Underwater breathing apparatus

Abstract

An underwater breathing apparatus including an elongated tube assembly and a fastener. The elongated tube assembly includes a central support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a securing member. The elongated tube assembly further includes a first tube extending substantially transverse from the first end of the central support and a second tube extending substantially transverse from the second end of the central support. The central support is in fluid communication with the first and second tubes defining a continuous air passageway. The fastener is configured to engage the securing member and secure the elongated tube assembly to a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underwater breathing apparatus comprising:
 an elongated tube assembly including:
 a central support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a securing member, 
 a first tube extending substantially transverse from the first end of the central support, and 
 a second tube extending substantially transverse from the second end of the central support, 
 wherein the central support is in fluid communication with the first and second tubes defining a continuous air passageway; and 
   a fastener for engaging the securing member and securing the elongated tube assembly to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the central support includes an engaging surface for directly or indirectly contacting a forehead of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a padding positioned about the engaging surface. 
     
     
         4 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the securing member is positioned about a surface of the central support opposite the engaging surface. 
     
     
         5 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube has a longitudinal length greater than a longitudinal length of the second tube. 
     
     
         6 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is at least one of a tether, a rope, an elastic cord, and a strap. 
     
     
         7 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the securing member comprises a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of grooves includes:
 grooves extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central support, and   grooves extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the central support.   
     
     
         9 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube has a generally elliptical shaped longitudinal cross-section, the second tube has a generally circular shaped longitudinal cross-section, and the central support has a generally rectangular shaped longitudinal cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated tube assembly is a substantially U-shaped tube assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The underwater breathing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the securing member is positioned about a surface of the central support opposite an engaging surface, the securing member comprising:
 first and second spaced apart elongated grooves extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central support,   a first plurality of spaced apart grooves extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the central support along a first lateral side of the central support, wherein each of the first plurality of spaced apart grooves is in communication with the first elongated groove, and   a second plurality of spaced apart grooves extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the central support along a second lateral side of the central support, wherein each of the second plurality of spaced apart grooves is in communication with the second elongated groove.   
     
     
         12 . An underwater breathing device comprising:
 an elongated tube assembly including:
 a central support having a retaining assembly configured to receive a fastener, 
 a first tube connected about a first end of the central support, and 
 a second tube connected about a second end of the central support. 
   
     
     
         13 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener for adjustably securing the elongated tube assembly to a user. 
     
     
         14 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 12 , wherein the central support includes an engaging surface for directly or indirectly contacting a forehead of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 14 , further comprising a padding positioned about the engaging surface. 
     
     
         16 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 14 , wherein the retaining assembly is positioned about a surface of the central support opposite the engaging surface. 
     
     
         17 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 12 , wherein the first tube has a longitudinal length greater than a longitudinal length of the second tube. 
     
     
         18 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 13 , wherein the fastener is at least one of a tether, a rope, an elastic cord, and a strap. 
     
     
         19 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining assembly includes a plurality of spaced apart retaining members extending along the central support. 
     
     
         20 . The underwater breathing device of  claim 19 , wherein each retaining member is a hook. 
     
     
         21 . An underwater breathing apparatus comprising:
 a substantially U-shaped elongated tube assembly including:
 a central support having:
 a first end and a second end opposite the first end, 
 an engaging surface for directly or indirectly contacting a forehead of a user, and 
 a plurality of grooves including:
 grooves extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central support, and 
 grooves extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the central support, 
 
 
 a first tube extending substantially transverse from the first end of the central support, and 
 a second tube extending substantially transverse from the second end of the central support, 
 wherein the central support is in fluid communication with the first and second tubes defining a continuous air passageway; and 
   a fastener for engaging the plurality of grooves and securing the elongated tube assembly to the user.