Diving Mask Skirt with Bulging Edges for Comfortable Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diving face masks often leave compression marks on the wearer's face due to the sharpened distal edges of the face-contactable sections, which can cause temporary disfigurement and potentially lead to skin issues.
Innovation Solution
A diving face mask design featuring a cylindrical skirt with a face-contactable section that has roundly bulging distal edges and a bifurcated shape, providing a stable and water-tight seal without causing compression marks, achieved through a gradual thickness reduction from the bifurcation point to the distal edges and an inwardly concave curvature for enhanced contact area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distal edges of the face-contactable section are sharpened to improve contact precision, then the seal reliability is improved, but compression marks are left on the wearer's face
Solution Approach 1:
The distal edges of the face-contactable section are designed with a roundly bulging configuration having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape instead of sharpened edges. This curvature distributes the contact pressure over a larger area while maintaining effective seal contact, thereby preventing compression marks on the wearer's face while preserving seal reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The skirt thickness is gradually reduced from the bifurcation point toward the distal edges of the face-contactable section, creating a localized quality variation. This gradual thinning allows the distal edges to conform to the wearer's face geometry while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to prevent compression marks and ensure water-tight contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the distal edges are made thinner to reduce compression marks, then the comfort is improved, but the structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt employs non-uniform thickness distribution where the thickness is gradually reduced from the bifurcation point toward the distal edges. This localized quality variation allows the distal edges to be thinner for comfort while the proximal regions maintain sufficient structural strength to support the mask assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The roundly bulging distal edges with substantially circular cross-sectional shapes provide structural reinforcement through geometric form. The curved geometry distributes mechanical stresses more effectively than sharp edges, maintaining structural integrity while reducing compression marks.
3Strength
If the face-contactable section is made thicker to improve durability, then the structural strength is improved, but the contact precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt thickness is optimized with a gradient distribution, being thicker near the bifurcation point for structural strength and gradually thinner toward the distal edges for improved contact precision. This local quality variation allows different regions to fulfill different functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The face-contactable section is designed to be elastically held in contact with the wearer's face, allowing dynamic adaptation to facial contours. The elastic deformation capability enables the mask to maintain precise contact despite variations in thickness, as the material can flex to conform to the wearer's face geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mask effectively prevents compression marks and ensures a reliable, stable, and water-tight seal, reducing the risk of skin irritation and maintaining a secure fit without deformation.
Implementation Method 1
a face-contactable section adapted to be elastically held in contact with the wearer's face
Implementation Method 2
at least the outward extending sub-section of said inward and outward extending sub-sections preferably has its inner surface concavely curved. With such a configuration, the curved surface is deformed against its elasticity to a planar state as the curved surface is pressed against the wearer's face
Data Source
AI summary
A face mask for diving includes a distal edge of a face-contactable section of a skirt attached to a lens frame are made roundly bulge so as to have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.