Snorkel Headpiece With Flexible Support Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snorkel designs for swimmers are complex, require multiple parts, and lack adjustability and comfort, leading to increased inhalation and exhalation resistance.
Innovation Solution
A simplified snorkel design featuring a two-part air hose with a frame-like, flexible head part and reed valves for improved comfort, along with a length adjustment mechanism using threaded sleeves, reducing the number of parts and manufacturing costs while enhancing fit and airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a traditional snorkel design with multiple components is used, then the device can provide breathing functionality, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (mouthpiece, air hose, headpiece, valves) into an integrated snorkel system where the air hose connects the mouthpiece and headpiece as a unified breathing apparatus, reducing the number of separate parts while maintaining full breathing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The headpiece serves multiple functions: it holds the ends of the air hose, provides structural support, and incorporates the inhalation valve mechanism, thereby reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall device structure
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid headpiece is used, then structural stability is improved, but wearing comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The headpiece incorporates a flexible support surface made of elastomeric material that can deform and adapt to the contours of the user's head, providing both structural stability to maintain device shape and flexibility to ensure wearing comfort across different head shapes
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface is designed with variable flexibility parameters - more rigid in areas requiring structural support and more compliant in areas contacting the head directly, achieving a balance between stability and comfort through controlled material property variations
3Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece air hose is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air hose is divided into multiple separable sections that can be connected or disconnected, allowing the overall length to be adjusted according to different user needs while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing of each individual section
Solution Approach 2:
The air hose incorporates flexible coupling mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the hose length and configuration, enabling the same basic design to adapt to various user anatomies and swimming positions without requiring completely different designs
4Reliability
If complex valve mechanisms are used, then breathing control is improved, but inhalation and exhalation resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve function from complex mechanical mechanisms and implements it through simple flutter valves that use the natural dynamics of air flow and flexible diaphragms to achieve reliable breathing control with minimal resistance to inhalation and exhalation
Solution Approach 2:
The flutter valves are designed to automatically respond to breathing patterns - the diaphragm naturally oscillates in response to air flow direction and pressure changes, opening and closing the valve passages without external control mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliable breathing control while minimizing resistance
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 reduces manufacturing costs, improves wearing comfort, and decreases inhalation and exhalation resistance, allowing for easier adaptation to different users and swimming styles without obstructing the field of vision.
Implementation Method 1
The head part (2) has a frame-like, flexible support surface (20) with a contour that approximates or corresponds to the anatomical shape of the back of the human head
Implementation Method 2
The insert for length adjustment comprises at least one hose section (10) with a sleeve (8) for receiving two pipe sections (81; 82)
Implementation Method 3
The inhalation and exhalation valves are each designed as flutter valves. Both valves are constructed identically to reduce the number of different components
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a breathing aid for swimmers, having a mouthpiece (1) which has an exhalation valve, wherein, starting from the mouthpiece, a two-part air hose (9, 10) leads to a head part (2) which receives the respective hose ends of the two-part air hose. According to the invention, the head part (2) has a frame-like, resilient supporting surface (20) which, when used, rests against the back of the swimmer's head. Provided in the head part is a recess for an inhalation valve (7), wherein the recess having the inhalation valve is located opposite the supporting surface. Furthermore, in at least one of the air hoses there is an insert (8) for length adjustment, and the inhalation and exhalation valves are each embodied in the form of a flutter valve and are also preferably configured with identical structures.