Snorkel retaining clip

Abstract

A mask strap retaining clip releasably secured a breathing tube of snorkel to a diver's mask strap. The retaining clip comprises a clip unit with the diver's mask strap passed through and a ring unit put on the breathing tube. The ring unit comprises a mushroomlike projection extended from its peripheral surface. The projection comprises a neck having a width and a length longer than the width. The clip unit comprises large and small holes. The neck can move from the large hole to the small hole when a lengthwise direction the breathing tube is aligned with a channel between the holes such that the breathing tube can be disposed in an operating position by subsequently turning itself. The clip unit has a tab and the ring unit has a dent for lockingly engaging the tab when the neck is disposed in the small hole.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A mask strap retaining clip for selectively connecting a snorkel and a mask strap comprising: 
 a) a clip unit having: 
 i) a snapping member having a first plate, a second plate, and a snapping opening located between the first plate and the second plate, the second plate having a larger hole, a smaller hole, and a channel connecting the larger hole and the smaller hole, each of the larger hole, the smaller hole, and the channel being spaced apart from edges of the second plate and communicating with the snapping opening;  
 ii) a hook connected to the snapping member; and  
 iii) a clip opening located between the snapping member and the hook, the mask strap extending through the clip opening; and  
   b) a ring unit selectively connected to the snapping member and having: 
 i) a bore, the snorkel extending through the bore;  
 ii) a flat portion extending outwardly from an exterior thereof and having a rectangular cross section, the flat portion having a cross section having a length extending parallel to an axis of the bore and a width extending perpendicular to the length thereof, the width of the flat portion is larger than the length of the flat portion, and the length of the flat portion is smaller than a width of the channel; and  
 iii) a mushroom shaped projection extending outwardly from the flat portion, the mushroom shaped projection having a diameter smaller than a width of the larger hole of the snapping member and larger than a width of the smaller hole of the snapping member.  
   
   
   
       6 . The mask strap retaining clip according to  claim 5 , further comprising a tab located on the first plate in the snapping opening, the mushroom shaped projection having a central dent, the tab is selectively locked with the central dent by rotating the ring unit relative to the clip unit when the tab is inserted in the central dent.  
   
   
       7 . The mask strap retaining clip according to  claim 5 , wherein the flat portion extending outwardly from the exterior of the ring unit a distance greater than a thickness of the second plate.