Goggle Mask Check Valve with Soft Body and Integral Nose Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional goggle masks for underwater or water sports suffer from discomfort due to hard drain valves, poor air tightness, and inconvenience in storage and portability, with existing solutions failing to adequately address these issues.

Innovation Solution

A goggle mask design featuring a soft body and check valve device with a valve disk, where the soft body is integrally connected to the soft nose masking portion and includes a structural reinforcing component for enhanced structural strength, allowing for improved air tightness and comfort by preventing direct contact with the face and facilitating easy storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a hard drain valve is used to ensure structural stability, then the draining mechanism is stable, but the user experiences discomfort due to contact with the hard valve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiduser discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drain valve is divided into two distinct parts: a hard valve body for structural stability and a soft cushioning layer for comfort. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function - the hard portion provides durability while the soft portion eliminates user discomfort during contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drain valve combines hard material (for structural stability) and soft material (for comfort) into a composite structure. This composite design resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with opposing properties, allowing the valve to maintain structural integrity while providing a comfortable interface with the user's face.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the drain valve is separately fabricated and assembled onto the goggle mask, then the valve can be independently manufactured, but water leakage may occur due to assembling gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent manufacturingVSAvoidwater tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drain valve is integrally formed with the goggle mask body, eliminating the separate assembly step. This merging of components removes the interface between parts, thereby eliminating assembling gaps that could cause water leakage, while still allowing for efficient manufacturing through integral molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the drain valve is detachably connected to the goggle mask, then the valve can be removed for storage, but the valve may detach during use due to impact or squeezing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveremovabilityVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drain valve is integrally formed with the goggle mask, creating a unified structure that cannot detach during use. This integral design eliminates the connection interface that would be vulnerable to impact or squeezing, ensuring the valve remains securely attached throughout the diving activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If the drain valve is made bulky to maintain structural integrity, then the valve is durable, but the packed goggle mask becomes inconvenient to carry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidpacked volume
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drain valve incorporates flexible, compressible materials that allow the structure to be compacted into a small volume when not in use. The flexible nature of these materials maintains structural integrity during operation while enabling the goggle mask to be packed efficiently for portable storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

5Stability of the object's composition

If multiple draining holes with ribs are provided in the drain valve, then the valve structure is stable, but the ribs block liquid flow requiring greater exhalation force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve structure stabilityVSAvoiddraining ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The internal structure of the drain valve is optimized by removing ribs from the draining hole regions, creating localized smooth passages for liquid flow. This local modification allows liquid to flow freely through the holes without obstruction, reducing the exhalation force required, while the overall valve structure maintains stability through its integral design and material properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2423100B1Goggle mask, check valve device thereof and method for manufacturing a check valve device thereof
Publication Date: 2015.10.07 QBAS CO LTD
  • EP2423100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2423100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2423100B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A goggle mask is provided. The goggle mask includes at least one check valve device with a soft body and at least one valve disk. The soft body is integrally connected with the soft nose masking portion of the goggle mask. The soft body has a draining hole. The valve disk is adapted to movably cover the draining hole. With this arrangement, there are no hard objects that come into contact with the user's face, so the user may feel less uncomfortable. A check valve device and a method for manufacturing a check valve device of a goggle mask are also provided.