Hydraulic and earth engineering – Diving – Suit or accessory therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2003-08-13
2004-07-06
Lagman, Frederick L. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Diving
Suit or accessory therefor
C441S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06758635
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a weight-bearing device, and more particularly pertains to the employment of two hook and loop fasteners and two buckles, with which a crosswise mode of binding facilitates securely constraining weight pockets therein. A weight pouch is thus formed, the weight pockets being securely bound therein. The present invention employs a configuration that reciprocally collocates effecting inflation and deflation of air and equipment comprising a weight pouch enclosed within a weight-bearing device, thereby allowing a diver steady control of the rise and fall or maintaining of a desired depth within the water. In emergency situations, the weight-bearing device can be quickly released from the jacket, thereby allowing expedient rise to the water surface.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional buoyancy compensator jacket is typically equipped with back and side panels wherein gas cylinders are disposed. Inner portions of the jacket are configured with airbags.
FIG. 1
shows one end of an air pipe
102
connected to a gas cylinder, the other end joins an air pipeline
100
connected to a gasbag. One, end of the air pipeline is connected to an air release button
101
, and one end of the air pipe
102
is actuated with an air pipeline button
103
. Separately attached to the left and right panels of the jacket are waist pockets
200
, upon which ate pockets
300
separately sewn thereon.
FIG. 2
shows a single open-ended pocket opening
301
of a pocket
300
designed to accommodate a pouch
400
containing weights A therein. A hook and loop fastener
401
at the open-end of the pouch
400
and a hook and loop fastener
302
attached to the pocket
300
are configured to self-adhere upon contact of their two ends, thereby securing the pouch
400
. A pull-ring
402
is firmly sewn to the pouch
400
.
In emergency situations at sea, a diver must press an air pipeline button
103
in order to channel air in a gas cylinder to a gasbag attached to the diver's jacket, whereupon buoyancy is increased and a quick rise to the water surface is ensured. It is further necessary for the diver to pull strongly on a pull-ring
402
of a pouch
400
, thereby disengaging a hook and loop strip
401
of the pouch
400
from a hook and loop strip
302
of the pocket
300
. The pouch
400
is then discarded, thereby lightening the weight of the diver and ensuring a quick ascent to the water surface. Another situation may occur upon the diver going ashore or re-boarding a ship, whereupon the diver promptly tears apart the hook and loop fastener, thereby loosening free the pouch
400
.
Notwithstanding, it is necessary for the weights A disposed in the pouch
400
to be adjusted in size and quantity to accommodate different requirements of the user. However, the conventional pouch
400
is a hollow pocket-shape defined to contain weights A. It is not possible to completely affix the weights A in a set configured position (see FIG.
2
), thus the weights A become displaced or loose in the pouch
400
. This situation results in the diver unable to easily maintain balance when rising, falling or sustaining a desired depth in the water. Moreover, upon discarding the pouch
400
when resurfacing, because the weights A have become dislodged, the pouch
400
is obstructed or made difficult to remove thereof.
The inventor of the present invention has referenced the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,527,480, 6,487,761, 4,881,492, 5,913,640, 5,311,833 & 5,027,471
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a weight-bearing device employing two hook and loop fasteners and two buckles attached at an applicably distance thereon. A crosswise mode of binding facilitates securely constraining weight pockets of the weight-bearing device therein. A two-winged strip is further employed to wrap round and enclose the already bound weight pockets. A weight pouch is thus formed, the weight pockets being securely bound therein. Stability of the buoyancy compensator jacket is thereby enhanced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5641247 (1997-06-01), Seligman
patent: 5746542 (1998-05-01), Carmichael
patent: 5803667 (1998-09-01), Seligman
patent: 5860769 (1999-01-01), Seligman
patent: 5913640 (1999-06-01), Bortner
patent: 5944450 (1999-08-01), Anderson
patent: 6030147 (2000-02-01), Bowden
patent: 6132142 (2000-10-01), Carmichael
patent: 6527480 (2003-03-01), Angelini et al.
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Lagman Frederick L.
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