Shark Protector Suit

This invention relates to body protection suits for wearing in shark-infested waters.

Known shark protection and underwater suits have not provided sufficient deterrence to sharks, since sharks are able to clamp their mouths around the limb of a person in the water.

A shark protector suit of the invention is a combined rubber suit and helmet to completely cover the body of the wearer, including a face mask for facial protection, and preferably having at least a partial lining of flotation material, such as foam sheet. The suit and helmet have a plurality of spikes extending outward therefrom to prevent a shark from clamping its jaws over the wearer.

An object of the invention is to provide an effective shark protection suit .

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a shark protection suit of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the suit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of another suit of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of the suit of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the body portion of a suit of FIG. 1 showing the flotation lining of the suit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic outside front view of a spike protection for covering the chest portion of the suit when not in use.

FIG. 7 is a schematic inside view of the spike protector of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the helmet portion of the shark protector suit.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the helmet portion of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the helmet portion of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a back elevational view of the helmet portion of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the top flap of the breathing devices shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

The shark protection suit of the invention, which includes an attached helmet portion, has the unexpected advantage that a shark is unable to clamp its jaws around any part of the wearer since the multiplicity of spikes extending outwardly from the suit prevent the shark from closing its mouth, should it try to attack a wearer of the suit and helmet of the invention.

With reference to the Figures, in which like numerals represent like parts, FIGS. 1 and 2 show shark protector suit 2 having attached helmet 4, gloves 6 and shoes 8. Each of these parts of the suit is preferably made primarily of rubber or rubber-like material. The garment is put on and watertightly secured with zip fasteners 8 or other fasteners known in the art. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plurality of zip fasteners 8 extending around the waist, at the ankles, from neck to waist, waist to crotch and through the seat of the suit. FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative arrangement of zip fasteners. Other means of watertight fastening and arrangement of fasteners will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Suit 2 of the invention has loops 10 on the shoulders for attaching to a life raft, seaman's pillow (such as is shown in our patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,414), or other flotation device. Optionally, suit 2 may include a layer of foam material 12 under at least a part of the outer layer 14 of the suit, as shown in FIG. 5.

Metal plates 16 are attached to portions of the suit where additional protection may be needed. Plates 16, which may alternatively be of other rigid protective material, are positioned, for example, on the front of the chest of the suit, on the inside of the arms, on the sides of the body, on the insides of the legs, in the seat area, and on the gloves and shoes.

Oxygen equipment 18 may be engaged on the back of suit 2 for underwater use.

Spikes 20 extend outward from substantially any portion of the suit, for example, from the helmet, front, back, arm, leg, glove and shoe portions, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 to 11. FIGS. 6 and 7 show inside and outside views of spike protectors 22 which may be secured by tapes 24 over spikes on the suit, particularly when not in use, for protection.

Helmet portion 26, shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, which may include a thin layer of foam flotation material, has visor portion 28 transparently and watertightly covering the face. Portion 30, covering the mouth, may be opened and closed watertightly, as necessary. Portion 30 is closed against a rubber seal. Tiny drain holes 36 in the chin portion vent excess moisture.

Breathing apparatus having tubular portion 32 has a ball swivel 33 at the base of the tubular portion, for facilitating watertight breathing, as shown schematically in FIG. 8. FIG. 12 shows rubber flap 34 engaging upper end of breathing apparatus 32 to provide a watertight closure.

While the invention has been described above with respect to certain embodiments thereof, it willl be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without department from the spirit and scope of the invention.