Underwater breathing apparatus

Claim 2

Underwater breathing apparatus for a diver, comprising: A. flexible breathing chamber means; B. gas inlet means for supplying a breathable gas to said breathing chamber means; C. exhaust valve means connected to said flexible breathing chamber means; D. said flexible breathing chamber means being constructed and arranged, and said exhaust valve means being operably positioned so that there is always an inflated portion and a deflated portion of said flexible breathing chamber means for every diver orientation in the water; and E. said inflated portion occupying approximately 40-60 percent of the total available breathing chamber means volume.

Claim 3

Underwater breathing apparatus for a diver, comprising: A. flexible breathing chamber means adapted to be worn by a diver; B. gas inlet means for supplying a breathable gas to said flexible breathing means; C. passageway means for communicating said flexible breathing Chamber means with said diver; D. said flexible breathing chamber means having a front volumetric portion and a back volumetric portion for said gas, E. said front and back volumetric portions being communicative with one another and being approximately equal and being approximately equal above and below the diver''s pressure centroid plane.

Claim 4

Underwater breathing apparatus for a diver, comprising: A. flexible breathing chamber means adapted to be worn by a diver; B. gas inlet means for supplying a breathable gas to said flexible breathing means; C. passageway means for communicating said flexible breathing Chamber means with said diver; D. said flexible breathing chamber means having a front volumetric portion and a back volumetric portion for said gas, E. said front and back volumetric portions being communicative with one another and being approximately equal and being approximately equal above and below the diver''s pressure centroid plane.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes; A. first and second pressure exhaust valves located diametrically opposed on said breathing chamber means whereby the pressure of said breathing chamber will be equal to that of the diver''s internal pressure centroid.

Claim 6

Underwater breathing apparatus for a diver, comprising: A. flexible breathing chamber means having first and second interconnected sections; B. each said section substantially in the form of a closed loop; C. gas inlet means for supplying a breathable gas to said flexible breathing chamber means; D. passageway means connected to said flexible breathing chamber means for communication with said diver; E. first and second exhaust valves connected to said flexible breathing chamber means and positioned on a line adapted to pass through the diver in the vicinity of the diver''s pressure centroid.

Claim 7

Underwater breathing apparatus for a diver, comprising: A. flexible breathing chamber means having first and second interconnected sections; B. each said section substantially in the form of a closed loop; C. gas inlet means for supplying a breathable gas to said flexible breathing chamber means; D. passageway means connected to said flexible breathing chamber means for communication with said diver; E. first and second exhaust valves connected to said flexible breathing chamber means and positioned on a line adapted to pass through the diver in the vicinity of the diver''s pressure centroid.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: A. each section of the flexible breathing chamber means is adapted to be looped over a respective shoulder of the diver.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: A. each section of the flexible breathing chamber means is adapted to extend down to approximately the diver''s waist area.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: A. the first and second exhaust valves are connected to the same section of the flexible breathing chamber means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: A. each exhaust valve is settable to retain a certain pressure over ambient; and B. both exhaust valves are set to substantially the same setting.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: A. each exhaust valve is settable to retain a certan pressure over ambient; and B. the first exhaust is adapted to be positioned on the front of the diver, C. the second valve is adapted to be positioned on the back of the diver; and wherein D. the first exhaust valve has a higher setting than the second exhaust valve to eliminate exhaust bubbles in front of the diver''s face when in an upright orientation in the water.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: A. each exhaust valve is settable to retain a certain pressure over ambient; and B. the first exhaust valve is positioned in front of the diver; C. the second valve is adapted to be positioned on back of the diver; and D. the first exhaust valve is at a position lower than the second exhaust valve when the diver is in an upright orientation.

Claim 14

Underwater breathing apparatus for a diver, comprising: A. a jacket for placement on said diver and having closure means on the front side thereof; B. a first flexible breathing bag connected to said jacket and extending continuously in a closed loop around the front and back of said jacket on one side of said closure means; C. a second flexible breathing bag connected to said jacket and extending continuously in a closed loop around the front and back of said jacket on the other side of said closure means; D means for interconnecting said first and second flexible breathing bags; E. means for admitting a breathable gas to at least one of said flexible breathing bags; and F. means connected to said flexible breathing bags for communication with said diver.

Claim 15

Underwater breathing apparatus for a diver, comprising: A. a jacket for placement on said diver and having closure means on the front side thereof; B. a first flexible breathing bag connected to said jacket and extending continuously in a closed loop around the front and back of said jacket on one side of said closure means; C. a second flexible breathing bag connected to said jacket and extending continuously in a closed loop around the front and back of said jacket on the other side of said closure means; D means for interconnecting said first and second flexible breathing bags; E. means for admitting a breathable gas to at least one of said flexible breathing bags; and F. means connected to said flexible breathing bags for communication with said diver.

Claim 16

Flexible breathing chamber means for an under water breathing apparatus, comprising: A. a first section of flexible material construction defining an enclosed volume which extends around in a closed loop; B. a second section of flexible material construction defining an enclosed volume Which extends around in a closed loop; and C. means for interconnecting said first and second sections.

Claim 17

Flexible breathing chamber means for an under water breathing apparatus, comprising: A. a first section of flexible material construction defining an enclosed volume which extends around in a closed loop; B. a second section of flexible material construction defining an enclosed volume Which extends around in a closed loop; and C. means for interconnecting said first and second sections.