Underwater diving wing

Abstract

Underwater wing device for diving to compensate for the natural buoyancy of the diver and their equipment. The invention relates to a device that generates force in the water using the speed produced by the user. It consists of a wing section extruded over a span adapted to generate sufficient force to compensate for the user's buoyancy, thus avoiding the use of weights, which are cumbersome, potentially dangerous, and polluting. The device according to the invention is particularly intended for freediving or diving with a breathing apparatus, underwater tourism, water sports, and as a swimming aid. Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Underwater diving wing technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device to assist underwater diving by compensating for the diver's buoyancy. Previous technique

[0002] Scuba diving, whether practiced in apnea or with a breathing device, is traditionally carried out with weighting means called "weights" in order to compensate for the natural buoyancy of the human body as well as that generated by equipment such as the wetsuit. Weights are cumbersome during entry and exit from the water because they are heavy in the air. They restrict the diver's movement, make it more difficult to maintain a surface position when necessary, and can therefore even be dangerous. They can also be made of materials harmful to humans and the environment. Principle of the invention

[0003] The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks by adding a playful dimension, offering a foil that floats and that its user can hold in their hands. It is, in fact, a lifting surface of the board or wing type which, with the speed generated by the user swimming in the water, produces a force which, depending on the angle of incidence between the wing and the water flow, propels the user towards the bottom by compensating for their natural buoyancy, maintains them at a constant depth, or helps them return to the surface. According to specific implementation methods which may be implemented alternatively or cumulatively: • The geometry and surface area of ​​the wing can be variable to generate a variable force depending on the characteristics of a user of the device, for example weight and / or size parameters of a diver and his equipment. • The wing's cross-section, called the airfoil, can be optimized to improve hydrodynamic lift and drag performance, for example by selecting from a series of airfoils developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Alternatively, other types of airfoils can be used, such as those known to those skilled in the art as "EPPLER," "SELIG-DONOVAN," "NASA," "GÖTTINGEN," "DRELA," etc. The cross-section of the wing, called the profile, can be symmetrical so that the wing is as efficient when diving as when ascending, or asymmetrical in order to optimize the wing's efficiency when diving or ascending depending on the wing profile chosen. The wing can be made solid with a material with a density greater than or equal to that of water to facilitate diving or with a material with a density less than water to allow the wing to float, aid in ascent or rest on the surface and ensure the safety of the user. The wing can be made in two parts that can be assembled together to facilitate its manufacture. The wing can be made hollow, for example, by assembling two shells, to give the assembled wing a density lower than that of water, thus allowing it to float to aid in surfacing or resting on the surface, and to guarantee safe buoyancy for its user regardless of the material used. Therefore, the wing will have a hollow internal volume that can be filled with a vacuum, air, a gas, or a foam, for example polyurethane, having a density lower than that of water. In other embodiments, the wing may be made in the form of more than two parts assembled together. Alternatively, the wing could be made in a single block from a material lighter than water, such as synthetic foam. One or more handles can be added to facilitate gripping and controlling the wing. These handles can be made as cutouts in the wing itself (2a and 2b) or as raised modules. They can also be made as blind holes or as depressions in the wing surface, creating one or more gripping areas. An anchor point allowing the attachment of a link, elastic or not, may also be provided in the wing or on its surface, to guarantee that the user can recover said wing by pulling it after having been separated from it, for example by a strong swell movement. A camera mounting area can also be advantageously provided on the wing; it could simply be a dedicated surface on which the user can stick or fix their camera, but this area could be equipped, from the manufacture of the wing, with a standard camera mount. • A lighting system can be integrated into the invention to allow a user to better distinguish their environment and the seabed. • A mounting bracket for a breathing apparatus can also be fitted to the wing. • Finally, the wing can be fitted with a motor mounting bracket, which will allow the user to save energy while fully enjoying the benefits offered by the invention in terms of freedom of movement underwater. Brief description of the drawings

[0004] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which: Fig. 1

[0005] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a diving aid device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2

[0006] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a variant of such a device to aid the diving. Description of the implementation methods

[0007] In the embodiment illustrated by [Fig.1], the wing is an extrusion of the NACA0006 profile according to a particular geometry inspired by mammal fins, in order to limit induced drag. The force F produced by a lifting profile is such that F = p S V2 Cx with p the density of water, S the surface area of ​​the lifting profile, V its speed and Cx the lift coefficient of the profile. By way of non-limiting example, for a swimmer with fins moving at 1.5 m / s and a lift coefficient of 0.55 corresponding to a NACA 0006 airfoil (1) at a 5° angle of attack, a surface area of ​​0.1 m² generates a force of approximately 60 N. This is sufficient to compensate for the natural buoyancy of an adult weighing less than 70 kg. The invention can be implemented, by way of non-limiting example, using plastic injection molding by manufacturing two shells, with or without stiffeners to improve wing rigidity, and joined together (3). A symmetrical airfoil allows the use of a single mold to produce each shell, thus reducing production costs.

[0008] The wing illustrated by [Fig.1] is provided with two handles made in the form of holes in the wing itself (2a and 2b).

[0009] In an alternative embodiment illustrated by [Fig.2], the wing is provided with handles (4a, 4b) which are made in the form of depressions in relation to the surface of the wing which constitute two gripping areas.

[0010] The device according to the invention is particularly intended for leisure activities, whether freediving or diving with a breathing apparatus, underwater tourism, or water sports. It can also be used as a swimming aid due to its buoyancy and hydrodynamics.

[0011] In a version dedicated to use in swimming pools, the wing may be made entirely of a material lighter than water, with a purpose of increased buoyancy.

[0012] The device according to the invention can finally be used for surfing, equipped with a symmetrical (or not) profile in order to pass alternately under and over the waves, with buoyancy adapted to guarantee a better start in the waves and more support and safety for the user during periods of rest, and with a linking system between the user and the wing to prevent its loss in the waves or any accident with a third party.

Claims

Demands

1. Diving aid device, characterized in that it comprises a wing-type lifting surface, configured to generate a force as a function of the speed of movement of the user in the water and the angle of incidence of the wing relative to the flow of the water.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the geometry of the wing is variable, the surface of the wing being adjustable according to the physical characteristics of a user of the device.

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the wing, called the profile, is optimized to improve hydrodynamic performance.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wing profile is symmetrical.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wing profile is asymmetrical.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wing is made in two parts (3) which can be assembled together.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wing is hollow.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wing comprises at least one handle.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wing includes integrated lighting.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the wing is made of materials having a density greater than or equal to that of water.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the wing is made of materials having a density lower than that of water.

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