HK1261547B - Mask for surface snorkeling - Google Patents

Description

Face mask for surface floating and diving

Technical Field

The invention relates to a face mask for surface snorkeling.

Background

A known type of mask for surface snorkeling has: a rigid frame; a transparent shield; a soft mask adapted to be applied to the face of a user in an airtight manner; a breathing tube having a floating stop; and a strap applied around the head to hold the mask in place.

Some face masks for surface snorkeling currently in use on the market are provided with a shutter plate that is configured as an oval applied to the entire face and, for this purpose, has a membrane inside that defines an upper viewing chamber shaped to accommodate the eyes and a lower breathing chamber shaped to accommodate the nose and mouth.

In such masks, the moist air generated by breathing in particular inevitably leads to fogging of the shutter, thereby reducing the visual ability of the diver.

Various attempts have been made to reduce the occurrence of shutter fogging.

CN204173146U discloses such a mask wherein the membrane is equipped with at least one check valve allowing air to flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber when the pressure difference reaches a predetermined value. The breathing tube envisages three parallel ducts: a center, an inlet, and one placed in communication with the upper chamber from the outside environment (air). Air enters the lower chamber from the upper chamber through the mentioned check valve, which opens through a depression formed by the user inhaling. The other two conduits of the breathing tube are connected to the two outlet conduits exiting the lower chamber. When the user exhales creating an overpressure in the lower chamber of the mask, the exhaled air is delivered to an outlet conduit that leads to the upper end of the breathing tube. When the floating shutter enters the open position, the end of the breathing tube ends in a passage chamber communicating with the outside air. The channel chamber is communicated with the three pipelines, an inlet for inhalation and two symmetrical outlets, and exhales through a check valve. Therefore, when the user inhales, the depression he/she creates must overcome the resistance of the two check valves in series: a check valve disposed between the passage chamber in the breathing tube and the downcomer and a passage check valve between the upper chamber and the lower chamber. When the user exhales, the pressure generated by the user must overcome the resistance of the check valve between the outlet conduit of the breathing tube and the passage chamber. The air passing through the upper chamber during the suction step acts as a purge, i.e., it refreshes the air in the upper chamber to reduce fogging due to stagnation of air drawn into the upper chamber.

Other masks of this type are described, for example, in CN 204548450U and WO 2015/170013.

Common to all these types of masks is that they comprise at least one check valve in the breathing circuit.

In fact, to avoid shutter fogging, the exhaled air flow first enters the shutter chamber, then passes through the check valve into the breathing chamber, and then exits there.

Thus, the breathing circuit comprises an upper and a lower chamber in series, and one or more check valves are provided, which are arranged in the separation membrane between the upper and lower chambers, and sometimes also in the passage chamber at the end of the breathing tube, substantially increasing the effort for inspiration and expiration.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical task of the present invention is therefore to achieve a mask for surface snorkeling that prevents the mask from fogging without increasing the breathing effort.

According to the present invention, the technical task, as well as these and other objects, are achieved by providing a mask for surface snorkeling, comprising: a rigid frame; a transparent shield; a soft face mask adapted to fit over a user's face in an airtight manner and having a membrane defining an upper viewing chamber shaped to receive the user's eyes and a lower breathing chamber shaped to receive the user's nose and mouth; and a breathing circuit connected to the lower breathing chamber; the mask includes a ventilation circuit of the upper viewing chamber that is separate and apart from the breathing circuit.

The breathing circuit includes a first connecting conduit for connecting the lower breathing chamber to the atmosphere outside the mask, and the ventilation circuit includes a second connecting conduit for connecting the upper viewing chamber to the atmosphere outside the mask. The first and second connecting conduits are equipped with floating shutter means.

Advantageously, along its entire length, when the shutter device is in the open position, the first connecting duct has a free passage portion, so as to establish a direct air connection of the lower respiratory chamber with the atmosphere outside the mask.

Advantageously, along its entire length, when the floating shutter device is in the open position, the second connecting duct also has a free passage portion, so as to establish a direct air connection of the upper viewing chamber with the atmosphere outside the mask.

Unlike the technical solutions included in the prior art, the mask according to the invention prevents fogging of the mask without increasing the breathing effort, since the connection of the lower breathing chamber to the external atmosphere is direct when the floating shutter device is in the open position, since no check valve is provided that needs to be opened to connect to the external atmosphere.

The venting process is also effective and does not mean opening the check valve, since the connection of the upper viewing chamber to the external atmosphere is also direct when the floating shutter device is in the open position.

Fogging of the shutter is thus avoided, without creating an air circuit through the upper viewing chamber and the lower breathing chamber. Thus, it has been unexpectedly seen that free communication of the upper viewing chamber with the atmosphere outside the mask is sufficient to prevent fogging of the mask.

On the other hand, during surface submergence, the user's head is temporarily submerged and the floating shutter device in the closed position prevents water from entering the observation chamber and entering the breathing chamber.

Drawings

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the surface snorkel mask according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: .

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a mask;

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the mask;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the mask;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the mask;

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional front view of the mask;

FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of the breathing conduit taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

fig. 7 shows a mask of the mask.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a snorkel mask 1 comprising: a rigid frame 2; a transparent shield 3; a soft face mask 4 adapted to be fitted to the face of the user in an airtight manner; and a breathing circuit 5.

The mask 4 has an oval closed annular band 6 adapted to the face of the user and a membrane 7 shaped in particular in an inverted V, which defines, with the band 6 and the shutter 3, an upper viewing chamber 8 shaped to accommodate the eyes of the user and a lower respiratory chamber 9 shaped to accommodate the nose and mouth of the user.

The breathing circuit 5 is connected to the lower breathing chamber 9.

Advantageously, the mask 1 also has a ventilation circuit 10 for ventilation of the upper viewing chamber 8, which is independent and separate from the breathing circuit 5.

The breathing circuit 5 comprises a first connecting conduit 11 for connecting the lower breathing chamber 9 to the atmosphere outside the face mask 1.

The ventilation circuit 10 in turn comprises a second connecting duct 12 for connecting the upper viewing chamber 8 to the atmosphere outside the mask 1.

The first connecting duct 11 and the second connecting duct 12 are equipped with floating shutter means, for example of the type shown at 13a, 13b in the figures.

Advantageously, along its entire length, when the shutter means 13a, 13b are in the open position, the first connecting duct 11 has a free passage portion 14, so as to establish a direct air connection of the lower respiratory chamber 9 with the atmosphere outside the mask 1.

Advantageously, along its entire length, when the floating shutter means 13a, 13b are in the open position, the second connecting duct 12 also has a free passage portion 15, so as to establish a direct air connection of the upper viewing chamber 8 with the atmosphere outside the mask 1.

The second connecting conduit 12 comprises a proximal portion 12a leading to the upper viewing chamber 8 and a distal portion 12b distal to the upper viewing chamber 8.

The proximal end 12a of the second connecting duct 12 is made integral with the shutter 3, while the distal end 12b of the second connecting duct 12 is removably coupled to the proximal end 12a of the second connecting duct 12 and supports the shutter means 13a, 13 b.

The first connecting conduit 11 leads to a proximal end 11a of the lower breathing chamber 9 and a distal end 11b remote from the lower breathing chamber 9.

The proximal end 11a of the first connecting duct 11 comprises the opposite grooves 16, 17 of the shutter 3 and of the mask 4, while the distal end 11b of the first connecting duct 11 is removably coupled to the proximal end 11a of the first connecting duct 11 and supports the floating shutter means 13a, 13 b.

In the example illustrated, the first connecting duct 11 and the second connecting duct 12 are positioned transversely with respect to the central axis of symmetry of the shutter 3 and are juxtaposed.

In particular, the distal end 11b of the first connecting duct 11 is juxtaposed to the distal end 12b of the second connecting duct 12 and shares a shutter device comprising a single shutter 13a operating on the first connecting duct 11 and on the second connecting duct 12 and a single float 13b for activating the shutter 13 a.

In a variation of the invention, not illustrated, the first connecting duct 11 and the second connecting duct 12 are in a distal position with respect to each other, and in this case the shutter device comprises a shutter and a float specific to the first connecting duct 11 and a shutter and a float specific to the second connecting duct 12.

The position of the first and second connection ducts 11, 12 may vary, for example the first and second connection ducts 11, 12 may be positioned on the central axis of symmetry of the shutter 3, or laterally on opposite sides with respect to the central axis of symmetry of the shutter 3.

The cover 3 has a front wall 18 and a side wall 19 extending peripherally and located behind the front wall 18.

The front wall 18 has a flat portion 18a which, together with the strip 6 and the film 7, defines the upper viewing chamber 8; and an internal concavity 18b, which is concave during use on the side facing the face of the user and which also defines, together with the band 6 and the membrane 7, the lower breathing chamber 9.

The proximal end 12a of the second connecting duct 12, more particularly a through hole 21, completely external to the shutter 3 and open into the side wall 19 of the shutter 3, open to the upper viewing chamber 8.

The proximal end 11a of the first connecting duct 11 has an extension 22 inside the shutter 3 defined by the grooves 16, 17 and an extension 23 outside the shutter 3.

An extension 22 inside the shutter 3 leading to the lower breathing chamber 9 and an extension 23 outside the shutter 3 are connected by a through hole 24 in the side wall 19 of the shutter 3.

The channel 17 in the shroud 3 is defined by a bulkhead 20, which bulkhead 20 extends rearwardly from a flat portion 18a of the front wall 18.

The baffle 20 has a plate-like longitudinal body oriented perpendicularly to the flat portion 18 a.

A first portion 20a of the partition 20 extends along the circumferential extension of the flat portion 18a of the front wall 18, and a second portion 20b thereof extends beyond the flat portion 18a of the front wall 18.

The first portion 20a of the partition 20 defines the groove 17 with the extension of the side wall 19 it faces.

A second portion 20b of the partition 20 intersecting the side wall 19 between said through holes 21, 24 separates the proximal end portion 12a of said second connecting duct 12 from an extension 23 outside the shield 3 of the proximal end portion 11a of said second duct 11.

A groove 25 is formed along the outer peripheral edge of the side wall 19 of the shroud 3 for receiving a peripheral lip 26 of the face mask 4.

The peripheral lip 26 of the face mask 4 has a peripheral groove 28 on the side opposite the side wall 19 of the shutter 3 for receiving the frame 2.

The frame 2 comprises in particular a clip profile 2a housed in a peripheral groove 28 of a peripheral lip 26 of the mask 4, a connection fitting 2b between each proximal portion 11a, 12a and the corresponding distal portion 11b, 12b of the first and second connection conduits 11, 12, and an appendage 2c for an elastic band (not shown) for holding the mask 1 on the user's face.

To improve comfort, a system for draining water is also provided, which, during use of the mask 1, allows water to penetrate into the shutter 3, into the upper viewing chamber 8 and the lower respiratory chamber 9.

The drainage system comprises a check valve 29 on the shutter 3 in the bottom of the lower breathing chamber 9 and one or more check valves 30 on the membrane 7, for example two check valves 30 symmetrically on opposite sides of the membrane 7.

The check valve 29 allows water to drain from the lower breathing chamber 9 to the atmosphere outside the face mask 1, while the valve port 30 allows water to drain from the upper viewing chamber 8 to the lower breathing chamber 9.

The check valves 29, 30 comprise membrane shutters that flex under the weight of the water.

The operation of the mask 1 is briefly described below.

During surface swimming, the shutter 13a remains open, so that the first connecting duct 11 keeps the lower breathing chamber 9 in direct communication with the external atmosphere, allowing breathing for inhalation and exhalation through the first connecting duct 11.

Furthermore, when the shutter 13a remains open during surface swimming, the second connecting duct 12 keeps the upper viewing chamber 8 in direct communication with the external atmosphere, to prevent fogging of the shutter 3 precisely in the area in front of the user's eyes.

When the head of the user is accidentally submerged, the shutter 13a, pushed by the float 13b, closes the first connecting duct 11 and the second connecting duct 12, preventing water from entering the lower respiratory chamber 9 of the shutter 3 and the upper viewing chamber 8.

Many modifications and variations of the mask for snorkeling as contemplated herein are possible and fall within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details may be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Claims (17)

1. A face mask (1) for surface snorkeling comprising:

a rigid frame (2);

a transparent shield (3);

a soft face mask (4) adapted to be fitted to the face of a user in an airtight manner and having a membrane (7), said membrane (7) defining an upper viewing chamber (8) shaped to accommodate the eyes of the user and a lower breathing chamber (9) shaped to accommodate the nose and mouth of the user; and

a breathing circuit (5) connected to the lower breathing chamber (9);

a ventilation circuit of the upper viewing chamber (8);

the breathing circuit (5) comprising a first connecting conduit (11) for connecting the lower breathing chamber (9) to the atmosphere outside the face mask (1), and the ventilation circuit comprising a second connecting conduit (12) for connecting the upper viewing chamber (8) to the atmosphere outside the face mask (1), wherein the first and second connecting conduits (11, 12) are equipped with floating shutter means (13a, 13b),

characterized in that the ventilation circuit of the upper observation chamber (8) is independent and separate from the breathing circuit (5), so that during surface swimming, when the floating shutter means (13a, 13b) remain open, the first connecting duct (11) keeps the lower observation chamber (9) in direct communication with the external atmosphere, to allow breathing for inhalation and exhalation through the first connecting duct (11), and the second connecting duct (12) keeps the upper observation chamber (8) in direct communication with the external atmosphere, to prevent fogging of the shutter (3).

2. Mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 1, wherein the first connecting duct (11) has a first passage portion which is free over its entire length when the floating shutter device (13a, 13b) is in the open position, so as to establish a direct air connection of the lower breathing chamber (9) with the atmosphere outside the mask.

3. Mask (1) for surface snorkel as in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second connecting duct (12) has a second passage portion free over its entire length when the floating shutter device (13a, 13b) is in the open position, so as to establish a direct air connection of the upper viewing chamber (8) with the atmosphere outside the mask (1).

4. Mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 1, wherein the second connecting duct (12) comprises a proximal portion (12a) open to the upper viewing chamber (8) and a distal portion (12b) distal to the upper viewing chamber (8), the proximal portion (12a) being made integral with the transparent shutter (3) and the distal portion (12b) being removably coupled to the proximal portion (12a) and supporting the floating shutter means (13a, 13 b).

5. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 1, wherein the first connecting conduit (11) comprises a proximal portion (11a) open in the lower breathing chamber (9) and a distal portion (11b) distal from the lower breathing chamber (9), the proximal portion (11a) comprising the opposite grooves (16, 17) of the transparent shield (3) and the soft face mask (4), and the distal portion (11b) being removably coupled to the proximal portion (11a) and supporting the floating shutter means (13a, 13 b).

6. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the shutter (3) has:

a front wall (18) having a flat portion (18a) defining the upper viewing chamber (8) and an inner concave portion (18b) defining the lower breathing chamber (9); and

a side wall (19) extending peripherally and located rearward of the front wall (18);

the groove (17) in the shutter (3) is delimited by a diaphragm (20) extending from the flat portion (18 a).

7. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 6, characterised in that the baffle (20) extends along the circumferential extension of the flat portion (18 a).

8. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 6 or 7, wherein the baffle (20) extends externally to the shield (3).

9. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 6 or 7, wherein outside the shutter (3) the partition (20) defines a partition wall between the first and second connecting ducts (11, 12).

10. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the shutter (3) has:

a front wall (18) having a flat portion (18a) defining the upper viewing chamber (8) and an inner concave portion (18b) defining the lower breathing chamber (9); and

a side wall (19) extending peripherally and located rearward of the front wall (18);

the face mask (4) has a peripheral lip (26) and a groove (25) is formed along the outer peripheral edge of the side wall (19) to accommodate the lip (26).

11. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 10, characterised in that the lip (26) has a perimetral groove (28) to house the frame (2).

12. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 11, characterised in that the frame (2) comprises a gripping profile (2a) housed in the perimetral groove (28) of the lip (26).

13. Mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 12, wherein the gripping profile (2a) comprises a connection fitting (2b) between the proximal (11a, 12a) and distal (11b, 12b) ends of the first and second connection conduits (11, 12).

14. Mask (1) for surface snorkel as in claim 1, characterised in that the first and second connecting ducts (11, 12) are juxtaposed.

15. Mask (1) for surface snorkel as in claim 1, characterised in that the first and second connecting ducts (11, 12) are positioned transversally with respect to the central axis of symmetry of the shutter (3).

16. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 1, characterised in that at the lower breathing chamber (9) the shutter (3) has at least one valve port (29) to drain water from the lower breathing chamber (9) outside the face mask (1).

17. Face mask (1) for surface snorkeling as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the membrane (7) has at least one valve port (30) to drain water from the upper viewing chamber (8) to the lower breathing chamber (9).