U.S. patent application number 09/186824 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-16 for underwater breathing apparatus and method.
Invention is credited to LEMKE, JOEL F..
Application Number | 20010013346 09/186824 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22686411 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010013346 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEMKE, JOEL F. |
August 16, 2001 |
UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
A breathing apparatus to be worn about the face of a swimmer to
allow normal breathing through the nose and mouth while swimming
face-down in water. The apparatus comprises two masks, an outer
mask assembly covering the facial area of said wearer with a clear
viewing area about the eyes and an inner mask assembly about the
nose and mouth areas of the wearer which is air-tight and
water-tight sealed from the outer mask so that no exhaled air from
the inner mask area may enter into the outer mask area and thereby
cause the clear viewing area to be fogged. The apparatus further
comprises a first tube which enters through said outer mask and
said inner mask at, or near, the mouth and nose area of the wearer
to provide a path for fresh air to the wearer. A second tube
attaches to said first tube and is long enough to protrude above
the water surface when said wearer is swimming face down in water,
thereby providing a continuous supply of fresh air to said
wearer.
Inventors: |
LEMKE, JOEL F.; (LOS
ANGELES, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULWIDER PATTON LEE & UTECHT, LLP
HOWARD HUGHES CENTER
6060 CENTER DRIVE
TENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90045
US
|
Family ID: |
22686411 |
Appl. No.: |
09/186824 |
Filed: |
November 5, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/201.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 11/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/201.11 |
International
Class: |
B63C 011/16 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An apparatus for breathing underwater, comprising: a mask
assembly covering nose and mouth areas of a wearer, said mask
containing a first tube though which air can pass into and out of
said mask; and a second tube attached to said mask at said first
tube though which air can be drawn from above the water surface
into said mask and through which exhaled air can be vented to said
water surface from said mask.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further including a
strap assembly attached to said mask, said strap assembly being
adjustable to secure said mask tightly about nose and mouth area of
the wearer so as to form a water-tight seal between said mask and
the wearer.
3. The breathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mask is a
non-rigid material such as rubber or vinyl.
4. The breathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mask fits under
the wearer's chin while covering mouth and nose areas of the
wearer.
5. The breathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mask includes
viewing apparatus, with said strap assembly operating to secure
said viewing apparatus tightly about the eye area of the
wearer.
6. The breathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second tube is
detachable from said first tube.
7. The breathing apparatus of claim 5, further wherein said viewing
apparatus are detachable from said mask.
8. An apparatus for breathing underwater, comprising: a mask that
covers mouth, nose and eye areas of a wearer, wherein an eye
covering portion of said mask is separated from nose and mouth
covering portions of said mask so as to form two independent
water-tight compartments; a first tube attached to said mask
through which air can pass into and out of said mask; a second tube
attached to said mask at said venting tube though which air can be
drawn from above the water surface into said mask and through which
exhaled air can be vented to said water surface from said mask; and
a strap assembly attached to said mask, said strap assembly being
adjustable to secure said mask tightly about nose, mouth and eyes
areas of the wearer so as to form a water-tight seal between said
mask and the wearer.
9. The breathing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said mask is a
non-rigid material such as rubber or vinyl.
10. The breathing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said mask fits
under the chin of said wearer while covering said mouth, nose and
eyes areas.
11. The breathing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second tube is
detachable from said first tube.
12. A method of breathing underwater comprising the steps of:
wearing a mask assembly covering at least nose and mouth areas of a
wearer to form a sealed compartment about those areas to the
exclusion of an eye area of the wearer, said mask assembly
providing a first tube assembly entering said mask assembly
providing a path for air to and from nose and mouth areas of said
wearer; and causing air to enter and exit the sealed compartment
through the tube assembly, thereby avoiding any contact between the
air and the eye area of the wearer.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mask assembly includes an
inner mask for covering nose and mouth areas of the wearer and an
outer mask with a viewing area about the eyes area of the wearer
and covering said first inner mask, further comprising the step of
configuring the inner mask such that it is sealed from the outer
mask.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] This invention relates to an underwater breathing apparatus,
and more particularly to an underwater breathing apparatus that
utilizes a snorkel type breathing mechanism physically attached to
a face mask assembly.
[0003] 2. Background
[0004] Apparatus for breathing while swimming in the water are not
new in the art. Scuba gear and snorkel devices have been around for
years. Typically, the snorkel device is the preferred method for
"near surface, face-down" swimming to provide continuous breathing.
The snorkel device comprises a curved tube with a mouth piece at
one end which the swimmer bites down on to secure it in the mouth
during swimming. The other end of the curved snorkel tube, on
simplistic, inexpensive devices, is an open ended tube that is
designed to extend above the water surface during "face-down"
swimming. With this type of snorkel device, the swimmer will also
have a mask assembly that fits over the eyes and nose of the
swimmer. Straps secure the mask to the face to provide a
water-tight seal between the mask and the eyes and nose of the
swimmer. More complex and expensive snorkel devices include all of
the above features, and further include a valve system at the
distal end of the snorkel tube that prevents water from entering
the tube if it is submerged below the water surface.
[0005] There exist several inherent disadvantages to the current
day snorkel devices. First, the mouth piece is uncomfortable and
requires constant "bite-down" pressure by the swimmer to keep it in
the mouth. Because of this, novices find the mouthpiece difficult
to use. The second, and far more troublesome disadvantage of
current day snorkel devices relates to the mask assembly of typical
snorkel devices. Because the mask of the typical snorkel devices
covers the nose as well as the eyes of the swimmer, any exhaling
through the nose, a common and instinctive reaction, will cloud the
eye piece of the goggles which then requires removal of the goggles
to clear the fogging. Novice, as well as experienced, snorkelers
are plagued by this problem.
[0006] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a snorkel
device that did not require a conventional mouthpiece in order for
the swimmer to breath while face down in the water. It would also
be desirable to provide a snorkel device that would allow the
swimmer to breath through the mouth or the nose. Further, it would
also be desirable to provide a snorkel device configured such that,
during use, the swimmer would not have to constantly be confronted
with the possibility of the goggles being fogged because of
improper breathing technique. The present invention provides these
desirable features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention
provides a breathing apparatus that utilizes a snorkel type device
attached to a mask that allows normal breathing by the swimmer
through the mouth or the nose and isolates the exhaled breath of
the swimmer from the viewing area of the mask, thereby eliminating
the fogging problem associated with conventional snorkel
apparatus.
[0008] In its simplest form, the invention comprises a mask that
provides a water tight seal over the mouth and nose of the swimmer.
In this configuration, a tube is molded into the mask to allow
passage of air for breathing by the swimmer through the nose or
mouth. This tube is adapted to accept a snorkel type tube which
will then extend above the water surface when the swimmer is face
down in the water. The mask in this configuration is further held
tightly to the face of the swimmer by way of at least one
adjustable strap.
[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the invention the mask
comprises an outer plexiglass, or other transparent material,
window with elastic top, side and bottom portions that will provide
a water-tight seal about the face while covering the eyes, nose and
mouth of the swimmer. The elastic portion of the mask is a rubber
or vinyl type material with strap assemblies that are adjustable to
tightly hold the mask to the face of the swimmer and ensure the
water-tight seal. An inner portion of the mask isolates the nose
and mouth area of the swimmer from the rest of the mask so that a
separate water-tight seal is formed around the nose and mouth area
of the swimmer. A venting tube is molded to the outer mask portion
and enters into the inner portion of the mask to provide an air
path to the inner mask area.
[0010] In another embodiment of the invention the outer mask
assembly further fits under the chin of the wearer to aid in
securing a water tight configuration about the facial area of the
wearer.
[0011] In still another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus
is configured to include the mask assembly for covering the mouth
and nose area of the wearer, previously described, and a separate
connected, but detachable goggles assembly for covering the eye
area of the wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1. is a rendering showing a swimmer using the apparatus
constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2. is a perspective frontal view of the preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 3. is a perspective left-side view of the preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 4. is a perspective left-side, cut-away view along axis
4-4 of FIG. 2 of the preferred embodiment; and
[0016] FIG. 5. is a rendering of the mask apparatus for another
configuration of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] The present invention includes an apparatus for allowing a
swimmer to breath while swimming face-down in the water without the
need for biting onto a mouth-piece in order to breath and without
the restriction of not being able to breath through the nose.
[0018] Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a
rendition of a preferred embodiment of the mask apparatus 10 of
this invention mounted on the face of a swimmer while swimming in
the water face-down. In the rendering portrayed in FIG. 1 it is
clearly visible that the mask apparatus 10 includes an inner mask
covering the nose area of the wearer that extends downward over the
mouth area as well to ensure a water tight seal about those areas
of the face. This inner mask also ensures an air tight seal between
the nose and mouth covering area and the eye area of the wearer.
This inner air tight seal feature disallows any exhaled air from
the nose or mouth of the wearer to enter into the eye area of the
mask apparatus 10 which could cause fogging of the visible area of
the eye covering portion of the mask apparatus 10 while the wearer
is swimming face down in the water.
[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown the mask
apparatus 10 comprising an outer mask assembly 20, a strap assembly
26 to hold the outer mask 20 against the face of the swimmer and a
visually clear mask portion 22 covering at least the eye portion of
the swimmer. There is also shown a tube assembly 23 molded to the
outer mask assembly 20 and protruding from the front of the outer
mask 20 near the mouth of the swimmer as well as an inner mask
assembly 24 that covers the nose and mouth area of the swimmer. The
molded tube assembly 23 protrudes through the inner mask 24 thereby
providing an air path from an attached snorkel tube 25 to the
swimmer.
[0020] The outer mask assembly 20 is held tightly against the face
of the swimmer by the adjustable straps assembly 26 so as to ensure
a water tight configuration between the mask 20 and the swimmer's
face. The inner mask assembly 24 is physically attached to the
outer mask assembly 20 at, or near, the point where the tube
assembly is molded into the outer mask 20. When the mask apparatus
is worn properly, the inner mask assembly 24 further provides an
air and water-tight seal between the nose and mouth area and the
eye area of the swimmer's face. This ensures that when the swimmer
breaths through the mouth or nose, no exhaled breath will penetrate
into the visually clear mask portion 22 and cause it to become
fogged.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is portrayed a cut-away view
of the mask assembly 10 where the inner mask 24 is clearly
depicted. It is this inner mask 24 that provides a water-tight seal
over the nose and mouth area of the swimmer. The molded tube
assembly 23 protrudes through the outer mask 20 into the inner mask
24. When a snorkel tube 25 is attached to the molded tube assembly
23, a clear path for air to, and exhalation from, the swimmer is
provided. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer
mask has a clear plastic material window area 22 that is molded to
the outer mask 20 to provide clear vision for the swimmer while
swimming face down in the water. Since the outer mask 20 is both
water-tight and air-tight sealed from the inner mask 24, no water
or exhaled air can enter the window area 22 of the outer mask. This
ensures that the window area, or "goggles" 22 of the mask assembly
10 will not fog up during normal breathing by the swimmer.
[0022] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a series of
straps 26 with adjustable features ensures that the mask assembly
10 is held securely to the head of a swimmer to provide a
water-tight seal about the facial area. In one embodiment of the
invention, besides a pair of straps that go behind the head of the
swimmer, an additional strap assembly is configured over the top of
the head of the swimmer and splits into two straps that connect to
the outer mask assembly 20 under the chin of the swimmer. This
strap configuration is clearly depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0023] Looking now at FIG. 5, there is shown another preferred
embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the mask assembly
40 comprises a mask 44 for covering the mouth and nose area of a
swimmer and a molded tube assembly 43 to provide an air path to the
nose and mouth area of the swimmer. This mask assembly 40 further
includes a snorkel tube 45 to provide a path for fresh air from
above the water surface and to provide a path for exhaled air from
the swimmer to the upper water surface while said swimmer is face
down in the water as well as a strap assembly 46 for securing a
water-tight seal of the mask assembly 40 about the nose and mouth
area of the swimmer.
[0024] Still another embodiment of the invention, (not shown),
would comprise the apparatus depicted in FIG. 5 with the mask
assembly 40 shown therein and would additionally encompass a
separate connected, but detachable, goggles assembly with an
attached strap that would disconnectably snap, or otherwise
connect, to the mask assembly 40.
[0025] While multiple embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
various modifications and changes may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *