Patent ID: 8166968

Claim:
In a snorkel used for breathing through a mouthpiece beneath the surface of a body of water and having a conduit with an opened top extending above the mouthpiece, a mouthpiece section for reducing accumulation of water in the mouthpiece from droplets falling along the interior surface of the conduit toward the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece section comprising: an outer tube and an inner tube extending co-axially within said outer tube; and a mouthpiece tube connecting said mouthpiece to said inner tube through a radial portion of said outer tube; a radial gap between said inner tube and said outer tube, said gap being configured to provide capillary action to promote the transfer of water droplets between said inner and outer tubes and away from said mouthpiece; said inner tube terminating below said mouthpiece tube in a one-way valve for permitting accumulated water in said inner tube to exit into said outer tube; said outer tube extending below said inner tube to form a water reservoir below said inner tube; and said outer tube water reservoir having a one-way valve for purging water from said reservoir out of said outer tube.