# US 11,999,454 B2 · Snorkel assembly

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- Number: US 11,999,454 B2
- Document ID: US11999454B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/323,297
- Filed: 2021-05-18
- Published: 2021-11-18
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-05-18
- Applicants: Michael L Bottom; Lawrence J Day
- Inventors: Michael L Bottom; Lawrence J Day
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999454B2

## CPC

- B63C 11/205: {with air supply by suction from diver, e.g. snorkels (B63C11/16 takes precedence)}
- B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52)

## Abstract

A snorkel assembly includes a mouthpiece and a tube secured thereto. The tube extends between a mouthpiece end and a distal end. A purge valve is disposed adjacent the mouthpiece and the mouthpiece end of the tube. The purge valve allows water and gas to exit the snorkel assembly while preventing water and gas from entering therethrough. The snorkel assembly also includes a check valve secured to the distal end. The check valve allows water and gas to enter the snorkel assembly while preventing water and gas from exiting therethrough.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A snorkel assembly comprising:
a mouthpiece;
a tube secured to said mouthpiece, said tube extending between a mouthpiece end and a distal end;
a purge valve disposed adjacent said mouthpiece and said mouthpiece end of said tube, said purge valve allowing water and gas to exit said snorkel assembly while preventing water and gas from entering therethrough;
a check valve secured to said distal end, said check valve allowing water and gas to enter said snorkel assembly while preventing water and gas from exiting therethrough; and
a flow disruptor disposed within said tube between said distal end and said mouthpiece mixing the water and the gas passing through said flow disruptor as the water and the gas move from said distal end to said mouthpiece, such that the gas exiting the mouthpiece into a user's mouth has been mixed with the water that has entered said tube to disinfect the gas prior to entering the user's mouth when in use.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow disruptor includes a coiled piece of material disposed within said tube to redirect water and gas as they pass through said tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow disruptor includes a baffle to redirect the water and gas as they pass through said tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said baffle defines a plurality of holes allowing the water and gas to pass therethrough.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said baffle includes at least one cylinder wall and a bottom surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said at least one cylinder wall and said bottom surface include said plurality of holes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein a portion of said plurality of holes are circular in shape.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said flow disruptor includes a flange extending out from said flow disruptor to position said flow disruptor with respect to said tube.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said baffle includes a baffle cylinder with a thread of material wrapped around said baffle cylinder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a cap securing said check valve on said distal end of said tube.

### Claim 11

A snorkel assembly comprising:
a mouthpiece;
a tube secured to said mouthpiece, said tube extending between a mouthpiece end and a distal end;
a purge valve disposed adjacent said mouthpiece and said mouthpiece end of said tube, said purge valve allowing water and gas to exit said snorkel assembly while preventing water and gas from entering therethrough;
a cap secured to said distal end of said tube;
a check valve secured to said distal end within said cap, said check valve allowing water and gas to enter said snorkel assembly while preventing water and gas from exiting therethrough; and
a flow disruptor disposed within said tube between said mouthpiece end and said distal end mixing the water and the gas passing through said flow disruptor as the water and the gas move from said distal end to said mouthpiece, such that the gas exiting the mouthpiece into a user's mouth has been mixed with the water that has entered said tube to disinfect the gas prior to entering the user's mouth when in use.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flow disruptor includes a baffle to redirect the water and gas as they pass through said tube.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said baffle defines a plurality of holes allowing the water and gas to pass therethrough.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said baffle includes at least one cylinder wall and a bottom surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said at least one cylinder wall and said bottom surface include said plurality of holes.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein a portion of said plurality of holes are circular in shape.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A snorkel assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said flow disruptor includes a flange extending out from said flow disruptor to position said flow disruptor with respect to said tube.