Breathable mask for snorkeling and equipment having the same

Abstract

A breathable mask for snorkeling is provided, which includes a body and an intake conduit in fluid communication with the body's interior. The body includes a main frame, a viewing window, a waterproof skirt, an intake passage and a drain valve. The waterproof skirt has a partition dividing the interior into an upper chamber configured to accommodate a user's eyes only and a lower chamber configured to accommodate the user's nose only. The intake passage is only formed between the intake conduit and the lower chamber, and provided with a one-way valve for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage and entering the lower chamber. The drain valve is provided at a lower portion of the body so that air exhaled from the user's nose is capable of being limited to be unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber through the drain valve only.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. Ser. No. 63 / 675,874 filed on Jul. 26, 2024, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a mask for water activities (including both surface and underwater activities), particularly a mask for snorkeling that allows the user to breathe through the nose or both the nose and the mouth, and the equipment having the same.Description of the Related Art

[0003] As shown in FIG. 1, most current snorkeling activities utilize a mask 11 that covers the eyes and nose in conjunction with a breathing pipe 13. In this configuration, the user cannot breathe through the nose at all and can only use the mouth to breathe through the breathing pipe 13. Furthermore, since the breathing pipe 13 runs along one side of the mask 11, it causes an imbalance in use.

[0004] In addition, humans are still accustomed to breathing through their noses in the air. Therefore, using such a snorkel equipment will force users to breathe only through the mouth, which does not align with the humans' natural breathing habits. In addition, since breathing is done solely through the mouth, the breathing pipe 13 becomes indispensable, and therefore, it must be connected to the head strap 15 through a fastening strap 131 to prevent the breathing pipe 13 from becoming detached from the mask 11. However, this creates the problem of the fastening strap 131 getting tangled with the user's hair, reducing the flexibility and convenience for users when wearing such a snorkel equipment.

[0005] Based on the above shortcomings, some manufacturers have begun to envision that the top-mounted breathing pipe of the Full Face Snorkel Mask (FFSM) could be directly used on this traditional diving mask, and then communicate with the interior of the mask, allowing the user to breathe through the nose, i.e., the snorkel mask 2 shown in FIG. 2A, which includes a body 21 and a breathing pipe 23. In other words, the snorkeling mask 2 abandons the traditional mouthpiece type breathing pipe 13 as shown in FIG. 1, and adopts a design capable of directly communicating with the body 21, as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0006] Of course, the overall size of the snorkel mask 2 is smaller than that of the FFSM, and when the user wears the snorkel mask 2 through the head strap 25, the snorkel mask 2 can maintain a good fit with the face. However, the breathing pipe 23 in this design communicates with the nose pocket 204 inside the body 21 through a tunnel 202 for breathing through the nose (see FIG. 2B). In this design, the intake airflow (as shown by the hollow lines) and the exhaust airflow (as shown by the thick solid lines) are not separated. During breathing, clean air and dirty air will quickly mix in the nose pocket 204 of the body 21. In this situation, the concentration of carbon dioxide inside the mask 21 rises sharply, and users are likely to experience unconscious oxygen deprivation in a short period of time, resulting in significant danger. When the user feels uncomfortable, there is no way to breathe through the mouth alternatively. In addition, the accumulated water in the body 21 will be concentrated in the nose pocket 204 inside the nose covering portion 21n, which is very close to the user's nostrils. This accumulated water will make the user feel uncomfortable and even choke. Moreover, since the body 21 of such the snorkeling mask 2 will only cover the eyes and nose, and the user's mouth is exposed to water, the user will inevitably close their mouth tightly to prevent water from accidentally entering, which causes a certain level of insecurity for the user, especially when water has accumulated inside the body 21.

[0007] The inventor of the present application has previously proposed an invention of a snorkel mask which only covers the eyes and nose (in reference to U.S. Publication No. US2023 / 0242226A1 for details) to seek improvement, and has already achieved good effects. Specifically, in this previous invention, the air intake and exhaust are separated in the mask body, and the same breathing pipe is responsible for conveying fresh air into the mask body and discharging carbon dioxide from the mask body, and a nose connecting portion is optionally provided so as to install a drain valve.

[0008] Such a snorkel mask, which allows the user to breathe through the nose inside the mask body, can be expected to keep the inner side of the viewing window free of fogging up as long as the airflows of fresh air being inhaled “sweep” across it. Conversely, the chamber where the viewing window is located comes with a chance to accumulate carbon dioxide produced by exhalation will cause the viewing window to fog up. Therefore, although the air intake and exhaust can be separated within the mask body, in practice, since both of the intake and exhaust passages are designed to run along the chamber that accommodates the user's eyes (i.e., the upper chamber), and due to limitations in the assembly and sealing between components, complete isolation of the intake and exhaust is still ideal. As a result, the intake and exhaust air will gradually mix with each other. The viewing window will still fog up after a period of use, which is to be expected.

[0009] In view of this, providing an alternative design to solve the aforementioned problems, whereby the viewing window of the mask body will absolutely not accumulate carbon dioxide produced by exhalation and fog up, while maintaining free breathing for the user, would be a goal that manufacturers are extremely eager to achieve.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a breathable mask that covers the user's eyes and nose, allowing the user's nose to breathe freely in the mask. When the user breathes through the nose, only the inhaled fresh air will pass through the chamber where the viewing window is located (i.e., the upper chamber) and enter the chamber where the nose is located (i.e., the lower chamber) for inhalation by the nose. As for the carbon dioxide exhaled from the nose, it is limited to be discharged only through the drain valve provided in the lower chamber, and there is no passage for it to flow upward to the upper chamber. Therefore, this design ensures that the upper chamber will not be contaminated by carbon dioxide, which could cause the viewing window to fog up, thereby allowing the viewing window to remain clear continuously during snorkeling.

[0011] On the other hand, because snorkeling is an underwater activity very shallow from the water surface, the user only needs to exhale with normal force to overcome the water pressure and discharge the gas from the drain valve. A slightly stronger exhalation force can also discharge the accumulated water. In addition, the nose covering portion of the present invention can be made of a material with a specific hardness or be designed in a specific shape. In this way, the normal breathing through the nose will not be affected by water pressure during snorkeling. Furthermore, it allows the user to pinch the nose and perform Frenzel equalization.

[0012] To achieve the above objective, the present invention discloses a breathable mask for snorkeling, which includes a body and an intake conduit. The intake conduit is in fluid communication with an interior of the body. The body includes a main frame, a viewing window, a waterproof skirt, an intake passage and a drain valve. The viewing window is embedded within the main frame. The waterproof skirt is embedded with the main frame and the viewing window. The waterproof skirt is configured to suitably fit a face of a user and has a partition dividing the interior of the body into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, which are isolated from each other, such that when the user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling through a fastening device, the partition rests above an outer contour of a nose of the user, allowing the upper chamber to be configured to accommodate eyes of the user only and the lower chamber to be configured to accommodate the nose of the user only. The intake passage is only formed between the intake conduit and the lower chamber and provided with a one-way valve. The one-way valve is configured only for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage and entering the lower chamber. The drain valve is provided at a lower portion of the body so that air exhaled from the nose of the user is capable of being limited to be unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber through the drain valve only.

[0013] In an example, the waterproof skirt further includes a, and the lower chamber is jointly defined by the nose covering portion and the partition.

[0014] In an example, the nose covering portion has a protruding portion and a bottom portion, and the drain valve is disposed on the bottom portion configured to face nostrils of the user.

[0015] In an example, the one-way valve is disposed on an outer side of the partition.

[0016] In an example, the nose covering portion is made of a hard material having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 90, and the hard material is selected from polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or a combination thereof.

[0017] In an example, the nose covering portion is made of a soft material having a Shore A hardness ranging from 30 to 95, and the protruding portion gradually bulges forward from a rear edge of the main frame to form a cross-sectional shape resembling a single crest contour.

[0018] In an example, the protruding portion bulges forward from the rear edge of the main frame, exceeding a lower outer edge of the main frame by a maximum extent ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm.

[0019] In an example, the drain valve has a seat and a film capable of being airtightly covered on the seat, and the seat has a central hole for fixing the film.

[0020] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a breathable equipment that covers the user's eyes and nose. In addition to the aforementioned mask, it can also provide a mouthpiece-type breathing pipe to be contained by the user's mouth. When the user wears the mask, the user can also inhale and exhale freely through the mouthpiece-type breathing pipe by their mouth. With this equipment, users can freely choose to inhale, exhale or drainage through the nose or mouth, which not only increases the efficiency and safety of use. From a sales perspective, the breathable mask for breathing through the nose and the breathing pipe for breathing through the mouth can be bundled and sold together. This allows users to choose to use either one or both so as to increase consumers' purchasing desire and product value.

[0021] To achieve the above objective, the present invention discloses a breathable equipment for snorkeling, which includes a breathable mask for snorkeling as mentioned above and a snorkel. The snorkel has a top portion configured for air-permissible water-isolating, a drain valve end opposite to the top portion, and a mouthpiece located therebetween for being contained by a mouth of a user.

[0022] In an example, the snorkel is a dry top snorkel and is independent of the breathable mask for snorkeling.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view, depicting a user using a conventional mask and a breathing pipe for snorkeling activities.

[0024] FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of a conventional snorkel mask.

[0025] FIG. 2B is a schematic rear perspective view of the snorkel mask shown in FIG. 2A, in which only a part of the breathing pipe is illustrated.

[0026] FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view of a breathable mask for snorkeling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 3B is a schematic rear perspective view of the breathable mask for snorkeling shown in FIG. 3A, in which only a part of the intake conduit is illustrated.

[0028] FIG. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 3C-3C in FIG. 3B, illustrating the intake airflow, drainage flow and exhaust airflow during breathing when a user is wearing the breathable mask for snorkeling shown in FIG. 3A.

[0029] FIG. 4A is a schematic rear perspective view of a breathable equipment for snorkeling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4B is a schematic view depicting a user using the breathable equipment for snorkeling shown in FIG. 4A.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] It shall be appreciated that the following description of the embodiments is only to explain the contents of the present invention, but not to limit the invention as claimed. Elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the description, and the dimensions as depicted for all elements in the drawings are just for easy understanding and do not intend to limit their actual scales. In addition, the “upper,”“lower,”“front,”“back,”“left,”“right,”“inner,”“outer,” or the like adjectives defined in the descriptions are referred to by the direction of the user himself / herself. They are only relative relationships and are not limitative.

[0032] The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, which is a breathable mask for snorkeling 3. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 includes a body 31 and an intake conduit 33. The intake conduit 33 is in fluid communication with an interior of the body 31. A watertight device 33a is provided on the top of the intake conduit 33 (e.g., a float, a valve or any mechanism that can achieve air-permissible water-isolating) and is capable of preventing water waves from flowing into the intake conduit 33 from the top. Generally speaking, the intake conduit 33 is designed based on a wide range of standard common dry top snorkels.

[0033] The body 31 includes a main frame 31a, a viewing window 31b and a waterproof skirt 31c. The viewing window 31b is embedded within the main frame 31a. The waterproof skirt 31c is embedded with the main frame 31a and the viewing window 31b. The waterproof skirt 31c is capable of suitably fitting on the face of a user. More specifically, the rear portion RP of the waterproof skirt 31c is configured to closely fit the user's face, especially around the user's eyes and nose.

[0034] The main frame 31a and the viewing window 31b are not limited to covering the user's eyes only, and it is also feasible to cover the user's eyes and nose at the same time. The viewing window 31b, which only covers the eyes, is not limited to a single viewing window connected to the left and right. Two independent viewing windows arranged on the left and right are also feasible.

[0035] The waterproof skirt 31c has a partition PT, which divides the interior of the body 31 into an upper chamber 302 and a lower chamber 304 that are isolated from each other. When the user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 through a fastening device 35 (e.g., a head strap), the partition PT is configured to rest above an outer contour of the user's nose, allowing the upper chamber 302 to be configured to accommodate the user's eyes only and the lower chamber 304 to be configured to accommodate the user's nose only. When the fastening device 35 is a head strap, the head strap is not limited in form, and a two-point fixed head strap, a three-point or a four-point fixed head strap design are all feasible.

[0036] In addition, the body 31 further includes an intake passage 402 and a drain valve 31d. The intake passage 402 is only formed between the intake conduit 33 and the lower chamber 304 and is provided with a one-way valve V1. The one-way valve V1 is configured only for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage 402 and entering the lower chamber 304. The intake passage 402 is substantially defined by the upper chamber 302 and the one-way valve V1. In this embodiment, two one-way valves V1 are provided on two opposite outer sides S1 of the partition PT, respectively, to provide two airflow paths from the upper chamber 302 to the lower chamber 304. However, in other embodiments, it is also possible that only one one-way valve V1 is provided on one outer side S1 of the partition PT. Preferably, the one-way valve V1 is horizontally disposed on the outer side S1 of the partition PT. Of course, the one-way valve V1 may also be positioned elsewhere, e.g., on the partition PT.

[0037] The drain valve 31d is provided at a lower portion of the body 31 (for example, the bottom portion P2 of the nose covering portion NP, which will be described later). By being blocked by the one-way valve V1, air exhaled from the user's nose can be limited to being unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber 304 through the drain valve 31d only and cannot flow upward to the upper chamber 302. In other words, in the present invention, there is no exhaust passage running along the upper chamber 302 between the intake conduit 33 and the lower chamber 304. In this way, the possibility of the air exhaled from the nose (i.e., carbon dioxide) entering the upper chamber 302 and causing the viewing window 31b to fog up is completely avoided.

[0038] Preferably, the waterproof skirt 31c further includes a nose covering portion NP, which jointly defines the lower chamber 304 with the partition PT. The nose covering portion NP has a protruding portion P1 and a bottom portion P2. The drain valve 31d is provided on the bottom portion P2 to suitably face the user's nostrils at a close distance. When the user exhales through the nose, the drain valve 31d can be efficiently opened to discharge the exhaled air and the accumulated water inside the body 31.

[0039] The drain valve 31d has a seat DS (e.g., a spoke-wheel seat) and a film DF. The film DF can air-tightly cover the seat DS, and the seat DS has a central hole DH for fixing the film DF. In this embodiment, the seat DS is integrally formed with the bottom portion P2 of the nose covering portion NP; that is, the seat DS is made of the same material (e.g., silicone rubber) as the waterproof skirt 31c The bottom portion P2 is formed with a recessed portion RA where the seat DS is located, in which the recessed portion RA has a depth D (preferably ranging from 3 mm to 15 mm) for receiving the drain valve 31d. When the user raises his / her head and exhales from his / her nose to discharge the accumulated water in the mask 3, the accumulated water can naturally flow into the recessed portion RA where the drain valve 31d is located, thereby greatly improving the drainage efficiency. In another embodiment (not shown), the seat DS may not have to be integrally formed with the waterproof skirt 31c; instead, it can be made of a hard material and water-tightly assembled onto an opening preformed on the bottom portion NP of the nose covering portion P2.

[0040] The nose covering portion NP can be made of a hard material with a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 90. The hard material may be selected from polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and other materials or a combination thereof. Of course, the nose covering portion NP may also be structurally formed by extending downward from a hard transparent material like the viewing window 31b.

[0041] Preferably, the nose covering portion NP is made of a soft material with a Shore A hardness ranging from 30 to 95. The protruding portion P1 gradually bulges forward from a rear edge of the main frame 31a to form a cross-sectional shape resembling a single crest contour. The maximum height of the cross-sectional shape of the single crest contour ranges from 20 mm to 35 mm. More preferably, the protruding portion P1 bulges forward from the rear edge of the main frame31a exceeding a lower outer edge of the main frame 31a by a maximum extent Nt ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm. This shape can prevent deformation due to water pressure and also allows the user to pinch the nose to perform the function of equalizing onto the nose (such as an operation called “Frenzel equalization”).

[0042] FIG. 3C further depicts the intake airflow (as indicated by the solid arrow lines) and the exhaust airflow (as indicated by the dashed arrow lines) when a user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 (the schematic view can be referred to FIG. 4B) and breathes. When the user inhales through the nose, fresh air enters the intake conduit 33, passes through the upper chamber 302, and then enters the lower chamber 304 via the one-way valve V1, allowing inhalation through the user's nose. Furthermore, when the user exhales through the nose, the exhaled dirty air can push open the drain valve 31d and be discharged outward unidirectionally to the outside.

[0043] Reference is made to FIGS. 4A and 4B for the second embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates a breathable equipment for snorkeling 400. The breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 is constituted by the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 described in the first embodiment and a snorkel 43. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 and the snorkel 43 are sold together as the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 for consumers to use.

[0044] On the one hand, the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 enables the user to breathe not only through the nose with the breathable mask for snorkeling 3, but also optionally through the mouth using the snorkel 43, thereby increasing the safety of use. On the other hand, the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 also further provides an option for users who are accustomed to using a mouthpiece to breathe while performing water activities.

[0045] The snorkel 43 is most commonly a dry top snorkel, and is preferably independent of the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400. The snorkel 43 has a top portion 43t configured for air-permissible water-isolating (e.g., having a float valve), a drain valve end 43d opposite to the top portion 43t, and a mouthpiece 43m located therebetween for being contained by the mouth of the user. When in use, a retainer 43r may be provided to connect the snorkel 43 to the hard fastener 35c on the fastening device 35 (e.g., the head strap) of the breathable mask for snorkeling 3, thereby increasing stability during use and alleviating interference from water flow.

[0046] FIG. 4B further depicts that when a user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 with the mouthpiece 43m of the snorkel 43 being contained by their mouth during water activities, the user can breathe and drain water through the snorkel 43 using their mouth, rather than being limited to breathing through the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 using their nose.

[0047] It shall be appreciated that the snorkel 43 preferably has the top 43t allowing the exchange of air with the outside when being above the water surface and blocking the exchange of air with the outside when being underwater, such as a dry-top breathing pipe, but it is not limited in form or position.

[0048] The one-way intake components of the above embodiments, such as the one-way valve V1, are best arranged symmetrically on the partition PT or the outer sides S1 of the breathable mask for snorkeling 3. For convenience, only one arrangement of them is selectively described, and the number and positions of them should not be limited. The shape of the one-way valve V1 can be mushroom-type (circular or rectangle), pivot-type (often rectangle), or other possible types of valve mechanisms, provided that it can provide one-way fluid communication.

[0049] The core technology of the present invention lies in providing an intake conduit 33, which is only used for intake, at the top of the breathable mask for snorkeling 3, with no exhaust passage running along the upper chamber 302 in the breathable mask for snorkeling 3. The user's nose exhalation is only exhausted through the drain valve 31d. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 may be further optionally equipped with a dry-top breathing pipe (such as the snorkel 43 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B), allowing the user to use it as needed during activities. Since the snorkel is an optional accessory, the user can rely on the mask itself for both breathing and drainage. Therefore, whether the snorkel is fastened to the mask, and how it is fastened, does not matter and shall not be limited thereto. How other parts of the mask / equipment are designed, or for what purpose the mask / equipment is used in other similar water activities (e.g., swimming training or activities that may involve contact with shallow water), is not the focus of this invention, though.

[0050] Any modifications based on the above core technology of the present invention are intended to be protected. Consequently, the above embodiments are used only to illustrate the implementations of the present invention and to explain the technical features of the present invention, and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modifications or equivalent arrangements that can be easily accomplished by those skilled in the art are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should be limited by the claims of the patent application.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0031]It shall be appreciated that the following description of the embodiments is only to explain the contents of the present invention, but not to limit the invention as claimed. Elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the description, and the dimensions as depicted for all elements in the drawings are just for easy understanding and do not intend to limit their actual scales. In addition, the “upper,”“lower,”“front,”“back,”“left,”“right,”“inner,”“outer,” or the like adjectives defined in the descriptions are referred to by the direction of the user himself / herself. They are only relative relationships and are not limitative.

[0032]The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, which is a breathable mask for snorkeling 3. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 includes a body 31 and an intake conduit 33. The intake conduit 33 is in fluid communication with an interior of the body 31. A watertight device 33a is p...

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. Ser. No. 63 / 675,874 filed on Jul. 26, 2024, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a mask for water activities (including both surface and underwater activities), particularly a mask for snorkeling that allows the user to breathe through the nose or both the nose and the mouth, and the equipment having the same.Description of the Related Art

[0003] As shown in FIG. 1, most current snorkeling activities utilize a mask 11 that covers the eyes and nose in conjunction with a breathing pipe 13. In this configuration, the user cannot breathe through the nose at all and can only use the mouth to breathe through the breathing pipe 13. Furthermore, since the breathing pipe 13 runs along one side of the mask 11, it causes an imbalance in use.

[0004] In addition, humans are still accustomed to breathing through their noses in the air. Therefore, using such a snorkel equipment will force users to breathe only through the mouth, which does not align with the humans' natural breathing habits. In addition, since breathing is done solely through the mouth, the breathing pipe 13 becomes indispensable, and therefore, it must be connected to the head strap 15 through a fastening strap 131 to prevent the breathing pipe 13 from becoming detached from the mask 11. However, this creates the problem of the fastening strap 131 getting tangled with the user's hair, reducing the flexibility and convenience for users when wearing such a snorkel equipment.

[0005] Based on the above shortcomings, some manufacturers have begun to envision that the top-mounted breathing pipe of the Full Face Snorkel Mask (FFSM) could be directly used on this traditional diving mask, and then communicate with the interior of the mask, allowing the user to breathe through the nose, i.e., the snorkel mask 2 shown in FIG. 2A, which includes a body 21 and a breathing pipe 23. In other words, the snorkeling mask 2 abandons the traditional mouthpiece type breathing pipe 13 as shown in FIG. 1, and adopts a design capable of directly communicating with the body 21, as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0006] Of course, the overall size of the snorkel mask 2 is smaller than that of the FFSM, and when the user wears the snorkel mask 2 through the head strap 25, the snorkel mask 2 can maintain a good fit with the face. However, the breathing pipe 23 in this design communicates with the nose pocket 204 inside the body 21 through a tunnel 202 for breathing through the nose (see FIG. 2B). In this design, the intake airflow (as shown by the hollow lines) and the exhaust airflow (as shown by the thick solid lines) are not separated. During breathing, clean air and dirty air will quickly mix in the nose pocket 204 of the body 21. In this situation, the concentration of carbon dioxide inside the mask 21 rises sharply, and users are likely to experience unconscious oxygen deprivation in a short period of time, resulting in significant danger. When the user feels uncomfortable, there is no way to breathe through the mouth alternatively. In addition, the accumulated water in the body 21 will be concentrated in the nose pocket 204 inside the nose covering portion 21n, which is very close to the user's nostrils. This accumulated water will make the user feel uncomfortable and even choke. Moreover, since the body 21 of such the snorkeling mask 2 will only cover the eyes and nose, and the user's mouth is exposed to water, the user will inevitably close their mouth tightly to prevent water from accidentally entering, which causes a certain level of insecurity for the user, especially when water has accumulated inside the body 21.

[0007] The inventor of the present application has previously proposed an invention of a snorkel mask which only covers the eyes and nose (in reference to U.S. Publication No. US2023 / 0242226A1 for details) to seek improvement, and has already achieved good effects. Specifically, in this previous invention, the air intake and exhaust are separated in the mask body, and the same breathing pipe is responsible for conveying fresh air into the mask body and discharging carbon dioxide from the mask body, and a nose connecting portion is optionally provided so as to install a drain valve.

[0008] Such a snorkel mask, which allows the user to breathe through the nose inside the mask body, can be expected to keep the inner side of the viewing window free of fogging up as long as the airflows of fresh air being inhaled “sweep” across it. Conversely, the chamber where the viewing window is located comes with a chance to accumulate carbon dioxide produced by exhalation will cause the viewing window to fog up. Therefore, although the air intake and exhaust can be separated within the mask body, in practice, since both of the intake and exhaust passages are designed to run along the chamber that accommodates the user's eyes (i.e., the upper chamber), and due to limitations in the assembly and sealing between components, complete isolation of the intake and exhaust is still ideal. As a result, the intake and exhaust air will gradually mix with each other. The viewing window will still fog up after a period of use, which is to be expected.

[0009] In view of this, providing an alternative design to solve the aforementioned problems, whereby the viewing window of the mask body will absolutely not accumulate carbon dioxide produced by exhalation and fog up, while maintaining free breathing for the user, would be a goal that manufacturers are extremely eager to achieve.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a breathable mask that covers the user's eyes and nose, allowing the user's nose to breathe freely in the mask. When the user breathes through the nose, only the inhaled fresh air will pass through the chamber where the viewing window is located (i.e., the upper chamber) and enter the chamber where the nose is located (i.e., the lower chamber) for inhalation by the nose. As for the carbon dioxide exhaled from the nose, it is limited to be discharged only through the drain valve provided in the lower chamber, and there is no passage for it to flow upward to the upper chamber. Therefore, this design ensures that the upper chamber will not be contaminated by carbon dioxide, which could cause the viewing window to fog up, thereby allowing the viewing window to remain clear continuously during snorkeling.

[0011] On the other hand, because snorkeling is an underwater activity very shallow from the water surface, the user only needs to exhale with normal force to overcome the water pressure and discharge the gas from the drain valve. A slightly stronger exhalation force can also discharge the accumulated water. In addition, the nose covering portion of the present invention can be made of a material with a specific hardness or be designed in a specific shape. In this way, the normal breathing through the nose will not be affected by water pressure during snorkeling. Furthermore, it allows the user to pinch the nose and perform Frenzel equalization.

[0012] To achieve the above objective, the present invention discloses a breathable mask for snorkeling, which includes a body and an intake conduit. The intake conduit is in fluid communication with an interior of the body. The body includes a main frame, a viewing window, a waterproof skirt, an intake passage and a drain valve. The viewing window is embedded within the main frame. The waterproof skirt is embedded with the main frame and the viewing window. The waterproof skirt is configured to suitably fit a face of a user and has a partition dividing the interior of the body into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, which are isolated from each other, such that when the user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling through a fastening device, the partition rests above an outer contour of a nose of the user, allowing the upper chamber to be configured to accommodate eyes of the user only and the lower chamber to be configured to accommodate the nose of the user only. The intake passage is only formed between the intake conduit and the lower chamber and provided with a one-way valve. The one-way valve is configured only for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage and entering the lower chamber. The drain valve is provided at a lower portion of the body so that air exhaled from the nose of the user is capable of being limited to be unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber through the drain valve only.

[0013] In an example, the waterproof skirt further includes a, and the lower chamber is jointly defined by the nose covering portion and the partition.

[0014] In an example, the nose covering portion has a protruding portion and a bottom portion, and the drain valve is disposed on the bottom portion configured to face nostrils of the user.

[0015] In an example, the one-way valve is disposed on an outer side of the partition.

[0016] In an example, the nose covering portion is made of a hard material having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 90, and the hard material is selected from polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or a combination thereof.

[0017] In an example, the nose covering portion is made of a soft material having a Shore A hardness ranging from 30 to 95, and the protruding portion gradually bulges forward from a rear edge of the main frame to form a cross-sectional shape resembling a single crest contour.

[0018] In an example, the protruding portion bulges forward from the rear edge of the main frame, exceeding a lower outer edge of the main frame by a maximum extent ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm.

[0019] In an example, the drain valve has a seat and a film capable of being airtightly covered on the seat, and the seat has a central hole for fixing the film.

[0020] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a breathable equipment that covers the user's eyes and nose. In addition to the aforementioned mask, it can also provide a mouthpiece-type breathing pipe to be contained by the user's mouth. When the user wears the mask, the user can also inhale and exhale freely through the mouthpiece-type breathing pipe by their mouth. With this equipment, users can freely choose to inhale, exhale or drainage through the nose or mouth, which not only increases the efficiency and safety of use. From a sales perspective, the breathable mask for breathing through the nose and the breathing pipe for breathing through the mouth can be bundled and sold together. This allows users to choose to use either one or both so as to increase consumers' purchasing desire and product value.

[0021] To achieve the above objective, the present invention discloses a breathable equipment for snorkeling, which includes a breathable mask for snorkeling as mentioned above and a snorkel. The snorkel has a top portion configured for air-permissible water-isolating, a drain valve end opposite to the top portion, and a mouthpiece located therebetween for being contained by a mouth of a user.

[0022] In an example, the snorkel is a dry top snorkel and is independent of the breathable mask for snorkeling.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view, depicting a user using a conventional mask and a breathing pipe for snorkeling activities.

[0024] FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of a conventional snorkel mask.

[0025] FIG. 2B is a schematic rear perspective view of the snorkel mask shown in FIG. 2A, in which only a part of the breathing pipe is illustrated.

[0026] FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view of a breathable mask for snorkeling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 3B is a schematic rear perspective view of the breathable mask for snorkeling shown in FIG. 3A, in which only a part of the intake conduit is illustrated.

[0028] FIG. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 3C-3C in FIG. 3B, illustrating the intake airflow, drainage flow and exhaust airflow during breathing when a user is wearing the breathable mask for snorkeling shown in FIG. 3A.

[0029] FIG. 4A is a schematic rear perspective view of a breathable equipment for snorkeling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4B is a schematic view depicting a user using the breathable equipment for snorkeling shown in FIG. 4A.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] It shall be appreciated that the following description of the embodiments is only to explain the contents of the present invention, but not to limit the invention as claimed. Elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the description, and the dimensions as depicted for all elements in the drawings are just for easy understanding and do not intend to limit their actual scales. In addition, the “upper,”“lower,”“front,”“back,”“left,”“right,”“inner,”“outer,” or the like adjectives defined in the descriptions are referred to by the direction of the user himself / herself. They are only relative relationships and are not limitative.

[0032] The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, which is a breathable mask for snorkeling 3. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 includes a body 31 and an intake conduit 33. The intake conduit 33 is in fluid communication with an interior of the body 31. A watertight device 33a is provided on the top of the intake conduit 33 (e.g., a float, a valve or any mechanism that can achieve air-permissible water-isolating) and is capable of preventing water waves from flowing into the intake conduit 33 from the top. Generally speaking, the intake conduit 33 is designed based on a wide range of standard common dry top snorkels.

[0033] The body 31 includes a main frame 31a, a viewing window 31b and a waterproof skirt 31c. The viewing window 31b is embedded within the main frame 31a. The waterproof skirt 31c is embedded with the main frame 31a and the viewing window 31b. The waterproof skirt 31c is capable of suitably fitting on the face of a user. More specifically, the rear portion RP of the waterproof skirt 31c is configured to closely fit the user's face, especially around the user's eyes and nose.

[0034] The main frame 31a and the viewing window 31b are not limited to covering the user's eyes only, and it is also feasible to cover the user's eyes and nose at the same time. The viewing window 31b, which only covers the eyes, is not limited to a single viewing window connected to the left and right. Two independent viewing windows arranged on the left and right are also feasible.

[0035] The waterproof skirt 31c has a partition PT, which divides the interior of the body 31 into an upper chamber 302 and a lower chamber 304 that are isolated from each other. When the user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 through a fastening device 35 (e.g., a head strap), the partition PT is configured to rest above an outer contour of the user's nose, allowing the upper chamber 302 to be configured to accommodate the user's eyes only and the lower chamber 304 to be configured to accommodate the user's nose only. When the fastening device 35 is a head strap, the head strap is not limited in form, and a two-point fixed head strap, a three-point or a four-point fixed head strap design are all feasible.

[0036] In addition, the body 31 further includes an intake passage 402 and a drain valve 31d. The intake passage 402 is only formed between the intake conduit 33 and the lower chamber 304 and is provided with a one-way valve V1. The one-way valve V1 is configured only for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage 402 and entering the lower chamber 304. The intake passage 402 is substantially defined by the upper chamber 302 and the one-way valve V1. In this embodiment, two one-way valves V1 are provided on two opposite outer sides S1 of the partition PT, respectively, to provide two airflow paths from the upper chamber 302 to the lower chamber 304. However, in other embodiments, it is also possible that only one one-way valve V1 is provided on one outer side S1 of the partition PT. Preferably, the one-way valve V1 is horizontally disposed on the outer side S1 of the partition PT. Of course, the one-way valve V1 may also be positioned elsewhere, e.g., on the partition PT.

[0037] The drain valve 31d is provided at a lower portion of the body 31 (for example, the bottom portion P2 of the nose covering portion NP, which will be described later). By being blocked by the one-way valve V1, air exhaled from the user's nose can be limited to being unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber 304 through the drain valve 31d only and cannot flow upward to the upper chamber 302. In other words, in the present invention, there is no exhaust passage running along the upper chamber 302 between the intake conduit 33 and the lower chamber 304. In this way, the possibility of the air exhaled from the nose (i.e., carbon dioxide) entering the upper chamber 302 and causing the viewing window 31b to fog up is completely avoided.

[0038] Preferably, the waterproof skirt 31c further includes a nose covering portion NP, which jointly defines the lower chamber 304 with the partition PT. The nose covering portion NP has a protruding portion P1 and a bottom portion P2. The drain valve 31d is provided on the bottom portion P2 to suitably face the user's nostrils at a close distance. When the user exhales through the nose, the drain valve 31d can be efficiently opened to discharge the exhaled air and the accumulated water inside the body 31.

[0039] The drain valve 31d has a seat DS (e.g., a spoke-wheel seat) and a film DF. The film DF can air-tightly cover the seat DS, and the seat DS has a central hole DH for fixing the film DF. In this embodiment, the seat DS is integrally formed with the bottom portion P2 of the nose covering portion NP; that is, the seat DS is made of the same material (e.g., silicone rubber) as the waterproof skirt 31c The bottom portion P2 is formed with a recessed portion RA where the seat DS is located, in which the recessed portion RA has a depth D (preferably ranging from 3 mm to 15 mm) for receiving the drain valve 31d. When the user raises his / her head and exhales from his / her nose to discharge the accumulated water in the mask 3, the accumulated water can naturally flow into the recessed portion RA where the drain valve 31d is located, thereby greatly improving the drainage efficiency. In another embodiment (not shown), the seat DS may not have to be integrally formed with the waterproof skirt 31c; instead, it can be made of a hard material and water-tightly assembled onto an opening preformed on the bottom portion NP of the nose covering portion P2.

[0040] The nose covering portion NP can be made of a hard material with a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 90. The hard material may be selected from polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and other materials or a combination thereof. Of course, the nose covering portion NP may also be structurally formed by extending downward from a hard transparent material like the viewing window 31b.

[0041] Preferably, the nose covering portion NP is made of a soft material with a Shore A hardness ranging from 30 to 95. The protruding portion P1 gradually bulges forward from a rear edge of the main frame 31a to form a cross-sectional shape resembling a single crest contour. The maximum height of the cross-sectional shape of the single crest contour ranges from 20 mm to 35 mm. More preferably, the protruding portion P1 bulges forward from the rear edge of the main frame31a exceeding a lower outer edge of the main frame 31a by a maximum extent Nt ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm. This shape can prevent deformation due to water pressure and also allows the user to pinch the nose to perform the function of equalizing onto the nose (such as an operation called “Frenzel equalization”).

[0042] FIG. 3C further depicts the intake airflow (as indicated by the solid arrow lines) and the exhaust airflow (as indicated by the dashed arrow lines) when a user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 (the schematic view can be referred to FIG. 4B) and breathes. When the user inhales through the nose, fresh air enters the intake conduit 33, passes through the upper chamber 302, and then enters the lower chamber 304 via the one-way valve V1, allowing inhalation through the user's nose. Furthermore, when the user exhales through the nose, the exhaled dirty air can push open the drain valve 31d and be discharged outward unidirectionally to the outside.

[0043] Reference is made to FIGS. 4A and 4B for the second embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates a breathable equipment for snorkeling 400. The breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 is constituted by the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 described in the first embodiment and a snorkel 43. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 and the snorkel 43 are sold together as the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 for consumers to use.

[0044] On the one hand, the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 enables the user to breathe not only through the nose with the breathable mask for snorkeling 3, but also optionally through the mouth using the snorkel 43, thereby increasing the safety of use. On the other hand, the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400 also further provides an option for users who are accustomed to using a mouthpiece to breathe while performing water activities.

[0045] The snorkel 43 is most commonly a dry top snorkel, and is preferably independent of the breathable equipment for snorkeling 400. The snorkel 43 has a top portion 43t configured for air-permissible water-isolating (e.g., having a float valve), a drain valve end 43d opposite to the top portion 43t, and a mouthpiece 43m located therebetween for being contained by the mouth of the user. When in use, a retainer 43r may be provided to connect the snorkel 43 to the hard fastener 35c on the fastening device 35 (e.g., the head strap) of the breathable mask for snorkeling 3, thereby increasing stability during use and alleviating interference from water flow.

[0046] FIG. 4B further depicts that when a user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 with the mouthpiece 43m of the snorkel 43 being contained by their mouth during water activities, the user can breathe and drain water through the snorkel 43 using their mouth, rather than being limited to breathing through the breathable mask for snorkeling 3 using their nose.

[0047] It shall be appreciated that the snorkel 43 preferably has the top 43t allowing the exchange of air with the outside when being above the water surface and blocking the exchange of air with the outside when being underwater, such as a dry-top breathing pipe, but it is not limited in form or position.

[0048] The one-way intake components of the above embodiments, such as the one-way valve V1, are best arranged symmetrically on the partition PT or the outer sides S1 of the breathable mask for snorkeling 3. For convenience, only one arrangement of them is selectively described, and the number and positions of them should not be limited. The shape of the one-way valve V1 can be mushroom-type (circular or rectangle), pivot-type (often rectangle), or other possible types of valve mechanisms, provided that it can provide one-way fluid communication.

[0049] The core technology of the present invention lies in providing an intake conduit 33, which is only used for intake, at the top of the breathable mask for snorkeling 3, with no exhaust passage running along the upper chamber 302 in the breathable mask for snorkeling 3. The user's nose exhalation is only exhausted through the drain valve 31d. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 may be further optionally equipped with a dry-top breathing pipe (such as the snorkel 43 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B), allowing the user to use it as needed during activities. Since the snorkel is an optional accessory, the user can rely on the mask itself for both breathing and drainage. Therefore, whether the snorkel is fastened to the mask, and how it is fastened, does not matter and shall not be limited thereto. How other parts of the mask / equipment are designed, or for what purpose the mask / equipment is used in other similar water activities (e.g., swimming training or activities that may involve contact with shallow water), is not the focus of this invention, though.

[0050] Any modifications based on the above core technology of the present invention are intended to be protected. Consequently, the above embodiments are used only to illustrate the implementations of the present invention and to explain the technical features of the present invention, and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modifications or equivalent arrangements that can be easily accomplished by those skilled in the art are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should be limited by the claims of the patent application.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0031]It shall be appreciated that the following description of the embodiments is only to explain the contents of the present invention, but not to limit the invention as claimed. Elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the description, and the dimensions as depicted for all elements in the drawings are just for easy understanding and do not intend to limit their actual scales. In addition, the “upper,”“lower,”“front,”“back,”“left,”“right,”“inner,”“outer,” or the like adjectives defined in the descriptions are referred to by the direction of the user himself / herself. They are only relative relationships and are not limitative.

[0032]The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, which is a breathable mask for snorkeling 3. The breathable mask for snorkeling 3 includes a body 31 and an intake conduit 33. The intake conduit 33 is in fluid communication with an interior of the body 31. A watertight device 33a is p...

Claims

1. A breathable mask for snorkeling, comprising:a body; andan intake conduit in fluid communication with an interior of the body; andwherein the body comprises:a main frame;a viewing window embedded within the main frame; anda waterproof skirt embedded with the main frame and the viewing window,wherein the waterproof skirt is configured to suitably fit a face of a user and has a partition dividing the interior of the body into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, which are isolated from each other, such that when the user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling through a fastening device, the partition rests above an outer contour of a nose of the user, allowing the upper chamber to be configured to accommodate eyes of the user only and the lower chamber to be configured to accommodate the nose of the user only;characterized in that the body further comprises:an intake passage only formed between the intake conduit and the lower chamber, and provided with a one-way valve only for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage and entering the lower chamber; anda drain valve provided at a lower portion of the body so that air exhaled from the nose of the user is capable of being limited to be unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber through the drain valve only.

2. The breathable mask for snorkeling of claim 1, wherein the waterproof skirt further includes a nose covering portion, and the lower chamber is jointly defined by the nose covering portion and the partition.

3. The breathable mask for snorkeling of claim 2, wherein the nose covering portion is made of a hard material having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 90, and the hard material is selected from polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or a combination thereof.

4. The breathable mask for snorkeling of claim 2, wherein the nose covering portion has a protruding portion and a bottom portion, and the drain valve is disposed on the bottom portion configured to face nostrils of the user.

5. The breathable mask for snorkeling of claim 4, wherein the nose covering portion is made of a soft material having a Shore A hardness ranging from 30 to 95, and the protruding portion gradually bulges forward from a rear edge of the main frame to form a cross-sectional shape resembling a single crest contour.

6. The breathable mask for snorkeling of claim 4, wherein the protruding portion bulges forward from the rear edge of the main frame, exceeding a lower outer edge of the main frame by a maximum extent ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm.

7. The breathable mask for snorkeling of claim 4, wherein the drain valve has a seat and a film capable of being airtightly covered on the seat, and the seat has a central hole for fixing the film.

8. The breathable mask for snorkeling of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is disposed on an outer side of the partition.

9. A breathable equipment for snorkeling, comprising:a breathable mask for snorkeling;a snorkel having a top portion configured for air-permissible water-isolating, a drain valve end opposite to the top portion, and a mouthpiece located therebetween for being contained by a mouth of a user;wherein the breathable mask for snorkeling comprises:a body; andan intake conduit in fluid communication with an interior of the body; andwherein the body comprises:a main frame;a viewing window embedded within the main frame; anda waterproof skirt embedded with the main frame and the viewing window,wherein the waterproof skirt is configured to suitably fit a face of the user and has a partition dividing the interior of the body into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, which are isolated from each other, such that when the user wears the breathable mask for snorkeling through a fastening device, the partition rests above an outer contour of a nose of the user, allowing the upper chamber to be configured to accommodate eyes of the user only and the lower chamber to be configured to accommodate the nose of the user only;characterized in that the body further comprises:an intake passage only formed between the intake conduit and the lower chamber, and provided with a one-way valve only for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage and entering the lower chamber; anda drain valve provided at a lower portion of the body so that air exhaled from the nose of the user is capable of being limited to be unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber through the drain valve only.

10. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 9, wherein the snorkel is a dry top snorkel and is independent of the breathable mask for snorkeling.

11. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 9, wherein the waterproof skirt further includes a nose covering portion, and the lower chamber is jointly defined by the nose covering portion and the partition.

12. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 11, wherein the nose covering portion is made of a hard material having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 90, and the hard material is selected from polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or a combination thereof.

13. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 11, wherein the nose covering portion has a protruding portion and a bottom portion, and the drain valve is disposed on the bottom portion configured to face nostrils of the user.

14. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 13, wherein the nose covering portion is made of a soft material having a Shore A hardness ranging from 30 to 95, and the protruding portion gradually bulges forward from a rear edge of the main frame to form a cross-sectional shape resembling a single crest contour.

15. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 13, wherein the protruding portion bulges forward from the rear edge of the main frame, exceeding a lower outer edge of the main frame by a maximum extent ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm.

16. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 13, wherein the drain valve has a seat and a film capable of being airtightly covered on the seat, and the seat has a central hole for fixing the film.

17. The breathable equipment for snorkeling of claim 9, wherein the one-way valve is disposed on an outer side of the partition.

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