Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Draw-type snorkel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-10-16
Lewis, Aaron J. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Draw-type snorkel
C128S201280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302102
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to diving snorkels of the “dry” type utilizing separate passages for inlet air and exhaust air.
2. Description of the Related Art
Originally, diving snorkels consisted only of a shaped tube whereby the diver could breathe through the tube while the face was submerged. Over the years, more sophisticated snorkel constructions have utilized valves to close the snorkel to the entrance of water when the snorkel is entirely submerged, for instance when the diver dives. “Dry” snorkels have been developed wherein valves are utilized to minimize the entrance of water into the valve body during snorkel submersion, however, as the usual snorkel construction uses a single passage for both inlet and exhaust air, the clearing of the exhaust air from the snorkel prior to drawing clean air therein requires greater difficulty than involved in normal breathing, and the majority of snorkel constructions do not separate inlet or inhaled air from expired air.
Attempts have been made to devise snorkels having a plurality of air passages, and devices of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 46,902; 2,362,775; 3,721,236; 5,117,817; and 5,664,558. However, the snorkels disclosed in the aforementioned patents are either unduly burdensome, heavy or expensive, and are not capable of readily maintaining separation of air inlet and exhaust air control, and such devices are of such complexity as to substantially raise the cost of the snorkel. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,558, separate passages for air inlet and exhaust air are shown, but the valving therefor is not so located and positioned with respect to the snorkel construction as to provide optimum advantages such as those achieved by the invention.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an attractive dry diving snorkel molded of a synthetic plastic material wherein the snorkel body includes separate air passages for inlet and exhaled exhaust air.
A further object of the invention is to provide a dry attractive diving snorkel having separate passages for inlet and exhaled air, and where the upper end of the snorkel includes separate valving for each passage and prevents significant intermixing of fresh air and exhaled air in the snorkel body.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dry molded snorkel having separate air inlet and air exhaust passages and valved ports wherein the passage valves are located on the underside of the upper end of the snorkel body in side-by-side relationship to produce optimum water shedding and protection from dynamic water pressure.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a molded synthetic plastic diving snorkel having an integral strap clamp wherein the strap clamp components are simultaneously molded at the time of the molding of the snorkel body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The snorkel body is molded of a synthetic material, normally a thermoplastic material, in two mirror image parts which are then aligned and bonded together to define a tubular body having upper and lower ends.
A barrier wall is defined within the body halves whereby assembly of the halves defines two separate air passages, one for inlet air, and one for exhaled exhaust air, the passages extending throughout the body length.
The snorkel body is of a curved configuration wherein the underside of the snorkel body upper end is in opposed relationship to the upper side of the body lower end. Elastic diaphragm valves are located within the air inlet passage and exhaled exhaust air passage within the ports of the passages as defined in the body on the underside of the snorkel body upper end. These ports are in side-by-side relationship and extend downwardly whereby water shedding from the snorkel body upon the snorkel breaking the water surface does not enter the air ports and passages.
An elastic uni-directional diaphragm valve is located within the port of each passage of the snorkel. The diaphragm valves are pre-tensioned in such a manner as to be normally closed except when air passes through the passage in the pre-determined direction, and the normal closed relationship assures a “dry” snorkel wherein the snorkel air passages will be free of water even when the snorkel is submerged.
An elastic mouthpiece is affixed to the lower end of the snorkel body communicating with the body lower end and the air passages defined therein. A diaphragm-type water drain valve may be located within the mouthpiece to aid in maintaining the air passages free of water.
A strap clamp is integrally molded on the body halves including hinge, shoulder and strap clamping areas whereby a cover hingedly mounted on the hinge having a lip selectively cooperating with the shoulder permits the diver's mask strap to be trapped within the clamp for holding the snorkel in position during use.
The construction of the snorkel of the invention results in a very attractive modern appearance which is highly functional, separates fresh and exhaled exhausted air, maintains the air passages substantially free of water, and requires no special attention by the user.
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Giroux Edward J.
Smith Gerald D.
Lewis Aaron J.
Young & Basile P.C.
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