Mask system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539403-B2
Application number	US-200913390639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2009
Priority date	Aug 26, 2009
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A mask system ( 10 ) includes a frame ( 20 ) defining a breathing chamber, a cushion ( 40 ) provided to the frame and adapted to form a seal with the patient's face, and a shroud ( 50 ) provided to the frame and adapted to attach headgear. The shroud includes a retaining mechanism structured to connect the shroud to the frame. The retaining mechanism includes both a taper lock arrangement and a retaining clip arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mask system comprising:
a frame defining a breathing chamber;
a cushion provided to the frame and configured to form a seal with a patient's face; and
a shroud provided to the frame and configured to attach headgear,
wherein the shroud includes a retaining mechanism structured to connect the shroud to the frame, the retaining mechanism includes both a taper lock arrangement that engages the frame and a retaining clip arrangement that engages the frame, and the taper lock arrangement includes a pair of tang protrusions provided on an underside of the shroud configured to engage with respective slots provided to the frame.

2. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein retaining clip arrangement includes a pair of spaced apart clip arms with a locking tab provided to each clip arm and configured to clip onto or overhang an edge of the frame.

3. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a tab and the shroud includes a slot configured to receive the tab therein when the shroud is connected to the frame so as to align the shroud with the frame.

4. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the shroud includes upper headgear connectors configured to attach upper headgear straps, and the frame includes lower headgear connectors configured to attach lower headgear straps.

5. A mask system according to claim 4 , wherein each upper headgear connector includes an elongated arm and a slot at a free end of the arm configured to receive a respective upper headgear strap.

6. A mask system according to claim 5 , wherein each arm is enveloped in a soft fabric sleeve or padded material.

7. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the shroud includes upper headgear connectors configured to attach upper headgear straps and lower headgear connectors configured to attach to lower headgear straps.

8. A mask system according to claim 7 , wherein each lower headgear connector includes a clip receptacle configured to removably interlock with a headgear clip associated with a respective lower headgear strap.

9. A mask system according to claim 8 , wherein each clip receptacle is connected to the shroud via spaced-apart arm members.

10. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the shroud includes a second retaining mechanism structured to connect the shroud to a lower end of the frame.

11. A mask system according to claim 10 , wherein the shroud includes a lug protrusion configured to mate into a corresponding recess or undercut provided to the frame so as to retain the shroud in position.

12. A mask system according to claim 11 , wherein the lug protrusion is in the form of a short bump that protrudes outwardly along a length of an edge of the shroud.

13. A mask system according to claim 10 , wherein the frame includes a recessed portion or scalloping near the second retaining mechanism.

14. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion is a full-face cushion.

15. A mask system according to claim 1 , further comprising headgear, the headgear including at least a pair of upper straps, a pair of lower straps, and a cross bar to connect each pair of upper and lower straps, the cross bar configured to extend generally vertically in front the patient's ear in use.

16. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a vent arrangement for gas washout, the vent arrangement being in the form of a diffused vent cap including a base wall, a dome extending upwardly from the base above the horizontal surface of the base wall, and multiple vent holes arranged on an annular side wall of the dome.

17. A mask system according to claim 16 , wherein the vent cap is integrally formed in one-piece with the frame.

18. A mask system according to claim 16 , wherein the vent cap is structured to direct exhaust flow up and out from the mask system at an angle between about 0-30°.

19. A mask system according to claim 18 , wherein the angle is about 20°.

20. A mask system according to claim 16 , wherein the vent cap includes 25 vent holes.

21. A mask system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
upper headgear connectors configured to attach upper headgear straps and lower headgear connectors configured to attach lower headgear straps, each upper headgear connector includes an elongated arm and a slot at a free end of the arm configured to receive a respective upper headgear strap and each lower headgear connector includes a clip receptacle configured to removably interlock with a headgear clip associated with a respective lower headgear strap,
wherein the slot is oriented about 2-26° with respect to a vertical axis of the frame.

22. A mask system according to claim 21 , wherein the arms of the upper headgear connectors define an angle therebetween of about 56-112°.

23. A mask system according to claim 21 , wherein the shroud includes the upper and/or lower headgear connectors.

24. A mask system according to claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of each of the elongated arms are configured to be below a respective one of the patient's eyes.

25. A mask system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the shroud includes upper headgear connectors configured to attach upper headgear straps and lower headgear connectors configured to attach lower headgear straps, each lower headgear connector including a clip receptacle configured to removably interlock with a headgear clip associated with a respective lower headgear strap, and
wherein each clip receptacle is oriented about 2-12° with respect to a vertical axis of the frame.

26. A mask system according to claim 25 , wherein the upper headgear connectors each include a portion that is configured to be below a respective one of the patient's eyes.

27. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism is structured to connect the shroud to an upper end of the frame.

28. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein
the frame includes a tab and the shroud includes a second slot configured to receive the tab therein when the shroud is connected to the frame so as to align the shroud with the frame.

29. A mask system according to claim 1 , wherein each tang protrusion of the tang protrusions includes a first tang and a second tang that extends generally transverse to the first tang.

Assignees

• Eves Matthew
• Dantanarayana Muditha Pradeep
• D'Souza Errol Savio Alex
• Scheiner Rupert Christian
• Plascott Stuart Norris
• Wehbeh Jamie Graeme
• Lee Murray William
• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Eves Matthew
• Dantanarayana Muditha Pradeep
• D'Souza Errol Savio Alex
• Scheiner Rupert Christian
• Plascott Stuart Norris
• Wehbeh Jamie Graeme
• Lee Murray William

Classifications

• A61M16/0683 Primary

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/06 Primary

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M16/0633

  with forehead support · 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

• A61M16/0858

  Pressure sampling ports · CPC title