Underwater breathing apparatus and method

Abstract

A breathing apparatus to be worn about the face of a swimmer to allow normal breathing through the nose and mouth while swimming face-down in water. The apparatus comprises two masks, an outer mask assembly covering the facial area of said wearer with a clear viewing area about the eyes and an inner mask assembly about the nose and mouth areas of the wearer which is air-tight and water-tight sealed from the outer mask so that no exhaled air from the inner mask area may enter into the outer mask area and thereby cause the clear viewing area to be fogged. The apparatus further comprises a first tube which enters through said outer mask and said inner mask at, or near, the mouth and nose area of the wearer to provide a path for fresh air to the wearer. A second tube attaches to said first tube and is long enough to protrude above the water surface when said wearer is swimming face down in water, thereby providing a continuous supply of fresh air to said wearer.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for breathing underwater, comprising: 
 a mask assembly covering nose and mouth areas of a wearer, said mask containing a first tube though which air can pass into and out of said mask; and    a second tube attached to said mask at said first tube though which air can be drawn from above the water surface into said mask and through which exhaled air can be vented to said water surface from said mask.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , said apparatus further including a strap assembly attached to said mask, said strap assembly being adjustable to secure said mask tightly about nose and mouth area of the wearer so as to form a water-tight seal between said mask and the wearer.  
     
     
         3 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein said mask is a non-rigid material such as rubber or vinyl.  
     
     
         4 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein said mask fits under the wearer's chin while covering mouth and nose areas of the wearer.  
     
     
         5 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein said mask includes viewing apparatus, with said strap assembly operating to secure said viewing apparatus tightly about the eye area of the wearer.  
     
     
         6 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein said second tube is detachable from said first tube.  
     
     
         7 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 5   , further wherein said viewing apparatus are detachable from said mask.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for breathing underwater, comprising: 
 a mask that covers mouth, nose and eye areas of a wearer, wherein an eye covering portion of said mask is separated from nose and mouth covering portions of said mask so as to form two independent water-tight compartments;    a first tube attached to said mask through which air can pass into and out of said mask;    a second tube attached to said mask at said venting tube though which air can be drawn from above the water surface into said mask and through which exhaled air can be vented to said water surface from said mask; and    a strap assembly attached to said mask, said strap assembly being adjustable to secure said mask tightly about nose, mouth and eyes areas of the wearer so as to form a water-tight seal between said mask and the wearer.    
     
     
         9 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 8   , wherein said mask is a non-rigid material such as rubber or vinyl.  
     
     
         10 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 8   , wherein said mask fits under the chin of said wearer while covering said mouth, nose and eyes areas.  
     
     
         11 . The breathing apparatus of    claim 8   , wherein said second tube is detachable from said first tube.  
     
     
         12 . A method of breathing underwater comprising the steps of: 
 wearing a mask assembly covering at least nose and mouth areas of a wearer to form a sealed compartment about those areas to the exclusion of an eye area of the wearer, said mask assembly providing a first tube assembly entering said mask assembly providing a path for air to and from nose and mouth areas of said wearer; and    causing air to enter and exit the sealed compartment through the tube assembly, thereby avoiding any contact between the air and the eye area of the wearer.    
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12   , wherein the mask assembly includes an inner mask for covering nose and mouth areas of the wearer and an outer mask with a viewing area about the eyes area of the wearer and covering said first inner mask, further comprising the step of configuring the inner mask such that it is sealed from the outer mask.