Integrated dive suit

Abstract

An integrated dive suit includes at least one flexible polymeric pressure vessel connected with sections of flexible conduit to a manifold. The pressure vessel and sections of flexible conduit are encased in high strength fiber material. The pressure vessels are wrapped in high strength ballistic ribbon material. A weight system is integrated with the pressure vessels. The manifold provides connections for a high pressure regulator and an air fill source. A high pressure hose is connected to the high pressure regulator, a low pressure regulator is connected to the low pressure hose and a mouthpiece connected to the low pressure regulator. A hydrodynamic pressure vessel container is integrally attached to the dive suit. A two part, balanced flexible buoyancy control vest, flexible weight pellet containers and a wireless pressure gauge are integrated with the dive suit. A concentrator is used to pressurize a flexible pressure vessel for charging the vessels in the dive suit.

1 . An integrated dive suit, comprising:
 a dive suit, said dive suit being formed of flexible material and shaped to fit about a diver's body;   at least one flexible polymeric pressure vessel, said vessel having a first end and a second end;   each of said first and second ends having an attached section of flexible conduit;   each of said sections of flexible conduit being attached to either of a sealing fitting, an inlet fitting, another section of flexible conduit attached to another vessel and a manifold;   said at least one pressure vessel and said sections of flexible conduit being encased in high strength fiber material;   said at least one pressure vessel being wrapped with a high strength ballistic ribbon material;   a manifold, said manifold connected to said section of flexible conduit connected to said at least one pressure vessel, and providing connections for a high pressure regulator and an air fill source;   a high pressure regulator, a high pressure hose connected to said high pressure regulator, a low pressure regulator connected to said high pressure hose and a mouthpiece connected to said low pressure regulator;   a hydrodynamic pressure vessel container, said container being formed of resilient material, and being sized and shaped to accommodate said at least one pressure vessel, said sections of flexible conduit and said manifold; and   said hydrodynamic container being integrally attached to said dive suit, sized and shaped to present a minimized cross-sectional area for a diver using said dive suit, and having openings sized and shaped to accommodate passage of at least one connecting hose and connection to said air fill source.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said pressure vessel container comprises at least one flexible joint. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel further comprises a weight member. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 3 , wherein said weight member comprises metallic overbrading of said at least one pressure vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 3 , wherein said weight member comprises a contoured metallic fitting for said at least one pressure vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure transducer, said pressure transducer detecting pressure levels within said at least one pressure vessel and comprising a wireless signal transmission mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 6 , further comprising a remotely mounted pressure display device, said display device receiving wireless signals from said pressure transducer and displaying a pressure reading. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 7 , wherein said pressure display device further comprises additional diving information display features, said features comprising any of depth gauge, compass, timer, gas mixture and dive table information. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a buoyancy control device, said buoyancy control device comprising an inflatable bladder, a low pressure connection to said high pressure regulator, an inlet valve and an exhaust valve. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 9 , wherein said buoyancy control device is formed as a vest worn over said integrated dive suit and removably connected to said high pressure regulator. 
     
     
         11 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 9 , wherein said inflatable bladder comprises a flexible cell airpark. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 9 , wherein said buoyancy control device comprises at least one flexible joint. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 9 , wherein said buoyancy control device comprises first side and second side portions and an integrated air transfer coupler, said coupler balancing air levels between said first and second side portions. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel is disposed in a dorsal portion of said dive suit. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel is disposed in a leg portion of said dive suit. 
     
     
         16 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel further comprises a tube coiled about said weight member. 
     
     
         17 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel comprises any of an elongated cylindrical shape, an ovoid shape and a spherical shape. 
     
     
         18 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 17 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel comprises a tube coiled and stacked in a pyramidal shape. 
     
     
         19 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said high strength fiber material is selected from the group consisting of: rayon, nylon, glass or Kevlar® (aramid) fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said high strength ballistic ribbon material is selected from the group consisting of: prepreg carbon fiber or prepreg glass fiber. 
     
     
         21 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said manifold comprises a member of flexible material, said member mounting at least one connection for said section of flexible conduit connected to said at least one pressure vessel, a connection for said high pressure regulator and said connection for said air fill source, said flexible member permitting said manifold to conform to a back of a diver. 
     
     
         22 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein, said manifold further comprises an integral high pressure regulator. 
     
     
         23 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said high pressure regulator further comprises a second connection for a high pressure hose, said second connection providing an emergency air source for a second diver. 
     
     
         24 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said manifold further includes an overpressure rupture fitting. 
     
     
         25 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel includes an overpressure rupture fitting. 
     
     
         26 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one polymeric pressure vessel is formed as a seamless cylindrical body having semi-spherical ends, each of said ends having a central opening connected to said sections of flexible conduit. 
     
     
         27 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one polymeric pressure vessel is formed as a pair of two part shells, said shells being welded together and reinforced with a two part ring assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one polymeric pressure vessel is formed as an elongated, tube with reduced diameter ends for connection to either of coupling, inlet and sealing fittings. 
     
     
         29 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one polymeric pressure vessel is formed as an elongated, corrugated tube with reduced diameter ends for connection to either of coupling, inlet and sealing fittings. 
     
     
         30 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one weight pocket, said weight pocket comprising:
 a weight reservoir for pelletized weights;   a downward facing weight release flap; and   a control apparatus for opening and closing said flap.   
     
     
         31 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary air pack, said auxiliary air pack comprising:
 at least one flexible polymeric pressure vessel;   a high pressure regulator connected to said at least one pressure vessel;   a high pressure hose connected to said high pressure regulator;   a low pressure regulator connected to said high pressure hose;   a mouthpiece connected to said low pressure regulator; and   a hydrodynamic pressure vessel container, said container being sized and shaped to contain said at least one pressure vessel and to be worn about a waist of a diver while presenting a minimal cross-sectional area.   
     
     
         32 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a concentrator, said concentrator comprising:
 a compressor, said compressor having a rotational power source, a low pressure input, a high pressure output;   at least one concentrator polymeric pressure vessel, said pressure vessel being fluidly connected to said high pressure output;   a high pressure regulator, said regulator being fluidly connected to said pressure vessel; and   a high pressure connection, said high pressure connection being fluidly connected to said high pressure regulator and connectable to said inlet fitting.   
     
     
         33 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 32 , wherein said concentrator further comprises:
 an inlet air filter;   a pressure gauge, said pressure gauge measuring pressure in said at least one concentrator pressure vessel; and   a shut-off valve, said shut-off valve controlling said high pressure connection.   
     
     
         34 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one concentrator pressure vessel is formed as a seamless cylindrical body having semi-spherical ends, each of said ends having a central opening connected to said sections of flexible conduit. 
     
     
         35 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one concentrator pressure vessel is formed as a pair of two part shells, said shells being welded together and reinforced with a two part ring assembly. 
     
     
         36 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one concentrator pressure vessel is formed as an elongated, tube with reduced diameter ends for connection to either of coupling, inlet and sealing fittings. 
     
     
         37 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one concentrator pressure vessel is formed as an elongated, corrugated tube with reduced diameter ends for connection to either of coupling, inlet and sealing fittings. 
     
     
         38 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 21 , wherein said at least one flexible polymeric pressure vessel is formed as a seamless cylindrical body having semi-spherical ends, each of said ends having a central opening connected to one of said sections of flexible conduit, said conduit connected to said manifold, said manifold being disposed to fit adjacent a spine of a diver with said at least one pressure vessel extending laterally therefrom. 
     
     
         39 . The integrated dive suit, as described in  claim 21 , wherein said at least one flexible polymeric pressure vessel is formed as a seamless cylindrical body having semi-spherical ends, each of said ends having a central opening connected to said sections of flexible conduit, said conduit connected to said manifold, said manifold being disposed to fit across shoulders of a diver with said at least one pressure vessel extending downwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         40 . An integrated buoyancy control device comprising:
 a buoyancy control vest, said vest being sized and shaped to fit over a conventional dive suit and having an internal air bladder, an inflator valve and an exhaust valve, said inflator valve connects to a low pressure hose;   at least one flexible polymeric pressure vessel, said vessel having a first end and a second end;   each of said first and second ends having an attached section of flexible conduit;   each of said sections of flexible conduit being attached to either of a sealing fitting, an inlet fitting, another section of flexible conduit attached to another vessel and a manifold;   said at least one pressure vessel and said sections of flexible conduit being encased in high strength fiber material;   said at least one pressure vessel being wrapped with a high strength ballistic ribbon material;   a manifold, said manifold connected to said section of flexible conduit connected to said at least one pressure vessel, and providing connections for a high pressure regulator and an air fill source;   a pressure gauge, said pressure gauge being connected to said at least one pressure vessel;   a high pressure regulator, a high pressure hose connected to said high pressure regulator, a low pressure regulator connected to said high pressure hose and a mouthpiece connected to said low pressure regulator;   a hydrodynamic pressure vessel container, said container being formed of resilient material, and being sized and shaped to accommodate said at least one pressure vessel, said sections of flexible conduit and said manifold; and   said hydrodynamic container being integrally attached to said buoyancy control vest, sized and shaped to present a minimized cross-sectional area for a diver using said vest, and having openings sized and shaped to accommodate passage of at least one connecting hose and connection to said air fill source.