Full-Face Snorkel Mask Venting to Reduce CO2 Dead Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Full-face snorkeling masks (FFSMs) have a large inner volume, leading to increased carbon dioxide concentration due to enlarged dead space, posing safety risks and discomfort during water activities.
Innovation Solution
A breathable mask design minimizes internal volume by creating a negative pressure space between the mask and the face, using a structure that separates the eye and orinasal pockets, and incorporates pivot check valves for efficient air intake and exhaust, reducing the overall size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mask body covers the entire face (eyes, nose, and mouth) to allow nasal breathing, then the convenience of breathing is improved, but the internal volume increases leading to higher carbon dioxide concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The mask body is divided into an upper volume (covering eyes and forehead) and a lower volume (covering nose and mouth), separated by a partition. This segmentation allows the breathing area to be isolated from the eye area, reducing the total internal volume that contributes to dead space while maintaining nasal breathing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The breathing function is extracted from the entire mask body and concentrated into a dedicated lower volume chamber. By separating the breathing space from the eye coverage area, the patent reduces the effective dead space volume while preserving the full-face coverage benefit for nasal breathing.
2Area of stationary object
If the lens area is increased to provide better vision coverage, then the protective coverage is improved, but the mask becomes larger and more difficult to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The mask is segmented into functional zones: a compact lower volume for breathing and a separate upper volume for eye coverage. This allows the lens area to be optimized for vision without unnecessarily increasing the breathing chamber volume, maintaining a balance between coverage and portability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the internal volume of the mask is reduced to decrease dead space, then the carbon dioxide concentration is reduced, but the breathing space becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mask into upper and lower volumes with a partition, the patent creates a dedicated lower volume for breathing that is large enough to provide adequate air space, while the upper volume for eye coverage does not contribute to dead space. This segmentation allows optimization of breathing volume independently from total mask size.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition creates different local qualities within the mask: the lower volume has larger internal space optimized for breathing, while the upper volume is more compact for eye coverage. This local differentiation ensures sufficient breathing space without increasing overall dead space volume.
4Ease of manufacture
If the mask structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to control internal volume and airflow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The partition that divides the upper and lower volumes can be integrated into the mask manufacturing process as a single piece component, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving precise internal volume control through the segmented design.
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 effectively reduces carbon dioxide concentration, enhances breathing efficiency, and improves portability by minimizing dead space, ensuring safe and comfortable use during water activities.
Implementation Method 1
When the user inhales, the clean air enters the eye pocket 55 from the intake duct 41 of the breathing tube 4, enters the orinasal pocket 56 through the intake check valve 57
Implementation Method 2
A breathable mask design minimizes internal volume by creating a negative pressure space between the mask and the face
Data Source
AI summary
A breathable mask includes a main body and a breathing tube, and the breathing tube and an interior of the main body can be in fluid communication. The body includes a main frame, a lens module and a water-sealing skirt. The main frame has a lens frame, a mouth frame and a nose frame interposed therebetween. The lens module has a transparent lens portion. The water-sealing skirt is integrally formed by an eye skirt, a nose skirt and a mouth skirt, and a skirt frame is arranged in front of the eye skirt. The transparent lens portion and the skirt frame are embedded in the lens frame in a water-sealing manner, and the nose skirt part protrudes outward from the nose frame. The mouth skirt is adapted for one-way fluid communication to the outside through the mouth frame.