FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to an arrangement for a diving helmet. In particular, the present invention pertains to an internal padding arrangement for a diving helmet for reducing buoyancy of the diving helmet.

BACKGROUND

A diving helmet, henceforth “helmet”, used, in underwater diving, especially when working underwater, comprises a helmet casing for enclosing a diver’s head. Naturally, the helmet has a rigid watertight structure since a breathing gas supply is connected to the helmet. Typically, there are also electronics, such as a voice communications microphone and headphone speakers at least, arranged in the diving helmet. Furthermore, the helmet also comprises an internal padding, which is fitted to the helmet to cushion the diver's head against shock loads, to support the helmet more comfortably and to ensure the proper seal of the oral nasal mask to the diver’s face. Natural buoyancy of the helmet and internal padding is compensated with ballast weights for providing neutral or slightly negative buoyancy and placing the center of gravity where it will not cause off- center loads on the diver's neck.

Unfortunately, the current arrangement is incomplete and inconvenient because the ballast weights make the helmet heavy outside of the water, require space inside of the helmet and those are difficult to be adjusted according to the diver's feelings and wishes. Despite the ballast weights, there is still buoyancy in the helmet, for which divers have developed their own solutions to compensate it, such as chin straps, for example, but these are difficult to use and do not eliminate the discomfort caused by the buoyancy.

Document US2009050147 AA discloses a solution comprising a collar affixed to the helmet. The collar comprises a cavity adapted to fill with water once the helmet is submerged. Unfortunately, this solution has problems. The size of the collar has to be remarkable, so that it can significantly reduce buoyancy of the helmet. This kind of collar might prevent the diver's movement and activities underwater, which may hinder working in underwater circumstances. In addition, the collar is an additional part of the helmet, which increases the manufacturing costs of the helmet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective is to at least alleviate the problems described hereinabove not satisfactorily solved by the known internal padding arrangements. In particular, the invention is implied to solve how to reduce buoyancy of a diving helmet.

The aforesaid objective is achieved by various embodiments of an internal padding arrangement according to the present invention as claimed in claim 1.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention an internal padding arrangement of a diving helmet comprises a padding part arranged inside of the diving helmet, and a number of compartments arranged in the padding part, wherein the compartments are arranged to be inflatable with fluid for reducing buoyancy of the diving helmet.

In an embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a connection between the compartments and surroundings for inflating the compartments with fluid from surroundings via the connection. This embodiment enables inflating the compartments when the diver is in the water, which can make the helmet with the internal padding arrangement more lightweight above the water surface when preparing to dive.

In an embodiment, the fluid is water.

In an embodiment, the compartments are arranged to be deflatable via the connection. Deflating the compartments of fluid lightens the weight of the helmet and the internal padding arrangement and can facilitate their transport and storage.

In an embodiment, the connection is arranged to be openable and closable. Yet, in an embodiment, the inflating of the compartments is arranged to be adjustable. The embodiment in question provides the diver an opportunity to adjust the padding part according to his preferences to suit himself.

Yet, in an embodiment, the padding part is shaped like a hood. This embodiment is advantageous as it provides the best protection on the diver's head and effectively fills the empty space inside the helmet, leaving the face area free.

In an embodiment, the padding part is a separate part from the diving helmet, and in another embodiment, the arrangement further comprises means for removably fastening the padding part to the diving helmet.

In one aspect of the present invention, a diving helmet is provided, according to what is defined in claim 10.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for reducing buoyancy of a diving helmet is provided, according to what is defined in claim 11.

In an embodiment, the method for reducing buoyancy of a diving helmet comprises at least the step of arranging the padding part inside of the diving helmet.

In an embodiment, the method for reducing buoyancy of a diving helmet further comprises the step of arranging the connection into fluid of surroundings.

In an embodiment, the method for reducing buoyancy of a diving helmet further comprises the steps of opening the connection in order to inflate the compartments with fluid of surroundings, and closing the connection when the compartments are inflated.

Yet, in another embodiment, the method for reducing buoyancy of a diving helmet further comprises the step of deflating the compartments via the connection.

The utility of the present invention arises from a variety of reasons depending on each particular embodiment thereof. Primarily, the invention generally aims at providing an internal padding arrangement for a diving helmet, which is arrangeable to reduce buoyancy of the helmet. The internal padding arrangement according to the present invention can be easy to use. It can provide a comfortable padding for the diver and increate the safety of the diver, when keeping the diver’s head in an essential position inside the helmet. The adjustable internal padding might also be provided. Furthermore, the internal padding can also provide protection to the electronics inside the helmet. The helmet with the internal padding arrangement can be lightweight above water, since no ballast weights or at least less ballast weights are needed to compensate the buoyancy of the helmet. The internal padding arrangement according to the present invention is also inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

The expression “fluid” refers herein widely to all kinds of liquids, gases and/or other not solid material being able to flow under an applied shear stress, or external force.

The expression “a number of’ refers herein to any positive integer starting from one (1), e.g. to one, two, or three.

Different embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED DRAWINGS

Next the invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings in which

Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of an internal padding arrangement in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a helmet with internal padding arrangement in accordance with the present invention, and

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of an internal padding arrangement in accordance with the present invention. An internal padding arrangement 100 of a diving helmet according to the present invention comprises a padding part 102 and a number of compartments 104 arranged in the padding part 102.

The padding part 102 can be made of any suitable material, such as fabrics, plasticized and/or wax coated fabrics and/or synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, acrylic and nylon, for example. Preferably, the padding part is malleable, so that it can adapt to the shape of the inner part of the helmet.

Preferably, the inner surface of the padding part, i.e. the surface against the diver’s head, is chosen to be hygienic and comfortable for the skin and hair. Furthermore, the outer surface of the padding part, i.e. the surface against the helmet, is chosen in such a way that it contributes to the padding part staying in place inside the helmet.

In an embodiment, the padding part is shaped like a hood.

In an embodiment, the padding part is arranged as an integral part of the helmet.

In another embodiment, the padding part is a separate part from the diving helmet. Yet, in an embodiment, the internal padding arrangement further comprises means for removably fastening the padding part to the diving helmet. The means for fastening the padding part to the diving helmet can be carried out in several ways, such as such as snap button fasteners, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, or a zipper, for example.

The padding part 102 of the present invention comprises a number of compartments 104, which are arranged in the padding part. The compartments 104 are arranged to be inflatable with fluid for reducing buoyancy of the diving helmet. In an embodiment, the compartments are inflated with fluid during the manufacturing phase. In another embodiment, the compartments are inflated by the diver (or another user) the first time the internal padding is used. Yet, in another embodiment the compartments are arranged to be inflatable and deflatable.

The person skilled in the art understands that the number of compartments can vary from one compartment to as many compartments as wanted to be arranged in the padding part. However, the number of the compartments in the padding part is preferably e.g. 3-15, and more preferably 5-10. In an embodiment, the number of the compartments can be used for a sufficient control in inflating the compartments. In other words, one or more compartments can be arranged to be more inflated than others, for example.

A person skilled in the art understands that the shape and size of the compartments can vary.

In an embodiment, the compartments are connected to adjacent compartments for spreading and/or levelling out the fluid in the compartments.

In an embodiment, the compartments comprise a suitable hydrophilic material that forwards the spreading of the fluid in the compartment, such as polyethylene and polyacrylamides, for example.

In an embodiment, the compartments comprise a hygroscopic material that swells due to the effect of the liquid, such as silica and nylon, for example.

In an embodiment, the fluid used for inflating the compartments is water, which can be freshwater or sea water. The person skilled in the art understands that other fluids can also be used for inflating the compartments, such as antifreeze solution and/or various types of gels, for example. The preferable fluids for inflating the compartments are those having the density equal or more than the density of the water.

In an embodiment, the internal padding arrangement further comprises a connection (not shown) between the compartments and surroundings for inflating the compartments with fluid from surroundings via said connection.

The connection can be arranged in various ways. In an embodiment, the connection is connected to more than one compartment. In another embodiment, the connection is connected to one compartment in a suitable position in the internal padding and the compartments are connected to adjacent compartments for spreading and/or levelling out the fluid in the compartments.

In an embodiment, the inflating of the compartments is arranged to be adjustable.

In an embodiment, the connection is openable and closable. The connection can be opened in water to inflate the compartments and closed when the compartments are fully inflated, or when the compartments are inflated as desired. In an embodiment, the compartments are arranged to be deflatable via said connection. The person skilled in the art understands that deflating the compartments is advantageously arranged to be performed above the water surface after diving.

Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a diving helmet with internal padding arrangement in accordance with the present invention. The padding part 102 according to the present invention is arranged inside of the diving helmet 106. In an embodiment, the padding part is arranged as an integral part of the helmet, and in another embodiment, the padding part is a separate part from the diving helmet, which can be arranged inside of the helmet and remove from the helmet.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention.

A method for reducing buoyancy of a diving helmet, comprising an internal padding arrangement according to the present invention, comprises at least the step of arranging 302 the padding part inside of a diving helmet.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of arranging 304 the connection into fluid of surroundings. The internal padding according to the present invention can be arranged to inflate the compartments, when the connection is arranged into a suitable fluid, such as water.

In an embodiment, the steps 302 and 304 are performed in different order, i.e. the step of arranging 304 the connection into fluid of surroundings is performed before the padding part is arranged inside of a diving helmet 302.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of opening 306 the connection in order to inflate the compartments with fluid of surroundings, and the step of closing 308 the connection when the compartments are inflated.

Yet, in another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of deflating 310 the compartments via said connection. This step is preferably executed after diving, when the padding arrangement of the present invention is arranged above the surface of the water. Deflating of the compartments can be arranged in various ways, such as by squeezing the compartments empty of fluid and/or emptying the compartments by the force of gravity, where in the latter the fluid is arranged to flow out of the compartments under the influence of gravity. Consequently, a skilled person may on the basis of this disclosure and general knowledge apply the provided teachings in order to implement the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims in each particular use case with necessary modifications, deletions, and additions.