Patent Publication Number: US-6668823-B1

Title: Diving mask allowing breath of a user with the nose

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a diving mask and, more particularly, to a snorkel mask which allows nasal breathing. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Snorkel masks have long been popular because of providing a simple and cheap way to see underwater clearly when swimming. However, the main drawback of the conventional snorkel mask is that the breathing tube fits in the mouth and so the diver can only breathe through the mouth. This often feels unnatural and unhygienic, and so many people are put off this fascinating sport. The unaccustomed manner of breathing with the mouth, instead of the nose, not only makes a negative effect on respiration efficiency but also brings about muscle strain around the mouth, as well as making the diver thirsty or dry in the throat. 
     Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide a diving mask to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a diving mask which allows nasal breathing. 
    
    
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a diving mask in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a broken sectional view of the diving mask of FIG. 1, showing an air admitting hose affixed to a mask body; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective back view of the diving mask of FIG. 1, showing respective directions in which air comes into and exits from an inside of the mask body; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a breather included in the diving mask of FIG. 1, showing the breather emerged from water and a float therein falling to its lower position; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the breather submerged into water and the float lifted to its upper position; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective side view, partially broken away, of the diving mask of FIG. 1, showing a drainer in its closed position; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective side view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the drainer in its opened position for drainage. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a diving mask in accordance with the present invention includes a mask body ( 10 ) having a pair of transparent portions ( 100 ) for permitting vision of a user and a concave nose portion ( 101 ) situated between the two portions ( 100 ). 
     Furthermore, the mask body ( 10 ) is formed with a resilient peripheral edge ( 102 ), as best shown in FIG. 3, for watertight engagement with the facial skin of the user in a region around the eyes and the nose, and with a head band ( 103 ) dimensioned to elastically extend round the head of the user for maintaining the watertight engagement of the resilient peripheral edge ( 102 ) with the facial skin. The resilient peripheral edge ( 102 ) may be made from a material such as rubber. 
     The diving mask further includes a pair of air admitting hoses ( 11 ) extending from opposite side areas of the mask body ( 10 ) and an air exiting hose ( 12 ) extending from the nose portion ( 101 ) of the same body ( 10 ). These hoses ( 11 ,  12 ) are in connection and in fluid communication with a breather ( 20 ), which is preferably attached to the mask body ( 10 ) by means of a connector ( 104 ), as shown in FIG. 4, that extends from the head band ( 103 ). 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the breather ( 20 ) is configured into a hollow body provided with a lower frame ( 21 ). The hollow body has a bottom orifice ( 22 ) in fluid communication with the interior of the lower frame ( 21 ) and the lower frame ( 21 ) has a plurality of vents ( 212 ) open to the exterior of the frame ( 21 ), thereby enabling the hoses ( 11 ,  12 ) to be in fluid communication with the exterior of the breather ( 20 ). 
     The lower frame ( 21 ) is specially provided for receiving a movable float ( 210 ) which has a top flap ( 211 ) to selectively close and open the bottom orifice ( 22 ) of the hollow body, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     The breather ( 20 ) preferably has an inner partition ( 200 ) dividing the interior of the hollow body into a first chamber in fluid communication with the air admitting hoses ( 11 ) and a second chamber in fluid communication with the air exiting hose ( 12 ). Particularly, the inner partition ( 200 ) is arranged in such a way that both of the chambers are in fluid communication with the bottom orifice ( 22 ), and so exhaled air coming from the air exiting hose ( 12 ) can be discharged from the breather ( 20 ) without entering the air admitting holes ( 11 ). 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the mask body ( 10 ) has a pair of inlet ports ( 115 ) defined in the opposite side areas at where the air admitting hoses ( 11 ) are affixed to the mask body ( 10 ). In the illustrated embodiment, each of the inlet ports ( 115 ) is defined by a tubular fitting ( 118 ) that affixes one of the air admitting hoses ( 11 ) to the mask body ( 10 ). 
     As clearly shown in FIG. 2, each fitting ( 118 ) has an inner end formed with a plurality of radial ribs ( 119 ) that support a mounting post ( 1190 ) in the center of the inlet port ( 115 ). Arranged in the inlet port ( 115 ) and fastened to the mounting post ( 1190 ) is an inlet valve flap ( 110 ) to selectively close and open the inlet port ( 115 ) in such a way that air can pass through the port ( 115 ) only in a single direction from the air admitting hose ( 11 ) to the inside of the mask body ( 10 ), i.e. in a direction as designated by outer arrows in FIG.  3 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the mask body ( 10 ) additionally has an outlet port ( 134 ) defined in the nose portion ( 101 ) at where the air exiting hose ( 12 ) is affixed to the mask body ( 10 ), with an outlet valve flap ( 120 ) arranged in the outlet port ( 134 ) to selectively close and open the same port ( 134 ). 
     The outlet valve flap ( 120 ) is arranged in the outlet port ( 134 ) in a manner similar to the inlet valve flap ( 110 ), but allows air to pass through the outlet port ( 134 ) only in a single direction from the inside of the mask body ( 10 ) to the air exiting hose ( 12 ), i.e. in a direction as designated by a central upper arrow in FIG.  3 . 
     Referring back to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , the inventive diving mask can be worn by engaging the resilient peripheral edge ( 102 ) with the facial skin of the user, with the transparent portions ( 100 ) in front of a user&#39;s eyes, the nose portion ( 101 ) covering the user&#39;s nose and the head band ( 103 ) extending round the back of the user&#39;s head. Being attached by the connector ( 104 ), the breather ( 20 ) is then positioned behind the head of the user. 
     With the inventive diving mask, the user can breathe in and out nasally when the breather ( 20 ) is above the water surface, for example, when the user has emerged or is swimming immediately under the water surface. As the user is breathing in, air comes into the breather ( 20 ) and the air admitting hoses ( 11 ), thus moving the inlet valve flaps ( 110 ) which then open the inlet ports ( 115 ), as shown in FIG.  2 . As a result, air comes into the inside of the mask body ( 10 ), through the opened inlet ports ( 115 ), thereby providing fresh air for the user to inhale nasally. 
     As the user is breathing out, the exhaled air from the user&#39;s nose will move the outlet valve flap ( 120 ) which then opens the outlet port ( 134 ), and so the exhaled air may come into the air exiting hose ( 12 ) through the opened outlet port ( 134 ) and may be discharged from the breather ( 20 ) via the bottom orifice ( 22 ) and the vents ( 212 ), as best shown in FIG.  1 . 
     During the period when the user is breathing out, the inlet valve flaps ( 110 ) move to close the inlet ports ( 115 ) and so the exhaled air can not come into the air admitting hoses ( 11 ). Similarly, during the period when the user is breathing in, the outlet valve flap ( 120 ) moves to close the outlet port ( 134 ) and so residual exhaled air in the air exiting hose ( 12 ) can not come to the inside of the mask body ( 10 ). The alternate movements of the inlet and outlet valve flaps ( 110 ,  120 ) enables a perfect exchange of air between the inside of the mask body ( 10 ) and the environment. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the user may also dive deep into the water after having taken a deep breath. Being submerged in the water, the float ( 210 ) is lifted within the lower frame ( 21 ), by the buoyancy, from its lower position as shown in FIG. 4 to its upper position as shown in FIG.  5 . It is in the upper position of the float ( 210 ) that the top flap ( 211 ) closes the bottom orifice ( 22 ) and prevents water from coming into the inside of the mask body ( 10 ) through the air admitting hoses ( 11 ). 
     The user can breathe immediately once emerged from the water, after a slight nasal breathing-out. The exhaled air from the nose will disengage the top flap ( 211 ) from the hollow body and will make the float ( 210 ) fall to its lower position, so that the bottom orifice ( 22 ) of the breather ( 20 ) is opened again. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a drainer ( 13 ) is preferably formed on an outside of the mask body ( 10 ) oppositely to the outlet valve flap ( 120 ), for the purpose of draining out water possibly accumulating within the concave nose portion ( 101 ) of the mask body ( 10 ). 
     In detail, the drainer ( 13 ) has an opening ( 135 ) defined in a wall thereof and a mounting rod ( 136 ) situated in a center of the opening ( 135 ), with a water-exiting flap ( 130 ) fastened to the mounting rod ( 136 ) to selectively close and open the opening ( 135 ) in such a way that water can pass through the opening ( 135 ) only in a single direction from the interior to the exterior of the drainer ( 13 ). 
     If there is a little amount of water undesirably leaked into the inside of the mask body ( 10 ), it usually runs to the concave nose portion ( 101 ) because most divers swim facing down. During process of the repeated breathing-out of the user, the water is brought to the drainer ( 13 ) by the exhaled air and finally accumulates there. 
     The user can remove the accumulated water from the drainer ( 13 ) simply by breathing out strongly by nose while squeezing the air exiting hose ( 12 ). The strong pressure from the nose moves the water-exit flap ( 130 ) to open the opening ( 135 ) and carries the water out of the drainer ( 13 ). Such removals avoid the possibility of the accidental entrance of the water into the nose of user while breathing in. 
     A comparison between the inventive diving mask and the prior art is made in TABLE 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 comparison between this inventive mask and the prior art 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Prior Art 
                 This Invention 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Configuration 
                 in a separate relationship 
                 in a connected relationship 
               
               
                   
                 between the mask body and the 
                 between the hoses and the mask 
               
               
                   
                 breathing tube. 
                 body. 
               
               
                 Usage 
                 by wearing the mask body on 
                 by wearing the inventive diving 
               
               
                   
                 the head in addition to holding 
                 mask on the head only. 
               
               
                   
                 the separate tube in the mouth. 
               
               
                 Breathing 
                 with the mouth. 
                 with the nose in a normal way. 
               
               
                 Air passage 
                 the single tube both for inhaling 
                 the air admitting hoses for 
               
               
                   
                 and for exhaling. 
                 inhaling and the air exiting hose 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for exhaling. 
               
               
                 Air exchange 
                 only between the tube and the 
                 between the different hoses and the 
               
               
                   
                 mouth. 
                 nose, by way of an enclosed space 
               
               
                   
                   
                 defined between the mask body 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and the user&#39;s head. 
               
               
                 Efficiency in 
                 low, as a result of residual amount 
                 high 
               
               
                 respiration 
                 of exhaled air in the tube. 
               
               
                 Vision 
                 most probably obscured by the 
                 as clear as usual for the mist within 
               
               
                   
                 transparent portions which may be 
                 the enclosed space is brought away 
               
               
                   
                 spotted with water droplets 
                 by the exhaled air through the air 
               
               
                   
                 resulted from mist within the 
                 exiting hose. 
               
               
                   
                 enclosed space between the mask 
               
               
                   
                 body and the user&#39;s head. 
               
               
                 Physiological 
                 unpleasant muscle strain around 
                 no abnormal strain. 
               
               
                 sensation at the 
                 the mouth, in which the tube is 
               
               
                 mouth 
                 held. 
               
               
                 Physiological 
                 thirst and dry, mostly by dry, non- 
                 Quite normal, because the inhaled 
               
               
                 sensation in the 
                 humidified air directly from the 
                 air passing through the throat has 
               
               
                 throat 
                 environment. 
                 been humidified by mucous 
               
               
                   
                   
                 membranes within the nose. 
               
               
                 Drainage from 
                 by removing the mask body from 
                 Simply by operating the drainer. 
               
               
                 inside of the 
                 the user&#39;s face. 
               
               
                 mask body 
                   
               
               
                 Preparation for 
                 by blowing so fiercely with the 
                 by breathing out gently with the 
               
               
                 resuming the 
                 mouth as to remove water clogging 
                 nose to actuate the top flap of the 
               
               
                 respiration after 
                 the tube. 
                 breather. 
               
               
                 diving deep into 
               
               
                 the water 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     From the above description, it is apparent that this invention has the following advantages: 
     1. allowing the user to breathe in a normal way: 
     Because the hoses ( 11 ,  12 ) are arranged independently to and from the user&#39;s nose for inhaling and exhaling, the user can breathe normally and efficiently when having emerged or swimming immediately under the water surface; 
     2. improving the vision of the user as compared with prior art: 
     Because the possible mist within the enclosed space between the mask body ( 10 ) and the user&#39;s head is taken away by the exhaled air through the air exiting hose ( 12 ), few or no water droplets are condensed from the mist onto the transparent portions of the mask body and so the user may have a clear view of the underwater scenery around, which is of great importance. 
     3. no unpleasant physiological sensation at the mouth and in the throat: 
     Because it is unnecessary for the mouth to hold the hoses ( 11 ,  12 ), no abnormal muscle strain around the mouth happens and, because the inhaled air has been humidified by mucous membranes within the nose, the user&#39;s throat will not feel thirsty or dry. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.