Holder for Scuba Diving Equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a holder ( 10 ) for scuba diving equipment. The holder ( 10 ) is attachable to a back pack for a buoyancy compensation device, and includes a back sheet ( 12 ) and a front sheet ( 14 ) connected to the back sheet ( 12 ) to define a pouch with an upper access opening ( 18 ). The holder ( 10 ) includes an elastic member which extends across an upper region ( 22 ) of the front sheet ( 14 ) so that the access opening ( 18 ) is expandable during insertion of scuba diving equipment into the pouch and subsequently contractible to retain the scuba diving equipment within the pouch.

1 . A holder for scuba diving equipment, the holder including a pouch which is attachable to a back pack for a buoyancy compensation device and which defines an elastic access opening leading into the pouch which is expandable during insertion of scuba diving equipment into the pouch and subsequently contractible to retain the scuba diving equipment within the pouch.  
     
     
         2 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the pouch includes straps which are arranged to extend around portions of the back pack, and fasteners for fastening the straps to the back pack.  
     
     
         3 . A holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the pouch includes upper straps for fastening the pouch to an upper portion of the back pack, and lower straps for fastening the pouch to lower portions of the back pack.  
     
     
         4 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners comprise hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         5 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the access opening is located in an upper region of the pouch and, when contracted, the width of this opening is smaller than the width of a lower region of the pouch.  
     
     
         6 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the access opening in a relaxed condition is between 60% and 90% of the width of the lower region of the pouch.  
     
     
         7 . A holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the width of the access opening in a relaxed condition is about 75% of the width of the lower region of the pouch.  
     
     
         8 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the pouch includes an elastic member adjacent the access opening for providing this opening with elasticity.  
     
     
         9 . A holder according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastic member comprises an elastic band or strip which extends along at least a portion of the access opening.  
     
     
         10 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pouch is formed from a liquid permeable material so that liquid entering the access opening can drain from the pouch.  
     
     
         11 . A holder according to  claim 10 , wherein the pouch includes a back sheet and a liquid permeable front sheet.  
     
     
         12 . A holder according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquid permeable front sheet is perforated so that scuba diving equipment within the pouch is visible through the front sheet.  
     
     
         13 . A back pack for scuba diving buoyancy compensation device which includes a holder for scuba diving equipment, the holder including a pouch on the back pack defining an elastic access opening leading into the pouch which is expandable during insertion of scuba diving equipment into the pouch and subsequently contractible to retain the scuba diving equipment within the pouch.  
     
     
         14 . A back pack according to  claim 13 , wherein the access opening is located in an upper region of the pouch and, when contracted, the width of this opening is smaller than the width of a lower region of the pouch.  
     
     
         15 . A back pack according to  claim 14 , wherein the width of the access opening in a relaxed condition is between 60% and 90% of the width of the lower region of the pouch.  
     
     
         16 . A back pack according to  claim 15 , wherein the width of the access opening in a relaxed condition is about 75% of the width of the lower region of the pouch.  
     
     
         17 . A back pack according to  claim 13 , wherein the pouch includes an elastic member adjacent the access opening for providing this opening with elasticity.  
     
     
         18 . A back pack according to  claim 17 , wherein the elastic member comprises an elastic band or strip which extends along at least a portion of the access opening.  
     
     
         19 . A back pack according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the pouch is formed from a liquid permeable material so that liquid entering the access opening can drain from the pouch.  
     
     
         20 . A back pack according to  claim 19 , wherein the pouch includes a back sheet and a liquid permeable front sheet.  
     
     
         21 . A back pack according to  claim 20 , wherein the liquid permeable front sheet is perforated so that scuba diving equipment within the pouch is visible through the front sheet.