Mouthpiece for regulators of underwater breathing apparatuses

Abstract

 Mouthpiece for regulators for underwater breathing apparatuses, including at least one pipe (2) fit to be connected to a pipe union provided in the regulator (12); said connection is done through first connecting means (3) watertight fastened to said pipe (2) and through second connecting means (10) in the regulator (12); said first means (3) and second means (10) connected with each other so to allow at least one partial rotation movement of the mouthpiece as to the regulator (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a mouthpiece for regulators for underwater breathing apparatuses.

[0002] As known, in the underwater breathing apparatuses, and in particular in the double-stage breathing apparatuses, the second supplying stage is provided with a mouthpiece of rubber or other elastomeric material, including a tubular pipe ending at one end with mouthpiece means. Said mouthpiece is inserted on a supplying pipe or pipe union and fastened to the same through suitable locking means, such as for instance a clamp or something else.

[0003] Said stiff insertion of the tubular element of the mouthpiece on the regulator filler has some disadvantages, in fact, as well-known in the art, since the second supplying stage including said pipe union is connected to the first reducing stage positioned near the air tanks through a pipe or hose, the agility of movement of the diver's head is endangered by said stiff connection. It is to say that the diver has many difficulties if he has to perform movements such as for instance the head torsion, since, once connected, the mouthpiece, the regulator and the pipe form a single stiff assembly.

[0004] Aim of the present invention is then to overcome the disadvantages of the known mouthpieces mentioned above by providing a mouthpiece for regulators for underwater breathing apparatuses by means of which an eventual movement of the mouthpieces with respect to the pipe union of the regulator to which it is fastened is allowed.

[0005] This aim is reached by the present invention by means of a mouthpiece for regulators of underwater breathing apparatuses as claimed in claim 1.

[0006] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of one preferred embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

· Fig. 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of a mouthpiece for regulators according to the present invention; and

· Fig. 2 shows a view in longitudinal section of the mouthpiece of Fig. 1 fastened to the regulator through suitable connection means.

[0007] With reference to Fig. 1, with 1 is shown a mouthpiece 1 including a mouthpiece element 17 and an elliptical section pipe 2 which is apt to form the insertion seat for the first portion 4 having an elliptical section of a sleeve 3, comprising a second central portion 5 having a frustum-conical section which in turn is connected to a third part 6 having a cylindrical cross section which is greater than the elliptical cross section of the first portion 4.

[0008] Normally the mouthpiece means 17 and the pipe 2 of the mouthpiece 1 are obtained in the same piece and made of a relativelly soft material, such as an elastomeric material like rubber. The three parts 4, 5, 6 of the sleeve 3, instead, are made of a relativelly stiff material. With reference to the first part 4 of said sleeve 3, it includes at the insertion end in the pipe 2 an annular projection 41 which, during the assembly of the mouthpiece 1, is housed in a suitable elliptical seat 21 obtained within the pipe 2 in a zone near to the mouthpiece means 1: said insertion of the projection 41 of stiff material in the seat 21 of soft material, has the aim to guarantee the watertight sealing of the connection between sleeve 3 and pipe 2. In the inside of the frustum-conical part 5 of the sleeve 3 a first annular groove 51 is formed, while in the inside of the cylindrical part 6 a second annular groove 61 is formed, as best shown in the section of Fig. 2. Between said grooves 51 and 61 a relief 65 is formed, on which are obtained two teeth 7 projecting inwards, of which only the lower one is shown in Fig. 1. The second groove 61 obtained in the cylindrical part 6 has the aim to house a watertight sealing ring 8 (o-ring) which, in the assembly, is positioned around the outer surface of a connection element 10 inserted in the sleeve 3. Said connection element 10 includes a cylindrical section mantle 9, made of quite stiff material and an inner part 13, of quite soft material. The union of the mantle 9 to the inner part 13 can be done through two consecutive molding stages of the stiff and soft materials forming the connection element 10. The mantle 9, moreover, includes on the outside two carvings 91 where is inserted, as it will be seen, the teeth 7 of the cylindrical part 6 of the sleeve 3 and of which only the lower carving can bee seen. Said carvings 91 are obtained according to an arc of fixed length provided along the cylindrical outer surface of the mantle 9. In the inner part 13 of soft material is obtained an elliptical hole 14 destined to house an elliptical section pipe union 11 of a regulator 12, being said pipe union 11 made of stiff material and watertight inserted into said elliptical hole 14. Said pipe union 11 includes, moreover, at the insertion end, an annular projection 15, which, when the assembly is done, is to be inserted into a corresponding annular elliptical seat 16, obtained in the inside next to the insertion end of the sleeve 3 connection element 10.

[0009] The insertion of the connection element 10 into the sleeve 3 can be seen in the section of Fig. 2, where it is shown the mouthpiece 1 connected with the regulator 12 through said element 10 and said sleeve 3. As it can be noticed the ring 8 is inserted in the annular groove 61 and has the aim to offer a watertight sealing for the connection of the cylindrical part 6 (of stiff material) of the sleeve 3 and the outer mantle 9 (of soft material) of the connection element 10, while the watertight sealings of the connections between the pipe 2 and the elliptical part 4 of the sleeve 3, and between the filler 11 of the regulator 12 and the inner part 13 of the connection element 10 are guaranteed by the combinations between soft and stiff materials described with reference to Fig. 1. During the use of the present mouthpiece, the diver, through the mouthpiece means 17, breathes in the air flowing from the regulator pipe union 11 through the elliptical part 4 of the sleeve 3, inserted in the pipe 2. Any movement of the diver's head turning to a movement of the mouthpiece means 17 and the pipe 2 as to the pipe union 11 of the regulator 12, is compensated by the rotation of the sleeve 3, watertight fastened to the pipe 2 as to the connection element 10, watertight fastened to the pipe union 11. Said rotation is made possible by the sliding of the teeth 7, provided within the cylindrical part 6, along the carvings 91 obtained starting from the mantle 9 outer surface that consents, in substance, to the pipe 2 to rotate of a certain angle as to the pipe union 11, until it is in a relative position different from the one shown in the figures, adapting itself to the rotation of the mouthpiece means 17. To avoid that said diver's head movements cause an excessive rotation of said pipe 2 as to the pipe union 11, during the building stage, two carvings 91 having a fixed width are made, rather than just only one carving obtained on the whole circumference of the mantle 9. In any case, the providing for just one carving, even if characterized by an inferior functioning efficiency as to the two carvings of the present embodiment form, is an embodiment variation fit to reach the invention main aim, it is to say to embody a mouthpiece connected to a regulator through means fit to allow a relative movement of said mouthpiece as to said regulator.

[0010] In the preceding description of a preferred embodiment form of the present invention it has been noticed that the regulator 12 connection element 10 to the sleeve 3 is inserted on the filler 11 of said regulator 12, nevertheless, according to a further variation of the present invention it is possibile to make said element 10 from the piece on the cylindrical body (partially shown in Fig. 1) of the regulator 12, which, in this case, will include a projecting mantle 9 made of stiff material and provided with a through hole 14, which, in the use of the present mouthpiece, will be crossed by the air breathed in by the diver.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece for regulators for underwater breathing apparatuses, including at least one pipe (2) fit to be connected to a pipe union provided in the regulator (12); characterized in that said connection is done through first connecting means (3) watertight fastened to said pipe (2) and through second connecting means (10) in the regulator (12); said first means (10) and second means (10) are connected with each other so to allow at least one partial rotation movement of the mouthpiece as to the regulator (12).

2. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 1, characterized in that said second connecting means (10) are watertight fastened to the pipe union (11) of the regulator (12).

3. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 1, characterized in that said second connection means (10) are obtained integrally from the body of the regulator (12).

4. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 1, characterized in that said first connection means are a sleeve (3) including a first part (4) watertight connected to the pipe (2) of the mouthpiece and a second cylindrical part (6) fit to house a cylindrical connecting element (10) watertight fitted to the pipe union (11) of the regulator (12).

5. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 4, characterized in that said first part (4) of the sleeve is made of quite stiff material and inserted in the pipe (2) of the mouthpiece, being said pipe (2) made of quite soft material, such as elastomeric material.

6. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 4, characterized in that said connection element (10) includes an inner part (13) of quite soft material and an outer mantle (9) of quite stiff material, being, starting from one end of said inner part (13), obtained an hole (14) for the insertion of the regulator pipe union (11) and being the outer mantle (9) fit to be inserted to the inside of the sleeve (3) cylindrical part (6).

7. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 4, characterized in that inside the cylindrical part (6) of the sleeve (3) is obtained at least one tooth (7) projecting inwards fit to hook to at least one carving obtained starting from the outer surface of the mantle (9) of the connection element (10).

8. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 7, characterized in that on the outer mantle (9) of the connection element (10) are obtained two or more circle arc carvings (91) fit to work each one with a respective tooth (7) obtained within the sleeve (3) cylindrical part (6).

9. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 4, characterized in that within the sleeve (3) cylindrical part (6) is obtained a groove (61) fit to house a watertight sealing ring (8) winded around the sleeve outer mantle (9).

10. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 6, characterized in that within the hole (14) of the inner part (13) of the connection element (10) is obtained a seat (16) fit to house an annular projection (16) obtained near to the insertion end of the filler (11) into said hole (14).

11. A mouthpiece for regulator according to claim 4, characterized in that said first part (4) of the sleeve (3) includes in connection with the mouthpiece insertion end into the pipe (2) an annular projection (41) fit to be inserted into a seat (21) obtained inside said pipe (2).

Drawing