# US 4,398,533 A · Drinking device for divers

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- Number: US 4,398,533 A
- Document ID: US4398533A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/260,002
- Filed: 1981-05-04
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1981-05-04
- Inventors: Randall R. Barker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398533A

## CPC

- B63C 11/02: Divers' equipment
- 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)

## Abstract

A drinking device for underwater divers enables divers to drink while engaged in diving to provide moisture in the mouth and lungs. The device includes a container with a chamber for holding liquid and a passage leading to the chamber. A valve opens and closes the passage. The container has a pressure compensator for equalizing pressure in the chamber with exterior hydrostatic pressure. In the method, liquid is placed in the chamber. The diver provides suction on the end of the tube to draw liquid past the valve, then closes the valve. This displaces air from the container for diving.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of providing liquid for drinking while engaged in underwater diving, comprising:
providing a container with a chamber for holding liquid, a passage leading to the chamber with a mouthpiece at an entrance to the passage, and valve means located near the entrance for opening and closing the passage to the chamber;
providing the container with pressure compensator means for equalizing pressure in the chamber with exterior hydrostatic pressure;
placing a liquid into the chamber; then
providing a lower pressure at the mouthpiece than in the chamber to draw liquid into the passage and past the valve means; then
closing the valve means while maintaining the lower pressure and submerging with the container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing the container with pressure compensating means comprises providing the chamber with flexible walls.

### Claim 3

A method of providing liquid for drinking while engaged in underwater diving, comprising:
providing a flexible container with a mouth;
filling the container with liquid;
securing a first end of a tube to the mouth, the tube having a second end with a valve near the second end for opening and closing the tube; then
opening the valve and sucking on the second end of the tube to draw liquid past the valve; then
closing the valve while maintaining suction; and
releasing the suction and submerging with the container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of placing check valve means in the device for allowing flow of liquid from the container but not into the container.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of, prior to drinking while submerged, blowing into the second end of the tube and prior to opening the valve to free the tube between the second end and the valve of water from the environment.