Buoyancy compensator belt

Abstract

A buoyancy compensator belt comprising a belt to which is mounted a tubular inflatable bladder positioned within a flexible housing and a small gas cylinder. In one embodiment, one or more weights are mounted onto the belt. A combination power inflation/bleed valve is operatively connected to the inflatable bladder and is fluidly connected to a first stage regulator of the gas cylinder by a hose. A dump valve is operatively connected to the bladder to prevent over-inflation and allow dumping of the air from the bladder. The buoyancy compensator belt is particularly suitable for use by free divers to allow the diver to rapidly descend to the desired depth due to the negative buoyancy produced by the weight of the belt, to allow the diver to partially inflate the inflator bladder to achieve neutral buoyancy at the desired depth, and then, when the diver wishes to ascend, to more fully inflate the inflator bladder to achieve positive buoyancy and rapidly ascend to the surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates generally to buoyancy compensators. More particularly, this invention relates to buoyancy compensators having a buoyancy bladder and an inflation valve for inflating the bladder with air to achieve a positive buoyancy.[0003]2. Description of the Background Art[0004]Early scuba diving equipment typically comprised a scuba tank and a two-stage regulator allowing the diver to breathe air from the tank upon demand. To overcome positive buoyancy, particularly when a diver may don a wet suit for cold water protection, weight belts were developed that typically comprised a belt that would be fitted around the diver's waist. One or more weights, typically in the form of a rectangular blocks of lead with slots formed therein, would be threaded onto the belt to provide the desired weight sufficient to achieve negative buoyancy. The use of weight belts of this nature assured that the diver would remain negat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]It is noted that while the diver is rapidly ascending, there is no concern that the diver's lungs will suffer an embolism since he simply descended from surface with a deep breath of air and, unlike conventional scuba diving, never breathed compressed gas from the gas cylinder.

[0026]It should be appreciated that the weighted buoyancy compensator belt of the invention allows a free diver to (1) produce significant negative buoyancy to rapidly descend to the desired depth, (2) produce a neutral buoyancy to maintain a constant depth and then (3) produce a significant positive buoyancy to rapidly ascend to the surface of the water and relaxingly float on the surface for a period of rest until the next free dive.

[0027]The buoyancy compensator belt of the invention is suitable for use as a BC for conventional scuba diving and for snorkelers, as well as for free divers as described above, because it comfortably fits around the person's waist to achieve a streamlined assembly that does not interfere or otherwise create a hindrance. Specifically, the BC belt of the invention provides an upright stable floatation for the person on the surface and eliminates the face forward or backward floatation that would often

Problems solved by technology

However, BCs have not been used by “free divers” who choose not to utilize a scuba tank for breathing.

While the dive profile depicted in FIG. 1 is often employed by free divers, there is the unfortunate tendency for divers to “black out” during their ascents because of the vigorous exertion that is require

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