Snorkeling Mask Airflow Separation for Nasal Breathing and Anti-Fogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current snorkeling masks force users to breathe through the mouth, disrupting natural breathing habits, leading to potential oxygen deprivation and fogging of the viewing window due to mixed airflows, and expose the mouth to water, causing discomfort and insecurity.
Innovation Solution
A breathable mask design with separate upper and lower chambers, using a one-way valve for fresh air intake into the lower chamber and a drain valve for carbon dioxide exhalation, preventing airflow mixing and ensuring clear vision by isolating intake and exhaust paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a traditional snorkel mask with a single breathing pipe is used, then the mask structure is simple, but the intake and exhaust airflows mix causing carbon dioxide accumulation and viewing window fogging
Solution Approach 1:
The mask is divided into separate chambers: an upper chamber for eye coverage and an lower chamber for nasal breathing. The lower chamber contains separate intake and exhaust passages, while the upper chamber receives only fresh air through the viewing window, preventing mixing of intake and exhaust airflows.
2Reliability
If the breathing pipe is connected to the head strap through a fastening strap, then the breathing pipe is secured, but the fastening strap gets tangled with the user's hair reducing flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The breathing pipe is extracted from the head strap connection and repositioned to extend directly from the lower chamber of the mask. This eliminates the need for a separate fastening strap that could tangle with hair, while maintaining secure attachment through the mask's structural integration.
3Volume of moving object
If the mask covers only the eyes and nose, then the mask size is reduced, but the mouth is exposed to water causing discomfort and insecurity
Solution Approach 1:
The mask provides localized coverage: the upper chamber covers the eyes, the lower chamber covers the nose and mouth area. The waterproof skirt extends to cover the mouth region, providing protection against water while maintaining a compact overall size suitable for snorkeling.
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
Enables safe, comfortable snorkeling with clear vision by allowing nasal breathing, preventing fogging, and providing alternative mouth breathing options through a separate snorkel, enhancing user safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The lower chamber is provided with a one-way valve, so that fresh air can flow into the lower chamber through the one-way valve in a unidirectional manner
Implementation Method 2
The lower chamber is provided with a drain valve so that carbon dioxide and water can be discharged from the lower chamber in a unidirectional manner
Implementation Method 3
The waterproof skirt is embedded with the main frame and the viewing window. The waterproof skirt is configured to suitably fit a face of a user and has a partition dividing the interior of the body into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, which are isolated from each other
Implementation Method 4
A breathable mask for snorkeling includes a body and an intake conduit. The intake conduit is in fluid communication with an interior of the body. The body includes a main frame, a viewing window, a waterproof skirt
Data Source
AI summary
A breathable mask for snorkeling is provided, which includes a body and an intake conduit in fluid communication with the body's interior. The body includes a main frame, a viewing window, a waterproof skirt, an intake passage and a drain valve. The waterproof skirt has a partition dividing the interior into an upper chamber configured to accommodate a user's eyes only and a lower chamber configured to accommodate the user's nose only. The intake passage is only formed between the intake conduit and the lower chamber, and provided with a one-way valve for fresh air from outside unidirectionally flowing through the intake passage and entering the lower chamber. The drain valve is provided at a lower portion of the body so that air exhaled from the user's nose is capable of being limited to be unidirectionally discharged outwards from the lower chamber through the drain valve only.