U.S. patent application number 10/435109 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-18 for snorkel adaptor assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to QDS Injection Molding LLC.. Invention is credited to Shiue, Chih-Cheng.
Application Number | 20040226557 10/435109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33416869 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040226557 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shiue, Chih-Cheng |
November 18, 2004 |
Snorkel adaptor assembly
Abstract
The present invention is relating to a snorkel adaptor assembly,
especially to an adaptor assembly can be attached to the upper end
of snorkel to minimize or prevent from water enter the tube of
snorkel. Said adaptor assembly comprises a main body, which
attached to the upper end of snorkel, providing an opening and a
movable cover attached thereon, a floating member, a protective
cover provided in one side of said opening of main body receiving
said movable cover and floating member as well as their movement.
When water level upward, by the buoyancy of water, the floating
member upward and lifting the movable cover, and the movable cover
further covering the opening of main body.
Inventors: |
Shiue, Chih-Cheng; (Rancho
Sante Fe, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE H. TROXELL
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
QDS Injection Molding LLC.
|
Family ID: |
33416869 |
Appl. No.: |
10/435109 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/201.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 11/205
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/201.11 |
International
Class: |
B63C 011/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1) A snorkel adaptor assembly for attachment to the upper end of
snorkel for prevent water inflow, said assembly comprising: A main
body; it passage extending from the snorkel, the opening of the
passage end is in vertical direction and providing a closing
member; A closing member; is a bowl shape for using close the
opening, its open/close controlled by a floating member; A floating
member; A protective cover; attached with main body and allowing
the floating member and closing member move inside of it.
2) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
closing member providing a movable axle under said opening.
3) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
closing member having a curved outward portion.
4) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
closing member having a curved inward portion.
5) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
floating member is a member which gravity is smaller than
water.
6) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, where the
upper portion of protective cover providing a water stopper
means.
7) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
lower portion of protective cover having plurality of windows.
8) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
floating member and closing member are connected with a connecting
line.
9) The snorkel adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
floating member and closing member are connected with a pivot
joint.
Description
FILED OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device attached to the
upper end of a swimming, diving or scuba snorkel, especially a
device to prevent water from entering the tube of snorkel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The function of a complete dry snorkel is not only to
prevent water flow into the tube through the upper end of the
snorkel, but also to allow smooth inlet and outlet of air.
Furthermore, it should allow repelling the water inside the
snorkel.
[0003] When using snorkel in swimming or scuba diving, the tiderip
caused water spray or user's head swing, shaking, and dive down,
causes water flow into snorkel. Therefore, normally, an upper cover
is provided on the opening of the upper end of snorkel for
prevention. Some cover may be designed improperly, and the result
is that the cover sometimes closes the air inlet/outlet opening
during the user in breath.
[0004] There are various conventional top covers (also called as
water protection device). The ideal type of top cover requires:
[0005] 1. To conform the basic requirement of preventing water flow
into the snorkel and allow the air inlet and outlet.
[0006] 2. The dimension should not be too large, otherwise, during
diving and swimming there will be significant water resistance.
[0007] 3. When user breaths, the cover should not cause an error of
operation, for example, when air inlet, the passage should not
unnecessary close.
[0008] 4. Easily produce and assembly, low cost.
[0009] Conventional products and prior patents do not achieve these
goals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is providing a water prevention top
cover that can be attached to the upper end of snorkel for
effective prevention of water flow into the snorkel but allow the
air through.
[0011] The device of the present invention positioned in the upper
end of snorkel providing a main body, which allowing the upper end
opening of snorkel extending upwardly and changing the direction of
opening to vertical direction (when in use the closing member can
be smoothly angled downward); providing a movable closing member in
the lower side of opening, said closing member can cover the
opening to allow the opening in the condition in close and not
leak; under the closing member providing a floating member; further
providing a protective cover which positioned in one side of the
opening direction to allow the floating member and closing member
located within the protective cover.
[0012] The above-mentioned floating member will follow the water
level up and down. When the water level is upward, the floating
member lifts up the closing member and allow it closing the opening
of main body and the water is not able to flow through opening.
When the water level downward, because of it's own gravity, the
floating member follow the water downward, the closing member is
not lifted anymore and due to it's own gravity or pulling strength,
the closing member is not able to close the opening.
[0013] Protective cover is provided on the body and the top is
closed. There are windows on the side and bottom wall of protective
cover allow the water easily enter the bottom side of it and make
the floating member react to water level sensitively to carry out
its lifting closing member task.
[0014] The shape of closing member is similar to a bowl, with holes
and pins to compose a movable structure, if pressed by floating
member more hard, will close the opening more closely. When it is
in close status, the air can not pass through opening; when it is
in open status, the air from outside pass through the closing
member into snorkel. In this circumstance, the closing member is
not easily driven. Therefore, the closing member is not easily
causing error motion of cutting off the air inflow.
[0015] The present invention providing the effectively prevent
water flow from any direction into snorkel and prevent the water
inflow caused by the water level follow the tide rip up and down.
This can maintain the snorkel in better operation mode.
[0016] When the device of present invention sinks into water, the
buoyancy of floating member will be proportional to the sinkage.
That means, when the floating member fully sinking into water, it
presses the closing member more hard, then the effect of prevent
water inflow is better.
[0017] Furthermore, in practice, the vertical direction of snorkel
may incline forward, that means, when the closing member is closing
the opening, but the water level downward and the floating member
also downward, because of the angle, the closing member remain
closing the opening, and the closing member can not using its own
gravity fall down to make the opening in the open status.
Therefore, there is a means of connection, for example but not
limited to a line or pivot joint linking the 2 members, between the
closing member and floating member. When floating member downward,
also pulling the closing member downward by the connecting line
make the opening in open status. Also, when the opening is open,
air flow from outside through opening into snorkel, because
floating member pulling closing member, the air flow is not easy to
suck the closing member, therefore, the opening is not easy to
raising the error motion of cutting off the air flow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is the perspective view of the preferred embodiment
practicing the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is the drawing showing the disassembly of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is the sectional view of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is the other sectional view of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Refer to FIG. 1, the present invention is top cover 20
attached to the upper end of snorkel 10, and said snorkel 10
comprises a tube 12 and mouthpiece 14.
[0024] As shown on FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the top cover 20 mainly
comprises a main body 21, a protective cover 30 which attached on
said main body 21; a closing member 40 and a floating member within
said main body 21.
[0025] Main body 21 including a matching pipe 22 which connect to
the upper end of tube 12. Said matching pipe 22 provides the snap
23 or the like fasten member to fasten the matching tube closely to
tube 12. Furthermore, the matching tube also provides the seal ring
for water proof and assembly. Main body 21 is a extending hollow
tube with an opening 24 at the end to allow the water and air
inflow into passage 25. The opening 24 is designed 90 degrees in
direction to passage 25. The opening 24 is controlled by a closing
member 40 for which to open or close the opening 24 as well as
passage 25. Under the opening 24 provides a pair of protruding
tenons 26 to attach with closing member 40. The side wall of main
body 21 provides the attachment of protective cover 30 to the main
body 21.
[0026] The protective cover 30 is constructed by a hole 31 and a
protruding mortise 27 and located on the main body 21. Protective
cover 30 including the cover shell 32, window A 33 and window B 34
positioned in the upper part of it. Cover shell 32 is just
shielding the opening which stop the water splash into opening 24;
When practice, the closing member 40 and floating member 50 located
within protective cover 30 can be freely move within the preset
scope. Under the preamble of such movement, the protective cover
provides plurality of window A 33 and window B 34 as air passage.
When the floating member 50 is not yet float up, allowing the air
flow through window A 33, window B 34 and opening 24; when the
water level upward, the water can quickly flow through window A 33
and window B 34 into protective cover 30 and make the floating
member 50 react quickly and floating up to press the closing
member.
[0027] Closing member 40 has a valve functional cover 41. Under
said cover 41 providing a pair of hole respective to said tenons
26. The cover 41 has a curved outward portion 43 like a bowl. By
hinging hole 42 and tenon 26 as a axle, allowing the closing member
40 whether shield the opening or not. The curved outward portion 43
is designed can be pressed by floating member 50.
[0028] Floating member is made by the material which density is
smaller than water, such as low density material or the hollow
member the like. Said floating member is located within the lower
portion of protective cover 30 and movable up and down. When the
floating upward by water level, the top of floating member 50 press
to the curved outward portion 43 of cover 41; when the water level
downward, the floating member fall down by its gravity, and no more
press the curved outward portion 43 of cover 41.
[0029] On the top of floating member provides a connecting line 51
and its other end connects to cover 41. The length of connecting
line 51 is preset to the length which not influence the floating 50
floating up and close opening 24 as well as floating member 50
downward can pulling the cover 41 depart to opening 24 and allow
the opening 24 in open status.
[0030] Refer to FIG. 4, when the water level is lower the floating
member 50 or the floating member 50 is not able to float up,
closing member 40 downward because of the gravity and the
connecting line 51 connecting to floating 50, the opening is in
open status can easily flow into opening 24. When snorkel 10 in
strongly spit water motion, the water inside will be flow out
through opening 24. Meanwhile, the outside splash water is not easy
to enter the opening 24.
[0031] Refer to FIG. 5, when the floating member 50 floating up
caused by water level to the preset height, it lifts up the curved
outward portion 43 of closing member 40 and make the closing member
close the opening 24; the water outside top cover 20 can not flow
into the opening 24.
[0032] In conclusion, the present invention provides a top cover 20
attached on the upper end of snorkel, effectively achieve the
prevention of water flow into the snorkel caused by splash and tide
rip of the water.
[0033] It will be understood that the invention herein disclosed
meets all of the aforementioned objects. It will also be understood
that while a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, but
only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
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