Scuba Diving Trim And Position Control Device And Method Of Use

Abstract

A trim and position control device and method comprising a generally ring-shaped, continuous and unbroken weight formed with a central elongated opening therethrough. The opening is preferably shaped like an elliptical diamond and enables placement of the weight over a pillar valve and pillar valve rotatable pressure control handle onto the top surface of a diving tank. The bottom surface of the weight is preferably concave to promote proper nesting upon the top surface of the diving tank. The weight is secured in place by the connection of a primary stage regulator to the pillar valve of the diving tank, wherein the primary stage regulator is connected to a buoyancy compensator device and second stage regulator. This prevents the weight from being inadvertently detached. The weight enables a diver to maintain desired trim and position in conjunction with the inflation of the buoyancy compensator device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/251,986 filed Oct. 15, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to SCUBA diving gear, and more particularly, to a device and method for promoting proper trim and position during a dive while underwater and upon surfacing through the use of a specially formed weight installed on the top of a diving tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is well known in SCUBA diving that a diver must compensate for the natural buoyancy of the diver and the buoyancy of the wet suit typically worn by the diver. This is primarily done with weights. Additionally, when SCUBA diving, a diver should be taught that as soon as he reaches a desired depth, he must add a small amount of air into his buoyancy compensator device ("BC" or "BCD"), such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,433 to Seligman, incorporated herein by reference, in order to attain neutral buoyancy. In addition, he should be aware of the importance of having arranged the weights carried in or on his equipment so as to achieve the proper trim.

[0004] During the dive, once neutral buoyancy is achieved, a properly trimmed diver will tend to maintain a horizontal or slight head-down position. Improper trimming causes the diver to have trouble maintaining horizontal orientation and, as a result, many divers tend to rotate toward a vertical upright orientation affecting their ability to adequately view the sea floor and other structures and potentially causing the diver's fins to come in contact with and damage a reef or sea floor. During the equipment set-up before the dive, transferring an appropriate amount of weight from the weight belt or weight pocket location to a position atop the air tank and behind the diver's head will correct this problem.

[0005] Upon surfacing at the conclusion of a dive, the desired trim orientation now becomes vertical with the head either upright or in a slight head-back position. Upon surfacing, the diver should inflate the air bladder in the BCD. In current BCD designs, an air pocket tends to be positioned behind the diver's head, resulting in a near vertical, slight head-forward, nose-down tendency. This is undesirable for a diver who has taken the regulator out of his mouth to breathe fresh air because the head-forward position creates a propensity for the diver to inadvertently aspirate water causing discomfort and potential panic. The present invention is secured atop the dive tank and behind the BCD bladder, thus its weight acts as an opposing directional force and allows the diver's head to be in a more favorable face-up position.

[0006] Various weighting systems have been developed to address the trimming problem, wherein weights are attached to the diver's BCD or to the diving tank. These weights are all designed to be easily detachable underwater. A resulting problem with prior art weighting systems designed for attachment to diving tanks is they are prone to accidental detachment, and an unexpected loss of weight can result in frustration with trimming or a dangerous rapid rise to the surface which can cause injury or death.

[0007] Accordingly, what is needed is a weight that can be used to promote proper trim and position during a dive while underwater and upon surfacing, and cannot be inadvertently detached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The current invention is an improvement over prior art weighting systems in that it cannot be accidentally detached, it does not require any adjusting during the dive, and it promotes both the proper horizontal trim and position needed at depth and the proper vertical trim and position needed upon surfacing. More particularly, the current invention is a SCUBA diving trim and position control device and method comprising a generally ring-shaped, continuous, unbroken weight formed with a central elongated opening. The opening is preferably shaped like an elliptical diamond with a long axis and a short axis. The weight preferably has a bottom concave surface and a flat top surface.

[0009] Due to the design of the opening of the weight, in a preferred embodiment the weight should normally only be able to be placed over a pillar valve and pillar valve rotatable pressure control handle with the long axis of the opening of the weight in a parallel plane with the pillar valve and rotatable control handle of the tank. However, for example, an alternate design of a weight with an opening in the shape of a circle would function, but it would have several drawbacks including less stability of the weight on the tank.

[0010] In use, the weight is placed over the pillar valve of a diving tank and onto the top surface of the diving tank. It can then be rotated 90 degrees to take advantage of the short axis of the weight opening for purposes of securing the weight underneath the pillar valve rotatable pressure control handle. A primary stage regulator is then attached to the pillar valve, wherein the primary stage regulator is connected to the BCD via a first hose and to a breathing regulator via a second hose. The primary stage regulator can also be attached to other devices, such as a pressure gauge and back-up breathing regulator via additional hoses. Thus, the weight is secured in place, thereby enabling a diver to maintain proper trim in conjunction with inflation of the BCD while avoiding inadvertent detachment of the weight.

[0011] The method and device of the present invention may be achieved at low cost especially due to the invention using inherent properties and qualities already present on a diving tank and a primary stage regulator, thereby eliminating the use of an additional fastening system for the weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the weight of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the weight.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the weight.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the weight.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of the weight.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of the weight.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the weight taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the weight taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 3.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the weight showing a coating on the weight.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the weight and diving tank illustrating the manner in which the weight is placed on the tank.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the weight placed upon the diving tank illustrating the manner in which the weight is rotated after placement over the pillar valve.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a BCD secured to a diving tank, wherein the weight of the present invention is secured between the top of the tank and the primary stage regulator attached to the BCD.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention, shown in FIGS. 1-12, is an unbroken ring-shaped weight and the use of the weight for SCUBA diving. Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a preferred embodiment of the weight 10 is shown with an opening 12 therethrough. The weight 10 preferably has a flat top surface 14 and a bottom concave surface 16. The weight 10 is preferably polygonal in overall shape with the opening 12 having an elliptical diamond shape. The opening 12 has a long axis A and a short axis B. The weight 10 is preferably coated with a coating 18 that protects the weight 10 and cushions the weight 10 when secured atop the diving tank 20. The coating 18 is preferably a soft plastic coating having a frictional effect to resist sliding when secured atop the diving tank 20.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 10-12, the weight 10 is shown being placed onto a diving tank 20 and secured thereto. Specifically, FIG. 9 illustrates a diving tank 20 having a pillar valve 22 and a pillar valve rotatable pressure control handle 24. The weight 10 is placed over the pillar valve 22 and control handle 24 by aligning the long axis A of the opening 12 over the pillar valve 22 and control handle 24. FIG. 10 illustrates the weight 10 on the top surface of the diving tank 20 and being rotated ninety degrees for purposes of securing the weight 10 underneath the pillar valve 22 and control handle 24. FIG. 11 illustrates the assembly of a buoyancy compensator device 26 fastened to the diving tank 20. The weight 10 is further secured to the tank by the attachment of a primary stage regulator 28 having a rotatable pressure control handle 34 to the pillar valve 22, wherein the primary stage regulator 30 is connected to the buoyancy compensator device 26 via a first air hose 30 and to a secondary stage breathing regulator (not shown) via a second air hose 32.

[0026] Accordingly, the present invention comprises a SCUBA diving trimming and position control device and method of using the device with a diving tank. The device is preferably an elliptical, circular, or polygonal shaped weight 10 having an unbroken and continuous member and an elongated opening 12 therethrough generally shaped like an elliptical diamond having a short axis B and long axis A, thus allowing the weight 10 to be placed over a pillar valve 22 and pillar valve rotatable pressure control handle 24 of a diving tank 20. The weight 10 preferably has a flat top surface 14 and a bottom concave surface 16 to promote proper nesting upon the top surface of the diving tank 20.

[0027] In use, the weight 10 is placed over the pillar valve 22 and onto the top surface of the diving tank 20. The weight 10 is preferably rotated ninety degrees to trap it under the pillar valve 22 and pillar valve rotatable pressure control handle 24 by way of the opening's 12 short axis B. A primary stage regulator 28 is then attached to the pillar valve 22, wherein the primary stage regulator 28 is connected to a buoyancy compensator device 26 via a first air hose 30 and to a secondary stage breathing regulator (not shown) via a second air hose 32. The primary stage regulator 28 and the attachments thereto trap the weight 10 between the diving tank 20 and the primary stage regulator 28. Thus, the weight 10 cannot be inadvertently detached. Upon diving, the diver will fill his buoyancy compensator device 26 with an appropriate amount of air to maintain a proper horizontal trim and position.

[0028] In the present invention, a weight preferably of three pounds will typically adequately control trim and position for SCUBA divers in most situations with varying: tank type, size and weight; diver weight and size; buoyancy compensating devices; weight belts and other diver related equipment. However, a weight of smaller or greater mass may be used up to a mass which is appropriate for the given application and equipment. A weight of two to four pounds would typically be adequate. Although lead is the most feasible material to use for the weight, it can be made of any suitable material.

[0029] In addition, the weight 10 would preferably be coated with a protective frictional coating 18. This coating 18 could be rubber, vinyl, plastic or the like. The coating 18 on the weight 10 would protect the weight from corrosion, dampen any vibration of movement of the weight 10 on the diving tank 20, resist sliding during the dive, and further promote proper nesting of the weight 10 on the diving tank 20 due to its frictional nature.

[0030] While the invention has been shown and described in some detail with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, there is no intention that the invention be limited to such detail. On the contrary, the invention is intended to include any alternative or equivalent embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A method of using a weight to control proper trim and position while SCUBA diving, comprising the steps of: a) placing said weight over a pillar valve of a diving tank, wherein said weight is continuous and unbroken with an opening therethrough; b) bringing said weight to rest onto a top surface of said diving tank; c) fastening a primary stage regulator to said pillar valve of said diving tank, wherein said primary stage regulator is connected to a buoyancy compensator device and a second stage breathing regulator, wherein said weight is trapped between said top surface of said diving tank and said primary stage regulator; and d) inflating said buoyancy compensator device with an appropriate amount of air so as to achieve a desired amount of horizontal or vertical diver trim and position.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said opening through said weight is centrally located and elongated in shape.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said opening is generally an elliptical diamond in shape and has a short axis and a long axis that intersect at the center of said opening.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said weight has a flat top surface and a bottom concave surface.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said weight has a protective frictional coating.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of rotating said weight 90 degrees after bringing said weight to rest on said top surface of said diving tank, thereby securing said weight beneath a rotatable handle of said pillar valve.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein an external perimeter of said weight is circular in shape.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein an external perimeter of said weight is elliptical in shape.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein an external perimeter of said weight is polygonal in shape.

10. A device for use on a SCUBA diving tank to promote proper trim and position control while diving, comprising a ring-shaped weighted member that is continuous and unbroken, wherein said weighted member has an opening therethrough for placement of said weighted member over a pillar valve of a diving tank and onto a top surface of the diving tank, wherein a bottom surface of said weighted member is concave to conform to the top surface of the diving tank.

11. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein said opening through said weighted member is centrally located and elongated in shape.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein said opening through said weighted member is generally an elliptical diamond in shape and has a short axis and a long axis that intersect at the center of said opening, wherein said long axis of said opening promotes placement of said weight over the pillar valve and said short axis of said opening promotes securing said weighted member under said pillar valve.

13. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the surface of said weighted member is coated with a protective frictional coating.

14. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein an external perimeter of said weighted member is circular.

15. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein an external perimeter of said weighted member is polygonal.

16. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein an external perimeter of said weighted member is elliptical.