DIVING MASK ENABLING PRESSURE EQUALISATION AT THE EARS

Abstract

A diving mask comprising a body provided with a faceplate comprising an upper part, and a flexible skirt including a partition delimiting an upper chamber, for viewing, from a lower chamber, for breathing, the partition being arranged to be supported above the nose. The mask comprises a snorkel disposed in the extension of an upper part of the body. The body comprises a flexible and deformable main nasal part, the upper edge of which is secured in a sealed manner to the lower edge of the upper part of the faceplate. The main nasal part further comprises a main housing for receiving the nose and configured in such a way as to allow the pinching of the nose of the user.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A diving mask comprising: a. a body provided with a faceplate comprising an upper part, and a flexible skirt including a partition delimiting an upper chamber for viewing from a lower chamber for breathing, the partition being arranged to be supported above a nose of a user in such a way that the nose of the user is located in the lower chamber, while eyes of the user are located in the upper chamber, the partition including at least one passage arranged to allow circulation of fresh air between the upper chamber and the lower chamber during a phase of inhalation of the user, b. a snorkel disposed to extend from an upper part of the body, the snorkel comprising at least one air duct; c. the body including an exhaled air expelling device which fluidly connects the lower chamber to the air duct of the snorkel; wherein the body comprises a flexible and deformable main nasal part, an upper edge of which is secured in a sealed manner to a lower edge of the upper part of the faceplate, wherein the main nasal part comprises a main housing for at least partly receiving the nose and configured in such a way as to allow the pinching of the nose of the user, and wherein the skirt comprises an auxiliary nasal part, extending from the partition, said auxiliary nasal part comprises an auxiliary housing for at least partly receiving the nose and configured in such a way as to allow the pinching of the nose of the user.

17. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary housing is nested into the main housing.

18. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the faceplate comprises a lower part, and wherein the main nasal part comprises a lower edge secured in a sealed manner to an upper edge of the lower part of the faceplate.

19. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the faceplate comprises a central opening having an upper edge and a lower edge between which the main nasal part extends at least partly.

20. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the faceplate extends in front of a mouth of the user.

21. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the main nasal part comprises at least one lateral projection projecting along one side of a plane of symmetry of the mask.

22. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the main nasal part comprises an outer face and an inner face, the inner face being oriented facing the lower chamber, and wherein the main nasal part comprises two protuberances projecting from said inner face and disposed on either side of a plane of symmetry of the mask.

23. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the main nasal part comprises an outer face and an inner face, the inner face being oriented facing the lower chamber , and wherein the main nasal part comprises, along its outer face, two recesses disposed on either side of the main housing of the main nasal part.

24. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the main nasal part is overmolded on the upper part of the faceplate.

25. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the main nasal part comprises a plate portion projecting under the main housing and extending against the faceplate.

26. The mask according to claim 25, wherein a lower edge of the main nasal part is disposed between the main housing for the nose and the plate portion.

27. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the skirt and the main nasal part are two separate parts.

28. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary nasal part comprises a plate portion projecting under the auxiliary housing, said plate portion being secured to the faceplate.

29. The mask according to claim 18, wherein the upper edge of the lower part of the faceplate is disposed between the main nasal part and the auxiliary nasal part.

30. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the skirt and the main nasal part are made of one and the same part.

31. The mask according to claim 20, wherein a lower part of the faceplate extends in front of the mouth of the user.

32. The mask according to claim 24, wherein the main nasal part is overmolded on a lower part of the faceplate and on lateral edges of the faceplate.

33. The mask according to claim 25, wherein the plate portion of the main nasal part extends between said two lateral projections.

34. The mask according to claim 28, wherein the plate portion of the auxiliary nasal part is secured to a lower part of the faceplate.

35. The mask according to claim 29, wherein the upper edge of the lower part of the faceplate is disposed between a plate portion of the main nasal part and a plate portion of the auxiliary nasal part.

36. The mask according to claim 15, wherein the partition is arranged to be supported above the nose of a user in such a way that the nose and mouth of the user are located in the lower chamber, while the eyes of the user are located in the upper chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0124] The disclosure and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description of a particular embodiment, given by way of example entirely without limitation, and illustrated by the appended drawings wherein:

[0125] FIG. 1 is a front view of the mask according to the disclosure;

[0126] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mask of FIG. 1;

[0127] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the mask of FIG. 1;

[0128] FIG. 4 is a section view of the mask along the section plane IV-IV shown in FIG. 1, corresponding to the plane of symmetry S of the mask, illustrating the superimposition of the main nasal part and the auxiliary nasal part;

[0129] FIG. 5 is a section view of the mask along the section plane IV-IV shown in FIG. 1, without faceplate or tube;

[0130] FIG. 6 shows the lower part of the mask once the flexible skirt and the faceplate are assembled;

[0131] FIG. 7A is a front view of the main nasal part of the mask of FIG. 1;

[0132] FIG. 7B is a rear view of the main nasal part of the mask of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0133] FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of a diving mask 1 comprising a body 10 provided with a faceplate 20 comprising at least one upper part 21, and a flexible skirt 30 including a partition 40 delimiting an upper chamber 45 for viewing from a lower chamber 50 for breathing, the partition 40 being arranged to be supported above the nose of the user in such a way that the nose, and in this specific example also the mouth, of the user are located in the lower chamber 50, while the eyes of the user are located in the upper chamber 45, the partition 40 including at least one passage 55 to allow the circulation of fresh air between the upper chamber 45 and the lower chamber 50 during an phase of inhalation of the user.

[0134] The faceplate 20 is made of a rigid and transparent material, for example polycarbonate.

[0135] The flexible skirt 30 is made of a flexible material, for example silicone elastomer.

[0136] The body 10 includes a band 25 which is shaped to surround the faceplate 20. This band 25 has the function of providing, or at least improving, the attachment of the skirt 30 to the faceplate 20.

[0137] The upper part 21 of the faceplate 20 covers the upper viewing chamber 45 and comprises a transparent flat portion 19 intended to be located substantially level with the eyes of the user.

[0138] A snorkel 70 is disposed in the extension of an upper part 10a of the body, the snorkel 70 comprising at least one air duct 72, in this specific example a single air duct. In this example, the snorkel 70 is mounted on the body 10 removably.

[0139] The body 10 includes an exhaled air expelling device 80 which forms a fluid connection of the lower chamber 50 to the air duct 72 of the snorkel 70. The body 10 comprises a flexible and deformable main nasal part 15 the upper edge 15a of which is secured in a sealed manner to the lower edge 21a of the upper part 21 of the faceplate 20.

[0140] In this example, the upper edge 15a of the main nasal part 15 comprises a projection 8 shown in FIG. 4 having a recess, particularly L-shaped, arranged so as to receive the lower edge 21a of the upper part 21 of the faceplate 20.

[0141] The main nasal part 15 comprises a housing 16 receiving the nose and configured in such a way as to allow the pinching of the nose of the user.

[0142] The main nasal part 15 comprises two lateral projections 17,18 projecting on either side of the plane of symmetry S of the mask 1.

[0143] The faceplate 20 comprises a lower part 22, and the main nasal part 15 comprises a lower edge 15b secured in a sealed manner to the upper edge 22a of the lower part 22 of the faceplate 20.

[0144] The lateral projections 17 and 18 each comprise a distal end respectively 17a and 18a secured in a sealed manner to either side of the faceplate, along its lateral edges including the lateral edge 20d shown in FIG. 3. Said lateral edges (including the lateral edge 20d) are disposed between the upper 21 and lower 22 parts of the faceplate 20.

[0145] The main nasal part 15 comprises an outer face 13 and an inner face 14, the inner face 14 being oriented facing the breathing chamber 50. The main nasal part 15 comprises two protuberances 5 and 6 projecting from said inner face 14 and disposed on either side of the plane of symmetry S of the mask 1.

[0146] In this specific example, the two protuberances 5 and 6 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B) have a thickness increasing from their bases 5a and 6a toward their upper portions 5b and 6b.

[0147] The main nasal part 15 comprises, along its outer face 13, two recesses 31, 32 disposed on either side of the main housing 16 for the nose. The main nasal part 15 is overmolded on the upper part 21 of the faceplate 20, and where applicable on the lower part 22 of the faceplate 20 and/or the lateral edges 20d of the faceplate 20.

[0148] The faceplate 20 thus comprises a central opening 4 having an upper edge 4a and a lower edge 4b between which the main nasal part 15 extends.

[0149] The faceplate 20 is arranged so that the lower part 22 covers the chin and the mouth of the user.

[0150] The main nasal part 15 further comprises a plate portion 35, in particular extending between said two lateral projections 17 and 18. The skirt 30 and the main nasal part 15 are two separate parts.

[0151] The skirt 30 comprises an auxiliary nasal part 60, in the extension of the partition 40. Said auxiliary nasal part 60 comprises an auxiliary housing 62 receiving the nose and configured in such a way as to allow the pinching of the nose of the user.

[0152] The auxiliary nasal part 60 comprises a plate portion 65 projecting under the auxiliary housing 62, said plate portion 65 being secured to the faceplate 20, in particular to the lower part 22 of the faceplate 20 by an attaching part 66. The attaching part 66 is secured, for example clipped, to attaching tabs 67 projecting from the inner face of the lower part 22 of the faceplate 20.

[0153] The plate portion 65 comprises two orifices 68 and 69 which engage with the attaching tabs 67 before the positioning of the attaching part 66, which also comprises two orifices for cooperating with the attaching tabs 67.

[0154] Advantageously, the auxiliary housing 62 is configured to be nested into the main housing 16.

[0155] Preferably, the auxiliary housing also comprises two protuberances 62 90 and 91 projecting over the inner face of the auxiliary nasal part 60, facing the lower breathing chamber 50. In this specific example, the protuberances 90 and 91 each have a thickness increasing from its upper part toward its base.

[0156] The upper edge 22a of the lower part 22 of the faceplate 20 is thus disposed between the main plate portion 35 overmolded on the outer face of the faceplate 20, and the auxiliary plate portion 65 attached to the inner face of the faceplate 20 by way of the attaching part 66.

[0157] The main nasal part 15 can be made of a polymer material different from or identical to the polymer material of the auxiliary nasal part 60.

[0158] Advantageously, the exhaled air expelling device 80 includes at least a first check valve 43 arranged to permit a flow of exhaled air directed from the lower chamber 50 toward the air duct 72 of the snorkel 70 during a phase of exhalation of the user, the first check valve 43 being closed during a phase of inhalation of the user.

[0159] Preferably, the first check valve 43 comprises a flexible membrane 142 which, in this specific example, is composed of a portion of the flexible skirt 30. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the first lateral part of the peripheral edge 124 of the skirt 30 includes an upper wall 126 and two lateral walls, of which only the lateral wall 128 is clearly visible. The lateral walls, including the lateral wall 128, flank the two ribs, including the visible rib 105, of the first exhaled air expelling channel 81 in order to provide the sealing. The flexible membrane 142 appears in the form of a substantially rectangular shape which protrudes from an inner face of the upper wall 126. In FIG. 6, the first check valve 43 is illustrated in solid lines in the closed position, and in dotted lines in the open position.

[0160] The exhaled air expelling device 80 also includes a first air expelling channel 81 and a second exhaled air expelling channel 82 which extend respectively along a first lateral edge 2 and a second lateral edge 3 of the body 10, in particular on either side of the two lateral edges of the faceplate 20.

[0161] The first check valve 43 also includes a valve seat 144 arranged to cooperate with the flexible membrane 142, the valve seat being incorporated into the faceplate 20. In the closed position, the flexible membrane 142 is supported by the valve seat 144 to seal said at least one opening arranged in the first exhaled air expelling channel 81.

[0162] The exhaled air expelling device 80 moreover comprises a second check valve 160, similar to the first check valve 43, which is arranged to permit a flow of exhaled directed from the lower chamber 50 toward the air duct 72 of the snorkel 70 during a phase of exhalation of the user. The second check valve 160 operates like the first check valve 43.

[0163] The flexible skirt 30 has first 51 and second 52 lateral parts arranged so as to cover in a sealed manner the first and second exhaled air expelling channels 81 and 82.

[0164] In operation, the user disposes the mask 1 on his face, which mask can comprise attaching means such as elastic straps of adjustable length. When the user inhales, the inhaled fresh air crosses the duct 72 of the snorkel 70 and comes out in the upper viewing chamber 45 then passes into the passage arranged by means of the check valve 55 in the partition 40 to come out in the lower breathing chamber 50 in which the nose and the mouth of the user are located. The check valve 55 is configured to allow the inhaled air to travel from the viewing chamber 45 toward the breathing chamber 50 and prevent any return of exhaled air in the opposite direction. During an exhalation phase, the passage of air in the partition 40 is sealed so that the air is forced through the first and second air expelling channels 81 and 82 disposed along the lateral edges 2 and 3 of the body 10, in particular disposed along the lateral edges of the faceplate 20 and closed in a sealed manner by the corresponding lateral edges of the flexible skirt 30.

[0165] The first and second exhaled air expelling channels 81 and 82 are in fluid connection in their upper parts with the snorkel 70, in particular with the single air duct 72.

[0166] The exhaled air is therefore evacuated toward the snorkel 70 without passing through the upper viewing chamber 45.

[0167] In order to balance the pressures, the user pinches his nose, by lodging his fingers in the recesses 31 and 32 of the main housing 16. The auxiliary housing 62 being nested into the main housing 16, the pressure exerted on the main housing 16 is transmitted to the auxiliary housing 60, which transmission is facilitated due to the protuberances 5 and 6 of the main housing pressing against the protuberances 90 and 91 of the auxiliary housing 60.

[0168] The nesting together of the main 16 and auxiliary 62 housings facilitates the pinching of the nose.

[0169] In addition, the arrangement of the faceplate 20 in front of the mouth, along with the overmolding of the main nasal part 15 on the opening 4, and its arrangement with respect to the auxiliary nasal part 60 allow the nasal parts 15 and 60 not to be located against the mouth of the user which facilitates breathing.

[0170] The main nasal part 15 being overmolded on the lower edge 21a of the upper part 21 of the faceplate 20 on the one hand, and on the upper edge 22a of the lower part 22 of the faceplate 20 on the other hand, and where applicable on the lateral edges 20d of the faceplate 20, there is no risk when the user handles it that it will detach from the faceplate 20.

[0171] The mask 1 according to the disclosure thus makes it possible to combine the advantages of an anti-condensation mask allowing breathing interchangeably through the nose and mouth, while being able to balance the pressures on the ears.