U.S. patent application number 11/140961 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-07 for snorkel retaining clip.
This patent application is currently assigned to QDS Injection Molding LLC. Invention is credited to Chih-Cheng Shiue.
Application Number | 20060272635 11/140961 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37492905 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060272635 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shiue; Chih-Cheng |
December 7, 2006 |
Snorkel retaining clip
Abstract
A mask strap retaining clip releasably secured a breathing tube
of snorkel to a diver's mask strap. The retaining clip comprises a
clip unit with the diver's mask strap passed through and a ring
unit put on the breathing tube. The ring unit comprises a
mushroomlike projection extended from its peripheral surface. The
projection comprises a neck having a width and a length longer than
the width. The clip unit comprises large and small holes. The neck
can move from the large hole to the small hole when a lengthwise
direction the breathing tube is aligned with a channel between the
holes such that the breathing tube can be disposed in an operating
position by subsequently turning itself. The clip unit has a tab
and the ring unit has a dent for lockingly engaging the tab when
the neck is disposed in the small hole.
Inventors: |
Shiue; Chih-Cheng;
(Escondido, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE H. TROXELL
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
QDS Injection Molding LLC
|
Family ID: |
37492905 |
Appl. No.: |
11/140961 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/201.11 ;
128/201.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 11/205
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/201.11 ;
128/201.27 |
International
Class: |
B63C 11/16 20060101
B63C011/16 |
Claims
1-4. (canceled)
5. A mask strap retaining clip for selectively connecting a snorkel
and a mask strap comprising: a) a clip unit having: i) a snapping
member having a first plate, a second plate, and a snapping opening
located between the first plate and the second plate, the second
plate having a larger hole, a smaller hole, and a channel
connecting the larger hole and the smaller hole, each of the larger
hole, the smaller hole, and the channel being spaced apart from
edges of the second plate and communicating with the snapping
opening; ii) a hook connected to the snapping member; and iii) a
clip opening located between the snapping member and the hook, the
mask strap extending through the clip opening; and b) a ring unit
selectively connected to the snapping member and having: i) a bore,
the snorkel extending through the bore; ii) a flat portion
extending outwardly from an exterior thereof and having a
rectangular cross section, the flat portion having a cross section
having a length extending parallel to an axis of the bore and a
width extending perpendicular to the length thereof, the width of
the flat portion is larger than the length of the flat portion, and
the length of the flat portion is smaller than a width of the
channel; and iii) a mushroom shaped projection extending outwardly
from the flat portion, the mushroom shaped projection having a
diameter smaller than a width of the larger hole of the snapping
member and larger than a width of the smaller hole of the snapping
member.
6. The mask strap retaining clip according to claim 5, further
comprising a tab located on the first plate in the snapping
opening, the mushroom shaped projection having a central dent, the
tab is selectively locked with the central dent by rotating the
ring unit relative to the clip unit when the tab is inserted in the
central dent.
7. The mask strap retaining clip according to claim 5, wherein the
flat portion extending outwardly from the exterior of the ring unit
a distance greater than a thickness of the second plate.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a mask strap retaining clip
of snorkel and more particularly to an improved mask strap
retaining clip adapted to secure a breathing tube of a snorkel to
strap of a swim mask or a pair of swim goggles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Swim masks, swim goggles, and snorkels are widely used by
people involving in water sports such as swimming and diving.
Conventionally, a snorkel has a mask strap retaining clip adapted
to secure itself to, for example, a diver's mask strap. In use, a
diver may easily put a mouthpiece of the snorkel in the mouth. In a
nonoperating position, the snorkel is still held to a side of the
diver's head such that a next use can be facilitated.
[0003] However, the prior snorkel suffered from a disadvantage. For
example, a diver has to use the hand to touch hook of the mask
strap retaining clip, use both hands to bend the hook outward,
disengage the loosened mask strap with the hook, and disengage the
snorkel including the hook with the diver's mask if the diver does
not want to use the snorkel and want to remove same from the head.
To the contrary, for using the snorkel again a diver has to mount
the mask strap in the hook. However, such mounting is typically not
an easy task with both hands involved. Hence, a need has arisen for
an improved mask strap retaining clip adapted to secure a snorkel
to a diver's mask strap or disengage the snorkel from same in an
easy, quick, and reliable manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a mask strap retaining clip adapted to releasably secure a
breathing tube of a snorkel to a diver's mask strap in an easy,
quick, and reliable manner.
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, the mask strap
retaining clip comprises a clip unit with a diver's mask strap
passed through, and a ring unit put on the breathing tube of the
snorkel wherein the clip unit and the ring unit are adapted to
quickly engage together by assembling or disengage by disassembling
same.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, the ring unit
and the clip unit are fastened together by turning the breathing
tube engaged with the ring unit to a position perpendicular to the
clip unit and pressing down the ring unit until being stopped such
that the breathing tube can be disposed in a ready to use state by
a subsequent turning of the breathing tube.
[0007] In a further aspect of the present invention, the ring unit
is lockingly engaged with the clip unit in the ready to use state
of the breathing tube because the ring unit has a member secured to
a mating member of the clip unit.
[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a mask
strap retaining clip according to the invention put on a breathing
tube of a snorkel with a diver's mask strap passed through;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clip unit of the mask
strap retaining clip;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the clip unit of the mask
strap retaining clip;
[0012] FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a ring unit of the
mask strap retaining clip viewed from different angles;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the ring unit of the mask
strap retaining clip; and
[0014] FIGS. 7 to 11 are sectional views illustrating a process of
assembling the ring unit and the clip unit together on a breathing
tube of a snorkel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of a mask strap retaining clip according to the invention. The mask
strap retaining clip comprises a clip unit 20 with a diver's mask
strap 30 passed through, and a ring unit 40 put on a breathing tube
11 of a snorkel 10. The clip unit 20 and the ring unit 40 are
separate members and are adapted to assemble together as detailed
below.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the clip unit 20 comprises a
hook 21 and an integral snapping member 22. The hook 21 is extended
from a first plate 221 of the snapping member 22. An open space 21a
is defined by and between the hook 21 and the first plate 221. The
diver's mask strap 30 is adapted to pass through the space 21a. The
snapping member 22 further comprises a second plate 222 integral
with the first plate 221, and a space 223 defined by and between
the first plate 221 and the second plate 222. An opening 224 is
formed on the second plate 222. The opening 224 comprises an upper,
oval, large hole 224a, a lower, oval, small hole 224b, and an
intermediate narrow channel "d" in communication with both holes
224a and 224b. A tab 221a is formed on an inner surface of the
first plate 221 facing the small hole 224b.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the ring unit 40 comprises a
bore 401, a flat portion 402 on its peripheral surface, and a
mushroomlike projection 403 extended from the flat portion 402. The
bore 401 is put on the breathing tube 11 and the breathing tube 11
is adapted to slide about the bore 401. The flat portion 402 is
adapted to maintain a correct angle of the ring unit 40 relative to
the clip unit 20. The projection 403 comprises a parallelepiped
neck 403a having a width L1 and a length L2 longer than the width
L1, and a head 403b having a central dent 403c facing the clip unit
20. The head 403b of the projection 403 is adapted to insert into
the large hole 224a rather than the small hole 224b. Also,
thickness of the head 403b is less than depth of the space 223.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 11, a process of assembling the ring
unit 40 and the clip unit 20 together is illustrated. In FIG. 7,
the head 403b of the projection 403 is aligned with the large hole
224a. The head 403b of the projection 403 inserted into the large
hole 224a is shown in FIG. 8. At this position, it is impossible of
pressing down the ring unit 40 (i.e., the projection 403) through
the channel "d" because the length L2 of the neck 403a is larger
than width of the channel "d" (i.e., a lengthwise direction of the
neck 403a is perpendicular to the channel d) and the dent 403c of
the head 403b is disposed perpendicular to the tab 221a. That is,
the ring unit 40 is temporarily held in the large hole 224a. In
FIG. 9, the ring unit 40 has turned about 90 degrees. Thus, the
neck 403a is able to pass the channel "d" when the lengthwise
direction of the neck 403a is aligned with the channel "d" and the
dent 403c is thus disposed in a position to be ready to receive the
tab 221a. In FIG. 10, the ring unit 40 has been pressed down to
cause the projection 403 to pass through the channel "d" into the
small hole 224b with the tab 221a snugly fitted in the dent 403c
for fastening. In FIG. 11, the ring unit 40 has turned about 90
degrees in a direction opposing the previous turning thereof in
FIG. 9. In this position, the ring unit 40 is in a ready to use
state. Also, the head 403b (i.e., the projection 403) is prevented
from removing the small hole 224b since the tab 221a and the dent
403c are lockingly engaged together. Furthermore, the length L2 of
the neck 403a larger than width of the channel "d" is perpendicular
to the channel "d" and thus the neck 403c is prevented from passing
the channel d. In the position of FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, the ring unit
40 is only permitted to turn for engaging a mouthpiece of the
snorkel 10 with the mouth of a diver or disengaging the mouthpiece
therewith. In other words, the ring unit 40 is in a ready to use
state.
[0019] Note that the turning step shown in FIG. 9 can be omitted if
the ring unit 40 has already turned 90 degrees to be perpendicular
to the clip unit 20 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thus, the above
assembly process can briefed as steps of aligning the projection
403 with the large hole 224a, pressing down the breathing tube 10
until being stopped, and turning the breathing tube 10 back to its
operating position. For removing the breathing tube 10 from its
operating state, the diver may use one hand to turn the breathing
tube 10 about 90 degrees and pull same upward until the breathing
tube 10 is disengaged with the mask strap retaining clip.
[0020] In view of the above, it is understood that the mask strap
retaining clip of the invention can easily quickly assemble with
the breathing tube 10 and the mask strap 30. This is accomplished
by providing two easily assembled components (e.g., ring unit 40
and clip unit 20) and turning one component (e.g., the ring unit
40) about 90 degrees and pressing down same for assembling both
components together. Disassembly of the mask strap retaining clip
of the invention can also be done easily by traversing the steps in
FIGS. 7 to 11 in the opposite direction.
[0021] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
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