# US 5,701,884 A · Snorkel with strobe light > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,884 A - Document ID: US5701884A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/615,896 - Filed: 1996-03-14 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-03-14 - Inventors: Evangelos Fondas; Christopher Papageorge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701884A ## CPC - B63C 11/205: {with air supply by suction from diver, e.g. snorkels (B63C11/16 takes precedence)} - B63B 2201/08: Electric light - 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) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract The snorkel with a strobe light includes a strobe light mounted in a casing. A transparent cap covers the light at the top of the casing. A controllable strobe circuit also mounted in the casing. The strobe circuit includes a user actuatable switch and a battery which, in connection with the strobe circuit, electrically drives the strobe light to provide periodic illumination. The casing includes a coupler which provides an interference fit over an upper region of the snorkel. The strobe light unit is removably attached to the top end of the snorkel via the coupler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snorkel with a strobe light comprising: a snorkel having a generally U-shaped mouthpiece portion leading directly to a rigid, elongated tubular body portion and an open, tubular top region, said tubular top region adapted to be raised above water level to permit an intake and exhaust of air from a diver; a strobe light mounted in a casing; a controllable strobe circuit electrically coupled to said strobe light and mounted within said casing, said strobe circuit including a battery and a user actuatable switch, said strobe circuit electrically driving said strobe light to provide periodic illumination; said casing mounted on an upper region of said tubular, rigid body portion of said snorkel about said tubular top, whereby said casing, strobe light and strobe circuit are mounted onto the top of said snorkel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 1 including an open portal along one arcuate side region of said tubular top region of said snorkel and a diversion wail angularly disposed inside said tubular top region of said snorkel at said portal such that intake and exhaust air from said diver is diverted through said side portal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 2 including basket-like support elements extending above and beyond and spanning said tubular top region of said snorkel, said basket-like support elements supporting said casing and the enclosed strobe light and strobe circuit above and beyond said tubular top region of said snorkel, said basket defining an open midsection permitting the intake and exhaust of air in a 360 degree radius about said tubular top region of said snorkel. ### Claim 4 A snorkel with a strobe light comprising: a snorkel having a generally U-shaped mouthpiece portion leading directly to a rigid, elongated tubular body portion and an open, tubular top, said open, tubular top adapted to permit an intake and exhaust of air from a diver; a strobe light mounted in a casing; a controllable strobe circuit electrically coupled to said strobe light and mounted within said casing, said strobe circuit including a battery and a user actuatable switch, said strobe circuit electrically driving said strobe light to provide periodic illumination; said casing having a coupler providing an interference fit over an upper region of said snorkel about said open, tubular top, said coupler mounting said casing, strobe light and strobe circuit onto the top of said snorkel above said rigid, elongated tubular body portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 4 wherein said coupler includes a tubular member having an open, bottom region adapted to closely fit over said open tubular top of said snorkel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 5 wherein said coupler includes a tubular midsection defining an open portal along one arcuate side region of said midsection and a diversion wall closing said midsection and angularly disposed in said midsection with one end of said diversion wall adjacent said open portal at said one arcuate side region such that intake and exhaust air from said diver is diverted to and from said side portal from said open bottom region of said coupler. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 5 wherein said coupler includes a radially open midsection having support elements spanning said radially open midsection, said support elements having upper ends which are mounted to said casing and the enclosed strobe light and strobe circuit, said support elements supporting said casing, said light and said strobe circuit above and beyond said rigid, tubular elongated body portion of said snorkel, said open midsection permitting the intake and exhaust of air in a 360 degree radius about said open tubular top of said snorkel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 4 wherein said coupler includes an offset mount which wraps around an upper region of said snorkel adjacent said open, tubular top such that said casing, said strobe light and said strobe circuit are mounted at an offset position with respect to said open tubular top and said rigid, elongated, tubular body portion of said snorkel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 4 wherein said casing forms a ring and said coupler is defined by a radially inward retaining wall of said casing, said radially inward wall providing an interference fit with said upper region of said open tubular top of said snorkel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 9 wherein said strobe light is a plurality of lights distributed circumferentially about said ring-shaped casing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 4 wherein said strobe light is a first strobe light and emits a white light when illuminated, said casing carrying a second strobe light therein, said second strobe light emits a red light when illuminated, said controllable strobe circuit including a user actuatable switch having three positions for controlling said strobe circuit to actuate said first and said second strobe lights and place said strobe lights in an OFF condition. ### Claim 12 A snorkel with a strobe light comprising: a snorkel having an open, tubular top adapted to permit an intake and exhaust of air from a diver; a first and second strobe light mounted in a casing, said first strobe light emitting a white light when illuminated and said second strobe light emitting a colored, non-white light when illuminated; a controllable strobe circuit electrically coupled to said first and second strobe light and mounted within said casing, said strobe circuit including a battery and a user actuatable switch to actuate said first and second strobe light, said strobe circuit electrically driving said first and second strobe light to provide periodic illumination; said casing mounted on an upper region of said snorkel about said open, tubular top, and said casing mounting said strobe light and strobe circuit onto the top of said snorkel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 12 wherein said coupler includes a tubular member having an open, bottom region adapted to closely fit over said open tubular top of said snorkel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 13 wherein said coupler includes a tubular midsection defining an open portal along one arcuate side region of said midsection and a diversion wall angularly disposed in said midsection such that intake and exhaust air from said diver is diverted to and from said side portal from said open bottom region of said coupler. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 13 wherein said coupler includes an open midsection having support elements spanning said open midsection, said support elements having upper ends which are mounted to said casing and the enclosed strobe light and strobe circuit, said open midsection permitting the intake and exhaust of air in a 360 degree radius about said open tubular top of said snorkel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 12 wherein said coupler includes an offset mount which wraps around an upper region of said snorkel adjacent said open, tubular top such that said casing is mounted at an offset position with respect to said open tubular top of said snorkel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 12 wherein said casing forms a ring and said coupler is defined by a radially inward retaining wall of said casing, said radially inward wall providing an interference fit with said upper region of said open tubular top of said snorkel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 17 wherein said strobe light is a plurality of lights distributed circumferentially about said ring-shaped casing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A snorkel with a strobe light as claimed in claim 12 wherein said user actuatable switch has three positions for controlling said strobe circuit to actuate said first and said second strobe lights and place said strobe lights in an OFF condition.