Buoyancy control device and closure strap buckle for closing two portions of a closure strap element

Abstract

The invention is entitled buoyancy control device with connection adapter between snap coupling terminal of shoulder straps and articulated connector fastened to body of device. A buoyancy control device for scuba diving, the buoyancy control device comprising at least two shoulder straps, each shoulder strap having an upper part and a lower part joined by a closure buckle, the closure buckle comprising a male buckle element and a female buckle element, the female buckle element having a first connection means for connection to the upper part of the shoulder strap and a second connection means for connection to the male buckle element, wherein the female buckle element comprises a first part having the first connection means, a second part having the second connection means, and an articulated connection pin for connecting the first part to the second part.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a buoyancy control device for scuba diving, comprising at least two shoulder straps, each shoulder strap having an upper part and a lower part joined by a closure buckle comprising a male buckle element and a female buckle element, the female buckle element having a first connection means for connection to the upper part of the shoulder strap and a second connection means for connection to the male buckle element. BACKGROUND

[0002] Buoyancy control devices (BCD) have been on the market for some time as a single accessory for scuba diving, which serves to improve the ability of the diver to control the level of depth to be maintained or changed during the dive.

[0003] The BCD essentially consists of an inflatable bladder, usually made of synthetic material, worn like a jacket, into which air from a gas cylinder is injected, and whose volume is adjusted by inflation and deflation valves controlled directly by the diver: the increase or decrease in volume directly affects the hydrostatic thrust, thus helping the diver to maintain or reach the desired and expected hydrostatic balance at various depths of diving.

[0004] In the form used, the BCD also has, on its rear portion, a system for fixing a compressed air cylinder, as well as other elements for fixing other accessories used during diving.

[0005] The good wear resistance of the BCD, as well as its adherence to the body, are therefore of paramount importance for the diver, both during the preparation phase prior to diving, and even more so during the dive itself.

[0006] The BCD is worn by the diver like a backpack / jacket, with two adjustable shoulder straps and a quick coupling abdominal closure strap, usually integral with a stackable Velcro strap: the importance of the best conditions of wearability and comfort is therefore evident, such wearable elements must be guaranteed in order to ensure the overall safety of the diver during the dive.

[0007] During the inflation and deflation process, the inflatable bladder also substantially changes its conformation: the change in size can cause the subsequent tightening or loosening of the constraints of the device around the body of the diver, compromising its comfort during the dive.

[0008] To remedy this drawback, it is known that various buoyancy control devices propose systems for fixing the device to the body of the diver, with a plurality of adjustment systems, including systems that allow the relative rotation of the mutual fastening elements.

[0009] US 5860769 A is known in this regard to propose several solutions.

[0010] As is known, such solutions require complex, particularly expensive materials with specific designs.

[0011] Therefore, there is felt the need to simplify the structure of the known buoyancy control devices for scuba diving. SUMMARY

[0012] Therefore, the technical task of the present application is to provide a buoyancy control device for scuba diving that makes it possible to eliminate the above-mentioned technical drawbacks of the prior art.

[0013] Within the scope of this technical task, one purpose of the present application is to provide a buoyancy control device for scuba diving that comprises at least two shoulder straps, each of which has two portions joined by a closure buckle that allows the relative rotation of the two portions, and that uses a simple, standard and inexpensive closure system.

[0014] Another purpose of the present application is to provide a buoyancy control device in which the closure buckle of the shoulder straps has optimal resistance characteristics with respect to the tension acting on the buckle itself.

[0015] Still another purpose of the present application is to provide a buoyancy control device in which the closure buckle of the shoulder straps also guarantees the possibility of relative rotation of the two portions in conditions of high tension.

[0016] The technical task according to the present application, as well as these and other purposes, is achieved by providing a buoyancy control device for scuba diving, comprising at least two shoulder straps, each of which has an upper portion and a lower portion joined by a closure buckle, said buckle comprising a male buckle element and a female buckle element having a first connection means for connecting to said upper portion of said shoulder strap and a second connection means for connecting to said male buckle element, characterized in that said female buckle element comprises a first part having said first connection means, a second part having said second connection means, and an articulated connection pin for connecting said first part to said second part.

[0017] Furthermore, other characteristics of the present application are defined in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of the present application will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but non-exclusive, embodiment of a buoyancy control device for scuba diving according to the present application, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 a general view of the buoyancy control device is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 a general view of the closure buckle of the shoulder strap is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 shows a top view 3A and a bottom view 3B of a first component of the female element of the buckle;

[0022] Figure 4 shows a top view 4A and a bottom view 4B of a second component of the female element of the buckle;

[0023] Figure 5A shows a top view of the closure buckle and Figure 5B shows a bottom view of the closure buckle;

[0024] Figure 6 a section AA of the closure buckle is shown;

[0025] Figure 7A shows a top view of the closure buckle and Figure 7B shows a bottom view of the closure buckle, in which the maximum angle of relative rotation of the first component and the second component is indicated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] With reference to the aforementioned figures, which show a buoyancy control device for scuba diving, indicated as a whole with the reference number 1.

[0027] The buoyancy control device comprises at least two shoulder straps 100; each shoulder strap 100 has an upper portion 101 and a lower portion 102 joined by a closure buckle 200.

[0028] The upper portion 101 and the lower portion 102 of the shoulder strap are generally made of a woven or knitted polymeric material, which has the characteristic of high tensile strength, generally with a standard width of 50 mm.

[0029] The upper portion 101 generally has a limited length and is fastened directly at one end to the upper body of the buoyancy control device at the diver's shoulder.

[0030] The lower portion 102 is generally a larger length portion and is fastened at one end to the lower part of the device, directly or through other wearable elements of the buoyancy control device.

[0031] The buckle 200 comprises at least one male buckle element 300 and one female buckle element 400.

[0032] Advantageously, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present application, the male buckle element 300 is a known element of the quick type reciprocal elastic fastening system, which is widely distributed, readily available and low cost.

[0033] The male buckle element 300 is fastened to the free end of the lower portion 102 by means of a known connection tool, which is also adjustable, not shown in the figures.

[0034] Advantageously, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present application, the female buckle element 400 comprises a first component 500 comprising first connection means 501 for connecting to the free end of the upper portion 101 of the shoulder strap 100.

[0035] In the present preferred embodiment, the connection means 501 are of the known type and reciprocally fix the first component 500 of the female buckle element 400 to the upper portion 101 of the shoulder strap 100.

[0036] The female buckle element 400 comprises a second component 600 comprising second connection means 601 for connecting to the male buckle element 300: advantageously, according to the present application, the second connection means 601 are of the known type, have a simple and standardized design and comply with the reciprocally elastic fastening system of the quick type, which is widespread, readily available and low cost.

[0037] Advantageously, according to the present application, the first component 500 and the second component 600 of the female buckle element 400 are connected by means of a hinged connection pin 602.

[0038] The hinged connection pin 602 extends along a Z axis orthogonal to the main plane in which the female buckle element 400 lies and allows the relative rotation of the first component 500 and the second component 600 in a parallel plane orthogonal to the Z axis.

[0039] The hinged connection pin 602 is integral with the second component 600 of the female buckle element 400 and is obtained by integral molding of the second component 600 in a single piece made of polymeric material, preferably acetal resin.

[0040] Consistently, the first component 500 is also obtained by integral molding in a single piece made of polymeric material, preferably acetal resin.

[0041] The hinged connection pin 602 is preferably cylindrical, has a shaft 603 and a head 604 having a diameter greater than the shaft 603 and, in a position opposite the first connection means 501, in the area towards the terminal end 520, has a size consistent with the forced elastic passage of the head 604 in the Z axis direction through a circular hole 502 provided in the first component 500.

[0042] The circular hole 502 has an axial extension 503 along an axis X coinciding with the longitudinal median axis of the closure buckle 200 and substantially coinciding with the median axis of the shoulder strap 100, in a position opposite the first connection means 501 in the other direction of the terminal end 520.

[0043] The axial extension 503 has a size and shape suitable to slidingly receive the shaft 603 towards the abutment 604: the shaft 603 has a diameter smaller than the transverse dimension of the extension 503 and allows it to rotate integrally with the second component 600; the head 604 has a diameter greater than the transverse dimension of the extension 503 and prevents it from being extracted in the direction of the Z axis.

[0044] Therefore, the first component 500 of the female buckle element 400 is rotatably integral with the second component 600 by means of the articulated connection pin 602.

[0045] According to at least one innovative feature of the present application, the first component 500 and the second component 600 of the female buckle element 400 have respectively a counter tool 510 and a counter tool 610 for counteracting the tension N of the shoulder strap acting on said female buckle 400.

[0046] The counter tool 510 and the counter tool 610 are positioned along the longitudinal median axis X at the end of the first component 500 opposite the terminal 520 and at the end of the second component 600 opposite the terminal 620, in the vicinity of the position of the articulated connection pin 602.

[0047] The counter tool 510 and the counter tool 610 for counteracting the tension N comprise at least two conjugated lips, respectively a first internal lip 511 on the first component 500 and a second external lip 611 on the second component 600, which reciprocally engage.

[0048] The first internal lip 511 and the second external lip 611 extend along a circumferential arc, the center of which coincides with the Z axis of the articulated connection pin 602.

[0049] Advantageously, the first internal lip 511 and the second external lip 611 remain reciprocally engaged during the relative rotation of the second component 600 with respect to the first component 500 around the Z axis of the articulated connection pin 602.

[0050] The second component 600 has two lateral projections 605A, 605B, symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X and which alternately engage the lateral wall of the first component 500 during the relative rotation of said second component 600 around the articulated connection pin 602, limiting the maximum relative rotation angle A between the first component 500 and the second component 600 to a corresponding circumferential arc on which the conjugated first internal lip 511 and second external lip 611 remain reciprocally engaged.

[0051] In the longitudinal axis X, the first component 500 has an upper element 530 projecting above said second component 600 at the mating means 510 and at the mating means 610; the projecting upper element 530 does not prevent the relative rotation of the second component 600 about the hinged connection pin 602, but prevents it from exiting from the plane of relative rotation and overturning the end according to the Z axis, and subsequently the first inner lip 511 from disengaging from the second outer lip 611.

[0052] Conveniently, the upper element 530 projects above the second component 600 up to a maximum angle of relative rotation A with respect to the first component 500, defined by the alternate engagement of the two lateral projections 605A, 605B symmetrical to the side wall of the first component 500.

[0053] During the rotation of the first component 500 and of the second component 600, the first component 500 also has, on the lower surface opposite the relative sliding surface, a plurality of projecting ribs 500i parallel to the X axis, and a projection 506 which encloses the terminal end 520.

[0054] The plurality of ribs 500i and the projection 506 constitute an increase in the rigidity and resistance of the first component 500 when the first component 500 is subjected to the axial action of the tension N at the mating means 610 and at the hinged connection pin 602.

[0055] The operation of the buoyancy control device for scuba diving according to the present application is evident from what has been described and illustrated, and in particular substantially as follows.

[0056] The male buckle element 300, fastened to the free end of the lower portion 102 of the shoulder strap, elastically engages with the connection means 601 of the second component 600 of the female buckle element.

[0057] The second component 600 is free to rotate with respect to the first component 500 by means of the hinged connection pin 602 engaged in the axial extension 503 of the first component 500.

[0058] The upper portion 101 of the shoulder strap 100 is fastened and reciprocally fixed to the first component 500 of the female buckle element 400 by the connection means 501.

[0059] The tension N acts in equal and opposite manner along the X axis of the closed buckle 200 on the two portions 101 and 102 of the shoulder strap, transferring its load at the connection means 601 of the second component 600 and at the means 501 of the first component 500 to the buckle 200.

[0060] The load of the tension is reciprocally transmitted from the first component 500 to the second component 600 by means of the hinged connection pin 602.

[0061] The hinged connecting pin 602 is made of a polymeric material, preferably acetal resin.

[0062] Whenever the load of the tension N is particularly high, the elastic deformation of the shaft 603 of the pin 602 will cause a relative sliding of the first component 500 with respect to the second component 600 in a substantially axial deformation of the first component 500 along the X axis of the buckle 200.

[0063] The relative sliding brings the mating tool 510 and the mating tool 610 closer and operatively engages the mating tool 510 and the mating tool 610 by reciprocally engaging the first inner lip 511 with the second outer lip 611 along the entire circumferential arc engaged by the reciprocal rotation of the first component 500 and the second component 600.

[0064] The great extent of the reciprocally engaged conjugated surfaces of the inner lip 511 and the outer lip 611 and the stiffness and resistance of the first component 500, increased by the plurality of ribs 500i and the protrusions 504, make it possible to safely transfer also a considerable tensile load N between the first component 500 and the second component 600 of the female buckle element 400 of the closure buckle 200 without preventing the reciprocal rotation of the first component and the second component.

[0065] In practice, it has been observed that the buoyancy control device according to the present application is particularly advantageous because the closure buckle can allow the relative rotation of the two parts and the feasibility of using a simple, standard and low cost closure system.

[0066] Furthermore, the buoyancy control device according to the present application is particularly advantageous because the closure buckle of the shoulder belt has good resistance characteristics to the tension acting on the buckle itself.

[0067] The buoyancy control device thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined in the appended claims.

[0068] Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0069] The materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the needs and the state of the art during implementation.

Claims

1. A buoyancy control device (1) for scuba diving, comprising at least two shoulder straps (100), each shoulder strap having an upper part (101) and a lower part (102) joined by a closure buckle (200), the buckle comprising a male buckle element (300) and a female buckle element (400), the female buckle element having a first connection means (501) for connection to the upper part (101) of the shoulder strap (100) and a second connection means (601) for connection to the male buckle element (300), characterized in that, The female buckle element (400) comprises a first part (500) having said first connection means (501), a second part (600) having said second connection means (601), and a hinged connection pin (602) for connecting said first part (500) to said second part (600), The first part (500) and the second part (600) of the female buckle element (400) have cooperating means (510, 610) for counteracting the tension N of the shoulder straps acting on the female buckle element (400), said cooperating means (510, 610) being operable when the hinged connection pin (602) undergoes elastic deformation caused by said tension N, The cooperating means (510, 610) for counteracting the tension N comprise at least two conjugated lips, respectively a first internal lip (511) on the first part (500) and a second external lip (611) on the second part (600), which reciprocally engage, The first internal lip (511) and the second external lip (611) extend along a circumferential arc, the center of which coincides with the Z axis of the hinged connection pin (602), orthogonal to the main plane in which the female buckle element (400) lies, The first part (500) has an upper element (530) which projects above the second part (600) at the cooperating means (510, 610) and which prevents: the second part (600) from exiting the plane of relative rotation of the second part (600) from the first part (500); the end of the second part (600) from being overturned according to the Z axis; and subsequently the first internal lip (511) from disengaging from the second external lip (611).

2. The buoyancy control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The cooperating means (510, 610) are positioned at the ends of the first part (500) and of the second part (600) opposite the position of the hinged connection pin (602) along the longitudinal median axis X of the closure buckle (200).

3. The buoyancy control device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The hinged connection pin (602) is made of acetal resin.

4. The buoyancy control device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The hinged connection pin (602) is integral with the second part (600) of the female buckle element (400).

5. The buoyancy control device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The first part (500) has a plurality of ribs (500i) and a projection (506) which encloses a terminal end (520), the plurality of ribs (500i) and the projection (506) constituting an increase in stiffness and resistance of the first part (500) when the first part (500) is subjected to the axial action of the tension N at the cooperating means (510, 610) and at the hinged connection pin (602).

6. The buoyancy control device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Said second component (600) has two lateral projections (605A, 605B) which are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal median axis X of the closure buckle (200) and which, in the relative rotation of the second component (600) around the articulated connection pin (602), engage alternately with the side walls of the first component (500) limiting the maximum relative rotation angle A between the first component (500) and the second component (600) to a corresponding circumferential arc on which the conjugate first inner lip (511) and second outer lip (611) remain reciprocally engaged.

7. The buoyancy control device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Said male buckle element (300) is an element of a quick type reciprocating elastic fastening system.

8. The buoyancy control device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Said first component (500) and said second component (600) of the female buckle element (400) are both obtained by integral molding in a single piece made of acetal resin.

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