Patent ID: 7793656

Claim:
A snorkel comprising: an inhalation conduit adapted to receive inhaled air; a chamber adapted to receive exhaled air; a sealing member adapted to release the exhaled air from the chamber when an exhalation pressure in the chamber exceeds a counter pressure and adapted to retain the exhaled air in the chamber when the exhalation pressure does not exceed the counter pressure, the counter pressure comprising an ambient water pressure when at least a portion of the snorkel is submerged in water; and an exhalation conduit separate and distinct from the inhalation conduit, the exhalation conduit being sized and configured to receive the exhaled air that is released from the chamber, the exhalation conduit being sized and configured to allow the passage of exhaled air out of the snorkel; wherein the sealing member further comprises a valve adapted to control the release of exhaled air from the chamber into the exhalation conduit in response to a difference in pressure between the exhalation pressure and the counter pressure; wherein the valve is adapted to allow the exhaled air to enter the exhalation conduit when the exhalation pressure exceeds the counter pressure; and wherein the valve is adapted to substantially prevent the exhaled air from entering the exhalation conduit when the exhalation pressure does not exceed the counter pressure.