Patent Publication Number: US-2017368415-A1

Title: Hydrodynamically efficient swimming mask

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of swimming goggles, and more particularly to methods and systems for swimming goggles with improved hydrodynamic efficiency. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hydrodynamic drag is a resistant force on objects moving or attempting to move though liquid. Efficiency in such movement requires the minimization of hydrodynamic drag. 
     Conventional masks and goggles used for swimming generally have a “bug eyed” or protruding design, and may also create cavities or indentations, and are therefore not optimal in reducing drag. In addition, they do not cover or streamline natural drag inducing contours of the human face, herein particularly the orbital sockets. 
     As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for swimming goggles with improved hydrodynamic efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing model of swimming goggles. 
     In an aspect, a hydrodynamic swimming mask, can include:
         a) a front mask, including a face lens, which is made of a transparent material; and a sealing element, which is configured as a flexible sealing strip that is connected along an outer edge of the face lens; and   b) a head strap that connects between sides of the front mask;   such that the front mask is configured with a shape such that the seal forms a smooth border between the skin surface of a user and the face lens, when the front mask is put on the face of the user who is wearing the hydrodynamic swimming mask.       

     In an aspect, the face lens can be made of an optical grade plastic. 
     In an aspect, the hydrodynamic swimming mask can be configured such that the sealing element connects above the eyebrows of a user and at least 5 mm outside the bony margins of an orbital canal of the user, when the user is wearing the hydrodynamic swimming mask, whereby there are no depressions, cavities, indentations, or protrusions in the smooth overlap between the face lens and the face of the user, which would cause increased water resistance during swimming. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask mounted on a user, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask, taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 4 , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask, taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 4 , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask, taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 4 , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask mounted on a user, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a rear perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask mounted on a user, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask mounted on a user, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask mounted on a user, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask mounted on a user, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask mounted on a user, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention. 
     The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive. 
     In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of a system for hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  with reference to  FIG. 1 , in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification. 
     In an embodiment a hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , can include:
         a) a front mask  110 ; which can include
           i. a face lens  112 ; and   ii. a sealing element  114 ; which can be a flexible sealing strip that is connected along an edge of the face lens  112 ; and   
           b) a head strap  120 , which is connected in a first end to a right side  116  of the front mask  110 , and in a second end to a left side  218  of the face mask  110 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The connection points  222   224  can either be in the face lens  112  or in the sealing element  114 ;   wherein the face lens is configured in one piece to provide a lens for each eye of a user  180 ;   such that the sealing element  114  is configured to connect with a skin surface of a face of a user, such that the sealing element and the face lens are configured to form a water tight enclosure that covers the eyes of a user when the user is wearing the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 ;   such that the front mask is configured with a shape such that the seal forms a smooth border between the skin surface of the user and the face lens, when the front mask is put on the face of the user,   whereby the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  reduces drag and promotes efficiency, speed, and energy conservation when used for swimming.       

     In a related embodiment, the face lens  112  can be made of an optically correct transparent and flexible material, such as optical grade plastic, such that the face lens  112  is designed to flex or curve from a left side to a right side to fit a user&#39;s  180  face, as shown in  FIG. 1 . An optical grade plastic, including acrylics, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, cyclic olefin polymers, cyclic olefin copolymers, styrene acrylic copolymers, and compositions thereof. 
     In a related embodiment, the sealing element  114 , can be made of a watertight material that is compressible, such as a foam, including a closed-cell ethylene foam or it can be a flexible rubber or soft plastic material, such as silicone, such that the sealing element is configured to conform to the contour of a face of the user  180 . 
     In another related embodiment, such as shown in  FIG. 8A , a hydrodynamic swimming mask  800  can be configured such that the head strap  820  can be a wraparound continuation of the face lens  812 , wherein open ends of a right and left head strap  120  can be connected by a fastening mechanism  826 , such as a clasp  826 . 
       FIG. 8B  shows a rear side view of the hydrodynamic swimming mask  800 , showing the left open end and the right open end of the head strap  820 , which comprises a left head strap  822  and a right head strap  824 , such that the left and right head straps  822   824  can be secured together with the clasp  826 , which can be removably or permanently attached to either the left head strap  822 , as shown, or the right head strap  824 . 
     In a related embodiment,  FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 . 
     In a related embodiment,  FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 . 
     In a related embodiment,  FIG. 4  shows a front view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 . 
     In a related embodiment,  FIG. 5  shows a schematic cross sectional view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 , taken along the section line A-A of  FIG. 4 , wherein the front mask  110  can have a seal extension angle  512  between the face lens  112  and the sealing element  114 , such that as shown, when the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  is not in use, and therefore not under pressure, whereby the sealing element  114  has a seal extension angle of approximately 135 degrees, or in general in a range of 120-150 degrees. 
     In a related embodiment,  FIG. 6  shows a schematic cross sectional view of a hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 , taken along the section line A-A of  FIG. 4 , wherein the seal extension angle  512  is flattened when the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  is in use, such that the seal extension angle adapts to substantially follow a contour of a face onto which the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  is mounted. 
     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , for any part of the sealing element  114  which is more than a predetermined length  424  from the nose apex point  422 , taken along an outer edge of the sealing element  114 , wherein the predetermined length  424  can be 1 inch or in a range of 0.75 to 1.5 inches, the seal extension angle  512  can be flattened such that it is in a range of 170-180 degrees, or in a range of 175-180 degrees, or in a range of 160-179 degrees, or in a range of 150 to 179 degrees, or in some other range, such that there is a smooth overlap between the face lens  112  and a face  182  of a user  180  onto which the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  is mounted. 
     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , for any part of the sealing element  114 , which is less than a predetermined length  424  from the nose apex point  422 , taken along an outer edge of the sealing element  114 , wherein the predetermined length  424  can be substantially 1 inch or in a range of 0.75 to 1.5 inches, the seal extension angle  512  can be extended outwards such that it is in a range of 170-225 degrees, or in a range of 185-245 degrees, or in a range of 160-245 degrees, or in a range of 150 to 245 degrees, or in some other range, such that there is a smooth overlap between the face lens  112  and a face  182  of a user  180  onto which the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  is mounted. 
     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100  can be configured such that the sealing element connects above the eyebrows of a user and at least 5 mm  906  outside the bony margins  902   904  of the orbital canal of the user, here shown by indication of cranial structure, when the user is wearing the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 , whereby there is a smooth overlap between the face lens  112  and a face  182  of a user  180 , without any depressions, cavities, indentations, or protrusions, which would cause increased water resistance during swimming. 
     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a hydrodynamic swimming mask  1000  can be configured such that around an entire periphery of the face lens  1012 , a peripheral surface plane  1016  of the face lens  1012  is configured to be substantially parallel with a skin tangent plane  1092  of a skin surface  1082  directly adjoining the face lens  1012  when the hydrodynamic swimming mask  1000  is positioned on the face  182  of a user  180 . 
     In a further related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the peripheral surface  1016  of the face lens  1012  is configured to be substantially parallel with the tangent plane  1092  of a skin surface plane  1082  directly adjoining the face lens  1012  when a differential angle  1182  between the peripheral surface  1116  and the tangent plane  1192  is in a range of −5 to +5 degrees, or as much as −10 to +10 degrees. Note that the peripheral surface  1116  and the tangent plane  1192  are here shown in cross-sectional side-views, and therefore appear as dotted lines. 
     In a yet further related embodiment, the face lens  1012  can thereby be configured with a central panoramic vision region  1040  (where the dotted line  1042  indicates the outer edge  1042  of the central panoramic vision region  1040 ), that is vertically flat  1072  and horizontally curved  1074 , and with curving regions  1050  that curve from the central panoramic vision region to the periphery of the face lens, such that the curving regions are configured to substantially match a shape of the periphery of the hydrodynamic swimming mask  1000  to a shape of a skin surface directly adjoining the face lens  1012  when the hydrodynamic swimming mask  1000  is positioned on the face  182  of a user  180 . 
     In a further related embodiment, the face lens  1012  can be configured with a promotion region, positioned in a location which does not interfere with the vision of the user, which can be outside the central panoramic vision region  1040 , such that a promotional communication  1020 , such as a logo  1020 , can be positioned in the promotion region, such that the promotional communication  1020  for example can be either as a surface print or a sticker. The promotional communication  1020  can be a text, a graphic image, or a combination of these. Thereby, the promotion region can provide space for a promotional communication  1020 , which for example can be a company logo, team name, motivational slogan or message, or some other text or graphical communication. In  FIG. 10 , the logo  1020 , is shown on a top right side of the face lens  1012 . Alternatively, a promotional communication  1020  communication be configured on either top right or top left sides, on both top right and top left sides, or in some other location that doesn&#39;t interfere with the users vision, such as for example on the nose portion  1060 . 
     In a another yet further related embodiment, the face lens  1012  can be configured with a nose portion  1060 , which is configured to match and overlap with a portion of the nose of a user, such that the nose portion reaches for example at least along 30% (approximately as shown) of the length of a ridge of the nose, or alternatively approximately or at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, or 90% of the length of a ridge, or some other coverage percentage, when the hydrodynamic swimming mask  1000  is positioned on the face  182  of a user  180 . 
     In an another related yet further related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the nose portion  1260  can be configured to completely cover the nose of the user, when the hydrodynamic swimming mask  1000  is positioned on the face  182  of a user  180 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the nose portion can further include at least one breathing aperture  1362 . 
     Here has thus been described a multitude of embodiments of the hydrodynamic swimming mask  100 , and methods related thereto, which can be employed in numerous modes of usage. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent, and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.