DIVING MASK WITH PRESSURE-BALANCING MEANS

Abstract

Diving mask including a snorkel with a valve, the valve including a valve orifice configured to allow fluid circulation between an outside of the snorkel and an inside of the snorkel, and a valve closure member, which can move between an open position in which the valve orifice is open and a closed position in which the valve orifice is closed by the valve closure member, wherein the mask includes a balancing means for limiting a pressure difference between the internal pressure of the mask and the external pressure, the balancing means being configured to allow fluid circulation between the outside of the mask and the inside of the mask when the mask is used by a user and when the closure member is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A diving mask comprising a snorkel with a valve, the valve including: a valve orifice configured to allow fluid circulation between an outside of the snorkel and an inside of the snorkel, and a valve closure member which can move between an open position, in which the valve orifice is open, and a closed position, in which the valve orifice is closed by the valve closure member, wherein the mask includes a balancing means for limiting a pressure difference between an internal pressure of the mask and an external pressure on the mask, the balancing means being configured to allow fluid circulation from the outside of the mask to the inside of the mask when the mask is used by a user and when the closure member is in the closed position.

2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the balancing means is mounted on the closure member.

3. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the valve includes a valve body in which the valve orifice is provided, and wherein the balancing means is mounted on the valve body.

4. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the snorkel includes a wall delimiting the inside of the snorkel relative to the outside of the snorkel, and wherein the balancing means is mounted on the wall of the snorkel.

5. The mask according to claim 1, including a body delimiting the inside of the mask relative to the outside of the mask, and wherein the balancing means is mounted on the body of the mask.

6. The mask accordant to claim 1, wherein the balancing means has a shape configured to allow fluid circulation through the balancing means only when the pressure difference is greater than a determined value.

7. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the balancing means includes a valve element configured to allow fluid circulation through the balancing means only when the pressure difference is greater than a determined value.

8. The mask according to claim 6, wherein the determined pressure difference value for which the balancing means is configured to allow circulation of a liquid between the outside of the mask and the inside of the mask, is greater than the determined pressure difference value for which the balancing means is configured to allow air circulation between the outside of the mask and the inside of the mask.

9. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the balancing means comprises a through channel.

10. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of an area of the valve orifice to an area of the balancing means is greater than 1.

11. The mask according to claim 1, including a body delimiting the inside of the mask relative to the outside, the body comprising: a frame surrounding the user's face, a visor surrounded by the frame, a flexible skirt fixed to the frame, the skirt including a partition delimiting an upper chamber for vision and a lower chamber for breathing, the partition being arranged to bear above a nose of the user such that a mouth of the user and the nose of the user are located in the lower chamber, the partition including at least one passage arranged to allow circulation of inhaled air directed from the upper chamber to the lower chamber during a phase of inhalation of the user, wherein the frame comprises at least a first duct for the exhaled air, said first duct having an upper end opening inside the snorkel, and a lower end fluidly communicating with the lower chamber.

12. The mask according to claim 11, wherein the snorkel has an inhaled air intake channel and at least a first exhaled air exhaust channel, said snorkel being an extension of an upper portion of the frame, the inhaled air intake channel opening into the upper chamber while the first exhaled air exhaust channel communicates with the lower chamber, and wherein the first duct of the frame has an upper end opening into the exhaled air exhaust channel.

13. A snorkel for a diving mask according to claim 2, comprising a valve including: a valve orifice configured to allow fluid circulation between an outside of the snorkel and an inside of the snorkel, and a valve closure member which can move between an open position in which the valve orifice is open and a closed position in which the valve orifice is closed by the valve closure member, wherein the snorkel includes a balancing means for limiting a pressure difference between an internal pressure of the snorkel and an external pressure on the snorkel, the balancing means being configured to allow fluid circulation from the outside of the snorkel to the inside of the snorkel when the mask is used by a user and when the closure member is in the closed position.

14. The mask according to claim 4, wherein the snorkel includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and the balancing means is mounted on the wall of the distal portion of the snorkel.

15. The mask according to claim 7, herein the valve element is a flexible membrane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diving mask according to the disclosure, comprising a snorkel;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the snorkel of the mask of FIG. 1, when the valve is in the open position;

[0046] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the snorkel of FIG. 2;

[0047] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the snorkel of the mask of FIG. 1, when the valve is in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1 represents an exemplary embodiment of a diving mask 1 according to the present disclosure. The diving mask 1 includes a body 2 and a snorkel 4 mounted, optionally removably, on the body 2.

[0049] The body 2 comprises for example a frame 6, a visor 8 and a flexible skirt 10.

[0050] The frame 6 is generally oblong with an upper portion 6a and a lower portion 6b, and forms, in use, a banding surrounding the user's face.

[0051] The frame 6 may also include a first duct for the exhaled air (not represented) making it possible to convey, at least partly, the air exhaled by the user to the snorkel 4, for example from the lower chamber defined below, and a first duct for the inhaled air (not represented) making it possible to convey, at least partly, the inhaled air from the snorkel 4 to the user, for example to the upper chamber defined below.

[0052] The frame 6 finally includes slots 11 intended to receive one or more elastic straps (not illustrated here).

[0053] The visor 8 is secured to the frame 6. In this example, the visor 8 is made of a rigid and transparent plastic material, for example polycarbonate.

[0054] As can be understood from FIG. 1, the frame 6 surrounds the visor 8. In this non-limiting example, the frame 6 is a part distinct from the visor. Without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the frame could however form a single piece with the visor.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 1, it is seen that the visor 8 is shaped to cover the face of the user. The visor includes a transparent flat portion 8a intended to be located substantially at the user's eyes, and a domed portion 8b intended to be located at the user's nose and mouth. In this non-limiting example, the domed portion 8b is transparent. However, and without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the domed portion 8b could be opaque or transparent and covered with an opaque cover.

[0056] The visor 8 can also include a purge valve element 12 for the discharge of water which could have entered the mask 1. The purge valve element 12 can be mounted on the visor 8, in its lower portion, on the side of the lower portion 6b of the frame 6.

[0057] The skirt 10 is made of a flexible material, for example in a silicone elastomer such as LSR silicone. The skirt 10 is fixed to the visor 8 for example thanks to the frame 6 and is intended to provide the sealing between the inside of the mask 1 and the outside, efficiently and comfortably for the user.

[0058] The flexible skirt 10 includes a partition 14 delimiting an upper chamber 16 for vision, and a lower chamber 18 for breathing, the partition 14 being arranged to bear above the user's nose such that the user's mouth and nose are located in the lower chamber 18, while the user's eyes are located in the upper chamber 16.

[0059] The upper chamber 16 is in fluid communication with the first duct for the inhaled air of the frame 6, while the lower chamber 18 is in fluid communication with the first duct for the exhaled air of the frame 6.

[0060] The partition 14 is fixed to the visor 8 by an added fixing part which is clipped to fixing lugs 20 protruding from an inner face of the domed portion 8b of the visor 8.

[0061] The partition 14 includes two orifices which engage with the fixing lugs 20 before positioning the fixing part.

[0062] The partition 14 also includes two check valves 22 which are arranged to allow only a flow of fresh air directed from the upper chamber 16 to the lower chamber 18 during a phase of inhalation of the user.

[0063] Thus, during an exhalation phase, the exhaled air has the effect of closing the check valves 22, which has the effect of preventing the exhaled air from passing from the lower chamber 18 to the upper chamber 16. The exhaled air will therefore be conveyed from the lower chamber 18 to the snorkel 4 by the first duct for the exhaled air.

[0064] During an inhalation phase, the pressure drop which occurs in the lower chamber 18 has the effect of opening the check valves 22, whereby the fresh air can flow from the snorkel 4 to the lower chamber 18 by passing through the first duct for the inhaled air and the upper chamber 16.

[0065] The diving mask 1 also includes the snorkel 4, of generally tubular shape, with a proximal portion 4a connected to the upper portion 6a of the frame 6, and a distal portion 4b opposite the proximal portion 4a.

[0066] In this example, the proximal portion 4a of the snorkel 4 is mounted on the body 2 of the mask, for example on the frame 6, in a removable manner. The snorkel 4 can therefore be unclipped from the frame 6, which allows reducing the bulk of the mask 1 when the latter is not used.

[0067] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the proximal portion 4a of the snorkel 4 has a general tubular shape delimited by a wall 24 and extending up to the distal portion 4b. The distal portion 4b is closed by a cover 26, or end-piece, and includes an internal chamber 28 and a cage 30 with air circulation openings 32 and a valve 34. The valve 34 allows the closure of the snorkel 4 when the latter is immerged, in order to avoid the entry of water into the mask 1, and for example includes a body 36 with a valve orifice 38 and a valve closure member 40.

[0068] The snorkel 4 comprises an inhaled air intake channel 42 and at least one exhaled air exhaust channel 44. The inhaled air intake channel 42 and the exhaled air exhaust channel 44 both extend between the proximal portion 4a of the snorkel 4 and the internal chamber 28 of the distal portion 4b. Thus, when the snorkel 4 is mounted on the body 2 of the mask, the inhaled air intake channel 42 of the snorkel is in fluid communication, at the proximal portion 4a of the snorkel 4, with the first duct for the inhaled air of the frame 6, and the exhaled air exhaust channel 44 is in fluid communication, at the proximal portion 4a of the snorkel, with the first duct for the exhaled air of the frame 6.

[0069] Furthermore, at the distal portion 4b of the snorkel, the inhaled air intake channel 42 and the exhaled air exhaust channel 44 both open into the internal chamber 28, respectively through check valves 46 and 48 for fluidly linking the internal chamber 28 to the inhaled air intake channel 42 when the user inhales, and to the exhaled air exhaust channel 44 when the user exhales.

[0070] The internal chamber 28 is delimited on the one hand by the cover 26 and on the other hand by the valve body 36 and by the check valves 46, 48. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the valves 46, 48 and the valve orifice 38 can be produced in a single piece, for example in the form of a plate, forming the body of the valve 36.

[0071] The valve orifice 38 allows fluid circulation between the outside and the inside of the snorkel 4, for example between the outside and the internal chamber 28 of the snorkel 4. The closure member 40, for example a float, is mounted movable in translation, in the cage 30, relative to the valve body 36. The closure member 40 has for example an open position (see FIG. 2) in which the valve orifice 38 is open, and a closed position (see FIG. 4) in which it closes the valve orifice 38.

[0072] The operation is as follows.

[0073] When the snorkel 4 is out of the water, the float 40 is in the low position, so that air can flow from the inhaled air intake channel 42 or from the exhaled air exhaust channel 44, to the internal chamber 28 then to the atmosphere via the valve 34 and the openings 32 of the cage 30.

[0074] When the snorkel 4 is immerged, the float 40 rises to press against the valve body 36, which has the effect of closing off the valve orifice 38, as a result of which air cannot enter the snorkel 4.

[0075] For example, when the valve 34 is closed, the inside of the mask becomes a closed space which can be depressed if the user continues to inhale. A more pronounced crushing of the skirt 10 of the mask (suction effect) is then observed, which can be unpleasant for the user. In addition, the valve 34 can also remain in the closed position once the snorkel 4 has emerged, if the depression inside the mask 1 is greater than the weight of the float 40.

[0076] In order to avoid such drawbacks, the mask 1 according to the present disclosure includes a balancing means 46. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the balancing means 46 is in the form of a through channel 47 disposed on the float 40 of the valve 34. When the valve 34 is in the closed position, the through channel 47 opens on one side to the outside of the mask 1, and on the other side to the valve orifice 38. Thus, even when the valve 34 is in the closed position, there is a fluid connection between the outside and the internal chamber 28 of the snorkel 4 via the balancing means 46. The balancing means 46 therefore allows compensating for a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the snorkel 4, in order to avoid the suction effect or to avoid holding the valve 34 in the closed position.

[0077] In order to limit the entry of water into the mask 1, the through channel 47 of the balancing means 46 has a cross section much smaller than the area of the valve orifice 38. For example, the ratio of the area of the valve orifice 38 on the cross section of the through channel 47 may be greater than 1, optionally comprised between 1 and 1,000,000, optionally comprised between 10 and 100,000, optionally comprised between 100 and 10,000.

[0078] Furthermore, the balancing means 46 may also comprise a valve element 48, mounted in the through channel 47, and making it possible to create the fluid connection only when the pressure difference on either side of the balancing means 46 is greater than or equal to a determined pressure.

[0079] Alternatively, or in addition, the shape of the balancing means 46, for example its shape factor such as the ratio of the cross section to the length of the through channel 47, can also allow introducing a minimum pressure difference on either side of the balancing means 46 in order to obtain a fluid connection.

[0080] Thus, the balancing means 46 allows limiting the pressure difference that may exist between the inside and the outside of the mask 1, by allowing an entry of fluid (air or water) inside the snorkel 4, under the effect of the existing depression, when the valve 34 is in the closed state.

[0081] It should be noted that the figures represent only one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the balancing means 46 is mounted on the closure member 40 of the valve 34. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this single embodiment, but also covers its variants.

[0082] Thus, the balancing means can be mounted on the body 36 of the valve 34, for example in the form of a hole, possibly with a valve element, positioned next to the valve orifice 38 and allowing the entry of fluid from outside in the internal chamber 28.

[0083] Alternatively, the balancing means can be mounted on the cover 26, so as to create a fluid connection between the outside and the internal chamber 28. In the latter case, it can be noted that the balancing means may allow the entry of air in the snorkel 4 if only the valve 34 is immerged, but not the entire cover 26.

[0084] Alternatively, the balancing means can be mounted on the wall 24 of the snorkel, in the proximal portion 4a, optionally between the outside and the exhaled air exhaust channel 44, so that water which can enter the mask 1 via the balancing means is found in the lower chamber 18 of the mask and not in the upper chamber 16.

[0085] Alternatively, the balancing means can be mounted on the body 2 of the mask, for example on the visor 8, in the bottom portion next to the purge valve element 12.

[0086] Thus, thanks to the balancing means according to the present disclosure, it may become possible to limit the pressure difference between the inside of the mask and the outside, when the valve is in the closed position. This may avoid a potential of blockage of the valve in the closed position when the mask is out of the water, as well as the difficulties in removing the mask by hand by the user, while limiting and controlling the possible amount of water entering the mask. The mask may thus become more comfortable and more pleasant to use, while providing the same functions and advantages as previously.