Patent Application
20100089959
The present invention relates to underwater diving generally and more specifically to a support system for organizing and securing underwater dive equipment.
When diving your equipment is your life. Malfunctioning of equipment can, at the very least, result in a ruined dive vacation, and at the worst, result in serious injury or death. For this reason, dive enthusiasts will spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on equipment. Necessary equipment includes: fins, mask, primary and back-up regulator, high pressure adaptor (tank hook-up), gauge cluster, a buoyancy compensation device (BCD), and an air tank, all of which are essential for a safe dive. In addition, a diver could have a wet suit, a snorkel, a flashlight, an underwater buoy, a line marker, a dive knife, a camera, and dive computers. All of these mission critical, expensive, and cumbersome items need to make it to the dive shop and from the dive shop to the diving location, which can be a lengthy boat ride, or often a drive, followed by an overland hike to a drop-in site.
Thus there exists a need for a transportable support system for organizing and securing mission critical dive equipment.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a support system for organizing essential dive equipment for easy transport.
It is another object of this invention to provide a support system for organizing essential dive equipment that will attach within a backpack, or suitcase for long-term transport, e.g., airplane travel.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a support system for organizing essential dive equipment capable of being transported in a “hands free” manner, thereby allowing the diver to more easily maneuver with his own equipment or assist others in reaching the dive site or boat.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a compact support system for organizing essential dive equipment that can be easily stored when not in use.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide an support system for organizing essential dive equipment that is both water resistant in part and water permeable in part to allow for fresh water cleaning of essential equipment after a lengthy sea dive. The diver can simply dunk the entire assembly in a fresh water tank when he returns to the dive shop after his dive.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below.
Referring now to
Stitchedly attached along the longitudinal axis of second strip 16 is a synthetic dive mesh bag 20 ideal for dive mask 22 and snorkel 24 storage (See
Stitchedly attached at the mid-point of the first strip 14 and second strip 16 and residing perpendicular to both strips 14 and 16 is the adjustable fin retention strap 28. The fin retention strap 28 is a three piece construction of ballistic nylon with one half of an adjustable, polymer side release buckle 30 stitchedly connected to the free end of a first strap section stitchedly attached at the mid-point of the first strip 14, and the matingly conformed second half of the buckle slideably retained on the second strap section, by the interweaving of the second strap section through a set of slots formed in the buckle second half. Looking at
This diamond shaped cradle configuration (which could also be more elliptical in shape depending on construction) is important for accommodating full-foot dive fins. The area within the cradle 34 creates a pocket or stirrup which the heel portion of the fin resides within, such that the heel portion of the fins are encircled by the diamond shaped cradle 34. If the diver is using heel-strap fins this configuration is not necessary and the fin retention strap 28 could be a single strap.
The free end of the second strap section has a D ring sewn thereon to facilitate hand adjustment. The strap lengthening means 31 aides in the centering of the of the cradle 34 about proximal ends 38 of different sized dive fins 8.
To help retain fin retention strap 28 in a centered position about the support system's vertical axis, a strap guide 39 resides centered along the backside (that is the side of mesh bag 20 which opposes flap 26) of mesh bag 20.
Referring now to
Looking at
The support system 2 can now be securely affixed within a dive bag or suitcase via the carrying D ring 17, or for a shorter distance, a handle or shoulder strap can be attached via the carrying D ring 17 as would be well known in the art.
It should be noted that the preferred method of mechanically affixing the fabric straps via stitching could be accomplished via a variety of different methods, such as such as adhesive bonding, polymer seal welding, pop rivets, or other fastening means. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
