Underwater Breathing Apparatus

Abstract

An underwater breathing apparatus includes a water resistant enclosure for floating on the surface of a body of water. An air collection header and an air pump for generating a constant flow of breathable air, an air supply line for delivering a flow of the breathable air to a user and a check valve for exhausting used air are also provided. At least one mouth piece connected to one of said supply lines and to a user's mouth together with a solar powered rechargeable battery connected to the air pumps enables the air pump to supply breathable air to the user. A safety flag mounted on the water resistant enclosure and extending upward therefrom indicate the presence of an individual below the surface of the water as does a safety warning light mounted on top of the water resistant enclosure. A fresh air vent tube supplies air to the air pump and prevents water from entering the water resistant enclosure while a jet ski fixed to an underside of said water resistant enclosure and guided by the user is used for moving the water resistant enclosure to a different area. Finally, a tether line connects the user to the jet ski while a retractable hose mechanism automatically reels out air hoses when a diver descends and reels in the air hose when the diver ascends. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a micro-computer contains the data from dive tables and automatically reels in and stops at various steps the air hose.

1 . An underwater breathing apparatus comprising:
 a water resistant enclosure for floating on the surface of a body of water;   an air collection header and an air pump for generating a constant flow of breathable air;   an air supply line for delivering a flow of the breathable air to a user and a check valve for exhausting used air;   at least one mouth piece connected to said air supply line and to a user's mouth;   a solar powered rechargeable battery connected to said air pump that enables said air pump to supply breathable air to said user for an extended period of time;   a safety flag mounted on said water resistant enclosure and extending upwardly therefrom to indicate the presence of an individual below the surface of the water;   a safety warning light mounted on top of the water resistant enclosure that can be turned on by a user when the device is used in darkness;   a fresh air vent tube that supplies air to said air pump and prevents water from entering into said water resistant enclosure;   a jet ski fixed to an underside of said water resistant enclosure and guidable by said user for moving said water resistant enclosure and said user from one location to another; and   a retractable hose mechanism for automatically reeling out air hose when a diver descends and reeling in an air hose when the diver ascends.   
     
     
         2 . An underwater breathing apparatus according to  claim 1  which includes a computer for reeling out and reeling in a predetermined length of air hose in response to a signal from the user or after a predetermined time at a selected depth. 
     
     
         3 . An underwater breathing apparatus according to  claim 2  in which said computer includes diving tables and programs decompression stops at various depths and periods for returning to the surface. 
     
     
         4 . An underwater breathing apparatus according to  claim 2  in which said apparatus includes more than one air collection header, air pump and air supply line for delivering a flow of breathable air to multiple users. 
     
     
         5 . An underwater breathing apparatus according to  claim 3  in which said retractable hose mechanism is programmed to automatically reel out pre-selected lengths of air hose to allow a diver to descend to a second pre-selected depth. 
     
     
         6 . An underwater breathing apparatus for a recreational SCUBA diver, said apparatus consisting of a water resistant enclosure for floating on the surface of a body of water;
 an air collection header and an air pump for generating a constant flow of breathable air;   an air supply line for delivering a flow of the breathable air to a user and a check valve for exhausting used air;   at least one mouth piece connected to said air supply line and to a user's mouth;   a solar powered rechargeable battery connected to said air pump that enables said air pump to supply breathable air to said user for an extended period of time;   a safety flag mounted on said water resistant enclosure and extending upwardly therefrom to indicate the presence of an individual below the surface of the water;   a safety warning light mounted on top of the water resistant enclosure that can be turned on by a user when the device is used in darkness;   a fresh air vent tube that supplies air to said air pump and prevents water from entering into said water resistant enclosure;   a jet ski fixed to an underside of said water resistant enclosure and guidable by said user for moving said water resistant enclosure and said user from one location to another; and   a retractable hose mechanism for automatically reeling out air hose when a diver descends and reeling in an air hose when the diver ascends.   
     
     
         7 . A method for breathing fresh air from a submerged location includes the steps of:
 providing a water resistant enclosure  22  with a plurality of air pumps  53  that are each connected to a flexible air supply line which in turn is connected to a quick disconnect and check valve that connects to an air collection header. This generates a constant flow of breathable air to the underwater user and an energy source comprising a solar rechargeable battery that is connected to the air pumps enables a supply of breathable air to reach the under water user for an extended period of time;   connecting a plurality of air supply lines each with two ends that supply breathable air to at least one mouthpiece that is connected to the air collection header at one end and to an underwater user's mouthpiece at the other end;   turning on the pump  53  prior to placing the mouthpiece in the user's mouth to ensure that air supply lines are free of water;   placing a user's mouth on the mouthpiece to breath air while performing a desired underwater task.