BREATHING DEVICE FOR DIVERS

Abstract

A breathing device for divers comprises a mouthpiece and a rigid breathing tube with a first end featuring an inclined opening, and a second end connected to a joint of the mouthpiece, a movable shutter that can move between an open and a closed position of the opening of the first end, a float for actuating the shutter, first articulation means for connecting the shutter to the tube, and second articulation means for connecting the float to the tube wherein the breathing tube is formed from a single tubular piece, externally to which the first and second articulation means are positioned.

Claims

1. A breathing device for divers, the breathing device comprising: a mouthpiece, a rigid breathing tube having a first end with an inclined opening and a second end connected to a fitting of the mouthpiece, a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position of said opening of said first end, a float for actuating said shutter, a first articulation means of said shutter to said tube, a second articulation means of said float to said tube, characterized in that said breathing tube is formed from a single tubular piece externally to which said first and second articulation means are positioned.

2. The breathing device for divers according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a terminal portion of the breathing tube comprising said first end and externally presenting said first and second articulation means has a tubular internal perimeter profile with a constant cross-sectional area.

3. The breathing device for divers according to claim 2, characterized in that the breathing tube has a tubular internal perimeter profile with a constant cross-sectional area.

4. The breathing device for divers according to claim 3, characterized in that the breathing tube has a tubular internal perimeter profile with a constant elliptical cross-sectional area.

5. The breathing device for divers according to claim 4, characterized in that the second articulation means comprise a swinging cap for protective covering of said first end of the breathing tube, said cap having a positioning seat where the float is fixed.

6. The breathing device for divers according to claim 1, characterized in that said first articulation means comprise a first pair of rotation pins defining a first hinge axis integrally formed with said tube, and said second articulation means comprise a second pair of rotation pins defining a second hinge axis integrally formed with said tube.

7. The breathing device for divers according to claim 5, characterized in that said first articulation means comprise a first pair of rotation pins defining a first hinge axis, and said second articulation means comprise a second pair of rotation pins defining a second hinge axis, said first pair of rotation pins and said second pair of rotation pins being formed on an externally fitted support to said tube.

8. The breathing device for divers according to claim 7, characterized in that said second pair of pins hinge said cap to said breathing tube.

9. The breathing device for divers according to claim 6, characterized in that said first and second hinge axes are parallel.

10. The breathing device for divers according to claim 9, characterized in that said first hinge axis is interposed between said first end and said second hinge axis.

11. The breathing device for divers according to claim 5, characterized in that said float is made of a closed-porosity deformable material block press-fitted into said positioning seat.

12. The breathing device for divers according to claim 7, characterized in that said first articulation means comprise a bracket having two parallel arms projecting from the tube extending orthogonally from the first hinge axis and connected by a crossbar, and in that said shutter is equipped with a counterweight and is rigidly fixed to said bracket.

13. The breathing device for divers according to claim 12, characterized in that said shutter extends from a flat flange of the crossbar of said bracket orthogonal to the two arms of said bracket.

14. The breathing device for divers according to claim 12, characterized in that the cap has a sliding wall for said bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Additional features and advantages of the invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the breathing device according to the invention, illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the breathing device with the shutter in the open position;

[0019] FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of the breathing device;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a view of the breathing device with the shutter in the open position, sectioned along a plane containing the axis of the breathing tube;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a view of the breathing device with the shutter in the closed position, sectioned along a plane containing the axis of the breathing tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] With reference to the cited figures, a breathing device for divers is shown and generally indicated by reference number 1.

[0023] The breathing device 1 for divers includes a mouthpiece 2 and a rigid breathing tube 3 with a first end 4 featuring an inclined opening 5, and a second end connected to a joint 6 of the mouthpiece 2. The device also includes a movable shutter 7 and a float 8 for operating the shutter 7.

[0024] The shutter 7 is operated by first articulation means 9 connected to the breathing tube 3, while the float 8 is operated by second articulation means 10 connected to the breathing tube 3.

[0025] The shutter 7 can oscillate between an open position and a closed position at the first end 4 of the breathing tube 3, allowing air to pass during breathing while also closing to prevent water from entering during submersion.

[0026] The purpose of the float 8 is to operate the shutter 7 when the breathing device 1 is fully submerged in water. In fact, when the breathing device 1 is fully submerged in water, if it is positioned such that the first end 4 is closer to the water surface than the second end, the float 8, having a lower density than water, tends to rise to the surface and, during its upward movement, intercepts the first articulation means 9.

[0027] The upward movement of the float 8 towards the water surface thus triggers the first articulation means 9, which close the shutter 7.

[0028] The breathing tube 3 is advantageously made from a single tubular piece, on the exterior of which the first and second articulation means are positioned.

[0029] Additionally, the first and second articulation means 9, 10 are advantageously located externally on a terminal section of the breathing tube 3, which includes the first end 4. This terminal section of the breathing tube 3 has a tubular internal perimeter profile with a constant cross-sectional area.

[0030] By cross-section, we mean a section that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the breathing tube 3.

[0031] Optionally, the entire breathing tube 3 has a tubular internal perimeter profile with a constant cross-sectional area.

[0032] Preferably, the shape of this section is elliptical.

[0033] The first and second articulation means 9, 10 respectively comprise a first and second pair of rotation pins 13, 15, which define a first and second hinge axis 14, 16. The second articulation means 10 include a protective oscillating cap 11 covering the first end 4 of the tube 3. The cap 11 has a positioning seat 12 where the float 8 is fixed.

[0034] The first and second pairs of rotation pins 13, 15 can be integrally formed with the tube 3, as shown in the figures, or they can be formed on a support fitted externally to the said tube 3. Specifically, the rotation pins 13, 15 can be formed as a single piece with the breathing tube 3, particularly by molding, or they can be included in an external support to be fixed to the said tube 3.

[0035] The external support may take the form of an elliptical ring with a rectangular section and can be attached to the breathing tube 3 by welding, interference fitting, gluing, or other coupling methods.

[0036] The second pair of pins 15 hinges the cap 11 to the breathing tube 3, allowing it to oscillate around the second pair of pins 15 and rotate within a limited angle. This angle has been designed by incorporating two end stops for the cap 11s movement so that, regardless of its position within the range between the two stops, it provides protection from potential water splashes at the opening 5 of the first end 4 of the breathing tube 3.

[0037] The first and second hinge axes 14, 16 are parallel. Specifically, the first and second hinge axes 14, 16 are parallel to the major axis of the elliptical cross-section of the internal perimeter profile of the breathing tube 3. This arrangement allows for the reduction of the transverse bulk of the breathing device 1 at the first end 4 of the breathing tube 3.

[0038] The first hinge axis 14 is located between the first end 4 of the tube 3, which is distal from the mouthpiece 2, and the second hinge axis 16. The float 8 is made of a block of deformable material, which is pressure-fitted into the positioning seat 12 located in the cap 11.

[0039] The first articulation means 9 include a bracket 17 with two parallel arms 18 protruding from the tube 3, extending orthogonally from the first hinge axis 14, and connected by a crossbar 19. The bracket 17 rigidly supports both the shutter 7 and a counterweight 20.

[0040] The shutter 7 extends from a flat flange 21 on the crossbar 19 of the bracket 17, perpendicular to the two arms 18. The counterweight 20 helps facilitate the opening of the shutter 7 when the first end 4 of the tube 3, distal from the mouthpiece 2, is out of the water, but it also has an equally important secondary function.

[0041] Indeed, if the breathing device 1 for divers is completely submerged in water and oriented such that the second end of the tube 3, connected to the mouthpiece 2, is closer to the water surface than the other end, the float 8 no longer exerts pressure on the bracket 17 and, consequently, on the shutter 7 because the float 8 naturally tends to return to the surface. Therefore, the addition of the counterweight 20 ensures that the shutter 7 continues to perform its function, keeping the opening 5 of the first end 4 closed and preventing water from entering. In fact, the counterweight 20 tends to sink, unlike the float 8, thus exerting pressure on the shutter 7 beneath it.

[0042] The cap 11 includes a sliding surface for the bracket 17, which, as mentioned above, intercepts the bracket and pushes it to close the shutter 7.

[0043] In an unillustrated solution, it is possible to define a wall or partition that serves to divert the airflow exiting the breathing tube 3. This wall is located inside the tube 3, in a position relatively close to the first end 4, which is closed by the shutter 7. If properly designed, the wall interacts with the outgoing airflow from the breathing tube 3, making it more turbulent.

[0044] In this way, the opening of the shutter 7, both during resurfacing from the water and in cases where the shutter 7 closes involuntarily, is facilitated by the air turbulence created by this wall. As a result, the swimmer experiences even less effort during breathing.

[0045] It has been practically observed that the breathing device for divers according to the invention is particularly advantageous because it facilitates the swimmer's breathing, as it does not include any narrowing along the airflow path in the breathing tube. Additionally, the breathing device is particularly effective in preventing water from entering the breathing tube.

[0046] The breathing device for divers, as conceived, is subject to numerous modifications and variations, all within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0047] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can vary depending on the requirements and the state of the art.