This U.S. patent application claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese patent application number 201821763012.X, filed Oct. 29, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a diving mask, and more particularly, to a full-face diving mask having a breathing tube.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art
Water bodies provide recreational and professional outlets in various climates and regions. Recreationally, the enjoyment of water is shared by both sports and outdoor enthusiasts, among others. Professionally, water bodies provide means of transportation and shipping and an entire ecosystem of natural resources. One activity that has been quickly gaining popularity is underwater diving or snorkeling. Improvements in accessibly and advancements in the art have made diving and snorkeling popular with a wide range of people both recreationally and professionally. Diving and snorkeling are typically synonymous activities that require a diving mask, which protects a user's eyes and allows them the ability to observe their surroundings when under water. In addition to allowing a user to open their eyes under water, many diving masks also cover a user's nose and/or mouth and provide a breathing tube, allowing the user to breath when underwater. Traditional diving masks for snorkeling are generally categorized into two groups: (1) diving masks that only cover a user's eyes (and sometimes both the user's eyes and nose) and have a separate mouthpiece connected to the breathing tube and (2) full-face diving masks that cover more than a user's eyes (e.g., the user's entire face, such as at least the user's eyes, nose and mouth) and are integrated with the breathing tube. When using a diving mask, only the user' eyes and nose are covered (and some diving masks cover only the user's eyes), and the breathing tube is held by the user's mouth. When using a full-face mask, the breathing tube is integrated with the top or the side of the mask to facilitate breathing. Since a full-face mask provides a close fit with a user's face and an independent space or cavity, the user's mouth and nose can breathe freely in the independent space.
The existing full-face diving masks provide exhalation channels and inhalation channels to improve the comfort of underwater breathing, and some of the masks are provided with separate structures for the intake and discharge of gas, such as air. However, in such masks, only a single one-way valve is provided, and the intake and discharge of air cannot be effectively separated. This results in most of the exhaled carbon dioxide remaining in the user's breathing space such that the remaining carbon dioxide is re-inhaled. In addition, since exhaled air is mixed with water vapor, and a mask is oftentimes used in low temperature water, the inner surface of the mask may fog up easily as condensation forms on the inner surface of the mask.
The following outlines certain features of embodiments of the present invention such that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features of embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the general concepts and the specific embodiments disclosed herein may be readily utilized as bases for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same or similar purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, a full-face diving mask is provided. The full-face diving mask comprises a lens housing and a fitting mask sealed together at an interface. The lens housing includes a lens that is at least partially transparent and a cavity is formed by the lens housing and the fitting mask. The fitting mask includes a face opening for the placement of a portion of a user's face therethrough and into the cavity. The face opening is configured to seal against the portion of the user's face and prevent water from entering the cavity when the full-face diving mask is worn. A first partition plate divides the cavity between an upper air compartment located adjacent to the user's eyes and a lower air compartment located adjacent to the user's nose and mouth when the full-face diving mask is worn. At least one valve located on the first partition plate permitting the transfer of air from the upper air compartment to the lower air compartment and preventing the transfer of air from the lower air compartment to the upper air compartment. A second partition plate divides the lower air compartment into a front lower air compartment located between the second partition plate and the lens housing and rear lower air compartment located between the second partition plate and the face opening. At least one additional valve located on the second partition plate permitting the transfer of air from the rear lower air compartment to the front lower air compartment and preventing the transfer of air from the front lower air compartment to the rear lower air compartment.
The drawings described herein are only for illustrative purposes of selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The inventive concepts associated with the present disclosure will be more readily understood by reference to the following description in combination with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, the subject embodiments are directed to a full-face diving mask. However, the exemplary embodiments are only illustrative of the various features of the present invention, those skilled in the art understanding that various changes thereto may be made without departing from the full scope of the invention. Numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that exemplary embodiments may be altered in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The implementation and usage of the exemplary embodiments will be discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to implement and use the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the description for the structural positions of various components, representations of directions such as “upper,” “lower,” “top” and “bottom” are not absolute, but relative.
Herein, “inner” or “inside” refers to a direction toward the user's face, and “outer” or “outside” refers to a direction away from the user's face when using the full-face diving mask. “Upper” or “Top” refers to a direction toward the top of the user's head, and “lower” or “bottom” refers to a direction toward the underside of the user's mouth and nose.
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the views, the full-face diving mask 100 is intended for allowing a user to safely and comfortably breath underwater.
With initial reference to
With continued reference to
According one aspect of the disclosure, the breathing chamber B is further provided with an air compartment partition plate 28. The air compartment partition plate 28 is connected to the partition plate 181 to define an air discharge compartment C (a front lower compartment). Discharge compartment C and breathing chamber B combine to form a lower air compartment (B, C). In some embodiments, a pair of air discharge ports (e.g., valves 16, 17) is provided on the air compartment partition plate 28, and an air discharge one-way valve is provided at each air discharge port to allow exhaled air to be guided through at least one air discharge passageway (23, 25, 26, 27, 523, and 525) from the air discharge compartment C and discharged along the breathing tube 6. In other words, the observation chamber A is defined by the inner surface of the lens housing 14 and the upper surface of the partition plate 181 of the fitting mask 18, and the breathing chamber B is defined by the inner surface of the air compartment partition plate 28 and the lower surface of the partition plate 181 of the fitting mask 18. The air discharge compartment C is defined by the lower surface of the partition plate 181 of the fitting mask 18 and the outer surface of the air compartment partition plate 28. In some embodiments, the partition plate 181 and/or the air compartment partition plate 28 of the fitting mask 18 may be integrally formed with the fitting mask 18. In some embodiments, the fitting mask 18 may be a flexible silicone mask including a nose-fitting surface for sealing against the user's mouth and nose and a face-fitting surface 182 for sealing against the user's face, as best shown in
In some embodiments, the full-face diving mask 100 may include at least one air intake passageway (e.g., passageways 24, 524) and at least one air discharge passageway (e.g., passageways 23, 25, 26, 27, 523, and 525). In such instances, the breathing tube 6 may correspondingly be provided with at least one air intake channel 524 and at least one air discharge channel (e.g., channels 523, 525). The at least one air intake channel 524 may be coupled with the observation chamber A to form an air intake passageway (e.g., passageways 24, 524). The at least one air discharge channel (e.g., channels 523, 525) may be coupled with the air discharge compartment C via at least one air discharge conduit to form an air discharge passageway (e.g., passageways 23, 25, 26, 27, 523, and 525). The air discharge conduit may be provided at either side edge or both side edges of the fitting mask 18 and/or the lens housing 14. The lens housing 14 is surrounded by a lens housing peripheral edge, and the fitting mask 18 is surrounded by a fitting mask peripheral edge, wherein the interface 105 (see
The breathing tube 6 may further include an elbow 5 provided with an air intake channel 524 and an air discharge channels (e.g., channels 523, 525). The proximal end of the elbow 5 is connected to the mask 101, and the distal end of the elbow 5 is provided with an end cap 1 and an adjustment device 107 (see
With reference now
In certain arrangements, in order to realize coupling between the air discharge compartment C and the air discharge channels (e.g., channels 523, 525) of the breathing tube 6, a first air discharge conduit and a second air discharge conduit may be respectively provided at both side edges of the fitting mask 18 and/or the lens housing 14. As shown in
In an embodiment providing two air discharge conduits, a first air discharge port 17 and a second air discharge 16 port may be symmetrically provided at positions on both sides of the air compartment partition plate 28 corresponding to the user's cheek. The first and second air discharge ports 16, 17 are respectively provided with a first air discharge one-way valve 17 and a second air discharge one-way valve 16. As illustrated in
The air intake passageway (e.g., passageways 24, 524) and the air discharge passageway (e.g., passageways 23, 25, 26, 27, 523, and 525) of the full-face diving mask 100 of the present disclosure are separated from each other, and the intake and discharge of air can only be performed along the passageways in the fixed directions. The air discharge compartment C is closer to the user's mouth and nose, such that the air discharge process can be shortened. Thereby, the carbon dioxide or other exhaled gases can be discharged out of the full-face diving mask 100 more quickly and thoroughly, and accumulation of carbon dioxide or other exhaled gases inside the full-face diving mask 100 is greatly reduced, such that the discomfort caused by insufficient oxygen inhalation for the user is effectively avoided, and the formation of fog is reduced. This one-way design also avoids potential safety hazards from water flowing into the mask.
Various working principles and processes of the intake and discharge of air by means of the full-face diving mask 100 will be described with reference to
As described above, the distal end of the breathing tube 6 is provided with the adjustment device 107 that allows air to enter and exit the breathing tube 6. As best seen in
As shown best in
The air flow path in the inhalation phase is shown in conjunction with directional arrows provided in
The air flow path in the exhaling phase is shown in conjunction with directional arrows provided in
It should be understood that in the inhalation or exhalation state, the floaters 4 should be out of sealing engagement with the sealing plate 3, such that the air intake opening is coupled with the air intake channel 524 or the air discharge opening is coupled with the air discharge channel (e.g., channels 523, 525) allowing the flow of air therethrough. With reference now to
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
It should further be understood that the features illustrated in
It should also be understood that the lens housing according to the present disclosure may include a lens. The lens may be made of a transparent plastic material to provide a clear view under the water or be made of other suitable materials known in the art. In some embodiments, the lens may be a Plano lens (i.e., a lens with no vision correction but possibly tints or reflective coatings) or a lens with vision correction properties. However, the lens may also be a lens for short-sightedness or long-sightedness to accommodate the needs of different users. In the illustrated embodiment, the breathing tube is shown and described to have a fixed extension length. However, the breathing tube may also be provided as a telescopic tube, such that dive depth can be adjusted to meet the needs of different users. Thereby, the full-face diving mask of the present disclosure has a better applicability.
The technical content and technical features of the present disclosure have been disclosed above. However, it should be understood that numerous variations and improvements to the above disclosed concepts fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. The description for the above embodiments is illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of protection of the present disclosure is determined by the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201821763012.X | Oct 2018 | CN | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20100132701 | Fukasawa | Jun 2010 | A1 |
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Number | Date | Country |
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206141801 | May 2017 | CN |
Entry |
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Extended European Search Report, dated Mar. 13, 2020 (Mar. 13, 2020), by the European Patent Office on related European patent application 19205582.0. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200130792 A1 | Apr 2020 | US |