US3800329A - Diver{40 s mask - Google Patents

Abstract

A diver''s mask comprising a rubber face piece having a nose portion and a front opening to accomodate a rigid spectacles-like frame, having an inverted-V notch at the nose root zone. The said frame is provided with an outer peripheral groove passing above the apex of said inverted V-notch, for housing a flexible strap tightly compressing the periphery of the rubber face piece front opening against the grooved rim of the said rigid frame.

Description

C United States Patent 1191 1111 3,800,329

Semeia Apr. 2, 1974 DIVER'S MASK 3,694,814 10 1972 Barbieri 2 14 w [75] Inventor: Roberto Semeia, Rapallo, Italy FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 73 Assignee: AMF Mares Sub S.p.A. Via Cerisola 7051370 0/1966 w Borghetto p Italy 773,077 0/1934 France 2/14 W [22] Filed: July 6, 1972 Primary Examiner-J0rdan Franklin [21] pp NOJ 269,409 Assistant ExaminerPeter Nerbun [57] ABSTRACT Foreign Apllficafion Priority A divers mask comprising a rubber face piece having July 6, 1971 Italy 12795/7] a nose portion and a front opening to accomodate a rigid spectacles-like frame, having an inverted-V [52] US. Cl 2/14 W notch at the nose root zone. The said frame is pro- [51] Int. Cl. A6-lf 9/02 vided with an outer peripheral groove passing above [58] Field of Search 2/14 W, 14 A, 14 D, 14 R the apex of said inverted V-notch, for housing a flexible strap tightly compressing the periphery of the rub- [56] References Cited ber face piece front opening against the grooved rim UNITED STATES PATENTS of the Said rigid frame- 3,363,262 1/1968 Lindblom 2/ 14 D 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED R 2 I974 SHEET 2 [If 2 DIVER'S MASK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND SUMMARY This invention relates to a divers mask of the kind covering eyes and nose.

More particularly the present invention relates to a mask of the kind set forth which, when fitted on the divers face, encloses a very reduced air volume.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a divers mask of the above kind, in which the transparent eye glasses are mounted on a single rigid frame, which is disposed so close to the divers eye as to provide a very large visual field to the diver.

According to still another object, the present invention relates to a mask of the kind set forth which is very light, simple and composed by a small number of parts which may be assembled together in an easy yet reliable manner and also can be disassembled easily for the replacement of worn or damaged components.

The above objects are attained by providing a divers mask comprising a rubber face piece having a nose portion and a front opening to accommodate a rigid spectacles like frame with an inverted-V notch at the nose root zone, the apex of said notch protruding outwardly from said frame plane, a peripheral groove extending all around said frame and above the protruding apex of the said inverted-V notch, and a flexible strap tightly compressing the periphery of the rubber face piece front opening against the grooved rim of the said rigid frame, thus providing for a waterproof tight seal between said parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristic features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following specification made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the mask according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perpective view of the rigid frame of the mask of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the mask of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IVIV, of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, 1 is the face piece of the mask, which is made of soft rubber or the like and is provided, integral therewith, with a nose portion 2. The said face piece 1 has also a suitably shaped front opening in which the spectacles-like frame 3 is secured.

The said frame 3, as best shown in FIG. 2, comprises two substantially annular members 103, 203 in which the eyeglasses 4 are suitably fastened, connected together in their upper zone by a bridge element 5, while in their lower zone they are separated by an inverted- V-shaped notch the apex 6 of which protrudes outwardly from the plane of the frame members 103, 203 and 5, for a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of the frame 3. Advantageously, the said frame 3 is made from rigid plastic material.

A continuous groove 7 is formed into the peripheral rim of the frame 3, the said groove extending over the protruding apex 6 of the said frame.

In assembling the frame 3 to the face piece 1, the rim of the face piece front opening is disposed all around the peripheral grooved rim of the frame 3, with the rim of the apex portion of the nose portion 2 disposed on the protruding portion 6 of the said frame 3.

A strap 8, which may be in the form of a metallic wire length, is disposed all along groove 7, above the interposed face piece 1, and is thereafter tightened by means of suitable and well known tightening means, such as for instance a screw fastener 9, so as to exert a uniform pressure on the face piece 1 and the underlying frame 3.

In this manner a watertight seal is formed between the face piece 1 and the frame 3.

Although the frame 3 is shown as formed by a spectacles-like or binocular frame, it is evident that same may be provided with a single glass pane shaped correspondingly.

I claim:

1. A divers mask comprising a rubber face piece having a nose portion and a front opening to accommodate a rigid frame, said rigid frame housing at least a transparent glass pane and being provided with an inverted- V-shaped notch at the nose root zone, the apex of which protrudes outwardly from the frame front plane for supporting the nose portion of the face piece, the said protruding apex being provided with an upper rim which is continuously connected to an outer peripheral rim of said frame; a continuous groove formed in the peripheral rim of said frame; a continuous groove formed in the peripheral rim of said frame and going over the upper rim of said protruding apex portion, the portion of the groove extending along the upper rim of the rigid frame being oriented in a plane parallel to the frame front plane, and flexible strap means disposed in said continuous groove tightly compressing the periphery of the rubber face piece front opening against the grooved rim of said rigid frame.

2. A mask according to claim 1, in which the said rigid frame is in the form of a binocular spectacles-like frame.

3. A mask according to claim 1, in which said strap is formed by a closed metallic wire length.

4. A mask according to claim 1 in which said apex protrudes from the frame plane by a distance which is substantially equal to the frame thickness.

Claims (4)

1. A diver''s mask comprising a rubber face piece having a nose portion and a front opening to accommodate a rigid frame, said rigid frame housing at least a transparent glass pane and being provided with an inverted-V-shaped notch at the nose root zone, the apex of which protrudes outwardly from the frame front plane for supporting the nose portion of the face piece, the said protruding apex being provided with an upper rim which is continuously connected to an outer peripheral rim of said frame; a continuous groove formed in the peripheral rim of said frame; a continuous groove formed in the peripheral rim of said frame and going over the upper rim of said protruding apex portion, the portion of the groove extending along the upper rim of the rigid frame being oriented in a plane parallel to the frame front plane, and flexible strap means disposed in said continuous groove tightly compressing the periphery of the rubber face piece front opening against the grooved rim of said rigid frame.

2. A mask according to claim 1, in which the said rigid frame is in the form of a binocular spectacles-like frame.

3. A mask according to claim 1, in which said strap is formed by a closed metallic wire length.

4. A mask according to claim 1 in which said apex protrudes from the frame plane by a distance which is substantially equal to the frame thickness.

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