Snorkel Float Valve Assembly for Water Ingress Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior snorkels are prone to water ingress, posing safety risks, especially with longer tubes, as users must manually expel water, and existing solutions do not adequately address this issue.
Innovation Solution
A snorkel design featuring a float to maintain the top opening above water level, separable attaching means for user safety, and a valve assembly to prevent water entry into the breathing piece, allowing safe attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long tube is used to maintain the top opening above water level, then the snorkel can function properly, but water ingress risk increases and manual water expulsion becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
A float is introduced as an intermediary device that attaches to the user and the tube, maintaining the top opening above water level without requiring an excessively long tube. The float acts as a mediator between the user's body position and the tube positioning, preventing water ingress while keeping the tube length reasonable.
Solution Approach 2:
The float provides automatic buoyancy-based positioning that self-regulates to keep the top opening above water. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual water expulsion and reduces the risk of water ingress without requiring complex active control systems.
2Ease of operation
If the snorkel is made separable for easy attachment and detachment, then ease of operation improves, but reliability of water-proof connection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The snorkel system is segmented into separable components (tube, float, breathing piece) that can be easily attached and detached. Each component maintains its functional integrity while allowing flexible assembly and disassembly, improving ease of operation without compromising overall system reliability.
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 design ensures the snorkel remains water-free during use, allowing safe attachment and detachment, enhancing user safety and convenience by maintaining the top opening above water and using valves to prevent water ingress.
Implementation Method 1
a float fixed to the at least one tube, for maintaining the top opening above the water level
Data Source
AI summary
A snorkel, including at least one tube, for allowing a user to flow air between a top opening disposed above the water level, and a bottom opening ending with a breathing piece disposed below the water level, a float fixed to the at least one tube, for maintaining the top opening above the water level, while being attached to the user and as well while being separated therefrom, and a valve assembly, disposed adjacent to the breathing piece and communicating therewith, for not allowing water to enter the breathing piece, thereby allowing the user to separate himself from the snorkel, and further to safely attach himself thereto.