Breathable mask for water activities

Abstract

This invention proposes a breathable mask for snorkeling during water activities. The breathable mask includes a main body and a breathing tube, which are fluidly connected to the interior of the main body. The interior of the main body is divided into an eye pocket and a mouth and nose pocket, wherein the total volume of the eye pocket and the mouth and nose pocket is no more than 500 ml; when the user wears this mask, the total remaining volume of the eye pocket and the mouth and nose pocket is no more than 400 ml. By reducing the internal volume of the mask, the user can naturally exhale completely or nearly completely under normal tidal volume, creating a temporary vacuum inside the mask. This allows fresh air from outside to actively and easily enter the mask when the snorkeler inhales next, making the snorkeler's breathing safer and smoother.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a water activity mask, and more particularly to a breathable snorkeling mask with a small internal volume and high breathing efficiency. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the most common way to allow users to breathe freely without holding their breath in water sports or leisure activities is to use a mask (covering the eyes and nose) with a snorkel (breathing through a mouthpiece). This method has been in use for many years, but it still requires breathing through the mouth, which is different from the habit of breathing through the nose or mouth and nose in the air. Therefore, the full-face snorkel mask (FFSM) was invented. The main feature is that the mask body 10 covers the entire face F (from eyebrows to chin, including eyes, nose and mouth), and a snorkel 11 is connected to the center of the upper part of the mask body 10, which leads into the body 10, allowing the user to breathe freely through the mouth and nose. This makes the breathing process more relaxed and does not require attention to breathing, thus greatly increasing the enjoyment of water activities. It is a significant technological improvement, as shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

[0003] However, full-face snorkeling masks 1, due to the large lens area 12, result in a larger overall product size, making them very difficult to carry. In addition, another fatal flaw is that during use, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the total inner space of the mask 10 gradually increases. At a certain point, the user is prone to unintentionally losing consciousness due to insufficient blood oxygen levels; there are numerous cases worldwide of people dying from this. To understand the reasons behind this, we must begin with some basic theories:

[0004] (a) The air we breathe contains about 21% oxygen (O2) and up to about 0.04% carbon dioxide (CO2). But many people don’t know that carbon dioxide, not oxygen, is primarily responsible for the frequency and depth of our breathing. Carbon dioxide is a very important component of the air in human lungs. An increase in carbon dioxide levels can lead to loss of consciousness, and without awareness. If this happens in water, the result is drowning.

[0005] (ii) During respiration, oxygen is consumed and metabolized, while carbon dioxide is produced by our bodies, resulting in an increase in carbon dioxide content (to approximately 4%) and a decrease in oxygen content (to approximately 16%) in the air we exhale. When we exhale, the respiratory tract is not completely emptied; a small amount of air (rich in carbon dioxide) remains in the respiratory tract. This volume of air that does not participate in gas exchange is medically termed dead space. Therefore, when we inhale again, we are actually breathing a mixture of "fresh air and carbon dioxide-rich air," which is the source of death, and we must control it to the smallest possible level for safety.

[0006] (III) Applying this theory to the FFSM, we can simulate the entire FFSM as a human respiratory system. When breathing using the breathing tube 11, the length of the airway is obviously increased, which is conceptually equivalent to increasing the volume of the so-called dead space. If this total volume is too large, the air we inhale will have a higher concentration of carbon dioxide, leading to the increased risks mentioned above. This is why the 1972 EU standard (EU standard EN 1972) strictly limits the length and diameter of the breathing tube; that is, it requires that the contents of the adult breathing tube not exceed 230 ml (150 ml for children). And this is only the volume limit of the breathing tube 11. If we now add the internal volume of the mask body 10, the volume of the dead space will double or triple, or even more, which will of course lead to a further increase in the dangerous carbon dioxide concentration.

[0007] Based on the above theory, reducing carbon dioxide concentration has become a goal pursued by serious and proactive research and development companies (well-known manufacturers). This is because they must produce safe and reliable products that not only meet EU standards and regulations but also avoid safety concerns that could lead to lawsuits and compensation claims from those who have lost their lives. These companies typically work in two directions: 1) reducing dead space volume; 2) separating the intake and exhaust of the mask, ensuring that inhaled fresh air is independent of exhaled carbon dioxide, thus reducing the chance of mixing.

[0008] (i) In order to reduce dead space, some FFSMs adopt the orinasal pocket design concept to isolate the oral cavity and nostrils, which are involved in breathing, from other parts such as the cheeks and eyes, forming two regions. The upper region is the upper volume (UV), which is also the eye pocket (EP), as shown by the hollow dotted line in Figure 2; the lower region is the lower volume (LV), which is also the orinasal pocket (OP), as shown by the solid line in Figure 2. This allows the dead space to be strictly controlled only in the lower volume region to reduce the carbon dioxide concentration.

[0009] (ii) To separate intake and exhaust, some FFSMs are designed with a one-way breathing cycle, using a one-way valve to control one-way intake and one-way exhaust to prevent exhaled air from mixing with inhaled fresh air. Therefore, when inhaling, it is desirable to inhale only "fresh air" through the breathing tube 11, pass through the eye bags 14, and then through the one-way valve 15 into the mouth and nose bags 13 (as shown by the hollow dashed arrow in Figure 3); while exhaled air can only be guided from both sides of the mask body 10 to the top of the mask through a separate channel (i.e., the channel set along the outline of the frame on both sides of the body, not shown in the figure) (as shown by the solid dashed arrow in Figure 3), and then discharged through the breathing tube 11.

[0010] Even if the above-mentioned approach to solving the problem is correct, in reality, many products have poor gas sealing between the upper volume area (eye bags 14) and the lower volume area (mouth and nose bags 13). After a period of time, the material ages, or different face shapes or differences in the bridge of the nose make it impossible to achieve a proper gas seal between the upper and lower volume areas, and they are simply separated. If we add the volume occupied by the channel path between the mouth and nose bags 13 and the breathing tube 11 (not shown in the figure, i.e., the channel through which the solid dotted arrow in Figure 3 passes), it will undoubtedly increase the volume of dead space and return to the level of excessively high carbon dioxide concentration. Of course, adding a one-way valve to control one-way exhaust, so that the exhalation space can be reduced after deducting the eye bag 14, can make up for some of the disadvantages of excessive dead space. However, since the exhaust flow usually goes up along the two sides of the mouth and nose bag along the airway around the mask to the center of the top of the mask, and then up along the length of the breathing tube to the top of the breathing tube, whether this "one-way" exhaust control measure can go all the way to the end, or whether other one-way valves need to be set in the middle (such as the connection between the mask and the breathing tube), will increase the material cost and make the mechanism more complicated.

[0011] Current FFSM designs typically use a full-face mirror to cover the eyes, nose, and mouth of the face. Various isolation and ventilation mechanisms are then arranged on the inside of the mirror. Therefore, the mirror must protrude forward from the frame to maximize internal space. Consequently, the entire product is positioned a certain distance from the face when worn (as shown in Figure 1B). This design inherently limits the internal volume of the mask, making it impossible to minimize the dead space. Therefore, structural changes to full-face masks are crucial. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The main objective of this invention is to provide a breathable face mask that can confine its internal volume to a very small size, thereby improving the aforementioned problems. To understand the technical concept behind this, it is necessary to first focus on several theories.

[0013] The first is "negative pressure ventilation technology." In a relatively sealed room, if a unidirectional exhaust fan is installed on one wall to forcibly extract indoor air, a temporary relative vacuum (i.e., "negative pressure") will be created. If there are many holes in the windows on the other wall, outdoor air will automatically and passively flow into the zero-pressure or negative-pressure room due to the pressure imbalance between the inside and outside atmospheres. This allows indoor air to continuously circulate with outdoor air. If the exhaust fan is installed properly, or the temporary vacuum is more thorough, fresh outdoor air will flow "more naturally and more actively" into the room through the holes. Indoor air will only leave in the direction it was drawn out, without contaminating other rooms. Industrial plants use this theory to purify the air inside the plant, and medical institutions use the same principle to create negative pressure isolation wards to ensure that patients with high infectiousness do not contaminate other wards or areas (as shown in the block diagram in Figure 4).

[0014] The second is "tidal volume." Tidal volume refers to the amount of air inhaled or exhaled from the lungs during each respiratory cycle. It is measured at approximately 500 ml in a healthy adult male and approximately 400 ml in a healthy female. This is an important clinical parameter that allows for proper ventilation. When the lungs require adequate ventilation protection, the tidal volume is set at 6-8 ml / kg ideal body weight (IBW), using resting heart rate as the standard. The safe tidal volume range is defined as 6-8 ml / kg IBW, where IBW (male) = 50 kg + 2.3 x (height (inches) - 60). Using this calculation, a 185 cm tall male would have a safe tidal volume between 474 and 632 ml; while a 165 cm tall male would have a safe tidal volume between 368 and 490 ml. This is why the average safe tidal volume for a healthy adult male is clinically set at approximately 500 ml.

[0015] Based on the understanding of negative pressure ventilation technology, when wearing an FFSM (Fluidized Front-Mounted Sun Mask), a negative pressure space is formed between the mask and the face. The user's exhalation can be compared to a one-way exhaust fan. When exhalation begins, if all the air inside the mask is expelled, it will approach a transient vacuum state. At this time, the airflow will "naturally and actively" passively flow into the mask, bringing in fresh outside air and expelling unwanted carbon dioxide and dirty air from inside the mask. A natural and clean cycle with separate intake and exhaust is formed without the need for forceful inhalation. Furthermore, based on the understanding of tidal volume, if the user can expel all the air inside the mask with each exhalation, a near-vacuum transient state will be formed inside the mask, and the aforementioned clean cycle can be easily achieved. Based on this significant discovery, taking an adult male as an example, if the total volume of the mask and the breathing tube (i.e., the dead space as understood above) can be reduced to less than 500 ml, or even as low as 300-400 ml, it can ensure that the user (regardless of whether he / she is an adult male, female, or child) achieves a near 100% transient vacuum rate with each resting exhalation. In this case, the next inhalation will be effortless, and the fresh air brought in can fill the entire dead space. Through the effect of negative pressure exhaust, it will hardly mix with dirty carbon dioxide gas, thus eliminating any safety concerns.

[0016] The main objective of this invention is to provide a breakthrough structure that minimizes the frame of existing diving goggles and then extends downwards to include the mouth and nose shield, allowing them to be positioned centrally on the face, covering only the nose and mouth. In other words, the structure housing the orinasal pocket is separate from the goggles frame, unlike traditional FFSMs where the orinasal pocket is separated within the entire mask. Because there is no wasted space and the goggles and orinasal shield are independent, the goggles can fit as close to the eyes as possible, and the orinasal shield can fit as close to the user's mouth and nose as possible. The dimensions in all directions (up, down, left, right, front, and back) do not need to be excessively extended, effectively reducing the overall internal volume and solving the fundamental problem of the persistently large dead space. This also significantly reduces the overall weight, making it much more convenient to carry. This breathable mask design also allows the nasal area to be made of soft material, enabling the user to operate nasal pressure regulation, a feature typically found only in diving masks that cover both the eyes and nose.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, a breathable mask is provided, comprising a body and a breathing tube, the interior of the breathing tube being in fluid communication with the interior of the body; the body comprising: an eye mask covering only the eyes of a user, the eye mask having: a transparent lens portion; a frame portion surrounding the periphery of the transparent lens portion; an eye skirt extending rearward from the frame portion; wherein the transparent lens portion, the frame portion, and the eye skirt portion are waterproofly joined along the contour of the frame portion; and a mouth and nose mask covering the nose and mouth of a user, the mouth and nose mask extending downward from the frame portion and the eye skirt portion and being waterproofly joined with the eye mask; wherein a spacer is formed above the mouth and nose mask, dividing the body into an eye bag and a mouth and nose bag, the total internal volume of the eye bag and the mouth and nose bag not exceeding 500 ml.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a breathable mask is provided, comprising a body and a breathing tube, the interior of the breathing tube being in fluid communication with the interior of the body; the body comprises: an eye mask covering only the eyes of a user, the eye mask having: a transparent lens portion; a frame portion surrounding the periphery of the transparent lens portion; an eye skirt extending rearward from the frame portion; wherein the transparent lens portion, the frame portion, and the eye skirt portion are waterproofly joined along the contour of the frame portion; and a mouth and nose mask covering the nose and mouth of a user, the mouth and nose mask extending downward from the frame portion and the eye skirt portion and being waterproofly joined with the eye mask; wherein a spacer is formed above the mouth and nose mask, dividing the interior of the body into an eye pocket and a mouth and nose pocket; when the user wears the breathable mask, the sum of the remaining contents of the eye pocket and the mouth and nose pocket is substantially no more than 400 ml.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a breathable mask is provided, comprising a body and a breathing tube, the interior of the breathing tube being in fluid communication with the interior of the body; the body comprising: an eye mask covering only the eyes of a user, the eye mask having: a transparent lens portion; a frame portion surrounding the periphery of the transparent lens portion; an eye skirt extending rearward from the frame portion; wherein the transparent lens portion, the frame portion, and the eye skirt portion are waterproofly joined along the contour of the frame portion; and a mouth and nose mask covering the nose and mouth of a user, the mouth and nose mask extending downward from the frame portion and the eye skirt portion and being waterproofly joined with the eye mask; wherein a spacer is formed above the mouth and nose mask, dividing the interior of the body into an eye pocket and a mouth and nose pocket; wherein the height H from the top of the eye pocket to the bottom of the mouth and nose pocket is between 115 mm and 155 mm.

[0020] According to a final aspect of the invention, a breathable mask is provided, comprising a body and a breathing tube, the interior of the breathing tube being in fluid communication with the interior of the body; the body comprises: an eye mask covering only the eyes of a user, the eye mask having: a transparent lens portion; a frame portion surrounding the periphery of the transparent lens portion; an eye skirt extending rearward from the frame portion; wherein the transparent lens portion, the frame portion, and the eye skirt portion are waterproofly joined along the contour of the frame portion; and a mouth and nose mask covering the nose and mouth of a user, the mouth and nose mask extending downward from the frame portion and the eye skirt portion and being waterproofly joined with the eye mask; wherein a spacer is formed above the mouth and nose mask, dividing the interior of the body into an eye pocket and a mouth and nose pocket; wherein the maximum depth D from the transparent lens portion to the rear edge of the eye skirt portion is between 35 mm and 65 mm.

[0021] Because the internal volume of the entire mask, including the eyes, nose, and mouth area, can be significantly reduced, additional design considerations—such as the size of the orinasal pocket, effective isolation between the upper and lower volume areas, the use of a one-way valve to control airflow separation, and strict control of the breathing tube's internal volume—become secondary issues. Since the overall volume of the mask has been effectively reduced, further measures like separating airflow will only enhance its effectiveness. Furthermore, the significantly reduced size of the mouth and nose area allows for a substantial increase in exhalation efficiency. This means less effort is required to exhale, and any water accumulated in the mouth and nose area can be easily expelled through the drain valve. Furthermore, traditional FFSMs require four fixing points (16 and 17 in Figure 2) on both sides of the entire mask frame to secure it to the head. These points extend head straps (not shown) and cross over the back of the head for secure fastening, which is very cumbersome and heavy. In contrast, the design of this invention, since the main weight is concentrated in the goggles area and the weight of the mouth and nose shield is relatively low, can still use the standard goggles and nose shield size for diving. The straps are simply wrapped around the back of the head from both sides of the goggles for secure fastening, which greatly improves the convenience of carrying and using the mask and reduces the cost. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1A shows the appearance of a traditional full-face snorkeling mask.

[0023] Figure 1B is a side view of a user wearing a traditional full-face snorkeling mask.

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the upper and lower volume divisions of a traditional full-face snorkeling mask.

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the intake and exhaust paths in Figure 2.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a block concept diagram of negative pressure ventilation technology.

[0027] Figure 5A This is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5B for Figure 5A Rear view.

[0029] Figure 5C For along Figure 5A The sagittal plane section obtained from line 5C-5C.

[0030] Figure 5D For along Figure 5B The 5D-5D coronal plane cross-sectional view shows a schematic diagram of the intake and exhaust paths of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 6 A side view of a user wearing the breathable mask of the present invention.

[0032] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0033] 1 Full-face snorkeling mask

[0034] 10 body

[0035] 11. Breathing tube

[0036] 12 lenses

[0037] 13. Mouth and nose bags

[0038] 14. Eye bags

[0039] 15 Check valve

[0040] 16 fixed points

[0041] 17 Fixed Points

[0042] F Face

[0043] 2 Breathable face mask

[0044] 3 body

[0045] 31. Eye bags

[0046] 32 Check Valve

[0047] 33. Mouth and nose pouch

[0048] 34 Exhaust passage

[0049] 35 Eye Mask

[0050] 350 Clear Lens Section

[0051] 352 Frame section

[0052] 354 Eye skirt

[0053] 355 trailing edge

[0054] 356 Eye socket area

[0055] 358 Nasal frame

[0056] 36. Mouth and nose mask

[0057] 361 Spacer

[0058] 362 trailing edge

[0059] 363 Soft Nose Mask

[0060] 364 Soft Face Mask

[0061] 365 Rigid Mouth Frame

[0062] 4. Breathing tube

[0063] 41. Air intake channel

[0064] 42 Exhaust passage

[0065] 5. Drain and air vent valve

[0066] 6. Fixing device

[0067] 62 Chin fixation ring Detailed Implementation

[0068] like Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 5C As shown, a breathable mask 2 includes the following basic components: a main body 3, a breathing tube 4, a drain / exhaust valve 5, and a fixing device 6. The breathing tube 4 is located above the main body 3, and its interior is fluidly connected to the interior of the main body 3, allowing outside air to enter the main body 3 for the user to inhale. The breathing tube 4 also provides a path for the user to exhale. Of course, the breathing tube 4 can function as a dual-channel system for both inhalation and exhalation, or it can be a single-channel system for inhalation only, with exhalation handled by a separate mechanism. A typical inhalation arrangement is as follows... Figure 5D As shown by the hollow dashed line, when the user inhales, the clean air travels through the body 3 via the intake channel 41 of the breathing tube 4, through the eye bag 31 (i.e., the upper volume area), through the one-way valve 32, and into the nasal and oral bag 33 (i.e., the lower volume area) for the user (not shown) to inhale through the nose and / or mouth. Of course, other methods are also possible. A typical exhaust arrangement is as follows: Figure 5DAs shown by the solid, bold, dotted lines, when the user exhales, the dirty air containing carbon dioxide inside the main body 3 travels through a typical path: from both sides of the mouth and nose pockets 33 into the exhaust channels 34 (where the exhaust channels are set along the periphery of the eye pockets 31 on both sides), all the way upwards to the exhaust channels 42 inside the breathing tube 4, and then discharged to the outside. Of course, other exhaust methods are also possible. At any point between the exhaust channels 34 and the top of the breathing tube 4, a one-way valve (not shown in the figure) that only allows air to flow out can be added to enhance the effect of separating air intake and exhaust. Within such a limited internal volume of the main body 3, even without a one-way valve 32, there is natural gas conduction between the eye pockets 31 and the mouth and nose pockets 33. That is, the eye pockets 31 and the mouth and nose pockets 33 inside the main body 3 are not strictly independent, but both can freely communicate with the breathing tube 4, allowing air intake and exhaust to mix together, and also providing a good transient vacuum negative pressure effect, making breathing safe and burden-free for the user.

[0069] The drain and vent valve 5 is located below the mouth and nose pouch 33, allowing unidirectional (inside to outside) fluid communication within the pouch 33. The user can forcefully exhale any water accumulated in the pouch 33 through the drain and vent valve 5. In general technical terms, this drain and vent valve 5 also provides some ventilation capability. The securing device 6 is used to secure the mask body 3 to the user's head. It includes a head strap (not shown) and a chin strap 62. Ideally, the snorkeling mask body 3 should be secured to the user at three points. However, the securing method is not limited to this; any other measure that can secure the mask body 3 and ensure waterproofing is acceptable.

[0070] Since the focus of this invention is on minimizing the internal volume of the main body 3 of the mask 2, this explanation will only cover the basic structural arrangement of the mask body and the actual simulation data showing that the internal volume achievable by this arrangement is significantly smaller than that of existing full-face breathing masks. Other aspects, such as the location of the inlet and outlet airflow, paths, and channels, as well as the arrangement and location of the inlet and outlet valves, are not the focus; only one or two examples are given, and they will not be described in detail.

[0071] Re-reference Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 5CThe main body 3 further includes: an eye mask 35 and a mouth and nose mask 36. The eye mask 35 covers only the user's eyes, while the mouth and nose mask 36 covers the user's nose and mouth. The eye mask 35 has a transparent lens portion 350, a frame portion 352, and an eye skirt portion 354. The frame portion 352 surrounds the periphery of the transparent lens portion 350; the eye skirt portion 354 extends rearward from the frame portion 352; and the transparent lens portion 350 and the eye skirt portion 354 are waterproofly joined together along the contour of the frame portion 352. The mouth and nose mask 36 extends downward from the frame portion 352 and the eye skirt portion 354 and is waterproofly joined to the eye mask 35; a spacer 361 is formed above the mouth and nose mask 36, dividing the internal structure of the main body 3 into an eye bag 31 and a mouth and nose bag 33. Preferably, the frame portion 352 is continuously defined by an eye socket portion 356 and a nose frame portion 358, wherein the eye socket portion 356 substantially surrounds the upper part and two outer edges of the transparent lens portion 350, and the nose frame portion 358 substantially surrounds the lower edge of the transparent lens portion 350. The eye skirt portion 354 extends rearward from the eye socket portion 356, and the mouth and nose mask 36 extends downward from the nose frame portion 358, connecting with the eye skirt portion 354 on both sides. When the user wears the breathable mask 2, the eyes can be comfortably accommodated in the eye bags 31, while the nose and mouth can be comfortably accommodated and positioned in the mouth and nose bags 33. The rear edge 355 of the eye skirt portion 354 and the rear edge 362 of the mouth and nose mask 36 can be waterproofed and fit snugly against the user's face, allowing the user's eyes, nose, and mouth to be isolated from water. Preferably, the nasal mask 36 comprises a soft nasal mask 363, a soft face mask 364, and a rigid mouth frame 365. The rigid mouth frame 365 extends downward from the nose frame portion 358 to support the soft nasal mask 363 and the face mask 364. Ideally, the rigid mouth frame 365 does not cover the soft nasal mask 363, and the rigid mouth frame 365 and the soft face mask 364 are in fluid communication. A drain and exhaust valve 5 is sandwiched between the two, allowing the user to exhale and drain any water accumulated inside the nasal mask.

[0072] The structure of the main body 3 can also be defined from another perspective. Specifically, the main body 3 comprises a transparent lens portion 350, a frame portion 352, and a waterproof sealing skirt 38. The frame portion 352 surrounds the periphery of the transparent lens portion 350. The waterproof sealing skirt 38 extends over the entire face area, essentially forming an integral part of the aforementioned eye skirt portion 354, soft nose shield 363, and soft mask 364. The waterproof sealing skirt 38 has a spacer 361, which can be integrally formed with or separately formed from the waterproof sealing skirt 38. The spacer 361 divides the waterproof sealing skirt 38 into an eye bag 31 that covers the user's eyes and a mouth and nose bag 33 that covers the user's nose and mouth. The downward extension of the transparent lens portion 350 does not exceed the spacer 361. The transparent lens portion 350, the frame portion 352, and the waterproof sealing skirt 38 form a waterproof seal along the periphery of the transparent lens portion 350.

[0073] Because this design, with its transparent lens 350, does not completely cover the user's nose and mouth from the eyes, the nose and mouth mask 36 is not limited to sharing the outline of the main body 3 with the eye mask 35. Instead, they are independent, so the width and length of the entire main body can be smaller and shallower than traditional full-face masks, meaning it can fit closer to the user's face (see reference...). Figure 6 (As shown in Figure 1B for comparison), the relative volume of the entire body 3 can be significantly reduced, and the internal volume also becomes much smaller, naturally achieving the aforementioned negative pressure circulation effect and reducing the burden on breathing. Specifically, before the user puts on the mask 2, the total internal volume of the eye bags 31 and the oral and nasal bags 33 can be reduced to a value of no more than 500 ml, or even no more than 425 ml. Preferably, the internal volume of the eye bags 31 (EP) can be reduced to no more than 350 ml, or even no more than 300 ml, while the internal volume of the oral and nasal bags 33 (OP) can be reduced to no more than 200 ml, or even no more than 175 ml. After the user puts on the mask 2, the total remaining internal volume of the eye bags 31 (REP) and the remaining internal volume of the oral and nasal bags 33 (ROP) is no more than 400 ml, or even no more than 350 ml. The remaining internal volume of the eye bags 31 (REP) is no more than 300 ml, or even no more than 250 ml. The volume of the residual contents (ROP) in the oral and nasal pouch 33 is actually no more than 150 ml, and may even be no more than 110 ml.

[0074] The following table compares the contents of the face mask body 3 in this case with those of other commercially available full-face face masks, using the same 3D computer measurement method and the computer-aided design software "CATIA V5" from Dassault Systèmes (France), under the same environmental conditions. Table A compares the contents of the under-eye / nostril pockets without a user (as shown in Table A), while Table B compares the remaining contents of the under-eye / nostril pockets with a user (using ISO standard adult male heads). All contents are expressed in milliliters, and all brands are foreign manufacturers; therefore, names are described in English.

[0075]

[0076] Table A

[0077]

[0078] Table B

[0079] The experimental data above further demonstrates that the body 3 of this invention not only has a significantly reduced internal volume, but even when the small volume occupied by the exhaust channel within the breathing tube 4 (less than 100 ml) is added, it is close to or even lower than the tidal volume of an average person. Therefore, regardless of the internal design of the body 3, a snorkeler can easily expel the dirty air from the mask 2 by simply exhaling, creating a temporary vacuum. Physically, clean air from the outside is waiting to enter this negative pressure environment. The user only needs to inhale slightly to draw clean air into the mask body 3, thus creating a comfortable breathing cycle that is less tiring and eliminates the risk of excessive carbon dioxide levels inside the mask. In this mask body 3 design, the height H from the top of the eye bag 31 to the bottom of the mouth and nose bag 33 is between 115 mm and 155 mm, preferably between 120 mm and 145 mm. The maximum width W of the eye bag 31 is between 125 mm and 160 mm, preferably between 130 mm and 145 mm. The maximum depth D of the transparent lens portion 350 to the rear edge 362 of the eye skirt portion 354 (i.e., the maximum depth of the eye bag 31) is between 35 mm and 65 mm, more preferably between 40 mm and 60 mm. Clearly, compared to the height H and depth D of existing full-face masks, the dimensions of this invention are significantly smaller. Although the maximum width W does not change much, the width of the lower half of the entire body 3, i.e., the area from below the eye mask 35 to the mouth and nose mask 36, noticeably tapers downwards with the face shape. Figure 5A As shown, this makes the overall size of the mask 2 much smaller than that of the existing full-face mask 1, making it more portable. Table C below shows the actual measurement data (unit: mm) of various masks, which is sufficient to prove the size advantage of this invention:

[0080]

[0081] In addition to the above-described preferred embodiments which have detailed the structure and operation of the present invention, the following lists possible variations to further clarify the scope of the present invention:

[0082] 1. The part of the mouth and nose mask that protrudes from the nose frame can be made of any material, whether soft or hard.

[0083] 2. The mouth and nose mask and the eye skirt can be made of one piece of soft silicone material.

[0084] Third, the rear edge of the eye skirt can form a waterproof sealing ring, which can be integrated with the lower rear edge of the mouth and nose mask to serve as a waterproof interface against the face.

Claims

1. A breathable mask for snorkeling in water activities, comprising a main body and a breathing tube, wherein the interior of the breathing tube is fluidly connected to the interior of the main body; characterized in that, This ontology contains: An eye mask that covers only one user's eyes; the eye mask has the following features: A transparent lens section; A frame portion surrounds the periphery of the transparent lens portion, and the frame portion is continuously defined by an eye socket portion and a nose frame portion; The skirt extends backward from the eye socket area; The transparent lens portion and the eye skirt portion are joined together in a waterproof manner along the outline of the frame portion; A nose mask that covers a user's nose and mouth. The nose mask extends downward from the frame and the eye skirt and is waterproofly joined to the eye mask. Above the nose mask, a spacer is formed to divide the body into an eye bag and a nose bag. The total volume of the eye bag and the nose bag is no more than 500 ml. When the user wears the breathable mask, the total volume of the remaining contents in the eye bags and the remaining contents in the mouth and nose bags shall not exceed 400 ml. The height from the top of the eye bag to the bottom of the nostril bag is between 115 mm and 155 mm. The maximum depth from the transparent lens portion to the rear edge of the eye skirt portion is between 35 mm and 65 mm. The nasal mask has a soft nasal mask, a soft face mask, and a rigid mouth frame; the rigid mouth frame extends downward from the nasal frame to support the soft nasal mask and the soft face mask; the rigid mouth frame does not cover the soft nasal mask, and the rigid mouth frame and the soft face mask are in fluid communication; the breathable mask also includes a drain and vent valve, which is sandwiched between the rigid mouth frame and the soft face mask, allowing the user to exhale and drain any water accumulated inside the nasal mask.

2. The breathable mask for snorkeling and water activities as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mouth and nose mask extends downward from the nose frame and connects with the eye skirt. When the user wears the mask, the rear edge of the eye skirt and the rear edge of the mouth and nose mask can be waterproof and fit snugly against the user's face, thus isolating the user's eyes, nose and mouth from water.

3. The breathable mask for snorkeling and water activities as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The volume of the eye bag should not exceed 350 ml.

4. The breathable mask for snorkeling during water activities as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The volume of the oral cavity bag should not exceed 200 ml.

5. The breathable mask for snorkeling and water activities as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The total volume of the eye bag and the nasal bag is no more than 425 ml.

6. The breathable mask for snorkeling during water activities as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The volume of the eye bag should not exceed 300 ml.

7. The breathable mask for snorkeling during water activities as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The volume of the mouth and nose bag should not exceed 175 ml.

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