Patents by Inventor Dean R. Garraffa
Dean R. Garraffa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8220840Abstract: Positive locking device for components of snorkels and other equipment such as diving regulators, buoyancy compensator hoses and the like. The locking device in a preferred embodiment comprises a hard plastic C-shaped ring or clamp which is preferably mechanically and/or chemically bonded into a soft plastic component connector during molding of that component. The ring or clamp provides an effective locking feature which prevents inadvertent demating of components during a dive or other activity that could otherwise result in a dangerous loss of function. An additional embodiment of the invention provides an optional indexing feature which serves the useful function of audible and tactile feedback during adjustment of components having the locking device.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Atomic Aquatics, LLCInventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 8166968Abstract: A conjoined tube within a tube located inside a lower section of a snorkel designed to steer water droplets away from the snorkel diver's breathing path. The lower section of the snorkel has two valves. One is the scupper valve positioned at the lowest point of the inside tube. The scupper valve is a light duty valve or a low resistance one-way watertight passage intended to allow droplets of water to drain into the main reservoir. The outer tube lower section contains a reservoir for holding residual water that travels down to the bottom of the snorkel and is contained therein. During the normal clearing operation, the reservoir can be emptied and water will exit out of the lower section and into the surrounding water.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2006Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Atomic Aquatics, LLCInventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 7712793Abstract: A ball and socket-type swivel connector for use with second stage scuba regulators used by scuba divers. The ball is made from a metal with good corrosion resistance. The ball is held in position by a low friction bushing. The bushing, compresses the metal swivel ball with light assembly pressure. This is accomplished by machining or molding the same radius of the swivel ball into one side of the low friction bushing. No seawater can enter the swivel. The ball has a unique O-ring slot or channel that completely encircles the ball along a path that permits an O-ring to wipe the bushing upon swiveling of the connector and prevents seawater from entering the swivel. No area exists for seawater to collect around the O-ring. The preferred embodiment uses a high-grade stainless steel swivel ball, low friction polymer bushing material and an internally lubricated low friction O-ring.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 7686032Abstract: In a scuba diving first stage pressure regulator soft silicone rubber is bonded to the first stage spring to prevent water from freezing between the coils of the spring thereby assuring unrestricted movement of the spring coils even during freezing conditions. By placing a soft molded material bonded directly to the spring surface through the method of chemical and/or mechanical bonding, a soft pliable silicone rubber encapsulates or cocoons the entire area between spring coils and works as a barrier to prevent water from filling the regions between the spring coils and freezing in cold diving conditions. The thickness and volume of the pliable material silicone is not critical as long as the area between the coils is occupied with enough material to prevent ice from forming and otherwise preventing the spring from deflecting. Further, a radial clearance hole is needed to allow the piston to fit inside the silicone bonded spring hollowed center.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Publication number: 20080314381Abstract: Positive locking device for components of snorkels and other equipment such as diving regulators, buoyancy compensator hoses and the like. The locking device in a preferred embodiment comprises a hard plastic C-shaped ring or clamp which is preferably mechanically and/or chemically bonded into a soft plastic component connector during molding of that component. The ring or clamp provides an effective locking feature which prevents inadvertent demating of components during a dive or other activity that could otherwise result in a dangerous loss of function. An additional embodiment of the invention provides an optional indexing feature which serves the useful function of audible and tactile feedback during adjustment of components having the locking device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Publication number: 20080105254Abstract: The scupper valve snorkel of the present invention is based on a conjoined tube within a tube located inside a lower section of a snorkel and designed to steer water droplets away from the snorkel diver's breathing path. The lower section of the snorkel has two valves. One is the scupper valve positioned at the lowest point of the inside tube. The scupper valve is designed as a light duty valve or a low resistance one-way watertight passage intended to allow droplets of water to drain into the main reservoir. This must occur without build up or trapping of water that could otherwise be drawn into the breathing path of the snorkel diver. The outer tube lower section contains a reservoir for holding residual water that travels down to the bottom of the snorkel and is contained therein. During the normal clearing operation, the reservoir can be emptied and water will exit out of the lower section and into the surrounding water.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2006Publication date: May 8, 2008Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Publication number: 20080105308Abstract: In a scuba diving first stage pressure regulator soft silicone rubber is bonded to the first stage spring to prevent water from freezing between the coils of the spring thereby assuring unrestricted movement of the spring coils even during freezing conditions. By placing a soft molded material bonded directly to the spring surface through the method of chemical and/or mechanical bonding, a soft pliable silicone rubber encapsulates or cocoons the entire area between spring coils and works as a barrier to prevent water from filling the regions between the spring coils and freezing in cold diving conditions. The thickness and volume of the pliable material silicone is not critical as long as the area between the coils is occupied with enough material to prevent ice from forming and otherwise preventing the spring from deflecting. Further, a radial clearance hole is needed to allow the piston to fit inside the silicone bonded spring hollowed center.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2006Publication date: May 8, 2008Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 7188869Abstract: A ball and socket-type swivel connector for use with second stage regulators used by scuba divers. The ball is made from a metal with good corrosion resistance. The ball is then held into a true position by two separate low friction bushings. The two bushings, “sandwich” the metal swivel ball with light assembly pressure. This is accomplished by machining or molding the same radius of the swivel ball into one side of each of the two low friction bushings. As system pressure increases, the ball is forced rearwards and the squeeze increases. No seawater can enter the swivel. No area exists for seawater to collect around the O-ring. The bushing occupies all of the available space except for the gap provided around the O-ring gland an area used to hold lubrication. The preferred embodiment uses a high grade stainless steel swivel ball, virgin Teflon bushing material and an internally lubricated low friction O-ring.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 7181778Abstract: A dive mask having a pair of replaceable lenses comprises a soft, flexible skirt for bearing against the diver's face, an inner lens frame having a pair of openings for receiving the lenses and a peripheral member integrally molded into the skirt for permanent retention therein and a removable outer lens frame having a pair of lens openings and a peripheral member shaped to bear against the lenses adjacent the skirt. A sealing gasket is preferable molded into the inner lens frame along the lens openings to prevent water leakage into the face side of the lenses.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Inventors: Dean R. Garraffa, Douglas J. Toth
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Patent number: 5678541Abstract: A second stage breathing regulator especially suited for use in scuba diving comprises an automatically adjustable air flow deflector or vane to redirect a portion of inlet high velocity air of a venturi-initiated vacuum assist-type regulator configuration. At greater depths the flow vane increasingly interrupts and redirects a selected portion of the air stream to increase the venturi effect. As a result, the diver's inhalation effort requirements can be relatively constant throughout the breathing cycle at any depth or can be tailored to a desired non-constant profile as a function of depth. A piston responsive to ambient water pressure by extension proportional to depth, places the flow vane to increasingly redirect the air flow at greater depths thereby increasing the venturi effect. The diver is thus freed of having to make manual adjustments to the second stage under water.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1996Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 5381825Abstract: A first stage scuba regulator wherein the intermediate pressure to the second stage regulator increases as tank supply pressure decreases, thus solving the problem of the sensitive second stage at the start of the dive and decreasing the cracking efforts and improving low pressure flow rates at lower tank pressures. The design employed in the present invention for creating an intermediate pressure inversion relies on undersizing the critical balancing shaft of the piston where high pressure air entering from the tank is neutralized between the high pressure O-ring and plastic high pressure seat. By reducing the effective area of a shaft under the O-ring, but in front of the sharp end of the piston, an imbalance is created. This imbalance is in the forward or closing direction of the piston shaft. This extra force decreases the load requirement of the spring and lowers the intermediate pressure at the high supply pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1993Date of Patent: January 17, 1995Assignee: Under Sea Industries, Inc.Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 5303587Abstract: The present invention comprises an oil-filled depth gauge which is made far less sensitive to violent shock and the potential resulting inaccuracies to the maximum depth gauge indicator from such shock. More specifically, the present invention comprises an improved oil-filled scuba diving depth gauge in which the improvement provides a fluid dam member which may be affixed to or molded into the transparent enclosure covering the dial face to effectively block the flow of the oil in the region of the gauge occupied by the maximum depth indicator dial. The fluid dam reduces the likelihood that a sudden jar or other violent shock will induce a relative differential in the motion between the oil and the gauge body which might otherwise produce inaccuracies in the position of the maximum depth indicator dial.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1989Date of Patent: April 19, 1994Assignee: Under Sea Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dean R. Garraffa, James T. Dexter
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Patent number: 4796618Abstract: A breathing regulator especially suited for use in scuba diving comprises an externally adjustable flow vane or deflector to redirect a portion of inlet high velocity air towards the diaphragm of a venturi initiated vacuum assist-type regulator configuration. The flow vane interrupts and redirects a selected portion of the air stream thereby balancing the low pressure area adjacent the diaphragm at a constant level throughout the breathing cycle. As a result, the diver can adjust his inhalation effort requirements to be constant throughout the breathing cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1986Date of Patent: January 10, 1989Assignee: Undersea Industries, Inc.Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: 4784129Abstract: An improved breathing regulator for a scuba diver comprises an integrated exhaust assembly having as the only removable part thereof a fastened cover for gaining access to the exhaust valve. The housing and integrated exhaust assembly reduce the cost of manufacture and increase the reliability and safety of the breathing regulator by obviating the prior art detachable exhaust tee.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1987Date of Patent: November 15, 1988Assignee: Under Sea Industries, Inc.Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: D297156Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1986Date of Patent: August 9, 1988Assignee: Under Sea Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Applegate, Jr., Dennis L. Hart, Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: D313877Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1988Date of Patent: January 15, 1991Assignee: Under Sea Industries, Inc.Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: D643458Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Inventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: D670323Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Atomic Aquatics, LLCInventor: Dean R. Garraffa
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Patent number: D704292Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Huish Outdoors, LLCInventors: Dean R. Garraffa, Robert Applegate