Claims
- 1. A propulsion system attachment for mounting on a scuba air tank, said propulsion attachment comprising:
- an air tank receiving boot member,
- a propeller motor,
- a power supply for said motor,
- a motor power control, and
- a belt support strap, said air tank receiving boot member being adapted to fit onto said air tank, said propeller motor being mounted to said air tank receiving boot member such that a propulsion system is created, said motor power control adapted to regulate said propeller motor to effect propulsive movement underwater, said belt support strap being fastened to said air tank receiving boot member, said belt support strap serving to attach said propulsion system onto a user.
- 2. The propulsion system attachment of claim 1 in which said air tank receiving boot member is removably attached to said air tank, and said belt support strap has a quick connect buckle, whereby said propulsion system attachment is capable of being rapidly jettisoned by said user.
- 3. The propulsion system attachment of claim 2 in which said air tank receiving boot member comprises a cylindrical shell, said shell having a circumference slightly less than that of said air tank, a slit being disposed in a wall of said shell such that said shell is capable of being slightly pulled apart to receive said air tank therein, said shell having a quick connect buckle to draw said wall of said shell tightly around said air tank in tight engagement, said buckle on said shell being capable of quick disconnect for disengagement of said air tank from said shell.
- 4. The propulsion system attachment of claim 2 in which said air tank receiving boot member is provided with a safety switch which shuts off said propeller motor when said propulsion system attachment becomes disengaged with said air tank.
- 5. The propulsion system attachment of claim 2 in which said motor power control comprises a speed control switch panel and a power line extending from said propeller motor, a terminal control end of said power line bearing said speed control switch panel being adapted to be disposed within immediate reach of said user, said power line being connected to said quick connect buckle of said cylindrical shell of said air tank receiving boot member, whereby quick disconnection of said propulsion system attachment can be effected by pulling said power line for rapid jettison by said user.
- 6. The propulsion system attachment of claim 1 which further comprises a buoyancy bag member, said bag member being adapted to be selectively inflated and deflated by said user, whereby a buoyancy effect can be created to counteract a weight of said propulsion system attachment in the water.
- 7. The propulsion system attachment of claim 6 in which an air line in communication with said buoyancy bag member is provided for inflation of said bag member by said user, said air line having a valve for selective deflation of said bag member.
- 8. The propulsion system attachment of claim 6 in which said buoyancy bag member is disposed on said propulsion system attachment such that it contacts a lower back area of said user, whereby said user's body can be maintained in a relatively horizontal orientation upon inflation of said bag member.
- 9. The propulsion system attachment of claim 1 in which said propeller motor is adapted to rotate in a plane about its axis of connection to said air tank receiving boot member, at least one spring member being connected to said propeller motor to maintain said motor in alignment with said air tank, said spring member having a sufficient tensioning load to urge said propeller motor back into alignment when displaced from alignment, whereby said motor propeller facilitates turning when said user maneuvers underwater.
- 10. The propulsion system attachment of claim 1 in which it is capable of conversion into a hand held unit, said propulsion system attachment further comprising a plug member being adapted to be received within said air tank receiving member, said plug member having handle members attached thereto.
- 11. A propulsion system for underwater use, said propulsion system comprising:
- an air tank,
- a propeller motor,
- a motor control, and
- a belt support strap, said propeller motor being mounted to said air tank, said motor control regulating said propeller motor to effect propulsive movement underwater, said belt support strap serving to attach said propulsion system onto a user, said propulsion system further comprising a buoyancy bag member, said bag member being adapted to selectively inflated and deflated by said user, whereby a buoyancy effect can be created to counteract a weight of said propulsion system attachment in the water.
- 12. An underwater propulsion system unit, said propulsion system unit comprising:
- a propeller motor,
- a power supply for said motor,
- a motor power control, and
- a cylinder member receiving boot member, said power supply being mounted to said cylinder member receiving boot member, said propeller motor being non-collinearly mounted on an adjacent side of said cylinder receiving boot member, said cylinder member receiving boot member being adapted to engage a cylinder member approximating an interior dimension of said cylinder receiving boot member, said motor power control adapted to regulate said propeller motor, whereby a propulsive movement can be effected on said engaged cylinder member when said unit is underwater.
- 13. The propulsion system unit of claim 12 in which said cylinder member receiving boot member comprises a cylindrical shell, a slit being disposed in a wall of said shell such that said shell is capable of being slightly pulled apart to receive said cylinder member therein, said shell having a quick connect buckle to draw said wall of said shell tightly around said cylinder member in tight engagement.
- 14. The propulsion system unit of claim 12 which further comprises a buoyancy bag member, said bag member being adapted to be selectively inflated and deflated, whereby a buoyancy effect can be created to counteract a weight of said propulsion system unit in the water.
- 15. A propulsion system attachment for mounting on a scuba air tank, said propulsion system attachment comprising:
- an air tank receiving boot member,
- a propeller motor,
- a power supply for said motor,
- a motor power control, and
- a belt support strap, said air tank receiving boot member being adapted to fit onto said air tank, said propeller motor being mounted to said air tank receiving boot member such that a propulsion system is created, said propeller motor being non-collinearly positioned at an adjacent side of said air tank receiving boot member, said motor power control adapted to regulate said propeller motor to effect propulsive movement underwater, said belt support strap serving to attached said propulsion system onto a user.
- 16. The propulsion system attachment of claim 15 in which said air tank receiving boot member is removeably attached to said air tank, and said belt support strap has a quick connect buckle, whereby said propulsion system attachment is capable of being rapidly jettisoned by said user.
- 17. The propulsion system attachment of claim 16 in which said air tank receiving boot member comprises a cylindrical shell, said shell having a circumference slightly less than that of said air tank, a slit being disposed in a wall of said shell such that such shell is capable of being slightly pulled apart to receive said air tank therein, said shell having a quick connect buckle to draw said wall of said shell tightly said air tank in tight engagement, said buckle and said shell being capable of quick disconnect for disengagement of said air tank from said shell.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/068,537, filed Dec. 23, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (4)