Patent Publication Number: US-6655378-B2

Title: Snorkel

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to snorkels. In particular, the present invention relates to a snorkel which automatically seals its air portal when submerged. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Snorkels are used during snorkeling to provide the user with air as the user at least partially submerges his or her head below the water surface. Snorkels typically include one or more elongate tubes which are connected at one end to a mouthpiece and which include one or more air ports at an opposite end. Air passes through the air portal through the tube to the mouthpiece where the air is inhaled by the user. The exhaled air by the snorkeler also passes through the tube. 
     During snorkeling, the water surface will many times be choppy and rough due to wind and various other causes. As a result, the water surface frequently rises up such that water undesirably passes through the air port. To avoid accidental swallowing of the water, the user must either forcefully blow the water out of the air tube or out of the snorkel tube or remove and tip the snorkel tube to empty the water. 
     Due to such problems associated with basic snorkels, snorkels have been developed that shield the air portal from waves or which seal the air portal of the snorkel tube. Although snorkels which shield the air portal may be effective in preventing waves of water from flowing into the tube through the air portal, such shields are ineffective when the user intentionally or unintentionally submerges the top of the snorkel and its air portal below the water surface. As a result, alternative snorkels have been developed which actually seal the air portal when the snorkel is lowered below or submerged below the water surface. Such alternative snorkels, known as “dry snorkels”, typically employ a buoyant float (such as a foam member or hollow ball) which rises as the snorkel is being submerged to seal the air portal of the snorkel. Although commonly used during snorkeling activities, such dry snorkels have several drawbacks. First, because such dry snorkels rely on a buoyant member or float, such dry snorkels are incapable of sealing the air port when the snorkel itself is inverted or turned sideways such as during a dive. Secondly, such dry snorkels typically require an extremely convoluted air passageway. As a result, breathing through such dry snorkels is difficult and laborsome. Thirdly, such dry snorkels are typically complicated, requiring multiple parts and costly assembly. 
     Thus, there is a continuing need for a snorkel that (1) prevents waves of water from passing through the air portal of the snorkel tube, (2) that seals the air portal when submerged, regardless of the orientation of the snorkel tube itself, (3) that utilizes a simpler, more direct air passageway to provide easier breathing, and (4) that is simple, requires fewer parts and is easy to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a snorkel includes a tube having a first end, a second end, and at least one internal passageway having a port. The snorkel additionally includes a hollow member slidably supported proximate the first end. The hollow member moves between a closed position in which the member occludes the port and an open position in which the port is open. The hollow member has an interior in communication with the internal passageway when the hollow member is in the closed position. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, a snorkel includes a mouthpiece, a tube coupled to the mouthpiece, a first sealing surface, a sealer member and a flexible membrane. The tube includes a first end, a second end proximate the mouthpiece and at least one internal passageway having a port and extending from the first end to the second end. The first sealing surface extends above the port. The sealer member extends about the tube below the port and includes a second sealing surface. The flexible membrane is sealed to the sealer member and the tube. The sealer member moves between an open position in which air is allowed to pass through the port into the internal passageway and a closed position in which the second sealing surface engages the first sealing surface to block the port. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, a snorkel includes a mouthpiece, a tube coupled to the mouthpiece, a lid, a sealer member, and a flexible membrane. The tube includes a first end, a second end proximate the mouthpiece, and at least one internal passageway having a port and extending from the first end to the second end. The lid is coupled to the tube proximate the first end and provides a first sealing surface. The sealer member extends about the tube and provides a second sealing surface opposite the first sealing surface. The sealer member moves between a closed position in which the second sealing surface engages the first sealing surface to block the port and an open position in which air is allowed to pass through the port into the internal passageway. The sealer member includes an interior in communication with the internal passageway when the sealer member is in the closed position. The flexible membrane is sealed to the sealer member and the tube. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snorkel being an exemplary embodiment of a snorkel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the snorkel of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the snorkel of FIG. 4 taken along line  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the snorkel of FIG. 1 in an open position and taken along a longitudinal center of the snorkel. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a snorkel of FIG. 4 in an occluded or closed position while submerged. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a snorkel of FIG. 5 in the occluded or closed position while submerged. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled snorkel  10 . Snorkel  10  generally includes tube  12 , mouthpiece  14 , lid  16 , sealer member  18  and movable seal  20 . Tube  12  generally comprises an elongate tube composed of one or more segments and including an upper end  22 , a lower end  24  and at least one internal passageway  26  (shown in FIG. 4) extending between ends  22  and  24  and pneumatically communicating with mouthpiece  14  at end  24  and with at least one port  28  (shown in FIG. 4) at end  22 . In the exemplary embodiment, tube  12  provides a single air passageway  26 . Alternatively, tube  12  may provide multiple air passages extending at least partially between ends  22  and  24 , wherein the multiple air passages provide distinct passageways used independently of one another when inhaling and exhaling. As best shown by FIG. 1, tube  12  is preferably J-shaped and includes a loop  30  along its exterior configured to receive a strap or other portion of a face mask or goggles to secure the face mask or goggles to snorkel  10 . Tube  12  may alternatively have alternative shapes or configurations extending between ends  22  and  24  and may have alternative exterior appearance. Tube  12  functions to pass air from above the water surface to below the water surface during inhaling by the snorkeler, and to allow for the discharge of exhaled air from the snorkeler. 
     Mouthpiece  14  is conventionally known and mounted to a lower end  24  of tube  12 . Mouthpiece  14  communicates with the internal passageway  26 . Mouthpiece  14  enables the snorkeler to intake air from tube  12  during inhaling and also enables the snorkeler to exhale air which is either discharged through an opening in mouthpiece  14  or through an alternative opening along or on top of tube  12 . Mouthpiece  14  may have a variety of sizes, shapes and configurations other than the exemplary mouthpiece  14  depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     Lid  16  comprises a structure coupled to end  22  of tube  12  adjacent to and preferably above port  28 . Lid  16  provides a sealing surface  32  (shown in FIG. 4) against which sealer member  18  seals against and occludes port  28  in that port  28  no longer communicates between passageway  26  and an exterior of snorkel  10 . In the exemplary embodiment, lid  16  also provides a shield to block ingress of water of into passageway  26 . 
     Sealer member  18  comprises a member extending at least partially about tube  12  proximate end  22 . Sealer member  18  is sealed at one end to tube  12  and includes a sealing surface  34  (shown in FIG. 4) which is configured and located to cooperate with sealing surface  32  to occlude port  28 . Sealing member  18  moves relative to tube  12  between an open position in which air is allowed to pass through port  28  into internal passageway  26 , and a closed position in which sealing surfaces  32  and  34  are in engagement with one another to block or occlude port  28 . 
     Movable seal  20  seals sealer member  18  to and about tube  12  while at the same time permits sealer member  18  to move between the open position and the closed position. Movable seal  20  preferably comprises a flexible membrane sealed to and about tube  12  at a first portion and coupled to sealer member  18  at a second portion. Movable seal  20  preferably comprises a bellows. Alternatively, movable seal  20  may comprise a flexible membrane in other configurations such as a generally cylindrical sleeve or balloon sealed about tube  12  along a first portion and coupled to sealer member  18  along a second portion. Moreover, although less desirable, movable seal  20  may alternatively comprise other conventionally known or later developed means for providing a generally watertight seal between two adjacent structures while at the same time permitting relative movement between the adjacent structures. 
     FIGS. 2-5 illustrate snorkel  10  in greater detail. FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a top of snorkel  10 . FIG. 3 is a sectional view of snorkel  10  taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  4 . FIG. 4 is a sectional view of snorkel  10 . As best shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, end  22  of tube  12  preferably includes a closed axial top  40 , mounting structure  42 , and external ribbed portion  44 . Top  40  extends above ports  28  and supports mounting structure  42 . Mounting structure  42  projects upwardly from top  40  and generally comprises a hub  45  and a pair of outwardly extending ears  46 . Structure  42  is configured to mount and secure lid  16  to top  40  of tube  12  without the need for adhesives, welding or additional fasteners. Although less desirable, lid  16  may be mounted to top  40  of tube  12  by such methods. Moreover, although top  40  and hub  45  are illustrated as being preferably integrally formed as part of a single unitary body with tube  12 , such structures may alternatively be mounted to tube  12  by any of the aforementioned methods. Although snorkel  10  is illustrated as including ports  28  which extend in a radial direction through the walls of tube  12 , ports  28  may alternatively comprise a single port or greater than two ports. In addition, ports  28  may alternatively extend axially through an end of tube  12  or at an angle through tube  12  in alternative embodiments. 
     External ribbed portion  44  generally comprises external ribs formed on an exterior surface of tube  12  at a location spaced from top  40  below ports  28 . Ribbed portion  44  sealingly engages internal ribs  48  of movable seal  20  to facilitate the mounting and sealing of movable seal  20  to tube  12  below ports  28 . In particular applications, a sealing compound may be additionally provided between ribbed portion  44  and ribs  48  to provide additional sealing. Although less desirable, movable seal  20  may alternatively be sealingly secured and mounted to and about the external surface of tube  12  by various other means such as welding, adhesives, press fits, mechanical locks and the like. 
     As shown by FIG. 4, tube  12  additionally includes an optional drain hole  49 . Drain holes  49  comprise passageways extending opposite one another through the walls of tube  12 . Drain holes  49  communicate between passageway  26  of tube  12  and the interior of sealer member  18 . Drain holes  49  permit water trapped within the interior of sealer member  18  to drain into passageway  26  and to be expelled by the snorkeler. 
     As further shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, lid  16  generally includes shield  50 , cap  52  and seal ring  54 . Shield  50  generally comprises a downwardly extending cup-shaped member having a top portion  56  and a downwardly extending perimeter  58 . Top portion  56  is configured to be mounted to mounting structure  42  of tube  12  and generally includes central opening  60 , ear passages  62 , ear detents  64  and cap apertures  66 . Central opening  60  extends through top  56  and is sized to receive hub  45  of structure  42  and such that top  56  bears against top  40  of tube  12 . Ear passages  62  radially extend outwardly from central opening  60  and are sized to receive ears  46  of structure  42  to allow ears  46  to pass through top  56 . Ear detents  64  generally comprise depressions or recesses extending into an upper surface of top portion  56 . Detents  64  are sized to partially receive ears  46  of structure  42  and are preferably annularly spaced from ear passages  62  by 90 degrees. As a result, shield  50  may be easily mounted to top  40  of tube  12  without additional fasteners. In particular, ears  46  are inserted through ear openings  62 . Tube  12  and shield  50  are then rotated 90 degrees relative to one another to position ears  46  in detents  64 , thereby securing shield  50  to tube  12 . 
     Cap  52  mounts to and over top portion  56  of shield  50  and generally includes two tabs  68  which snap into cap apertures  66  of top  56  to secure cap  52  to shield  50 . Cap  52  prevents accidental dislodgment of shield  50  from tube  12  and provides for a sleek aesthetic appearance along the top of snorkel  10 . 
     Downwardly extending perimeter  58  extends from top  56  towards end  24  of tube  12 . Perimeter  58  is preferably dimensioned so as to extend from above to below ports  28  when shield  50  is mounted upon tube  12 . Perimeter  58  blocks waves of water from undesirably entering passageway  26  of tube  12  through ports  28 . 
     Seal ring  54  generally comprises an annular ring of a material which is capable of forming a seal with another member when the other member bears against it. In the exemplary embodiment, ring  54  is formed from a compressible or elastomeric material such as silicone. Alternatively, ring  54  may be formed from other materials such as flexible vinyl or polyvinyl chloride. Ring  54  extends about hub  45  and is preferably captured between the upper surface of top  40  of tube  12  and a lower surface of top portion  56  of shield  50 . Ring  54  preferably has an outer diameter sufficiently sized such that ring  54  provides sealing surface  32  (shown in FIG. 4) against which surface  34  of sealer member  18  bears against and forms a seal when sealer member  18  is in a closed position. 
     The exemplary embodiment of lid  16  enables lid  16  to be mounted to tube  12  without adhesive, welding or other fasteners. In addition, the described structure enables seal ring  54  to be removed and replaced when necessary. The structure also provides a sleek and attractive aesthetic design. Although less desirable, lid  16  may have a variety of alternative configurations. For example, shield  50  and cap  52  may alternatively be integrally formed as part of a single unitary body which are snapped onto top  40  of tube  12  or which are permanently or releasably coupled to top  40  of tube  12  by other securement means such as welding, adhesives, or by fasteners. In lieu of being captured between shield  50  and top  40  of tube  12 , seal ring  54  may alternatively be fastened to shield  50  by welding, fasteners, adhesives and the like. Moreover, seal ring  54  may alternatively be co-molded as part of shield  50  or press fit to shield  50 . Although less desirable, seal ring  54  may be omitted in embodiments where shield  50  itself has a generally flat surface opposite surface  34  of sealer member  18  so as to provide a sealing surface in lieu of surface  32  currently provided by seal ring  54 . In such an alternative embodiment, surface  34  is preferably formed from a sealing material such as a soft or compressible material, an elastomeric material or a rubber-like material. In such an alternative embodiment, surface  34  preferably includes silicone. 
     Sealer member  18  generally comprises a member slidably supported along end  22  of tube  12  and configured to move between a closed position in which surface  34  of sealer member  18  engages surface  32  of lid  16  to occlude or block ports  28  and an open position. In the exemplary embodiment, sealer member  18  also cooperates with movable seal  20  to form a hollow member that has an interior  72  in communication with passageway  26  of tube  12  when sealer member  18  is in the closed position. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, sealer member  18  includes top  74 , sidewall  76  and ribs  78 . Top  74  and sidewalls  76  are preferably integrally formed as part of a single unitary body and define a generally cup-shaped body. Top  74  includes an opening  80  through which tube  12  extends. Top  74  additionally includes an upwardly projecting lip  81  which forms sealing surface  34 . Sidewall  76  includes external ribs  82  configured to sealingly engage internal ribs  84  of movable seal  20  to sealably couple sealer member  18  to movable seal  20 . Alternatively, sealer member  18  may be sealably affixed to movable seal  20  by various other methods such as welding, adhesives, threads, mechanical interlocks or mechanical fasteners. In lieu of comprising two separate components, sealer member  18  may alternatively be integrally formed or co-molded with movable seal  20  out of one or more materials. 
     Ribs  78  are preferably integrally formed with top  74  and sidewalls  76  and extend inwardly from an interior of sidewalls  76 . Ribs  78  circumscribe tube  12  and partially project into movable seal  20 . In the exemplary embodiment, snorkel  10  includes six ribs spaced 60 degrees apart from one another. Ribs  78  guide movement of sealer member  18  between the closed position and the open position. 
     Although sealer member  18  is preferably formed as a single unitary body, sealer member  18  may alternatively be formed from separate components which are coupled or secured to one another. Furthermore, although less desirable, sealer member  18  may have other configurations so long as sealer member  18  provides a sealing surface such as sealing surface  34 , provides a hollow interior in communication with the interior  24  of tube  12  and is movable between the closed position and the open position. 
     Movable seal  20  preferably comprises a cup-shaped member having a lower end  86  sealably secured to tube  12  and an upper end  88  sealably secured to sealer member  18 . As previously described, in the exemplary embodiment, movable seal  20  includes internal ribs  48  and external ribs  84  for sealably coupling movable seal  20  to tube  12  and sealer member  18 . To enable movement of sealer member  18  between the open and closed positions, movable seal  20  preferably includes a flexible membrane between ends  86  and  88  which enables movable seal  20  to expand and contract along the axis of tube  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, movable seal  20  includes bellows portion  90  formed from a flexible material such as silicone. Alternatively, movable seal  20  may be formed from other materials such as flexible vinyl or polyvinyl chloride. Alternatively, movable seal  20  may comprise a balloon or sheath of flexible material enabling movable seal  20  to expand and contract between ends  86  and  88  along the axis of tube  12 . In addition to being flexible or as an alternative to being flexible, the material forming movable seal  20  between ends  88  and  86  may be elastic or stretchable. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, bellows portion  90  is preconfigured so as to resiliently bias sealer member  18  and surface  34  towards the closed position in which surface  34  is in sealing engagement with surface  32  of lid  16 . As a result, sealer member  18  more quickly reacts towards the closed position when the snorkeler is diving. In the exemplary embodiment, the bellows of movable seal  20  is preferably molded in a fully expanded position such that gravitational force upon sealer member  18  from out of the water pushes down sealer member  18  in the open position. Virtually any upward force or change in pressure in sealer member  18  automatically causes sealer member  18  to move upward to the closed position. 
     Although less desirable, movable seal  20  may alternatively comprise other structures which enable sealer member  18  to move along tube  12  between the open and closed positions and which also form a seal between sealing member  18  and tube  12 . In alternative embodiments, movable seal  20  may alternatively comprise conventionally known sealing devices such as O-rings and the like, or may comprise later developed movable sealing technologies. 
     FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the operation and advantages of snorkel  10 . FIG. 4 depicts snorkel  10  with sealer member  18  in the open position typically when the snorkeler is snorkeling along the water surface with end  22  of tube  12  above the water surface, allowing the snorkeler to inhale and exhale air taken through snorkel  10 . In the open position, sealer member  18  is positioned closer to end  24  of tube  12  as compared to when sealer member  18  is in the closed position. As a result, surfaces  32  and  34  are spaced apart from one another such that ports  28  remain unoccluded in that air is permitted to freely pass through ports  28  between passageway  26  and the ambient air surrounding end  22  of snorkel  10  above the water. In particular, air is permitted to pass between passageway  26  and the ambient air in the directions indicated by arrows  94 . As best shown by FIG. 4, sidewalls or perimeter  58  of shield  50  merely overlap and extend below sealing surface  34  of sealer member  18  when sealer member  18  is in the open position by a distance D of approximately 0.15 inches. Ports  28  have an uppermost portion located slightly above surfaces  34  when sealer member  18  is in the open position shown. The most constricted portion through which air must travel between passageway  26  and the ambient air is generally between sidewall  58  and the upper portion of sealer member  18 . This constriction has a width of approximately 0.075. However, because the annular gap between sidewall  58  and upper portion of sealer member  18  has an area greater than cross-sectional area of passageway  26 , intake of air is not constricted. Moreover, because of the minimum overlap between sealer member  18  and sidewall  58  when sealer member  18  is in the open position, air passing in the direction indicated by arrow  94  includes less bends, twists or turns which enables easier, less restricted inhaling and exhaling of air through snorkel  10 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate sealer member  18  of snorkel  10  in the closed position. FIG. 5 illustrates sealer member  18  in the closed position when snorkel  10  is in an upright position where it is below the surface of the water. FIG. 6 illustrates sealer member  18  in the closed position when snorkel  10  is upside down below the surface of the water. As shown by FIGS. 5 and 6, sealer member  18  automatically moves to the closed position in response to pressure differentials between interior of snorkel  10  (passageway  26  and interior  72  of sealer member  18  and movable seal  20 ) and the exterior of snorkel  10  (i.e., the water pressure surrounding snorkel  10 ). Because snorkel  10  closes itself automatically in response to pressure differentials rather than relying upon buoyancy of a particular material, snorkel  10  automatically closes or seals itself when under the water in almost any orientation including a vertical orientation as shown in FIG. 5, an upside down orientation as shown in FIG. 6, or a sideways or any orientation therebetween such as a sideways or angled orientation. As shown in FIG. 5, sealing surface  34  of sealer member  18  seals against surface  32  along a first seal line  96  so as to enclose or bound an occlusion area having a diameter D 1 . As further shown by FIG. 5, sealer member  18  is sealed against tube  12  along a second seal line  98  that encircles or bounds an area that has a diameter D 2 . The occlusion area, defined by the seal line created when the surfaces  32  and  34  seal against one another, is larger than the tube seal area, defined by the juncture of the sealer member  18  and tube  12 . When sealer member  18  and snorkel  10  are submerged below the water surface, the pressure differential is created such that the interior  72  of sealer member  18  has lower pressure. This lower pressure is further reduced as the snorkeler attempts to inhale. The lower air pressure within interior  72  of sealer member  18  creates internal forces acting against the occlusion area and the tube sealing area. Because the occlusion area is greater than the tube sealing area, a greater force is exerted in the direction towards surface  32  to move and retain sealing surface  34  against sealing surface  32  when snorkel  10  is submerged below the water surface. As shown in FIG. 6, this force created by the lower air pressure within the interior of sealer member  18  moves and retains sealing surface  34  against sealing surface  32  even when snorkel  10  is submerged below the water in a substantially upside down orientation. Because snorkel  10  utilizes the force created by air pressure differentials, rather than buoyancy, to move sealing surface  34  into the occluded or closed position, snorkel  10  prevents water from undesirably passing into the interior  24  of tube  12  when snorkel  10  is positioned sideways or inverted. Thus, snorkel  10  provides a more reliable sealing when the snorkeler submerges. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although different preferred embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described preferred embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. Because the technology of the present invention is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present invention described with reference to the preferred embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements.