Integral buoyancy and ballast system for scuba divers

• US 5,944,450 A
• Filed: 08/30/1996
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYO-PINNOCK, TARA LEIGH
• Application Number:
  US08/706,425
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 405/185, 405/186, 405/187, 114/315, 441/106, 441/136
• US Class Current: 405/186
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2221/12 by means of hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/30 Ballast weights worn on user's body for exercising A63B21/065
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/303 integral with, or directly attached to buoyancy compensator vests or to spiders of diver's backpacks combined therewith
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/306 Attachment means for quick release of ballast

Abstract

A buoyancy compensator for a scuba diver vest having a pocket on each side of the front of the vest, a weight module removably positioned in each pocket, each weight module includes an envelope releasably mounted in said pocket a weight packet carried within the envelope, a weight removably mounted in said envelope, a strap operatively connected to the envelope and releasably connected to the vest. The weight is dropped from the weight packet by pulling the weight packet from the pocket and the envelope is returned to the pocket by a pair of elastic bands.

Claims

1. A selectively releasable weight assembly for use by scuba divers in conjunction with a buoyancy vest having a weight pocket, said assembly comprising:

a weight packet carried within the pocket and configured for releasibly engaging a weight within the pocket such that removal of the packet out of the pocket causes the weight to drop out of the packet;

means for retaining the packet in the pocket; and

means for pulling the packet out of the pocket.

2. The weight assembly according to claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a pair of elastic bands operatively connected to the packet to bias the packet into the pocket.

3. The weight assembly according to claim 2 wherein the packet includes a first and a second panel, each panel having an outer end operatively connected to said elastic bands, the outer end of the first panel being wrapped around said weight and the outer end of the second panel being wrapped around the outside of the pocket.

4. The weight assembly according to claim 3 including a first hook and loop assembly for releasably retaining the outer end of the first panel around the weight.

5. The weight assembly according to claim 4 including a second hook and loop assembly for releasably retaining the outer end of the second panel to the pocket.

6. The weight assembly according to claim 5 including means operatively connected to the edge of the packet for releasing the first hook assembly from the first loop assembly to release the first panel from the pocket.

7. The weight assembly according to claim 6 including a pull ring mounted on the outer end of the second panel for releasing the second hook assembly from the second hoop assembly.

8. A weight removal system for use with a buoyancy garment including a weight pocket carrying a weight and having an opening, the system comprising:

a moveable weight engaging member configured for being secured within the pocket in engagement with the weight, wherein the engaging member is moveable from a retracted position to an extended position during which the engaging member moves toward the opening to move the weight out of the pocket and while remaining coupled to the pocket.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the weight engaging member is biased towards the retracted position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the engaging member is resiliently biased towards the retracted position by an elastic member.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the engaging member is configured for engaging first and second opposite sides of the weight to move the weight from the pocket during movement of the engaging member from the retracted position to the extended position and to move the weight into the pocket during movement of the engaging member from the extended position.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the engaging member is configured for substantially encircling the weight and wherein the engaging member includes an opening through which the weight is released.

13. The system of claim 8, including an envelope configured for being releasibly secured to the garment within the pocket, the envelope having a cavity for containing the weight and an opening proximate to the opening of the pocket, wherein the weight engaging member is secured to the envelope within the cavity.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the engaging member is releasably attached within the envelope by a hook and loop fastener coupled therebetween.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the envelope is releasibly secured to the garment by a strap coupled to the envelope and by a clamp assembly secured to the garment.

16. The system of claim 8, including an extension coupled to the engaging member and extending beyond the pocket for moving the engaging member towards the extended position.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the engaging member is releasibly coupled to the buoyancy garment by a hook and loop fastener coupled therebetween.

18. A weight removal system for use with a buoyancy garment, the system comprising:

an envelope configured for being releasibly attached to the garment, the envelope having a cavity for receiving a weight and an opening through which the weight may be moved from the envelope while the envelope remains attached to the buoyancy garment.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the buoyancy garment includes a weight pocket and wherein the envelope is configured for being received within the weight pocket.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the envelope is releasibly attached to the garment by a clamp coupled to the buoyancy garment.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the envelope further includes a weight engaging member secured to the envelope within the cavity, the engaging member being moveable from a retracted position to an extended position during which the engaging member moves towards the opening to move the weight through the opening of the envelope and away from the engaging member.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the weight engaging member is biased towards the retracted position.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the engaging member is biased towards the retracted position.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the engaging member is resiliently biased towards the retracted position by an elastic member.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the engaging member is configured for engaging first and second opposite sides of the weight to move the weight from the cavity during movement of the engaging member from the retracted position to the extended position and to move the weight into the cavity during movement of the engaging member from the extended position to the retracted position.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the engaging member is configured for substantially encircling the weight and wherein the engaging member includes an opening through which the weight is released.