Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02502803 2005-03-31
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DIVE ACCESSORY
Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to dive accessories for underwater diving.
More particularly, the present invention is related to a combination dive
light and noise
maker for signaling other divers.
Background of the Invention
Diving flashlights are known in the art, for example United States patents
6,547,414, 4,114,187, 4,531,178 and 4,870,550. Underwater audible signaling
devices based on the principle of hard objects rattling in a chamber are also
known in
the art, for example, United States patents 5,187,691, 5,652,734 and
5,450,810. It is
also known to strap a light stick to an audible signaling device, for example
United
States patent 6,690,619. It is also known to combine a flashlight and an
electronic
audible alarm into a night stick, for example United States patent 2,908,901.
All of
these kinds of devices fulfill certain needs, however, they all have limited
versatility for
underwater divers. There remains a need in the art for a dive accessory that
combines the functions of a variety of tools into a single integrated unit
that is
convenient and easy to use, versatile and robust.
Summary of the Invention
in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dive accessory
comprising an outer shell encompassing a light maker and a noise maker, the
light
maker being waterproofed and comprising a light source electrically connected
to an
electrical power source for powering the light source, and a light switch for
selectively
opening and closing the electrical connection between the fight source and the
electrical power source to switch the light source between an on state and an
off state,
the noise maker comprising a hollow chamber having a solid object therein, the
solid
object movable within the hollow chamber to produce a noise when the solid
object
strikes a wall of the hollow chamber, the noise maker further comprising means
for
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selectively restraining movement of the solid object to prevent the solid
object from
making noise and further comprising means for selectively permitting movement
of the
solid object to permit the solid object to make noise.
The outer shell encompasses both the light maker and the noise maker thereby
providing a unitized, structurally integrated device that is durable, portable
and
aesthetically attractive. Preferably, the outer shell is waterproofed to
prevent water
from damaging the parts, particularly the electrical parts of the light maker.
In one
embodiment, the outer shell entirely encloses both the light maker and the
noise
maker.
The outer shell may comprise any suitable material for the construction of
dive
accessories, for example, metal, plastic, elastomers, rubber, etc. Materials
that are
lightweight, strong, corrosion resistant, or a combination thereof are
preferred, for
example, aircraft grade aluminum and shock resistant plastic. Transparent
shock
resistant plastic is particularly preferred in front of the light maker in
order to permit
illumination in front of the dive accessory. Rubber or elastomers are
preferred for use
in making watertight seals (e.g. membrane seals, 0-rings, etc.) around
switches and
joints.
The outer shell has an internal cavity that may be sub-divided into individual
compartments. One compartment may be the hollow chamber of the noise maker.
Another compartment may contain the electrical power source. Yet another
compartment may hold the light source and any mirrors for focusing and/or
directing a
light beam. The compartment for holding the light source may swivel for
directing the
light beam in various directions, and/or may be provided with a facility for
creating
focussed, normal or wide-angle beams. The compartment for holding the light
source
may also be provided with rubberized or non-rubberized molded finger grips to
assist
divers wearing gloves. Still yet other compartments may be included for
holding other
components of the accessory or for storing various other items. Compartments
may
be openable to permit access to their interiors.
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The light maker comprises a light source, an electrical power source for
powering the light source and a light switch for switching the light source on
and off.
The light maker may also comprise any other standard dive light components.
The
light source may be any suitable light-emitting element, for example, tungsten
filament
bulbs, halogen bulbs, light emitting diodes (LED), etc. LEDs are particularly
preferred
for their durability. The light maker may comprise more than one light source
powered
by the same power source or different power sources. The power source is
preferably
a battery or batteries, although other power sources such as shipboard and
portable
generators may be used. There may be one or more light switches to control
intensity
of illumination. In addition to switching the light source on and off, the
light switch or
switches may dim or intensify the illumination. Components of the light maker
are
located in waterproofed compartments to prevent water damage.
The noise maker is based on the principle of a solid object striking a wall
within
a hollow chamber. Such noise makers are referred to as clackers. The noise
maker
in the present invention comprises a hollow chamber having a solid object
therein.
The solid object is movable within the hollow chamber to produce a noise when
the
solid object strikes a wall of the hollow chamber. When a diver shakes the
dive
accessory, the noise made by the solid object striking the wall of the hollow
chamber
will carry though the water alerting other divers. Since water is a denser
medium than
air, sound travels better in water. Such a noise maker is particularly
effective for
communicating with other divers, particularly in low visibility conditions.
Furthermore,
since it is unnecessary for a diver to bang an object (e.g. a dive knife)
against his
tanks, and it is unnecessary to tap other divers on the shoulder, a measure of
safety is
also afforded.
The hollow chamber may be of any suitable size and shape. Preferably, the
hollow chamber is substantially cylindrical. The hollow chamber, while
encompassed
by the outer shell, can be open to the water provided the chamber is
waterproofed to
prevent water from entering other compartments of the dive accessory and
provided
that the solid objects cannot escape from the hollow chamber. Preferably, the
hollow
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chamber is enclosed by the outer shell so that water may not enter into the
hollow
chamber.
The solid object may be any suitable size and shape provided the solid object
is
movable within the hollow chamber. The solid object may comprise any suitably
solid
and dense material, preferably a material that does not corrode. More
preferably, the
solid object comprises a metal (e.g. stainless steel), a ceramic, or a dense
plastic or
plastic composite. Stainless steel is particularly preferred. Preferably the
solid object
is spherical or cylindrical. In one embodiment, the solid object is
cylindrical having a
diameter slightly less than the diameter of the hollow chamber and a length
sufficiently
less than the length of the hollow chamber so that the cylindrical object can
generate
sufficient motion to make sufficient noise when it strikes an end wall of the
hollow
chamber. In another embodiment, the solid object is spherical and has a
diameter
slightly less than the diameter of the hollow chamber so that the spherical
object can
roll within the hollow chamber. There may be any number of solid objects
within the
hollow chamber. When a cylindrical solid object is used, there is preferably
one solid
object. When a spherical solid object is used, there is preferably more than
one solid
object.
The noise maker comprises means for selectively restraining movement of the
solid object to prevent the solid object from making noise and further
comprises means
for selectively permitting movement of the solid object to permit the solid
object to
make noise. Such features dramatically increase the desirability of the dive
accessory
as the ability to selectively turn on and off the noise generating capacity
greatly
enhances the versatility, convenience and safety of the noise maker.
The means for selectively restraining movement of the solid object and the
means for selectively permitting movement of the solid object may be the same
or
different means. Thus, one means may control both on and off, or, on may be
controlled by one means and off controlled by another means. Such means may be
embodied in, for example, bayonet linkages between parts of the outer shell,
switches
such as slide switches, depression switches, toggle switches, rocker switches
and the
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like, or any other arrangement of parts that result in restraining and/or
permitting
movement of the solid object.
Whether one means controls both on and off, or one means controls on and
another means controls off, there may be a common element involved in
controlling
5 the noise maker, for example an element that decreases or increases the
length of the
hollow chamber (e.g. a movable wall within the hollow chamber). In such an
example,
selective activation of the means for restricting movement would result in a
decrease
of the length of the hollow chamber while selective activation of the means
for
permitting movement would result in an increase in the length of the hollow
chamber.
In one aspect, the hollow chamber may comprise a movable end, the movable
end movable between a retracted position for restraining movement of the solid
object
and an extended position for permitting movement of the solid object. The dive
accessory may further comprise a biasing means (e.g. a spring) for biasing the
movable end toward the extended position.
The means for selectively permitting movement of the solid object may
comprise an armature having means for engaging the movable end to hold the
movable end in the retracted position and means for disengaging the armature
from
the movable end to permit the movable end to move to the extended position to
permit
movement of the solid object. The means for selectively permitting movement of
the
solid object may further comprise means for biasing the armature into a
position for
engagement with the movable end. The armature may have a first portion, a
second
portion and a pivot point between the first portion and the second portion.
The means
for engaging the movable end may be on the first portion, the means for
disengaging
the armature from the movable end may be on the second portion, and the means
for
biasing the armature may comprise a biasing element (e.g. a torsion spring) at
the
pivot point. Activation of the means for disengaging the armature may cause
the
armature to pivot at the pivot point thereby disengaging the armature from the
movable
end. Deactivation of the means for disengaging the armature permits the
biasing
element to bias the armature into the position for engagement with the movable
end.
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The means for selectively restraining movement of the solid object may
comprise an element (e.g. a piston) connected to the movable end, whereby
depression of the element causes the movable end to move to the retracted
position to
restrain movement of the solid object. The movable end in the retracted
position may
then engage the means for selectively permitting movement in order to prevent
movement of the movable end to the extended position until and unless the
means for
selectively permitting movement of the solid object is activated.
The dive accessory of the present invention may further include one or more
dive utility items, for example, attachment rings, tether lines (e.g.
retractable or non-
retractable), measuring devices (e.g. rulers, depth gauges, lobster gauges,
clocks,
stop watches, etc.), whistles, audible electronic alarms, dive computers, GPS,
locator
chips, utility knives, line cutters, etc. Dive utility items may be attached
to or integrated
with the dive accessory. Dive utilities, for example rulers and gauges, may be
luminescent or phosphorescent for greater visibility.
Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in
the course of the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments
thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to
the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 A is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a
dive
accessory of the present invention with a clacker in an off-position;
Fig. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the dive accessory of Fig.
1A with
the clacker in an on-position;
Fig. 1 C is a schematic top view of the dive accessory of Fig. 1 B;
Fig. 1 D is an end view of a switch depicted in Figs. 1 A-1 C;
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Fig. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional top view of a second embodiment of a
dive
accessory of the present invention with a slacker in an off-position;
Fig. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the dive accessory of Fig.
2A;
Fig. 3A is an enlarged view of the slacker depicted in Fig, 2A;
Fig. 3B shows the slacker of Fig. 3A in an on-position;
Fig, 4A is a schematic cross-sectional top view of a third embodiment of a
dive
accessory of the present invention with a slacker in an off position;
Fig. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the dive accessory of Fig.
4A;
Fig. 5A is an enlarged view of the slacker depicted in Fig, 4A; and,
Fig. 5B shows the slacker of Fig. 5A in an on-position;
Descrj~tion of Preferred Embodiments
Referring to Figs. 1A and 1B, a first embodiment of a dive accessory of the
present invention is shown with a slacker in an off-position (Fig. 1 A) and in
an
on-position (Fig. 1 B). The dive accessory 10 comprises a shock resistant
plastic outer
shell 11 in which transparent front lens 12 permits illumination in front of
the dive
accessory from a light maker comprising LED 21 electrically connected to two D-
cell
batteries 22,23. LED 21 and batteries 22,23 are located in waterproof
compartments
24,25, respectively. LED 21 is switched on and off using a depression switch
13
located under elastomeric membrane seal 14. The mechanical and electrical
arrangement for the tight maker is typical of the art, for example as
described in United
States patents 6,547,414, 4,114,187, 4,531,178 or 4,870,550, the disclosures
of which
are herein incorporated by reference.
The slacker comprises a hollow chamber 31 containing four spherical solid
stainless steel ball bearings 32 (only one labeled) and a slide switch 33 for
selectively
restraining and selectively permitting movement of the bearings 32 in the
hollow
CA 02502803 2005-03-31
chamber 31. The slide switch has a curved surface 35 that matches the
curvature of
the bearings 32. The slide switch 33 is slidable within the hollow chamber
between an
object restraining position (i.e. the off-position) as shown in Fig. 1A and an
object
liberating position (i.e. the on-position) as shown in Fig. 1 B. When the
slide switch 33
is in the on-position, the bearings 32 are permitted to move in the hollow
chamber 31
and a diver may shake the dive accessory so that the bearing 32 strike each
other and
end wall 36 of the hollow chamber to produce a noise. When the slide switch 33
is in
the off-position, the bearings 32 are restrained from moving so they cannot
make
noise by striking each other and the end wall. The slide switch 33 may be
conveniently handled by a finger or thumb.
The clacker may further comprise means for automatically returning the switch
to the off-position. For example, in dive accessory 10, a spring 37 (e.g. a
compression
spring) between the switch 33 and end wall 38 of the hollow chamber 31 biases
the
switch towards the bearings 32. Pressure from a diver's finger is able to
slide the
switch 33 to the object liberating position against the bias of spring 37.
Release of the
pressure will cause the spring 37 to automatically slide the switch 33 to the
object
restraining position. Although the diver is not required to actively close the
switch, he
may still do so if desired. A locking mechanism (not shown) may be used to
hold the
switch 33 in the on-position.
Referring to Fig. 1 C, a top schematic view of the dive accessory of Fig. 1 B
is
shown. The hollow chamber 31 is provided with a slot 39 of sufficient width to
permit
the slide switch 33 to slide within the slot. The slot 39 is sufficiently
narrow so that the
bearings 32 do not escape from the hollow chamber 31. Since the slot 31 opens
the
hollow chamber 31 to water, the inside of the hollow chamber is waterproofed
to
prevent water from entering into the other compartments of the dive accessory.
Alternatively or additionally, a membrane seal may be used over the slot and
switch to
keep water out of the hollow chamber.
As shown in Fig. 1 D, the switch 33 comprises an upper body portion 40
attached to a lower body portion 42 by a neck 41. The neck 41 is narrow enough
to be
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able to slide through the slot of the hollow chamber. The curved surface 35 on
the
lower body portion 42 is sufficiently large to make considerable contact with
the
bearings. When the neck 41 is engaged in the slot, the upper and lower body
portions
engage the upper and lower surfaces of the hollow chamber to hold the switch
on the
hollow chamber. The upper body portion 40 is provided with ridges (best seen
in Figs.
1A and 1 B) to provide better grip on the switch.
Referring to Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, a second embodiment of a dive
accessory 110 of the present invention is depicted. Figs. 2A and 2B show a
clacker in
an off-position. Fig. 3A is an enlarged view of the clacker depicted in Figs.
2A and 2B,
and Fig. 3B shows the clacker of Fig. 3A in an on-position. Dive accessory 110
comprises a shock resistant plastic outer shell 111 completely enclosing
internal
components. A D-ring 115 on the outer shell 111 may be used as an attachment
point
for a tether line (not shown) or other dive utility items.
Transparent front lens 112 permits illumination in front of the dive accessory
from a light maker comprising LED 121 electrically connected to two D-cell
batteries
122,123. LED 121 and batteries 122,123 are located in compartments 124,125,
respectively. LED 121 is switched on and off using a depression switch 113
located
under elastomeric membrane seal 114. The mechanical and electrical arrangement
for the light maker is typical of the art, for example as described in United
States
patents 6,547,414, 4,114,187, 4,531,178 or 4,870,550, the disclosures of which
are
herein incorporated by reference.
The clacker comprises a cylindrical hollow chamber 131 containing four
spherical solid stainless steel ball bearings 132 (only one labeled). The
hollow
chamber 131 comprises a fixed end wall 136 and a movable end wall 137. The
movable end wall 137 is part of a thimble 138 that fits over and caps one end
of the
hollow chamber 131. As seen in comparing Fig. 3A to Fig. 3B, the movable end
wall
137 is movable between a retracted position (Fig. 3A) and an extended position
(Fig.
3B). When movable end wall 137 is in the retracted position (i.e. the off-
position) the
bearings 132 are restrained between the two end walls 136,137 so that the
bearings
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are unable to move and unable to create noise. When movable end wall 137 is in
the
extended position (i.e. the on-position) the bearings 132 are permitted to
move
between the two end walls 136,137 so that, in response to the dive accessory
being
shaken, the bearings are able strike the end walls to create noise. A
compression
5 spring 139 biases the movable end wall 137 toward the extended position. The
compression spring 139 is seated between lips 134,135 on the thimble 138 and
the
exterior of the hollow chamber 131, respectively.
Still referring to Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, it can be seen that means for
selectively restraining movement of the bearings and means for selectively
permitting
10 movement of the bearings are different means having the movable end wall
137 as a
common element.
The means for selectively permitting movement of the bearings comprises a
depression switch having an armature 141 pivotally attached at a pivot point
142 to a
pivot support 143. The pivot support 143 is attached to the inside of the
outer shell
111. One end of the armature 141 is pivotally connected to an activation pin
144
under an elastomeric membrane seal 145. Another end of the armature 141
comprises a latch 146 that catches and holds the movable end wall 137 in the
retracted position (Fig. 3A). Depression of the activation pin 144 causes the
armature
141 to pivot at the pivot point 142 thereby lifting the latch 146 thereby
disengaging the
latch from the movable end wall. The movable end wall 137 is then free to move
to
the extended position (Fig. 3B), which it does automatically under the biasing
influence
of the compression spring 139. A torsion spring 147 located around the pivot
point
142 automatically biases the latch 146 back into position for engaging the
movable
end when pressure is removed from the activation pin 144. The latch and the
end wall
have angled surfaces 148,149 respectively that permit the latch to snap back
into
engagement with the movable end wall 137 as the movable end wall is returned
to the
retracted position.
The means for selectively restraining movement of the bearings comprises a
piston 151 attached to the movable end wall 137. Depression of the piston 151
when
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the movable end wall 137 is in the extended position (Fig. 3B) causes the
movable
end wall to move against the biasing effort of the compression spring 139
until the
latch 146 engages the movable end wall in the retracted position holding the
movable
end wall in place (Fig. 3A). The piston 151 is located under an elastomeric
membrane
seal 155. A diver may apply sufficient pressure to the piston 151 to return
the clacker
to the off position by applying the piston against an object, for example a
rock, the
diver's leg, the diver's palm, etc.
Referring to Figs. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5B, a third embodiment of a dive accessory
210 of the present invention is depicted. The dive accessory 210 is similar to
the dive
accessory 110 previously described. However, dive accessory 210 comprises a
single
solid stainless steel cylinder 232 instead of four spherical solid stainless
steel ball
bearings. Since a cylinder is being used instead of spheres, fixed end wall
236 is flat
instead of concave. Otherwise, the embodiment depicted in Figs. 4A, 4B, 5A and
5B
is constructed and works the same as the embodiment of Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A and
3B.
Other advantages which are inherent to the structure are obvious to one
skilled
in the art. The embodiments are described herein illustratively and are not
meant to
limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Variations of the foregoing
embodiments
will be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are intended by the inventor
to be
encompassed by the following claims.
