BUBBLE DIVERTER FOR USE WITH DIVING EQUIPMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to diving equipment, and more

particularly to a bubble diverter for use with diving equipment.

BACKGROUND ART

Diving equipment typically includes a diving mask generally covering the eyes

and nose of the user and a breathing regulator assembly. The breathing regulator

assembly includes a mouthpiece that is connected via a hose to a carry-on air tank.

Diving equipment comes in a variety of configurations including FFMs (Full Face

Masks), diving helmets, SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

and/or the like.

One problem currently existing with conventional diving equipment is that

underwater breathing creates exhaust air bubbles and attendant noise that may interfere

with the diver's vision and ability to communicate. Most air bubbles are exhausted as

the diver exhales through a rubber one-way valve that is mounted in the breathing

regulator. The exhaust air bubbles tend to travel upward in front of and around the

diver's face and head, ending up in front of the eyes and/or traveling past the diver's

cheeks, ears and temple area either directly or on the outside of a FFM mask frame or

helmet shell obstructing the diver's vision and communication abilities including the

diver's auditory ability.

This is especially true when a diver is positioned underwater with the top of his/her head towards the water surface, and looking forward or up, as the air bubbles generally ascend upward along the diver's face, mask frame or helmet shell.

Consequently, divers have come to accept exhaust air bubbles as part of the diving experience. To avoid air bubble interference some divers may try to position

themselves with their heads facing downward or tilted to one side, or they may hold

their breath when trying to hear during diving communications. Apart from being an

inconvenience, this positioning may not always be possible especially when divers

ascend and have to look up to ensure that they do not collide with object(s) above them. Accordingly, there is a need for a convenient, portable, and detachable lighting

system for a real estate sign that provides its own source of lighting, is lightweight, and

is easy to install and remove from the sign.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a bubble

diverter for use with diving equipment. The diving equipment includes in part a

breathing regulator assembly and a diver's mask.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the bubble diverter comprises a

front skirt portion and a rear skirt portion. The rear skirt portion is attached to the front

skirt portion at one end and adapted for mounting onto the breathing regulator

assembly. The attached front and rear skirt portions form at least one side pocket

adapted to divert exhaust air bubbles away from the diver's mask during diving

activities when the rear skirt portion is mounted onto the breathing regulator assembly.

The mounted rear skirt portion forms a protective barrier adapted to prevent air bubbles

exiting the breathing regulator assembly from coming into contact with the diving

equipment.

This and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a review of

s the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is generally shown by way of reference to the

accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a conventional diving helmet;

o Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the diving helmet of Fig. 1 ;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a front skirt portion of a diving helmet bubble

deflector pattern in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a rear skirt portion of a diving helmet bubble

deflector pattern in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present

s invention;

Figure 5 is a side perspective view of a conventional diving helmet being

equipped with a bubble deflector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

and

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the diving helmet and bubble deflector

o combination of Fig. 5 in accordance with the present invention.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended

drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to

represent the only forms in which the exemplary embodiments may be constructed

and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for

constructing and operating the exemplary embodiments in connection with the

illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent

functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also

intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with

reference to a diving helmet bubble deflector, as generally shown in Figures 3 - 6. Additional embodiments, features and/or advantages of the invention will become

apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned by practicing the invention. In

the figures, the drawings are not to scale with like numerals referring to like features

throughout both the drawings and the description.

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a conventional diving helmet 10 provided

with a breathing regulator assembly 12 operatively coupled between a breathing

regulator mount tube 14 and an air supply tube 16 (Figs. 1 - 2). Breathing regulator

assembly 12 includes in part an air release or purge button 18 (Figs. 1 - 2), a breathing regulator adjustment knob 19 (Fig. 2) and an exhaust whisker 20 (Figs. 1 - 2). Whisker

20 lets exhaust air out as bubbles via outlet 22 (Fig. 1). The exhaust air bubbles tend to

travel upwards, i.e. toward water surface 50 (Figs. 5 - 6), generally blocking the

diver's vision. If the diver is looking slightly downward the exhaust air bubbles tend to

travel along the sides of diving helmet 10 generating audible noise inside diving helmet

10 which distracts the diver during communication with other divers and/or support

crew above water.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a generally bird-like front skirt portion 24 of a

s diving helmet bubble deflector pattern 26 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment

of the present invention. Front skirt portion 24 is provided at one end with a pair of

apertures 28, 30 adapted for mounting weight(s) which keep the bottom portion of the

skirt from rising up due to buoyancy and/or exhaust bubble flow and blocking the

diver's view during diving activities such as when the diver is in a face forward or face

o up position. In this regard, Fig. 6 generally shows a front weight 32 mounted in

accordance with the present invention to decrease buoyancy and maintain proper

positioning of the skirt during diving activities.

Front skirt portion 24 may be constructed from flexible materials such as

rubber, neoprene, silicone, urethane, cloth and/or the like. Front skirt portion 24 may

s also be constructed from a combination of rigid and flexible materials, as needed. In

one embodiment, front skirt portion 24 may be made of relatively thin and transparent

flexible material. Front skirt portion 24 includes a generally curvilinear top edge 34

(Fig. 3).

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a generally bird-like rear skirt portion 25 of a

o diving helmet bubble deflector pattern 26 in accordance with another exemplary

embodiment of the present invention. Rear skirt portion 25 is provided with a breathing

regulator mount tube aperture 29 and an air supply tube aperture 31, as generally

depicted in Fig. 4. Rear skirt portion 25 may be constructed from flexible materials

such as rubber, neoprene, silicone, cloth and/or the like. Rear skirt portion 25 may be

also constructed from a combination of rigid and flexible materials, as needed. In one

embodiment, rear skirt portion 25 may be made of relatively thin and transparent

flexible material. Rear skirt portion 25 has a top edge 35 (Fig. 4) that generally follows

the contours of top edge 34 of front skirt portion 24 (Fig. 3).

Construction of a diving helmet bubble deflector in accordance with the present

invention includes attaching top edge 35 (Fig. 4) of rear skirt portion 25 to top edge 34

(Fig. 3) of front skirt portion 24 and mounting weight 32 (Fig. 6) to front skirt portion

24. Attachment of top edges 34, 35 may include gluing, sewing, molding and/or the

like. Top edges 34, 35 may also be removably attached via Velcro ^® strips and the like.

Attached top edges 34, 35 form generally a crease 33 along which front skirt portion 24

is folded over rear skirt portion 25.

A bubble deflector 36 constructed in accordance with the present invention and

mounted under the viewing lens 38 of diving helmet 10 is generally depicted in

reference to Figs. 5 - 6. Bubble deflector 36 may be mounted to diving helmet 10 by

uncoupling breathing regulator mount tube 14 and air supply tube 16 (Figs. 1 - 2) from

breathing regulator assembly 12 (Fig. 1), inserting the uncoupled breathing regulator

mount tube 14 and air supply tube 16 (Figs. 1 - 2) into breathing regulator mount tube

aperture 29 and air supply tube aperture 31 of rear skirt portion 25 (Fig. 4),

respectively, and re-coupling breathing regulator mount tube 14 and air supply tube 16

(Figs. 1 - 2) to breathing regulator assembly 12.

The mounted bubble deflector (36) partially encloses exhaust whisker 20 (Figs.

1 - 2) capturing air bubbles 40 exiting whisker 20 (Fig. 5). Specifically, the inserted

rear skirt portion (25) forms a protective barrier between the exterior wall of diving

helmet 10 and outlet 22 of exhaust whisker 20 which prevents air bubbles 40 exiting

s whisker 20 from coming into contact with diving helmet 10, as generally illustrated in

Figs. 5 - 6. The bubble noise commonly experienced by divers using known diving

apparatuses is thus eliminated. Moreover, terminal ends 42, 43, 44 and 45 (Figs. 3 -

4) of attached front and rear skirt portions 24, 25 form side pockets 46 and 48,

respectively, which divert exiting air bubbles 40 outward away from diver's viewing

o lens 38 and helmet 10 toward water surface 50, as generally shown in reference to

Figs. 5 - 6. The diverted air bubbles (40) advantageously do not obstruct the diver's

vision during various diving activities. Mounted bubble deflector 36 also

advantageously provides easy access for the diver to purge button 18 (Figs. 1 - 2)

through flexible front skirt portion 24 as well as to breathing regulator adjustment knob

s 19 (Fig. 2) which may be conveniently reached under front skirt portion 24, as

generally depicted in Fig. 6.

A person skilled in the art would readily appreciate that the bubble deflector of

the present invention may be adapted for use with a full face mask (FFM), SCUBA

(Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diving equipment and/or the like.

o The bubble deflector of the present invention may be assembled in other ways and/or

with other suitable components and/or materials, as long as there is no departure from

the intended purpose and scope of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments

described hereinabove are merely illustrative of the general principles of the present invention. Various design modifications may be employed that would reside within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof.

Moreover, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner

consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising"

should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive

manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present,

or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not

expressly referenced. Thus, it is intended that the invention cover all embodiments and

variations thereof as long as such embodiments and variations come within the scope of

the appended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The bubble diverter of the present invention has a wide range of industrial

applicability. Particularly, when configured and used in accordance with the general

principles of the present invention, the bubble diverter is adapted for use with a full

face mask (FFM), SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diving

equipment and/or the like. The bubble deflector of the present invention may be

assembled in other ways and/or with other suitable components and/or materials, as

needed.