# US 2014/0193206 A1 · Underwater personal submersible > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193206 A1 - Document ID: US20140193206A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/150,609 - Filed: 2014-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Inventors: Julien Montousse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193206A1 ## CPC - B63C 11/46: Divers' sleds or like craft, i.e. craft on which man in diving-suit rides - B63G 8/001: {Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42)} - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) - B63G: OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS (means of attack or defence in general, e.g. turrets F41H) ## Abstract An underwater personal submersible is provided. The underwater personal submersible can include a main body comprising a tripod structure of two forward-swept stabilizing surfaces and a main section including a user compartment, a plurality of oxygen tanks, and a propulsion mechanism. The placement of the propulsion mechanism and the stabilizing surfaces increases the maneuverability of the submersible. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An underwater personal submersible, comprising: a main body, said main body comprising a forward observation chamber; a first forward side support assembly on one side of the main body; a second forward side support assembly on an opposite side of the main body; and a rear support; said first forward support and said second forward support defining an open viewing space between one another from a front of the forward observation chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the open viewing space defines a viewing angle of at least 45 degrees from the front of the forward observation chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the open viewing space defines a viewing angle of at least 90 degrees from the front of the forward observation chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the open viewing space defines a viewing angle of at least 135 degrees from the front of the forward observation chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1 further comprising a forward user entry opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The underwater personal submersible of claim 5 further comprising a user compartment angled downward and rearward from said user entry opening when the underwater personal submersible is positioned on a horizontal surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The underwater personal submersible of claim 6, wherein said user compartment is angled downward at least 20 degrees when the underwater personal submersible is positioned on a horizontal surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The underwater personal submersible of claim 7 further comprising at least one membrane at least partially defining an inflatable chamber within the user compartment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The underwater personal submersible of claim 8, wherein said membrane provides cushioning for comfort and support of a user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The underwater personal submersible of claim 9, wherein said membrane at least partially encloses a source of ballast. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The underwater personal submersible of claim 10, wherein the source of ballast is water permitted to enter the inflatable chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The underwater personal submersible of claim 11 further comprising a valve to control the entry of ballast into the inflatable chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The underwater personal submersible of claim 12, wherein the inflatable chamber occupies at least 20% of an inner volume of the user compartment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The underwater personal submersible of claim 12, wherein the inflatable chamber occupies at least 30% of an inner volume of the user compartment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, the main body having a center of gravity; a first vertical stabilizer mechanism on one side of a vertical plane intersecting the center of gravity; and a second vertical stabilizer mechanism on an opposite side of the vertical plane intersecting the center of gravity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The underwater personal submersible of claim 15, wherein the main body defines an axis of rotation about a longitudinal axis intersecting the center of gravity and the first and second vertical stabilizer mechanisms control rotation of the main body about the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The underwater personal submersible of claim 16 further comprising at least one propulsion mechanism located rearward from each of the first and second vertical stabilizer mechanisms. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The underwater personal submersible of claim 16 further comprising at least one propulsion mechanism located at a rear portion of the personal submersible. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the first and second side support assemblies together define at least 17% of the weight of the personal submersible. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the first and second side support assemblies together define at least 24% of the weight of the personal submersible. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the first and second side support assemblies extend at least two feet to the side of the main body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the first and second side support assemblies extend at least three feet to the side of the main body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the underwater personal submersible is less than 4000 lbs. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the underwater personal submersible is less than 3000 lbs. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1 further comprising a support member located on an outward end of each side support such that the support members and the rear support form three support points to support the submersible on a solid surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of attachment members configured such that the submersible can lift and transport an object while underwater and while remaining vertically stable. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The underwater personal submersible of claim 1 further comprising a manipulable member connected to the underside of the submersible and configured such that the submersible can lift and transport an object while underwater and while remaining vertically stable. ### Claim 28 An underwater personal submersible, comprising: a main body having a center of gravity; a first vertical stabilizer mechanism on one side of a vertical plane intersecting the center of gravity; a second vertical stabilizer mechanism on an opposite side of the vertical plane intersecting the center of gravity; and a rear propulsion mechanism. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The underwater personal submersible of claim 28 further comprising a secondary ballast system comprising at least one inflatable membrane located within the user compartment and configured to inflate and conform to the user's body within the user compartment to provide comfort for the user during operation of the submersible. ### Claim 30 An underwater personal submersible, comprising: a main body comprising a tripod structure of two forward stabilizing surfaces and a main section including a user compartment; a plurality of oxygen tanks and buoyancy compartments located near a center of gravity of the submersible; a propulsion mechanism configured to provide forward motion of the submersible; and a stabilizing mechanism configured to maneuver and rotate the submersible when the submersible is moving with low or zero forward motion. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The underwater personal submersible of claim 30, wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises a plurality of thruster mechanisms, each thruster mechanism comprising an inlet, a nozzle outlet, a propeller, and a steering mechanism, wherein the propeller directs water out of the nozzle outlet to propel the submersible in a determined direction and the steering mechanism is rotatable such that the submersible may be steered in the determined direction. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The underwater personal submersible of claim 30, wherein each of the stabilizing surfaces comprises a vertical stabilizer mechanism comprising a housing and a propeller, wherein rotation of the propellers in the same direction raises or lowers the submersible along a vertical axis through the center of gravity of the submersible and rotation of the propellers in opposite directions tilts the submersible about a longitudinal axis defined by the main body. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The underwater personal submersible of claim 30 further comprising a secondary ballast system comprising at least one inflatable membrane located within the user compartment and configured to inflate and conform to the user's body within the user compartment to provide comfort for the user during operation of the submersible. ### Claim 34 An underwater personal submersible comprising a tripod structure of two forward-swept stabilizing surfaces including stabilizing mechanisms and a main section including a user compartment, the main section further comprising an observation chamber configured to allow a user to view an environment surrounding the submersible, at least one oxygen tank, at least one buoyancy compartment, and a propulsion mechanism comprising at least one thruster mechanism. ### Claim 35 An underwater personal submersible comprising a main section including a user compartment and an observation chamber, at least one oxygen tank connected to the user compartment, at least one buoyancy compartment, and a propulsion mechanism comprising at least one thruster mechanism, wherein the user compartment is configured such that a user is oriented face down and inclined upwards at least 20 degrees from a horizontal position, each arm of the user is extended forward and outward within the user compartment, and the placement of the propulsion mechanism, the at least one buoyancy compartment, and the at least one oxygen tank facilitate the submersible staying stable and upright while underwater.