Patent ID: 6354295
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: A62B,B63C

Abstract:
A supplied air snorkeling device for providing buoyancy and supplying air to a snorkeler swimming on a surface of a body of water, comprising:a flotation vest having a front side that, during use, rests against the snorkeler's chest, and a back side that, during use, rests against the snorkeler's back, said vest including buoyant material providing sufficient buoyancy to hold in a snorkeling position on the surface of the water, both the snorkeler and a compressed air tank of the type utilized for underwater scuba diving; a compressed air tank of the type utilized for underwater scuba diving, said tank having an opening at one end and an exposed air valve that controls the flow of air from the tank, said valve being readily accessible for adjusting the flow of air from the tank; a tank holder that holds the compressed air tank, said tank holder being longitudinally mounted on a centerline of the back side of the vest, and said tank holder including means for facilitating rapidly releasing an empty air tank and rapidly mounting a full air tank within the tank holder, said facilitating means including: a zipper for opening and closing the tank holder; a zipper slide retainer for maintaining the zipper in a closed position; and a tank cover positioned within the tank holder for holding the tank, wherein the tank cover includes a fastening band, and the tank holder includes a tank holder retainer that extends for at least about half the length of the tank holder, wherein the fastening band can be coupled with the tank holder retainer at various locations along the tank holder retainer for holding various sized tanks; and an air hose connected at a first end to the air valve, said air hose carrying air from the compressed air tank to a mouthpiece mounted at a second end of the hose.