Dive mask

• US 5,860,168 A
• Filed: 06/13/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qbas Co Limited (QBAS)
• Original Assignee: QDS Injection Molding LLC
• Inventors: Winefordner, Carl, Hermansen, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): NERBUN, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US08/876,166
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 2/428, 2/429, 2/430, 2/426, 2/439, 128/200.29, 128/206.15, 128/207.12, 128/201.28
• US Class Current: 2/428
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/12 Diving masks

Abstract

A dive mask having a drain and deflector flow guide soft skirt. The flexible skirt has a built-in purge valve and a nose compression recess on each side of a nose enclosure. The skirt thus exhausts and deflects exhaled bubbles away from the diver'"'"'s line of vision. The two recesses permit one-handed finger access to permit the diver to squeeze his or her nostrils together to permit the diver to equalize ear pressure with the water pressure.

Claims

1. A dive mask comprising:

a frame having receptacles for receiving a strap for securing the mask to a diver'"'"'s face;

the frame having an opening for receiving a window;

a window in said frame opening; and

a soft skirt secured between said window and said frame opening and extending rearwardly for sealing engagement with the diver'"'"'s face;

said soft skirt having a nose enclosure and a nose compression recess on each side of said nose enclosure for permitting one-handed compression of the diver'"'"'s nostrils, said soft skirt further comprising a purge valve at a lower end of said nose enclosure and a purge channel for directing air bubbles from said purge valve away from said window.

2. The dive mask recited in claim 1 wherein said soft skirt is made of a substantially transparent rubber-like material.

3. The dive mask recited in claim 2 wherein said material is silicone.

4. A dive mask comprising:

a frame having receptacles for receiving a strap for securing the mask to a diver'"'"'s face;

the frame having an opening for receiving a window;

a window in said frame opening;

a soft skirt secured between said window and said frame opening and extending rearwardly for sealing engagement with the diver'"'"'s face;

said soft skirt having a nose enclosure and a purge valve at a lower end of said nose enclosure and a purge channel for directing air bubbles from said purge valve away from said window, said soft skirt further comprising a nose compression recess on each side of said nose enclosure for permitting one-handed compression of the diver'"'"'s nostrils.

5. The dive mask recited in claim 4 wherein said soft skirt is made of a substantially transparent rubber-like material.

6. The dive mask recited in claim 5 wherein said material is silicone.