WO2007011100A1

WO2007011100A1 - Diving respirator

Info

Publication number: WO2007011100A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000092
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung Chil Joo
Original assignee: Sung Chil Joo
Priority date: 2005-07-15
Filing date: 2006-01-10
Publication date: 2007-01-25

Abstract

The present invention relates to a diving respirator including: a hollow spherical floating body having a plurality of ventilating openings formed at the outer surface thereof for preventing the severe movement or submersion thereof caused by the action of wind or water at a state of being floated on the surface of the water; a position control unit disposed at the lower side of the floating body for stably maintaining the position of the floating body; a snorkel tube disposed at the inside of the floating body, the snorkel tube having a lower end portion exposed protrudedly from the lower side of the floating body to the outside and an upper end portion having air inhaling ports formed thereon to be encompassed with a cover having air holes formed thereon; an air hose connected with the lower end portion of the snorkel tube by means of screws and formed of a transparent material; and a mouthpiece connected with the air hose by means of a flexible tube such that a diver selectively inhales and exhales air through the snorkel tube.

Description

DIVING RESPIRATOR

Description Technical Field The present invention relates to a diving respirator capable of making a diver breathe with natural air under the water, without having additional equipment, and more particularly, to a diving respirator that makes a diver free in his or her movements under the water, while reducing the generation of safety accidents.

Background Art:

Generally, a snorkel is equipment that makes a diver keep respiration at a state where he or she floats on the surface of the water, which is formed of a "J"-shaped tube having a length between about 35cm and 45cm and a diameter of about 2cm in such a manner as to be placed above the surface of the water at the top end portion thereof and to have a mouthpiece mounted at the bottom end portion thereof, thereby making the diver respire while the mouthpiece is held in his or her mouth. However, the snorkel has some defects in that the top end portion thereof should always be positioned above the surface of the water, and in case where water flows therein during the use, it should be exhausted through strong exhalation of the diver for the smooth respiration of the diver.

Therefore, the snorkel is not useful if a diver is at a depth of about 5m to 10m under the water. Namely, so as to exhaust the water flowing into the snorkel during the diving, he or she should come up to the surface of the water, which makes it inconvenient to use and even accompanies unexpected safety accidents therefrom. To address and solve these problems, there is proposed an oxygen delivery device for scuba diving that is composed of very expensive equipment, and in this case, a substantially heavy oxygen tank should be portable under the water. In addition thereto, the conventional oxygen deliver device has other defects in that as oxygen is consumed, the maintenance and purchase costs become all high.

Thus, recently, there is proposed a diving respirator that is capable of making a diver breathe naturally at a depth of 5m to 10m under the water, without any help of an oxygen tank.

That is, according to the conventional diving respirators, a floating body is disposed on the surface of the water, and a snorkel tube is extended to the floating body, such that the diver can keep his or her diving for a very long period of time, depending upon his or her lung capacity, without having any oxygen tank.

However, the conventional diving respirator has the snorkel tube just more extended in length when compared with existing ones, such that air is exhaled at a state where the mouthpiece is held in the diver's mouth, which needs very perfect techniques. If the diver fails to handle the mouthpiece well, he or she may be in a danger of safety accidents.

Further, as the snorkel tube is formed of a single tube, the diver has many restrictions in the underwater motions, and especially, since the diver' s mouth is connected with the floating body via only the mouthpiece, safety devices for preparing for a situation where the mouthpiece is not held in the diver's mouth are not provided at all. Disclosure of the Invention

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a diving respirator capable of making a diver breathe with natural air under the water, without having any additional equipment, during enjoyment of leisure sports or underwater work, thereby greatly reducing the consumption costs, while ensuring the diver to be free in his or her movements under the water and improving a degree of safety.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a diving respirator that makes a pressure regulating tube disposed at a deeper position than a diver's position, such that the diver's respiration becomes free irrespective of the water pressure.

Technical Solution To accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a diving respirator including: a hollow spherical floating body having a plurality of ventilating openings formed at the outer surface thereof for preventing the severe movement or submersion thereof caused by the action of wind or water at a state of being floated on the surface of the water; a position control unit disposed at the lower side of the floating body for stably maintaining the position of the floating body; a snorkel tube disposed at the inside of the floating body, the snorkel tube having a lower end portion exposed protrudedly from the lower side of the floating body to the outside and an upper end portion having air inhaling ports formed thereon to be encompassed with a cover having air holes formed thereon; an air hose connected with the lower end portion of the snorkel tube by means of screws and formed of a transparent material; and a mouthpiece connected with the air hose by means of a flexible tube such that a diver selectively inhales and exhales air through the snorkel tube.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diving respirator including: wherein the position control means comprises a balance weight as a heavy member spaced apart from the lower side of the floating body, the balance weight being formed in a generally ring shape for centrally passing the air hose therethrough, and a pair of wires for connecting the balance weight with the floating body.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diving respirator including: wherein the floating body is connected at one side thereof with one end of a support cable, and a belt worn by a diver is connected with the other end of the support cable.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diving respirator, including the mouthpiece comprises: an air inhaling passage fluidically intercommunicating with the flexible tube; an air inhalation blocking plate hingeably mounted at one side of the air inhaling passage in such a manner as to be rotated in one direction, for selectively opening the air inhaling passage upon the diver's inhalation of air; an air exhaling passage branched from the other side of the air inhaling passage in such a manner as to fluidically intercommunicate with the outside; and an air exhalation blocking plate hingeably mounted at one side of the air exhaling passage in such a manner as to be rotated in one direction, for selectively opening the air exhaling passage upon the diver's exhalation of air.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diving respirator including: wherein the air hose comprises a plurality of plate-like fixing pins spaced apart thereon at uniform intervals, each of the fixing pins having a hole formed at one side thereof for passing one end of the support cable therethrough and having a weight of high specific gravity connected at one side thereof.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diving respirator including: further comprising a pressure regulating tube connected between the air hose and the flexible tube in such a manner as to be placed at a deeper position than the diver' s position under the water, thereby making a diver breathe stably irrespective of the water pressure.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diving respirator including: wherein on a portion interconnecting the air hose and the pressure regulating tube is provided a pressure blocking plate coupled by means of a hinge pin for preventing the air in the pressure regulating tube from flowing reversely to the air hose and at the same time enabling the air from the air hose to be supplied gently to the pressure regulating tube.

Advantageous Effects

This invention discloses a diving respirator that can conduct complete air inhalation and exhalation through the mouthpiece of the diving respirator, which greatly enhances the conveniences of use thereof.

Also, the position control unit of the diving respirator can help the floating body stably maintained in the position and can connect the floating body with a diver, thereby greatly reducing the generation of safety accidents.

Also, the support cable is fixed to the floating body, the air hose, and the belt, which prevents the floating body from being severely moved and further prevents the mouthpiece from being deviated from the diver' s mouth, thereby greatly reducing the generation of safety accidents. Furthermore, the pressure regulating tube is provided such that the diver can breathe stably irrespective of the water pressure, thereby greatly improving the conveniences of use thereof.

Description of Drawings Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a structure of a diving respirator according to the present invention;

FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view showing the diving respirator according to the present invention;

FIG.3 is an exploded perspective view showing the mouthpiece of the diving respirator of the present invention;

FIG.4 is a side sectional view showing the mouthpiece of the diving respirator of the present invention;

FIG.5 is an exploded perspective view showing the connecting state of the pressure regulating tube of the diving respirator of the present invention; and

FIG.6 is a sectional view showing the connected portion of the pressure regulating tube with the air hose of the diving respirator of the present invention.

Best Mode Mode for the Invention Now, an explanation of a diving respirator according to the present invention will be given with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a structure of a diving respirator according to the present invention, FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view showing the diving respirator according to the present invention, FIG.3 is an exploded perspective view showing the mouthpiece of the diving respirator of the present invention, and FIG.4 is a side sectional view showing the mouthpiece of the diving respirator of the present invention.

As shown, the diving respirator of this invention includes: a floating body 10 having a given floating force; a position control unit 20 for stably maintaining the position of the floating body 10 and for preventing the submersion of the floating body 10; a snorkel tube 30 disposed at the inside of the floating body 10 for making a diver inhale external air therethrough; an air hose 40 of 5m to 10m in length connected with the snorkel tube 30; a flexible tube connected to the end of the air hose 40; and a mouthpiece 50 connected with the flexible tube 45.

The floating body 10 is a hollow spherical member floating on the surface of the water and is formed of a good buoyant material (e.g., plastic, fiber plastic, Styrofoam, and so on) . As shown in the drawings, the floating body 10 has a plurality of ventilating openings 11 formed at the outer surface thereof, for preventing the severe movement or submersion thereby caused by the action of wind or water at a state of being floated on the surface of the water. That is, water or wind is passed through the plurality of ventilating openings 11 such that the resistance of the water or wind applied to the outer surface of the spherical floating body 10 can be greatly reduced, thereby preventing the floating body 10 from being submerged above a given level of water.

The floating body 10 has the snorkel tube 30 vertically formed at the inside thereof and has the position control unit 20 formed at the lower side thereof.

The position control unit 20, which serves to stably maintain the position and uprightness of the floating body 10, is composed of a balance weight 21 and wires 22.

The balance weight 21 is a heavy member that is spaced apart from the lower side of the floating body 10, which is formed in a generally ring shape through which the air hose 40 as will be discussed hereinafter is centrally passed. The balance weight 21 is connected with the floating body 10 by means of the wires 22. That is, the position control unit 20 prevents the floating body 10 from being inclined or overturned when the floating body 10 is thrown on the surface of the water or when it is floating on the surface of the water before a diver is under the water, such that the snorkel tube 30 cannot be submerged. Furthermore, even when the diver is under the water, the position control unit 20 prevents the floating body 10 from being much inclined or overturned by the action of the waves on the surface of the water or the wind. On the other hand, the size, weight, and position of the balance weight 21 may be depending upon the size of the floating body 10 and the depth of water current.

Since the position control unit 20 has the balance weight 21 suspended at the lower side of the floating body 10, it can apply given weight to the floating body 10, thereby stably maintaining the position and uprightness of the floating body 10. The snorkel tube 30 is disposed vertically at the inside of the floating body 10, serving as an air inhalation tube for supplying external air to the diver in such a manner as to have the lower end portion exposed protrudedly through the lower side of the floating body 10 to the outside and have the upper end portion provided with air inhaling ports 31 formed thereon. The upper end portion of the snorkel tube 30 is encompassed with a cover 35 having air holes 36 formed thereon.

That is, the snorkel tube 30 is provided with the air inhaling ports 31 formed at the outer surface of the upper end portion thereof in such a manner as to be encompassed with the dome-like cover 35. In this case, the cover 35 has the air holes 36 formed to cross the air inhaling ports 31, the air holes 36 being desirably disposed at a higher position than the air inhaling ports 31.

Further, the snorkel tube 30 is provided with exhaust holes 37 formed at the inside lower end thereof, for exhausting the water flowing through the air holes 36 therefrom. Under the above structure, the snorkel tube 30 is connected at the lower end portion with one end of the air hose 40, at a state of being exposed protrudedly to the outside through the floating body 10.

The air hose 40 is connected with the lower end portion of the snorkel tube 30 by means of screws and is formed of a transparent material such that the interior can be checked. The air hose 40 and the snorkel tube 30 are connected in the following method for maintaining a stable water-tight state.

Namely, the lower end portion of the snorkel tube 30 protruded from the lower side of the floating body 10 is provided with a large diameter of first screw portion 30a and a small diameter of second screw portion 30b that have a stepped difference from each other, and a clamp 30c having a screw hole coupled with the first screw portion 30a is mounted around the outer periphery of the lower portion of the snorkel tube 30. In this case, the clamp 30c has holes for connecting the wires 22 thereon.

The second screw portion 30b of the snorkel tube 30 is screw-coupled with a pipe-like first holder hi, and at the bottom of the second screw portion 30b, a packing ring r is provided around the inner periphery of the first holder hi. A pipe-like first connecting member pi having a T-shaped section is inserted into the lower inner periphery of the packing ring r at the upper portion thereof and is extended protrudedly to the lower side of the first holder hi at the lower portion thereof.

The outer periphery of the lower end portion of the first connecting member pi is fit into the air hose 40 and thermally compressed thereon, as an integral body with the air hose 40. Under the above structure, the air hose 40 fluidically intercommunicates with the snorkel tube 30 such that the air freely flows, and further, it is formed of a transparent material such that a diver can easily check whether water or other foreign materials exist within the air hose 40 before he or she enters water.

The air hose 40 is connected at the lower end thereof with the flexible tube 45. The flexible tube 45 is smoothly changed in the motion in accordance with the movements of the diver under the water, thereby ensuring free underwater activities and stable and continuous respiration of the diver. The flexible tube 45 is connected with the air hose 40 in the following method.

First, the air hose 40 is fit to a pipe-like second holder h2, and the flexible tube 45 is fit to a pipe-like third holder h3. The second and third holders h2 and h3 are extended in a direction facing each other and are screw-coupled with each other, placing a connecting tube t between them. The second and third holders h2 and h3 are provided with T-shaped second and third connecting members p2 and p3, and the second and third connecting members p2 and p3 are thermally compressed at one end portions thereof with the air hose 40 and the flexible tube 45.

Under the above structure, the flexible tube 45 is connected at the end side thereof with the mouthpiece 50.

The mouthpiece 50 is a member held in the diver's mouth, which is made of a soft material like silicon. The mouthpiece 50 fluidically intercommunicates with the flexible tube 45, in the similar method to the above- discussed tube connecting method, and therefore, an explanation on the method will be avoided for the brevity of this description.

The mouthpiece 50 serves to selectively inhale and exhale air through the snorkel tube 30 in accordance with the diver's respiration.

That is, the mouthpiece 50 has an air inhaling passage 51 fluidically intercommunicating with the flexible tube 45, and the air inhaling passage 51 has an air inhalation blocking plate 52 hingeably mounted at one side thereof in such a manner as to be rotated in one direction, for selectively opening the air inhaling passage 51 upon the diver's inhalation of air.

The mouthpiece 50 further has an air exhaling passage 55 branched from the other side of the air inhaling passage

51 in such a manner as to fluidically intercommunicate with the outside, and the air exhaling passage 55 has an air exhalation blocking plate 56 hingeably mounted at one side thereof in such a manner as to be rotated in one direction, for selectively opening the air exhaling passage 55 upon the diver's exhalation of air.

Under the above structure, upon the diver's inhalation, the mouthpiece 50 makes the air inhalation blocking plate

52 turned in one direction thereof by the air inhalation pressure such that the air inhaling passage 51 is opened to enable the air from the snorkel tube 30 to be inhaled, and contrarily, upon the diver's exhalation, the mouthpiece 50 makes the air exhalation blocking plate 56 turned in one direction thereof by the air exhalation pressure such that the air inhaling passage 51 is closed and the air exhaling passage 55 is opened to enable the air from the snorkel tube 30 to be exhaled.

On the other hand, the diving respirator of this invention includes safety devices for connecting the floating body 10 with the diver, thereby reducing the generation of safety accidents.

That is, a support cable c is connected at one end thereof with the clamp 30c supporting the snorkel tube 30 against the floating body 10 through the holes of the clamp 30c and is connected at the other end thereof with a belt b worn by the diver.

In this case, the belt b is desirably fastened on the shoulders and chest of the diver, and the support cable c is passed through a plurality of fixing pins 41 that are spaced apart on the air hose 40 at uniform intervlas, which ensures the diver's free activities. On the other hand, each of the fixing pins 41 desirably has a weight 42 of high specific gravity formed at one side thereof for stably maintaining the uprightness of the air hose 40.

By the way, the diving respirator of this invention should be made in consideration of the underwater pressure. For example, as the diver goes deeply under the water, the water pressure becomes increased, and if the diver is at a depth of 10m from the surface of the water, the diver' s lungs are under the pressure of 2 atm. Thus, he or she needs a larger quantity of air.

Under the above situation, if the pressure of 1 atm on the surface of the water is connected via the air hose 40 with the pressure of 2 atm at the depth of 10m under the water, the air is not gently supplied to the diver. In this case, so as to conduct the smooth supply of air, there is provided a pressure regulating tube 60 as shown in FIGS.5 and 6.

FIG.5 is an exploded perspective view showing the connecting state of the pressure regulating tube of the diving respirator of the present invention, and FIG.6 is a sectional view showing the connected portion of the pressure regulating tube with the air hose of the diving respirator of the present invention.

Referring to FIG.5, the pressure regulating tube 60 is connected between the air hose 40 and the flexible tube 45 and has a weight 61 of high specific gravity suspended thereon such that the pressure regulating tube 60 is always placed at a deeper position than the diver' s position under the water.

At this time, the pressure regulating tube 60 and the flexible tube 45 are connected with each other by means of the second and third holders h2 and h3, the connecting tube tl, the packing ring r, and the second and third connecting members p2 and p3 in the same manner as discussed above.

On the other hand, the air hose 40 is fit to a pipe- like fourth holder h4, and the pressure regulating tube 60 is fit to a pipe-like fifth holder h5. The fourth and fifth holders h4 and h5 are extended in a direction facing each other and are screw-coupled with each other, placing a connecting tube t2 between them. At this time, a packing ring r is provided at both sides of the connecting tube t2, and the fourth and fifth holders h4 and h5 are provided with T-shaped fourth and fifth connecting members p4 and p5. The fourth and fifth connecting members p4 and p5 are thermally compressed at one end portions thereof with the air hose 40 and the pressure regulating tube 60. At this time, a pressure blocking plate 62 is coupled by means of a hinge pin 63 at the inside of the connecting tube t2, for preventing the air in the pressure regulating tube 60 from flowing reversely to the air hose 40 and at the same time enabling the air from the air hose 40 to be supplied gently to the pressure regulating tube 60.

At this time, since the pressure regulating tube 60 is placed at the deeper position than the diver's position, the diver can stably breathe. In this case, the pressure regulating tube 60 should have a given volume such that a sufficient amount of air is provided for the good respiration of the diver.

As a result of various experiments made by this inventor, it is found that desirably, the pressure regulating tube 60 is placed at a deeper depth between Im and 2m than the diver' s position and has an air volume of 4 liters .

Industrial Applicability

Also, the position control unit of the diving respirator can help the floating body stably maintained in the position and can connect the floating body with a diver, thereby greatly reducing the generation of safety accidents. Also, the support cable is fixed to the floating body, the air hose, and the belt, which prevents the floating body from being severely moved and further prevents the mouthpiece from being deviated from the diver's mouth, thereby greatly reducing the generation of safety accidents. Furthermore, the pressure regulating tube is provided such that the diver can breathe stably irrespective of the water pressure, thereby greatly improving the conveniences of use thereof.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that other modifications and variations may be made without departing from the substance and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such alternate modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention which is intended to be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A diving respirator comprising: a hollow spherical floating body having a plurality of ventilating openings formed at the outer surface thereof for preventing the severe movement or submersion thereof caused by the action of wind or water at a state of being floated on the surface of the water; position control means disposed at the lower side of the floating body for stably maintaining the position of the floating body; a snorkel tube disposed at the inside of the floating body and having a lower end portion exposed protrudedly from the lower side of the floating body to the outside and an upper end portion having air inhaling ports formed thereon to be encompassed with a cover having air holes formed thereon; an air hose connected with the lower end portion of the snorkel tube by means of screws and formed of a transparent material; and a mouthpiece connected with the air hose by means of a flexible tube such that a diver selectively inhales and exhales air through the snorkel tube.

2. A diving respirator according to claim 1, wherein the position control means comprises a balance weight as a heavy member spaced apart from the lower side of the floating body, the balance weight being formed in a generally ring shape for centrally passing the air hose therethrough, and a pair of wires for connecting the balance weight with the floating body.

3. A diving respirator according to claim 1, wherein the floating body is connected at one side thereof with one end of a support cable, and a belt worn by a diver is connected with the other end of the support cable.

4. A diving respirator according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises: an air inhaling passage fluidically intercommunicating with the flexible tube; an air inhalation blocking plate hingeably mounted at one side of the air inhaling passage in such a manner as to be rotated in one direction, for selectively opening the air inhaling passage upon the diver's inhalation of air; an air exhaling passage branched from the other side of the air inhaling passage in such a manner as to fluidically intercommunicate with the outside; and an air exhalation blocking plate hingeably mounted at one side of the air exhaling passage in such a manner as to be rotated in one direction, for selectively opening the air exhaling passage upon the diver's exhalation of air.

5. A diving respirator according to claim 1, wherein the air hose comprises a plurality of plate-like fixing pins spaced apart thereon at uniform intervals, each of the fixing pins having a hole formed at one side thereof for passing one end of the support cable therethrough and having a weight of high specific gravity connected at one side thereof.

6. A diving respirator according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulating tube connected between the air hose and the flexible tube in such a manner as to be placed at a deeper position than the diver' s position under the water, thereby making a diver breathe stably irrespective of the water pressure.

7. A diving respirator for a cooking vessel according to claim 6, wherein on a portion interconnecting the air hose and the pressure regulating tube is provided a pressure blocking plate coupled by means of a hinge pin for preventing the air in the pressure regulating tube from flowing reversely to the air hose and at the same time enabling the air from the air hose to be supplied gently to the pressure regulating tube.