NOSE EQUALIZING DEVICE FOR AN UNDERWATER MASK

Abstract

A nose equalizing device of an underwater mask is provided. The nose equalizing device includes two pouches, each having an opening and a bottom portion corresponding to the opening. Each of the bottom portions is preformed into a first shape having a plurality of continuous folding portions and is in a first position distal from a nose wing of a user. When two fingers of the user exert forces inwardly toward the bottom portions from the openings of the two pouches, respectively, each of the bottom portions is capable of being stretched and deformed into a second shape and being in a second position proximal to the respective nose wing of the user. When the exerted forces are released, each of the bottom portions is capable of automatically or by a reverse force outwards, returning to the first position and restoring to the first shape.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. Ser. No. 63/405,067 filed on Sep. 9, 2022, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a nose equalizing device, in particular to a nose equalizing device for an underwater mask.

Descriptions of the Related Art

Underwater activities such as snorkeling are among the most popular leisure activities in modern times. During underwater activities, the user usually wears a mask to facilitate underwater movement and enjoy the underwater scenery.

In order to equalize the pressure inside and outside the user's ears as well as the pressure inside and outside the mask, a user is usually done with operating a Frenzel Equalization or a Valsalva Maneuver. However, to equalize the pressure underwater, the mask needs to be designed with a soft nose equalizing mechanism that is positioned close enough to the user's nose when being worn by the user. Therefore, the user's fingers (usually the thumb and index/middle finger) are able to pinch the nose through the nose equalizing mechanism and ensure that the nostrils are actually closed before equalizing pressure underwater. To achieve this, it is better to pinch the nose with the fingers as close to the roots of the nose wings as possible. This will make it easier to accurately pinch the nose to close the nostrils.

Unfortunately, the basic structure of the current mainstream full-face snorkel masks (FFSMs) makes them obviously difficult to provide a useful nose equalizing mechanism. Furthermore, the FFSMs mainly use a large hard lens module as the basic structure to cover the user's eyes, nose and mouth. In the inherent design of FFSMs, the lens module has already protruded a certain distance forward relative to the user's face. If a nose equalizing mechanism is added, it will go for another distance further forward. It can be conceived that when wearing the FFSM, the user's face will be abutted against the waterproof skirt behind the frame portion. Therefore, if the nose equalizing mechanism is added, the distance between the nose and the equalizing mechanism is undoubtedly so great that it is difficult for the user's fingers to actually touch the nose through the equalizing mechanism (at most, the user's fingers only touch the tip of the nose), let alone perform the equalizing action with the entirely closed nostrils. This is why hardly any current FFSM well perform an equalizing function. Although some manufacturers tried, they all failed since the nose equalizing device is not strong enough, which cannot withstand the underwater pressure. The collapse of the nose equalizing device will cause discomfort from friction with the face, or produce the unexpected self-pinching nose effects.

In view of this, resolving the above problems has become the unanimous goal of the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a nose equalizing device for an underwater mask. The nose equalizing device of the present invention has two pouches. In the molding process, the bottom portion of each pouch is preformed with continuous folding portions (that is, a reversed or curved folding shape). An inward force can therefore be applied on that bottom portion to be stretched and deformed. This results in the pouch extending deeper by a distance and makes the bottom portion closer to the nose wing of the user. Therefore, when the user needs to perform the nose equalizing, he/she can put two fingers into the two pouches, respectively. By pushing the bottom portion of the two pouches inward, the depth of the pouches becomes deeper. This makes the bottom portions of the pouches extend toward the roots of the user's nose wings to facilitate the user's fingers to cover the entire outer side of the nostrils to make the action of pinching the nose accurately. Once the nose equalizing is complete, the user only needs to release the fingers. As such, the two pouches will automatically restore outwards to the original unextended (i.e., the original preformed) shape and return to the distal position by virtue of the property of its soft, elastic material and the structural characteristics of the continuous folding portions without causing any discomfort to the user due to inappropriate contact with the pouches. Accordingly, the present invention makes the implementation of adding a nose equalizing mechanism to the underwater mask perfect. The design of the nose equalizing device of the present invention is applicable to any form of an underwater mask, and can actually achieve the advanced equalization action of pinching the nose to allow the nostrils to close.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the present invention discloses a nose equalizing device an underwater mask. The nose equalizing device includes two pouches, each having an opening and a bottom portion corresponding to the opening. Each of the bottom portions is preformed into a first shape having a plurality of continuous folding portions and is in a first position distal from a nose wing of a user. When two fingers of the user exert forces inwardly toward the bottom portions from the openings of the two pouches, respectively, each of the bottom portions is capable of being stretched and deformed into a second shape and being in a second position proximal to the respective nose wing of the user. When the exerted forces are released, each of the bottom portions is capable of automatically or by a reverse force outwards, returning to the first position and restoring to the first shape.

In an example, the nose equalizing device further includes a rim and a partition, wherein the partition extends across an upper portion and a lower portion of the rim, thereby forming the two pouches independently of each other on left and right.

In an example, the rim and the partition are integrally formed with a frame portion or a lens portion of the underwater mask.

In an example, the two pouches are integrally formed with a waterproof skirt of the underwater mask.

In an example, the rim, the partition and the two pouches are integrally formed with a waterproof skirt of the underwater mask.

In an example, the two pouches are made of soft material, in which the soft material has a Shore A hardness of 10-90 and is selected from silicone rubber, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinylchloride (PVC) or combinations thereof.

In an example, the soft material has a Shore A hardness of 70-90.

In an example, the continuous folding portions are formed with at least two adjacent sidewalls parallel to each other or having an included angle smaller than 90 degrees.

In an example, each of the continuous folding portions has a thickness ranging between 0.3 millimeters (mm) and 4 millimeters (mm).

In an example, each of the continuous folding portions has a height ranging between 2 millimeters (mm) and 18 millimeters (mm).

In an example, the underwater mask is a diving mask having a body and a mouthpiece-type breathing tube separated from the body, and wherein the nose equalizing device is disposed in a nasal chamber defined by at least one of a frame portion, a lens portion and a waterproof skirt of the body.

In an example, the underwater mask is a breathable mask having a breathing tube, a body and a three-way connector, in which the body covers eyes and nose of the user, and the breathing tube and the three-way connector which are disposed on an upper portion and a lower portion of the body, respectively, are in fluid communication with an interior of the body.

In an example, the three-way connector has a nose connecting portion, a drain valve portion and a mouthpiece portion which communicate with one another, and wherein the nose equalizing device is disposed in a nasal chamber defined by the body, and the three-way connector is in fluid communication with the body through the nose connecting portion and the nasal chamber.

In an example, the underwater mask is a full-face breathable mask having a body and a breathing tube communicating with the body, in which the body covers the eyes, nose and mouth of the user, and the nose equalizing device is disposed in an orinasal chamber defined by the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of a nose equalizing device for an underwater mask according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a rear view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A, showing a plurality of a plurality of continuous folding portions preformed in the bottom portions of the two pouches of the nose equalizing device.

FIG. 2A is a perspective schematic view of the nose equalizing device of the present invention equipped on a mask.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A, showing the relationship between the mask of FIG. 2A and the user's face.

FIG. 2C is another cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A, showing the state when the user's fingers exert force on the nose equalizing device inwardly.

FIG. 2D is another cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A, showing the state when the user releases the exerted force of the fingers, the nose equalizing device resiliently returned to the original position.

FIGS. 3A-3E are schematic cross-sectional views of different aspects of the continuous folding portions of the nose equalizing device of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a front perspective schematic view and a rear perspective schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention, respectively, showing that the nose equalizing device is equipped on a diving mask.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a front perspective schematic view and a rear perspective schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention, respectively, showing that the nose equalizing device is equipped on a breathable mask with a three-way connector.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front perspective schematic view and a rear perspective schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention, respectively, showing that the nose equalizing device is equipped on a full-face breathable mask.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The content of the present invention will be explained by way of the following embodiments, and the descriptions thereof are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention only, and are not intended to limit the present invention to be implemented in any specific environment, application or particular method as described in the embodiments. Therefore, the description of these embodiments is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the present invention. It shall be appreciated that, in the following embodiments and the attached drawings, elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustration, and dimensional proportions among individual elements in the accompanying drawings are provided only for ease of understanding but not to limit the actual scale of the present invention.

One of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIGS. 2A-2D. FIGS. 1A and 1B show a front view and a rear view of the nose equalizing device 1 of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 1C is a transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A, and FIGS. 2A-2D are schematic views of different phases of the nose equalizing device 1 of the present invention during use.

The nose equalizing device 1 can be applied to any form of underwater mask M0 (for example, a diving mask, a breathable mask with a three-way connector or a full-face breathable mask, which will be further described later), to provide the user wearing the underwater mask M0 to perform the advanced equalization action of pinching the nose to allow the nostrils to close.

The nose equalizing device 1 includes two pouches P1 and P2. Each pouch P1 and P2 has an opening 11 and a bottom portion 12 corresponding to the opening 11. The pouches P1 and P2 can be made of soft material. For example, the soft material may have a Shore A hardness of 10-90, and may be selected from silicone rubber, thermoplastic rubber (TPR) (e.g., thermoplastic elastomer, TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinylchloride (PVC) or combinations thereof.

Each bottom portion 12 is preformed into a first shape S1 having a plurality of continuous folding portions 121 (e.g., premade into a reversed or bent shape by injection molding). As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the bottom portion 12 is unstressed, it is in a first position FP distal from the nose wing NW of a user UR. When the bottom portion 12 is at the first position FP, it does not substantially touch the face of the user UR, so it does not cause discomfort from friction with the face.

When the user UR needs to perform nose equalizing, as shown in FIG. 2C, he/she can put two fingers deeply into the two pouches P1 and P2 through the openings 11, respectively, and exert force inwardly toward the bottom portion 12. The bottom portion 12 can be stretched and deformed into a second shape S2 (that is, to spread the continuous folding portions 121) by exerting force inwardly with the fingers. At this time, the bottom portion 12 is at a second position SP proximal to the respective nose wing NW of the user UR. When the bottom portion 12 is at the second position SP, the user UR's fingers can make the bottom portion 12 cover the entire outer sides of the nostrils so that the action of pinching the nose is accurate for performing the nose equalizing.

After the exerted forces by the user UR are released, each of the bottom portions 12 will automatically or by a reverse force outwards return to the first position FP and restore to the first shape S1, as shown in FIG. 2D. Ideally, the bottom portion 12 is expected to automatically restore to the first shape S1 and return to the first position FP. However, if in an actual use, due to environmental influences (such as excessive water pressure or elastic fatigue caused by long-term use of pouches P1 and P2), the bottom portion 12 may fail to achieve the automatically restoring and returning function, the user can push the underwater mask M0 towards the face. By doing this, the stretched pouches P1 and P2 will touch or abut against the areas near the sides of the nose and the cheekbones of the user's face, and generate an outward reaction force that helps to return the bottom portion 12 to the first position FP.

The nose equalizing device 1 may include a rim 1R and a partition 1P. The partition 1P extends across the upper portion 1RU and the lower portion 1RL of the rim 1R, thereby forming the two pouches P1 and P2 independently of each other on left and right. The rim 1R and the partition 1P may be made of rigid material to serve as supplementary support parts. The entire nose equalizing device 1 (the rim 1R, the partition 1P, and the two pouches P1 and P2) can be selectively made of soft material with a Shore A hardness of 70-90 to provide strong support and prevent collapse due to the underwater pressure.

It is understandable that, since the rim 1R and the partition 1P can be made of rigid material, the rim 1R and the partition 1P may be integrally formed with the frame portion or lens portion of the underwater mask M0 in practice. Moreover, as the pouches P1 and P2 can be made of soft material, the pouches P1 and P2 may be integrally formed with the waterproof skirt of the underwater mask M0 (e.g., they may all made of silicone rubber material) in practice. Of course, by virtue of the proper design of the thickness of the soft material together with the selection of the suitable Shore A hardness, the rim 1R, the partition 1P, and the pouches P1 and P2 may also be integrally formed with the waterproof skirt of the underwater mask M0 in practice.

In addition, in an embodiment, each continuous folding portion 121 may have the thickness Tl ranging between 0.3 millimeters (mm) and 4 millimeters (mm) for being capable of easily receiving exerting force to be stretched and deformed to the second shape S2 by the user, and to be restored to the first shape S1 after the exerted force is released. In an embodiment, each continuous folding portion 121 may have the height H1 ranging between 2 millimeters (mm) and 18 millimeters (mm). This can be customized depending on the user's face shape to make the bottom portion 12 completely cover the outer sides of the nostrils when at the second position SP.

The continuous folding portions 121 of the nose equalizing device 1 of the present invention are possible to have various aspects. The continuous folding portions 121 may be formed with at least two adjacent sidewalls SW. In FIG. 3A, the two adjacent sidewalls SW of the continuous folding portions 121a are parallel to each other, while in FIG. 3B, the two adjacent sidewalls SW of the continuous folding portions 121b have an included angle A1 smaller than 90 degrees.

On the other hand, the number of bends of the continuous folding portions 121 depends on the design requirement and is not limited in the present invention. For example, FIG. 3C illustrates an aspect with a continuous folding portion 121c having more bends, and FIG. 3D illustrates an aspect having a continuous folding portion 121d with fewer bends. In addition, in an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3E, the continuous folding portions 121e are formed at a position close to an area where the connection of the bottom portion 12 is merged to the partition 1P. In other words, the number of bends and the position of the continuous folding portions 121 may be modified based on practical applications (e.g., for users of various ages, genders, and face shapes), all of which fall within the scope of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the nose equalizing device 1 is a module being integrally formed with the rim 1R, the partition 1P, and the pouches P1 and P2. However, in other embodiments, the rim 1R, the partition 1P, and the pouches P1 and P2 may be separated parts and are capable of being assembled together to form the nose equalizing device 1. In this design, the pouches P1 and P2 may be replaceable. The different aspects of the pouches P1 and P2 as shown in FIGS. 3A-3E may be provided as replaceable parts to fit users with different face shapes, thereby increasing the comfort of use.

In addition, the overall appearance of the nose equalizing device 1 (especially the rim 1R and the partition 1P) may also vary with different types of underwater masks. In other words, any shape variation based on the concept of the present invention should not be restricted. For instance, defining the nasal pocket which is formed by the waterproof skirt of the underwater mask to be the partition 1P of the nose equalizing device 1 is also feasible. That is, as long as the nose equalizing device 1 has two pouches P1 and P2, and the bottom portion 12 of each of the pouches P1 and P2 is preformed to have a plurality of continuous folding portions 121, any change in appearance of the entire nose equalizing device 1 stills fall within the scope of the present invention. Besides, the said number of two pouches are only defined for the user's two fingers to insert, respectively, but should not be limited. Any equivalents, such as a pouch compartment which is provided to contain the two pouches communicating with each other, are also feasible.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show another embodiment of the present invention, which illustrate schematic views of the nose equalizing device 1 of the present invention applied to a diving mask M1. The snorkel mask M1 has a body M11 and a mouthpiece-type breathing tube (not shown) separated from the body M11. The body M11 includes a frame portion F1, a lens portion L1 (with either one lens or two separate lenses) and a waterproof skirt W1. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the entire nose equalizing device 1 is integrally formed with the waterproof skirt W1 and disposed in a nasal chamber N1 defined by the waterproof skirt W1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the nose pocket defined by the waterproof skirt W1 also serves as the partition 1P of the nose equalizing device 1. However, in other embodiments, the nose equalizing device 1 may be disposed in the nasal chamber defined by the frame portion or the lens portion of the body of the snorkeling mask.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show another embodiment of the present invention, which illustrate the nose equalizing device 1 of the present invention applied to a breathable mask M2. The breathable mask M2 has a body M21, a breathing tube M23 and a three-way connector M25. The body M21 covers the user's eyes and nose. The body M21 may include a frame portion F2, a lens portion L2 and a waterproof skirt W2. The breathing tube M23 and the three-way connector M25 are arranged on the upper portion UP and the lower portion LP of the body M21, respectively, and are in fluid communication with the interior of the body M21.

The three-way connector M25 may, for example, have a nose connecting portion NP, a drain valve portion DP and a mouthpiece portion MP which communicate with one another. In this embodiment, the nose equalizing device 1 is disposed in a nasal chamber N2 defined by the body M21 (e.g., by the waterproof skirt W2), and the three-way connector M25 is in fluid communication with the body M21 through the nose connecting portion NP and the nasal chamber N2.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show another embodiment of the present invention, which illustrate the nose equalizing device 1 of the present invention applied to a full-face breathable mask M3. The full-face breathable mask M3 has a body M31 and a breathing tube M33 communicating with the body M31. The body M31 covers the user's eyes, nose and mouth. The body M31 may include a frame portion F3, a lens portion L3 and a waterproof skirt W3. The entire nose equalizing device 1 is integrally formed with the waterproof skirt W3 and is disposed in the orinasal chamber N3 defined by the body M31 (e.g., the waterproof skirt W3).

To conclude, the nose equalizing device of the present invention can be applied to any form of an underwater mask. When the user needs to perform nose equalizing, he/she can just put two fingers into the two pouches of the nose equalizing device and exert force to spread the continuous folding portions to pinch the nose. Afterward, the user only needs to release the fingers, and the pouches will, automatically or manually restore outwards, to their original shapes and return to their original positions. Accordingly, the nose equalizing device of the present invention makes the underwater equalizing easy and accomplishable. Furthermore, the opening 11 defined by each of the pouches P1 and P2 is provided to allow the user's finger to pass through so as to touch and push the bottom portion 12 to be deformed. Therefore, whether the fingers touch the bottom portions 12 and then pass through the openings 11, or pass through the openings 11 and then touch the bottom portions 12 does not matter. In other words, before being deformed by force, the bottom portions 12 of the pouch P1 and P2 may protrude out of the opening 11, be flush with the openings 11, or be placed inside the openings 11.

The above embodiments are used only to illustrate the implementations of the present invention and to explain the technical features of the present invention, and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modifications or equivalent arrangements that can be easily accomplished by those skilled in the art are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should be limited by the claims of the patent application.

Claims

1. A nose equalizing device of an underwater mask, comprising:

two pouches, each having an opening and a bottom portion corresponding to the opening;

characterized in that: each of the bottom portions is preformed into a first shape having a plurality of continuous folding portions and is in a first position distal from a nose wing of a user; when two fingers of the user exert forces inwardly toward the bottom portions from the openings of the two pouches, respectively, each of the bottom portions is capable of being stretched and deformed into a second shape and being in a second position proximal to the respective nose wing of the user; and when the exerted forces are released, each of the bottom portions is capable of automatically or by a reverse force outwards, returning to the first position and restoring to the first shape.

2. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, further comprising a rim and a partition, wherein the partition extends across an upper portion and a lower portion of the rim, thereby forming the two pouches independently of each other on left and right.

3. The nose equalizing device of claim 2, wherein the rim and the partition are integrally formed with a frame portion or a lens portion of the underwater mask.

4. The nose equalizing device of claim 2, wherein the two pouches are integrally formed with a waterproof skirt of the underwater mask.

5. The nose equalizing device of claim 2, wherein the rim, the partition and the two pouches are integrally formed with a waterproof skirt of the underwater mask.

6. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, wherein the two pouches are made of soft material, in which the soft material has a Shore A hardness of 10-90 and is selected from silicone rubber, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinylchloride (PVC) or combinations thereof.

7. The nose equalizing device of claim 6, wherein the soft material has a Shore A hardness of 70-90.

8. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, wherein the continuous folding portions are formed with at least two adjacent sidewalls parallel to each other or having an included angle smaller than 90 degrees.

9. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, wherein each of the continuous folding portions has a thickness ranging between 0.3 millimeters (mm) and 4 millimeters (mm).

10. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, wherein each of the continuous folding portions has a height ranging between 2 millimeters (mm) and 18 millimeters (mm).

11. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, wherein the underwater mask is a diving mask having a body and a mouthpiece-type breathing tube separated from the body, and wherein the nose equalizing device is disposed in a nasal chamber defined by at least one of a frame portion, a lens portion and a waterproof skirt of the body.

12. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, wherein the underwater mask is a breathable mask having a breathing tube, a body and a three-way connector, in which the body covers eyes and nose of the user, and the breathing tube and the three-way connector which are disposed on an upper portion and a lower portion of the body, respectively, are in fluid communication with an interior of the body.

13. The nose equalizing device of claim 12, wherein the three-way connector has a nose connecting portion, a drain valve portion and a mouthpiece portion which communicate with one another, and wherein the nose equalizing device is disposed in a nasal chamber defined by the body, and the three-way connector is in fluid communication with the body through the nose connecting portion and the nasal chamber.

14. The nose equalizing device of claim 1, wherein the underwater mask is a full-face breathable mask having a body and a breathing tube communicating with the body, in which the body covers eyes, nose and mouth of the user, and the nose equalizing device is disposed in an orinasal chamber defined by the body.