Abstract:
A miniature breathing device for underwater breathing that can be worn on a person during water activities. A small form factor and lightweight housing suitable for submerging in shallow water. The small form factor preventing disruption of activities of a user undertaken while wearing the miniature breathing device. A canister within the housing stores a mixture of compressed air. An actuator on the housing to controllably releases the compressed air from the canister. A regulator piston within the housing is shaped with chambers to decompress the compressed air to breathable form. A mouthpiece opening of the housing provides breathable air to lips of a user. A strap secures the miniature breathing device to the user during activities.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to an emergency underwater breathing device, and more specifically, to a small form factor underwater breathing device that can be worn on a person during water activities. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Water activities such a surfing, open water swimming, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling and the like, each put people in danger of drowning. Large waved and undercurrents can unexpectedly create an emergency scenario in which immediate and reliable access to air is necessary. Scuba divers supplied with large, heavy compressed air tanks can also be put in emergency situations due to defects and depletion, for example. 
         [0003]    A timeless difficulty with safety equipment in water activities is that the size and weight of such equipment limits a person from enjoyment of the activity. For example, conventional compressed air tanks used by scuba divers are so large and heavy, and are not tightly attached to the body to be amenable for a surfer. Similarly, life jackets, although relatively lightweight, are very bulky in order to provide buoyancy. 
         [0004]    In particular, the large size of conventional air tanks led to the design of a 90 degree mouthpiece so that the air tanks can be vertically oriented. As such, the air tanks fit comfortably against a torso out of the way during dives. The 90 degree design can require additional space-consuming components. 
         [0005]    It would be desirable to address these and other shortcomings of water safety. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The above shortcomings are addressed by a miniature breathing device for underwater breathing that can be worn on a person during water activities, and method for operating the same. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment a small form factor and lightweight housing suitable for submerging in water (e.g., shallow water). The small form factor prevents disruption of activities of a user undertaken while wearing the miniature breathing device. A canister within the housing stores a mixture of breathable fluid. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, an actuator on the housing to controllably releases the compressed air from the canister. A regulator piston within the housing is shaped with chambers to decompress the compressed air to breathable form. A mouthpiece opening of the housing provides breathable air to lips of a user. A strap secures the miniature breathing device to the user during activities, and breaks away quickly when needed during an emergency. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, an inline design avoids the typical 90 degree mouthpiece design. In more detail, a mouthpiece is inline with a user&#39;s mouth so that the miniature breathing device is generally horizontal during use. 
         [0010]    Advantageously, water activities can be enjoyed in comfort of safety during an emergency situation. A miniature breathing device is small enough to stay out of the way, while being attached in a secure manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    In the following drawings, like reference numbers are used to refer to like elements. The Figures depict various embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that other embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the described principles. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective diagram illustrating a miniature breathing device worn by a user during water activities, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective diagram illustrating the miniature breathing device being used for breathing, according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram illustrating an exploded view of the miniature breathing device, according to one embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram illustrating a cross-section view of the miniature breathing device, according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present disclosure provides a miniature breathing device for use in underwater breathing, and methods for operating the same. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective diagram illustrating a miniature breathing device  100  worn by a user during water activities, according to one embodiment of the present invention. A form factor of the miniature breathing device  100  is small enough such that there is minimal disruption to water activities, yet the miniature breathing device  100  is rugged enough to remain intact. In this particular example, a surfer rides waves in the open ocean. The miniature breathing device  100  is supported by straps  110  around the surfer&#39;s arm. The straps can have Velcro, snaps, clip, magnet, strap, buttons or any other mechanism to secure the miniature breathing device  100 , but also easily breakaway during an emergency. As a result, the surfer can swim, surf, and wipe out, while the miniature breathing device  100  remains within grasp at any time. In other examples, a user can be water skiing, swimming in open ocean, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming laps in a swimming pool, or even hiking in a cave that may have dangerous gases. The miniature breathing device  100  can also be carried by safety and rescue, military, coast guard, and the like. There are countless other activities that could require the use of oxygen in an emergency. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective diagram illustrating the miniature breathing device  100  being used for inline breathing, according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example, the surfer can wipe out and become disoriented underwater, as a possible drowning scenario. Similarly, the swimmer may run into turbulent waters. In these cases, the miniature breathing device  100  is designed to be immediately assessable, so the straps  110  can breakaway when pulled with enough force. With a single hand, a user can depress a button to actuate the release of compressed air stored within the miniature breathing device  100 . In one embodiment, actuation is responsive to biting pressure or vacuum pressure from sucking. In another embodiment, a dual trigger prevents accidental air release. Depending on the size of storage and the user, the breathing device can provide, for example, 1 to 5 breaths of air supply. In an embodiment, the miniature breathing device  100  operates from an inline orientation in which an air path flows horizontally to a user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram illustrating an exploded view of the miniature breathing device  100 , according to one embodiment. The miniature breathing device  100  comprises three exterior components, a mouthpiece  210 , an upper body  220 , and a lower body  230 . Generally, the lower body  230  stores the air mixture, which is released in a calculated manner using the upper body  220 , and passed to user lips through the mouthpiece  210 . The upper and lower bodies  220 ,  230  can be attached with a threaded interface on an exterior surface of the lower body  230  mates with a threaded interface on an interior surface of the upper body  220  on one end. On another end of the upper body  220 , the mouthpiece  210  can be pressure fitted to connect. In other embodiments, the components can be snapped together, glued, welded, screwed, or attached in any appropriate manner. The components can be generally composed of plastic, rubber, metal (e.g., aluminum or stainless steel), neoprene, rubberized silicone, and any combination thereof. The materials allow the miniature breathing device  100  to be lightweight, rugged, and waterproof. 
         [0020]    Each of the exterior components house several interior components exposed by the exploded view. A canister  232  fits within the lower body  230 . The canister  232  can be, for example, 3 or 4 inches long and have 14 ml at 1 Atm and store 12 grams of CO2. The contents can be compressed air, O2, or similar breathable fluid. Supposing a male inspiratory capacity is about 3.5 L and a female is about 2.4 L, 1 to 2 breaths of usable lung volume is provided by the canister  232 . An implementation-specific mixture of compressed air and is sealed by a membrane. A piercing valve  234  has a needle on one end facing the canister  232  to pierce the sealing membrane in order to release gas. A valve body  236  directs a path of released gas. Along with a regulator piston  224 , the pressure is reduced to a useable level. 
         [0021]    The upper body  220  actuates the miniature breathing device  100  when the actuator button  222  is depressed by a user. The regulator piston  224  creates a flow path for air between the canister  232  and the mouthpiece  210 , and also controls release of the air mixture. A return spring  226  controls the air path by opening the piston when depressed and closes the piston when released. In an embodiment, the actuator button  222  releases more compressed air when pressed harder and/or for a longer duration. 
         [0022]    The mouthpiece  210  covers a one-way valve  212  that fits within the upper body  220 . The fitting allows air to be released to the mouthpiece  210  in one direction. At the same time, the one-way valve  212  prevents ingress of water into the air pathway, essentially water-proofing the miniature breathing device  100 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram illustrating a cross-section view of the miniature breathing device  100 , according to one embodiment. Example sizes of the miniature breathing device  100  are 8 to 12 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches in diameter. 
         [0024]    From the current view, the canister  232  is shown to protrude into the regulator piston  224 . Further, the piercing valve creates an opening of the air mixture to escape the canister  232 . However, the return spring  226  blocks the opening prior to being actuated. It is when the return spring  226  is compressed, that the opening is unblocked and the air mixture can travel through the regulator piston  224 . Chambers  310 A,B within the regulator piston  224  are positioned and sized to allow the air mixture to expand to a usable pressure. More specifically, in one embodiment, chamber  310 A is larger than an inlet opened by a depressed return spring  226 , and chamber  310 B is larger than an inlet from the chamber  310 B. A slight offset between the chambers  310 A and  310 B provides further pressure regulation. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the canister  232  can be removed and replaced or refilled by unscrewing the exterior components. In other embodiments, the canister  232  is refilled without any or with minimal disassembly. 
         [0026]    In other alternatives, aggressive chamfers (e.g., grooves) made of rubber provide better gripping, especially in wet environments. Other designs are worn like a glove for even more security. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, an inline design allows the miniature size relative to conventional breathing tanks. In more detail, conventional devices using a 90 degree mouthpiece allow the tank to conveniently orient from vertically but can require additional space-consuming components to operate. The miniature breathing device  100  being small in size and temporary in use, is able to conserve space with the inline design in which the canister  232 , the chambers  310 A,B, and mouthpiece  210  are oriented generally in a parallel manner. 
         [0028]    In yet another embodiment, the miniature breathing device  100  is preferably used in shallow water situations (e.g., 5 or 10 feet deep) that are not subject to the more intense pressure of deep waters. As a result, components can be lightweight. 
         [0029]    As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the subject matter described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies, data structures and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the subject matter or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats. The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain relevant principles and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various embodiments with or without various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated.