Patent ID: 8272809

Claim:
An active control releasable ballast system for dive equipment, comprising: a ballast receiving pocket; a ballast member stored within said receiving pocket prior to release of said ballast member; a side releasable buckle having a first male buckle section and a second female buckle section, said first section of said side releasable buckle directly or indirectly attached to said receiving pocket, said second section of said side releasable buckle directly or indirectly attached to said ballast member, wherein prior to release of said ballast member said first male buckle section and said second female buckle section are connected to each other by the insertion of said first male buckle section within said second female buckle section such that one or more areas of an inserted portion of the first male buckle section are exposed through one or more corresponding openings in said second female buckle section to permit a user to actively control the release of said first male buckle section from said second female buckle section; wherein release of the ballast member from within a receiving pocket of the releasable ballast system is achieved through disconnection of the first male buckle section of the side releasable buckle from the second female buckle section of the side releasable buckle by the user holding and operating the side releasable buckle; and a slightly curved plate disposed within and attached to said receiving pocket.