GB2354488A

GB2354488A - Scuba float or buoy with depth restriction apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2354488A
Application number: GB9922480A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Peter George Rea
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-23
Filing date: 1999-09-23
Publication date: 2001-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-23
Also published as: GB2354488B; GB9922480D0

Abstract

A diver awareness float or buoy comprises a hard firm base 1, an inflatable bladder 2, a diving flag 3 for signalling that a scuba diver is below the water surface, handles 4 to hold onto, and a thick rope or cord 5 that firmly attaches the diver to the float or buoy. The firm base 1 supports ballast for maintaining the buoy in an upright position in water. Due to its dimensions, design and material, it is capable of providing sufficient buoyancy to safely prevent one or two divers from submerging to a depth greater than the length of the cord or rope, as long as the rope is simultaneously attached to both the diver(s) and the float or buoy.

Description

2354488 Page one DESCRITPTION SCUBA FLOAT OR BUOY WITH DEPTH RESTRICTION

APPARATUS This invention relates to scuba (derived from "Self Contained Underwater- Breathing Apparatus"), and such water safety apparatus which prevents the diver using it below a predetermined depth, whilst also serving as an indicator to others of the presence of scuba divers in the locality, and can be used as a life buoy.

Scuba diving has become a sport of wide participation with a wide variety of equipment needed for both safety and enjoyment. Important for both safety and enjoyment are buoys that usually consist of inflatable bladders attached to thin lines that may be extended from the diver. Their purpose is to signal to boat users and others the presence of scuba divers diving underwater within a general diving area. The buoy is sometimes used to hang lightweight diving apparatus from it by the attachment of thin lines.

It is sometimes desirable for different reasons to restrict the depth at which divers may dive. This invention relates to a buoy for indicating the presence of a scuba diver diving underwater in the locality, and more particularly to a buoy that provides sufficient buoyancy and durability to prevent one or two divers from submerging to a distance greater than the length of a cord or rope, as long as the cord or rope is simultaneously attached to both the diver(s) and the float or buoy. There is the flexibility to vary the length of the cord or rope for example the less skilled divers can also use this device to provide added safety and security to the Self Contained UnderwaterBreathing Apparatus by using a short length of cord or rope.

The present device not only restricts the diver(s) from diving below a pre-detern-dned depth below the water surface, and acting as a signalling device, but additionally the float or buoy thereof can be used as a life buoy by which the diver(s) can get rest and rescue by rising to the water surface and holding onto the float or buoy thereof whenever they get fatigue, have cramps, sprain their tendons or their Self Contained Underwater-Breathing Apparatus fails. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a diver awareness buoy which is easy to manufacture, use and maintain.

The prior art includes buoys that fulfil the purposes of signalling to boat users and others that divers are in the locality and hanging light weight apparatus from. They are not robust enough in the materials used, their design and dimensions to serve as a depth restrictor, that is to say, to prevent one or two divers from going beyond a certain predetermined depth based on the length of the thin line used. Tearing and other damage to the bladder may occur from scraping along sharp rocks and coral at or near to the water surface, and the robustness of the lines and their attachments are also insufficient to support the underwater weight of one or two divers without at least one component of the mechanism possibly breaking. Nor do such buoys include handles of which their prime objective is to provide a safe means of using the float or buoy as a life buoy.

Other prior art include a buoyancy compensator attachable jacket to a diver, and a depth control device for sensing the depth of the diver and for automatically increasing the buoyancy of the buoyancy compensator when the diver is submerged at a predetermined depth in the water, to thereby prevent the diver from exceeding the predetermined depth.

According to the present invention there is provided a diver awareness float or buoy that consists of a hard firm base of robust material, an inflatable bladder section, a thick cord or rope, strong and secure attachments including a wrist or ankle strap, and a signalling flag as the main elements. It is capable of providing sufficient buoyancy to prevent one or two divers from submerging to a distance greater than the length of the cord or rope, as long as the cord or rope is simultaneously attached to both the diver(s) and the float or buoy. The inflatable bladder and firm base may be moulded together as an integrated unitary vinyl piece with a strong and durable air tight seal that connects the two different structures together. Or the bladder may be separate from the firm base and the two parts can be held together by means of cord or rope.

Pagetwo The bladder and base combined together form a considerably large vacancy inside and has a predetermined surface area in contact with the water so as to provide sufficient displacement of water to ensure that it can float and offer sufficient buoyancy to support the weight of two divers using scuba with no air in their buoyancy compensatorjacket when below the water at all depths.

When the weight of two divers is placed on the buoy, the buoy must not submerge to a point lower than the rim of the firm base. At no point will the inflatable bladder be able to be in contact with the sharp rocks and coral that can lie near to the water surface. There will be an option to provide a lid, of similar material to the firm base that will be attached to both the inflatable bladder and the firm base for use when diving in caves where there exists overhead sharp objects. The inflatable bladder has handles. The float or buoy will be of an approximate square base in order to irtinimise packaging size. The float or buoy could also be made from styrofoam or other such durable and light floating material.

Dive flags are used by scuba divers and skin divers to identify to surface vehicles such as boats that persons are diving underwater within the general area around the dive flag. A standard dive flag has a diagonal white stripe on a red background corresponding to the international signal for signalling that scuba divers are beneath the water surface. These flags are generally placed in a buoyant member such as an inner-tube for keeping the dive flag above the water and visible to boats and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,3 52 illustrates an inflatable diver's flag.

A diving flag of this description will be mounted onto two flag poles affixed to the base and inflatable bladder at opposite comers of the float or buoy. The flag will also be supported by two cross beams.

In order to steady the float or buoy and to maintain the float or buoy always in an upright position when placed in the water, there is space for ballast to be positioned in the base of the float or buoy. Diving weights can be used as ballast.

The cord or rope is attached to the base by way of knots above and below the firm base or the use of knots combined with a bolt, catch or similar means. A disk of hard material is used to reinforce the connection between the firm base and the cord or rope. This disk also serves as a robust surface upon which to position the ballast. Any slack cord or rope will be tied to the side cords if only I meter in length. If longer it should be housed in the central compartment of the float or buoy to provide further balance and stability. The spare cord or rope should always be tied together to form a tight bundle as slack rope, especially underwater, can result in strangulation.

While skin diving equipment is relatively simple and does not require complicated breathing apparatus, scuba diving requires extensive breathing apparatus carried by the diver. Work or enjoyment underwater in both cases also requires additional equipment such as knives to be carried. Since working with equipment underwater is relatively cumbersome it is important that the equipment be as simple and convenient to use as possible. Loose cords or ropes may become entangled with the other apparatus carried by the diver and are therefore an obvious hazard. Therefore the cord or rope must be positioned in a safe and convenient manner. If the cord or rope is naturally buoyant, it will always be positioned in a vertical position out of the ways of the diver. If the cord or rope is not buoyant this invention uses PVC air-tight air-filled containers attached at equidistant points along the length of the rope or cord. An alternative design would be to use a spring loaded spool housed in the central section of the firm base, this would ensure a constant upwards tension on the cord or rope; such a mechanism will include the functionality, using cleats and wedging, to be able to limit the amount of cord or rope that is spooled out of the reel to a predetermined length.

The cord or rope will attach to the diver by way of a simple wrist or ankle strap.

Page three A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 shows in perspective view a preferred embodiment of the apparatus including float or buoy with mounted flag and attached rope according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates the buoy including base and flag mounting attachments, front view according to the invention; Figure 3 illustrates the buoy including base and flag mounting attachments, side view according to the invention; Figure 4 illustrates the attachment of the rope to the buoy, side view according to the invention; Figure 5 shows in perspective the wrist strap attached to a diver's wrist and the cord or rope (that attaches to the buoy) according to the invention; Figure 6 shows in perspective the wrist strap according to the invention; Figure 7 illustrates the PVC air-tight air-filled containers that ensure the rope floats vertically upwards: above, end and side view according to the invention.

Figure 8 shows in perspective the spring loaded spool system that ensures upward tension on the rope or cord according to the invention.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the inflatable bladder 2 may be made from vinyl or other flexible material and is capable of being folded into a compact package for transport by a diver. The inflatable bladder has a main body which extends into an upright position when inflated. The bladder fits perfectly to the shape of the firm base 1. Finn base I has a predetermined width providing sufficient displacement of water for maintaining inflatable bladder 2 upright when placed in water. In the preferred embodiment, firm base I is approximately seventy centimetres squared having a convex configuration and having a rounded hull shaped portion for displacing water. The inflatable bladder 2 is attached to the base by 3 lengths of cord 6.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, dive flag 3 is supported by the float or buoy for enhancing the visibility of the float or buoy while float or buoy floats in the general diving area. Dive flag 3 may be affixed to main body by any suitable dive flag holder such as velcro or the like. In the preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 2 and 3 the dive flag is supported by two possibly tubular poles 8 that are mounted onto the base and are held in position by a support 9 at the top of the bladder. The two flag poles are screwed to the firm base I by means of a flange 10 and PVC bolt I I which are engaged with screw threads. The flag 3 has stitching14 to tie down a fold back section at the top and bottom, through this slot would be two cross beams 12 that are held in place by a catch, hoop or similar means 13. The flag has six flaps 37 in its body to allow wind to pass through. this minimises the surface drag from the buoy on the diver below the water.

Also shown in Figures 2 and 3 the base plate 18 will have two hoops 23 integrated into its design, these are used to tie central cord 6 in order to hold the inflatable bladder 2 to the firm base I in the centre. Four fixed holes 36 are positioned near to the comers of the firm base I to ensure both outer cords 6 firmly attach the firm base I to the inflatable bladder 2.

In the preferred embodiment, interior base plate 18 defines the bottom of interior inflation chamber and will serve as the ballast receptacle 15. Ballast 16 may be a diver's weight or any suitable weighted object including sand or water. The diving weight can be installed and rests on the base plate 18 and is held in place by knots using cord 6 and/ or the use of a diving weight belt. Ballast 16 is carried by firm base I for maintaining inflatable bladder 2 in an upright floating position when in the water. The water level will not rise above point 34 when in use at any depth by two divers with no air in their self regulating buoyancy devices.

Page four As shown in Figures I and 3, inflator 7 valve to transfer air into inflatable bladder 2. Inflating inflatable bladder 2 may be achieved at any location. In the preferred embodiment, inflator 7 is positioned in the central section 15 and air is received by a non-nal one-way valve system that is used in other such devices.

Also show in Figures I and 3 the two handles 4 integrated into the inflatable bladder would be positioned at a suitable position for ease of holding onto when in the water and for ease of carrying the apparatus on dry land.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 the cord or rope 5 attached to the diver can be tethered to the buoy by means of a water-tight bolt and metallic ring serving as an anchor tie. Bolt 17 fits into a base plate 18 of strong material to give extra support to firm base 1. Underneath the firm base I the bolt 17 slots through a wide PVC washer 19 to give further support, then through a water tight rubber seal 20, and then through a normal metallic washer 21 before affixing a nut to the bolt 17 which are then engaged with screw threads. Or as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, simply by using the metallic ring 22 by threading it through a hole 38 positioned in bolt 17 at the correct distance from bolt head to provide pressure. Either way the cord(s) or rope(s) 5 will be attached to the metallic ring 22 by means of a secure knot.

As shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6 at the point at which the cord or rope 5 attaches to the diver, it is looped through a strap 26, consisting of acrylic or nylon material with the attachment made by either buckles and straps or velcro. In this preferred embodiment the strap has female 25 and male 24 velcro which ensures that the strap does not become loose and is separated from the diver. This can be attached to the divers' wrist or ankle. The cord or rope 5 will not be in direct contact with the diver(s)'s skin as it will be threaded through a slit 27 in the wrist or ankle strap. The end of the cord or rope will double back onto the cord or rope and be attached either by stitching 35 or a knot to ensure a connection is maintained.

As shown in Figures I and 7, where the cord or rope 5 does not naturally float, then the use of PVC air-tight air-filled containers 28 will be used along the length of the rope. Their upward lift will be very slightly greater than the downward force from the weight of a predeten- nined length of cord or rope and therefore will over-compensate for the weight of the cord or rope ensuring it is always maintained in a vertical position. The air-tight air-filled containers 28 will only provide a marginal positive buoyancy to the rope or cord 5 so as to not greatly effect the buoyancy of the diver. The PVC injection moulded shapes will allow the rope to be passed through one hole 29 and then looped back through the other hole 29. The design will ensure that the shapes do not easily slide up and down the cord or rope 5.

As shown in figure 8 the reel 30 is positioned in the ballast receptacle 15 on the base plate 18. This offers an alternative device to ensure constant upward tension on the cord or rope 5. The cord or rope 5 is pulled through a semi-water resistant tight hole 3 1. It includes a spring loaded spool 3 2, this ensures a constant upwards tension on the cord or rope; such a mechanism will include die functionality using cleats and wedging 33 to be able to limit the amount of cord or rope that is spooled out of the reel to a predetermined length. Or a double knot in the cord or rope at die desired length would restrict the movement of the cord or rope from passing through the tight hole in the base plate.

To sum up, the embodiment of this device is the invention in its dimensional shape with innovative, sound and reasonable design, and features the aforesaid several functions with practicality, and furthermore, it has paid sound consideration to the users' safety.

In above-mentioned description and figures of the present invention, such as the shape and construction of the float or buoy and the position of and installation of the cord or rope are ones of examples to describe the present invention.

Any alternation which does not depart from the substantial spirit of the present invention will be considered within the boundary of this invention.

Page five

Claims

SCUBA FLOAT OR BUOY WITH DEPTH RESTRICTION APPARATUS While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims:- 1. A diver awareness float or buoy that consists of a hard firm base made of robust material, an inflatable bladder section, a thick cord or rope, strong and secure attachments and a signalling flag as the main elements to provide sufficient buoyancy to prevent one or two divers from submerging to a distance greater than the length of the cord or rope, as long as the cord or rope is simultaneously attached to both the diver(s) and the float or buoy.
2. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claim I that has a robust base, (and lid if diving in caves) that will not easily tear when scraped against sharp rocks and coral found at the water's surface.
3. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claims I and 2 that has a firm base capable of housing ballast such as a diving weight sand or water.
4. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claim 1 that consists of a rope which will always be in a vertical position as air-tight air-filled containers will be used along the length of the rope providing only a marginal positive buoyancy so as to not greatly effect the buoyancy of the diver.
5. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claim I includes a metallic ring and bolt configuration using different material washers, to provide a safe and water light attachment without the need for a bolt that would need to engage with a screw thread nut.
6. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claims 4 and 5 that consists of rope and attachments which will be robust enough to take the weight of 2 divers underwater without air in their self regulating buoyancy controlling device.
7. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claim I can serve as a life buoy as it has handles integrated into the side walls of the inflatable bladder.
8. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 will have two possibly tubular flagpole structures that are mounted onto the base and are held in position by straps at the top of the inflatable bladder and are used in conjunction with two cross beams to hold the flag in position.
9. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claim 8 has a flag in which there are flaps for air to pass through as to minimise the drag on the diver below the water.
10. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claim I that can be used by less skilled divers to provide added safety and security to the Self Contained Underwater-Breathing Apparatus by using a short length of rope.
11. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim I substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 8 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A diver awareness float or buoy as set in claim I that includes a spring loaded spool housed in its main body to ensure a constant upward tension on the cord or rope and would include the functionality to be able to limit the amount of cord or rope that is spooled out of the reel to a predetermined length.

12. A diver awareness float or buoy substantially as described herein with reference to Figures I - 8 of the accompanying drawings.

O Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A diver awareness float or buoy comprising an inflatable bladder that sits inside and is protected from puncture below the water's surface by a hard and solid base, a signalling flag attached to said base by means of at least one flag pole, and a cord or rope of predetermined length which is attached at one end to said base and at its other end to at least one diver by means of a wrist or ankle strap, the arrangement providing sufficient buoyancy to prevent the diver(s) from submerging to a distance greater than the length of the cord or rope, as long as the cord or rope is simultaneously attached to both the diver(s) and the float or buoy.

2. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim 1, wherein said cord or rope is, in use, held in a vertical position, by a number of air tight air filled containers located along the length of the cord or rope providing only a marginal positive buoyancy so as to not greatly effect the buoyancy of the diver(s).

3. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim 1, wherein the firm base is capable of housing ballast such as a diving weight, sand or water.

4. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim 1, wherein a metallic ring is used to attach one end of the length of the cord or rope to the firm base, the metallic ring is threaded through a bolt with a hole through it to ensure that a configuration of different material washers provide a water tight attachment.

5. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim I having handles integrated into the side walls of the inflatable bladder.

6. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim I having tubular flagpole(s) mounted onto the firm base and held in position by straps at the top of the inflatable bladder and used in conjunction with cross beam(s) to hold the flag in position.

7. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim 1, wherein said flag has flaps for air to pass through in order to minimise the drag on the diver below the water.

8. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim I provided with means for shortening the length of the cord or rope.

9. A diver awareness float or buoy according to claim I having a spring loaded spool housed in its main body to ensure a constant upward tension on the cord or rope and including the functionality to be able to limit the amount of cord or rope that is spooled out of the reel to a predeterniined length.

10. A diver awareness float according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a lid to protect the inflatable bladder from sharp objects above the water's surface.