Snorkeling Mask With Segmented Air Pockets for Low Dead Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Full-face snorkeling masks have a large inner volume, leading to increased carbon dioxide concentration due to enlarged dead space, posing safety risks and discomfort during use.
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 lens area is increased to cover the entire face, then the user can breathe through the nasal cavity, but the inner volume of the mask increases, leading to increased carbon dioxide concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The mask body is divided into two separate pockets: an upper eye pocket and a lower orinasal pocket. The orinasal pocket is further segmented into an inhalation region and an exhalation region separated by a partition wall. This segmentation isolates the breathing pathways, allowing nasal breathing while minimizing the volume of air that needs to be exchanged, thereby reducing carbon dioxide accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary internal spaces within the mask body. By designing a compact structure where the lens fits closely to the face and removing redundant volumetric space, the total inner volume is minimized while maintaining the functionality of covering the entire face and enabling nasal breathing.
2Reliability
If the inner volume of the mask is reduced, then carbon dioxide concentration decreases, but the comfort and sealing around the face may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the mask are designed with different qualities and functions. The eye pocket provides a larger volume for eye comfort and protection, while the orinasal pocket is minimized for breathing efficiency. The partition wall within the orinasal pocket creates localized functional zones for inhalation and exhalation, optimizing both comfort and safety in different areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask design incorporates dynamic breathing pathways where air flows are directed through specific channels during inhalation and exhalation. The pivot check valves dynamically open and close based on breathing direction, allowing the system to adapt to the user's breathing cycle while maintaining minimal dead space volume.
3Weight of moving object
If the mask structure is simplified to reduce weight, then portability improves, but breathing efficiency and carbon dioxide management may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The breathing system is segmented into distinct functional components: the eye pocket, orinasal pocket, partition wall, and pivot check valves. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall structure lightweight. The partition wall, for example, is a simple structural element that effectively separates air flows without adding significant weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot check valves are designed to automatically direct air flows based on pressure differences created during breathing, without requiring external control mechanisms. The valves self-regulate the breathing pathways, opening during inhalation to allow fresh air in and closing during exhalation to direct air out, maintaining breathing efficiency with minimal mechanical complexity and weight.
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, improves breathing efficiency, and enhances user comfort and convenience by minimizing dead space and weight, making it safer and easier to use.
Implementation Method 1
pivot check valves for efficient air intake and exhaust
Implementation Method 2
creating a negative pressure space between the mask and the face
Data Source
AI summary
A breathable mask includes a main frame, a transparent lens portion, a water-sealing skirt and a breathing tube. The main frame includes a lens frame, a mouth frame and a nose frame interposed therebetween. 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 protrudes outward from the nose frame. A purge valve is provided between the mouth skirt and the mouth frame. The mouth skirt is adapted for one-way fluid communication to the outside through the purge valve and the mouth frame.