GB2347629A

GB2347629A - Diving mask

Info

Publication number: GB2347629A
Application number: GB9905593A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takashi Kawai; Sanae Kiyota
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-13
Filing date: 1999-03-11
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Also published as: GB9905593D0; JPH11253577A

Abstract

To provide such diving mask as capable of expelling water which might be flowed into its interior because of possible water leak, and also capable of achieving a wide visibility. A diving mask composed of frame section (4), lens section attached to the frame section and extending skirt section (6) next to and all around the said frame section, the main body of diving mask having a nose section (7) positioned to fit the nose at the time of its attachment to the face and the belt. This diving mask is characterized by the rim (6a) of the said extending skirt section constituting the facial contact section, and also by a passage vent (8) made in the nose section, and a one-way valve (9) installed in this passage vent.

Description

2347629 This invention concerns the diving mask used at the time of

swimming in the water, scuba diving etc. especially such diving mask with capability of expelling water brought into its interior due to water leak in 4t.

As shown in Figqre 4 and Figure 6, the conventional diving mask is composed of frame section 14, lens section 15 attached to the frame section 14, extending skirt section 16 next to a-ad all around the frame section 14, and nose s!ction 17, the main body of diving mask 12 composed of those sections, and the belt 13.

As shown in. these Figures, lens section is composed of either a pair of lenses, right and left, or one piece of large lens- The brim o f the said extending skirt section 16 constitutes the facial contact section 16a. Therefore, in order to achieve better facial contact, the PaLd made from elastic material is is attached to this facial contact section.

Despite the contrivance made against water leak in the facial contact section 16a - the brim of the extending skirt.'section 16, the perfect prevention of' water leak cannot be materialized, because of difference in face size, and face. shape according to 20, each individual diver.. and this creates such problem. as water inflow into the interior of diving Mask.

However, in case the belt is f urther tightened in order to prevent water leak, f acial contact gets better and water leak can be prevented to some extent, but the feeling of its fitness gets more worse, because tightening belt gives strong pressure to the face.

The conventional type diving mask poses such problem as the f isid. of visibility gets narrower because the distance from the face (the eyes) to lens section becomes farther as the thickness marked W of frame section 14 is bigger and the length marked ILI of extending skirt section 16 -is longer.

In addition, - the conventional lens section 15 adapts transparent plane (flat) lens, which creates such problem as the field of visibility gets narrower-

The invention.i s designed to provide such diving inask as can is solve the.said problems.

The invention, the diving mask, developed in order to.achieve the said objectives, is composed of frame section, lens.. section attached to the frame section, extending skirt section next to and al I aroitnd the said frame section, and the rtain body of diving mask with nose section positioned fit for the nose at the time of its attachment and with belt,, and is characterized by the said extending skirt section constituting facial contact section, and, 2 passage vent with one-way valve adopted in the nose section.

The invention, the diving mask, is characterized by widened visibility achieved by shortening the length of the said extending skirt section., e Mhe inv rition, the djOrj g mask, is.characterized by adoption of curved lens, convex lens or concave lens in the said lens section.

In addition, the invention, the diving mask, is characterized by the narrowed width of the said frame section- Figure I is for the oblique section shown in the actual practicing instance of the invention-, Fiqure. 2 is for the side view shown in the. actual practicing.ins,tance of the invention.

Pigure 3 is for the central longitudinal sectlon shown in the actudl practicing instance of the inventlon.

Figures 3A and 3B are partial sectional views the nose portion of the diving mask of the invention, showing an alternative form of Valve for the nose portion, Figure 3A being taken along the line 3A-3B of Figure 3B and Figure 30 being taken. along the line 3 3B-3B of Figure 3A.

Figure 4 is for the oblique section shown in the actual practicing -instance of the conventional type diving mask.

Figure 5 is for the side view shown in the actual practicing instance of the convent iona.11- type diving mask.

Figure 6 is for the central longitudinal section shown in the actual instance of the conventional type diving mask.

In the said 'Figures, i is for the diving mask composed of the main body of diving imask 2 and the belt 3 The said main body of, thie diving mask 2 is composed of frame section 4, lens section 5 attached to the frame section 4, extending skirt section'6 next to and all around the frame section 4, and nose section 7.- The said frame sectipn 4 is made from plastic, and extending skirt section 6 from elastic material. - syathetic rubber. Especially, the.brix.qf the said extending skirt section 6 is imade from elastic material synthetic rubber to achieve better facial contact because this rim constitutes facial contact section 6a The said nose section 7 is positioned f it for the nose at the time of attachment of cliving mask to, the face- In this nose 4 section 7, the passage vent 8 is made, with one-way valve employed in it.

This one-way valve 9 o-eens the passage vent 8, when water is sneaked into the interior of the diving mask because of water leak, and it expels water and prevents the i-nf low of water from without.

Figures 3A and 3D show an alternative form of one-way valve for the nose portion 7 of our mask- In this embodimeut the underside of the nose portion,' i.e., confronting the nostril's of the wearer, is formedwith a passage vent 81 of substan'tially triangular planform. The periphery of. the vent is formed througbout its length- with' a notch or grbove 20 which'sealingly embraces the periphery of a stif f thin triangular plate 21 which maY be metal or a hard plastic material. The plate 211s formed with a circular array of a plurality of holes 22 surrouxiding a downwardly amd outwardly protruding cup like or domed. integral p6rtlon 21b of the menbei 21, of inverted frustoconical configuration- As seen in Figure 3A, the rubber like material of the nose 7 is molded such that an extern'al stratum. or lip of the Material Projects Tadially inwardly beyond the inner edge of -the passage, vent B. '- to def ine. an annular valve f lap 11 of the material having a Central opening of a normal Unstressed diameter pi-ef erably slilghtlY less than the external base diameter of the portion 21b.

in the semi-relaxed condition shown a sealing engagement is thus maintained with the tapered outer valve seat surface of the member 21b. Upon a forceful exhalation through the nostrils of the wearer the valve 'A'Lap I-,- opens and internal water is expelled.

S The said one-way valve is not restricted to the type shown In the respective Figure, but any type in the market can be employed, &S long as it allows water to only flow out frov the interioz of diving mask, and pkevents water from flowing in from without, When- it comes to this one-way valve, one or more than two pieces can be. employed. And, in order to make water flow out easier, wate'r'64-drage -ian also be added in the interior of the nose section 7, and this storage first stores water flowed in through one-way valve and then expels it.

Once the one-way valve positioned in the farthest outeide opens to expel water-, water will never be flWpd into the interior.

of the diving mask even -in the cate water is f lowed in through the OpeELIng of the oxie-way valve in question.. This is one good advantage.

In addition, the invGntion is designed to make shorter the thickness of frame section 4 (corresponding to the area marked a W as shown in Figure 5) and the length of extending skirt section 6 (corresponding to the area marked as 1L as shown in rigure, 5).

6 This contrivance makes narrower the distance from the f ace (the eyes) to lens section 5, and can achieve wider visibility- In the said lens section 5, curved lens, conVeX lens or concave lens is adopted. By this adoption, variation of the reflective index in the water can be rectified. Therefore, even short- sighted, or far-sighted, or astigmatic sighted diver can wear this diving inask with either of the said lens according to the condition of his eyes without using his glasses.

The length of belt 3 installed in the attachment section is adjustable. The diving mask is attachable to the face by.mearis of this belt.

The invention is designed to expel water leaked into the interior of diving mask. during its use, because of installation of one- way valve in passage vent- As described- above, the invention produces the following strong points.

(1) Because of iiistallation of one-way valve in passage vent of nose section, water flowed into the interior of diving mask due to wate;r leak, can be expelled- 7 (2) Wider visibility can be achieved, as the distance between the face (the eyes) and lens section gets nearer by shortening the width of frame section and the length of extending skirt Section. With curved lens adopted, field of visibility is further widened.

(3) Since curved lens, convex lens or concave -lens are adopted in lens: section, the reflective index of water can be rectified- Therefore, shortsighted, far-sighted or astigmatic sighted diver can wear diving mask and can see clearly without glasses (4) Since water flowed into the interior of diving mask due to water leak during us e of diving maA. can be expel-led, this diving mask can be used with the pleasant feeling of fitness withOut tightening the belt.

8

Claims

WE CLAIM -

1. A diving =ask cOmPOsed of f rame section, lens section attached to the frame section, extending skirt section next to and all around the same f rame section, and the main body of divi-ng nask with nose section positioned fit for the nose at the time of its attach-ment and belt, characterized by the said extending skirt section constituting facial contact section and nose section ha ving passage vent with one-way valve installed in it-

2. A diving mask as described jTj claim I is char ac-terized by widened visibility achioved. by shortening the length-of the said ertendlnq s:k-irt section-

3. A diving mark as described. i n clailn I is chaimacterized by the said lens section having curved lens or' convex lens or concave lens.

4. A diving mask as described in claim I is characterized by widened visibility achieved by shortening' (narrowing) the width of the s4ld frame section, 9