SYSTEM FOR RAPID RELEASE OF A WEIGHT

Abstract

System for rapid release of a weight usable by a diver, comprising: said weight (2); a housing (3) constrainable to the diver and in which the weight (2) is placed; said housing (3) comprising an extraction opening (30) for extracting the weight (2) from the housing (3); an anchorage (4) and a seat (5) in which the anchorage (4) may be positioned, said seat (5) being constrained to the housing (3); the anchorage (4) is constrained to the weight (2). The anchorage (4) is removable from the seat (5) to allow the removal of the weight (2). The seat (5) has a first inlet/outlet mouth (511) for the anchorage (4) which is at least partly turned not towards the extraction opening (30) for extracting the weight (2) from the housing (3), but in the opposite direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Appl. No. 102023000001875, filed Feb. 6, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The object of the present invention is a system for rapid release of a weight capable of allowing a rapid disengagement. A privileged, but not exclusive application of such a rapid release system is in diving jackets (known in the sector as GAVs). The diver usually inserts a weight into the GAV to remain underwater and to improve the set-up thereof, also considering that the neoprene diving suit is float positive.

In some emergency situations it might be useful to be able to quickly remove the weight. This maneuver must be intuitive and quick to perform. At the same time, it is important for a diver not to lose the weight unintentionally. The weight can be placed on an independent belt, which can be disengaged in an emergency, but for years now, many diving jackets have included an integrated removable weight system, that is, one or more symmetrically two pockets in which corresponding weights are inserted. The pockets, one on each side, can be fitted in slots on the jacket. In case of emergency, systems are known that allow a rapid disengagement of the pocket containing the weight from the remaining parts of the jacket.

In a first known solution, this pocket is constrained by a Velcro strip. A drawback of this solution is linked to the fact that over time the anchorage provided may worsen.

In a second known solution said pocket comprises a snap buckle comprising an insert with two elastic teeth. The insert is inserted into a corresponding attachment placed on the GAV and to get rid of the weight it is necessary to compress the elastic teeth with two fingers and remove the insert from the attachment. This solution, however, requires a coordinated double movement that in emergency situations might be difficult (especially if the one doing it were not the diver wearing the weight, but a companion of his or hers). In addition, if the diver's fingers were numb from the cold, this movement could be difficult to perform quickly.

A further known solution comprises an insert with two elastic teeth and provided with a release handle. This insert fits into a corresponding attachment compressing and releasing the elastic teeth. In case of emergency, simply pulling the handle will disengage the teeth from the attachment. This solution is structurally complex and requires precise dimensional tolerances to ensure a proper operation; this is reflected in the cost.

A further drawback that may affect some solutions with elastic teeth is the fact that the coupling and release of the insert from the attachment rely on deformations of plastic components. So the maximum force the system can withstand when it is coupled is to some extent related to the force needed to disengage it. Moreover, with use and over time, the elasticity of these components could be altered.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a rapid release system which obviates the drawbacks in the prior art as described above.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In particular, an object of the present invention is to make available a rapid release system capable of optimising the components and the cost without penalising the correct operation.

The technical task set and the objects specified are substantially attained by a rapid release system comprising the technical features as set out in one or more of the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative and thus non-limiting description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a rapid release system, as illustrated in the attached drawings.

In particular:

FIGS. 1 to 5 show in succession the connection steps of the rapid release system according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a garment integrating a rapid release system according to the present invention;

figures from 7 to 11 show in succession the connection steps of a rapid release system according to the present invention and alternative to that of FIGS. 1-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system for rapid release of a weight has been indicated in the attached figures with reference number 1. This release system 1 is usable by a diver. The system 1 comprises a weight 2. The weight 2 may have a predefined shape, for example parallelepiped.

The system 1 comprises a housing 3 constrainable to the diver and in which the weight 2 is placed. This housing 3 is also known in the technical sector as a “retainer”. For example, such a housing is associated with/forms part of a garment (a belt, a jacket, etc.) that can be worn by the diver. The housing 3 comprises an extraction opening 30 for extracting the weight 2 from the housing 3. The housing 3 also comprises a bottom 31 opposite the opening 30. The housing 3 could for example be made of fabric.

The system 1 comprises an anchorage 4 and a seat 5 in which the anchorage 4 may be positioned. The seat 5 in which the anchorage 4 may 4 may be positioned is constrained to the housing 3 of the weight 2. For example, such a seat 5 could be sewn, welded or otherwise connected, typically immovably, to the housing 3. Suitably the housing 3 comprises a back 32 facing the garment to which the housing 3 is associated. The housing 3 has a front wall 33 opposite the back 32 and on which the seat 5 is constrained. The front wall 33 is accessible from outside the garment. The weight 2 is interposed between the back 32 and the front wall 33. The anchorage 4 is directly or indirectly constrained to the weight 2.

In this regard, the system 1 comprises means 6 for reciprocally connecting the weight 2 and the anchorage 4. So the anchorage 4 and the weight 2 are constrained. Typically the anchorage 4 is intended to be held in place in the seat 5 by the force of gravity. The connection can therefore be defined as a “gravity lock”. The anchorage 4 is removable from the seat 5 to allow the removal of the weight 2. Consequently, to remove the weight 2, the anchorage 4 must be released from the seat 5.

The connection means 6 can be of various kinds. For example, it comprises at least one first connection strap 61 (said first strap 61 can be shaped as a strip of material, typically of fabric). The first strap 61 may be at least in part (preferably all) made of elastic material. This allows to put the anchorage 4 under traction against the seat 5.

The connection means 6 may comprise a pocket 63 which wraps the weight 2 and is integral therewith. For example, the weight 2 could comprise one or more blocks of material (e.g. lead); exemplarily such blocks could weigh 1 or 2 kilograms. This pocket 63 can be for example a bag containing the weight 2 (in the technical sector the pocket 63 is also known as “pouch”). The first strap 61 is constrained to said pocket/bag. In an alternative solution, the pocket 63 could be absent; for example, in this case the weight 2 could have a specific shape that would allow it to be constrained to the first strap 61; for example, the weight 2 could provide a through hole (which crosses it for example in thickness) in which the first strap 61 transits. In such a case the weight 2 is preferably a single lead block.

The connection means 6 (see for example FIGS. 1-5) may optionally comprise a second strap 62 (for example the second strap 62 may be a strip of material, typically of fabric). The second strap 62 suitably overlaps and is constrained to the first strap 61. As partly mentioned above, one of the first and second strap 61, 62 is made of elastic material. Suitably the other one has a longer length. Suitably the second strap 62 is not elastic or has a lower elasticity than the first strap 61. In this way, even if the user carries the weight 2 by grabbing it at the anchorage 4, the second strap 62 prevents a yielding of the first strap 61 (avoiding an excessive deformation of the first strap 61 since they operate in parallel between weight 2 and anchorage 4). However, the second strap 62 could also be absent. Similarly, it is not necessary for one of the two straps to be elastic.

Suitably, the system 1 may comprise magnetic means that exerts a force retaining the anchorage 4 in the seat 5. The magnetic means may comprise a first and a second element intended to interact with each other. One of the first and second element exerts a magnetic force capable of interacting magnetically with the other. For example the first element can be placed in the housing 3 (or on/in the seat 5) or applied to the pocket 63 or to the weight 2; in a configuration in which the weight 2 is stably positioned in the housing 3 the first element is located at the seat 5. The second element is instead integrated into anchorage 4. For example, the first element is a magnet and the second element is in turn a magnet or a metal element (or vice versa). This helps stabilize the anchorage 4 in the seat 5. Such a solution could be additional or alternative to the use of a first elastic strap 61.

The seat 5 advantageously comprises a first and a second projection 51, 52 which respectively identify a first and a second cavity 510, 520 wherein the anchorage 4 is intended to engage.

In the solution of FIGS. 1-5 the first strap 61 (and suitably also the second strap 62) is intended to transit between the first and second projection 51, 52. In fact, between the first and second projection 51, 52 there is a depression 53. In this depression 53 the connection means 6 is intended to transit (at least in a configuration in which the anchorage 4 is engaged in the seat 5).

Suitably (see FIG. 1) an edge 34 of the front wall 33 defining the opening 30 identifies a lead-in 35 in which a section of the connection means 6 is positionable (for example a section of the first and/or second strap 61, 62). In particular, this lead-in 35 can be defined by a recess of the edge 34 that in this area projects towards the bottom 31 of the housing 3.

The anchorage 4 (see for example FIGS. 1-5) may comprise/be a bar 40, although it may also generally take on other forms. The bar 40 may be made of plastic material. The bar 40 (or in any case the anchorage 4) is devoid of deformable (elastic) teeth for coupling to the seat. Suitably, the bar 40 is for example a substantially cylindrical or parallelepiped prismatic body.

The bar 40 extends transversely to said first strap 61 and projects externally to the profile of said first strap 61.

The bar 40 comprises a first and a second end 41, 42 engageable respectively in the first and second cavities 510, 520.

Suitably the bar 40 may advantageously be a monolithic single body. Preferably the bar 40 has a longitudinal extent along a single direction 44. Suitably, what is described in this discussion with reference to the bar 40 can be repeated with reference to the anchorage 4 and vice versa.

Suitably, the system 1 may comprise a ring 43 associated with said anchorage 4 (see FIG. 3). Such a ring 43 may be a ring closed on itself or a split ring; for example the split ring is a ring crossed by a slot. The ring 43 is intended to be grabbed by the diver to allow the release of the anchorage 4 from the seat 5 and the removal of the weight 2. The ring 43 could be shaped like the letter “D” (“D-ring” in the technical language). In the preferred solution, the use of an open D-ring can be assumed, for example with a 5-millimetre gap at the apex of the curved part. The purpose of the slot is to prevent this ring from being used to anchor thereto by means of carabiners accessory such as a torch. The ring 43 is suitably non-planar. Advantageously it comprises two sections lying on two reciprocally inclined planes (as evident for example from FIG. 4). The absence of flatness facilitates the user's grip. A different handle (grip) may be present in place of or in addition to the ring 43. Suitably the ring 43 is placed at one end of the connection means 6.

Advantageously, the seat 5 has at least one first inlet/outlet mouth 511 for the bar 40 being turned not towards the extraction opening 30 for extracting the weight 2 from the housing 3, but in the opposite direction (see solutions of FIGS. 1-5 and 7-11). Suitably the first mouth 511 extends towards the bottom 31 of the housing.

In this regard, the reciprocal connection means 6, in a configuration in which said anchorage 4 is constrained to the seat 5, extends coming out of the housing 3 through the extraction opening 30, making a change of direction and passing (directly or indirectly) externally over the housing 3 until reaching said seat 5 (see for example FIGS. 1-5).

The first cavity 510 has the first inlet/outlet mouth 511 for the bar 40 (which has already been mentioned above). The second cavity 520 has a second inlet/outlet mouth 521 for the bar 40. The second mouth 521 is turned not towards said extraction opening 30 for extracting the weight 2 from the housing 3, but in the opposite direction. Suitably the second mouth 521 extends towards the bottom 31.

Reference should now be made explicitly to the solution of FIGS. 7-11. The anchorage 4 comprises at least a portion of a preferably elastic string 9. Exemplarily, the string 9 has both ends constrained to the pocket 63 that wraps the weight 2. Advantageously, but not in a limited manner, the string 9 connects to the pocket 63 in areas that lie outside the casing 3 (even if the weight 2 is placed inside the casing 3). Suitably a part of the string 9 (typically a central portion 91 of the string 9) is part of the anchorage 4 and at least a part (typically two end sections 92, 93) of the string 9 is part of the means 6 for reciprocal connection of the anchorage 4 and the weight 2/pocket 63 (see FIG. 9).

Suitably the seat 5 comprises the first projection 51. The first projection 51 defines the first cavity 510 and the first inlet and outlet mouth 511 for the anchorage 4. The first projection 51 can for example extend like an arc 94 (for example half-moon or half-circle, but could also have a much smaller extent; for example it could simply be a hook). Suitably the first mouth 511 is turned to the outside of the arc 94. At least in part it is turned not towards the opening 30 of the housing 3, but in the opposite direction (in particular this is applicable to the central part of the first mouth 511). Suitably the first projection 51 extends seamlessly. Preferably the seat 5 in this case defines a single projection 51 and a single cavity 510. Suitably the system 1 comprises gripping means 95 associated with the anchorage 4. For example, the gripping means 95 could comprise a gripping tab 950 (for example made of fabric). Suitably said tab 950 defines an annular area in which the user can insert a finger to allow movement. Said tab 950 is constrained to the string 9, in particular at the above central portion 91. The gripping means 95 could however be of various nature, for example it could be/comprise a ring 43 (as described above). Suitably, the system 1 may optionally comprise an additional string 96 which is suitably not elastic (see FIG. 7). This additional string 96 is constrained to the weight 2. This allows the weight 2 extracted from the housing 3 to be carried without requiring an overextension of the elastic string 9 (which would risk weakening it).

With reference to the solutions described above during diving, with the diver predominantly in a horizontal position, the force of gravity holds the anchorage 4 in the seat 5. At the same time, it facilitates the spontaneous exit of the weight 2 from the housing 3 in the event that the anchorage 4 is disengaged from the seat 5. Suitably the housing 3 and said seat 5 define two concavities turned in the opposite direction. When the opening 30 of the housing 3 is turned upwards, the force of gravity tightens the connection means 6 which in turn holds the anchorage 4 firmly in the seat 5 (in addition, the bottom 31 of the housing 3 would prevent the weight 2 from coming out of the housing 3); when the opening 30 of the housing 3 is turned in the opposite direction, the seat 5 abuts the anchorage 4 opposing the action of the force of gravity. In the horizontal position, the force of gravity makes the system stable by resting the weight 2 on the lower (or upper) wall of the housing 3, and it is in this case that the presence of at least partially elastic connection means 6 (or the magnetic means described above) helps prevent the unintentional exit of the anchorage 4 from the seat 5.

An object of the present invention is also a garment 10 for underwater diving comprising a release system 1 having one or more of the characteristics described above (see for example FIG. 6).

In particular, the release system 1 is placed on the garment 10 so that the force of gravity keeps the anchorage 4 in the seat 5.

Suitably, the system 1 can assume:

• • a configuration in which the weight 2 is placed in the housing 3 and the anchorage 4 in the seat 5 (see FIG. 5 or 11);
  • a configuration in which the anchorage 4 is released from the seat 5 and the weight 2 is free to be released (see FIG. 1 or 7).

Suitably, in order to connect the anchorage 4 to the seat 5, the anchorage 4 is pulled, moves sufficiently away from the extraction opening 30 to overcome the obstacle provided by the seat 5 and is placed in the seat 5 (see FIGS. 1 to 5 in succession or FIGS. 7-11 in succession). In the preferred embodiment solution, the second (non-elastic) strap 62 is of such a length that the anchorage 4 barely manages to overcome the cavities 510 and 520, and the first (elastic) strap 61 compensates for this “excess” length so as to avoid play in the system. The first strap 61, in an undeformed configuration, has a shorter length than the second strap 62. Thus, the second strap 62 allows the anchorage 4 to reach the seat 5 while the first strap 61 allows to recover any plays and put the connection means 6 under traction. In the configuration in which the anchorage 4 is constrained to the seat 5, the second strap 62 externally surmounts the first strap 61. For rapid release the user (for example by means of the ring 43) removes the anchorage 4 from the seat 5 allowing at this point the weight 2 present in the housing 3 to be released.

The present invention achieves important advantages.

First of all, it allows optimizing the components and the costs of the product without penalizing proper operation. In particular, the system is extremely easy and uses the force of gravity to hold the weight in place (both in the case where the diver is swimming with his/her feet at a greater depth than the head and in the case where the head is at a greater depth than the feet). The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterises it. Furthermore, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. All the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be any whatsoever according to needs.

Claims

1. A system for rapid release of a weight usable by a diver, comprising: said weight (2);a housing (3) constrainable to the diver and in which the weight (2) is placed; said housing (3) comprising an extraction opening (30) for extracting the weight (2) from the housing (3);an anchorage (4) and a seat (5) in which the anchorage (4) may be positioned, said seat (5) being constrained to the housing (3); said anchorage (4) being constrained to the weight (2);

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a means (6) for reciprocally connecting the weight (2) and the anchorage (4); the reciprocal connection means (6), in a configuration in which said anchorage (4) is constrained to the seat (5), extends at least in part outside the housing (3), away from the extraction opening (30), and passes externally over the housing (3) until reaching said seat (5).

3. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the connection means (6) comprises: a first connection strap (61);a second connection strap (62); one of the first and the second strap (61, 62) being elastic, and the other one having a greater length.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the anchorage (4) is devoid of deformable teeth for coupling to the seat (5).

5. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that said seat (5) comprises a first projection (51) which identifies a first cavity (510) wherein the anchorage (4) is intended to be inserted.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a second projection (52) which identifies a second cavity (520); the first and second cavities (510, 520) having, respectively, said first inlet/outlet mouth (511) for the anchorage (4) and a second inlet/outlet mouth (521) for the anchorage (4); said second mouth (521) being turned not towards the opening (30) for extracting the weight (2) from the housing (3), but in the opposite direction.

7. The system according to claim 3, characterised in that said seat (5) comprises a first projection (51) which identifies a first cavity (510) wherein the anchorage (4) is intended to be inserted; the system comprising a second projection (52) which identifies a second cavity (520); the first and second cavities (510, 520) having, respectively, said first inlet/outlet mouth (511) for the anchorage (4) and a second inlet/outlet mouth (521) for the anchorage (4); said second mouth (521) being turned not towards the opening (30) for extracting the weight (2) from the housing (3), but in the opposite direction.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterised in that said anchorage (4) extends externally transversely to said first strap (61) and projects externally to the profile of said first strap (61); said anchorage (40) comprising a first and a second end (41, 42) insertable respectively in the first and second cavities (510, 520).

9. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that said anchorage (4) comprises a bar (40); said bar (40) being a single monolithic body and having a longitudinal extent along a single direction (44).

10. The system according to claim 5, characterised in that the anchorage means (6) comprises an elastic string which, in order to be constrained to the seat (5), is inserted into first cavity (510).

11. A garment for underwater diving comprising a release system (1) according to claim 1.