FULL VIEW DIVER'S MASK

• US 3,725,953 A
• Filed: 01/24/1972
• Issued: 04/10/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur F. Langguth, Clarence S. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Arthur F. Langguth, Clarence S. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Clarence S., Langguth, Arthur F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Franklin, Jordan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nerbun, Peter
• Application Number:
  US05/220,026
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 2/14W,14B,68 128/142.4,146.6,14B
• US Class Current: 2/428
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/026 Paddings; Cushions; Fittings to the face
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/12 Diving masks

Abstract

A face mask having a rigid transparent member defining a frontal portion and two curved side portions allows for wide-angle vision with little distortion. An outwardly bulging nose portion is provided to permit a close fitting on the face and to reduce the mask'"'"''"'"'s entrained mass. A resilient seal formed with an annular cross-sectional configuration is fitted about the periphery of the transparent member to ensure a sealed fitting on a number of differently contoured faces by resiliently compensating for the dissimilar facial features. Including the disclosed seal minimizes discomfort when the mask is worn for prolonged periods of time since the seal does not dig into the fleshy portions of the face.

Claims

1. In a diver'"'"''"'"'s face mask including a rigid frontal portion and rigid peripheral portions cooperating together to ensure a wide field of vision and a reduced entrained mass an improvement therefor is provided comprising:

a resilient layer bonded onto the rigid portions and bonded onto a coextensive resilient tubular element adapted for sealing the juncture between the mask and the face and being interposed therebetween, said resilient tubular element being provided with at least one pressure compensation hole linking the interior of said resilient tubular element to the interior of said face mask to permit continuous pressure compensation for preventing the collapse of said resilient tubular element in fluctuating ambient pressures thereby ensuring the face-mask'"'"''"'"'s ability to conform to differently shaped facial contours and to allow the mask'"'"''"'"'s being comfortably worn for for prolonged periods of time.

2. A face mask according to claim 1 in which said resilient tubular element is rubber surgical tubing and said resilient layer is neoprene rubber wrapped around and bonded onto said rubber surgical tubing to increase resiliency to allow the comfortable fitting of said face mask to a wider variety of facial contours.

3. A face mask according to claim 1 in which said resilient layer has a Y-shaped cross section with the arms joined to the rigid portions and the base of the stem being bonded onto said tubular element a portion of which is shaped to contain a diver'"'"''"'"'s nose.