device includes a horn housing assembly  1 , a chamber housing assembly  2  and a coupler housing assembly  3 , as indicated above. The coupling housing assembly is shown most clearly in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10  and  11 . The coupling assembly includes a female air coupler  10  to which is connected to the preexisting power inflater from the diver&#39;s scuba gear. The female air coupling  10  connects to an air passage  12 . The coupling assembly also includes a male coupling  9  connected to a source of air from the diver&#39;s scuba tank. An illustration of the connection between a signaling device and a diver&#39;s scuba gear is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,102, the contents of which are hereby incorporated for reference. Extending from one side of the coupling assembly and in fluid communication with the air passage  12  is a valve  7  which is shown in a non-activated position in  FIG. 2  and in one active position in  FIG. 10 . In the position of  FIG. 2 , no air escapes from air passage  12 . 
     The valve  7  includes an elongated stem  30  with a small knob  38  at the proximal end thereof. Surrounding the valve  7  is a spring  34 , the distal end of which is positioned in a forward open portion of a hollow cylinder  36  which forms a part of the coupling assembly. The spring  34  extends outwardly from the hollow cylinder. The coupling assembly includes a portion  35  with two extending arm portions  38  and  40 . In use, the diver places a finger around portion  35 . Four extending posts  42 - 45  are also present which generally are positioned at the corners of a square. The extending arms  38  and  40  and the posts  42 - 45  mate with the chamber housing assembly as discussed in more detail hereinafter. The coupling assembly also includes a flexible blocking element  39  in the form of a short rod, approximately ⅛ th  inch long and ⅛ th  inch in diameter which extends outwardly from the coupling member, located slightly above hollow cylinder  36 . The flexible blocking member interacts with a portion of the chamber housing assembly as discussed below. 
     The chamber housing is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  10 ,  12  and  13 . The chamber housing assembly includes a side portion  50  ( FIG. 12 ) which mates with the coupling assembly. The side portion  50  includes two opposing side slots  52  and  54  into which the two extending arms of the portion  35  of the coupling assembly fit, as well as four openings  55 - 58  into which the four posts  42 - 45  from the coupling assembly fit. The side portion also includes a central circular opening  60  which is approximately 0.35 inches deep and 0.60 inches in diameter, into which spring  34  from the coupling assembly fits. The interior surfaces of the extending arms  38 ,  40  from the coupling assembly include openings, which mate with extending latch elements  59  and  61  at the surface of slots  52 ,  54 . This arrangement holds the coupling assembly to the chamber assembly. To separate these two assemblies, a small screwdriver or similar implement can be used to pry off the flexible arms from the latch elements. The openings in the extending arms are long enough to permit the coupling assembly to be moved in the direction of the housing chamber assembly by user action on portion  35 , against the action of spring  34 . The spring  34  holds the coupling assembly relative to the housing chamber is such a relationship that no air escapes from the air passage  12  when the portion  35  is not operated, i.e. valve  7  is closed. 
     Opening  60  terminates in a surface  63  which has a small opening  65  in fluid connection with a hollow interior of the chamber assembly in which is mounted a bi-stable piston  5 . At the lower end of the hollow interior, adjacent the lower end of the piston is a diaphragm  8 . In operation, the bi-stable piston is moved repeatedly within the chamber when the device is in the mode for producing underwater signaling in the form of a buzzing sound, as discussed further below. 
     Near the top of chamber  5  is an exhaust air passage  11  which extends from the chamber  5  toward the coupling housing. At the top of the chamber assembly  2  is a circular connecting assembly  70  which is approximately ¼-inch high in the embodiment shown. Positioned in the upper solid surface  71  of the connecting assembly  70  are several small spaced air passages  19  which in the embodiment shown are slots located at approximately the periphery of the connecting assembly, shown generally opposing each other, with two slots opposing a single slot in the embodiment shown. 
     The horn housing assembly, shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  10 ,  14  and  15 , includes a connecting wall  72  which releasably mates with the connecting assembly  70  of the chamber housing. The horn assembly can be readily removed from the chamber assembly, since the interior surface of the connecting wall of the horn assembly mates with a bayonet lock with the exterior surface of the connecting assembly  70  of the chamber assembly. The connecting wall terminates in a surface  74 , which includes an opening  20  which is in fluid connection with a rear surface diaphragm. Horn assembly  1  includes a horn surface  76  which curves outwardly, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , from an interior rear end edge thereof. At the rear end of the horn surface is surface horn diaphragm  4 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . The horn assembly, when actuated, makes a loud noise to audibly signal others on the water surface, as discussed further below. The horn assembly is also designed to purge water from the surface thereof when air under pressure is admitted to it in addition to creating a loud audible alarm. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  10 ,  14  and  15 , the diver operates the device by grasping it, such that a finger, for instance the index finger, is positioned around and against the portion  35 .  FIG. 2 , as indicated above, shows portion  35  and valve  7  in a non-operated or inactive position. There is no movement of air from passage  12  in this inactive position of the coupling housing assembly and the chamber housing assembly. The diver moves the switch to a first operating position by squeezing the coupling assembly and the chamber assembly together against the action of spring  34 . In this position, air moves from the female air connection  10  through air passage  12 , and through a connecting passage defined by the inner surface of hollow cylinder  36  as it fits into opening  60  in a fluid-tight relationship. Air moves through opening  65  into chamber  5 , operating on bi-stable piston  6 , causing it to rapidly strike percussion diaphragm  8 , creating a buzzing sound underwater which alerts other divers to a possible issue. The incoming air in chamber  5  is continually exhausted through air passage  11  to the environment external of the appliance. 
     The diver can squeeze the coupling housing assembly and the chamber housing assembly further together to a second position. In this position, the exhaust air passage  11  from the chamber assembly is blocked by a rubber rod  39  which now is positioned into air passage  11 . With exhaust passage  11  blocked, the air in chamber  5  moves up through openings  19  in the top of the chamber housing assembly. The air then moves through opening  20  in the horn creating a buildup of air under pressure that causes diaphragm  4  to flex outwardly, allowing air to escape. The quick flexing diaphragm makes a loud horn noise. 
     The chamber assembly includes a rotatable lock ring ( 61 A in  FIGS. 6 and 12  and  13  in  FIG. 3 ) which rotates through a small angle by user action on an extending tab  61 B. In one position, a portion  61 C on the side of  61 A opposing tab  61 B will contact an extending element  61 D on the coupling assembly preventing any relative movement of the coupling assembly and the chamber assembly and inadvertent activation. When the locking ring is rotated to a second position, the portion  61 C is moved out of the way of element  61 D, permitting activation of the device. 
     Hence, a diver&#39;s alarm device has been disclosed which includes a two-position squeeze/switch arrangement between a coupling housing assembly and a chamber housing assembly to provide both an above-surface and a sub-surface alarm capability. 
     Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes and modifications and substitutions could be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow: