Hydraulic and earth engineering – Diving – Suit or accessory therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-01-23
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Diving
Suit or accessory therefor
C002S312000, C224S627000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176645
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hydrostatic balancing jacket for underwater diving.
Such jacket is, since a long time, considered a fundamental accessory for underwater diving, capable of guaranteeing a positive, negative or hydrostatically neutral thrust to the user, according to his needs.
Normally, the jackets of this type present on the front two shoulder flaps that are fastened to the pectoral/abdominal portion by means of buckles or similar means of connection, whilst one or two buckles enable closing of the said pectoral/abdominal portion.
The buckles, which are usually of the quick-release type, are mounted so that they are adjustable on suitable straps so as to enable them to be adapted to the user of the jacket. In this way, however, the ends of said straps remain free, and hence may easily get caught up in rocks or similar obstacles that the underwater diver may come close to during diving, thus creating situations of effective danger. Furthermore, they may cause trouble to the diver as he is handling his equipment which is by now rather complex (flexible tube for his breathing apparatus, auxiliary tubes, etc.). Finally, the strap ends also cause an increase in friction during swimming.
In addition, the connecting buckles of the shoulder flaps are arranged in positions that are particularly exposed to accidental impact, thus diminishing the safety of the connection itself.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a balancing jacket in which the straps provided with buckles for closing and reciprocally connecting the flaps of the jacket are not able to get caught up in anything or to hinder the user's movements in any way.
An about of the present invention is thus a hydrostatic balancing jacket for underwater diving, comprising a dorsal element from which there proceed two shoulder flaps and two abdominal/pectoral flaps, each shoulder flap being connectable to the corresponding abdominal/pectoral flap by means of straps provided with buckles, which can be adjusted on the said straps, just as the said abdominal/pectoral flaps are connectable together; characterized in that the free ends of said straps may be inserted in a number of housings made in the said flaps.
In particular, said housings may comprise both a number of openings communicating with as many pockets made in said flaps or applied on the latter, and a number of openings communicating with a single large pocket, made by applying a lappet of material on each of said flaps.
In addition, the buckles of the straps that connect the shoulder flaps to the pectoral/abdominal flaps or the said flaps to one another may be advantageously inserted in appropriate housings, made in said flaps or applied on the latter.
Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will appear more evident from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, given to provide a non-limiting example, with reference to the single plate of drawings attached.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1147225 (1915-07-01), Feldman
patent: 2120420 (1938-06-01), Topper
patent: 2134473 (1938-10-01), Engelson
patent: 4551107 (1985-11-01), Scheurer et al.
patent: 4990115 (1991-02-01), Vorhauer et al.
patent: 5378084 (1995-01-01), Waters et al.
patent: 5803667 (1998-09-01), Seligman
patent: 5915535 (1999-06-01), Henrekin-Jordan
patent: 5953750 (1999-09-01), Stella
patent: 0693 421 A1 (1996-01-01), None
Larson & Taylor PLC
Lillis Eileen D.
Mayo Tara L.
Scubapro Europe S.r.l.
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