RETRACTABLE DIVE LINE

Abstract

A retractable dive line apparatus can be held in the hand or clipped onto diving equipment. One end of the line can be clipped onto a dive flag or buoy at the surface and will let out or retract line as necessary.

Description

FIELD OF ENDEAVOR

This invention pertains to dive lines, retractable line apparatus, and more particularly to retractable dive-lines for correcting divers to dive flags indicating the presence and/or location of underwater divers, including scuba divers and snorkelers.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

A “diver-down” flag, usually called a dive flag or scuba flag, is generally positioned at the surface of the water to indicate that one or more divers are below. There are currently mainly two types of flags that indicate diving activity. A rectangular red flag with a two-inch, white diagonal stripe used generally in state waters, and a blue and white International Code flag, are two types of flags currently in use. These flags are used to indicate that a diver is operating below the surface and that vessels should steer clear of the area and/or should operate at slow speed to avoid hitting divers who may be close to the surface.

In many if not most cases, a diver down flag may be required by law for scuba and/or snorkelers in any area not exclusively reserved for swimming but where boats may be operating.

Normally, dive flags should be located above the area where divers are operating or swimming. However, divers, especially scuba divers, may at times travel far afield from where the dive flag is located if it is at a fixed location. It would be beneficial for dive flags to move along with the diver or divers so that it always stays above where the diver or divers are. This is especially true because safety considerations, and often also local laws, regulate how close divers must stay to their dive flag or flags, as well as how far boaters and water skiers must stay away from the dive flag or flags.

This paper describes a novel type of retractable dive line that can be hooked to one or more dive flags while in diving or boating areas in order to notify boaters and others above the surface of the presence of divers below. Embodiments are described in which safety and diver comfort are maximized, for instance by making the retractable dive line hands-free or usable one-handedly.

Various embodiments of the apparatus may keep a taut line between the diver and a floating dive flag above so that the dive flag may automatically be pulled to a location more or less directly above the diver equipped with the taut but retractable dive line apparatus, within the constraints of tide, current, etc.

Various possible embodiments of the apparatus may allow additional length of line to feed or play out as the diver descends, thereby keeping the dive flag from being pulled under the water, and may retract lengths of line to keep the line taut as the diver ascends.

Various possible embodiments of the apparatus can be attached to a diver's buoyancy control apparatus (BCD), or can be held in a diver's hand to deter line entanglement because the apparatus will normally be above the diver and the taut condition of the line should deter its becoming entangled in anything.

Various possible embodiments of the apparatus can be limited in the amount of line available so that when the diver reaches the maximum desired depth the apparatus may not allow additional line to be played out, and the positive buoyancy of the dive flag above may pull on the diver if he tries to descend farther, alerting him to the fact that he has reached his desired maximum depth.

Various types of materials may be used to construct the apparatus, for example plastic, stainless steel, and/or brass components that may not corrode in salt or fresh water may be used. Drain holes may be placed in the apparatus to facilitate easy rinsing, and polyline of appropriate strength may be used to deter weakening or breaking of the line from saltwater or other reasons.

This summary of features and advantages of one or more embodiments described herein should not be considered to define any claimed invention or to be dispositive in determining equivalence thereof. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description and from the drawings. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus utilizing the invention.

An opening may be situated in the apparatus so that a clip may be attached to the apparatus for keeping the apparatus attached to a BCD or other article of clothing or gear carried by the diver, and/or the diver may use the opening as a handhold to hold the apparatus by hand. Drain holes may be situated in various locations around the case. Within the case, line may be wound around an internal spring-winder or functional equivalent that may provide a suitable force biased to retract the line when it is not being held or pulled further out by a greater force, for example the force of the buoyancy of a dive flag at the surface of the water, with the line feedable through a line-feed hole in the case. A stop/lock-button or switch may be provided to stop further playing out and/or retracting of the line, as desired by the diver or other operator. The total length of the line may be varied for different embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, illustrating possible positions of the stop/lock button or switch, and of the line-feed hole in the case. A clip or other functionally equivalent attachment apparatus can be placed at the end of the line to clip onto or otherwise affix the line to the dive flag/buoy.

FIG. 3 illustrates another possible embodiment of the apparatus that is similar to (and can actually be used as) a retractable dog leash. A clip is shown at the end of the line and the position of the self-winding spring that keeps tension on the line is shown, though it may be understood that usually this may not be visible because it may be inside the case. Drain holes are shown in the case. A handle is also shown.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified diagram of the apparatus in use by, for example, a snorkeler holding the apparatus in one hand. The apparatus is shown clipped to a ring or other connecting apparatus of a buoy holding a dive flag, with the apparatus keeping tension on the line at all times where it is desired to do so.

Commercial Applicability

The diver or boat operator may attach the end of the line, for example by means of the clip at the end of the line, to a floating dive flag or to a buoy that may have a dive flag affixed to it, and may attach the apparatus to the BCD or other diving gear via the clip, or may hold the apparatus in one hand, for instance by means of the opening in the case. The lock button, which may be engaged in order to secure the line when the apparatus is not being used, may then be disengaged.

As the driver descends the line will be pulled by the buoyancy of the dive flag or buoy, which exceeds the retracting bias of the spring winder, so that the line will play out from the apparatus as the diver descends.

As the diver moves transverse to the surface of the water, the combined retracting bias of the spring winder and the buoyancy of the dive flag or buoy will naturally cause the dive flag or buoy to move along the surface of the water so that it stays more or less above the diver as he swims or otherwise moves along beneath the water.

As the diver ascends retracting bias of the spring winder will cause any slack to be taken out of the line so that it will always remain relatively taut.

When the diver is at the surface he may detach the line from the dive flag/buoy and may engage the lock button, or may allow just the retracting bias of the spring winder to keep the line within the apparatus.

Various benefits of possible embodiments of the apparatus may include at least one or more of: the ability to connect to a dive flag; the ability to be held by a diver or attached to the diver's gear; the ability to keep tension on the line between the diver and the dive flag at all times; the ability to feed line out as the diver descends; the ability to retract the line when the diver ascends so that tension is kept on the line and there is no worry about line entanglement; a small, compact shape so it can be carried or attached to a divers BCD or other gear; and it may be constructed with different maximum lengths of line.

The above advantages and features are of representative embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding the invention. It should be understood that they are not representative of all the possible embodiments of the invention, and are not to be considered limitations on the invention, which will be defined by the claims of any resulting patent, and are not to be considered limitations on equivalents to the claims. For instance, some of these advantages may be mutually contradictory, in that they may not necessarily be able to be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some advantages are applicable to one aspect of the invention, and inapplicable to others. Furthermore, certain aspects of the claimed invention have not been discussed herein. However, no inference should be drawn regarding those discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than for purposes of space and reducing repetition.

It should further be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in any allowed claims of any resulting patent.

Claims

1. A retractable dive line apparatus for underwater use, comprising: a quantity of line;a casing enclosing an internal spring-winder for holding and placing tension on the line, said casing including: a handle portion including an opening by which the casing may be held by a human hand;an opening in a wall of the casing for allowing the line to feed out and reenter the casing; anda number of drain holes in the wall of the casing for allowing water and air to pass freely into and out of the casing;a switch or stop/lock-button built into the casing including means for stopping further playing out and/or retraction of the line; anda first clip or first connection means at an end of the line for clipping onto, connecting, or otherwise affixing to a dive flag or buoy.

2. The retractable dive line apparatus of claim one, comprising: a strap affixed to the casing; anda second clip or second connection means at a distal end of the strap for clipping onto, connecting, or otherwise affixing to a user's belt, clothing, or diving equipment.