AU2003100050B4 - Underwater observation helmet - Google Patents

Description

UNDERWATER OBSERVATION HELMET The present invention relates to diving helmets suitable for use when walking on the seabed.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION For many years, diving helmets have been used mainly in commercial areas suitable for deep sea diving, while in the recent past helmets have been used to provide the general public with an opportunity to explore the underwater world. Such helmets are used by placing the hehnet over the shoulders of the user with air being pumped in through an air line attached to an opening in the helmet to create a suitable pressure within the helmet.

The excess air is then expelled from the helmet at suitable gaps at the user's shoulders.

The user is able walk on the seabed without the need for specialised diving equipment as the helmet can be with usual swimming apparel.

There are disadvantages with these existing type diving helmets in that there is a tendency to for the air within the helmet to fog and cause visual problems as well as having problems with reflection and refraction. Furthermore, existing types of helmets used for the general public do not allow for the provision of communication between users and surface personnel.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a helmet device suitable for use in recreational underwater observation which substantially overcomes the problems as described above. At the very least, the object of the invention is to provide an alternative to known helmet devices.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a helmet device suitable for use in recreational underwater observation, said device including a head portion with a 910d £6'ON MU-1 10 1-11 AAH t7T:LT R-O/TO/P-? lu6 i 4IIlI flIIS.WHJ 2 transparent window in the front portion of the head portion, a body engaging portion being adapted to be relatively heavier in weight than the head portion and being adapted to provide a gap between the user's shoulders and said body engaging portion when in use, and an air inlet being adapted to be connected to an air supply, said air fitting being located at rear portion of said head portion adjacent the central position of the rear portion, said air fitting having a baffle means located within interior of said head portion to direct incoming air upwardly so that the stream of air is used to prevent mist on the transparent window in the front portion, and said air exhaled by said user being directed downwardly and out of Ssaid helmet via said gap between the user's shoulders and said body engaging portion.

Preferably, the baffle means includes a curved plate which directs air upwardly and sideways the from the air inlet such that the air travels in a path substantially over and around the head of the user. Preferably, the air inlet has a non-return valve.

Preferably, the helmet device is fitted with communication apparatus such that the user can speak to and hear personnel at the surface. Preferably, the user can speak with other users using helmet devices connected to the communication apparatus.

In the preferred form, the air inlet is provided with silencer means to effectively silence the noise associated with air passing through the air inlet.

In a preferred form, the head portion is shaped as a cylindrical dome with the rear portion being opaque. Preferably, the opaque rear portion and the transparent front portion are equal in dimensions.

Preferably, a video camera apparatus is provided in the helmet device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 10T0d 06'ON Mbri no i -i iSMHO ST :2 E M/ O/EZ

I-.

3 Fig. I is front perspective view of a helmet device of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the helmet device of Fig. I BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An underwater observation helmet 10 suitable for use in recreational underwater observation is illustrated in the drawings. The hemet 10 haa a head portion 11 and a flanged corselet rim portion 12 depending therefrom. The head portion 11 is a cylindrical domed shape with the front half 13 thereof being made from clear pernpex and the rear half 14 being made from opaque fibreglass material. The rim portion 12 is shaped to fit over the use's shoulders and has weights 15 spaced around the portion 12 and is preferably made from fibreglass material. The helmet 10 is fitted over the head of a user with the rim portion 12 being adapted to abut against the front torso, the rear torso and the top of the shoulders of the user with a slight gap being formed around the shoulders. The weights in the rim portion 12 assist the helmet 10 to rest on the user when in use.

The helmet I0 has an air inlet fitting 16 adapted to be fitted to an air hose (not illustrated).

The air fitting is positioned adjacent the central portion of the rear half 14 of the head portion 1 1 substantially behind the user's head when in use. The fitting 16 includes a curved baffle plate 17 which directs the air which passes through the air inlet fiting 16 in upwards and sideways directions around the head of the user. The air is directed in this manner to prevent a mist forming on the front transparent half of the head portion 11. The air inlet fitting 16 also includes a non-return valve 18 and at least one silencer 19 contained therein.

The helmet 10 also is fitted with communication apparatus (not illustrated) such that the user can speak to and hear personnel at the surface. Preferably, the user can speak with other users using helmet 10 connected to the communication apparatus. A video camera (not illustrated) apparatus is also provided in the helmet 10 and is applied thereto in known ways and can be used in association with the communication apparatus.

BTOd 0'8"ON MUt57 nOI7IS).dHD ST:LT 20/10/2Z 4 When the helmet 10 is in use, the user is able to walk on the seabed breathing the air which is passed into the helmet 10. The air exhaled by the user is forced under pressure to exit the helmet 10 from the gap around the shoulders of the user which means that any air bubbles which may be generated exit at the side of the user and does not impair vision.

The air is inlet via the hose using known techniques and if the helmet 10 is dislodged from the head of the user, the user can then refit the helmet 10 and the air which is passed through the non-return valve of the inlet means that water in the helmet is soon expelled.

The communication apparatus including the silencers allow uninterrupted communication between the user(s) and the personnel on the water's surface to ensure safety. The video camera device can add to the enjoyment as it can record the event for the user as well as providing images back to the surface.

Throughout the specification and claims, the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the context requires otherwise.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I

i- no1 I I VUt I11 ICBOM 9fT:LT Lkt/nd/RZ

Claims (4)

1. A helmet device suitable for use in recreational underwater observation, said device including a head portion with a transparent window in the front portion of the head portion, a body engaging portion being adapted to be relatively heavier in weight than the head portion and being adapted to provide a gap between the user's shoulders and said body engaging portion when in use, and an air inlet being adapted to be connected to an air supply, said air inlet being located at rear portion of said head portion adjacent the central position of the rear portion, a baffle means located within interior of said head portion to direct incoming air from said air inlet upwardly so that stream of air is used to prevent mist on the transparent window in the front portion, and air exhaled by the user being directed downwardly and out of said helmet via said gap between the user's shoulders and said body engaging portion.

2. The helmet device according to claim 1, wherein the baffle means includes a curved plate which directs air upwardly and sideways the from the air inlet such that the air travels in a path substantially over and around the head of the use and the air inlet has a non-return valve.

3. The helmet device according to claims I or 2, wherein the helmet device is fitted with communication apparatus such that the user can speak to and hear persomnnel at the surface and the user can speak with other users using helmet devices connected to the communication apparatus.

4. The helmet device according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein, the air inlet is provided with silencer means to effectively silence the noise associated with air passing through the air inlet. The helmet device according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion is shaped as a cylindrical dome with the rear portion being opaque, the opaque rear portion and the transparent front portion being equal in dimensions. .ui no I -ISA11 91:.T Z£/TO/s :z tCMed Cub Un 6 DATED this TWENTY-THIRD day of JANUARY 2003 JONSAN KINGU Patent Attorneys for the Applicat CHRYSILUOU LAW rnul flD II SMUO tT:2J Ze/TG/Ee TZ0d EO*N