US3768504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Check valve for use with a snorkel type breathing tube
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-19
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A check valve for use with a snorkel-type breathing tube comprising an annular member which is joined to the free end of a breathing tube and which defines a chamber which is sealed against the ingress of water when submerged by a spherical ball element. The ball is weighted so as to be neutrally buoyant when submerged in water and is joined to the annular member by a spring which exerts a light biasing force on the ball causing it to sealingly engage a valve seat defined at one end of the annular member. The weight of the ball causes it to unseat when no longer submerged thereby opening the valve to the passage of air.
Inventors
- 👤 S Rentsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:43
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/02; B63C11/18; B63C11/20; B63C11/205; F; F16; F16K; F16K15/00; F16K15/02; F16K15/04; F16K15/044; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7358
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A check valve for a snorkel-type breathing tube comprising in combination a hollow valve element, an annular member adapted to be sealingly affixed to one end of the breathing tube and defining a valve seat, a tension spring one end of which is connected to said valve element and the other end to the annular member, said spring exerting a light biasing force on the valve element causing said element to seat when submerged, and said element being internally weighted causing said element to unseat as a result of its own weight when it is not submerged, a spring tension adjustment means at one end of the valve spring between the member and the spring to permit the spring force to be manually varied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A check valve for a snorkel-type breathing tube comprising in combination a hollow valve element, an annular member adapted to be sealingly affixed to one end of the breathing tube and defining a valve seat, a tension spring one end of which is connected to said valve element and the other end to the annular member, said spring exerting a light biasing force on the valve element causing said element to seat when submerged, and said element being internally weighted causing said element to unseat as a result of its own weight when it is not submerged, a spring tension adjustment means at one end of the valve spring between the member and the spring to permit the spring force to be manually varied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A check valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve element is further characterized by a hollow sealed chamber, said chamber having a volume of air permanently trapped therein, said valve element having a weight such that the valve element is neutrally buoyant when submerged in water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A check valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve element is further characterized by an outwardly open cavity, said cavity having as its purpose the temporary entrapment of a volume of air therein, said volume of air causing the otherwise neutrally buoyant valve element to become positively buoyant, said open cavity being so oriented that a positive buoyant force is provided supplementing the biasing force of the valve spring to insure seating of the valve element on the valve seat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A check valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring tension adjustment means is further characterized by a generally internal cylindrical threaded surface on said annular valve member, said adjustment means being further characterized by spider means threadably received in said annular member and connected to said spring for adjusting the biasing force of the spring on the valve element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A check valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said spider means is further characterized by a circumferential rim portion, said rim portion having an outer surface, said surface defining screw threads and a plurality of radial inwardly extending spoke portions, the nexus of said spoke portions forming an axially located hub portion, said hub portion providing a point of attachment for one end of the valve spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A check valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular valve member comprises a circumferential inwardly bevelled flange at one end thereof, said flange defining an annular valve seat, said seat utilized to sealingly engage the valve element, and said valve element being generally circular in contour for sealingly engaging said annular valve seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A check valve as defined in claim 6 wherein said spring tension adjustment means is further characterized by a spring tension adjust screw one end of which screw is connected to the spring opposite the end connected to the valve element, a web wall defined at one end of said annular valve member opposite said annular valve seat, and threaded means between said screw and said web wall to permit adjusting the tension force of said valve spriNg.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
A check valve for a snorkel-type breathing tube comprising a valve element which is neutrally buoyant in water, a member affixed to the free end of the tube and defining an annular valve seat, a spring connecting said valve element to said member, said spring being the only such connection for said valve element, and said spring exerting a light biasing force on said valve element to cause it to seat when submerged, said valve element having a circular contour in order to mate with said annular valve seat, and said valve element being so weighted that its weight tends to unseat the valve element when not submerged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
A check valve for a snorkel-type breathing tube comprising a valve element which is neutrally buoyant in water, a member affixed to the free end of the tube and defining an annular valve seat, a spring connecting said valve element to said member, said spring being the only such connection for said valve element, and said spring exerting a light biasing force on said valve element to cause it to seat when submerged, said valve element having a circular contour in order to mate with said annular valve seat, and said valve element being so weighted that its weight tends to unseat the valve element when not submerged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A check valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said spring tension adjustment means is provided between the spring and the said member to permit the spring force of said spring on the valve element to be varied.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A check valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said valve element comprises a hollow generally spherical element having a weight loosely received in its interior such that the valve element is neutrally buoyant when submerged in water, and such that the weight tends to gravitate toward a side portion of the hollow spherical valve element and thereby to tend to unseat said valve element when not submerged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A check valve as defined in claim 10 wherein said valve element is further characterized by an outwardly open cavity, said outwardly open cavity extending inwardly of said generally spherical valve element approximately to the center thereof, and said cavity serving as a receptacle for one end of said spring, said spring comprising a tension spring acting between the inner end of said outwardly open cavity and said valve seat defining member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
A check valve as defined in claim 11 wherein said spring tension adjustment means is further characterized by a generally internal cylindrical threaded surface on said member, said adjustment means further including spider means threadably received in said member and connected to said spring for adjusting the biasing force of the spring on the valve element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A check valve as defined in claim 12 wherein said member comprises an annular valve member having a circumferentially extending inwardly beveled free end which defines the valve seat for said generally spherical valve element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |