Pivoting snorkels

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for providing a snorkel with a pivotal joint that is arranged to permit a pivoting lower portion of the snorkel to pivot around an axis that is at a significant angle to the longitudinal alignment of at least one portion of the upper portion of the snorkel between the joint and the upper opening of the snorkel. Methods are provided for providing a joint member having an axially twisting connection that is arranged to permit the lower portion of the snorkel to experience a predetermined amount of pivotal motion within a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal alignment of the upper portion of the snorkel above the joint. Methods are provided for providing a drop away snorkel that has a greater freedom of movement in a lateral direction than in a longitudinal direction relative to the face of a swimmer. Methods are disclosed for providing reduced production costs, reduced material costs, reduced mold cycle time, improved ease of manufacturing, improved stability, improved comfort, reduced jaw fatigue and other benefits. Methods are also provided for arranging a snorkel to achieve a folded condition that is substantially compact for traveling and storage.

1 . A method for providing a snorkel, comprising: 
 (a) providing an elongated conduit having an internal passageway, an upper opening, a lower end and a mouthpiece near said lower end;    (b) providing said conduit with a predetermined rotational joint member in an area between said mouthpiece and said upper opening so as to create a pivoting lower portion between said joint member and said lower end and to create an upper portion between said predetermined rotational joint member and said upper opening, said upper portion having a predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis, said lower portion having a predetermined lower portion longitudinal axis, said predetermined rotational joint member being arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to pivot around a predetermined rotational axis that is at an angle to said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis, said predetermined rotational joint member being arranged to maintaining a substantially water tight seal for said internal passageway during said pivoting; and    (c) arranging said predetermined rotational joint member so that said predetermined lower portion longitudinal axis along said lower portion near said predetermined rotational joint member is axially offset from said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis along said upper portion near said predetermined rotational joint member.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined lower portion longitudinal axis is axially offset from said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis in a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction of intended swimming.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined rotational joint member is arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to experience predetermined pivotal movement substantially within a predetermined plane that is substantially parallel to at least a portion of said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined rotational joint member is arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to pivot to a substantially folded position in which said pivoting lower portion is substantially aligned with and substantially next to said upper portion.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said snorkel has a predetermined extended length between said lower end and said upper opening said predetermined rotational joint member is arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to pivot to a substantially folded position in which said snorkel is able to achieve a predetermined folded length that is at least 30% shorter than said predetermined extended length.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said snorkel has a predetermined extended length between said lower end and said upper opening said predetermined rotational joint member is arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to pivot to a substantially folded position having a predetermined folded length that is at least 40% shorter than said predetermined extended length.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said snorkel has a predetermined extended length between said lower end and said upper opening said predetermined rotational joint member is arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to pivot to a substantially folded position in which said snorkel is able to achieve a predetermined folded length that is approximately 50% shorter than said predetermined extended length.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said snorkel has a predetermined extended length between said lower end and said upper opening said predetermined rotational joint member is arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to pivot to a substantially folded position having a predetermined folded length that is at least 50% shorter than said predetermined extended length.  
   
   
       9 . A method for providing a snorkel, comprising: 
 (a) providing an elongated conduit having an internal passageway, an upper opening, a lower end and a mouthpiece near said lower end;    (b) providing said conduit with a predetermined rotational joint member in an area between said mouthpiece and said upper opening so as to create a pivoting lower portion between said joint member and said lower end and to create an upper portion between said predetermined rotational joint member and said upper opening, said upper portion having a predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis, said lower portion having a predetermined lower portion longitudinal axis, said predetermined rotational joint member being arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to experience pivoting around a predetermined rotational axis that is at an angle to said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis while maintaining a substantially water tight seal for said internal passageway during said pivoting; and    (c) arranging said predetermined rotational joint member so that said pivoting lower portion is able to pivot substantially within a predetermined plane of movement, said predetermined plane being axially spaced from said at least one portion of said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis near said predetermined rotational joint member.    
   
   
       10 . A method for providing a snorkel, comprising: 
 (a) providing an elongated conduit having an internal passageway, an upper opening, a lower end and a mouthpiece near said lower end;    (b) providing said conduit with a predetermined rotational joint member in an area between said mouthpiece and said upper opening so as to create a pivoting lower portion between said joint member and said lower end and to create an upper portion between said predetermined rotational joint member and said upper opening, said upper portion having a predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis, said lower portion having a predetermined lower portion longitudinal axis, said predetermined rotational joint member being arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to experience pivoting around a predetermined rotational axis that is substantially perpendicular to at least one portion of said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis near said predetermined rotational joint member, said predetermined rotational joint member being arranged to maintaining a substantially water tight seal for said internal passageway during said pivoting; and    (c) arranging said predetermined rotational joint member so that said pivoting lower portion is able to experience a predetermined range of pivotal motion substantially within a predetermined plane of movement that is substantially parallel to at least one portion of said predetermined upper portion longitudinal axis near said predetermined rotational joint member.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said snorkel has a predetermined extended length between said lower end and said upper opening said predetermined rotational joint member is arranged to permit said pivoting lower portion to pivot to a substantially folded position having a predetermined folded length that is at least 50% shorter than said predetermined extended length.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further including arranging said joint to provide said pivoting lower portion with a sufficient amount of resistance to moving in an out of plane direction that is substantially perpendicular to said predetermined plane of movement to permit said predetermined range of pivotal motion of said pivoting lower portion to be greater within said predetermined plane of lateral movement than in said out of plane direction that is substantially perpendicular to said predetermined plane of lateral movement.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined range of pivotal motion is at least 10 degrees.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined range of pivotal motion is at least 20 degrees.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined range of pivotal motion is approximately 180 degrees.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined range of pivotal motion is at least 180 degrees.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined range of pivotal motion is approximately 360 degrees.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined range of pivotal motion is sufficient to permit said snorkel to be substantially folded into a significantly smaller overall length.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined rotational axis is substantially directed in the direction of intended swimming.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined rotational axis is aligned in a substantially forward direction relative to the swimmer.