U.S. patent application number 15/713516 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-24 for full face snorkel mask.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shenzhen CP-Link Electronic Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chaowu LIAO.
Application Number | 20190023366 15/713516 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60022011 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190023366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIAO; Chaowu |
January 24, 2019 |
Full Face Snorkel Mask
Abstract
A full-face snorkel mask includes a mask assembly having a
breathing chamber and a snorkel assembly having a fresh air intake
channel and an exhaust air discharging channel. The fresh air
intake channel guides fresh air into the breathing chamber and the
exhaust air discharging channel discharges waste air from the
breathing chamber. During snorkeling, fresh air is supplied via the
fresh air intake channel to the breathing chamber for a user and
the waste air exhaled from the user is discharged from the
breathing chamber to the exhaust air discharging channel.
Therefore, fresh air is separated from the waste air to prevent the
user from repeatedly inhaling the waste air in the breathing
chamber.
Inventors: |
LIAO; Chaowu; (Shenzhen,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shenzhen CP-Link Electronic Co., Ltd. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
60022011 |
Appl. No.: |
15/713516 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 2011/165 20130101;
B63C 11/16 20130101; B63C 11/205 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63C 11/16 20060101
B63C011/16; B63C 11/20 20060101 B63C011/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2017 |
CN |
201710607097.6 |
Claims
1. A full-face snorkel mask, comprising: a mask assembly adapted
for extending peripherally in a sealing engagement with a face of a
user, wherein said mask assembly has a breathing chamber; and a
snorkel assembly upwardly extended from said mask assembly, wherein
said snorkel assembly has a fresh air intake channel for guiding
fresh air into said breathing channel and an exhaust air
discharging channel communicating with said breathing chamber for
discharging waste air therefrom.
2. The full face snorkel mask according to claim 1, further
comprising a valve assembly, wherein said mask assembly further has
an air intake chamber isolated from said breathing chamber and
communicated with said fresh air intake channel, wherein said valve
assembly comprises one or more first non-return air valves provided
at said mask assembly for only allowing the fresh air at said air
intake chamber from said fresh air intake channel entering to said
breathing chamber and for preventing the waste air entering to said
air intake chamber.
3. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 2, wherein said
mask assembly further has a vision section located at said air
intake chamber.
4. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 3, wherein said
mask assembly comprises a full face outer shell for covering the
user's face and a half face inner shell attached thereinto for
covering the user's nose and mouth, wherein said breathing chamber
is formed between said half face inner shell and the user's face,
and said air intake chamber is formed between said full face outer
shell and said half face inner shell.
5. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 4, wherein said
mask assembly further comprises a V-shaped face seal extended along
a top edge of said half face inner shell for sealing against the
user's face and across the nose bridge thereof to prevent the waste
air being leaked from said breathing chamber to said air intake
chamber.
6. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 5, wherein two of
said first non-return air valves are provided at said half face
inner shell below two side ends of said V-shaped face seal
respectively.
7. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 1, wherein said
mask assembly further has an air guiding channel formed at a
peripheral portion of said mask assembly and extended from said
breathing chamber to said exhaust air discharging channel for
guiding the waste air being discharged from said breathing chamber
to said exhaust air discharging channel.
8. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 5, wherein said
mask assembly further has an air guiding channel formed at a
peripheral portion of said mask assembly and extended from said
breathing chamber to said exhaust air discharging channel for
guiding the waste air to be discharged from said breathing chamber
to said exhaust air discharging channel.
9. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 8, wherein said
full face outer shell comprises an outer peripheral shell rim, a
transparent visor coupled at said outer shell rim, and an inner
peripheral shell rim coupled at said outer peripheral shell rim,
wherein said air guiding channel is formed between said outer
peripheral shell rim and said inner peripheral shell rim, and said
half face inner shell is coupled at said inner peripheral shell
rim.
10. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 1, wherein said
fresh air intake channel and said exhaust air discharging channel
are extended parallelly and upwardly.
11. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 2, wherein said
valve assembly further comprises a second non-return air valve
provided at said exhaust air discharging channel for preventing the
waste air at said exhaust air discharging channel being returned
back to said breathing chamber.
12. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 1, wherein said
valve assembly further comprises a water prevention valve provided
at said snorkel assembly for preventing water entering into said
fresh air intake channel and said exhaust air discharging channel
when said snorkel assembly is submerged below water.
13. The full face snorkel mask according to claim 12, wherein said
snorkel assembly comprises a snorkel body with two end-to-end
channels to form said fresh air intake channel and said exhaust air
discharging channel respectively and two air passages discretely
formed at a top end of said snorkel body that two top openings of
said air passages communicate with said fresh air intake channel
and said exhaust air discharging channel respectively, wherein said
water prevention valve is provided at each of said air
passages.
14. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 13, wherein said
water prevention valve comprises a floatable member movably
disposed at each of said air passages and arranged in such a manner
that: said floatable members float and seal at said top openings of
said air passages when said snorkel assembly is submerged below
water in order to prevent water entering into said fresh air intake
channel and said exhaust air discharging channel, and said
floatable members drop down by their own weight at said air
passages respectively when said top end of said snorkel assembly is
located above water in order to open up said top openings of said
air passages to let the fresh air entering into said fresh air
intake channel and to discharge the exhaust air from said exhaust
air discharging channel.
15. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 14, wherein said
water prevention valve further comprises two sealing rings coupled
at said top openings of said air passages to seal and engage with
said floatable members when said snorkel assembly is submerged
below water.
16. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 15, wherein said
snorkel assembly further comprises a top snorkel cap coupled at
said top end of said snorkel body, wherein said top snorkel cap has
two individual air chambers that one of said air chambers
communicates between said fresh air intake channel and one of said
air passages and another said air chamber communicates between said
exhaust air discharging channel and another said air passage.
17. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 14, wherein each
of said floatable members has a conical shape that bases of said
floatable members face toward said top openings of said air
passages respectively to ensure said floatable members being
floated properly there within.
18. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 13, wherein said
air passages are extended parallelly and upwardly.
19. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 1, wherein said
valve assembly further comprises a purge valve provided at a bottom
side of said mask assembly for clearing water that enters said mask
assembly.
20. The full-face snorkel mask according to claim 1, wherein said
mask assembly further comprises a camera mount provided at a top
end thereof for incorporating with an action camera.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Field of Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to snorkeling equipment. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a full-face snorkel
mask which provides two discrete channels for air intake and air
exhaust respectively, so that a user is adapted for natural
breathing through the nose and/or mouth by inhaling fresh air
through the fresh air intake channel and discharging waste air
through the exhaust air discharging channel in a separated
manner.
Description of Related Arts
[0002] Snorkeling is one of the most popular recreational
activities. There is no training required with snorkeling, wherein
people can grab a goggle and a snorkel tube and hop in the water
and go. The goggle and snorkel tube allow the user to breathe while
face down on the surface of the water. In particular, the goggle
and the snorkel tube are always separated from each other so that
the user must attach the goggle and the snorkel tube separately. As
a result, the user must individually adjust the goggle and the
snorkel tube. Another problem is that the user must bite down the
mouthpiece of the snorkel tube so that the lips of the user can
seal around it and hold the snorkel tube in place. However, the
mouthpiece is uncomfortable and unhygienic. The user, especially
for the beginner user, may get choke when water leaks into the
user's mouth from time to time from the top opening end of the
snorkel tube and/or through the mouthpiece thereof. More
importantly, the snorkel tube is a single tubular channel device
that the user inhales fresh air and exhales waste air at the same
channel. The user may accidentally inhale the waste air if the
waste air is not totally discharged from the snorkel tube.
[0003] An improved snorkel equipment is provided to integrate the
goggle and the snorkel tube together in order to form a full-face
snorkel mask, wherein the snorkel mask covers the entire face of
the user from the forehead to the chin. A sealed chamber is formed
after the snorkel mask is worn and the snorkel tube is integrated
with the snorkel mask to communicate with the sealed chamber.
Therefore, the user is able to breathe in and out through the
sealed chamber via the snorkel tube. However, the full-face snorkel
mask cannot solve the water leaking problem from the snorkel tube
into the sealed chamber. Goggle fog is always caused when the user
exhales warm waste air into the sealed chamber. Meanwhile, the
exhaust air will be accumulated within the sealed chamber, so that
the user will inevitably breathe in the exhaust air in sealed
chamber instead of fresh air from the snorkel tube. It will cause
dizziness and nausea when repeatedly inhaling the exhaust air from
the sealed chamber.
[0004] Therefore, the conventional snorkel equipment is not
designed to maintain breathing capabilities in a comfort manner and
vision capabilities at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a full-face
snorkel mask to solve the problems of conventional snorkel
equipment.
[0006] Additional advantages and features of the invention will
become apparent from the description which follows, and may be
realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations
particular point out in the appended claims.
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a full-face snorkel mask is described. The full-face
snorkel mask comprises a mask assembly adapted for extending
peripherally in a sealing engagement with a face of a user, wherein
the mask assembly has an air intake chamber and a breathing chamber
isolated from the air intake chamber when the mask assembly is
worn. The full-face snorkel mask further comprises a snorkel
assembly which has a fresh air intake channel communicating with
the air intake chamber for guiding fresh air thereinto and an
exhaust air discharging channel communicating with the breathing
chamber for discharging waste air therefrom.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the fresh air intake channel and the exhaust air
charging channel are two discrete channels respectively, so that
the user is adapted for natural breathing through the nose and/or
mouth by inhaling fresh air through the fresh air intake channel
and discharging waste air through the exhaust air discharging
channel in a separated manner.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a vision section of the mask assembly is located at the
air intake chamber. The warm waste air exhaled by the user is
guided to discharge from the breathing chamber to the exhaust air
discharging channel right away to prevent the warm waste air
entering to air intake chamber, so that the vision section of the
mask assembly will not be fogged up by the warm waste air exhaled
by the user at the breathing chamber.
[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the mask assembly has a V-shaped face seal for sealing
against the user's face and across the nose bridge thereof to not
only let the user to wear the mask assembly in a comfortable way
but also seal between the air intake chamber and the breathing
chamber so as to prevent air being leaked from the breathing
chamber to the air intake chamber.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, one or more first non-return valves are provided at the
mask assembly to only allow the fresh air entering from the air
intake chamber to the breathing chamber. Therefore, once the waste
air exhaled by the user is guided to discharge from the breathing
chamber, the user always breathes in the fresh air at the breathing
chamber from the air intake chamber via the first non-return
valves.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the full-face snorkel mask further comprises a purge
valve provided at the mask assembly for clearing water that enters
the mask assembly.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the prevent
invention, water cannot be entered into the snorkel assembly via a
water prevention valve. In one embodiment, the water prevention
valve comprises a floatable member provided at the top end of the
snorkel assembly to seal at the fresh air intake channel/the
exhaust air discharging channel when the top end of the snorkel
assembly is submerged below water.
[0014] Preferably, the full-face snorkel mask is constructed to
have two discrete chambers and two discrete channels to separate
the fresh air and the waste air when the user breathes. With such
simplified structural configuration, the full-face snorkel mask
provides multiple functions of preventing the user repeatedly
inhaling back the waste air and minimizing the vision section of
the mask assembly being fogged up. The full-face snorkel mask of
the prevent invention can maintain breathing capabilities in a
comfort manner and vision capabilities at the same time.
[0015] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
[0016] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a full-face snorkel
mask according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the full-face
snorkel mask according to the above embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the full-face snorkel mask
according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention, showing the air intake channel of the snorkel
assembly.
[0020] FIG. 4 is another sectional view of the full-face snorkel
mask according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention, showing the exhaust air discharging channel of the
snorkel assembly.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the top end of the snorkel
tube of the full-face snorkel mask according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention, showing the relationship among
the air intake channel, the exhaust air discharging channel, and
the two air passages.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows the sealing element mounted at the top end of
the snorkel body to align the sealing openings of the sealing
element with the fresh air intake channel, the exhaust air
discharging channel, and the air passages respectively.
[0023] FIG. 7 is an illustration which shows the airflow of the
full-face snorkel mask according to the above preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] For purposes of description herein the terms "upper,"
"lower," "right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal"
and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented
in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may
assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except
where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be
understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in
the attached drawings, and described in the following specification
are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined
in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other
physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed
herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims
expressly state otherwise.
[0025] As used in this disclosure, the term "comprise" and
variations of the term, such as "comprising" and "comprises," are
not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or
steps.
[0026] The present invention provides a full-face snorkel mask for
a user according to an embodiment is disclosed. The full-face
snorkel mask comprises a mask assembly 100 adapted for extending
peripherally in a sealing engagement with a face of the user, a
head securing device 400 provided at the mask assembly 100 for
securing the mask assembly 100 to the user's head, and a snorkel
assembly 200 upwardly extended from the mask assembly 100. In
general, when the mask assembly 100 is worn, the mask assembly 100
of the present invention covers the entire face of the user from
the forehead to the chin.
[0027] Reference is now made to certain specific non-limiting
embodiment as shown in Figures. FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the full-face
snorkel mask. The mask assembly 100 comprises a full face outer
shell 110 for covering the user's face and a half face inner shell
120 attached thereinto for covering the user's nose and mouth.
Specifically, the full face outer shell 110 comprises an outer
peripheral shell rim 112, a transparent visor 114 coupled at the
outer shell rim 112, and an inner peripheral shell rim 116 coupled
at the outer peripheral shell rim 112.
[0028] The outer peripheral shell rim 112 is sized and shaped for
fitting the face of the user, wherein the inner peripheral shell
116 is coupled at an inner side of the outer peripheral shell rim
112. It is preferred that the outer peripheral shell rim 112 is
made of rigid material and the inner peripheral shell 116 has a
face seal, preferably made of silicone, to seal against the user's
face. The transparent shell 114 is preferably made of shatterproof
and polycarbonate. A vision section 118 is defined at the
transparent shell 114 to provide a 180 degree field of vision. The
mask assembly 100 further comprises a camera mount 130 provided at
a top end thereof for incorporating with an action camera, such as
"GoPro" camera. It is preferred that the camera mount 130 is
provided at the top-center portion of the outer peripheral shell
rim 112 at the position in front of the snorkel assembly 200.
[0029] The half face inner shell 120, having a concave shape, is
coupled to the inner peripheral shell 116, wherein a top edge of
the half face inner shell 120 is extended across the bridge of the
nose of the user and a bottom edge of the half face inner shell 120
is extended to the chin of the user. It is preferred that the half
face inner shell 120 is made of silicone material.
[0030] The head securing device 400 comprises one or more
length-adjustable straps 410 attached to the mask assembly 100. A
plurality of strap slots 420 are provided at the outer peripheral
shell rim 112. In the embodiment, each of the straps 410 is made of
stretchable and lightweight synthetic fibers, such as "Spandex",
wherein two ends of each straps 410 are attached to the outer
peripheral shell rim 112 through the strap slots 420, so that the
user is able wear the mask assembly 100 via the straps 410 in a
comfortable way.
[0031] The mask assembly 100 further has a breathing chamber 102
defined at a space within the half face inner shell 120, i.e.
between the half face inner shell 120 and the user's face, wherein
the user breathes in and out through the breathing chamber 102 when
the mask assembly 100 is worn.
[0032] The mask assembly 100 further has an air intake chamber 104
isolated from the breathing chamber 102, wherein the air intake
chamber 104 is formed between the full face outer shell 110 and the
half face inner shell 120. It is appreciated that the vision
section 118 is located at the air intake chamber 104.
[0033] FIGS. 1 to 4 depict that the snorkel assembly 200 comprises
a snorkel body 210 upwardly extended from the outer peripheral
shell rim 112 of the mask assembly 100, wherein the snorkel body
210 has two end-to-end channels forming a fresh air intake channel
220 and an exhaust air discharging channel 230 respectively. The
fresh air intake channel 220 and the exhaust air discharging
channel 230 are extended parallelly and upwardly.
[0034] The fresh air intake channel 220 is arranged for guiding
fresh air into the breathing channel 102, wherein the fresh air is
sucked from outside into the fresh air intake channel 220 and then
to the breathing channel 102 when the user inhales. The exhaust air
discharging channel 230 communicates with the breathing chamber 102
for discharging waste air therefrom after the user exhales.
[0035] It is worth mentioning that the breathing chamber 102 and
the air intake chamber 104 are two discrete chambers that air
cannot pass from one to another when the mask assembly 100. A
V-shaped face seal 140 is extended along the top edge of the half
face inner shell 120 for sealing against the user's face and across
the nose bridge thereof to prevent the waste air being leaked from
the breathing chamber 102 to the air intake chamber 104. It is
preferred that the V-shaped face seal 140 is made of silicone for
tight-fitting and sealing against the user's face, so as to seal
and separate the breathing chamber 102 from the air intake chamber
104.
[0036] In order to communicate the breathing chamber 102 with the
air intake chamber 104, the full-face snorkel mask of the present
invention further comprises a valve assembly 300. In one
embodiment, the valve assembly 300 comprises one or more first
non-return air valves 310 provided at the mask assembly 100 for
only allowing the fresh air at the air intake chamber 104 from the
fresh air intake channel 220 entering to the breathing chamber 220
and for preventing the waste air entering to the air intake chamber
104. In one embodiment, two first non-return air valves 310 are
provided at the half face inner shell 120 below two side ends of
the V-shaped face seal 140 respectively.
[0037] FIG. 7 depicts the airflow of the full-face snorkel mask of
the present invention. When the user inhales, the fresh air is
sucked from the fresh air intake channel 220 to the air intake
chamber 104. Then, the fresh air passes through the first
non-return air valves 310 and enters into the breathing chamber
102. When the user exhales, the user releases the waste air at the
breathing chamber 102. Due to the air pressure increase at the
breathing chamber 102, the waste air is forced out of the breathing
chamber 102 to the exhaust air discharging channel 230 for
discharging waste air from the breathing chamber 102 after the user
exhales.
[0038] The mask assembly 100 further has an air guiding channel 106
formed at a peripheral portion of the mask assembly 100 and
extended from the breathing chamber 102 to the exhaust air
discharging channel 230 for guiding the waste air being discharged
from the breathing chamber 102 to the exhaust air discharging
channel 230. In one embodiment, the air guiding channel 106 is
formed between the outer peripheral shell rim 112 and the inner
peripheral shell rim 116.
[0039] While the V-shaped face seal 140 seals against the user's
face and across the nose bridge thereof, the waste air cannot be
leaked from the breathing chamber 102 to the air intake chamber
104. Therefore, when the user exhales the waste air at the
breathing chamber 102, the waste air cannot enter to the air intake
chamber 104. Besides, only fresh air can enter to the air intake
chamber 104 from the fresh air intake channel 220. More important,
the warm waste air exhaled by the user is guided to discharge from
the breathing chamber 102 to the exhaust air discharging channel
230 right away through the air guiding channel 106 to prevent the
warm waste air entering to air intake chamber 104 accidentally.
Therefore, the warm waste air will never enter to the air intake
chamber 104. As a result, the vision section 118 of the mask
assembly 100, which is located at the air intake chamber 104, will
not be fogged up by the warm waste air exhaled by the user at the
breathing chamber 102.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the valve assembly 300
further comprises a second non-return air valve 320 provided at the
exhaust air discharging channel 230 for preventing the waste air at
the exhaust air discharging channel 230 being returned back to the
breathing chamber 102. As it is mentioned above, the first
non-return air valve 310 only allows the fresh air entering to the
breathing chamber 220 from the air intake chamber. The second
non-return air valve 320 only allows the waste air discharging out
of the exhaust air discharging channel 230 to prevent the backflow
of the waste air along the exhaust air discharging channel 230.
Therefore, the first and second non-return air valves 310 and 320
will ensure the airflow of the air within the mask assembly
100.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the snorkel body 210
further has two air passages 240 and 250 discretely formed at a top
end of the snorkel body 210, wherein the air passages 240 and 250
are extended parallelly and upwardly.
[0042] Two top openings of the air passages 240 and 250 communicate
with the fresh air intake channel 220 and the exhaust air
discharging channel 230 respectively. In one embodiment, each of
the air passages 240 and 250 further has a rear opening to
communicate with outside, wherein the top openings of the air
passages 240 and 250 are located above the rear openings
thereof.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the valve assembly 300 further
comprises a water prevention valve 330 provided at the snorkel
assembly 200 for preventing water entering into the fresh air
intake channel 220 and the exhaust air discharging channel 230 when
the snorkel assembly 200 is submerged below water. In one
embodiment, the water prevention valve 330 is provided at each of
the air passages 240 and 250.
[0044] Specifically, the water prevention valve 330 comprises a
floatable member 340 movably disposed at each of the air passages
240 and 250. When the snorkel assembly 200 is submerged below
water, water will enter into the air passages 240 and 250 through
the rear openings thereof. The floatable members 340 float and seal
at the top openings of the air passages when the snorkel assembly
200 is submerged below water in order to prevent water entering
into the fresh air intake channel 220 and the exhaust air
discharging channel 230. When the top end of the snorkel assembly
200 is located above water, water in the air passages 240 and 250
are drained out through the rear openings thereof. Therefore, the
floatable members 340 drop down by their own weight at the air
passages 240 and 250 respectively when the top end of the snorkel
assembly is located above water in order to open up the top
openings of the air passages 240 and 250. Once the top openings of
the air passages 230 are opened, fresh air is guided to enter into
the corresponding air passage 240 at the rear opening thereof and
is then guided to enter into the fresh air intake channel 220.
Meanwhile, exhaust air can be discharged from the exhaust air
discharging channel 230 to the corresponding air passage 250 to
outside through the rear opening thereof.
[0045] In one embodiment, each of the floatable members 340 has a
conical shape that bases of the floatable members 340 upwardly face
toward the top openings of the air passages respectively and apexes
of the floatable members 340 face downwardly. It is appreciated
that the diameter size of the base of the floatable member 340 is
larger than that of the apex thereof. Once the water fills into the
air passages 240 and 250, the floatable members 340 provide
enlarged contacting surfaces for being upwardly pushed by the water
to ensure the floatable members 340 being floated properly within
the air passages 240 and 250. It should be appreciated that the
floatable members 340 are two weighting members being naturally
dropped down by gravity when there is no water in the air passages
240 and 250.
[0046] The water prevention valve 330 further comprises two sealing
rings 350 coupled at the top openings of the air passages 240 and
250 to seal and engage with the floatable members 340 when the
snorkel assembly 200 is submerged below water. In other words, the
floatable members 340 upwardly float and seal at the sealing rings
350 to close the fresh air intake channel 220 and the exhaust air
discharging channel 230.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings, the snorkel
assembly 200 further comprises a top snorkel cap 260 coupled at the
top end of the snorkel body 210, wherein the top snorkel cap 260
has two individual air chambers 262 and 264 that one of the air
chambers 262 communicates between the fresh air intake channel 220
and one of the air passages 240 and another air chamber 264
communicates between the exhaust air discharging channel 230 and
another air passage 250. It is appreciated that the air chambers
262 and 264 of the top snorkel cap 260 are considered as two
airflow detouring paths, wherein the fresh air is detoured 180
degrees from the air passage 240 to the fresh air intake channel
220 while the waste air is detoured 180 degrees from the exhaust
air discharging channel 230 to the air passage 250. These airflow
detouring paths will eliminate water entering into the fresh air
intake channel 220 and the exhaust air discharging channel 230 from
the air passages 240 and 250 when the snorkel assembly 200 is
submerged below water.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings, for achieving
a better sealing effect, the snorkel assembly 200 further comprises
a sealing element 270 mounted and sealed between the top snorkel
cap 260 and the top end of the snorkel body 210. The sealing
element 270 has four sealing openings 272, 274, 276, and 278
aligned with the fresh air intake channel 220, the exhaust air
discharging channel 230, and the air passages 240 and 250
respectively to prevent any water and air leakage between the top
snorkel cap 260 and the snorkel body 210.
[0049] The valve assembly 300 further comprises a purge valve 360
provided at a bottom side of the mask assembly 100 for clearing
water that enters the mask assembly 100.
[0050] According to the present invention, the user is able to wear
the full-face snorkel mask for snorkeling, wherein the user can
natural breath through the nose and/or mouth by inhaling fresh air
through the fresh air intake channel 220 and discharging waste air
through the exhaust air discharging channel 230 in a separated
manner. During snorkeling, the top end of the snorkel assembly 200
is located above water. Then, the floatable members 340 drop down
by their own weight at the air passages 240 and 250 respectively to
open up the fresh air intake channel 220 and the exhaust air
discharging channel 230. Fresh air is supplied from the rear
opening of one of the corresponding air passages 240 to the fresh
air intake channel 220, to the air intake chamber 104, and then to
the breathing chamber 102 via the first non-return valve 310.
Therefore, the user is able to breathe in the fresh air within the
breathing chamber 102. Meanwhile, when the user breathes out the
waste air to the breathing chamber 102, the waste air is forced out
of the breathing chamber 102 to the air guiding channel 106, to the
exhaust air discharging channel 230, and to the corresponding air
passage 250. Then, the waste air is discharged from the rear
opening of the air passage 250. Therefore, the present invention
provides a one-in-on-out airflow configuration in a single tubular
structure, i.e. the snorkel body 210 with the fresh air intake
channel 220 and the exhaust air discharging channel 230, to
separate the fresh air and the waste air, so as to prevent the user
from repeatedly inhaling the waste air in the breathing chamber
102.
[0051] Once the snorkel assembly 200 is submerged below water, the
floatable members 340 float and seal at the top openings of the air
passages 240 and 250 to close the fresh air intake channel 220 and
the exhaust air discharging channel 230, so as to prevent water
entering thereinto.
[0052] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0053] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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