Breathing port isolation apparatus

Abstract

The breathing port isolation apparatus includes a housing, valve, and actuator to enable a diver to isolate a breathing port of a snorkel or dive regulator using a single mouthpiece. The housing is configured to seat the valve and actuator and releasably engage a mouthpiece and dive regulator, which provides the diver with a continuous flow of air through the mouthpiece without having to transition between multiple regulators or breathing ports. The valve includes a piston and enables linear movement between the first and second port. The actuator enables the diver to depress a push-button and transition the actuator between depressed and extended positions, which correspond to the first and second breathing ports.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for switching between breathing paths, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a first port to provide fluid communication between lungs of a user and a snorkel and having a second port to provide fluid communication between the lungs of the user to a dive air regulator via a single mouthpiece;   a valve positionable within the housing and moveable to selectively provide access to one of the first port and the second port at a time;   an actuator having a shaft in mechanical communication with the valve to position the valve in a first position to select the first port and a second position to select the second port.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes an adjacent set of apertures extending outward from a center of the housing and configured to releasably engage a mouthpiece and a dive regulator. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including a purge valve in fluid communication with a leading edge of the valve to enable a user to relieve an accumulated pressure within the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve further includes at least one indented portion configured to releasably engage at least one mechanical gasket to provide a hermetic seal around the valve. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the valve further includes a set of opening at a first side and leading end of the valve to enable air from through the snorkel and valve to the user when positioned to the first port. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator further includes a first and a second end; the first end configured in a push-button orientation to allow the user to shift the actuator between a depressed and extended position corresponding to the first and second ports, and the second end including a hollow region dimensioned to releasably house a portion of the splined shaft to enable a user to secure the valve in a first position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus further includes a piston affixed to a first end of the valve and configured to receive a force from the actuator and position the valve to the first port and second port. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the piston further includes a spring releasably affixed around the diameter of the piston to provide a constant force onto a washer and create a hermetic seal to the housing, and shift the actuator from the depressed to extended position. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for switching between breathing paths, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated and substantially cylindrical housing mechanically connected to a valve and configured to enable a user to isolate a breathing port of a snorkel and a breathing port of a dive regulator at a time using a mouthpiece;   a substantially elliptical valve configured to selectively shift in a linear direction between a first and second port, the first and second port corresponding to the snorkel port and the dive regulator port, respectively; and   an actuator in mechanical communication with the valve and housing and configured to enable a user to selectively isolate the first and second port by depressing a push-button.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the housing further includes a first end and a second end; the first end configured to releasably engage the valve and a portion of the actuator, and a second end configured to releasably attach a snorkel tube and a purge valve. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further including a channeled portion of the housing configured to releasably engage a plurality of releasably attached extended splines and protruding strips to prevent rotational movement of the actuator when shifting between an extended and depressed position, the extended and depressed position corresponding to a first port and a second port. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the valve further includes a plurality of indentations configured to releasably seat mechanical gaskets to provide a hermetic seal around the valve. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the valve further includes a leading edge protruding outward from a leading surface of the valve and in fluid communication with a purge valve to enable a discharge of an accumulated pressure out the purge valve when the valve is positioned from a first to second port. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the valve further includes a first side and a second side, and a leading surface; the first side and the leading surface further include a set of opening provide air flow from the snorkel to the user when the valve is positioned to the first port, and second side configured to prevent air flow from the dive regulator to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator includes a first and second end; the first end configured to enable the user to depress the push-button and position the actuator between an extended and depressed position; the extended and depressed positions corresponding to the first and second port, and a second end further including a tabbed portion configured to releasably engage a splined shaft and secure the actuator when placed in the depressed position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the actuator includes a hollowed portion dimensioned to releasably engage a portion of the splined shaft and rotate the splined shaft a set at set and angle and direction when the actuator is shifted between an extended and depressed position. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the splined shaft further includes a plurality of extended splines releasably engaged to a tabbed portion of the second end of the actuator to enable the plurality of extended splines to be housed with a channeled portion of the housing and selectively secure the valve to the second port. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further includes an elongated and substantially planar piston configured to transfer a force from the actuator onto valve and enable the valve to be positioned to the first port and second port. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further includes a spring configured to exert a force onto a washer to provide a hermetic seal between a breathing port and the first end of the housing, and position the actuator from the depressed to extended position. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for switching between breathing paths, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated housing including a first breathing port and second breathing port and releasably affixed dive regulator and mouthpiece and configured to enable continuous air flow to the mouthpiece while isolating the first breathing port and second breathing port a time;   an elliptically oriented valve in mechanical communication with at least an actuator and configured to enable a user to selectively position the valve in linear direction and isolate a first breathing port and second breathing port at a time; and   an elongated actuator including a piston affixed to the valve to enable a user to selectively isolate a snorkel breathing port and a dive regulator breathing port by shifting the actuator between an extended and depressed position, the extended position corresponding to the snorkel breathing port and the depressed position corresponding to the dive regulator breathing port.