JPH07215286A - Variable mouthpiece in respiration device for diving - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To propose a variable mouthpiece which can be installed in the condition adequate to divers having different forms and sizes of the teethridge, in a respiration device for diving. CONSTITUTION:At the inner side of a mouthpiece 62 of a half closed type respiration device, a pair of chewing pieces 617 are provided, and they can move to the projecting position and the pulling-in position from the mouthpiece, and by chewing them with the teeth in the projecting condition, the feeding of the inspiration can be started, and by pulling in, the feeding of the inspiration is stopped. Since the front end part of the mouthpiece 62 from a hinge 62c is deformed easily to the inner side and the outer side, it can be installed to divers having different forms and sizes of the teethridge in the adequate condition. Since the chewing pieces 617 and the mouthpiece 62 are connected and deformed integrally, the chewing pieces 617 cannot be chewed in the pulling-in condition of them, because the front end of the mouthpiece 62 is deformed to the inner side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a breathing apparatus for diving. More specifically, the present invention regenerates exhaled air collected from a mouthpiece through a carbon dioxide adsorbing device to inhale the regenerated gas and a constant flow rate of new inspiratory gas supplied from a breathing gas cylinder into the mouthpiece. The present invention relates to an improvement of a mouthpiece in a diving breathing apparatus configured to be supplied as gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Diving breathing apparatus are generally classified into two types: an open type breathing apparatus and a closed type or semi-closed type breathing apparatus. In the open-type breathing apparatus, all the breathed gas is discharged to the outside of the apparatus, and in the closed-type and semi-closed-type breathing apparatus, a device that can rebreath the breathed gas is incorporated.

In diving with an open breathing device, the same volume of gas is breathed, regardless of ambient pressure or depth. Therefore, as ambient pressure increases, breathing gas consumption increases. If a gas cylinder is used, that is, if the amount of gas that can be breathed is limited, the dive time decreases with increasing depth.

On the other hand, in the closed type and semi-closed type breathing apparatus, the compressed gas is used as the breathing source as in the open type.
The same weight of gas is breathed regardless of ambient pressure. Therefore, in the closed type and the semi-closed type, the consumption of respiratory gas is constant regardless of the depth. Therefore, the amount of breathing gas to be carried is significantly smaller than that of the open type, and by changing the mixing ratio of the breathing gas, it is possible to dive for a long time to a depth that the open type cannot dive. .

As described above, the closed-type or semi-closed-type breathing apparatus is lighter in weight than the open-type breathing apparatus, and has the advantage of being capable of deep diving for a long time. However, conventional closed-type and semi-closed type breathing apparatus were developed for special diving and military purposes, so they have only a minimum safety mechanism and are relatively easy to occur. It does not have a mechanism to deal with the situation. For this reason, the use of these devices requires considerable thorough training, and cannot be easily used by leisure divers.

[0006]

However, as the number of diving enthusiasts increases, it is possible to utilize such a closed or semi-closed breathing apparatus without requiring complicated operation and skill. There is an increasing demand for diving. Here, the closed-type breathing apparatus is equipped with an oxygen concentration sensor and the like, and requires considerable training in handling, controlling, monitoring, and the like. Semi-closed breathing apparatus, on the other hand, are relatively easy to handle by non-experts, as they lack such equipment and therefore no training is required to operate them. It would be very convenient if this semi-closed breathing apparatus could be used more easily and easily than ever before.

In order to make it easy to use, the applicant previously disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-274843 that the supply of intake gas from a gas cylinder can be easily controlled and the mouthpiece is dived. In the case of coming out of the person's mouth, the supply of inhalation gas can be automatically stopped, and further, a semi-closed breathing apparatus that can automatically prevent water from entering the inside of the apparatus is proposed. There is.

The structure of the semi-closed breathing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 4, a semi-closed breathing apparatus 1
Is provided with a hollow housing 2, and the device components described later are built in the hollow housing 2. One side of the hollow housing 2 serves as a backrest surface 2a that contacts the back of the diver, and an opening for replacing a breathing gas cylinder is formed in the center of the opposite surface, and the lid 2 is detachably attached thereto.
b is attached. At the upper end of the hollow housing 2, a carbon dioxide adsorption device built-in container 3 is horizontally attached.
This container has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and flexible expiratory tubes 4 and inspiratory tubes 5 are connected to the outer peripheral portions on both sides thereof. The tip ends of the expiratory tube 4 and the inspiratory tube 5 are connected to the mouthpiece unit 6.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the breathing air flow chamber 61 in the mouthpiece unit 6 communicates with the expiratory tube 4 and the inspiratory tube 5. The other ends of the expiratory tube 4 and the inspiratory tube 5 are
Each of them communicates with both side portions of the cylindrical container 3 in which the carbon dioxide adsorption device 7 is built. That is, the carbon dioxide adsorbing device 7 having an annular cross section is built in the center of the container 3, and the exhalation passage 31, 31 is provided on each side of the carbon dioxide adsorbing device 7.
An intake passage 32 is formed. Carbon dioxide adsorption device 7
In the hollow housing 2 below the container 3 containing
A breathing gas cylinder 8 is vertically arranged in the center, and an exhalation air bag 9 and an inhalation air bag 11 are arranged on both sides of the breathing gas cylinder 8 with the breathing gas cylinder 8 interposed therebetween. The exhalation air bag 9 communicates with the exhalation passage 31 of the container 3, and the inhalation air bag 11 communicates with the inhalation passage 32 of the container 3.

The breathing gas cylinder 8 is arranged so that its gas discharge port 81 is located at the lower end, and this gas discharge port 81 is connected to a regulator 83 via an opening / closing valve 82. The regulator 83 reduces the gas pressure to about 8 to 9 kilograms / square centimeter. Six gas supply pipes are connected to the regulator 83, three of which are for the residual pressure indicator, the BC jacket, and the octopus (not shown). One of the remaining three gas supply pipes 84 extends into the mouthpiece unit through the intake passage 32 and the intake pipe 5 of the carbon dioxide adsorption device built-in container 3. A flow rate adjusting orifice 84a is inserted at an intermediate position, and the flow rate is adjusted to 4 to 5 liters / minute through the orifice 84a to be supplied into the mouthpiece unit. The other gas supply pipe 85 is a gas supply pipe for purging used for draining water from the mouthpiece unit 6, and extends to the inside of the mouthpiece unit 6 similarly to the gas supply pipe 84 described above. There is. Remaining one gas supply pipe 86
Is for supplying intake air in an emergency, and its tip is located in the intake passage 32 of the container 3.

An auto valve mechanism 12 is attached to the end of the carbon dioxide adsorption device built-in container 3 on the intake side. The mechanism 12 controls opening / closing of the gas supply pipe 86 and automatic exhaust gas exhaust control.

The overall gas flow is as follows:
Exhaled air from the mouthpiece 62 of the mouthpiece unit 6 is stored in the expired air bag 9 via the expiratory tube 4 and the expiratory passage 31. At the time of inhalation operation, the exhaled breath stored here is cleaned by removing carbon dioxide gas through the carbon dioxide adsorption device 7 and flows into the intake passage 32. The thus exhaled breath is stored in the inhalation air bag 11 and is supplied into the mouthpiece unit 6 through the inhalation pipe 5 for inhalation. A constant flow rate of new intake gas is constantly introduced into the mouthpiece unit 6 from the cylinder 8 via the gas supply pipe 84, and a mixed gas of these is supplied as the intake gas.

A mouthpiece unit is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The mouthpiece unit 6 is composed of a breathing air circulation chamber 61 formed in a case 63 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and a mouthpiece 62 attached to an opening 63 a opened on one side surface of the case 63. An expiratory opening 64 and an inspiratory opening 65 are formed on both left and right side surfaces of the case 63, respectively. The expiratory tube 4 is connected to the expiratory opening 64 via a check valve 66 which allows only the passage of fluid to the expiratory tube 4 side. Similarly, the intake opening 65
The intake pipe 5 is connected to the intake pipe 5 via a check valve 67 that allows only the passage of the fluid from the intake pipe 5. Also, two gas supply pipes 84 and 85 arranged therein extend through the intake opening 65 into the respiratory air flow chamber 61 in the mouthpiece unit. As shown in FIG. 7, in the breathing air circulation chamber 61, the opening / closing valve 6 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the end wall 61a.
11 and 612 are attached. A gas supply pipe 84 is connected to the open / close valve 611, and a gas supply pipe 85 is connected to the open / close valve 612. These on-off valves 611, 6
When the twelve actuating rods 611a and 612a are pushed in, these are opened and gas is supplied into the breathing air flow chamber 61.

An on-off valve 611 for supplying intake gas
The lower end side of a swivel plate 613 for moving the operating rod 611a is in contact with the tip of the operating rod 611a. The swivel plate 613 has a rotating shaft 614 at a central position in the vertical direction.
Supported by. The rotating shaft 614 is rotatably bridged between the side walls 61b and 61c of the case 63. The upper end of the swivel plate 613 is rotatably connected to the base end side of the horizontal moving plate 615. The horizontal moving member 615 is arranged at the height of the opening 63a, and the cylindrical protrusion 615a on the tip side thereof.
The portion of (4) penetrates the case end wall 61a and projects to the outside. A disc-shaped push button 616 is attached to this protruding portion. The horizontal moving member 615 is always provided with an elastic force toward the end wall 61a by a spring member (not shown). Therefore, the push button 616 attached to the tip of the horizontal moving member 615 is attached to the case end wall 61a. The bush button stopper 616a is in contact with the bush button stopper 616a.

On the other hand, the base ends of the horizontal moving plate 615 are connected to the base ends of a pair of chewing pieces 617. The tip side of this chewing piece 617 has an opening 6
It projects to the position of the outer side surface of the mouthpiece 62 via 3a. The protruding portion is formed thick so that the diver can easily grip it with his / her teeth.

Next, as can be seen from FIGS. 7 (B) and 8, an expiratory-tube closing valve 621 is attached to the portion of the rotary shaft 614 on the expiratory-tube connecting side. This expiratory pipe on-off valve 6
An opening 623 of the expiratory passage 622, which communicates with the expiratory opening 64, is located below the reference numeral 21. A spring member 624 is stretched between the valve 621 and the inside of the opening 623. Therefore, in a normal state, the opening 623 is closed by the valve 621 by the spring force of this spring member and the spring force of the spring member urging the swivel plate 613. However, the above bush button 6
When the rotary shaft 614 is rotated by pushing in 16, the expiratory-tube opening / closing valve 621 swivels upward in conjunction with this, and the opening 623 of the expiratory passage is opened to communicate with the respiratory airflow passage 61 in the mouthpiece unit. It becomes a state.

The operation of the intake gas supply control mechanism thus configured will be described. In the normal state in which the push button 616 is not pressed, the intake gas supply pipe 8
The on-off valve 611 attached to the tip of No. 4 is in the closed state.
The opening 623 of the expiratory passage 622 is also blocked by the valve 621. In this state, push button 6
When 16 is pushed in against the elastic force, the horizontal moving plate 615 moves to the mouthpiece 62 side, and the chewing piece 617 connected to the base end of the horizontal moving plate 615 projects outward from the mouthpiece 62. In addition, the horizontal moving plate 61
The swivel plate 613 rotates about the rotary shaft 614 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 7 (A) by the base end of 5, and the operating rod 611a is pushed in by the lower end thereof. As a result, the valve 611
Opens and the supply of intake gas is started. Here, the push button and the horizontal moving plate 615 try to move to the original state by the elastic force, but the mouthpiece 62 is held in the mouth while the diver bites the chewing piece 617 protruding from the mouthpiece 62 with the teeth. If you put it inside and close your mouth, this state will be maintained. Therefore, a constant flow rate of the intake gas is continuously supplied.

When the push button is pushed in, the exhalation-tube closing valve 621 also turns in the direction of the arrow to expiratory passage 6
Open the opening 623 of 22. As a result, the expiratory tube 4 passes through the check valve 66 and the breathing air flow chamber 61 of the mouthpiece unit.
Will be in communication with. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform a breathing motion. After diving, remove the mouthpiece 62 from your mouth,
The elastic force causes each part to return to its original state, and the supply of the intake gas is stopped.

At this point, the diver accidentally mistakes the mouthpiece 62.
If it is removed from the mouth, water will enter through the mouthpiece 62. Since the check valve 67 is attached to the connecting portion of the inspiratory pipe 5, it is possible to avoid the intrusion of water into the inspiratory pipe 5, but there is a risk that water may invade the expiratory pipe 4 side. However, the expiratory-tube closing valve 621 interlocking with the push button 616 is arranged, and in such a state, the expiratory-tube closing valve 621 returns to the original state by the elastic force, and the opening 623 of the expiratory passage 622 is opened. Close up. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from entering the expiratory tube 4.

As described above, the supply of the intake gas can be started by a simple operation of pushing the push button 616 and biting the chewing piece 617 with the teeth. Also, if the mouthpiece is removed from the mouth, the supply of inhalation gas is automatically stopped. Therefore, the supply of the intake gas can be controlled without requiring any complicated operation. Further, when the mouthpiece comes off the mouth, the expiratory tube can be automatically closed in conjunction with it, so that water can be prevented from entering the inside through the expiratory tube.

As described above, in the semi-closed breathing apparatus proposed by the present applicant, if the chewing piece is manually protruded from the mouthpiece and the tip side is sandwiched by the upper and lower teeth and held in that state. The supply of inspiratory gas at a constant flow rate can be started from the gas cylinder side, and the expiratory tube can be held in an open state. Therefore, the supply of inhalation gas can be started by a simple operation, and when the mouthpiece comes off the mouth of the diver during diving, the chewing piece returns to its retracted position, and the expiratory tube Since it is blocked, intrusion of water can be automatically prevented.

Here, the mouthpiece and the chewing piece are generally set in shape and size according to the shape and size of the average Japanese gums from an anatomical point of view. However, the shape of the gums varies from person to person.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a variable breathing apparatus for diving having the above-mentioned construction, which can be fitted to each diver's mouth in an appropriate state, and can chew chewing reliably. To propose a formula mouthpiece.

[0025]

In the breathing apparatus for diving of the present invention, the mouthpiece unit has the following structure. That is, the mouthpiece unit includes: an exhalation tube connection part communicating with an exhalation tube through which exhalation flows, an intake tube connection part communicating with an inhalation tube through which inhalation gas flows, and a breathing air distribution having an external opening communicating with the outside. A chamber; a gas supply port for supplying a constant flow rate of new inspiratory gas supplied from the respiratory gas cylinder into the respiratory gas flow chamber; a mouthpiece attached to the external opening; and an expiratory tube connection portion A check valve that allows only the passage of fluid from the respiratory air flow chamber to the expiratory pipe; a reverse valve that is arranged at the intake pipe connection and that allows only fluid flow from the intake pipe to the respiratory air flow chamber A stop valve; an opening / closing means attached to the gas supply port; an urging means for imparting an elastic force for holding the opening / closing means in a closed state; the opening / closing means against the elastic force of the urging means Open state And switchable manual operation member; in conjunction with the manual operation member, and a chewing piece to be moved to a position protruding outward from the retracted position of the mouthpiece.

Further, in the above mouthpiece, a hinge portion that is easily bent is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the tip end side portion, and the tip end portion on the tip end side of this hinge portion is
It can be deformed according to the size and shape of the wearer's gums. Further, the chewing piece is configured so as to be integrally deformed with the tip of the mouthpiece.

From an anatomical point of view, the maximum moving amount of the chewing piece is preferably about 5 mm.
Further, it is preferable that the mouthpiece is made of an elastomer material and the chewing piece is made of a urethane material.

[0028]

[Function] The tip of the mouthpiece easily bends, so the mouthpiece should be in an appropriate state for both divers with a larger gum size than those of an average Japanese person, and conversely, those with a small diver. Can be installed. Further, at that time, since the chewing piece is deformed together with the mouthpiece, the chewing piece can be reliably bitten between the teeth in an appropriate state.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This example is an example in which the present invention is applied to the mouthpiece of the semi-closed breathing apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 described above, and therefore, corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. Is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the mouthpiece 62 of this example is formed of an elastomer material, and has a cylindrical base end portion 62a having an oval cross section and a tip end side of this portion. And a tip portion 62b formed on the. The tip portion 62b expands as it goes toward the tip side, and the tip edge has a contour shape similar to the shape of human gums. Here, the base end portion 62a and the tip end portion 62
A thin portion is formed at the boundary with b. Figure 1
As shown in (b), the tip portion 62b can be extremely easily bent inward and outward around this point. That is, this thin portion is the hinge portion 62c.
It is supposed to function as.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chewing piece 617 of the present example has a connecting member 617b with respect to a support plate 617a attached to the upper end of the swivel plate 613.
Is installed through. This chewing piece 6
Reference numeral 17 is formed from a urethane material, and sandwiches a base end portion 617c attached to the connecting member 617b and a constricted portion 617d formed at the tip end thereof, and extends along the inner peripheral surface of the tip end portion 62b of the mouthpiece 62. Spreading tip 61
7e and. Therefore, this chewing piece 617 also has a constricted portion 617 as shown in FIG.
It is possible to easily bend inward and outward with d as the center. Further, the tip portion 617e has a clenching portion 617f that is clenched by upper and lower teeth protruding from the inner side surface in the horizontal direction, and a contact portion 617g that abuts against the gum on the back side is formed at the inner edge of the clenching portion 617f. Has been done.

Here, a pair of left and right connecting holes 62d are formed in the tip portion 62d of the mouthpiece 62 having the above-mentioned structure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the connecting hole 62d is a stepped hole having a small diameter inside and a large diameter outside. On the other hand, on the side of the chewing piece 617, from the outer surface of the tip portion 617e, the connecting projection 617h is formed.
Are formed. The protrusion 617h is formed of a conical portion on the tip end side and a neck portion of a small diameter on the base end side. Then, as shown in FIG.
h is in a state of penetrating the connecting hole 62d on the mouthpiece 62 side and projecting to the outside thereof. The protrusion and the hole are engaged with each other so that the protrusion does not come out of the hole.

Next, in this example, the maximum movable amount of the above chewing piece 617 is set to about 5 mm. From an anatomical point of view, this value was determined based on the gingival shape of an average Japanese model. The shape and size of the tip edge of the mouthpiece 62 are also determined based on the shape and size of the gums of an average Japanese person.

In the variable mouthpiece of this embodiment having such a structure, it can be bent very easily inward and outward around the hinge 62c. Therefore, even when the shape and size of the gums are different, the gums can be bent in a corresponding state, and the gum can be worn in a state fitted to the wearer's mouth.

The state where the expiratory tube is blocked and the supply of inspiration is stopped, that is, the chewing piece 61.
In the state where 7 is retracted, as shown in FIG. 1B, the mouthpiece 6 is moved by the chewing piece 617.
2 is pulled inward and is deformed inwardly around the hinge portion. In this state, the tip of the deformed mouthpiece becomes an obstacle, and the chewing piece 617 cannot be bitten. From this state, push in the bush button 616 and push out the chewing piece 617, and in conjunction with this, the mouthpiece 6
The tip of 2 also opens outward, and as shown in FIG. 1A, it becomes possible to bite the chewing piece 617.

On the other hand, in this example, the mouthpiece 62
Made from an elastomeric material, it is durable, harmless to the human body and pleasant to the touch. Also, since the chewing piece is made of urethane material, it is hard to damage even if you chew it strongly, and it feels good.

Although the above description is an example in which the present invention is applied to a semi-closed breathing apparatus, the present invention is similarly applied to other types of diving breathing apparatus such as a closed breathing apparatus. Can be applied.

[0038]

As described above, the variable mouthpiece of the present invention has a structure in which the tip side portion thereof is easily bent inward and outward in conjunction with the chewing piece.
Therefore, even a diver with different gum shapes and sizes can be worn in an appropriate state. When the intake air is not supplied, the tip of the mouthpiece is bent inward by the chewing piece in the retracted position, and the tip of the chewing piece is covered so that the chewing piece cannot be chewed. Can be set to.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are explanatory views showing a variable mouthpiece according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is an explanatory view of a state in which a chewing piece is protruding, and FIG. 1B is a state in which the chewing piece is retracted to a retracted position. It is explanatory drawing of the state which exists.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the chewing piece of FIG. 1,
(A) is the top view, (b) is the side view.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing the trout piece of FIG. 1, in which FIG. 3A is a plan view of the half section thereof, FIG. 3B is a side view of the half section thereof, and FIG.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a semi-closed breathing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

5 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the mouthpiece unit of the apparatus of FIG. 4 with its upper wall removed.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece unit of FIG. 6,
(A) is a schematic sectional view of a portion cut along the line AA,
(B) is a schematic sectional view of a portion cut along the line BB.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part structure of an upper half portion in the mouthpiece unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 62 ... Mouth piece 62a ... Base end 62b ... Tip part 62c ... Hinge part 62d ... Connection hole 613 ... Swivel plate 614 ... Rotating shaft 615 ... Horizontal moving plate 616・ ・ ・ Push button 617 ・ ・ ・ Chewing piece 617a ・ ・ ・ Support plate 617b ・ ・ ・ Coupling material 617c ・ ・ ・ Base end 617d ・ ・ ・ Constriction 617e ・ ・ ・ Tip 617f ・ ・ ・ Clenching part 617g ・..Hit portion 617h ... Protrusion for connection

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 19, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 6]

[Figure 8]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 5]

[Figure 7]

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Exhaled air from a mouthpiece unit is recovered and regenerated by passing through a carbon dioxide adsorbing device, and the regenerated gas and a constant flow rate of new inhalation gas supplied from a breathing gas cylinder are supplied to the mouthpiece. In a breathing apparatus for diving, which is configured to be supplied as inhalation gas, the mouthpiece unit includes an exhalation tube connection part communicating with an exhalation tube through which exhalation flows, and an inhalation tube communicating with an inhalation tube through which inhalation gas flows. A breathing air circulation chamber having a connection part and an external opening communicating with the outside; a gas supply port for supplying a constant flow rate of new inhalation gas supplied from the breathing gas cylinder into the breathing air circulation chamber; A mouthpiece attached to the opening; a check valve arranged at the expiratory tube connection portion and allowing only passage of fluid from the respiratory air flow chamber to the expiratory tube; And a check valve which is disposed in the section and permits only fluid flow from the intake pipe to the breathing air flow chamber; an opening / closing means attached to the gas supply port; and an elastic force for holding the opening / closing means in a closed state. A biasing means that is applied; a manual operation member that can switch the opening and closing means to an open state against the elastic force of the biasing means; a retracted position in the mouthpiece in conjunction with the manual operation member Has a chewing piece that moves to a position protruding outward from the mouthpiece, and a hinge portion that easily bends is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the tip side portion of the mouthpiece, and the tip on the tip side of this hinge portion is formed. The portion is deformable according to the size and size of the wearer's gums, and the chewing piece is connected to the tip of the mouthpiece so as to be integrally deformed. To Variable Masuupisu of water for breathing apparatus. 2. The variable mouthpiece for a diving respiratory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum moving amount of the chewing piece is about 5 mm. 3. The variable mouthpiece for a diving respiratory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is made of an elastomeric material, and the chewing piece is made of a urethane material. .