Respiratory mask assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9227033-B2
Application number	US-201213396002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2012
Priority date	Feb 9, 1999
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a mask frame having a first cooperating interlocking structure; a mask cushion provided to the frame; a cushion clip to retain the mask cushion on the mask frame, the cushion clip having a second cooperating interlocking structure and being selectively attachable to and detachable from the mask frame, the first and second cooperating interlocking structures interlocking to secure the cushion clip on the mask frame; and an elbow joint provided to the frame and having a swivel tube adapted to connect to a gas delivery conduit. The first and second cooperating interlocking structures include a tab-recess arrangement in which a plurality of tabs are engageable within respective recesses.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
a frame having a first cooperating interlocking structure;
a cushion provided to the frame and adapted to form a seal on the patient's face;
a cushion clip to retain the cushion on the frame, the cushion clip having a second cooperating interlocking structure and being selectively attachable to and detachable from the frame, the first and second cooperating interlocking structures interlocking with one another in a cooperating relationship to secure the cushion clip on the frame;
an elbow joint provided to the frame and having a swivel tube adapted to connect to a gas delivery conduit; and
wherein the first and second cooperating interlocking structures are provided to at least a bottom and left and right sides of the frame and cushion clip, and wherein a tab-recess arrangement of the frame and cushion clip includes a plurality of tabs engageable within respective recesses to secure the clip to the frame.

2. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein each tab is engageable within a respective recess with a snap fit.

3. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein each tab is resiliently movable.

4. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion includes an outwardly extending portion received on a rib extending around the periphery of the frame.

5. A patient interface according to claim 4 , wherein the outwardly extending portion is held to the rib by the cushion clip.

6. A patient interface according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of upper attachment points provided to an upper portion of the frame and pair of lower attachment points provided to a lower portion of the frame, the upper and lower attachment points adapted to receive respective straps to secure the patient interface in position on the patient's face.

7. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion includes a rearwardly extending portion structured to space the frame from the patient's face.

8. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a first side structured to accommodate the cushion, and a second side, opposite the first side, and wherein the cushion clip and frame are configured to cooperate with one another such that the cushion clip is selectively attachable to the frame in a first direction defined generally from the first side to the second side of the frame, to thereby secure the cushion between the cushion clip and the frame.

9. A patient interface according to claim 8 , wherein the cushion clip and frame are configured to cooperate with one another such that the cushion clip is selectively detachable from the frame in a second direction, opposite the first direction, defined generally from the second side to the first side of the frame, to thereby allow removal of the cushion from the frame.

10. A patient interface according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second cooperating interlocking structures are engagable when the cushion clip is moved in a first direction defined generally from a first side of the frame that supports the cushion towards a second side of the frame opposite the first side, to thereby secure the cushion to the frame.

11. A patient interface according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second cooperating interlocking structures are disengagable when the cushion clip is moved in a second direction defined generally from the second side towards the first side of the frame, to thereby allow removal of the cushion from the frame.

12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the recesses are configured to displace the respective tabs as the tabs are inserted into the recesses.

13. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each tab and each recess has a unique combination of orientation and shape so that the frame and the cushion clip are securable to each other in only one orientation.

14. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
a mask frame having a first cooperating interlocking structure;
a cushion clip having a second cooperating interlocking structure and being selectively attachable to and detachable from the mask frame, the first and second cooperating interlocking structures interlocking with one another in a cooperating relationship to secure the cushion clip on the mask frame; and
a mask cushion adapted to form a seal on the patient's face and having an outer peripheral portion positioned between the mask frame and the cushion clip so as to seal the mask cushion on the mask frame.

15. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second cooperating interlocking structures include a tab-recess arrangement in which a plurality of tabs are engageable within respective recesses to secure the clip on the frame.

16. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second cooperating interlocking structures are provided to at least a bottom and left and right sides of the mask frame and cushion clip.

17. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 15 , wherein each tab is engageable within a respective recess with a snap fit.

18. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
a mask frame;
a mask cushion adapted to form a seal with the patient's face; and
a clip member engaged with the mask cushion and structured to interlock with the mask frame,
wherein the mask frame and the clip member include a tab-recess arrangement in which a plurality of securing tabs on the clip member engage with a corresponding one of a plurality of recesses on the mask frame so as to retain the mask cushion on the mask frame, the tab-recess arrangement provided to at least a bottom and left and right sides of the mask frame and clip member.

19. The respiratory mask according to claim 18 , wherein each of said securing tabs is resiliently movable.

20. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 18 , wherein each tab is engageable within a respective recess with a snap fit.

21. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 18 , wherein:
the mask frame comprises a rearwardly projecting rib adapted to engage the cushion and the cushion is held against the rib by the clip member,
the portion of the tab-recess arrangement provided on the mask frame is positioned closer to a periphery of the mask frame than the rib,
the cushion is configured so that when the clip member is attached to the mask frame, a first portion of the cushion is positioned between the clip member and the mask frame and the clip member is positioned between the mask frame and a second portion of the cushion,
the rib projects beyond the portion of the tab-recess arrangement provided on the mask frame,
the cushion comprises a flange that engages the clip member to retain at least a portion of the cushion on the clip member,
the mask assembly further comprises an elbow joint provided to the frame,
the mask frame comprises a circular aperture that receives a mating portion of the elbow joint,
the rib at least partially surrounds the circular aperture,
the cushion is configured so that when the clip member is attached to the mask frame, a first portion of the cushion is positioned between the clip member and the mask frame and the clip member is positioned between the mask frame and a second portion of the cushion,
the elbow joint comprises a collar that abuts a corresponding surface of the mas

Assignees

• Smart Gregory Scott
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Smart Gregory Scott

Classifications

• A61M16/0683 Primary

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/208

  Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves · CPC title

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/0616

  with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure · CPC title

• Y10T137/7771

  Bi-directional flow valves · CPC title