A method for providing a snorkel, comprising:
- (a) providing a conduit member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said conduit member having a predetermined longitudinal axis;
- (b) providing said first end with an opening arranged to permit air to enter said conduit member;
- (c) providing a mouthpiece joined to said end of said conduit member, said snorkel having an internal passageway existing inside of said conduit member in an area between said opening and said mouthpiece that is arranged to permit said mouthpiece to be in fluid flow communication with said opening;
- (d) providing a cover member connected to said first end, said cover member being sufficiently spaced from at least one external surface region of said first end of said conduit member to form a substantially enclosed cover member passageway between said cover member and said at least one external surface region of said conduit member, at least one portion of said substantially enclosed cover member passageway being in fluid communication with said internal passageway of said snorkel, said cover member having a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with said substantially enclosed cover member passageway and said internal passageway of said conduit, said cover member and said first end together forming a snorkel top member;
- (e) providing a movable member that is disposed within said substantially enclosed cover member passageway, said movable member being pivotally connected to at least one portion of said snorkel top member with at least one hinge member, said movable member being arranged to experience transverse pivotal motion across a transversely directed movable member range of motion between an open position wherein said movable member is transversely spaced from said opening and a closed position wherein said movable member closes said opening, said movable member range of motion occurring in a transverse movable member direction of movement that is significantly transverse to said predetermined longitudinal axis of said first end of said conduit;
- (f) providing a relatively soft sealing member between said movable member and said opening when said movable member is in said closed position, said sealing member being arranged to provide a relatively water tight seal between said movable member and said opening while in said closed position;
- (g) providing a substantially independent float member that is disposed within at least one portion of said cover member passageway and is arranged to move toward said movable member and said opening when said first end is substantially submerged in a substantially upright orientation so as to push up against said movable member and urge said movable member to experience said transverse pivotal motion from said open position to said closed position, said independent float member being arranged to experience disengagement from said movable member sufficient to permit said independent float member to separate and move away from said movable member and said opening so as to prevent said independent float member from exerting a transverse opening force upon said movable member that is directed away from said closed position and toward said open position along said transversely directed movable member range of motion when said first end is in a substantially inverted orientation while substantially submerged underwater, said independent float member also being arranged to experience said disengagement from said movable member when said first end is raised substantially above the surface of the water in said substantially upright orientation in a predetermined manner that prevents said independent float member from exerting said transverse opening force upon said movable member as said independent float member moves away from said opening under the force of gravity;
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- (h) arranging said movable member and said sealing member to be sufficiently out of the way of said opening during said open position so as to not substantially interfere with the flow of air into and out of said opening when said sealing member is in said open position, said movable member and said sealing member forming an active portion, arranging said movable member to quickly and efficiently move said sealing member transversely away from said opening in said transverse movable member direction when said first end is raised substantially above the surface of the water in said substantially upright orientation during use, without said independent float member exerting said transverse opening force upon said movable member as said independent float member experiences said disengagement and moves away from said opening.