Patent Application
20050145244
The present invention relates to valves and valve systems for use with snorkels, and more particularly to valves and valve systems for use with snorkels, which valves and valve systems permit a user to dive below the surface of the water and swim a few feet below the surface of the water, while using a snorkel, without inhaling water.
Snorkelling is a form of swimming that is enjoyed in many areas of the world. While snorkelling, it is common to either dive down a few feet or swim a few feet below the surface of the water in order to see rock formations, fish, coral formations, and so on, more closely. If a swimmer dives down from the surface while using a conventional snorkel, he must hold his breath and preferably remove the snorkel from his mouth. This is undesirable as it is easy to inhale water while doing this. Further, it is not possible to use a conventional snorkel while swimming a few feet below the surface of the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,102 issued Oct. 16, 2001 to Giroux et al discloses a Dual Air Passage Snorkel. This snorkel is used when diving below the surface and has an elongate body with an air inlet passage and an air outlet passage. The air inlet passage terminates in an inlet port at the top end of the elongate body and the air outlet passage terminates at an exhaust port at the top end of the elongate body. A diaphragm valve is located within each port, with each diaphragm valve biassed to a normally closed condition. The diaphragm valves control the air flow in the air passages such that air is inhaled through the air inlet passage and is exhausted through the air outlet passage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,165 issued Apr. 22, 1997 to Huang discloses a Snorkel Diving Device. The snorkel diving device has a floating disk, a hard snorkel passing through the floating disk, a snorkel case in covering the upper end of the hard snorkel, and a hose connecting the hard snorkel to a mouth piece joint. There is no valve at the top end of the hard snorkel to preclude water from travelling down the hose to the mouthpiece.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inlet valve apparatus for use with a snorkel, which inlet valve apparatus permits a swimmer to dive below the surface of the water without inhaling water through the snorkel.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve system for use with the snorkel, which valve system permits a swimmer to swim under water while using the snorkel.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel inlet valve apparatus for use with a snorkel. The inlet valve apparatus comprises a snorkel cap having an air inlet and an air outlet. An air passageway connects the air inlet and the air outlet in fluid communication one with another. A float valve is movable between an open position whereat air can pass from the air inlet to the air outlet and a closed position whereat air and water are precluded from passing from the air inlet to the air outlet. The float valve is buoyant in water. There is means for mounting the inlet valve apparatus onto the top end of a snorkel such that the air outlet is in fluid communication with the snorkel.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel valve system for use with for use with a snorkel. The valve system comprises a flexible hose member having an inlet end and an outlet end. A floating member is operatively mounted on the flexible hose member adjacent the inlet end thereof. An inlet valve apparatus is operatively mounted on the flexible hose member adjacent the inlet end thereof. A diverter valve apparatus is operatively mounted on the flexible hose member at the outlet end thereof. The diverter valve apparatus has an air inlet in fluid communication with the outlet end of the flexible hose member, an air outlet connectable in fluid communication with the snorkel, an expired-air outlet in fluid communication with the air outlet, and an air-pressure-operated valve means disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet such that air flow from the air outlet is precluded from travelling to the air inlet and is diverted to the expired-air outlet. There is means for mounting the diverter valve onto the top end of a snorkel such that the air outlet of the diverter valve is in fluid communication with the snorkel.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the inlet valve apparatus and valve system according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
Reference will now be made to
An inlet valve apparatus 50 is operatively mounted on the flexible hose member 30 at the inlet end 32 thereof, as will be discussed in greater detail subsequently.
A diverter valve apparatus 60 is operatively mounted on the flexible hose member 30 at the outlet end 34 thereof. The diverter valve apparatus 60 has an air inlet 62 in fluid communication with the outlet end 34 of the flexible hose member 30 and an air outlet 64 connectable in fluid communication with the snorkel 22. The diverter valve apparatus 60 also has an expired-air outlet 66 in fluid communication with the air outlet 34. There is an air-pressure-operated valve means 68 disposed between the air inlet 62 and the air outlet 64 such that air flow from the air outlet 64 is precluded from travelling to the air inlet 62 and is diverted to the expired-air outlet 66. There is also means, as indicate by the general reference numeral 61, for mounting the diverter valve apparatus 60 onto the top end of a snorkel 22, as indicated by general reference numeral 69, such that the air outlet 64 of the diverter valve apparatus is in fluid communication with the snorkel 22. As illustrated, the means 61 for mounting the diverter valve apparatus 60 comprises a slotted end portion 61a having four vertically disposed slots 61b therein. The slotted end portion 61a has exterior threads 61c and a co-operating threaded collar 61d is used to tighten the slotted end portion 61a onto the snorkel 22.
As can be best seen in
The inlet valve apparatus 50 is mounted onto the floating member 40, such that the air outlet 72 of the air passageway 77 is in fluid communication with the air inlet 44 of the air passageway 42 in the floating member 40. The air outlet 46 of the air passageway 42 in the floating member 40 is in fluid communication with the flexible hose member 30.
A float valve 80 that is preferably substantially cylindrical in shape is mounted in sliding relation on the hollow stem 74 and substantially surrounds the hollow stem 74. The float valve 80 is movable between an open position and a closed position.
In the open position of the float valve 80, air can pass from the air inlet to the air outlet, thus permitting air to be supplied to a swimmer. The float valve 80 is shaped and dimensioned to fit in close fitting relation within the outer cap portion 77, to thereby cover the air inlet 71 disposed in the sidewall portion 79 of the outer cap portion 77. Accordingly, in the closed position, the float valve 80 seals off the air inlet disposed in the outer cap portion 77. Air and water are thereby precluded from passing from the air inlet to the air outlet.
Further, the float valve 80 is buoyant in water, so that the float valve 80 is biased to its closed position, as is best seen in
The float valve 80 also includes a tray portion 82 for receiving water therein. The tray portion 82 is preferably disposed at the bottom end of the float valve 80 and is annularly disposed around the hollow stem 74. The weight of water within the tray portion 82 causes the tray portion 82 to be biased to its open position when the float valve 80 is above the water. In this manner, the float valve 80 is readily returned to its open position when a swimmer surfaces, thus allowing the swimmer to breath through the snorkel 22 and valve system 20.
There is also means for mounting the inlet valve apparatus 50 onto the top end of the snorkel 22 such that the air outlet is in fluid communication with the snorkel 22, as indicated by the general reference numeral 90, and as can be best seen in
In use, when a swimmer is swimming along the water's surface, the inlet valve apparatus 50 would be attached directly to the snorkel 22, as is shown in
In use, when a swimmer is swimming below the water level and cannot use a conventional snorkel 22, even with the inlet valve apparatus 50 attached directly to the snorkel 22, a swimmer can use the entire valve system 20, as is shown in
In the event that a swimmer submerges too deep, the buoyant float valve 80 moves upwardly to its closed position, as can be best seen in
As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides an inlet valve apparatus for use with a snorkel, which inlet valve apparatus permits a swimmer to dive below the surface of the water without inhaling water through the snorkel, and a valve system for use with the snorkel, which valve system permits a swimmer to swim under water while using the snorkel, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.
Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the inlet valve apparatus and valve system for us with a snorkel, according to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
