US20070272237A1

US20070272237A1 - Device for releasably fastening mask strap to breathing tube of snorkel

Info

Publication number: US20070272237A1
Application number: US11/430,842
Authority: US
Inventors: Chih-Cheng Shiue
Original assignee: QDS Injection Molding LLC
Current assignee: ODS INJECTION MOLDING LLC; QDS Injection Molding LLC
Priority date: 2006-05-10
Filing date: 2006-05-10
Publication date: 2007-11-29

Abstract

A flexible fastening device in one embodiment includes a male fastening unit including a hook member securely looped around a mask strap, and a slotted stud having two side trigger members; and a female fastening unit including a clip put on a breathing tube of snorkel, and a hollow clasp projected from the clip and including an internal space and an opening in communication with the external and the space. Pressing the trigger members will decrease the size of the stud, inserting the stud into the space by passing the opening, and stopping the pressing will expand the stud to lock the stud in the space. Pressing the trigger members again will decrease the size of the stud, and pulling the stud will remove same out of the space by passing the opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to snorkels and more particularly to a device for releasably fastening a head strap of a mask for swimming (including a face mask) to a breathing tube of snorkel for a diver engaging in deep diving, surface diving or the like with improved characteristics (e.g., safety and quick fastening and releasing).
2. Related Art
Snorkels are ubiquitous tools for divers engaging in deep diving, surface diving or the like. A snorkel typically comprises a breathing tube secured to a head strap of a mask for swimming (including a face mask) such that a diver may freely inhale and exhale. Also, the breathing tube together with a mask strap retaining clip are detached from the mask strap for ease of storage.
A conventional snorkel is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a clip A attached to a head strap by looping around it, and a sleeve-like retaining member B integrally formed with the clip A and tightly put on a breathing tube. Both the clip A and the retaining member B are attached onto the breathing tube in a storage state of the snorkel. In use, hold the head strap around the head and open an opening C of the clip A to allow the head strap to pass. The head strap is thus attached to the clip A. To the contrary, open an opening C of the clip A to allow the head strap to exit from the clip A. It is understood that it may be difficult of detaching the breathing tube from the head strap if opening C of the clip A is relatively small. To the contrary, the head strap may be disengaged with the breathing tube unintentionally or slide relative to the breathing tube if the opening C of the clip A is relatively large.
Preferably, the head strap is held in position by the clip A. Also, the retaining member B is secured to the breathing tube in a predetermined position. Further, a simple engaging or disengaging operation of the breathing tube and the head strap is able to achieve its purpose quickly. Furthermore, the fastening of the breathing tube and the head strap is reliable (i.e., an unintentional disengagement of the breathing tube with the head strap is not possible). It is clear that the prior arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is not able to achieve that goal. Thus, a need for improvement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a snapping based device for quickly fastening or unfastening a head strap of a mask for swimming and a breathing tube of a snorkel.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible device for reliably fastening or unfastening a head strap of a mask for swimming to a breathing tube of a snorkel such that the head strap is prevented from unintentionally disengaging with the breathing tube or sliding relative to the breathing tube.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device comprising a flexible male fastening unit including a hook member securely loop around a head strap of a mask for swimming, and a flexible stud, and a flexible female fastening unit including a clip tightly put on a breathing tube of a snorkel, and a hollow claps including a space open to the external through an opening. A diver may use the hand to either press the stud to insert same into the space for locking or press the stud to remove same from the space.
In one aspect of the present invention the male fastening unit includes a stud including a gap for separating the stud into two identical halves each having an extended trigger member such that a diver may press the trigger members to easily fasten the male and the female fastening units together or unfasten same.
In another aspect of the present invention position of the stud of the male fastening unit is exchanged with that of the clasp of the female fastening unit wherein the female fastening unit includes a hook member securely loop around a head strap of a mask for swimming, and a hollow claps including a space open to the external through an opening, and the male fastening unit includes a clip tightly put on a breathing tube of a snorkel, and a flexible stud. A diver may use the hand to either press the stud to insert same into the space for locking or press the stud to remove same from the space. As an end, the purpose of quickly fastening or unfastening the head strap and the breathing tube is achieved.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional snorkel;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of device for releasably fastening a head strap of a mask for swimming to a breathing tube of a snorkel according to the invention;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the fastened male and female fastening units of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views showing the male fastening unit prior to securing to the female fastening unit, the male fastening unit being secured to the female fastening unit, and the male fastening unit secured to the female fastening unit respectively;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views showing the male fastening unit being compressed to flexibly deform prior to disengagement with the female fastening unit, and the male fastening unit cleared the female fastening unit respectively; and
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of device for releasably fastening a head strap of a mask for swimming to a breathing tube of a snorkel according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and comprises a male fastening unit 10 and a female fastening unit 20. A head strap 30 of a mask for swimming is adapted to pass through the male fastening unit 10 for attachment and the female fastening unit 20 is adapted to tightly put on a predetermined position of the breathing tube 40.
The C-shaped male fastening unit 10 comprises a hook member 11 and a stud 12. The hook member 11 is constructed similar to one well known in the art but has a narrow opening such that the head strap 30 is prevented from unintentionally disengaging with the male fastening unit 10 by passing the opening. The stud 12 is shaped as a mushroom and comprises two identical halves and a gap 13 separated the halves. The halves are served as detents in which one half comprises a first enlargement 12 a, a first post 12 f including a first latched member 12 e in its open end, the latched member 12 e having an inclined surface for ease of insertion, and a first connection 12 c interconnected the first enlargement 12 a and the first post 12 f, and the other half comprises a second enlargement 12 b, a second post 12 f including a second latched member 12 e in its open end, the latched member 12 e having an inclined surface for ease of insertion, and a second connection 12 d interconnected the second enlargement 12 b and the second post 12 f. Pressing the first and second enlargements 12 a and 12 b will flexibly compress the first and second posts 12 f toward each other so as to decrease the gap 13 between the first and the second latched members 12 e as detailed later.
The female fastening unit 20 comprises a C-shaped clip 21 put on the breathing tube 40, and a substantially rectangular, hollow clasp 22 projected from the clip 21 and including an internal space 22 b and an opening 22 a in communication with the external and the space 22 b.
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, a fastening operation of the device will be described in detailed below.
As shown in FIG. 4, the male fastening unit 10 is about to secure to the female fastening unit 20 in which the gap 13 is not decreased and the inclined surfaces of the first and second enlargements 12 e are aligned with the opening 22 a.
As shown in FIG. 5, a diver may press the first and second enlargements 12 a and 12 b to flexibly compress the first and second posts 12 f toward each other so as to decrease the gap 13. Next, insert the first and second enlargements 12 e into the space 22 b by passing the opening 22 a.
As shown in FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIG. 3, the diver may remove the pressing force exerted upon the first and second enlargements 12 a and 12 b. Subsequently, the first and second posts 12 f and the first and second enlargements 12 e are expanded outward. As such, sharp ends of the first and second enlargements 12 e are engaged with internal shoulders of the clasp 22 proximate the opening 22 a. In this position, an outer diameter of the first and second enlargements 12 e is larger than a diameter of the opening 22 a. Thus, the first and second enlargements 12 e are prevented from clearing the space 22 b (i.e., locked in the space 22 b). This is a fastened state of the male and female fastening units 10 and 20 (i.e., the head strap 30 and the breathing tube 40 are secured together).
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an unfastening operation of the device will be described in detailed below. The diver may press the first and second enlargements 12 a and 12 b to flexibly compress the first and second posts 12 f toward each other so as to decrease the gap 13 until the outer diameter of the first and second enlargements 12 e is smaller than the diameter of the opening 22 a (see FIG. 7). Next, pull the male fastening unit 10 out of the female fastening unit 20. As a result, the male fastening unit 10 is disengaged with the female fastening unit 20.
In brief, the characteristics of the invention are that the male fastening unit 10 comprises the flexible stud 12, the female fastening unit 20 comprises a hollow clasp 22, the stud 12 is adapted to decrease in size by flexibly deforming so as to insert into the clasp 22 for locking. As a result, the head strap 30 attached to the male fastening unit 10 and the breathing tube 40 attached to the female fastening unit 20 are quickly secured together. Likewise, the head strap 30 attached to the male fastening unit 10 and the breathing tube 40 attached to the female fastening unit 20 are capable of quickly detaching.
Referring to FIG. 9, a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are detailed below. Substantially, position of the stud 12 of the male fastening unit 10 is exchanged with that of the clasp 22 of the female fastening unit 20. In detail, a male fastening unit 50 comprises a hook member 51 securely looping around the head strap 30, and a substantially rectangular, hollow clasp 52 including an internal space 52 b and an opening 52 a in communication with the external and the space 22 b. A female fastening unit 60 comprises a C-shaped clip 61 put on the breathing tube 40, a stud 62 projected from the clip 61, and a gap 63 for dividing the stud 62 into two identical halves. Pressing two opposite portions of the clip 61 will decrease the gap 63 to about zero so as to substantially join two halves of the stud 62 together. This will facilitate the insertion of the stud 62 into the space 52 b through the opening 52 a. Subsequently, removing the pressing force will immediately expand the gap 63 to divide the stud 62 into two halves again. As a result, the stud 62 is lockingly received in the space 52 b. To the contrary, pressing two opposite portions of the clip 61 will decrease the gap 63 to about zero so as to substantially join two halves of the stud 62 together (i.e., space occupied by the stud 62 is decreased). This will facilitate the removal of the stud 62 out of the space 52 b through the opening 52 a by pulling.
In view of the above, the second preferred embodiment also effects a quick fastening or unfastening of the head strap 30 and the breathing tube 40.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A device comprising a flexible male fastening unit attached to a head strap of a mask for swimming, and a flexible female fastening unit attached to a breathing tube of a snorkel, wherein:

the male fastening unit includes a hook member securely looped around the head strap, and a stud including a gap for separating the stud into two identical halves each served as a detent including a post, a latched member on an open end of the post, and a trigger member extended from the post; and

the female fastening unit includes a clip put on the breathing tube, and a hollow clasp projected from the clip and including an internal space and an opening in communication with the external and the space; whereby:

pressing the trigger members to flexibly compress the posts toward each other will decrease the gap until an outer diameter of the latched members is smaller than a diameter of the opening, inserting the latched members into the space by passing the opening, and stopping the pressing will expand the posts and the latched members to cause the outer diameter of the latched members to be larger than the diameter of the opening and lock the latched members in the space so as to secure the male fastening unit to the female fastening unit; and

pressing the trigger members to flexibly compress the posts toward each other will decrease the gap until the outer diameter of the latched members is smaller than the diameter of the opening, and pulling the stud will cause the latched members to clear the space by passing the opening so as to disengage the male fastening unit with the female fastening unit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger member is extended from a side of the post.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger member comprises an enlargement and a connection interconnected the enlargement and the post.

4. A device comprising:

a flexible female fastening unit includes a hook member securely looped around a head strap of a mask for swimming, and a hollow clasp projected from the hook member and including an internal space and an opening in communication with the external and the space; and

a flexible male fastening unit includes a clip put on a breathing tube of a snorkel, and a stud including a gap for separating the stud into two identical halves; whereby

pressing two opposite portions of the clip will decrease the gap to about zero to substantially join the halves of the stud together, inserting the stud into the space through the opening, and stopping the pressing will expand the gap to divide the stud into two halves again to lock the stud in the space so as to secure the male fastening unit to the female fastening unit; and

pressing two opposite portions of the clip will decrease the gap to about zero to substantially join the halves of the stud together, and pulling the stud out of the space through the opening will disengage the male fastening unit with the female fastening unit.