Patent ID: 7540691

Claim:
A device for releasably connecting a weight pouch to a pocket of a scuba diving jacket, the device comprising a relatively flat sheath attached to and integrally with the jacket; a latch member attached to the weight pouch and comprising arms elastically deformable in a plane of the sheath with sides tapered relative to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of the sheath enabling snap closure when the latch member is inserted in the sheath; an inwardly projecting abutment inside the sheath that engages the ends of the arms when the device is in a closed position for preventing any further sliding of the latch member; a member for bending the arms of the latch member so as to release the arms from a position in which they meet the abutment inside the sheath, and thus enable the device to be opened; wherein the bending member includes a cap slidingly mounted on the latch member, with tapered projections configured for engaging the tapered sides of the arms to release the ends of the arms from the abutment upon movement of the cap relative to the latch member that induces elastic deformation of the arms, the cap and the latch member both being connected to a handle for inducing the relative movement by respective flexible connection elements, the element connecting the handle to the latch member being generally longer than the element connecting the handle to the cap, whereby pulling on the handle first induces the movement of the cap relative to the latch member inside the sheath.