Patent ID: 7730884

Claim:
A diving apparatus comprising; a support structure that is engageable with a diver's head; a lens that is mounted on the support structure, the lens and the support structure defining a breathing space from which the diver can be supplied with air; a sealing arrangement positioned on the support structure to sealingly engage the diver's face so that the breathing space is substantially airtight; an equalization assembly that is mounted on the support structure, the equalization assembly including an access means in the form of a nose-engaging member that is displaceable with respect to the support structure between an inoperative position in which the nose-engaging member is free of a diver's nose and an operative position in which the nose-engaging member can be used to block the diver's nostrils so that the diver can carry out an equalization procedure, the equalization assembly further including a pocket-shaped, flexible membrane that has an open end that is fastened to the support structure at an equalization opening and a closed end that defines the nose-engaging member, the membrane being dimensioned to accommodate the ingress of at least a diver's thumb and forefinger into the breathing space; a gas supply arrangement that is in fluid communication with the breathing space to supply the breathing space with gas, the gas supply arrangement includes a regulator that is in fluid communication with the breathing space; a connecting valve assembly, the connecting valve assembly having an inlet and an outlet, a primary air source being connectable to the inlet; a safety valve assembly that has a primary inlet that is connected to the outlet of the connecting valve assembly, a second inlet and a primary outlet, the primary outlet being connected to the regulator; a back-up, self-contained air supply having an outlet valve assembly that is connected to the secondary inlet of the safety valve assembly; a control means arranged on the safety valve assembly to permit the safety valve assembly to direct air flow from the back up air supply instead of the primary air source, when necessary; and, a hood and a fastening structure that is positioned over the hood and that is engageable with the support structure, the support structure being shaped to carry the sealing arrangement so that, in use, the sealing arrangement is interposed between the diver's face and a portion of the support structure, the fastening structure being adjustable so that the portion of the support structure can be moved towards and away from the diver's face, wherein the support structure includes a base member to which a collar member is attached, and an adjustable cover assembly that is mounted on the base member, the cover assembly being adjustable between an operative position in which it covers the fastening structure and an inoperative position in which it allows access to the fastening structure.