Claims
- 1. A counterweight assembly for providing enhanced heads up surface positioning of a person, said counterweight assembly comprising:
- a weight member; and
- means for attaching said weight member to a cylinder, the cylinder adapted to be attached to the person, said weight member attached at a position on said cylinder where the person cannot remove or adjust said weight member while the cylinder is attached to the person;
- wherein said weight member rotates the person to ensure heads up surface positioning if the person becomes incapacitated.
- 2. The counterweight assembly of claim 1 wherein said weight member has a body member shaped to be snugly attached the cylinder.
- 3. The counterweight assembly of claim 2 wherein said means for attaching comprising a tank band inserted through a pair of vertical slots disposed through said body member and wrapped and attached tightly around the cylinder.
- 4. The counterweight assembly of claim 3 wherein said tank band has non-slide means disposed on an inner portion to prevent said weight means for moving after said weight means has been properly attached to and positioned on the cylinder.
- 5. The counterweight assembly of claim 2 wherein said means for attaching comprises a strap member inserted through a pair of horizontal slots and wrapped around a cylinder attaching strap associated with a buoyancy compensator to tightly attach said weight member to said cylinder, as well as attaching said cylinder to said buoyancy compensator.
- 6. The counterweight assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprising a tank band inserted through a passageway extending from a first side to a second side of said weight member, said tank band wrapped and attached tightly around the cylinder.
- 7. The counterweight assembly of claim 6 wherein a plurality of weight members are provided, each of said weight members having a passageway, said tank band is inserted through the passageway of each weight member.
- 8. The counterweight assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching is a flexible pocket member attached to a tank band, said tank band wrapped and attached tightly around the cylinder, wherein said weight member is disposed within said pocket member.
- 9. The counterweight assembly of claim 8 wherein said flexible pocket member is permanently attached to said tank band.
- 10. The counterweight assembly of claim 8 wherein said flexible pocket member is removably attached to said tank band.
- 11. The counterweight assembly of claim 8 wherein said flexible pocket member is divided into a plurality of weight receiving sections.
- 12. The counterweight assembly of claim 8 wherein said flexible pocket member has a flap member.
- 13. A counterweight assembly for providing enhanced heads up surface positioning of a person, said counterweight assembly comprising:
- a weight member; and
- means for attaching said weight member to a cylinder, the cylinder adapted to be attached to the person;
- wherein said weight member rotates the person to ensure heads up surface positioning if the person becomes incapacitated;
- wherein said means for attaching is a flexible pocket member attached to a tank band, said tank band wrapped and attached tightly around the cylinder, wherein said weight member is disposed within said pocket member;
- wherein said flexible pocket member has a flap member; and
- a releasable pouch member, said pouch member attached to a handle member, said weight member disposed within said pouch member, wherein said handle member is disposed out of said pocket member when properly assembled.
- 14. A counterweight assembly for providing enhanced heads up surface positioning of a person, said counterweight assembly comprising:
- a ballast member; and
- means for attaching said ballast member in an infinite number of vertical positions with respect to a cylinder adapted to be attached to the person and where said ballast member cannot be released or adjusted by the person while the cylinder is attached to the person;
- wherein said ballast member provides a single reliable heads up position of the person at surface level.
- 15. A counterweight assembly for a cylinder mounted on a person's body, the cylinder having a longitudinal axis, said counterweight assembly comprising:
- a support member;
- means for adjustably positioning said support along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder;
- a weight member secured to said support member and being disposed substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said weight member also secured to said support member where the person cannot release or adjust said weight member while the cylinder is mounted to the person;
- wherein said weight member generates a righting moment to cause an incapacitated person's mouth and nose to be positioned and maintained out of the water at all times.
- 16. The counterweight assembly of claim 15 wherein said support member is mounted on the cylinder.
- 17. A non-releasable, securely attached, relatively small amount of tank mounted trim ballast attached in any of an infinite number of vertical positions as required to balance a unique combination of other ballast and buoyancy members attached to and specific to a diver and his or her dive, said tank mounted trim ballast providing a single, reliable, heads up position of the diver at water surface level at any time during the dive, comprising:
- a weight member;
- and means for attaching said weight member to a tank associated with the diver;
- wherein said weight member is positioned such that it cannot be removed or adjusted by the diver during his or her dive or other underwater travel.
- 18. The trim ballast of claim 17 wherein the non-removable weight member is used in association with separate releasable ballast which may be needed to allow the diver to submerge.
- 19. A counterweight assembly for providing enhanced heads up surface positioning of a person, said counterweight assembly comprising:
- a weight member; and
- means for attaching said weight member to a cylinder, the cylinder adapted to be attached to the person, said weight member attached at a position on said cylinder where the person cannot remove said weight member while the cylinder is attached to the person;
- wherein said weight member rotates the person to ensure heads up surface positioning if the person becomes incapacitated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/149,137, filed Nov. 8, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,233, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/870,244, filed Apr. 17, 1992, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (49)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
870244 |
Apr 1992 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
149137 |
Nov 1993 |
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