Mask for surface snorkeling

Abstract

A mask for surface snorkeling includes a rigid frame (2), a transparent visor (3), a soft face mask (4) sealingly applicable to the face of the user and having a membrane (7) which delimits an upper viewing chamber (8) being shaped to contain the eyes of the user and a lower breathing chamber (9) being shaped to contain the nose and the mouth of the user, and a breathing circuit (5) connected to the lower chamber (9), a ventilation circuit of the upper chamber (8) being further provided that is independent of and separated from the breathing circuit (5).

Claims

1. A mask (1) for surface snorkeling comprising a rigid frame (2), a transparent visor (3), a soft face mask (4) configured to be sealingly applicable to the face of the user and having a membrane (7) which delimits an upper viewing chamber (8) being shaped to contain the eyes of the user and a lower breathing chamber (9) being shaped to contain the nose and mouth of the user, the mask further comprises a first two-way circuit (5) of forced air exchange induced by a user's breathing, said first two-way circuit (5) connecting said lower breathing chamber (9) with the external atmospheric environment, and a second bidirectional circuit (10) of convective air exchange induced by the temperature difference between the upper viewing chamber (8) and the external atmospheric environment, said second bidirectional circuit (10) connecting said upper viewing chamber (8) with the external atmospheric environment for aeration of the upper viewing chamber (8) and comprising a diffuser (31) extending internally into the upper viewing chamber (8) towards a zone in front of the user's eyes.

2. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 1, wherein said diffuser (31) has a tubular shape.

3. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 1, wherein said diffuser (31) is delimited by an internal wall of the visor (3).

4. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 1, wherein said first two-way circuit (5) comprises a first connecting conduit (11) for connecting said lower breathing chamber (9) to the atmospheric environment external to the mask (1), and said second bidirectional circuit (10) comprises a second connecting conduit (12) for connecting said upper viewing chamber (8) to the atmospheric environment external to the mask (1), and in that said first and second connecting conduits (11, 12) are equipped with floating shutter means (13a, 13b).

5. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 4, wherein said first connecting conduit (11) has a passage section which is free throughout its length when said floating shutter means (13a, 13b) are in open position thus establishing a direct air connection of said lower breathing chamber (9) to the atmospheric environment external to the mask.

6. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 4, wherein said second connecting conduit (12) has a passage section which is free throughout its length when said floating shutter means (13a, 13b) are in open position thus establishing a direct air connection of said upper viewing chamber (8) to the atmospheric environment external to the mask (1).

7. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 4, wherein said diffuser (31) is arranged on an extension of the second connecting conduit (12).

8. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 4, wherein said second connecting conduit (12) comprises a proximal part (12a) which opens in said upper viewing chamber (8) and a distal part (12b) from said upper viewing chamber (8), wherein said proximal part (12a) is connected to said visor (3) and is made in one-piece with said visor (3) and said distal part (12b) is removably engaged with said proximal part (12a) and supports said floating shutter means (13).

9. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 8, wherein said diffuser (31) has a mechanical or friction or shape coupling with said proximal part (12a) of the second connecting conduit (12).

10. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 4, wherein said first connecting conduit (11) comprises a proximal part (11a) which opens in said lower breathing chamber (9) and a distal part (11b) from said lower breathing chamber (9), wherein said proximal part (11a) is delimited by opposite grooves (16, 17) respectively of said visor (3) and said soft face mask (4), and said distal part (11b) is removably engaged with said proximal part (11a) and supports said floating shutter means (13a, 13b).

11. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 10, wherein said visor (3) has a front wall (18) having a flat portion (18a) which delimits said upper viewing chamber (8) and an inwardly concave portion (18b) which delimits said lower breathing chamber (9), and a lateral wall (19) which extends peripherally and at the rear of said front wall (18), wherein said groove (17) in said visor (3) is delimited by a partition (20) that extends from said flat portion (18a).

12. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 10, wherein said visor (3) has a front wall (18) having a flat portion (18a) which delimits said upper viewing chamber (8) and an inwardly concave portion (18b) which delimits said lower breathing chamber (9), and a lateral wall (19) which extends peripherally and at the rear of said front wall (18), wherein said soft face mask (4) has a peripheral lip (26) and wherein the external peripheral edge of said lateral wall (19) a groove (25) is formed to house said peripheral lip (26).

13. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 12, wherein said peripheral lip (26) has a peripheral groove (28) to house said rigid frame (2).

14. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 4, wherein said first connecting conduit and said second connecting conduit (11, 12) are juxtaposed.

15. The mask (1) for surface snorkeling according to claim 4, wherein said first and second connecting conduits (11, 12) are positioned laterally with respect to a central axis of symmetry of said visor (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment of the mask for surface snorkeling according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the mask;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the mask;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side raised view of the mask;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a front view of the mask;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a partially sectioned front view of the mask;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the breathing conduit, taken along line 6-6 of the figure; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows the face mask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

(9) With reference to the figures, a mask for snorkeling 1 is shown comprising a rigid frame 2, a transparent visor 3, a soft face mask 4 sealingly applicable to the face of the user.

(10) The face mask 4 has a closed loop band 6 that is adaptable to the oval shape of the user's face and a membrane 7, shaped in particular as an upturned “V”, which with the band 6 and the visor 3 delimits an upper viewing chamber 8 shaped so as to contain the eyes of the user and a lower breathing chamber 9 being shaped to contain the nose and the mouth of the user.

(11) The mask 1 comprises a first two-directional circuit of forced air exchange induced by the breath 5 of the user.

(12) This first circuit 5 connects the lower chamber 9 with the external atmospheric environment.

(13) The mask 1 has a second bidirectional circuit of convective air exchange induced by the temperature difference 10 between the upper chamber 8 and the external atmospheric environment.

(14) This second circuit 10 connects the upper chamber 8 with the external atmospheric environment.

(15) Advantageously, the second circuit 10 comprises a diffuser 31 that extends inside the upper chamber 8 to the zone in front of the eyes of the user.

(16) The diffuser 31 has a tubular shape.

(17) In particular, the diffuser 31 is delimited by the internal wall of the visor 3 and by an independent marking out element 32 mounted on the internal wall of the visor 3.

(18) In a preferred embodiment, the independent marking out element 32 mounted on the internal wall of the visor 3 has a U section.

(19) Advantageously, the first 5 and the second circuit 10 are independent and separate, in other words they are not communicating and air does not pass from one circuit to the other.

(20) The first circuit 5 comprises a first conduit 11 connecting the lower chamber 9 to the atmospheric environment external to the mask 1.

(21) The second circuit 10 in turn comprises a second conduit 12 connecting the upper chamber 8 to the atmospheric environment external to the mask 1.

(22) The first conduit 11 and the second conduit 12 are equipped with floating shutter means, for example of the type indicated in the figure with 13a, 13b.

(23) Advantageously, said first conduit 11 has a passage section 14 which is free throughout its length when the shutter means 13a, 13b are in an open position, thus establishing a direct air connection of the lower chamber 9 to the atmospheric environment external to the mask 1.

(24) Advantageously, also the second conduit 12 has a passage section 15 which is free throughout its length when the shutter means 13a, 13b are in an open position, thus establishing a direct air connection of said upper chamber 8 to the atmospheric environment external to the mask 1.

(25) Advantageously, the diffuser 31 acts as an extension of the second conduit 12, directing the air uniformly to the zone in front of the eyes of the user.

(26) The second conduit 12 comprises a proximal part 12a leading into the upper chamber 8 and a distal part 12b from the upper chamber 12.

(27) The proximal part 12a of the second conduit 12 is connected to the visor 3 and is made as one piece with the visor 3, whereas the distal part 12b of the second conduit 12 is removably engaged with the proximal part 12a of the second conduit 12 and supports the shutter means 13a, 13b.

(28) In greater detail, the diffuser 31 has a friction or shape coupling with the proximal part 12a of the second conduit 12.

(29) For example, the diffuser 31 can be made of soft material and be fitted in the proximal part 12a of the second conduit 12.

(30) Alternatively, the diffuser 31 can be made of rigid material and have mechanical connection means that is couplable with respective engagement seats obtained at the proximal part 12a of the second conduit 12.

(31) Or also, the diffuser 31 and the proximal part 12a of the second conduit 12 can be connected by welding or gluing.

(32) Or, lastly, the diffuser 31 can be made from a single mould as a single piece with the visor 3.

(33) In greater detail, the diffuser 31 can be made of transparent or opaque material and can be made of the same material as the second conduit 12.

(34) This diffuser 31 can have a rectilinear or curvilinear extent between a first end and a second end.

(35) In particular, in order to improve circulation of the air in the upper chamber 8, the diffuser 31 can have a section variation in an axial direction.

(36) For example, the diffuser 31 can have a section of the first area end that is greater, less or the same as the area of the section of the second end.

(37) The first conduit 11 comprises a proximal part 11a leading into the lower chamber 9 and a distal part 11b from the lower chamber 9.

(38) The proximal part 11a of the first conduit 11 is delimited by grooves 16, 17 placed respectively opposite the visor 3 and the face mask 4, whereas the distal part 11b of the first conduit 11 is removably engaged with the proximal part 11a of the first conduit 11 and supports the shutter means 13a, 13b.

(39) In the illustrated case, the first conduit 11 and the second conduit 12 are positioned laterally with respect to a central symmetry axis of the visor 3 and are juxtaposed.

(40) In particular, the distal part 11b of the first conduit 11 and the distal part 12b of the second conduit 12 are juxtaposed and share the shutter means that comprises a single shutter 13a operating on both the first conduit 11 and on the second conduit 12 and a single float 13b for driving the shutter 13a.

(41) In one version of the invention that is not illustrated, the first conduit 11 and the second conduit are in a remote position from one another and in this case the shutter means comprises a shutter and a float dedicated to the first conduit 11 and a shutter and a float dedicated to the second conduit 12.

(42) The position of the first conduit 11 and of the second conduit 12 can vary, for example, the first conduit 11 and the second conduit 12 can be positioned at a central axis of symmetry of the visor 3 or laterally but on an opposite side to a central symmetry axis of the visor 3.

(43) The visor 3 shows in detail a front wall 18 and a lateral wall 19 that extends peripherally and to the rear of the front wall 18.

(44) The front wall 18 has a flat portion 18a that in cooperation with the band 6 and the membrane 7 delimits the upper chamber 8, and a concave portion 18b from the side facing in use the face of the user, which, still in cooperation with the band 6 and the membrane 7, delimits the lower chamber 9.

(45) The proximal portion 12a of the second conduit 12 in particular is completely outside the visor 3 and leads into a through hole 21 of the lateral wall 19 of the visor 3 that opens on the upper chamber 8.

(46) The proximal portion 11a of the first conduit 11 has a portion 22 inside the visor 3 defined by the grooves 16, 17 and a portion 23 outside the visor 3.

(47) The portion 22 inside the visor 3, which leads into the lower chamber 9, and the portion 23 outside the visor 3 are connected by a through hole 24 of the lateral wall 19 of the visor 3.

(48) The groove 17 in the visor 3 is delimited by a partition 20 that rises behind the flat portion 18a of the front wall 18.

(49) The partition 20 has a plate-shaped longitudinal body oriented orthogonally to the flat portion 18a.

(50) A first part 20a of the partition 20 extends along a peripheral stretch of a flat portion 18a of the front wall 18 and a second part 20b extends beyond the flat portion 18a of the front wall 18.

(51) The first part 20a of the partition 20 delimits the groove 17 in cooperation with the portion of the lateral wall 19 that it faces.

(52) The second part 20b of the partition 20, which intersects the lateral wall 19 between the through holes 21, 24, separates the proximal portion 12a of the second conduit 12 from the portion 23 outside the visor 3 of the proximal portion 11a of the first conduit 11.

(53) Along the outer peripheral edge of the lateral wall 19 of the visor 3 a groove 25 is formed housing a peripheral lip 26 of the face mask 4.

(54) The peripheral lip 26 of the face mask 4 has, on the side opposite the lateral wall 19 of the visor 3, a peripheral groove 28 housing the frame 2.

(55) The frame 2 in particular comprises a clamping frame 2a housed in the peripheral groove 28 of the peripheral lip 26 of the face mask 4, a connector 2b connecting each proximal part 11a, 12a and the corresponding distal part 11b, 12b of the first conduit 11 and of the second conduit 12, and of the attachments 2c for retaining elastic bands (not shown) of the mask 1 on the face of the user.

(56) In one embodiment, in order to improve comfort, also a water drainage system is provided for draining the water that during use of the mask 1 succeeds in penetrating into the visor 3, both into the upper chamber 8 and into the lower chamber 9.

(57) The water drainage system comprises a one-way valve 29 on the visor 3 in the lower part of the lower chamber 9 and one or more one-way valves 30 on the membrane 7, for example two one-way valves 30 positioned symmetrically on the opposite sides of the membrane 7.

(58) The one-way valve 29 enables the water to be drained from the lower chamber 9 to the atmospheric environment outside the membrane 1, whereas the valves 30 enable the water to be drained from the upper chamber 8 to the lower chamber 9.

(59) The one-way valves 29, 30 comprise a membrane shutter that flexes under the weight of the water.

(60) Alternatively, in a more simplified version of the mask, no water drainage system need be provided.

(61) The operation of the mask 1 is briefly as follows.

(62) During surface swimming, the shutter 13a remains open, so that the first conduit 11 maintains in direct communication the lower chamber 9 with the external atmospheric environment to permit breathing through the first conduit 11 both during the inhalation and exhalation step.

(63) Further, as the shutter 13a remains open during surface swimming, the second conduit 12 maintains the upper chamber 8 in direct communication with the external atmospheric environment. Advantageously, the presence of the diffuser 31 extending the conduit 12 prevents fogging up of the visor 3, especially in the zone in front of the eyes of the user.

(64) When occasionally the head of the user submerges, the shutter 13a pushed by the float 13b shuts the first conduit 11 and the second conduit 12, thus preventing water accessing the lower chamber 9 and the upper chamber 8 of the visor 3.

(65) The surface snorkeling mask as conceived herein is susceptible of many modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.