FULL-FACE MASK

Abstract

A full-face mask, including a mask body, a breathing tube, an unfolded isolation support portion, at least one intake valve and at least one isolation plate, is provided. The mask body fits an user's face via a soft portion to form an interior space. The breathing tube is disposed on the mask body and is connecting with the interior space. The unfolded isolation support portion is disposed in the inner space and completely fits and covers the cheeks and the nose of the user to define an upper space and a lower space. At least one intake valve is disposed on the unfolded isolation support portion. A guide plate is disposed in a channel. Thus, the user could effectively breathe and exhale the air, and could isolate the face from the water leaking into the full mask to avoid danger.

Claims

1. A full-face mask being wearable on a user's face, comprising: a mask body, comprising a lens portion and a soft portion connected to each other, the soft portion fitting the face of the user, and the mask body forming an interior space; a breathing tube, being arranged on the mask body and connected with the interior space; an unfolded isolation support portion, being arranged in the interior space so that the interior space defines an upper space and a lower space, the lower space being connected with the breathing tube; and at least one intake valve, being arranged on the unfolded isolation support portion; wherein a channel is defined at the junction of the lens portion and the soft portion, and the channel comprises a guide plate to prevent the circulation of gas flowing from a lower end of the channel to the breathing tube.

2. The full-face mask of claim 1, wherein a channel is defined at the junction of the lens portion and the soft portion, and the channel comprises a guide plate to prevent the circulation of gas flowing from a lower end of the channel to the breathing tube.

3. The full-face mask of claim 1, further comprising a first isolation plate disposed in the lower space so that the lower space defines a proximal space and a distal space, wherein the proximal space is close to a nose of the user.

4. The full-face mask of claim 3, wherein the first isolation plate further comprises a one-way valve for discharging exhaust gas exhaled by the user.

5. The full-face mask of claim 1, wherein the lens portion further comprises a diversion port connected with the distal space.

6. The full-face mask of claim 1, wherein the soft portion further comprises a stopper piece which covers the diversion port.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a full-face mask of the prior art;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a full-face mask according to the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of an unfolded isolation support portion of the full-face mask according to the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D are schematic cross-sectional views of the unfolded isolation support portion of FIG. 3 taken along lines B-B, C-C, D-D, and E-E in sequence;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the full-face mask taken along the line A-A;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view of the full-face mask of FIG. 5 including a frame and an outer cover;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a lens portion of the full-face mask of FIG. 5;

[0031] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the full-face mask of FIG. 5 in which the lens portion is connected with a soft portion;

[0032] FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded view of the full-face mask according to the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 10 is a schematic combined view of the full-face mask of FIG. 9;

[0034] FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating the flow path of the airflow in the channel of the full-face mask according to the present invention when the user exhales; and

[0035] FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating the inhalation, exhalation and drainage directions of the full-face mask of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, a full-face mask 200 disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be worn on the user's face and comprises a mask body 210, a breathing tube 220, an unfolded isolation support portion 230 and at least one intake valve 241.

[0037] The mask body 210 comprises a soft portion 214 and a lens portion 216 connected to each other. The mask body 210 fits a user's face via the soft portion 214 (or called a skirt portion) provided on the periphery of the lens portion 216, and the mask body 210 forms an interior space 212. The breathing tube 220 is disposed above the mask body 210 and is connected with the interior space 212 so that the user can inhale/exhale air through the breathing tube. The unfolded isolation support portion 230 is disposed in the interior space 212 so that the interior space 212 defines an upper space 232 and a lower space 234. A front side 2301 of the unfolded isolation support portion 230 may be fixed (indirectly or directly) with the inner side of the lens portion 216. The rear side 2302 of the unfolded isolation support portion 230 is backwards and faces the user's face (which is forwards and faces the lens portion 216). The rear side 2302 of the unfolded isolation support portion 230 can directly contact the user's face, thereby, fitting the user's cheek and covering the nose area of the user (approximately from the bridge of nose to the cheeks on both sides of the mouth).

[0038] Since there are many gaps between the isolation portion 110 used in the conventional full-face mask 100 and the cheek and the nose of the user, air easily flows directly into the lower space 114 through the gaps when the user inhales, and thus, the isolation portion one-way valve 120 is almost in a closed state for a long time. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the unfolded isolation support portion 230 may completely fit the user's cheek and cover the nose area of the user so that there is no gap between the unfolded isolation support portion 230 and the cheeks and the nose of the user. An upper space 232 (also known as the eye space) and a lower space 234 (also known as the nose and mouth space) that are indeed separated and defined. In detail, as shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D, the unfolded isolation support portion 230 may be preferably disposed to have an inward curl close to the bridge of nose. The inward curl may extend by at most 1 cm inward (towards the lower space 234) (FIG. 4A) to closely fit the bridge of nose. The unfolded isolation support portion 230 extending downwards away from the bridge of nose does not curl inward (FIG. 4B). The unfolded isolation support portion 230 has an outward curl at the portion close to the cheeks on both sides of the mouth. The outward curl extends by at most 1 cm outward (towards the upper space 232) (FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D) to provide good support so that the mask is less likely to collapse. In this way, when the user inhales, the at least one intake valve 241 provided on the unfolded isolation support portion 230 will be easily forced to open because the pressure in the nose and mouth space is indeed reduced without air leakage, and the exhaust gas exhaled by the nose and the mouth will not flow back through the gaps and accumulate in the internal space 212.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, which is a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of the full-face mask 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention taken along the line A-A, the at least one intake valve 241 is disposed on the unfolded isolation support portion 230, e.g., the at least one intake valve 241 may be symmetrically disposed on the unfolded isolation support portion 230 at the left and right sides of the nose area of the user.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 6 together, the lower space 234 of the full-face mask 200 may further comprise at least one one-way valve, which may for example be an upper exhaust valve 252 and a lower drain valve 254. The upper exhaust valve 252 and the lower drain valve 254 may be respectively inclined at different angles so that when there is accumulated water, the accumulated water may be optionally discharged by the most suitable valve according to the turning angle of the user's head. If there is only a small amount of accumulated water, then the accumulated water may be easily discharged from the lower drain valve 254 to the outside before the water is accumulated to the height of the upper exhaust valve 252. At this time, the upper exhaust valve 252 is specifically responsible for discharging the exhaust gas exhaled by the user so that the efficiency of discharging water and gas is further improved. The use of the mask is smoother and easier without the pressure of inhaling water, and the safety and fun of snorkeling may be naturally improved.

[0041] The full-face mask 200 may further comprise a first isolation plate 260 disposed in the lower space 234 with a peripheral portion 261. The peripheral portion 261 may be directly or indirectly fixed to the inner side of the lens portion 216 such that the lower space 234 defines a proximal space 235 adjacent to the nose of the user and a distal space 236 remote from the nose of the user.

[0042] The mask body 210 may further comprise a frame 218 and an outer cover 219, wherein the frame 218 may be fastened around the lens portion 216 and the soft portion 214 to further protect the lens portion 216. The outer cover 219 is detachably fixed to the lens portion 216 or the frame 218 and preferably shields the region of the lens portion 216 with the upper exhaust valve 252 and the lower drain valve 254 to protect the upper exhaust valve 252 and the lower drain valve 254. If the upper exhaust valve 252 and the lower drain valve 254 have structures that are not easily damaged, the outer cover 219 may not be required. The first isolation plate 260 may be made of a soft material or a hard material, and may also be provided with a one-way valve 256 to discharge exhaust gas exhaled by the user.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the lens portion 216 of the full-face mask 200 of this embodiment may further comprise a diversion port 211 located below a guide board 217 extending from the inner side of the lens portion 216. When water W penetrates into the upper space 232 of the full-face mask 200, the water W flows along the inner side of the lens portion 216 or the guide board 217 to the diversion port 211 and flows to the lower drain valve 254 of the lower space 234, and then is discharged to the outside.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 8, the soft portion 214 may further comprise a stopper piece 2141. When the soft portion 214 is connected with the lens portion 216, the stopper piece 2141 may cover the diversion port 211 and may be configured to prevent the water W from flowing back to the upper space 232 along the diversion port 211. That is, the stopper piece 2141 may serve as a one-way valve to allow the water W to flow unidirectionally to the lower space 234. As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the soft portion 214 and the lens portion 216 may, after connecting with each other, form a channel 213 inside the periphery of the full-face mask 200. The channel 213 has a guide plate 213a. The guide plate 213a may be a portion of the lens portion 216 or a portion of the soft portion 214 and is provided at the junction of the channel 213 and the breathing tube 220 to block direct circulation of gas flowing from a lower end of the channel 213 to the breathing tube 220. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, when the exhaust gas C exhaled by the user enters the lower end of the channel 213 from the lower space 234 and then flows to the upper end of the channel 213 and to the breathing tube 220, the guide plate 213a may prevent the direct circulation of the exhaled gas (the air in the left channel flows directly to the right channel, or vice versa), which would otherwise cause the exhaust gas C (carbon dioxide) to accumulate in the full-face mask 200. In this case, the exhaust gas C cannot be completely discharged, and the user is in danger because the user cannot inhale enough clean air. By the arrangement of the guide plate 213a, the air from the left channel and the right channel will be blocked and then flow more smoothly and directly to the breathing tube 220 respectively, and then discharged to the outside of the full-face mask 200.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 12, the air flow path of the full-face mask 200 of this embodiment will be described as follows:

[0046] When the user inhales, the air R may flow into the lower space 234 from the intake valve 241 of the unfolded isolation support portion 230, and thus, enter the nose and the mouth with less effort, so the amount of air (oxygen) inhaled by the user is sufficient. When the user exhales, the intake valve 241 is forced to close, a part of the exhaust gas C flows from the channel 213 to the breathing tube 220 to be discharged, while a part of the exhaust gas C flows from the proximal space 235 to the distal space 236 through the one-way valve 256 of the first isolation plate 260 and then flows to the outside through the upper exhaust valve 252 or the lower drain valve 254. When the water W accidentally flows into the full-face mask 200, due to the arrangement of the first isolation plate 260, the water W penetrating into the interior space 212 may be isolated in the distal space 236 between the lens portion 216 and the first isolation plate 260 and accumulated between the lens 218 and the first isolation plate 260, and will not enter the proximal space 235 to contact the nose and the mouth of the user, thereby avoiding panic and anxiety of the user. When the user exhales, the pressure in the distal space 236 will be increased to discharge the accumulated water from the upper exhaust valve 252 or the lower drain valve 254. Alternatively, due to the weight of the accumulated water, when the user emerges from the water surface, the action of gravity may directly bring the water out from the upper exhaust valve 252 or the lower drain valve 254 (depending on the amount of the accumulated water or the direction of the head) without requiring the user to exhale. Such a design can greatly improve the problems in the prior art that it is difficult for the user to inhale enough clean air (the carbon dioxide content is too high.) and the user get anxious by contacting the accumulated water, and it is applicable no matter during inhalation or exhalation.

[0047] According to the above descriptions, the unfolded isolation support portion of the full-face mask of the present invention completely fits and covers the cheeks and the nose of the user, and a guide plate is disposed in the channel so that users can easily inhale clean air, and the exhaust gas can be more effectively discharged from the breathing tube and/or the one-way valve and is less likely to flow back and accumulate, thereby meeting various safety standards. At the same time, a stopper piece or an isolation plate may be further provided to isolate the water accidentally flowing into the full-face mask from the nose and the mouth of the user, thereby preventing the user from contacting the water and thus getting anxious and panic, and increasing the safety in use.

[0048] The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0049] 100 full-face mask [0050] 110 isolation portion [0051] 112 upper space [0052] 114 lower space [0053] 116 air passage [0054] 120 isolation portion one-way valve [0055] 130 one-way valve at the mouth portion [0056] 140 lateral one-way valve [0057] 200 full-face mask [0058] 210 mask body [0059] 211 diversion port [0060] 212 interior space [0061] 213a guide plate [0062] 214 soft portion [0063] 2141 stopper piece [0064] 216 lens portion [0065] 217 guide board [0066] 218 frame [0067] 219 outer cover [0068] 220 breathing tube [0069] 230 unfolded isolation support portion [0070] 2301 front side [0071] 2302 rear side [0072] 232 upper space [0073] 234 lower space [0074] 235 proximal space [0075] 236 distal space [0076] 241 intake valve [0077] 242 valve latch [0078] 256 one-way valve [0079] 252 upper exhaust valve [0080] 254 lower drain valve [0081] 260 first isolation plate [0082] 261 peripheral portion [0083] A angle [0084] R air [0085] C exhaust gas [0086] W water