SNORKEL BREATHING TUBE REGULATOR

Abstract

A snorkel breathing tube regulator includes: a tubular hollow base and a supplementary tube which jointly form an inverted U-shaped structure, and a float provided in the supplementary tube. During snorkeling, the float is buoyed upward as the water surface rises in relation to the snorkel breathing tube regulator. If the water surface continues to rise in this way, the float will eventually form a seal that prevents water from entering the base. On the other hand, when the water surface falls in relation to the snorkel breathing tube regulator, the float falls along to allow smooth ventilation. Thus, ventilation is regulated with enhanced sensitivity, and splashing water is also prevented from entering the base. Furthermore, the snorkel breathing tube regulator can be easily produced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a snorkel breathing tube regulator and, more particularly, to a ventilation regulating structure configured for allowing and stopping air intake through a snorkel breathing tube and preventing water from flowing into the snorkel breathing tube.

2. Description of Related Art

Snorkeling is a pleasant activity, especially when practiced at good snorkeling spots where the beautiful sea world provides snorkelers with a fun and entrancing underwater swimming experience. However, due to the capricious weather conditions on the sea and the ever-changing seascape, it is very likely that snorkelers may put themselves in danger without knowing it.

One of the most frequent inconveniences in snorkeling is to have water coming into the breathing tube. This may happen when the snorkeler is so engrossed that he or she swims obliviously with the marine creatures into excessive depths, or when tidal waves or the activities of nearby vessels or snorkelers cause water to splash into the top end opening of the breathing tube that is exposed above the water surface. Once water enters the breathing tube, a novice tends to panic and hence invites danger; however, even an experienced snorkeler cannot expel the water trapped in the breathing tube without using some sophisticated techniques that may not be easy for everyone to perform, such as raising the head up high upon surfacing, ejecting the mouthpiece of the breathing tube from the mouth, and then breathing with the mouth open. Therefore, it is necessary to design a snorkel breathing tube regulator that promotes the safety in snorkeling.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional snorkel breathing tube regulator which includes a hollow tubular base 60. The base 60 has a lower end fitted with a breathing tube 50 and an upper end formed as an opening 61 to be exposed above the water surface WL. In order to prevent water from entering the opening 61, the opening 61 of the base 60 is inclined, and a float 70 is connected below the opening 61 by a linkage 90, while a plug cover 80 is pivotally provided above the float 70. When the snorkeler swims downward, the water surface WL moves toward the upper end of the base 60 and pushes the float 70 upward. Consequently, the plug cover 80 above the float 70 seals the opening 61 and thereby prevents water entry.

However, as it is difficult to control the tightness between the opening 61 and the plug cover 80, the aforesaid design is disadvantaged by poor watertightness. Moreover, as the float 70 is pushed via the linkage 90 and then indirectly pushes the plug cover 80 to seal the opening 61 at the upper end of the base 60, a large positional error tends to exist at the sealing position.

In addition, water splashing above the water surface WL that does not push the float 70 upward is incapable of driving the plug cover 80 to shut the opening 61 at the upper end of the base 60. As a result, splashed water may still enter the opening 61 and flow into the breathing tube 50. This is yet another drawback of the prior art.

Furthermore, the linkage 90, the float 70, and the plug cover 80 require a complicated assembly process, which not only incurs high costs but may also compromise quality. This is still another drawback of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a snorkel breathing tube regulator which is highly sensitive in regulating ventilation and capable of preventing the entry of splashed water, wherein the snorkel breathing tube regulator includes: a tubular hollow base and a supplementary tube that jointly form an inverted U-shaped structure; and a float provided in the supplementary tube. When the water surface rises in relation to the snorkel breathing tube regulator during snorkeling, the water surface pushes the float upward to form a seal that prevents water ingress. Thus, a water stopping function is provided to increase the safety in snorkeling. Meanwhile, the snorkel breathing tube regulator has lower production costs than the prior art.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a snorkel breathing tube regulator including a tubular hollow base, a supplementary tube, and a float. The base has an end formed with an insertion hole and an opposite end formed with a bent portion, wherein the bent portion has a downwardly facing opening that forms a venting hole. The supplementary tube is fitted below the venting hole at a lateral side of the base. Moreover, the supplementary tube has an end connected to the venting hole and provided with a watertight packing. The supplementary tube further has an opposite end formed with an opening that converges toward a lower side of the base. The float is movably retained in the supplementary tube, so as to stop water or allow ventilation when the water surface rises or falls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snorkel breathing tube regulator according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the snorkel breathing tube regulator according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows application of the snorkel breathing tube regulator according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows further application of the snorkel breathing tube regulator according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a conventional snorkel breathing tube regulator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a snorkel breathing tube regulator according to the present invention essentially includes a tubular hollow base 10, a supplementary tube 20, and a float 30.

The base 10 has an end formed with an insertion hole 100 and externally provided with a tenon 12 configured for engaging with a corresponding breathing tube 50. The base 10 further has an opposite end formed with a bent portion 11. The bent portion 11 has an opening which faces generally downward and forms a venting hole 110.

The supplementary tube 20 is fitted below the venting hole 110 at a lateral side of the base 10. The supplementary tube 20 has an end connected to the venting hole 110, provided with an engaging portion 23, and mounted with a watertight packing 40. The supplementary tube 20 has an opposite end formed with a downwardly extending and inclined surface 21 and an opening 22 that converges slightly toward a lower side of the base 10.

The float 30 is provided inside the supplementary tube 20 and movably restricted between the engaging portion 23 and the inclined surface 21.

To use the snorkel breathing tube regulator of the present invention, the end of the base 10 that is formed with the insertion hole 100 is inserted into the breathing tube 50, such that the tenon 12 of the base 10 is inserted in and engaged with a corresponding fastening hole 51 of the breathing tube 50. Then, referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, when a snorkeler using the snorkel breathing tube regulator of the present invention submerges below the water surface WL, and the water surface WL has yet to reach the supplementary tube 20, the float 30 stays at a lower position in the supplementary tube 20. However, when the snorkeler submerges deeper into the water such that the water surface WL rises to the supplementary tube 20, the float 30 is pushed upward by the buoyancy of water. Before the water has a chance to enter the base 10, the float 30 is pressed against the watertight packing 40 from below, thus preventing the water from entering the base 10. In consequence, the interior of the base 10 remains ultra dry, and safe snorkeling can be achieved.

When current molding techniques are improved, the base 10 and the supplementary tube 20 of the present invention can be injection molded as one piece. As long as the features of the present invention are preserved, the same effects can be achieved.

Hence, implementation of the present invention at least involves the following inventive steps:

• • 1. With the float 30 serving as the means for preventing water from flowing into the base 10, watertightness is enhanced, ventilation is regulated (i.e., enabled or shut off) with increased sensitivity, and related costs are reduced. These are the major advantages of the present invention.
  • 2. With the base 10 and the supplementary tube 20 jointly forming a bent tubular structure, splashed water is prevented from entering from above. Thus, the snorkel breathing tube regulator provides increased safety in snorkeling. This is another advantage of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described via the preferred embodiment, it is understood that the foregoing embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Therefore, all equivalent or easily conceivable changes or modification made to the disclosed embodiment by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention, such as the addition of other fittings or minor changes in the materials used, should fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined only by the appended claims.

According to the above description, and given the fact that the contents disclosed herein have never been made public prior to this application, the present invention meets the requirements of novelty, utility, and industrial applicability for patent application. Hence, an application for patent of the present invention is hereby filed for examination.

Claims

1. A snorkel breathing tube regulator, comprising:

a tubular hollow base having an end formed with an insertion hole and an opposite end formed with a bent portion, wherein the bent portion has an opening that faces downward and forms a venting hole;

a supplementary tube fitted below the venting hole at a lateral side of the base, wherein the supplementary tube has an end connected to the venting hole and provided with a watertight packing and an opposite end having an opening that converges toward a lower side of the base; and

a float movably retained in the supplementary tube.

2. The snorkel breathing tube regulator of claim 1, wherein the end of the base that is formed with the insertion hole is provided with a tenon.

3. The snorkel breathing tube regulator of claim 1, wherein the end of the supplementary tube that is connected to the venting hole is provided with an engaging portion, and the opposite end of the supplementary tube is formed with an inclined surface, such that the float is retained between the engaging portion and the inclined surface.

4. The snorkel breathing tube regulator of claim 1, wherein the base and the supplementary tube are integrally formed.