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The casing television companies use to protect their equipment for underwater
filming is big, clumsy and expensive. But John Shepper of Morton, Pennsylvania,
has patented (WO 99/35533) a simple idea which would let ordinary camcorder
owners take pictures under the sea. Users wrap the camcorder in a thin
transparent membrane with an airtight seal. The air is sucked out of the bag
through a tube with a one-way valve. The suction is provided by a small pump, or
even by mouth. The vacuum makes the membrane cling to the body so the controls
can be operated from outside while an optical patch over the lens maintains the
picture quality.