Snorkel

Claim 2

A snorkel for use by divers or the like having a mouthpiece and a substantially straight tube part, the mouthpiece having a flange adapted to fit under the lips of the user, said mouthpiece defining an axis substantially parallel to but offset from said tube part; said snorkel having a curved portion joining the mouthpiece to said tube part that angles upwardly from a point immediately adjacent said mouthpiece flange whereby said curved portion is adapted closely to extend along the user''s face to minimize friction drag and to increase stabIlity; said curved portion having a flat surface on the side adapted to contact or oppose the user''s face, the flat surface having a width that is at least a major fraction of the corresponding width of said curved portion.

Claim 3

The snorkel as set forth in claim 1 in which said curved portion has a total curvature of approximately 90*.

Claim 4

The snorkel as set forth in claim 1 in which said curved portion is made of flexible resilient material conformable to the user''s facial contours.

Claim 5

A snorkel for use by divers or the like having a mouthpiece and a substantially straight tube part, the mouthpiece having a flange adapted to fit under the lips of the user, said mouthpiece defining an axis substantially parallel to but offset from said tube part; said snorkel having a curved portion joining the mouthpiece to said tube part that angles upwardly from a point immediately adjacent said mouthpiece flange whereby said curved portion is adapted closely to extend along the user''s face to minimize friction drag and to increase stability; said curved portion having a substantially D-shaped cross section with the flat part of the ''''D'''' positioned on the inside of the snorkel to contact or be opposed to the user''s face.

Claim 6

A snorkel for use by divers or the like having a mouthpiece and a substantially straight tube part, the mouthpiece having a flange adapted to fit under the lips of the user, said mouthpiece defining an axis substantially parallel to but offset from said tube part; said snorkel having a curved portion joining the mouthpiece to said tube part that angles upwardly from a point immediately adjacent said mouthpiece flange whereby said curved portion is adapted closely to extend along the user''s face to minimize friction drag and to increase stability; said curved portion having a substantially D-shaped cross section with the flat part of the ''''D'''' positioned on the inside of the snorkel to contact or be opposed to the user''s face.

Claim 7

The snorkel as set forth in claim 4 in which said curved portion is made of flexible resilient material conformable to the user''s facial contours.

Claim 8

The snorkel as set forth in claim 3 in which said curved portion is formed as an integral part of said mouthpiece and as a part separate from said tube part and connected thereto by telescopic engagement with the end of said portion remote from said mouthpiece flexed to receive said tube part, the end of said tube part telescoped into the end of said flexible curved portion being feathered to a sharp edge to minimize flow drag in said snorkel.

Claim 9

A snorkel having a flanged inner cheek engaging mouthpiece; a substantially straight tube portion adapted to extend in close proximity to and above a user''s head; said substantially straight tube portion being substantially parallel to the axis of said mouthpiece and interconnected therewith by a curved tubular portion extending throughout a minor outer cheek engaging portion of its length in closely spaced substantially parallel relation to a portion of the mouthpiece flange and forming therewith a recess for receiving the corner of a user''s mouth; said recess being dimensioned for substantial conformity with the thickness of the cheek at the corner of the mouth of a user; and the remainder of said curved tubular portion extending between said minor portion thereof and said substantially straight tube portion having a total curvature of not more than approximately 90* whereby the entire length of said curved tubular portion extends in close proximity to the user''s face.

Claim 10

A snorkel having a flanged inner cheek engaging mouthpiece; a substantially straight tube portion adapted to extend in close proximity to and above a user''s head; said substantially straight tube portion being substantially parallel to the axis of said mouthpiece and interconnected therewith by a curved tubular portion extending throughout a minor outer cheek engaging portion of its length in closely spaced substantially parallel relation to a portion of the mouthpiece flange and forming therewith a recess for receiving the corner of a user''s mouth; said recess being dimensioned for substantial conformity with the thickness of the cheek at the corner of the mouth of a user; and the remainder of said curved tubular portion extending between said minor portion thereof and said substantially straight tube portion having a total curvature of not more than approximately 90* whereby the entire length of said curved tubular portion extends in close proximity to the user''s face.

Claim 11

The snorkel of claim 7 wherein said curved tubular portion is made of flexible resilient material conformable to the user''s facial contours.