Popgun Pete
Contributor
With enormous hydrodynamic drag if you are a swimmer, not all divers are, such as those involved in underwater work.
Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Spain: Other manufacturers
- Thread starter David Wilson
- Start date
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Popgun Pete
Contributor
Early cup style goggles were reworked Fernez smoke goggles with alloy cups, then rim seals were added and the natural progression to moulded rubber cups with integral face seals followed, with or without metal lens clamps.
Also to let it in when you take them off. I keep meaning to punch a couple in my ARAs: they do fit properly, and wiggling them off while hanging on the ladder is... an exercise.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
Thanks for the posts, Pete and dmaziuk.
On to Parra breathing tubes. The patent, very roughly translated:
DESCRIPTIVE REPORT accompanying the application of Mr. Pedro Parra Martínez, a Spanish national, residing in Barcelona, Calle de Goya, no. 10, bis, to PATENT the invention of “AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO ENSURE BREATHING WHILE SPEARFISHING”.
The greatest difficulty that has arisen in practice for underwater fishing with a mechanical harpoon lies in ensuring the means for regular, normal, and comfortable breathing for the person who practises such a fishing system, whether as a sport or for utilitarian purposes. To achieve this, a multitude of more or less ingenious devices have been used whose proposed purposes have never been translated into an operational reality; some because they are too complicated and fail too easily and repeatedly; others because they constitute a nuisance and annoyance for the person using them.
To this end, the claimant has devised a new apparatus of simple construction, light in weight, not bulky, easy and safe to use. Furthermore, since said device is novel and based on his invention, for these reasons he requests that the ownership and the right to the exclusive exploitation of the same be guaranteed, by way of the patent referred to in this descriptive report.
One of the hard-to-solve issues in this class of devices concerns how the corresponding mouthpiece is held in the mouth of the person using it. In the majority of cases, mouthpieces are directly supported by the jaws. When they are used underwater for a while, fatigue easily sets in and not infrequently the mouth will often open accidentally due to shivering as the body cools down, causing the mouthpiece to fall out and forcing the spearfisher to ascend to the surface of the water.
This cannot happen in the case of the mouthpiece that is part of the apparatus discussed here. This mouthpiece is retained by some lugs established behind the gums. Although the mouth has to remain shut, it does not require any effort in the jaws that may cause tiredness and fatigue. At the same time, due to its special shape, this mouthpiece makes it impossible for water to enter the mouth. This is not the case with any currently used.
The device in question is detailed below, with the help of the drawings on the attached sheet, in which the aforementioned device is represented seen in lateral elevation, with the mouthpiece cross-sectioned in Figure 1 and partially, in plan, in Figure 2.
The apparatus described comprises a rubber mouthpiece established in an angular tubular element, which, by way of a rubber sleeve, is attached to an elbow. The latter is in communication with the atmosphere.
The rubber mouthpiece comprises a band 1, of sufficient width and length to cover the lips, curved along its length in order to achieve its perfect adaptation to the curvature of the mouth. On its outer part, the band 1 has a tubular projection 2, with an elongated cross-section, while on the inside it has two projections 3, established symmetrically in relation to the axis of the band 1, seen here in plan (Figure 2). The projections 3 end in a head or enlargement 4.
The items are arranged so that, when applying the band to the outside of the mouth, the heads 4 are established behind the upper or lower rows of teeth, which are housed in the space that measured between them and the inner face of band 1.
The mouthpiece described is mounted with light pressure on the flattened end 5, giving a tube 6, so that the interior of that communicates with the mouth. The tube 6 itself, is established forming a 90° angle, with a tube 7, which is closed at the bottom, while at the top, it is coupled by means of a rubber sleeve 9, to an elbow 8, that extends into a branch of greater or lesser length as appropriate in each case. The two branches of the elbow 8 can form a right angle or a greater degree.
The tubular elements 8 and 6-7 may be of any diameter, preferably circular in section, and made of a light material, for example, celluloid or any other plastic material.
It will also vary, how much it affects the dimensions of the device as a whole, and in general, in everything that does not alter, change or modify, its substance.
CLAIM NOTE
The following is CLAIMED as the object of this PATENT:
1. An improved apparatus to ensure breathing while spearfishing. which essentially includes a mouthpiece that is held by the mouth, mounted at the end of a tube attached to a second tube, at right angles, and the latter is closed at one end, while at the other, which will be the upper one when the device is used, it is coupled by means of a rubber sleeve to another elbow, whose second branch is established above the head of the user, ending in the atmosphere.
2. The device itself in which the mouthpiece mentioned in the preceding claim is characterised by the fact that its retention with the mouth is carried out by stops with heads or enlargements established behind the gums.
3. The mouthpiece of the preceding claim essentially constituted by a plate or band of appropriate shape and dimensions to fully cover and fit the front part of the mouth, and said plate or band, on its inner face, forms the projections mentioned in the claim 2 or, as long as, on its front face, it has a tubular projection through which it can be plugged, under light pressure, into the end of the corresponding tube of the device.
4. The device itself in which the tube mounted on the mouthpiece, has a flattened section in the same direction as the mouth.
5. The apparatus itself in which the tubes forming part of it, of circular section or any other, will preferably be made of a lightweight material, celluloid, for example, or any plastic material.
6. “An IMPROVED APPARATUS TO ENSURE BREATHING WHILE SPEARFISHING”.
Barcelona 23 May 1944.
1 — band; 2 — tubular projection; 3 — projections; 4 — head or enlargement; 5 — flattened end; 6/7 — tubes; 8 — elbow; 9 — rubber sleeve.
On to Parra breathing tubes. The patent, very roughly translated:
DESCRIPTIVE REPORT accompanying the application of Mr. Pedro Parra Martínez, a Spanish national, residing in Barcelona, Calle de Goya, no. 10, bis, to PATENT the invention of “AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO ENSURE BREATHING WHILE SPEARFISHING”.
The greatest difficulty that has arisen in practice for underwater fishing with a mechanical harpoon lies in ensuring the means for regular, normal, and comfortable breathing for the person who practises such a fishing system, whether as a sport or for utilitarian purposes. To achieve this, a multitude of more or less ingenious devices have been used whose proposed purposes have never been translated into an operational reality; some because they are too complicated and fail too easily and repeatedly; others because they constitute a nuisance and annoyance for the person using them.
To this end, the claimant has devised a new apparatus of simple construction, light in weight, not bulky, easy and safe to use. Furthermore, since said device is novel and based on his invention, for these reasons he requests that the ownership and the right to the exclusive exploitation of the same be guaranteed, by way of the patent referred to in this descriptive report.
One of the hard-to-solve issues in this class of devices concerns how the corresponding mouthpiece is held in the mouth of the person using it. In the majority of cases, mouthpieces are directly supported by the jaws. When they are used underwater for a while, fatigue easily sets in and not infrequently the mouth will often open accidentally due to shivering as the body cools down, causing the mouthpiece to fall out and forcing the spearfisher to ascend to the surface of the water.
This cannot happen in the case of the mouthpiece that is part of the apparatus discussed here. This mouthpiece is retained by some lugs established behind the gums. Although the mouth has to remain shut, it does not require any effort in the jaws that may cause tiredness and fatigue. At the same time, due to its special shape, this mouthpiece makes it impossible for water to enter the mouth. This is not the case with any currently used.
The device in question is detailed below, with the help of the drawings on the attached sheet, in which the aforementioned device is represented seen in lateral elevation, with the mouthpiece cross-sectioned in Figure 1 and partially, in plan, in Figure 2.
The apparatus described comprises a rubber mouthpiece established in an angular tubular element, which, by way of a rubber sleeve, is attached to an elbow. The latter is in communication with the atmosphere.
The rubber mouthpiece comprises a band 1, of sufficient width and length to cover the lips, curved along its length in order to achieve its perfect adaptation to the curvature of the mouth. On its outer part, the band 1 has a tubular projection 2, with an elongated cross-section, while on the inside it has two projections 3, established symmetrically in relation to the axis of the band 1, seen here in plan (Figure 2). The projections 3 end in a head or enlargement 4.
The items are arranged so that, when applying the band to the outside of the mouth, the heads 4 are established behind the upper or lower rows of teeth, which are housed in the space that measured between them and the inner face of band 1.
The mouthpiece described is mounted with light pressure on the flattened end 5, giving a tube 6, so that the interior of that communicates with the mouth. The tube 6 itself, is established forming a 90° angle, with a tube 7, which is closed at the bottom, while at the top, it is coupled by means of a rubber sleeve 9, to an elbow 8, that extends into a branch of greater or lesser length as appropriate in each case. The two branches of the elbow 8 can form a right angle or a greater degree.
The tubular elements 8 and 6-7 may be of any diameter, preferably circular in section, and made of a light material, for example, celluloid or any other plastic material.
It will also vary, how much it affects the dimensions of the device as a whole, and in general, in everything that does not alter, change or modify, its substance.
CLAIM NOTE
The following is CLAIMED as the object of this PATENT:
1. An improved apparatus to ensure breathing while spearfishing. which essentially includes a mouthpiece that is held by the mouth, mounted at the end of a tube attached to a second tube, at right angles, and the latter is closed at one end, while at the other, which will be the upper one when the device is used, it is coupled by means of a rubber sleeve to another elbow, whose second branch is established above the head of the user, ending in the atmosphere.
2. The device itself in which the mouthpiece mentioned in the preceding claim is characterised by the fact that its retention with the mouth is carried out by stops with heads or enlargements established behind the gums.
3. The mouthpiece of the preceding claim essentially constituted by a plate or band of appropriate shape and dimensions to fully cover and fit the front part of the mouth, and said plate or band, on its inner face, forms the projections mentioned in the claim 2 or, as long as, on its front face, it has a tubular projection through which it can be plugged, under light pressure, into the end of the corresponding tube of the device.
4. The device itself in which the tube mounted on the mouthpiece, has a flattened section in the same direction as the mouth.
5. The apparatus itself in which the tubes forming part of it, of circular section or any other, will preferably be made of a lightweight material, celluloid, for example, or any plastic material.
6. “An IMPROVED APPARATUS TO ENSURE BREATHING WHILE SPEARFISHING”.
Barcelona 23 May 1944.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
A reminder of actual examples of Parra snorkels from the company catalogue:
A second Parra snorkel patent at the weekend.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
The second Parra snorkel patent, somewhat belatedly:
CERTIFICATE OF ADDITION for “SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE OBJECT OF THE MAIN PATENT No 166.350” for “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DEVICES TO ENSURE BREATHING IN SUBMARINE FISHING”, in favour of Mr. Pedro Parra Martínez, of Spanish nationality, domiciled in Barcelona, Goya, 10.
DESCRIPTIVE REPORT
The appellant has devised and put into practice some improvements in the object of the main Patent no. 166,350 for “Improvements in the devices to ensure breathing in underwater fishing” that without altering the essentiality of said improvements materialize some ideas in a practical industrialized way to correct inconveniences that have been revealed with the experience acquired.
For this reason, and because the improvements now devised are new and of his own invention, the appellant requests that his exclusive ownership and exploitation be guaranteed through the granting of the Addition Certificate referred to in this descriptive report.
The improvements now devised are fundamentally characterized by the following.
The rigid tube that serves as a support for the breathing mouthpiece is connected to a single flexible rubber tube that reaches the free surface of the water through the layer of water, ending in an air intake device. This simplifies the initial solution provided for in the main patent, which was based on two rigid tubes, one attached to the mouthpiece and the other attached to the intake, linked together by a flexible tube. Therefore, with the proposed improvement, the set is less heavy and more manageable and, in addition, the swimmer can better adjust the total length of the air duct depending on the depth that he wishes to descend by running more or less the plug of the rubber tube on the rigid tube.
On the other hand, the rigid tube is resolved on the basis of a straight tube, with a curved lateral derivation, in which the nozzle is fixed. This derivation forms such a curve that in the service position the straight tube to which the rubber one is plugged remains to one side of the swimmer's face and directed backwards, thus not hindering the swimmer's visual field.
The front part of the rigid and main straight tube ends in a rubber check valve, with a flattened labial shape, provided with three cuts that allow the easy extraction of any water that may eventually enter through the upper hole.
For greater clarity, some drawings that we will comment on are attached as an example. In these drawings in their different figures, -1- is the mouthpiece that the swimmer adapts to his mouth; -2- is the connection of this mouthpiece with the end of the lateral branch -3- of the main tube -4-; -2-3- and -4- are formed by a single piece of light and rigid plastic material; the longest part, that is, the rear part -5- of the straight tube -4- is used to plug in the only flexible rubber tube -9- that will extend long enough for its upper end to swim above the water level; The shorter or front part -6- of this same straight tube is provided with a flattened rubber valve -7- and provided with three cuts -8- that allow the expulsion of any water that may be introduced into the device.
All those details that do not affect, alter, change or modify the essence of the improvements described will be variable for the legal effects of the Certificate that is requested.
NOTE.
The following is claimed as the object of this Certificate of addition:
1.- Some improvements in the object of the main Patent no. 166,350 for Improvements in the devices to ensure breathing in underwater fishing, which are characterized by resolving the air intake tube in a single rigid tubular piece formed by a main tube Provided with a curved lateral derivation in which the respiratory mouthpiece that the swimmer adapts to his mouth fits, and a single flexible rubber tube that connects to the straight tube and extends to above the free surface of the water.
2. The improvements of the previous claim, characterized by the fact that the rigid tubular part is formed by a straight tube, which has a curved or bent branch that starts near one of its ends; fixing, at the free end of the shorter straight section, a flattened, lip-shaped rubber check valve provided with three cuts for the expulsion of water that can be introduced into the conduit; and plugging the respiratory mouthpiece into the end of the curved derivation, in such a way that the straight tube is on one side of the swimmer's head and with the long section through which the flexible rubber tube is plugged, on the part of his back.
3.- The improvements of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the total useful length of the air tube or the sum of the rigid tube and the flexible one is graduated by running the plug more or less, that is, by introducing more or less the rigid tube inside the rubber tube.
Whatever the circumstances that concur with the essentiality of the Certificate of addition defined in the previous claims, which object is:
4.- “SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE OBJECT OF THE MAIN PATENT No. 166,350” for “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DEVICES TO ENSURE BREATHING IN SPEARFISHING”.
This report consists of four pages, typewritten on one side and the drawing attached to it.
Barcelona November 18, 1950.
P. A. of D. Pedro Parra Martínez, L. DURÁN. P.P.
1 — mouthpiece; 2 — connector; 3 — side branch; 4 — barrel; 5 — rear; 6 — front; 7 — rubber valve; 8 — three cuts; 9 — flexible rubber tube.
CERTIFICATE OF ADDITION for “SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE OBJECT OF THE MAIN PATENT No 166.350” for “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DEVICES TO ENSURE BREATHING IN SUBMARINE FISHING”, in favour of Mr. Pedro Parra Martínez, of Spanish nationality, domiciled in Barcelona, Goya, 10.
DESCRIPTIVE REPORT
The appellant has devised and put into practice some improvements in the object of the main Patent no. 166,350 for “Improvements in the devices to ensure breathing in underwater fishing” that without altering the essentiality of said improvements materialize some ideas in a practical industrialized way to correct inconveniences that have been revealed with the experience acquired.
For this reason, and because the improvements now devised are new and of his own invention, the appellant requests that his exclusive ownership and exploitation be guaranteed through the granting of the Addition Certificate referred to in this descriptive report.
The improvements now devised are fundamentally characterized by the following.
The rigid tube that serves as a support for the breathing mouthpiece is connected to a single flexible rubber tube that reaches the free surface of the water through the layer of water, ending in an air intake device. This simplifies the initial solution provided for in the main patent, which was based on two rigid tubes, one attached to the mouthpiece and the other attached to the intake, linked together by a flexible tube. Therefore, with the proposed improvement, the set is less heavy and more manageable and, in addition, the swimmer can better adjust the total length of the air duct depending on the depth that he wishes to descend by running more or less the plug of the rubber tube on the rigid tube.
On the other hand, the rigid tube is resolved on the basis of a straight tube, with a curved lateral derivation, in which the nozzle is fixed. This derivation forms such a curve that in the service position the straight tube to which the rubber one is plugged remains to one side of the swimmer's face and directed backwards, thus not hindering the swimmer's visual field.
The front part of the rigid and main straight tube ends in a rubber check valve, with a flattened labial shape, provided with three cuts that allow the easy extraction of any water that may eventually enter through the upper hole.
For greater clarity, some drawings that we will comment on are attached as an example. In these drawings in their different figures, -1- is the mouthpiece that the swimmer adapts to his mouth; -2- is the connection of this mouthpiece with the end of the lateral branch -3- of the main tube -4-; -2-3- and -4- are formed by a single piece of light and rigid plastic material; the longest part, that is, the rear part -5- of the straight tube -4- is used to plug in the only flexible rubber tube -9- that will extend long enough for its upper end to swim above the water level; The shorter or front part -6- of this same straight tube is provided with a flattened rubber valve -7- and provided with three cuts -8- that allow the expulsion of any water that may be introduced into the device.
All those details that do not affect, alter, change or modify the essence of the improvements described will be variable for the legal effects of the Certificate that is requested.
NOTE.
The following is claimed as the object of this Certificate of addition:
1.- Some improvements in the object of the main Patent no. 166,350 for Improvements in the devices to ensure breathing in underwater fishing, which are characterized by resolving the air intake tube in a single rigid tubular piece formed by a main tube Provided with a curved lateral derivation in which the respiratory mouthpiece that the swimmer adapts to his mouth fits, and a single flexible rubber tube that connects to the straight tube and extends to above the free surface of the water.
2. The improvements of the previous claim, characterized by the fact that the rigid tubular part is formed by a straight tube, which has a curved or bent branch that starts near one of its ends; fixing, at the free end of the shorter straight section, a flattened, lip-shaped rubber check valve provided with three cuts for the expulsion of water that can be introduced into the conduit; and plugging the respiratory mouthpiece into the end of the curved derivation, in such a way that the straight tube is on one side of the swimmer's head and with the long section through which the flexible rubber tube is plugged, on the part of his back.
3.- The improvements of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the total useful length of the air tube or the sum of the rigid tube and the flexible one is graduated by running the plug more or less, that is, by introducing more or less the rigid tube inside the rubber tube.
Whatever the circumstances that concur with the essentiality of the Certificate of addition defined in the previous claims, which object is:
4.- “SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE OBJECT OF THE MAIN PATENT No. 166,350” for “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DEVICES TO ENSURE BREATHING IN SPEARFISHING”.
This report consists of four pages, typewritten on one side and the drawing attached to it.
Barcelona November 18, 1950.
P. A. of D. Pedro Parra Martínez, L. DURÁN. P.P.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
A reminder of actual examples of Parra snorkels from the company catalogue:
Another Spanish diving equipment manufacturer at the weekend, probably Industrias River.
WeRtheOcean
Contributor
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The patents seem to be a new addition for this thread. They were not in the previous threads in this series.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
I found the patents on espacenet, which hosts many European full-text examples. In my postings, I have only uploaded European patents that I have been able to translate into English. Such translations take time, as Google Translate does not always handle the idiosyncrasies of patent language well. Furthermore, in the case of this thread, Spanish is a language I have never had the opportunity to study formally. My foreign languages are French and German, so my efforts with Spanish are based on the limited degree of "intercomprehensibility" among Romance language. One week's visit to Spain during the 1970s is my only contact with the country.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
On to the Spanish diving equipment manufacturer Industrias River. Industrias River was a company that began manufacturing underwater swimming and fishing articles during the 1950s at Calle Minador Júpiter, 22, Palma de Mallorca, the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. I'm afraid that is all I know about the company from the evidence available online.
Let us start with the masks displayed in a 1958 Industrias River catalogue. A model simply named "4001":
The caption identifies the mask as a circular model designed for children. Note the ribs on the skirt and the twin buckles enabling the headstrap to be adjusted for size.
Let us start with the masks displayed in a 1958 Industrias River catalogue. A model simply named "4001":
