Transportable diving system

• US 20050000516A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Roure, Manuel, Saillet, Benoit
• Application Number:
  US10/896,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20050000516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/201.270
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/52 Inflatable or partly inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/202 with forced air supply B63C11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/207 with hoses connected to a float

Abstract

An underwater diving system including at least one breathable air tank that remains at the water surface, the air tank being flexible and integrated into a bag, such as a backpack. The flexible air tank is entirely contained within the bag when the air tank is empty, and is partially deployed outside the bag when the air tank is inflated with breathable air.

Claims

1. An underwater diving system comprising:

a bag having at least one interior compartment;

at least one air tank adapted to be filled with breathable air for a diver;

the air tank being flexible and is integrated into the at least one interior compartment of the bag, the bag and air tank being adapted to remain at a water surface above a submerged diver;

the air tank being configurable to be entirely contained within the bag when the air tank is empty;

the air tank being configurable to be partially deployed outside the bag when the air tank is filled with breathable air.

2. An underwater diving system according to claim 1, wherein:

the air tank comprises a flexible tube having at least one shaped portion.

3. An underwater diving system according to claim 2, wherein:

the shaped portions of the air tank are maintained in a predeterminate folded shape to prevent the flexible tube from completely unfolding when air fills the flexible tube.

4. An underwater diving system according to claim 1, wherein:

the air tank comprises a main portion remaining within the bag when the air tank is filled.

5. An underwater diving system according to claim 1, wherein:

the air tank, when filled, has a volume greater than 20 liters.

6. An underwater diving system according to claim 1, wherein:

the bag comprises a backpack having adequate capacity to contain, in addition to the air tank, accessories of the underwater diving system.

7. An underwater diving system according to claim 6, wherein:

the accessories comprise an air supply circuit and/or a mouthpiece and/or a pump for filling the air tank.

8. An underwater diving system according to claim 6, wherein:

the accessories comprise a manually actuated pump for filling the air tank.

9. An underwater diving system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an air supply circuit for supplying a diver with air from the flexible air tank;

a member for shutting off the supply of air to the diver from the flexible air tank in response to air pressure within the air tank dropping below a predetermined shut-off threshold.

10. An underwater diving system according to claim 9, wherein:

the shut-off threshold is a predetermined magnitude for maintaining the flexible air tank in an inflated state.

11. An underwater diving system according to claim 9, wherein:

the shut-off member is positioned in the air supply circuit.

12. An underwater diving system according to claim 11, wherein:

the shut-off member is a valve.

13. An underwater diving system according to claim 12, wherein:

the valve is a check valve comprising a shutter pressed, upstream, against a shutting seat by an elastic return means that prevent opening of the check valve in response to air pressure in the air tank being below the predetermined threshold.

14. An underwater diving system according to claim 1, wherein:

the bag is a backpack having at least one shoulder strap.