SELF-BAILING FORMED SKIN/SCUBA DIVER'S FLOAT
United States Patent 3649977
A diver's float for moving over the surface of the water to the point at which skin or scuba diving is to take place. The float is propelled by hand or a double ended paddle and has floatation consisting of a water tight compartment and foam to maintain its buoyancy. Compartments are provided both wet and dry for containing the diver's equipment while in transit. The seat for the diver is molded to fit the buttocks and legs and is provided with a hinged backrest for supporting the diver's back.
US Patent References:
LIGHTWEIGHT UNSINKABLE BOAT
Bureau - March 1970 - 3497887
Seat and backrest construction
Halter - February 1961 - 2970638
Buoyant boat construction
Nolde - September 1961 - 2999254
Lifesaving craft
Leyde - March 1947 - 2417508
/1140469.html
Lundin - May 1915 - 1140469
LIGHTWEIGHT UNSINKABLE BOAT
Bureau - March 1970 - 3497887
Seat and backrest construction
Halter - February 1961 - 2970638
Buoyant boat construction
Nolde - September 1961 - 2999254
Lifesaving craft
Leyde - March 1947 - 2417508
/1140469.html
Lundin - May 1915 - 1140469
Application Number:
05/006226
Publication Date:
03/21/1972
Filing Date:
01/27/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
114/347
International Classes:
B63C11/46; B63C9/06
Field of Search:
9/3,5,6 297/458
Primary Examiner:
Farrell, Andrew H.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A skin/scuba diver's float comprising a hollow semicircular elongate hull, a hollow semicircular elongate upper enclosure, said hull and said upper enclosure being secured together along the peripheral meeting edges thereof, a cockpit formed in said float and having a buttocks receiving seat forming a part thereof, form fitting leg rests for supporting the full length of the diver's leg extending forwardly of said seat within said cockpit, an adjustable foot rest at the forward end of each of said leg rests, and a plurality of compartments opening through said upper enclosure within said float.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein hinged doors on said upper enclosure close said compartments.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein drain bores extend from said cockpit and said compartments for self-bailing said cockpit and said compartments.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein sealed flotation areas are formed within said float surrounding said cockpit and said compartments.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a diver's weight compartment is formed in said cockpit forwardly of said seat between said leg rests.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hull slopes upwardly and rearwardly at the stern thereof to assist in propelling said float under action of the waves.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an adjustable backrest is secured to seat at the upper rear portion thereof.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at last one of said storage compartments is centrally positioned rearwardly of said cockpit below the water line of said float.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said storage compartments is centrally positioned forwardly of said cockpit and is watertight.
10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a central elongate abrasion skid is secured to forward portion of said hull and provided with a transverse bore in its forward end for securing tow lines and anchor lines.
1. A skin/scuba diver's float comprising a hollow semicircular elongate hull, a hollow semicircular elongate upper enclosure, said hull and said upper enclosure being secured together along the peripheral meeting edges thereof, a cockpit formed in said float and having a buttocks receiving seat forming a part thereof, form fitting leg rests for supporting the full length of the diver's leg extending forwardly of said seat within said cockpit, an adjustable foot rest at the forward end of each of said leg rests, and a plurality of compartments opening through said upper enclosure within said float.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein hinged doors on said upper enclosure close said compartments.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein drain bores extend from said cockpit and said compartments for self-bailing said cockpit and said compartments.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein sealed flotation areas are formed within said float surrounding said cockpit and said compartments.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a diver's weight compartment is formed in said cockpit forwardly of said seat between said leg rests.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hull slopes upwardly and rearwardly at the stern thereof to assist in propelling said float under action of the waves.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an adjustable backrest is secured to seat at the upper rear portion thereof.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at last one of said storage compartments is centrally positioned rearwardly of said cockpit below the water line of said float.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said storage compartments is centrally positioned forwardly of said cockpit and is watertight.
10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a central elongate abrasion skid is secured to forward portion of said hull and provided with a transverse bore in its forward end for securing tow lines and anchor lines.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to floats for carrying a skin diver and his gear to the point at which scuba diving will take place.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a unitary float structure having a seat formed to fit the buttocks and legs of the diver and further having both wet and dry compartments for carrying the diver's equipment. The float acts as a headquarters for the diver to return to between dives and has compartments for fish and other material the diver collects from the water. Further it is extremely stable in the most adverse water and weather to provide reliability and assurance of progressing homeward with safety for the diver, equipment and take via compartments centered and below line of free board.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a float structure for a diver which is self contained, stable and has compartments for the equipment used by the diver.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 9--9 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a self bailing formed skin and scuba diver's float constructed in accordance with the invention.
The diver's float 10 is of generally tubular form and includes an elongate semicircular hull 11 joined along its peripheral edges to a semicircular upper enclosure 12 and an intermediate deck D. The hull 11, enclosure 12 and deck D may be formed of any suitable light weight material such as fiber glass, aluminum and combinations of these materials and inflatable neoprene or rubber. The bow 13 of the float 10 has a lifting handle 14 secured thereto. A lifting handle 15 is secured to the deck D adjacent the stern 16 of the float 10 and with the handle 14 serves as a means for lifting the float 10 or moving it from place to place when out of the water. The deck D slopes upwardly from the side edges thereof at an angle of approximately 15° to the horizontal to promote drainage.
The float 10 intermediate the bow 13 and stern 16 is provided with a passenger compartment 17 having a buttocks receiving seat 18 which is formed to closely fit the buttocks of the diver. A pair of oppositely disposed formfitting leg rests 19, 20 extend forwardly from the seat 18 to closely fit and support the legs of the diver. A partition 21 separates the leg rests 19, 20 as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. Adjustable parallel foot rests F at the forward extremity of the formed leg rests 19 and 20 provide reflex control balancing. A backrest 22 is secured by a hinge H to the seat 18 and projects upwardly from the seat 18 to adjustably support the back of the diver.
An abrasion skid 23 is formed centrally on the bow portion of the hull 11 and extends longitudinally thereof to prevent wear on the hull 11. A transverse bore 24 extends through the forward portion of the skid 23 to permit attachment of tow lines, anchor lines and the like. A keel 25 extends longitudinally of the stem portion of the hull 11 to stabilize the float 10 as it moves through the water.
A pair of oppositely disposed abutting hinged doors 26 are secured to the upper enclosure 12 between the seat 18 and the stern 16 to give access to the interior of the float 10. A second pair of hinged abutting doors 27 are secured to the bow portion of the upper enclosure 12 between the seat 18 and the bow 13 to likewise give access to the interior of the float 10. A compartment 28 underlies the hinged doors 16 to receive a standard (72 cu. ft.) scuba tank and other gear of the diver of such a nature that can be kept in wet storage. A drain port 29 extends from the compartment 28 through the hull 11 of the float 10. The water displaced by the items stored therein is automatically drained through the tube 29. A plug 30 is removably positioned in the bottom of the drain bore 29 to permit the compartment 28 to be closed off from the water should it be desired to use the float 10 with the compartment 28 dry.
A watertight compartment 31 closed by a removable watertight lid 32 underlies the doors 27 for receiving gear which would be damaged by water, such as food, cameras and the like. Drain bores 33 open through the rear end portion of the upper enclosure 12 to drain water that might have collected on the deck D. Drain bores 34 open through the forward portion of the upper enclosure 12 to drain water that might have collected on the deck D.
A compartment 36 is positioned within the cockpit 17 forwardly of the seat 18 and centrally of the float 10. The compartment 36 is provided for the weight belt of the diver so that it will be at the lowest possible point in the hull 11 and substantially centrally thereof to assist in maintaining an extremely low center of gravity for the float 10. The compartment 36 has a drain bore 37 extending therefrom through the hull 11 so that the cockpit 17 may be self bailing therethrough.
The area (volumetric space) between the hull 11 and deck D as at 38, 39, 40 and 41 is sealed, airtight for flotation purposes and may have plastic foam flotation material (not shown) contained therein.
A bar 42 extends across the top of the compartment 36 and provides means for the attachment of the weight belt to prevent its loss in the eventuality of the craft overturning. Bar 42 further provides a central lifting handle.
In the use and operation of the invention the diver launches the float 10 and seats himself in the cockpit 17 with his gear loaded into the compartments 28 and 31 and the weight belt in compartment 36. The diver displaces all of the water in the cockpit through drain bore 37. He then propels the float 10 to the point at which diving is to take place by using either a double ended oar (not shown) or his two hands. The float 10 is anchored at the point of diving and the diver uses it as a floating platform from which to operate. The compartment 28 in addition to containing diver's gear, may also be used to contain fish, shells or other items gathered by the diver for return to shore.
While the float 10 has been illustrated as a self-bailing device having a self-bailing compartment 28 and self-bailing cockpit 17, it can be used in claim waters as a canoe/kayak type vessel kept dry by plugging the drain bores with suitable plugs so that the cockpit and rear storage compartment remains dry.
When used as a wet float for skin or scuba diving in turbulent waters, the open drain bores 37 and 29 permit water to enter the compartment 28 and cockpit 17 to the height of the freeboard, thus assisting in maintaining the stability of the craft.
The hull 11 slopes upwardly toward the stern and when traveling in the same direction but slower than the wave action, this slope assists in the propulsion of the float 10.
The word scuba, as used in the specification and claims, is a coined term meaning self-contained, underwater breathing apparatus.
Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptions may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to floats for carrying a skin diver and his gear to the point at which scuba diving will take place.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a unitary float structure having a seat formed to fit the buttocks and legs of the diver and further having both wet and dry compartments for carrying the diver's equipment. The float acts as a headquarters for the diver to return to between dives and has compartments for fish and other material the diver collects from the water. Further it is extremely stable in the most adverse water and weather to provide reliability and assurance of progressing homeward with safety for the diver, equipment and take via compartments centered and below line of free board.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a float structure for a diver which is self contained, stable and has compartments for the equipment used by the diver.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 9--9 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a self bailing formed skin and scuba diver's float constructed in accordance with the invention.
The diver's float 10 is of generally tubular form and includes an elongate semicircular hull 11 joined along its peripheral edges to a semicircular upper enclosure 12 and an intermediate deck D. The hull 11, enclosure 12 and deck D may be formed of any suitable light weight material such as fiber glass, aluminum and combinations of these materials and inflatable neoprene or rubber. The bow 13 of the float 10 has a lifting handle 14 secured thereto. A lifting handle 15 is secured to the deck D adjacent the stern 16 of the float 10 and with the handle 14 serves as a means for lifting the float 10 or moving it from place to place when out of the water. The deck D slopes upwardly from the side edges thereof at an angle of approximately 15° to the horizontal to promote drainage.
The float 10 intermediate the bow 13 and stern 16 is provided with a passenger compartment 17 having a buttocks receiving seat 18 which is formed to closely fit the buttocks of the diver. A pair of oppositely disposed formfitting leg rests 19, 20 extend forwardly from the seat 18 to closely fit and support the legs of the diver. A partition 21 separates the leg rests 19, 20 as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. Adjustable parallel foot rests F at the forward extremity of the formed leg rests 19 and 20 provide reflex control balancing. A backrest 22 is secured by a hinge H to the seat 18 and projects upwardly from the seat 18 to adjustably support the back of the diver.
An abrasion skid 23 is formed centrally on the bow portion of the hull 11 and extends longitudinally thereof to prevent wear on the hull 11. A transverse bore 24 extends through the forward portion of the skid 23 to permit attachment of tow lines, anchor lines and the like. A keel 25 extends longitudinally of the stem portion of the hull 11 to stabilize the float 10 as it moves through the water.
A pair of oppositely disposed abutting hinged doors 26 are secured to the upper enclosure 12 between the seat 18 and the stern 16 to give access to the interior of the float 10. A second pair of hinged abutting doors 27 are secured to the bow portion of the upper enclosure 12 between the seat 18 and the bow 13 to likewise give access to the interior of the float 10. A compartment 28 underlies the hinged doors 16 to receive a standard (72 cu. ft.) scuba tank and other gear of the diver of such a nature that can be kept in wet storage. A drain port 29 extends from the compartment 28 through the hull 11 of the float 10. The water displaced by the items stored therein is automatically drained through the tube 29. A plug 30 is removably positioned in the bottom of the drain bore 29 to permit the compartment 28 to be closed off from the water should it be desired to use the float 10 with the compartment 28 dry.
A watertight compartment 31 closed by a removable watertight lid 32 underlies the doors 27 for receiving gear which would be damaged by water, such as food, cameras and the like. Drain bores 33 open through the rear end portion of the upper enclosure 12 to drain water that might have collected on the deck D. Drain bores 34 open through the forward portion of the upper enclosure 12 to drain water that might have collected on the deck D.
A compartment 36 is positioned within the cockpit 17 forwardly of the seat 18 and centrally of the float 10. The compartment 36 is provided for the weight belt of the diver so that it will be at the lowest possible point in the hull 11 and substantially centrally thereof to assist in maintaining an extremely low center of gravity for the float 10. The compartment 36 has a drain bore 37 extending therefrom through the hull 11 so that the cockpit 17 may be self bailing therethrough.
The area (volumetric space) between the hull 11 and deck D as at 38, 39, 40 and 41 is sealed, airtight for flotation purposes and may have plastic foam flotation material (not shown) contained therein.
A bar 42 extends across the top of the compartment 36 and provides means for the attachment of the weight belt to prevent its loss in the eventuality of the craft overturning. Bar 42 further provides a central lifting handle.
In the use and operation of the invention the diver launches the float 10 and seats himself in the cockpit 17 with his gear loaded into the compartments 28 and 31 and the weight belt in compartment 36. The diver displaces all of the water in the cockpit through drain bore 37. He then propels the float 10 to the point at which diving is to take place by using either a double ended oar (not shown) or his two hands. The float 10 is anchored at the point of diving and the diver uses it as a floating platform from which to operate. The compartment 28 in addition to containing diver's gear, may also be used to contain fish, shells or other items gathered by the diver for return to shore.
While the float 10 has been illustrated as a self-bailing device having a self-bailing compartment 28 and self-bailing cockpit 17, it can be used in claim waters as a canoe/kayak type vessel kept dry by plugging the drain bores with suitable plugs so that the cockpit and rear storage compartment remains dry.
When used as a wet float for skin or scuba diving in turbulent waters, the open drain bores 37 and 29 permit water to enter the compartment 28 and cockpit 17 to the height of the freeboard, thus assisting in maintaining the stability of the craft.
The hull 11 slopes upwardly toward the stern and when traveling in the same direction but slower than the wave action, this slope assists in the propulsion of the float 10.
The word scuba, as used in the specification and claims, is a coined term meaning self-contained, underwater breathing apparatus.
Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptions may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.