Fresh-Aire Safety Snorkel

Abstract

A snorkel having an elongated inhalation tube with a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated inhalation tube having an opening that freely admits air flow into the snorkel. The snorkel also has an elbow-shaped conduit with at least one open end removably securable to the second end of the elongated inhalation tube. A mouthpiece is removably securable to the elbow-shaped conduit, wherein the mouthpiece includes a chamber with a middle opening, a left end opening and a right end opening. The snorkel includes a plurality of one-way valves that can direct air and water flow in and out of the snorkel such that only fresh air is breathed in by a user. Additionally, the snorkel has a clip located along the second end of the elongated tube to removably secure the snorkel to a face mask.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a snorkel design. In a basic snorkel, a breathing tube is configured to extend out of water for access to air while the other end is adapted to be positioned in a snorkeler's mouth for breathing. When the snorkeler breathes air into the snorkel, a first inhalation draws in ambient air through the breathing tube and the exhaled air returns through the same breathing tube, which contaminates dead air space in the snorkel. This allows leftover exhaled air, partially depleted of oxygen, to be breathed in with the next inhalation. After only a few minutes, this low-oxygen environment can lead to headaches and possible drowning. Additionally, most divers new to snorkeling will take big breaths or excited gasps, leading to inefficient breathing. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a snorkel that provides a one-way breathing mechanism which delivers only pure, fresh air with every inhalation. In the improved snorkel, fresh air enters the top of the breathing tube while the oxygen depleted air is blocked from returning up the tube by an additional valve in the mouthpiece; the oxygen depleted air is then exhausted into the water through a drain valve. Moreover, a common theme with conventional snorkels is that users typically must engage in “blast clearing,” where the user must force water up the breathing tube with their breath. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a bore mounted valve disposed low in the intake, such that a gentle puff pressurizes the drain to release any residue.

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to a fresh air snorkel. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to a fresh air snorkel with an inhalation tube and inhalation and exhalation valves. However, these devices fail to disclose a device with a plurality of one-way valves that allows only fresh air to be inhaled by a snorkeler while exhausting oxygen depleted air from the device keeping it from being re-breathed by the snorkeler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the devices disclosed, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing fresh air snorkels. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the snorkel.

FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of the snorkel.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the open right end of the mouthpiece of the snorkel.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the snorkel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the snorkel. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, there is shown a perspective view of a snorkel and an exploded view of an embodiment of a snorkel 11, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the snorkel 11 is J-shaped and includes an elongated tube 12 wherein the elongated tube 12 extends from an elbow shaped conduit 17. The elongated tube 12 tube has a first end 32 and a second end 33, wherein the first end 32 of the elongated tube 12 is slightly bent to slow the flow of water into the elongated tube 12 if ambient water splashes into the elongated tube 12 while a user is submerged under water. In an alternate embodiment, the first end 32 is covered with a flap to reduce the amount of water that splashes into the elongated tube 12 when the user is submerged in the water. The first end 32 comprises a first opening 34 that freely admits air flow into the snorkel 11. The second end 33 comprises a second opening 35 that is adapted to receive the elbow shaped conduit 17. The elongated tube 12 is hollow with a diameter and a length suitable for comfortably inhaling ambient air and extending above a surface of water. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated tube 12 is made of a rubber material, a neoprene material or a similar flexible material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated tube 12 further comprises a clip 18 disposed on an outer periphery of the elongated tube 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip 18 is an inverted U-shape configured to removably secure the snorkel 11 to a face mask. The clip 18 is also made of a rubber material, a neoprene material or a similar flexible material. However, in alternate embodiments, the clip is any suitable fastener configured to removably secure the snorkel 11 to the face mask.

The elbow shaped conduit 17 comprises a pair of opposing open ends wherein the open ends are comprised of a first open end 23 and a second open end 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the open ends 23, 24 are circular with an outer band 21 and an opposing outer band 22 wherein the outer band 21 includes a diameter configured to receive and frictionally secure an open right end 16 of the mouthpiece 13 thereto. Further, the opposing outer band 22 has a larger diameter than the second end 33 of the elongated tube 12, wherein the opposing outer band 22 is adapted to receive an open left end 14 of a mouthpiece 13. The elbow shaped conduit 17 is hollow and made of a flexible accordion-like material which allows for flexibility in the snorkel 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, an upper portion 40 of the mouthpiece 13 comprises a one-piece body 41 having a general U-shape with a plurality of nodules 43 adapted to fit an alignment of teeth. The lower portion 42 of the mouthpiece 13 comprises a chamber 26 having a T-shape configuration which includes a middle chamber 15 attached to a cross-sectional chamber 25 wherein the cross-sectional chamber 25 is comprised of the open right end 16 and the open left end 14 extending therefrom. The chamber 26 of the mouthpiece 13 further comprises a plurality of one-way valves 27 which is comprised of a first valve 20 and a second valve 19, wherein the first valve 20 is disposed at the open right end 16 and the second valve 19 is disposed at the open left end 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a close-up view of the mouthpiece 13 of the snorkel 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the second valve 19 comprises an open ring 28 secured to a flap 30; the open ring 28 forms a friction fit within the chamber 26 of the mouthpiece 13 and includes a pair of intersecting cross bars 29 forming an aperture 48. The aperture 48 in the second valve 19 allows air and water to be expelled from the mouthpiece 13 and into a body of water when the user exhales. The flap 30 includes a rod 31 extending perpendicularly therefrom, the rod 31 is secured within the aperture 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the open ring 28 and the flap 30 are made of a thermoplastic material or a similar flexible material, wherein the flap 30 is configured to bend outward from the open ring 28 and allow air and water through the aperture when the user expels air and water therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown cross-sectional view of the snorkel 11. Further, the first valve 17 comprises an open ring 28 secured to a flap 30; the open ring 28 forms a friction fit within the chamber 26 of the mouthpiece 13 and includes a pair of intersecting cross bars 29 forming an aperture. The aperture in the first valve allows ambient air to only flow into the mouthpiece 13 while the flap 30 is configured to bend inward to rest flush with the open ring 28 to prevent air from flowing out of the elongated tube 12.

In operation, the snorkel comprises a plurality of one-way valves 27 comprised of a first valve 20 with a first flap 50, wherein the first flap 50 is configured to open when the user inhales through the mouthpiece 13. The second valve 19 comprises a second flap 51 at the left open end of the mouthpiece 13 in which the second flap 51 is configured to open allowing air and water to be expelled out of the second valve 19 when the user exhales into the mouthpiece 13. The second flap 51 of the second valve 19 is configured to close when the first flap 50 of the first valve opens; while the first flap 50 of the first valve 20 is configured to close when the second flap 51 of the second valve 19 is open.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A snorkel, comprising: an elongated tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated tube having an opening that freely admits air flow into the snorkel;an elbow-shaped conduit with at least one open end removably securable to the second end of the elongated tube;a mouthpiece having a chamber with a middle opening, a left end opening and a right end opening removably securable to the elbow-shaped conduit;a plurality of one-way valves configured to direct air-flow and water-flow in and out of the snorkel;the chamber of the mouthpiece comprises the plurality of one-way valves which is comprised of a first valve and a second valve, wherein the first valve is disposed at the open right end opening and the second valve is disposed at the open left end opening;a clip configured to removably secure the snorkel to a face mask.

2) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the mouthpiece comprises a one-piece body having a general U-shape to fit an alignment of teeth.

3) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is further comprised of a flexible material.

4) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is further comprised of a chamber having a T-shape configuration which includes a middle chamber attached to a cross-sectional chamber wherein the cross-sectional chamber is comprised of the open right end and the open left end extending therefrom.

5) The snorkel of claim 1 wherein the first valve and the second valve are comprised of an open ring secured to a flap, wherein the open ring forms a friction fit within the chamber, the open ring includes a pair of intersecting cross bars forming an aperture and the flap includes a rod extending perpendicularly therefrom, the rod is secured within the aperture.

6) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the open ends of the elbow shaped conduit are circular with an outer band and an inner band wherein the inner band is adapted to receive the second end of the elongated tube and the outer band is configured to receive the open left end of the mouthpiece.

7) The snorkel of claim 1 wherein the elbow shaped conduit is made of a flexible accordion-like material.

8) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of one-way valves is further comprised of a first flap, wherein the first flap is configured to open when the user inhales through the mouthpiece.

9) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the second valve comprises a second flap at the left open end of the mouthpiece in which the second flap is configured to open allowing air and water to be expelled out of the drain valve when the user exhales into the mouthpiece.

10) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the second flap of the second valve is configured to close when the first flap of the first valve opens.

11) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the first flap of the first valve is configured to close when the second flap of the second valve is open.

12) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the clip is an inverted U-shaped and removably secures the snorkel to the face mask worn by the user.

13) The snorkel of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of a rubber material, a neoprene material or a similar flexible material that is placed between the user's head and the face mask.