US20080053435A1

US20080053435A1 - Snorkel connector

Info

Publication number: US20080053435A1
Application number: US11/515,770
Authority: US
Inventors: Chen-Lieh Pan
Original assignee: Water Square Sports Co Ltd
Current assignee: Water Square Sports Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-06
Filing date: 2006-09-06
Publication date: 2008-03-06

Abstract

A snorkel connector has a base tube, a mounting tube and a mouthpiece. The base tube has two outer side walls and two side recesses. The side recesses are respectively formed in the outer side walls and each have a bottom and a bottom recess. The bottom recesses are formed respectively in the bottoms of the side recesses. The mounting tube is removably mounted on the base tube and has two wings and a supporting part. The wings are formed on the mounting tube, are held in the side recesses of the base tube and have protrusions. The protrusions are formed on the wings of the mounting tube and engage the bottom recesses of the base tube to hold the mounting tuber onto the base tube. The mouthpiece is mounted on the mounting tube and allows the support part of the mounting tube to extend into.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a snorkel connector, and more particularity to a snorkel connector that allows a user is able to change position and location of an air tube and breathe through a mouthpiece smoothly.
2. Description of Related Art
When people are taking water activities, such as snorkeling or diving, how to keep people breathing smoothly under water is a very important issue. Most people will breath through a snorkel when they are under water to keep them breathing smoothly.
The conventional snorkel has an air tube and a snorkel connector. The air tube is connected with the snorkel connector. The snorkel connector has two types including a pre-curve connector and a curve mouthpiece connector.
With reference to FIG. 6, the pre-curve connector has a base tube (50) and a mouthpiece (60). The base tube (50) is made of hard plastic material and has a top, a bottom, a side, a mounting tube (51), a through hole, a check valve and a side tube. The mounting tube (51) is formed on the top of the base tube (50). The mounting tube (51) is tilted to the base tube (50). The through hole is formed through the mounting tube (51) and the base tube (50). The check valve is mounted on the bottom of the base tube (50) inside of the through hole. The side tube is connected with an air tube, is formed on the side of the base tube (50) and has a though hole. The through hole is formed through the side tube and communicates with the through hole of the base tube (50).
The mouthpiece (60) has a biter part (62) and a connecting part (61). The biter part (62) is connected with the connecting part (61). The connecting part (61) is mounted on the mounting tube (51) of the base tube (50) and has an air way. The air way is formed through the connecting part (61) and allows the mounting tube (51) of the base tube (50) to extend into.
Because the mounting tube (51) is tilted to the base tube (50) so that when a user exhales air, the air bubbles do not block the user's sight in water. The base tube (50) is made of the hard plastic material, so the base tube (50) is restricted to a certain position of the user's face such as corresponding to the user's right face or left face. However, each user has his/her own habit, the fixed position of the base tube (50) causes that the pre-curve connector can not comply with the needs of the user. When different users wish to change the position of the base tube (50) to fit with his/her face, the fixed position of the base tube (50) causes difficult to comply with the different users. If the user wants to change the position of the base tube (50), the air bubbles from the user exhaling may block the user's sight in water.
With reference to FIG. 7, the curve mouthpiece connector has a tube (70) and a mouthpiece (80). The tube (70) has a top, a bottom, a mounting tube (71), a through hole, a check valve, a side and a side tube. The mounting tube (71) is formed on the top of the tube (70). The through hole is formed through the mounting tube (71) and the tube (70). The check valve is mounted on the bottom of the tube (70) inside the through hole of the tube (70). The side tube is formed on the side of the tube (70) and has a hole. The hole is formed through the side tube and communicates with the through hole of the tube (70).
The mouthpiece (80) is made of soft silica gel and has a connecting part (81) and a biter part (82). The biter part (82) is connected with and tilted to the connecting part (81). The connecting part (81) is mounted on the mounting tube (71) of the tube (70) and has an air way. The air way is formed through the connecting part (81) and allows the mounting tube (71) of the tube (70) to extend into.
The biter part (82) of the mouthpiece (80) allows the user to bite so that the usr can breath through the hole of the mouthpiece (80). When the position of the curve mouthpiece connector is changed to conform to needs of different users, the mouthpiece (80) can be dismounted from the tube (70) and rotated. After the rotation of the mouthpiece (80), the mouthpiece (80) is reassembled to the tube (80) and the position of the mouthpiece (80) is changed to fit with the requirements of the users. Because the biter part (82) is tilted to the connecting part (81) in a certain angle so that a distance is defined between the biter part (82) and the connecting part (81). Furthermore, the mouthpiece (80) is made of soft silica gel, the distance between the biter part (82) and the connecting part (81) is not fixed and not supported. When the user bite the mouthpiece (80) with a large force, the mouthpiece easily collapses between the biter part (82) and the connecting part (81) so that the air way of the connecting part (81) is blocked. Consequently, the user can not breathe through the air way of the connecting part (81) smoothly.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a snorkel connector to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a snorkel connector that allows to change a position of an air tube to fit with needs of different users and a user to breathe through a mouthpiece smoothly.
The snorkel connector is adapted to be connected to an air tube and has a base tube, a mounting tube and a mouthpiece. The base tube has two outer side walls and two side recesses. The side recesses are respectively formed in the outer side walls and each have a bottom and a bottom recess. The bottom recesses are formed in the bottoms of the side recesses. The mounting tube is removably mounted on the base tube and has two wings and a supporting part. The wings are formed on the mounting tube, are held in the side recesses of the base tube and have protrusions. The protrusions are formed on the wings of the mounting tube and engage the bottom recesses of the base tube to hold the mounting tuber onto the base tube. The mouthpiece is mounted on the mounting tube and allows the supporting part of the mounting tube to extend into. Accordingly, the location and position of the air tube relative to a user can be adjusted by dismounting or mounting the mounting tube from or to the base tube. The supporting part of the mounting tube can provide the mouthpiece an excellent supporting effect so that the user can breathe in water smoothly.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a snorkel connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snorkel connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of the snorkel connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view in partial section of the snorkel connector in FIG. 1 when a mounting tube is rotated;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an air tube with the snorkel connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view in partial section of a conventional pre-curve connector in accordance with the prior art; and

FIG. 7 is a view in partial section of a conventional curve mouthpiece connector in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, a snorkel connector in accordance with the present invention is adapted to connect with an air tube (40) and comprises a base tube (10), a mounting tube (20) and a mouthpiece (30).
The base tube (10) has a top, a bottom, a through hole (11), a check valve (12), two outer side walls, two side recesses (13), a side tube (14), an annular slot (16) and an O-ring (17). The through hole (11) is formed through the base tube (10) from the top to the bottom. The check valve (12) is mounted on the bottom of the base tube (10) inside the through hole (11). Each side recess (13) is formed in one of the outer side walls and has a bottom and a bottom recess (131). The bottom recess (131) is formed in the bottom of the side recess (13). The side tube (14) is formed on the side of the base tube (10) and has a hole (15). The hole (15) is formed through the side tube (14) and communicates with the through hole (11) of the base tube (10). The annular slot (16) is formed in the top of the base tube (10) around the through hole (11) of the base tube (10). The O-ring (17) is mounted in the annular slot (16) of the base tube (10).
The mounting tube (20) is removably mounted on the top of the base tube (10) and has a top, two bottom edges, two wings (21), a supporting part (23) and a hole (25). Each wing (21) is formed on one of the bottom edges of the mounting tube (20), is received in one of the side recesses (13) of the base tube (10) and has an inner face and an protrusion (22). The inter face of the wing (21) abuts against the O-ring (17) of the base tube (10). The protrusion (22) is formed on the inner face of the wing (21) and selectively engages one of the bottom recesses (131) of the base tube (10) to hold the mounting tube (20) onto the base tube (10). The supporting part (23) is formed on the top of the mounting tube (20), tilts to the mounting tube (20) at an angle of 25 degree and has an outer side wall and an annular extension (24). The annular extension (24) is formed around the outer side wall of the supporting part (23). The hole (25) is formed through the supporting part (23) of the mounting tube (20) and communicates with the through hole (11) of the base tube (10).
The mouthpiece (30) has a biter part (31) and a connecting part (32). The biter part (31) is connected with the connecting part (32). The connecting part (32) is mounted on the supporting part (23) of the mounting tube (20) and has an air way (33). The air way (33) is formed through the connecting part (32) and allows the supporting part (23) of the mounting tube (20) to extend into and has an inner wall. The inner wall of the air way (33) of the connecting part (32) abuts against the annular extension (24) of the supporting part (23) of the mounting tube (20).
With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when a user wants to change the position and location of the air tube (40) relative to his/her face, the mounting tube (20) is dismounted from the base tube (10) and is rotated. After rotating the mounting tube (20) to a desired angle, the mounting tube (20) is reassembled to the base tube (10) so that the tilting angle of the supporting part (23) of the mounting tube (20) relative to the base tube (10) is changed. Because the supporting part (23) of the mounting tube (20) is tilted to the user, air bubbles exhaled from the user can not block the user's sight in water.
The supporting part (23) of the mounting tube (20) extends into the air way (33) of the mouthpiece (30) and provide an excellent supporting effect to the mouthpiece (30). Consequently, the mouthpiece (30) is kept from collapse and the air way (33) of the connecting part (32) is prevented from being blocked. Accordingly, the user can breathe through the air way (33) of the connecting part (32) smoothly.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A snorkel connector comprising

a base tube having

a top;

a bottom;

a through hole formed through the base tube;

two outer side walls;

two side recesses, each side recess formed in one of the outer side walls and having

a bottom; and

a bottom recess formed in the bottom of the side recess; and

a side tube formed on the side of the base tube and having

a hole formed through the side tube and communicating with the through hole of the base tube;

a mounting tube removably mounted on the top of the base tube and having

a top;

two bottom edges;

two wings, each wing formed on one of the bottom edges of the mounting tube, held into one of the side recesses of the base tube and having

an inner face; and

a protrusion formed on the inner face of the wing and selectively engaging one of the bottom recesses of the base tube to hold the mounting tube onto the base tube;

a supporting part formed on the top of the mounting tube, tilted to the mounting tube at a tilting angle and having

a outer side wall; and

a hole formed through the supporting part of the mounting tube and communicating with the through hole of the base tube; and

a mouthpiece formed on the supporting part of the mounting tube and having

a connecting part mounted on the supporting part of the mounting tube and having

an air way formed through the connecting part and allowing the supporting part of the mounting tube to extend into and having

an inner wall; and

a biter part connected with the connecting part.

2. The snorkel connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tilting angle of the supporting part to the connecting part is 25 degree.

3. The snorkel connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base tube further has an annular slot formed in the top of the base tube around the through hole of the base tube and an O-ring mounted in the annular slot of the base tube and abutting against the inner walls of the wings of the mounting tube.

4. The snorkel connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the supporting part of the mounting tube further has an annular extension formed on the outer side wall and abutting against the inner wall of the air way of the mouthpiece.

5. The snorkel connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base tube further has a check valve mounted on the bottom of the base tube inside of the through hole of the base tube.