EP1516650A1

EP1516650A1 - Diving goggles

Info

Publication number: EP1516650A1
Application number: EP04104373A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vincenzo Varriale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-10
Filing date: 2004-09-10
Publication date: 2005-03-23
Also published as: ITTO20030138U1

Abstract

Diving goggles comprising a strap (3) made of an elastic and deformable material for fixing said goggles (1) to the user's head and at least one chamber (5), made of a substantially stiff plastic material, for protecting the user's ocular orbits, said chamber being connected with said fixing strap (3) and being provided with a transparent lens (6) and with a seal (9) assuring the seal between said chamber and the user's face, said strap (3) being provided hollow, full with air and communicating with said at least one ocular chamber (5), so that the air contained in said strap (3) penetrates into said at least one chamber during the dive phase as an effect of the water pressure increase and passes from said at least one chamber (5) to said strap (3) again during the emersion phase due to the inverse effect.

Description

The present invention concerns diving goggles.
In particular, the diving goggles according to the invention are provided with means for compensating the water pressure variations during the dive and emersion phases.
The goggles for diving into water, or "scuba" goggles, are largely known and available on sale in a wide variety of types and models having different quality and features.
Diving goggles are described, for instance, in the documents US 5,129,109, US 5,890,237 and US 6,349,420.
In all this variety of models, however, means for compensating the water pressure variations during the dive and emersion phases are not provided so that, when using the known diving goggles during the dive phase, the water pressure compresses the chambers bearing the goggles lenses, thereby bringing said lenses very close to the eyes. Said compression, during the emersion phase, originates the so called "suction" phenomenon, a far more serious effect acting directly and harmfully on the user's eyes.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned drawback by providing diving goggles equipped with means for compensating the water pressure variation in the eyes area, both during the dive phase and the emersion phase, thereby avoiding in this way said harmful effects.
Advantageously, the strap for fixing the goggles to the user's head is provided hollow, full with air and communicating with the ocular chamber or chambers bearing the lenses. The chambers, as an effect of the water pressure increase during the dive phase, will be filled by the air contained in the plenum chamber constituted by said hollow strap, and they will be gradually emptied during the emersion phase due to the inverse effect.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will be now described in detail with reference to the hereby attached, non-limitative, exemplary drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the diving goggles according to the invention; and
Figure 2 is a plan view of the diving goggles of Figure 1.

As it is clear from the Figures, the diving goggles 1 according to the invention are quite similar to other suchlike goggles presently available on sale. The diving goggles 1 comprise a strap 3 to be fixed to the user's head and a pair of ocular chambers 5, made of a substantially stiff plastic material, connected with the fixing strap 3 by means of two adjusting buckles 11. Said buckles 11 are arranged one at each side and allow to adjust the adhesion of the goggles 1 to the user's head. Said ocular chambers 5 are provided with transparent lenses 6 and with seals 9 assuring the seal to the user's face and are connected between them through a flexible bridge 7. If necessary, the bridge 7 may be hollow in order to make said chambers communicating each other.
Although the invention is herein described in detail with reference to diving goggles provided with two separate ocular chambers 5, one at each ocular orbit, it should be remarked that the invention may be equally applied to those diving goggles models providing for a unique chamber having an elongated shape and covering both user's ocular orbits.
Advantageously, according to the invention, the strap 3 for fixing said goggles 1 to the user's head are made of rubber or of a similar elastic and deformable material. The strap 3 is provided hollow and full with air in order to substantially constitute an air plenum chamber communicating with the ocular chambers 5.
Taking into account that the ocular chambers 5 are substantially stiff and thus have a fixed volume while the strap 3 connected to them is made of an elastic and deformable material, the working of the goggles according to the invention turns out to be clear and intuitive.
During the dive phase, the pressure increase of the water surrounding the user causes the deformable strap 3 to be compressed and the air therein contained to pass to the ocular chambers 5 in which it is in this way compensated the effect of said water pressure increase.
During the emersion phase, the water pressure decrease causes the air to be sucked down again from the ocular chambers 5 towards the strap 3 which will thus assume again its original shape and size.
For a good working of the goggles according to the invention, it is clear that it is essential not to obstruct the opening for the air passage neither while adjusting the strap 3 nor while using the goggles.
It is likewise evident that the same working would be obtained in case of diving goggles provided with a unique elongated chamber for both user's ocular orbits.
Thanks to the present invention, it is therefore possible to avoid both the compression of the orbits during the dive phase and, during the emersion phase, the far more harmful "suction" effect which may cause the breaking of the orbital capillary vessels.
For greater safety, in order to avoid the danger of said "suction" effect, at least one vacuum relief valve 13, able to prevent an excessive widening of the recesses, is provided in the stiff part of the goggles integral with the chambers 5 bearing the lenses 6.
Preferably, like in the shown embodiment, a valve 13 is provided for each ocular chamber 5.
Finally, it should be remarked that the greater the volume of the recess of the strap 3 with respect to the volume of the ocular chambers 5 is, the greater the depth attainable by wearing the goggles 1 according to the invention before suffering the above mentioned drawbacks is.

Claims

Diving goggles (1) comprising a strap (3) made of an elastic and deformable material for fixing said goggles (1) to the user's head and at least one chamber (5), made of a substantially stiff plastic material, for protecting the user's ocular orbits, said chamber being connected with said fixing strap (3) and being provided with a transparent lens (6) and with a seal (9) assuring the seal between said chamber and the user's face, characterised in that said strap (3) is provided hollow, full with air and communicating with said at least one ocular chamber (5), so that the air contained in said strap (3) penetrates into said at least one chamber during the dive phase as an effect of the water pressure increase and passes from said at least one chamber (5) to said strap (3) again during the emersion phase due to the inverse effect.
Diving goggles (1) according to claim 1, wherein said ocular chamber (5) is connected with the fixing strap (3) by means of a pair of adjusting buckles (11), said buckles (11) being arranged one at each side and allowing to adjust the adhesion of said goggles (1) to the user's head.
Diving goggles (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one vacuum relief valve (13) is provided in the stiff part of said goggles (1) integral with said ocular chamber (5).
Diving goggles (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the internal volume of said hollow strap (3) is greater than the volume of said ocular chamber (5).
Diving goggles (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said ocular chambers (5) are in a number of two, one for each user's ocular orbit, and are connected between them through a flexible bridge (7).
Diving goggles (1) according to claim 5, wherein said bridge (7) is hollow and makes said chambers (5) communicating each other.