Buoyancy compensating back pack assembly

In combination with a container for pressurized air having a first end portion on which a depth-sensitive control valve is mounted that has first and second air outlets;

• a first pliable hose having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said first outlet;
• a first diver's mouthpiece connected to said second end of said first hose;
• a second pliable hose having first and second ends, said first end of said second hose being connected to said second outlet;
• a third pliable hose having first and second ends, said third hose having said second hose entering the interior thereof intermediate said first and second ends;
• a first manually operated valve for controlling the flow of air from said second end of said second hose into the interior of said third hose;
• a second diver's mouthpiece mounted on said second end of said third hose;
• a second manually operated valve that may be used to establish communication between said second mouthpiece and the interior of said third hose, said first and second valves being normally closed;
• a first tubular fitting on said first end of said third hose, a buoyancy compensating back pack assembly that in a first position that is removably securable to a diver to permit him to descend or ascend in a body of water by control of the air-water ratio in said assembly and said asembly when in a second position being portable and serving as a carrier for a diver's gear such as fins and the like, said assembly including:
• a. first and second open-top housings, said first housing including a bottom, said second housing slidably and sealingly engaging the interior of said first housing, said second housing including a transverse cross piece, said second housing when disposed in an inverted first position in said first housing cooperating with the latter to define a confined space, said second housing when disposed in a second upright position in said first housing providing space in which a diver's gear may be stored, said first and second housings having first openings formed therein that are axially aligned when said second housing is in said first position;
• b. first means for removably supporting said container in said first housing with said control valve disposed thereabove, with said second housing being of such shape that when in said first position it cooperates with said first housing to define a compartment in which said container is disposed, said first housing having a second opening therein that at all times maintains communication between said compartment and the exterior of said first housing;
• c. a diver's harness secured to the exterior of said first housing;
• d. second means for removably locking said second housing to said first housing in either said first or second positions;
• e. a weight;
• f. third means for releasably supporting said weight from said first housing;
• and
• g. a second tubular fitting on said cross piece that may be connected to said first fitting to establish communication between said third hose and confined space when said second housing is in said first position, with a diver wearing said assembly having positioned buoyancy when he first enters the water due to air trapped in said confined space, said assembly providing negative buoyancy to a diver when the diver assumes a diving position to allow at least a portion of said trapped air to escape through said aligned first openings, and said assembly after the diver has assumed at least a slightly upright position providing a desired buoyancy due to the air-water ratio in said confined space that is controlled either by the diver exhaling into said second mouthpiece with said second valve in an open position or opening said first valve to permit air to discharge from said third tube into said confined space, and said assembly serving as a carrier for diver's gear after a diving operation by disposing said second housing in said second position.