Underwater mask with water and breathing air discharge system

A mask for underwater use includes a frame, a transparent part supported by the frame, and a gasket part mounted on the frame and configured to be positioned on the face of a user. The gasket part has a perimeter edge adapted to rest on the perimeter of the user's face, and the perimeter edge includes a discharge opening, which is located at the region configured to be arranged near the user's mouth and which is the seat of a valve non-return mechanism, which enables the expulsion of breathed gases simultaneously with any water present in the lower chamber through the opening.

FILED OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of diving masks, in particular for the so called “snorkeling” activity i.e., the practice of observing the marine environment while swimming on the surface with the head underwater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, this kind of activity requires a mask provided with a transparent element to watch and a mouthpiece to breath. A mouthpiece is a tube having a free upper end designed to be placed out of the water and a lower end equipped with a shaped element that the user places into the mouth in order to inhale and exhale air.

Since mouth breathing is not natural and the transparent element of the mask tends to get fogged, masks with integral mouthpiece have been introduced that allow the nose to be also used for breathing.

Patent applications number 102018000001821, 102018000001826, 102018000001849, filed by the applicant of the present invention, refer to masks with integrated mouthpiece and are equipped, among other things, with specific devices to improve the functioning and generic use of the device such as, for example, the possibility of temporarily folding the ventilation tube, the improvement of the portion and shape of transparent surfaces for underwater vision, the improvement of the lateral exhaust tubes for the scope of safety and interaction with the remaining organs making up the respiratory mask.

These documents describe a mask of this type that comprises a frame fastening a transparent portion to a seal portion designed to be positioned on the diver's face. The seal portion has a septum designed to be rested on the user's nose, when the mask is worn, so as to form an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the lower chamber accommodating the nose and the mouth of the user. The two chambers communicate through a passage provided in the septum and through a one-way valve so that the air can flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber and not vice versa.

The mask comprises a snorkel (“ventilation tube”) divided in three dedicated non-communicating channels, the first central one, at the air inlet and the other two, which are lateral, at the air outlet. The snorkel is fitted in an upper opening of the frame such to put the central channel directly in communication with the upper chamber and the side channels with the lower chamber by means of a couple of ducts obtained in the frame. This way the air to be inhaled reaches the nose and mouth of the user by passing through the snorkel to the lower chamber by means of the upper chamber of the mask whereas the exhaled air is directly conveyed from the lower chamber to the snorkel in order to be ejected, the passage into the upper chamber being prevented by suitable flow control elements.

The undoubted benefits of this type of masks, also known as “Full Face” or FFM (Full Face Mask) masks lead to a certain increase in construction and design complexity following a greater number of components and organs compared to the simpler traditional masks which cover only the eyes and nose of the user, preventing him from breathing through the nose and forcing the use of a mouthpiece to be retained while breathing in diving.

Other advantages, including the ease of use of the FFMs, are in any case such as to justify this constructive commitment and therefore the applicant, continuously engaged in the development and improvement of this kind of products, feels the need to simplify some construction aspects by making non-obvious changes to the design of full face masks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object the present invention to allow the implementation of a mask improved in the part involved in the purging of the breathed air and of the water coming out from the lower chamber. This is accomplished by means of a mask for underwater use comprising:a frame1;a transparent part2supported by the frame;a gasket part3mounted on the frame1and adapted to be positioned on the face of a user, the gasket part3comprising:a partitioning wall103designed to rest on the user's nose when the mask is worn so as to form an upper chamber203and a lower chamber303sealingly separated from each other and with the lower chamber accommodating the user's nose and mouth, wherein the two chambers are connected through a passage provided in the partitioning wall103and at least one inner one-way valve403so that air can pass from the upper chamber203to the lower chamber303but not vice versa;a perimeter edge503designed to rest on the perimeter of the user's face to laterally delimit said upper chamber203and said lower chamber103,where the perimeter edge503of the gasket3comprises one single discharge opening30which is located at the region designed to be arranged near the user's mouth and which is the seat of a valve-like non-return mechanism, the valve-like non-return mechanism comprising at least one valve seat130and a valve230and allowing the simultaneous expulsion from the lower chamber303of the breathed gases and of any water present in the said lower chamber303through to the said opening30. This first embodiment is characterized by the presence of a single discharge opening30, from which the air that the user emits with breathing passes through. The passage is forced thanks to the partitioning wall103which separates the upper chamber203from the lower chamber303so that the air exiting from the mouth and/or nose exerts an increase in pressure both on the internal valves403and on the valve230, housed in the seat130and coupled with the opening30. This pressure increase involves the at least partial opening of the valve-like non-return mechanism while the internal valves403, operating in the opposite direction, remain closed, obstructing the passage of air in the upper chamber.

Conversely, during the inhalation act the opening30is blocked while the valves403allow the passage of external air from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, air which is then made available to the diver intent on inhaling.

Advantageously, the position of the opening30is such as to allow, during exhalation, also the purging of any unwanted liquids present inside the mask and in particular inside the lower chamber303. When the mask is operating in a position so that its longitudinal plane is substantially parallel to the sagittal plane of the wearer, the force of gravity brings said liquids, mainly water, near the opening30and available for expulsion due to the exhaled air in transit through the same opening under the action of air pressure in the lower chamber303.

In a preferred embodiment, the mask further comprises:a snorkel4comprising at least one first and one second channel104,204which connect the upper chamber203and the lower chamber303, respectively, with the external environment,at least one discharge duct903arranged on the perimeter edge503of the gasket3to convey the exhaled air into the second channel204of said snorkel4, the exhaled air being conveyed into said snorkel4by means of a pair of small discharge ducts903arranged on the perimeter edge503and adjacent thereto,and further comprises a lower connection that is a lower connection40arranged in the lower part of the perimeter edge503of the gasket3near said discharge opening30so as to connect said discharge opening30with said at least one discharge duct903conveying therein the exhaled gases running from the outer valve.

In addition to the first embodiment, characterized by having one opening for the discharge of the exhausted air and of the water inside the lower chamber303, this variant of the invention introduces an upper aeration tube divided into channels through which both the fresh air and exhaust air transit, the latter conveyed into the channel204through one or more ducts903which run on the perimeter edge and are connected at one end near the discharge opening30where a lower connection40is located to force the path of the air expelled into said ducts903, with the significant advantage of not interfere with the diver's view.

According to other embodiments, the said lower connection40comprises at least one opening240accommodating at least one outer valve seat50supporting one bleed valve60to expel the water coming from the lower chamber103after passing through said discharge opening30and/or coming from at least one discharge duct903.

In this way, a second ejection point is created for the filtered water (for example from the upper channel following the user's immersion behavior and/or from the water previously passed through the opening30. The shape and number of openings of the fitting can be arbitrarily defined, as well as the valve-like non-return mechanism that in another embodiment is of the membrane type and comprises:a membrane cut-off230made of elastic, flexible material and preferably disk-shaped;a valve seat130, preferably having circular or elliptical and substantially flat shape, comprising at least one passage opening surrounded by a continuous surface closed on itself that sealingly contacts at least one corresponding sealing lip of the membrane cut-off, and further has one or more central ribs which form an intermediate support for the disk composing the membrane cut-off230, said ribs being arranged radially and in the plane of said valve seat130.

Further characteristics and improvements are described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS.1and2, the mask according to an embodiment comprises a frame1having a generally elongated shape, for example oval or the like, which fastens a transparent part2to a seal part3designed to be sealingly placed on and against the diver's face.

The seal part3, made of rubber or other flexible material such as for example neoprene, has a partition wall103designed to rest on the user's nose, with the mask in the worn condition, such to form an upper chamber203and a lower chamber303, the lower chamber303accommodating the nose and the mouth whereas the upper chamber203the eyes of the user.

The two chambers are in communication through a passage provided in the partition wall103wherein a one-way, in particular non-return, valve403is housed and oriented such that air can flow from the upper chamber203to the lower chamber303and not vice versa. In the embodiment shown, the valves403, and the respective passages, are two arranged on opposite sides of the partition wall103with respect to a median longitudinal line, i.e. the sagittal plane of the user's head.

The mask comprises a snorkel4that puts the upper chamber203and the lower chamber303in communication with the outer environment and that will be described in detail hereinafter.

The transparent part2, made of glass or plastic material, is the visor of the mask through which the user is able to see to explore the marine environment. In its simplest configuration, the transparent element has a smooth convex surface having a peripheral edge which follows the profile of the frame1to be fitted in a throat thereof. The coupling is of the type designed to make a seal and can provide that the edge of the transparent element is provided with a flange forming a protruding edge designed to be engaged into an undercut compartment of the throat provided in the frame1.

The coupling can also take place by snap action or by shape coupling as in the known art.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the transparent element2has a polygonal shape with squared connecting faces very shock- and scratch-resistant, affording a vision similar or even better than that of traditional masks.

Specifically, the transparent element2, typically die moulded, is divided into a central part102, in relief, having planar development and polygonal shape, which is connected to the perimetrical region202designed to be coupled to the frame1, by the tilted polygonal shaped surfaces302,402,502.

Underneath the central part102there is, at the partition wall103of the seal part3, when the mask is assembled, a raised region602having polyhedral shape. Such raised region602, advantageously consisting of plane surfaces having triangular shape and reciprocally connected and with the remaining of the transparent element2, frontally delimits the lower chamber303and is intended to receive the user's nose.

The seal part3, having an elongated configuration following the profile of the frame1and, more generally, the user's face, has a perimetrical edge503with four openings. The first one, positioned at the zone designed to be arranged near the user's mouth, accommodates a purge valve603to eject possible water that can enter the mask.

The second opening703is arranged on the top of the perimetrical edge to receive air to convey into the upper chamber203from the snorkel4.

The other two openings803are positioned on opposite sides of the perimetrical edge503and lead to the lower chamber so as to receive exhaled air that is conveyed towards the snorkel4by means of a couple of exhaust ducts903arranged on the perimetrical edge503and adjacent thereto, as shown in the figures.

It can therefore be observed how the known mask gasket comprises four different openings to support and control the flow of air to and from the user. Only the opening703of them is not directly coupled to a valve while both the two openings803and the opening603accommodate a local non-return valve for controlling the flow of the fluids involved.

The snorkel4is divided in three dedicated non-communicating channels, the first central one104at the air inlet and the other two204, which are lateral, at the air outlet. The snorkel4engages into the upper opening of the frame703such to put the central channel104directly in communication with the upper chamber203and the side channels204with the lower chamber303by means of the couple of exhaust ducts903. This way the inhaled air reaches the nose and the mouth of the user by flowing through the snorkel4to the lower chamber303by means of the upper chamber203of the mask, whereas the exhaled air is directly conveyed from the lower chamber303to the snorkel4, in the side channels204to be ejected.

The snorkel4has an upper connection terminal5between snorkel and mask, which upper terminal is intended to remain fastened to the mask and is connected to the snorkel4by means of an articulation having a coupling position in which the upper connection terminal5and the snorkel4are fastened in operating position and a releasing position of the snorkel4from the upper connection terminal5in which the snorkel4remains however connected to the upper connection terminal5, but it is free to swing.

The upper connection terminal5has, in analogy with the snorkel4, a central duct and the two lateral ducts (not visible in the figures) and a gap designed to accommodate corresponding winglets304on the snorkel4so as to simultaneously form a guide for sliding and an articulation. The winglets304are flattened appendices having a protuberance with button configuration404on the side facing the inside.

Said central duct of the upper connection5, at the end opposite to the snorkel4, has an opening below which engages in the hole703on the top of the perimeter edge503whereas each one of the two side ducts of said fitting leads to a corresponding side connection branch605onto which the corresponding exhaust duct903is inserted, the seal being generated by one or more seal parts705.

The end of the upper connection5opposite the ventilation pipe4is closed and has winglets405for the engagement with corresponding winglets101on the frame1, which winglets101are restrained in place by a coupling surface702which is located on the transparent element2when the mask is assembled.

In this embodiment the two exhaust ducts903branch off in a single piece from the seal part3and directly communicate with the lower chamber303, whereas in different possible embodiments the exhaust ducts903are made as separate constructional parts that are removably connected with an end at an opening communicating with the lower chamber303and provided in the seal part3, and with the other end at the upper connection terminal5similarly to the embodiment previously described.

The coupling takes place, for example, by a snap action interlocking coupling terminal consisting of a ring provided with a crown of radial teeth provided at the ends with axial tongues elastically flexible in radial direction and which teeth and tongues engage with the edge delimiting an opening provided in the seal part3.

In both solutions, as well as in other possible solutions, there is a non-return valve with a diaphragm shutter which is oriented in such a way as not to allow the flow in the return direction from the exhaust pipe903to the lower chamber303between the end of the exhaust pipe903and the opening in the gasket3. This valve has the role of preventing the entry of air into the lower chamber303during the inhalation phase, allowing instead the transit during the exhalation phase; with this arrangement, the transit of gases in the desired direction is obtained, that is, from the upper chamber to the lower one during inspiration and from the lower chamber towards the side channels204of the ventilation tube4passing through the exhaust duct903during exhalation.

Different embodiment variations are possible, which can comprise a separate non-return valve consisting of an independent constructional part and which is mounted at said opening in the seal part3.

As mentioned above, the gasket3of the known mask comprises, in the perimeter edge503, four different openings to support and control the flow of air to and from the wearer:the opening703, arranged on the top of said edge503, designed to receive air from the snorkel4through the channel104, air which is conveyed into the upper chamber203;the two openings803, positioned on opposite sides of the perimeter edge503and leading into the lower chamber so as to receive breathed air which is conveyed towards the snorkel4by means of a pair of exhaust ducts903arranged on the perimeter edge503and disposed adjacent to it as shown in the figures. Each of these openings is paired with a non-return valve preferably mounted in correspondence with the related openings;a further opening, located in the area suitable for placing itself near the user's mouth and welcoming a purge valve603to expel any water that may enter the mask.

The present invention aims at improving, at least partially, the structure described above by reducing the number of openings in the gasket3and the number of flow control devices involved in the functioning of the mask. The obvious advantages can be found in better water tightness, easier construction and resistance to stress and greater durability.

An embodiment of full face mask according to this invention is shown inFIG.3and the same embodiment is shown in exploded view inFIG.4. InFIG.3and following, the numerical references of the previous descriptions have been reused for unchanged elements while new references have been introduced to support the description of the innovative components described here.

From the comparison betweenFIG.1andFIG.3it is possible to find some of the improvements introduced by this invention, which will be better described below with the help ofFIG.4. It can be noted the presence of a lower connection element40, located near the user's mouth and intended to collect and convey the breathed air exiting from the lower chamber103which passes through the opening30as a consequence of the user's expiratory act.

The embodiment of said lower connection40must be read as indicative and not limiting of the possible other embodiments according to the invention. In particular, the conformation having cylindrical sections can be varied in terms of ergonomic and/or aesthetic and/or functional aspect of the mask for underwater use still remaining within the inventive concept herewith presented.

In this sense, according to a further characteristic that can be provided in any combination or alternatively with one or more of the other characteristics described in this description, the lower connection40can be made in one piece with the transparent part2whereas still according to a further feature that can be provided in any combination or alternative with one or more of the preceding features, the lower connection40can be made in one piece with the frame1.

The two discharge ducts903departs from the lower connecting element40and they are modified with respect to the mask ofFIG.1and so not directly interconnected to the perimeter edge503, said ducts being located adjacent to the perimeter edge503of the gasket3and being connected, at the opposite end with respect to the lower connection40, with the upper terminal connection5to which they engage by means of a side connection605and possibly joining sealing gaskets (not shown in the figure).

The exhaust ducts903can be made in different shapes and materials according to the embodiment and/or be at least partially made in one piece with the gasket3or removable or integrated in the body of the mask as for example in the frame1.

The exhaust ducts also engage with the lower fitting40in correspondence with the relative opening140, said fitting being furthermore equipped with:(a) an opening340, combined with the corresponding opening703in the gasket3;(b) an opening240intended to contain a purging element from which the breathed gas is expelled as well as any water that filters inside the lower chamber303during underwater operations.

In this embodiment, the purging element is composed of a membrane type valve, comprising a valve seat50and a shutter disk60as shown inFIG.4b. A protecting and containing element70, provided with specific openings, is fixed in front of the valve seat50, hooked in a known way, in order to protect the valve and the shutter from foreign bodies even allowing the fluids to transpire and also in order to improve general aesthetics of the mask.

In this variant, the membrane valve as known in the state of the art therefore comprises a shutter disk60of flexible elastic material housed in a valve seat50which is provided with at least one passage opening150. The shutter disk60comprises fixing means160to the valve seat50. In this example the said fixing means engage in at least one corresponding fixing housing250of the valve seat50. Said fixing housing has a central engagement hole for a pin that locks part of the shutter disc to the valve seat. The valve seat50also comprises a continuous and closed surface for contact sealing of at least one corresponding sealing lip260that is part of the shutter disk60.

According to a still further characteristic that can be provided in any combination or alternatively with one or more of the preceding characteristics, the valve seat50can be made in one piece with the lower fitting40obtaining numerous advantages also in terms of number of parts needed to build the mask object of this invention but also in terms of simplicity of construction, maintenance and production cost containment.

In other embodiments, not shown in the figures, the membrane shutter can be made of one piece and of the same material with the gasket part3, being separated along its peripheral edge from the said gasket part by appropriate buttonholes which delimit said perimeter edge and which have a predetermined width, while the said membrane shutter is connected to a support wall by at least two rigid material bridges which are provided on opposite sides of the perimeter edge of said membrane shutter.

For the scope of coupling between the lower connecting element40and the exhaust ducts903, each duct can be made in specific variants where it is provided with an interlocking seat1903at one end; said interlocking seat comprises an internal groove of annular shape4903or of other shape designed to be coupled with a corresponding annular flange440, present in the lower connection40, which forms an external radial winglet intended to engage by elastic forcing with said internal groove.