Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Draw-type snorkel
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-31
2003-12-30
Lewis, Aaron J. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Draw-type snorkel
C128S201270, C128S201280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06668822
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of water snorkels for swimming and diving, and particularly to a snorkel having an enhanced system for restricting entrance of water into, and the purging of water from, the breathing tube during use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of a breathing tube to allow a swimmer to maintain facial position below the surface of the water is well known. Snorkels are useful in clear water to allow observation of underwater plant and animal life.
A swimmer will stroke with ideal efficiency when his or her face is in the water, but the back of the head remains out of the water. Many swimmers find breathing difficult while maintaining ideal stroke form, as pushing the chin forward to lift the back of the head out of the water creates a strain in the trachea.
Moreover, when a swimmer raises his or her head to breathe, the hips and legs sink into the water. A two-inch vertical lift of the head can result in a four-to six-inch drop of the hips, and a corresponding eight- to twelve-inch drop of the feet. This departure from ideal stroke form can double the frontal surface area offered to the water, thereby doubling the water resistance encountered by the swimmer.
Because a snorkel allows the swimmer to breathe without raising his or her head, snorkels have been used to assist athlete's train for competition. Under these circumstances, it is important that the swimmer can easily purge water from the breathing tube during use, to prevent interruption of his/her training.
Traditional purge valve designs used for diving are not suitable for use in swimming. In order to activate a conventional diving purge valve, the reservoir surrounding the valve must be filled with water above the mouth area. When the user sharply exhales, water in the snorkel is forced upward, and provides sufficient back-pressure to offset external water pressure and activate the purge valve. Accumulated air and water are expunged, and the swimmer can breathe again.
When a scuba diver uses a snorkel, water normally fills the entire snorkel and the conventional purge valve works adequately. However, when a snorkel is used primarily for surface activities such as swimming and snorkeling, the snorkel will contain some water but will not ordinarily become filled.
The conventional diving-type purge valve is thus unsuited for swimming and snorkeling, as a relatively large volume of water must accumulate in the snorkel before it can be purged. This accumulated water consumes valuable air space, decreasing the flow of air available to the swimmer. Accumulated water can also splash into the swimmer's airway, making breathing uncomfortable.
There is thus a need in the art for a snorkel design that permits a swimmer to efficiently purge the snorkel of water during use, without having to wait for the snorkel to fill with a relatively large volume of water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a snorkel, which includes an elongate breathing tube having an upper portion and a lower portion. A lower opening is formed in the lower portion and an upper opening is formed in the upper portion. A mouthpiece is located at the lower opening of the snorkel.
A one-way valve is disposed in the lower portion and is oriented to prevent the flow of fluids into the lower portion, but to permit the flow of gases and fluids out of the lower portion. A check valve is disposed in the upper portion. The check valve includes a plate pivotable from an open position permitting airflow through the upper opening, to a closed position preventing airflow through the upper opening. A spring member contacts the plate, biasing the plate in the open position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3218607 (1965-11-01), Brock et al.
patent: 3268854 (1966-08-01), Sato
patent: 3292618 (1966-12-01), Davis et al.
patent: 3451039 (1969-06-01), Epstein et al.
patent: 3603306 (1971-09-01), Bonin, Jr.
patent: 3736551 (1973-05-01), Hirsch
patent: 3789353 (1974-01-01), Hunter et al.
patent: 3860042 (1975-01-01), Green
patent: 4039999 (1977-08-01), Hill
patent: 4071024 (1978-01-01), Blanc
patent: 4230106 (1980-10-01), Geeslin et al.
patent: 4269182 (1981-05-01), Le
patent: 4276623 (1981-06-01), Abbott
patent: 4278080 (1981-07-01), Schuch
patent: 4380232 (1983-04-01), Doyle
patent: 4610246 (1986-09-01), Delphia
patent: 4655212 (1987-04-01), Delphia
patent: 4708135 (1987-11-01), Arkema
patent: 4782830 (1988-11-01), Forman
patent: 4799263 (1989-01-01), Banziger et al.
patent: 4805610 (1989-02-01), Hunt
patent: 4834084 (1989-05-01), Walsh
patent: 4877022 (1989-10-01), Christianson
patent: 4878491 (1989-11-01), McGilvray, III
patent: 4879995 (1989-11-01), Christianson
patent: 4884564 (1989-12-01), Lamont
patent: 4896664 (1990-01-01), Harayama
patent: 4928710 (1990-05-01), Campbell
patent: 5092324 (1992-03-01), Christianson
patent: D328959 (1992-08-01), Greatrake et al.
patent: 5143059 (1992-09-01), Delphia
patent: 5199422 (1993-04-01), Rasocha
patent: D335322 (1993-05-01), Jones
patent: 5239990 (1993-08-01), Delphia
patent: D339399 (1993-09-01), Lin
patent: D339400 (1993-09-01), Lin
patent: 5261396 (1993-11-01), Faulconer et al.
patent: 5267556 (1993-12-01), Feng
patent: 5280785 (1994-01-01), Fujima
patent: 5404872 (1995-04-01), Choi
patent: 5438977 (1995-08-01), Gomez et al.
patent: 5487379 (1996-01-01), Koshiishi
patent: 5493079 (1996-02-01), Anderson
patent: 5529057 (1996-06-01), Ferrero et al.
patent: 5657746 (1997-08-01), Christianson
patent: 5664558 (1997-09-01), Wagner
patent: 5671728 (1997-09-01), Winefordner et al.
patent: 5697362 (1997-12-01), Albrecht
patent: 5845635 (1998-12-01), Hermansen et al.
patent: 5865169 (1999-02-01), Lan et al.
patent: 5868129 (1999-02-01), Christianson
patent: 6085744 (2000-07-01), Hermansen et al.
patent: 6129081 (2000-10-01), Wu
patent: 6202644 (2001-03-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 6302102 (2001-10-01), Giroux et al.
patent: 6318363 (2001-11-01), Monnich
patent: 6371108 (2002-04-01), Christianson
patent: 6516797 (2003-02-01), Chen-Lieh
patent: 2 723 064 (1996-02-01), None
patent: 2 791 948 (2000-10-01), None
patent: WO 91/17916 (1991-11-01), None
“2100 Ball, Check, Gate & Port Valves,” Ewing Irrigation Products, Phoenix, Arizona, pp. 66 (advertisement).
Finis, Inc., “Fin Swimming for Recreation, Fitness, Swimming Development and Competitions—The Swimmer's Snorkel” Internet Web Site Page http://www.finis-net.com/snorkel.htm.
European Patent Office Communication and Search Report dated Feb. 15, 2002.
Lewis Aaron J.
Stallman & Pollock LLP
LandOfFree
Snorkel with improved purging system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Snorkel with improved purging system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Snorkel with improved purging system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3115793