Noise-suppression diving apparatus

Claim 1

IN A SINGLE-HOSE UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: MEANS DEFINING A BREATHING CHAMBER HAVING AN OPENING FOR COMMUNICATION TO THE MOUTH OF A DIVER; MEANS DEFINING AN EXHAUST PASSAGE OPENING AT ONE END TO SAID CHAMBER, AND AT ITS OUTER END COMMUNICATING WITH THE SURROUNDING WATER; AN EXHALATION VALVE IN SAID EXHAUST PASSAGE WHICH PERMITS FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID PASSAGE ONLY IN THE DIRECTION FROM SAID CHAMBER TO THE SURROUNDING WATER; AN EXHAUST DIFFUSER HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED RESTRICTED PASSAGEWAYS FORMED THEREIN, EACH OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LENGTH AND THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS TERMINATING AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT LONGITUDINAL POSITIONS; AND MEANS SECURING SAID DIFFUSER TO THE OUTER END OF SAID EXHAUST PASSAGE MEANS SO THAT ALL OF THE AIR DISCHARGED FROM SAID EXHAUST PASSAGE FLOWS THROUGH SAID DIFFUSER, AND UPON REACHING THE END OF RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS IS IMMEDIATELY DISCHARGED INTO THE SURROUNDING WATER.