Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Scuba diving is a growing pastime. During scuba diving, a diver goes underwater and breathes through a breathing unit. While scuba diving, a diver typically wears a jacket with compensating equipment to adjust the effective weight of the diver in the water. This jacket is commonly referred to as “buoyancy compensator” or “BC.” More specifically, the BC includes an inflatable bladder (or other similar device) that is inflatable orally or by a container of compressed gas. To rise up in the water, the bladder is filled with air (thus increasing the buoyancy of the diver). When the diver desires to sink in the water, gas is released from the bladder (thereby decreasing the buoyancy of the diver). 
     In addition to the BC, weights are often used as a means of allowing the diver to sink in the water (or stay submerged at a specific depth). The weights are often disposed in pockets of the BC. In general, the weights are positioned in a “weight pouch.” In turn, this weight pouch will be secured within a BC&#39;s weight pocket. A diver must be able to release the diving weights quickly when necessary. In underwater emergencies, it is vital that the weights be released rapidly so that the weights may drop away from the diver (and allow the diver to quickly surface to obtain necessary breathing air). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,761 to Van Tassel (hereinafter “Van Tassel”) provides an example of a “quick release” system that allows weights to be quickly released by the diver in the event of an underwater emergency. (This patent is expressly incorporated herein by reference.) Van Tassel teaches a weight system for a scuba diver which includes a pouch that houses weights. This weight pouch may be attached to the diver&#39;s BC. The weight pouch includes a “quick release” buckle on a diver&#39;s buoyancy compensator to retain the pouch in a designated pocket. In the event of an emergency, the diver will use the quick release buckle to drop the weight pouch from the BC. In Van Tassel&#39;s system, the “prongs” of the buckle that is used to secure the weight pouch may be deformed, thereby allowing the weight pouch to be rapidly released. 
     Other BC weight systems employ Velcro® flaps as a means of securing a weight pouch within the BC&#39;s weight pocket. In these systems, the diver can readily “unhook” the Velcro® and release the weight pouch. However, as the BC is used underwater, the Velcro® tends to lose its holding grip. Accordingly, BCs that use Velcro® flaps are known to wear out over time. 
     Moreover, some of the known weight systems attach the weight pouch with a buckle. During an emergency, the user must use two hands to unhook the buckle and then drop the weights. Also, if the buckle is positioned in front of the weight pouch, the weight pouch tends to fold over on itself, which causes the weight pouch to fall towards and bunch up near the buckle. This is especially problematic in the swimming position when the buckle is oriented in a downward direction. In this orientation, gravity tends to drop the free end of the weight pouch past the securing buckle. Moreover, diving weights are often small shot-filled bags which tend to change shape to conform to the BC&#39;s weight pocket in which they are contained. This makes the weight pouch susceptible to working its way out of the BC&#39;s weight pocket, leaving the pouch to hang on to the diver precariously from the weight pouch&#39;s attachment point. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new type of weight system that is used with a BC. Such a device is disclosed herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present embodiments relate generally to the field of scuba diving equipment and more specifically to an improved weight system in a buoyancy compensator (“BC”). The weight system comprises an exterior weight pocket on the BC and an interior weight pouch. The weight pouch is designed such that it may be inserted into the BC weight pocket. The weight pouch may be retained in the BC weight pocket by spring-controlled quick-release jaw members that are attached to a post. The post is positioned at the interior (closed) end of the BC weight pocket. The weight pouch hangs from this post. When a diver wants to release the weights, the diver simply pulls the release handle on the weight pouch outward (away from the post). In turn, this pulling force causes the jaw members to open and release their engagement from the post. Accordingly, once the pouch is no longer secured to the post, the diver may quickly remove the pouch from the weight pocket. 
     The release force necessary to open the jaw members is more precisely controlled with a coil spring. More specifically, this controlling force is more precise than the force applied in other systems (such as a force used to deform a buckle, a force used to separate a Velcro fastener, etc.). More control of the opening force translates to reliability of operation and safety of the weight release. 
     The weight pouch is also more precisely guided into and out of the weight pocket. In this manner, the insertion of the weight pouch is “self-centering,” allowing easy assembly or disassembly of the weight pouch into the BC weight pocket. Ease of assembly is desirable both on land before diving and in the water if the weights need to be removed or readjusted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of a buoyancy compensator having an embodiment of the weight system shown with the interior weight pouch removed from the exterior weight pocket; 
         FIG. 1A  is a three-dimensional view of a weight harness having an embodiment of the weight system shown with the interior weight pouch removed from the exterior weight pocket; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of one embodiment of spring-biased jaw members that may be used as part of the weight system; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views that illustrate the operation of one embodiment of the weight system; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the weight pockets according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the present embodiments, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a scuba diving vest  5  is illustrated. In some embodiments, the scuba diving vest  5  may be a buoyancy compensator or BC. In other embodiments, the vest  5  may be a weight harness. For clarity of illustration, the present embodiments involve a scuba diving vest  5  that is a buoyancy compensator. Accordingly, the present embodiments may refer to the scuba vest as BC  5 . (However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the vest may be a weight harness). 
     The BC  5  may include an embodiment of a weight system  10 . The weight system  10  may be attached to a vest portion  12  of the BC  5 . In fact, two (2) weight system  10  may be attached to the vest portion  12 , one weight system  10  used on each side of the BC&#39;s waist buckle  14 . For purposes of illustration, one of the weight systems  10  is shown fully inserted/connected to the BC  5  (e.g., the weight system on the right side of  FIG. 1 ) whereas the other weight system  10  (e.g., on the left side of  FIG. 1 ) is shown (for purposes of illustration) in its unconnected state. 
     Each such weight system  10  comprises an exterior weight pocket  16  (which may sometimes be referred to as a receiver  16 ). This weight pocket  16  shown in  FIG. 1  is shown detached from the vest portion  12  of the BC  5 . However, this depiction is made for illustrative purposes only. The weight pocket  16  will be sewn or otherwise attached to the vest portion  12 . The weight pocket  16  may include a first end  13  and a second end  15 . The second end  15  is generally closed. The first end  13  may comprise an opening  17 . 
     The weight system  10  also comprises an interior weight pouch  18 . The exterior weight pocket  16  forms a receiver for receiving the interior weight pouch  18 . In other words, the weight pouch  18  may be inserted into and removed out of the weight pocket  16  via the opening  17 . The weight system  10  may also comprise a post  20  at the rearward interior end of the weight pocket  16 . The post  20  may be positioned proximate the closed second end  15 . This post  20  may on the vest  12  or may be part of the weight pocket  16  (e.g., on the interior of the pocket  16 ). The post  20  is designed to secure the interior weight pocket  16  to the BC  5  (in a manner that is described herein). 
     The interior weight pouch  18  may also include a gripping mechanism  22  which has a spring-biased pair of grippers  24  for engaging the post  20  when the weight pouch  18  has been inserted into the pocket  16  via the opening  17 . The gripping mechanism  22  and grippers  24  will be described in greater detail herein in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . 
     In some embodiments, the interior weight pouch  18  may also have a compartment  26  (as best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). In the embodiment shown, the compartment  26  may be sealed via a zipper. However, other ways of closing the compartment  26  may also be used (such as closure via snaps or buttons, closure via Velcro fasteners, closure via a string, etc. Access to this compartment  26  may be available only after the interior weight pouch  18  has been released and removed from the exterior weight pocket  16 . The zippered compartment may operate to contain the actual weights  25  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). As known in the industry, these weights may comprise one or more bags of lead shot or the like. 
     In some embodiments, the inflatable bladder (inflatable portion) of the BC is designed such that there is no inflation behind the weight pocket  16 . The purpose of this is to ensure that, during a dive in which the BC  5  is fully or partially inflated, the inflation will not interfere with the removal of the weight pouch  18  from the weight pocket  16 . In order to assist in the removal of the weight pouch  18  from the weight pocket  16 , a handle  50  may be positioned on the weight pouch  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the back surface  28  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the external weight pocket  16  is curved and made of a flexible material to permit the pocket  16  to conform to the corresponding shape of the waist portion of the BC  5 . (This curvature is shown best in  FIG. 4 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , an embodiment of a weight harness  5 ′ is illustrated. This weight harness  5 ′ includes a weight system  10  that is similar and/or identical to the weight system  10  described above. As shown in  FIG. 1A , there may be two (2) different weight systems  10  added to the weight harness  5 ′, one on each side. Accordingly, as the weight system  10  is similar to that which was described above in  FIG. 1 , a discussion of the weight system  10  used on the weight harness  5 ′ will be omitted. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the gripping mechanism  22  and grippers  24  are illustrated. More specifically,  FIG. 2 , shows the structural details of an embodiment of the gripping mechanism  22  that may be positioned proximate the zippered compartment  26 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the gripping mechanism  22  may comprise a spring-loaded jaw-type arrangement wherein a pair of mating grippers  24  (which may also be referred to as “jaw members  24 ”) are mounted such that these grippers  24  may have limited rotation about a common unitary axis  30 . The jaw members  24  are biased by a spring  32  to be in a locked or gripping position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . When locked in this gripping position, the respective wedge-shaped leading edges  34  of the grippers  24  engage one another, thereby creating a post-retaining aperture  36 . The post  20 , shown in  FIG. 1 , is designed to be enclosed within the aperture  36  when the jaw members  24  are locked in the gripping position via a spring  32 . The spring  32  biases the jaw members  24  such that the jaw members  24  are normally held in the closed position (e.g., the position that is capable of retaining/engaging the post  20 ). 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , each jaw member  24  may have a wing-like flange  38  with a retention hole  40 . The spring  32  may also be attached to the flange  38 . More specifically, one end of the spring  32  may be attached to one of the retention holes  40  and the opposite end of the spring  32  may be attached to the other retention hole  40 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , opposite ends of a connection member  42  may also be attached to these retention holes  40 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the connection member  42  is a pull wire (and thus, this element may be referred to as pull wire  42 ). The pull wire  42  may be secured to a release buckle  44 . (In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the pull wire  42  is threaded through the release buckle  44 , although other ways of securing the pull wire  42  to the buckle  44  may also be used.) In turn, the release buckle  44  may be attached to a pull release strap  46 . Thus, the pull release strap  44  is connected to the pull wire  42  by the buckle  44 . The strap  46  may be secured to the handle  50  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     It should be noted that the pull release strap  46 , the buckle  44 , the handle  50  and the pull wire  42  may all be components of a pull assembly  41 . The operation of the pull assembly  41  will now be described. When the pull assembly  41  is operated, the weight pouch  18  may be released from the pocket  16 . 
     As noted above, the jaw members  24  are normally biased by the spring  32  in the closed position, wherein the post  20  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) fits into the aperture  36 . In this configuration, the grippers  24  engage the post  20  and secure the weight pouch  18  within the weight pocket  16 . 
     However, in order to release the grippers  24 , the diver simply must pull the strap  46 . (Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , the strap  46  may be secured to the handle  50  of  FIG. 1 , so that the diver can simply grip the handle  50  and pull the pouch  18  outward from the pocket  16 ). Pulling the handle  50  and/or the strap  46  away from the post  20  causes the pull wire  42  to move away from the post  20 . In turn, this movement of the pull wire  42  pulls the flange  38  and causes mutual opposed rotation of the jaw members  24  around the axis  30 . This rotation of the jaw members  24  “opens” post-retaining aperture  36  into an open position such that the post  20  is released from its engagement with the jaw members  24 . Once the post  20  is no longer retained by the jaw members  24 , the weight pouch  18  may easily be pulled out of the weight pocket  16 . 
     It should be noted that the pulling of the pull assembly  41  also operates to compress the spring  32 . (The spring  32  may be compressed by the limited rotation of the jaw members  24 .) Upon the diver releasing the strap  46  (or the handle  50 ), a “pulling” force is no longer being applied to the pull assembly  41 . Accordingly, once released, the spring  32  is no longer compressed and the spring  32  biases against the jaw members  24  and causes the jaw members  24  to automatically rotate back into their closed position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a cover plate  48  may be used to secure the jaw members  24 , the spring  32 , the pull wire  42  within a shaped recess  52 . This cover plate  48  protects these components and helps to ensure repeatable operation of a pulling force being applied to the pull mechanism  41 . 
     It should be noted that the wire  42 , the handle  50  and the strap  46  are just one embodiment. Other embodiment may be constructed in which there is a strap (such as a molded plastic strap) that connects to the handle  50  and then splits into a “Y-shape” so as to engage both of the attachment holes  40  and/or both ends of the spring. In this embodiment, the connection member  42  would comprise this strap. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments may also be made that connect the handle to the spring (and allow the handle to compress the spring upon the addition of the requisite force). 
     In some embodiments, the spring  32  may be a coil spring. In other embodiments, the spring  32  may be a plastic spring. Coil springs may provide different resistance than plastic springs. In fact, different amounts of force may be required to compress a plastic spring than a coil spring. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the specific amount of force needed to compress the spring, as well as the specific type of spring, will depend upon the particular embodiment. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the way in which the embodiment of  FIG. 2  may be operated in relation to the post  20 . Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C , the strap  46  is secured to the handle  50 . In  FIG. 3A , the strap  46  and the handle  50  are shown being pushed toward the post  20  so that the jaw members  24  are forced to slide around the post  20  and trap it in the aperture  36  between the jaw members  24 . Such “pushing”  81  of the strap  46  could occur, for example, when the pouch  18  is being inserted into the pocket  16 . (The remaining structure of the interior weight pouch (not shown in  FIG. 3A ) would of course be needed to apply sufficient force to open the jaw members  24  to allow them to surround/enclose the post  20 .) 
       FIG. 3B  shows a pulling force  80  being applied to the strap  46  and the handle  50 . This pulling force  80  may be applied when the diver desires to remove the pouch  18  from the pocket  16 . This pulling force  80  operates to compress the spring  32  and separate the jaw members  24 . Such compression of the spring  32  opens the aperture  36  so that the jaw members  24  can be separated from the post  20 . Such separation of the jaw members  24  from the post  20  ends the engagement between the jaw members  24  and the post  20  and allows the diver to pull the weight pouch  18  out from the weight pocket  16 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an assembly view of the weight pouch  18  and the weight pocket  16 . Specifically,  FIG. 4  shows the weight pouch  18  and the weight pocket  16  ready for engagement or just after removal of the interior weight pouch  18  from the exterior pocket  16 . 
     Referring now to all of the Figures collectively, there are significant advantages associated with the use of the present weight system. For example, as the weight pouch  18  can readily be removed by simply pulling the handle  50  (and thus releasing the jaw members  24 ), the weight pouch  18  can consistently and reliably be removed (dropped) during a dive, even if the weight pocket  16  is full of sand, debris, etc. Moreover, as the jaw members  24  are positioned proximate the closed second end  15 , the jaw members  24  are protected from being interfered with by sand or other debris. In this regard, the positioning of the cover plate  48  may also help to protect the jaw members  24 . (In Van Tassel&#39;s system, the weight pouch is secured by a deformable buckle; however, during a dive, sand or debris can interfere with the operation of the prongs of the buckle. Such a problem does not exist in the present embodiments.) 
     It should be noted that the present embodiments have been shown with respect to a BC  5 . However, other embodiments may be designed in which the weight system  10  is used with respect to a weight harness or other scuba diving vest. 
     As explained herein, the use of the weight system  10  provides for a reliable release of the weight pouch  18  from the pocket  16 . It should also be noted that the present embodiments also allow for consistent insertion of the weight pouch  18  into the pocket  16 . When the pouch  18  is inserted into the pocket  16 , the jaw members  24  will contact the post  20  and will be opened and closed around the post, thereby securing the pouch  18  to the pocket  16 . However, the insertion of the weight pouch  18  is “self-centering,” meaning that the diver will quickly know whether jaw members  24  have engaged the post  20 . Further, engagement between the jaw members  24  and the post  20  operates to center the pouch  18  within the pocket  16 . Moreover, the leading edges  34  of the jaw members  24  are shaped to center the post  20  within the aperture  36 . Accordingly, the present design allows for easy assembly or disassembly of the weight pouch into the BC weight pocket. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Technology Category: b