Ascent gauge for divers

Claim 2

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea comprising: a casing with top, bottom, front and back sides, the top side of which has openings positioned toward the back side, the front side of which has a vertical opening approximately in the middle, and the back side of which has openings positioned toward the bottom; a horizontal element fastened to and positioned within the casing perpendicular to the front and back sides approximately in the middle across the inside of the casing in a plane parallel to the top and bottom sides; a disk pivotally attached within the casing to the horizontal element; and a longitudinal element with two ends, one end of which is joined to the disk, and the other end of which is positioned at the casing front side opening.

Claim 3

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 1 wherein: the disk has a plurality of perforations.

Claim 4

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 2 wherein: the disk is positioned in a plane approximately parallel to the casing top and bottom sides.

Claim 5

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 3 wherein: the disk is further positioned toward the casing back side above the back side openings.

Claim 6

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 4 wherein: the disk has a half-moon shape with its curved side positioned toward the casing back side above the back side openings.

Claim 7

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 5 wherein: the disk is pivotally attached to the horizontal element within the casing so that its curved side swings downward as water flows into the casing through the openings in the top side.

Claim 8

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 6 wherein: the disk is made of a material which tends to float in water.

Claim 9

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea comprising: a casing with top, bottom, front and back sides, the top side of which has openings positioned toward the back side, the front side of which has a vertical opening approximately in the middle, and the back side of which has openings positioned toward the bottom; a horizontal element fastened to and positioned within the casing perpendicular to the front and back sides approximately in the middle across the inside of the casing in a plane parallel to the top and bottom sides; a disk, made of a material tending to float in water and having a plurality of perforations and a half-moon shape, positioned in a plane approximately parallel to the casing top and bottom sides, further positioned with its curved side toward the casing back side above the back side openings, pivotally attached to the horizontal element within the casing so that its curved side tends to swing downward as water flows into the casing through the openings in the top side; a vertical, fin-shaped element within the casing attached to the interior of the top side running across the inside middle of the casing in a plane parallel to the front side and extending approximately one-third to one-half of the distance between the top and bottom sides; and a stop means on the straight side of the disk for limiting the upward pivotal movement of the disk positioned to encounter the vertical element as the disk curved side begins to swing upward through a plane approximately parallel to the casing top and bottom sides.

Claim 10

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea comprising: a casing with top, bottom, front and back sides, the top side of which has openings positioned toward the back side, the front side of which has a vertical opening approximately in the middle, and the back side of which has openings positioned toward the bottom; a horizontal element fastened to and positioned within the casing perpendicular to the front and back sides approximately in the middle across the inside of the casing in a plane parallel to the top and bottom sides; a disk, made of a material tending to float in water and having a plurality of perforations and a half-moon shape, positioned in a plane approximately parallel to the casing top and bottom sides, further positioned with its curved side toward the casing back side above the back side openings, pivotally attached to the horizontal element within the casing so that its curved side tends to swing downward as water flows into the casing through the openings in the top side; a vertical, fin-shaped element within the casing attached to the interior of the top side running across the inside middle of the casing in a plane parallel to the front side and extending approximately one-third to one-half of the distance between the top and bottom sides; and a stop means on the straight side of the disk for limiting the upward pivotal movement of the disk positioned to encounter the vertical element as the disk curved side begins to swing upward through a plane approximately parallel to the casing top and bottom sides.

Claim 11

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 8 wherein: the longitudinal element is joined to the disk so that the end positioned at the casing front side opening rises as the disk's curved side swings downward.

Claim 12

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 9 further comprising: a means for calibratedly resisting the downward swing of the disk.

Claim 13

A gauge for warning a scuba diver of an unsafe rate of ascent in the ocean or sea as recited in claim 10 wherein: the means for calibratedly resisting the downward swing of the disk is a spring.