AU721878B3 - A respiratory tube structure - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: A RESPIRATORY TUBE STRUCTURE Applicant: CHIANG, Wen-Chang; YU, Chiao-Hua; CHIANG, Wen-Cheng; and TUNG, Ying-Shun The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 Documert9 A RESPIRATORY TUBE STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a respiratory tube structure, and more particularly to a respiratory tube which has small volume and can be conveniently carried and used. In addition, the respiratory tube is able to prevent sea water from flowing into the respiratory tube.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a conventional respiratory tube 9. The bottom section of the respiratory tube 9 has an extending bent tube section 91.

The free end of the bent tube section 91 is disposed with a bite mouth 92.

The upper section of the respiratory tube 9 is inclined by a certain angle.

A waterproof cap 93 is disposed at the top end of the respiratory tube 9.

The top end of the waterproof cap 93 is disposed with a water stopper tongue 931. The lower edge of outer circumference of the waterproof cap 93 is formed with multiple perforations 932. The bottom end of the respiratory tube 9 is disposed with a one-way valve 94.

The air gets into the respiratory tube 9 from the perforations 932 of the lower edge of the waterproof cap 93 so that the waterproof cap 93 serves to stop the water of the wave coming from one side from entering the respiratory tube 9.

It is known that a floating diver floats on the sea water to observe the undersea creatures. The wave of the sea will make the floating diver unable to keep a constant distance from the sea level. Also, when watching the undersea creatures, the diver will often turn his/her head.

Under such circumstances, the waterproof cap 93 will be lower than the sea level and the sea water may pour into the respiratory tube 9.

Therefore, the floating diver may suck in the sea water when breathing.

A senior floating diver often dives under the sea level by several meters to watch the behavior of the undersea creatures. In such case, the respiratory tube 9 will be filled up with sea water. At this time, the senior diver by means of personal vital capacity and breathing skill and the cooperative one-way valve 94 at the bottom end of the respiratory tube 9 will drain the sea water from the one-way valve 94 and the waterproof cap 93. However, such manner is not suitable for anyone.

Even a senior diver may suck in the sea water and hard to breathe due to the sea water remaining in the respiratory tube 9. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the above respiratory tube 9.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved respiratory tube structure in which the free flexibility of the flexible tubes cooperates with the buoyancy of the floating board and the rear section of the upper bent tube is bent and extends downward so that no matter how the attitude of the user changes, the buoyancy of the floating board can make the upper bent tube in an upright state. In addition, the internal air pressure of the respiratory tube can resist against the pressure of the sea water so as to prevent the sea water from flowing into the respiratory tube.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above respiratory tube which has small volume and can be conveniently carried and used.

According to the above objects, the present invention provides a respiratory tube structure including: a lower bent tube, one end of the lower bent tube being disposed with a bit mouth section for a user to bite in the mouth, the lower bent tube having a bypass tube downward extending from an adjoining section of the bite mouth, a bottom end of the bypass tube being disposed with a bottom board formed with multiple perforations, a bottom edge of the bottom board being disposed with a valve plate which can be only downwardly opened, the other end of the lower bent tube being connected with two upward extending flexible tubes; a fitting ring fitted with an adjoining section between the lower bent tube and the flexible tubes, two ends of the fitting ring being respectively formed with two through holes through which the lower bent tube is passed; the other end of each of the flexible tubes being connected with a respective upper bent tube, the upper bent tubes being passed through a floating board which can float on the water on the bottom face thereof, a section of the upper bent tubes protruding beyond the top face of the floating board being bent and extending downward, an opening of the downward extending end of the upper bent tubes being positioned above a top face of the floating board by a certain distance.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS w.kteSPECA488l 1-99.doc Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the respiratory tube of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plane view of the respiratory tube of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows that the floating board and upper bent tube of the respiratory tube of the present invention float on the water level; Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing that the floating board and upper bent tube of the respiratory tube of the present invention buoy in the water; Fig. 5 is a plane view of a conventional respiratory tube; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the waterproof cap of the conventional respiratory tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Please refer to Figs. 1 and 2. The respiratory tube of the present invention includes a lower bent tube 11. One end of the lower bent tube 11 is disposed with a bite mouth section 12 for a user to bite in the mouth.

The other end of the lower bent tube 11 is connected with two upward extending flexible tubes 13. The other end of each of the flexible tubes 13 is connected with an upper bent tube 15. The upper bent tube 15 is passed through a floating board 14 which has a shape of a substantially triangular column. The floating board 14 can float on the water on the bottom face thereof. The section of the upper bent tube 15 protruding beyond the top face of the floating board 14 is bent and extends downward. The opening of the downward extending end of the upper bent tube 15 is spaced from the top face of the floating board 14 by a distance.

The lower bent tube 11 has a bypass tube 16 downward extending from the adjoining section of the bite mouth 12. The bottom end of the bypass tube 16 is disposed with a bottom board 161 formed with multiple perforations 162. The bottom edge of the bottom board 16 is disposed with a valve plate 17 which can be only downward opened. A fitting ring 18 is fitted with the adjoining section between the lower bent tube 11 and the flexible tube 13. Two ends of the fitting ring 18 are respectively formed with two through holes 181 through which the lower bent tube 11 is passed. The fitting ring 18 can be fitted with a hydroscope of the user for locating the respiratory tube.

The flexible tube 13 is made of very soft material. Therefore, in the case that one single tube with larger diameter is used to connect the upper bent tube 15 with the lower bent tube 11, the tube tends to form a bending angle when bent to block the pipeline. In the case that a relatively hard tube is used, the free flexibility of the tube will be poor and the floating board 14 is easy to be upward pushed by the tube body and tilted. Therefore, it is necessary to employ two flexible tubes 13 with smaller diameter to connect the upper bent tube 15 with the lower bent tube 11. The two flexible tubes 13 with smaller diameter are not easy to form bending angle when bent and have better free flexibility. Therefore, they can provide proper downward gravity to keep the floating board 14 floating on the, water level on the bottom face.

The upper bent tube 15 is passed through the floating board 14 and connected with the flexible tubes 13. Accordingly, in use, no matter how the attitude of the user changes such as turning head the free flexibility of the flexible tubes 13 can cooperate with the buoyancy of the floating board 14 to make the upper section of the upper bent tube float on the sea level in an upright state for the user to freely breathe the air above the sea level. In case of sea wave, the upper section of the upper bent tube 15 is bent and extends downward so that the sea wave is prevented from pouring into the upper bent tube 15 as shown in Fig. 3 so as to ensure that the user breathe smoothly.

When the user desires to dive to a deeper place, the floating board 14 has small volume so that the buoyancy exerted onto the floating board 14 is not great and will not affect the action of the user. In addition, the flexible tubes 13 can be freely flexed to cooperate with the buoyancy of the floating board 14 to make the upper bent tube 15 buoy in the sea still in an upright state. The rear section of the upper bent tube 15 is bent and extends downward so that even though the opening of the downward extending end of the upper bent tube 15 is positioned in the water, the internal air pressure of the respiratory tube can resist against the pressure of the sea water tending to pour into the upper bent tube as shown in Fig. 4. Therefore, the sea water is prevented from flowing into the flexible tubes 13. When the user again buoys out of the sea level, the sea water originally partially pouring into the rear section of the upper bent tube 15 will automatically flow out to restore the pipeline to freeness.

Under some special circumstances which make the upper bent tube 15 unable to keep upright and which make the sea water pour into the flexible tubes 13, the user can blow air from the mouth to drain the sea water from the valve plate 17 of the bypass tube 16 and avoid being choked by the sea water.

The floating board 14 has very small volume so that the entire respiratory tube has suitable volume and can be conveniently carried and used.

In conclusion, the improved structure of the respiratory tube of the present invention has the following advantages: 1. The flexible tubes 13 can be freely flexed to cooperate with the buoyancy of the floating board 14 to make the upper bent tube 15 float on the sea in an upright state. The upper section of the upper bent tube is bent and extends downward so that the sea wave is prevented from pouring into the flexible tubes 13 so as to ensure that the user breathe smoothly.

2. The flexible tubes 13 can be freely flexed to cooperate with the buoyancy of the floating board 14 to make the upper bent tube 15 buoy in the sea still in an upright state. The upper section of the upper bent tube 15 is bent and extends downward so that the internal air pressure of the respiratory tube can resist against the pressure of the sea water tending to pour into the upper bent tube 15 and thus the sea water is prevented from flowing into the flexible tubes 13.

3. The bypass tube 16 has a valve plate 17 which can be only opened downward, whereby the sea water pouring into the respiratory tube can be drained out from the valve plate 17.

4. The floating board 14 has very small volume so that the entire respiratory tube has suitable volume and can be conveniently carried and used.

The above embodiment is only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims (3)

1. A respiratory tube structure including: a lower bent tube, one end of the lower bent tube being disposed with a bit mouth section for a user to bite in the mouth, the lower bent tube having a bypass tube downward extending from an adjoining section of the bite mouth, a bottom end of the bypass tube being disposed with a bottom board formed with multiple perforations, a bottom edge of the bottom board being disposed with a valve plate which can be only downwardly opened, the other end of the lower bent tube being connected with two upward extending flexible tubes; a fitting ring fitted with an adjoining section between the lower bent tube and the flexible tubes, two ends of the fitting ring being respectively formed with two through holes through which the lower bent tube is passed; the other end of each of the flexible tubes being connected with a respective upper bent tube, the upper bent tubes being passed through a floating board which can float on the water on the bottom face thereof, a section of the upper bent tubes protruding beyond the top face of the floating board being bent and extending downward, an opening of the downward extending end of the upper bent tubes being positioned above a top face of the floating board by a certain distance.

2. A respiratory tube structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the section of each upper bent tube protruding beyond the top face of the floating board is bent into an inverted U-shape.

3. A respiratory tube structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the two flexible tubes are freely flexible relative to one another along their entire length between the lower bent tube and the upper bent tube. DATED: 19 April 2000 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: CHIANG, Wen-Chang; YU, Chiao-Hua; CHIANG, Wen-Cheng; and JUNG, Ying-Shun W:kateSPECA48811-99.dc