Air valve device for snorkel assembly

Abstract

An air valve device for a snorkel device includes a float having a chamber and a bottom port and an upper barrel which has an upper valve seat. A casing has a cylindrical duct slidably engaged on the barrel and may be moved downward along the barrel and disengaged from the valve seat when the casing is buoyant on water such that the air may flow into the float via the casing. The casing may be forced to engage with the valve seat and to block the air passage into the float and to prevent the water from entering into the float when the casing is immerged into the water.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An air valve device for a snorkel assembly, said air valve device comprising: 
 a float including a chamber formed therein, and including a bottom portion having a port provided therein, and including an upper portion having a barrel extended upward therefrom, said barrel including an upper portion having a valve seat provided therein, and    a casing including a cylindrical duct extended downward therefrom and slidably engaged on said barrel, said casing being moved downward along said barrel and disengaged from said valve seat of said barrel when said casing is buoyant on water, and said casing being forced to engage with said valve seat of said barrel when said casing is immerged into the water.    
     
     
         2 . The air valve device according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said barrel includes a sealing ring engaged thereon for defining said valve seat of said barrel.  
     
     
         3 . The air valve device according to  claim 2 , wherein said upper portion of said barrel includes an annular groove formed therein for receiving said sealing ring.  
     
     
         4 . The air valve device according to  claim 1 , wherein said barrel includes a bottom portion having at least one notch formed therein for allowing air to flow into said casing via said cylindrical duct of said casing.  
     
     
         5 . The air valve device according to  claim 4 , wherein said barrel includes a peripheral flange extended radially outward from said bottom portion thereof and having said at least one notch formed therein.  
     
     
         6 . The air valve device according to  claim 1  further comprising a tube received in said float.  
     
     
         7 . The air valve device according to  claim 6 , wherein said tube includes a peripheral panel radially extended outward therefrom and engaged with said port for preventing the water from directly flowing downward through said port.  
     
     
         8 . The air valve device according to  claim 6 , wherein said tube includes an upper portion having an opening formed therein for allowing air to flow through said port via said tube.  
     
     
         9 . The air valve device according to  claim 8 , wherein said opening of said tube is facing downward for allowing only the air to flow into said tube.