Buoyancy Compensator Integrated Weight System

Abstract

A mechanism for releasably securing a weight-receiving pouch directly onto a buoyancy compensator vest as well as a buoyancy compensation system are provided. The mechanism comprises a first connecting element in the form of a linear rail. A second connecting element comprises a housing defining a slot/channel configured to be slidably received on the linear rail of the first connecting element. One of the first or second connecting elements is located on an external face of the buoyancy compensator vest. The other of the first or second connecting elements is located on/associated with the weight-receiving pouch. The buoyancy compensator system includes the buoyancy compensator vest. The first or second connecting element may be attached to a waist band of the vest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for releasably securing a weight-receiving pouch directly onto a buoyancy compensator vest, comprising with integrated weight system comprising:
 a first connecting element including a linear rail;   a second connecting element comprising a housing defining a slot configured to be slidably received on the linear rail;   wherein:
 one of the first or second connecting elements is located on an external face of the buoyancy compensator vest; and 
 the other one of the first or second connecting elements is associated with the weight-receiving pouch. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear rail is T-shaped having a head and a foot, the foot connecting the head to the buoyancy compensator vest, the head forming undercut regions which receive portions of the housing that define the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear rail is T-shaped having a head, the linear rail being attached to the external face of the buoyancy compensator, portions of the housing defining the slot are located between the head of the linear rail and the external face of the buoyancy compensator vest to which the linear rail is attached. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first connecting element includes at least one engaging formation and the second connecting element has an engaging mechanism located within the housing configured to releasably engage the at least one engaging formation, the engaging mechanism configured to retain the first and second connecting elements in active engagement with each other and to facilitate intentional disengagement of the first and second connecting elements from each other by a user when required. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one engaging formation includes a first set of teeth including a first tooth formed in a first side edge of the head of the linear rail and a second tooth formed in a second side edge, opposite the first side edge, of the head of the linear rail. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the engaging mechanism includes a spring loaded catch including:
 a first arm pivotably mounted within the housing and having a first abutment for engaging the first tooth;   a second arm pivotably mounted within the housing and having a second abutment for engaging the second tooth;   wherein the first and second arms are biased towards one another by a biasing force.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second arms are oriented and configured to facilitate free sliding movement of the second connecting element onto the linear rail in a first direction and to engage the first and second teeth to prevent sliding movement of the second connecting element in a second direction, opposite the first direction, off of the linear rail. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further including a release mechanism connected to the first and second arms, the release mechanism, upon application of a release force, opening the first and second arms to disengage the first and second arms from the first and second teeth to allow the second connecting element to slide in the second element off of the linear rail. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the release mechanism includes a pull handle extending from the housing and operably connected to each of the first and second arms by a connection arrangement configured to open the first and second arms upon application of the release force. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the connecting arrangement includes a first connecting rod connected to the first arm and a second connecting rod connected to the second arm. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the engaging formation is a set of ratchet teeth formed on an outer face of the head, the ratchet teeth extending way from the external face; and   the engaging mechanism includes a spring-loaded ratchet-catch configured to permit free sliding movement of the second connecting element onto the linear rail in a first direction and to engage with the ratchet teeth to prevent sliding movement of the second connecting element off of the linear rail in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the spring-loaded ratchet-catch is spring biased towards the external face when the second connecting element is mounted to the first connecting element. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first arm has a first button extending outward of a first side of the housing;   the second arm has a second button extending outward of a second side, opposite the first side of the housing;   the first and second arms being in opposed relation such that an external load pinching the first and second buttons towards one another pivots the first and second arms to open the first and second arms and disengage the first and second arms from the first and second teeth.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the engaging mechanism includes at least one button outward of the housing, the button being slidable relative to the housing such that pressing the button a further extent into the housing disengages the ratchet-catch from the ratchet teeth.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the engaging mechanism includes at least one button extending outward of the housing, the button being slidable relative to the housing parallel to the first and second directions, the at least one button operably connected to the ratchet-catch;   application of a sliding force parallel to the second direction actuates the ratchet catch out of engagement with the ratchet teeth permitting sliding movement of the second connecting element relative to the first connecting element in the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the engaging formation or the engaging mechanism has a ramped face that permits the engaging mechanism to slide past engaging formation when sliding the second connecting element onto the first connecting element in the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . A buoyancy compensation system comprising:
 a buoyancy compensator vest having a waist band and a first connecting element on an outward facing external surface of the waist band, the first connecting element including a T-shaped linear rail including a head and a foot, the foot spacing the head away from the external face of the waist band, the first connecting element including at least one engaging formation; and   a weight-receiving pouch having a housing providing a second connecting element including a slot configured to be slidably received on the linear rail, the housing having first and second portions defining the slot therebetween, the first and second portions being located between the head and the external face when the first and second connecting elements are interconnected, the second connecting element, the second connecting element having an engaging mechanism located within the housing configured to releasably engage the at least one engaging formation to retain the first and second connecting elements in active engagement with each other by sliding the weight pouch onto the first connecting element in a first direction and configured to facilitate intentional disengagement of the first from the second connecting elements by actuation of the engaging mechanism by a user when required and sliding the weight pouch in a second direction, opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         18 . The buoyancy compensation system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one engaging formation includes a first set of teeth including a first tooth formed in a first side edge of the head of the linear rail and a second tooth formed in a second side edge, opposite the first side edge, of the head of the linear rail;   the engaging mechanism includes a spring loaded catch including:
 a first arm pivotably mounted within the housing and having a first abutment for engaging the first tooth; 
 a second arm pivotably mounted within the housing and having a second abutment for engaging the second tooth; 
   the first and second arms are biased towards one another by a biasing force that must be overcome to facilitate intentional disengagement of the first and second connecting elements.   
     
     
         19 . The buoyancy compensation system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the engaging formation is a set of ratchet teeth formed on an outer face of the head, the ratchet teeth extending way from the external face; and   the engaging mechanism includes a spring-loaded ratchet-catch configured to permit free sliding movement of the second connecting element onto the linear rail in a first direction and to engage with the ratchet teeth to prevent sliding movement of the second connecting element off of the linear rail in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using a buoyancy compensation system of  claim 17 , comprising:
 sliding the housing of the weight-receiving pouch onto the linear rail in the first direction without directly actuating the engaging mechanism until the engaging mechanism engages the at least one engaging formation;   directly actuating the engaging mechanism to disengage the engaging mechanism from the at least one engaging formation; and   sliding, with the engaging mechanism disengaged from the at least one engaging formation, the housing in the second direction to remove the weight-receiving pouch from the linear rail.