US20080196714A1

US20080196714A1 - Dive mask with flexible portions on sides of nose enclosure

Info

Publication number: US20080196714A1
Application number: US11/708,707
Authority: US
Inventors: Chih-Cheng Shiue
Original assignee: QDS Injection Molding LLC
Current assignee: ODS INJECTION MOLDING LLC; QDS Injection Molding LLC
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2007-02-21
Publication date: 2008-08-21

Abstract

In one embodiment a dive mask for use in swimming, diving including, or one of other water sports activities, includes a flexible skirt adapted to sealingly cover the face; a frame mounted around a front opening of the skirt for covering the eyes and including one or two lenses fitted therein; a flexible strap interconnecting two ends of the frame, the strap adapted to hold the dive mask on the head; and a nose enclosure formed with the skirt and disposed under, the nose enclosure being adapted to sealingly cover the nose. The nose enclosure includes a flexible portion at either side such that a pressing of the flexible portions with the hand, as a first step of “ear pressure equalization” act prior to diving, will stretch same substantially without causing movement of a peripheral edge of the skirt.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to diving equipment and more particularly to a dive mask having an improved nose enclosure with a flexible portion formed on either side of the nose enclosure or either cheek of the skirt.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an “ear pressure equalization” act is done by a person prior to swimming, diving including surface diving, or engaging in any of other water sports activities. In detail, air in the middle ear is compressed gradually due to the increase of pressure as a diver continues to plunge deeper into the water. Also, pressure exerted on the external ear increases. And in turn, it can cause the external pressure of the ear drum to be unequal to the internal pressure thereof. As a result, the diver may feel pain in the ear drum. For relieving the pain, a diver usually takes an “ear pressure equalization” act which involves squeezing the nose with the hand and inhaling so that air can forcedly enter the middle ears through the throat and the Eustachian tubes.
For a diver wearing a dive mask having a nose enclosure put on the nose, the “ear pressure equalization” act involves pressing two sides of the nose enclosure to block the nostrils by the hand and inhaling so that air can forcedly enter the middle ears through the throat and the Eustachian tubes. However, the rigid nose enclosure of the conventional dive mask makes it difficult of pressing the sides of the nose enclosure. To the worse, a forced pressing may break the dive mask. Hence, water can enter into the face when diving. Thus, a need for improvement exists in order to overcome the inadequacy of the nose enclosure of the well known dive mask.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a dive mask having a flexible portion formed on either side of a nose enclosure or either cheek portion of a flexible skirt such that a pressing of the flexible portions with the hand, as a first step of “ear pressure equalization” act prior to diving, will stretch same substantially without causing movement of a peripheral edge of the skirt. By utilizing this dive mask, it is possible of relieving pain of the nose or preventing water from entering the dive mask.
In one aspect of the invention the flexible portions are wrinkles formed on cheek portions of the skirt spaced from both sides of the nose enclosure so that recesses can be formed due to the pressing and other portions of the skirt are substantially not adapted to move.
In another aspect of the invention the flexible portions are wrinkles formed on both sides of the nose enclosure so that recesses can be formed due to the pressing and other portions of the skirt are substantially not adapted to move.
In a further aspect of the invention the flexible portions are concentric ridges and grooves formed on both sides of the nose enclosure so that recesses can be formed due to the pressing and other portions of the skirt are substantially not adapted to move.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of dive mask according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is front view of the dive mask;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of dive mask according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a dive mask in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a flexible skirt 10, a frame 20 formed around a front opening of the skirt 10, a flexible strap 30 interconnecting two sides of the skirt 10 (or two ends of the frame 20 in other embodiments), a nose enclosure 40 projecting from a front portion of the skirt 10 to tightly cover the nose, and a flexible wrinkled portion 50 at either side of the nose enclosure 40.
The skirt 10 is a well known device. The skirt 10 is substantially oval and is made of silicon or the like. The skirt 10 is dimensioned to cover an area of the face, longitudinally from under the forehead to a portion between the nose and the mouth, and transversely from one side of the face to the other side including the eyes and a portion of the cheeks. The nose enclosure 40 is disposed under a bridge between left and right openings of the frame 20.
The frame 20 is provided in front of the eyes. As known in the prior art, either a transparent lens as a unitary window is fitted around the front opening of the skirt 10 or the frame 20 is provided to sealingly secure one or two transparent lens as window(s) on the skirt 10.
The strap 10 is adapted to hold the dive mask on the head. One or two tensioning devices (not shown) are provided in the strap 30 for adjusting the length of the strap 30 as known in the art.
The nose enclosure 40 is integrally formed with the skirt 10 in the embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the wrinkled portion 50 is formed of flexible plastics the same as the nose enclosure 40 and the skirt 10. A user may press the wrinkled portions 50 at both sides 41 of the nose enclosure 40 for stretching. A curved surface (i.e., recess) as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3 is formed at either side 41 as a result of the stretching. This has the effect of not causing movement of the peripheral edge of the skirt 10.
Alternatively, the sides 41 of the nose enclosure 40 are formed as recesses. Hence, pressing the sides 41 will deform the recessed sides 41 first prior to stretching the wrinkled portions 50. This arrangement is more advantageous.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a dive mask in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. A concentric portion including ridges and grooves 50′ is formed at either side of the nose enclosure 40′. A user may press the concentric portions 50 for stretching. A curved surface (i.e., a recess) as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5 is formed at either side of the nose enclosure 40′ as a result of the stretching. This has the effect of not causing movement of the peripheral edge of the skirt 10′.
In brief, the flexible deformation of the wrinkled portions 50 or the concentric portions 50′ on the sides of the nose enclosure 40 or 40′ can substantially prevent the skirt 10 or 10′ from moving. As a result, the “ear pressure equalization” act involving the pressing of the sides of the nose enclosure as a first step can be done effectively.
Moreover, the above wrinkled portions 50 or the concentric portions 50′ can be formed on both cheeks of the skirt in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
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.

Claims

1. A dive mask for use in swimming, diving including, or one of a plurality of other water sports activities, comprising:

a flexible skirt adapted to sealingly cover the face;

a frame mounted around a front opening of the skirt for covering the eyes and including one or two lenses fitted therein;

a flexible strap interconnecting two ends of the frame, the strap adapted to hold the dive mask on the head; and

a nose enclosure formed with the skirt and disposed under, the nose enclosure being adapted to sealingly cover the nose,

wherein the nose enclosure comprises a flexible portion at either side such that a pressing of the flexible portions with the hand will stretch same substantially without causing movement of a peripheral edge of the skirt.

2. The dive mask of claim 1, wherein the flexible portions are wrinkles.

3. The dive mask of claim 1, wherein the flexible portions are concentric ridges and grooves.

4. A dive mask for use in swimming, diving including, or one of a plurality of other water sports activities, comprising:

a flexible skirt adapted to sealingly cover the face;

wherein the skirt comprises two flexible portion each spaced from either side of the nose enclosure such that a pressing of the flexible portions with the hand will stretch same substantially without causing movement of a peripheral edge of the skirt.

5. The dive mask of claim 4, wherein the flexible portions are wrinkles.

6. The dive mask of claim 4, wherein the flexible portions are concentric ridges and grooves.