Headgear for masks
First Claim
1. A respiratory mask assembly for treatment of sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
- a mask;
a headgear system including a plurality of straps cooperative with the mask and permitting adjustable fit of the mask, the plurality of straps comprising;
a rear portion having a closed rear loop to engage and circumscribe a back of the patient'"'"'s head;
a first upper strap and a second upper strap each attached to the rear loop via stitching, the first upper strap attached at a first join, the second upper strap attached at a second join, a first rear loop edge of the rear loop abutting a first upper strap edge of the first upper strap at the first join, a second rear loop edge of the rear loop abutting an edge of the second upper strap at the second join;
wherein the first upper strap comprises a first upper patient-contacting fabric material layer and a first upper outwardly facing loop material layer, the second upper strap comprises a second upper patient-contacting fabric material layer and a second upper outwardly facing loop material layer;
a first lower strap and second lower strap each attached to the rear portion via stitching, the first lower strap attached at a first lower join, the second lower strap attached at a second lower join, a first rear portion edge of the rear portion abutting a first lower strap edge of the first lower strap at the first lower join, a second rear portion edge of the rear portion abutting a second lower strap edge of the second lower strap at the second lower join;
wherein the first lower strap comprises a first lower patient-contacting fabric material layer and a first lower outwardly facing loop material layer, the second lower strap comprises a second lower patient-contacting fabric material layer and a second lower outwardly facing loop material layer;
wherein the first lower strap and the second lower strap are each configured to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears in use;
wherein a first upper hook portion is located proximate a free end of the first upper strap, a second upper hook portion is located proximate a free end of the second upper strap, a first lower hook portion is located proximate a free end of the first lower strap, and a second lower hook portion is located proximate a free end of the second lower strap;
wherein the first upper strap, the second upper strap, first lower strap, and the second lower strap are length-adjustable via a hook and loop connection;
wherein the mask is secured to the patient'"'"'s head with only four points of attachment including the first upper strap, the second upper strap, the first lower strap and the second lower strap;
wherein at least a portion of the rear loop is constructed from a laminate having at least a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, the first fabric layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a non-patient-contacting side in use and the second fabric layer being constructed and arranged as a patient-contacting layer, and further wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are joined at a first longitudinal edge joint and a second longitudinal edge joint;
wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer directly contact one another along each said first longitudinal edge joint and second longitudinal edge joint;
wherein the first fabric layer is formed of a first fabric material that has different properties than a second fabric material of the second fabric layer;
wherein the laminate has a first rounded lateral edge and a second rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section;
wherein the first longitudinal edge joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of the first rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section and the second longitudinal edge joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of the second rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section; and
wherein the first longitudinal edge joint and the second longitudinal edge joint are selected from the group consisting of;
an ultrasonic weld joint, a heat sealed joint, and a computer numerical controlled knife joint.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A headgear for use with a mask includes a first strap being configured to engage a back of a patient'"'"'s head and extend on either side of the patient'"'"'s parietal bone behind the patient'"'"'s ears and assume, in use, a substantially circular or oval shape. At least a portion of the first strap is substantially inextensible. The headgear also includes at least one second strap configured to removably connect the first strap to the mask. The second strap may be more extensible than the first strap. At least a portion of the first strap is self-supporting such that the headgear maintains a three dimensional shape when not in use. The substantially inextensible portion of the first strap is constructed to resiliently return to a predetermined shape when not in use. The arcuate region includes a first portion that may be arranged to align substantially parallel with a top of the patient'"'"'s head and a second portion being arranged to align substantially to a rear surface of the patient'"'"'s head.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A respiratory mask assembly for treatment of sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
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a mask; a headgear system including a plurality of straps cooperative with the mask and permitting adjustable fit of the mask, the plurality of straps comprising; a rear portion having a closed rear loop to engage and circumscribe a back of the patient'"'"'s head; a first upper strap and a second upper strap each attached to the rear loop via stitching, the first upper strap attached at a first join, the second upper strap attached at a second join, a first rear loop edge of the rear loop abutting a first upper strap edge of the first upper strap at the first join, a second rear loop edge of the rear loop abutting an edge of the second upper strap at the second join; wherein the first upper strap comprises a first upper patient-contacting fabric material layer and a first upper outwardly facing loop material layer, the second upper strap comprises a second upper patient-contacting fabric material layer and a second upper outwardly facing loop material layer; a first lower strap and second lower strap each attached to the rear portion via stitching, the first lower strap attached at a first lower join, the second lower strap attached at a second lower join, a first rear portion edge of the rear portion abutting a first lower strap edge of the first lower strap at the first lower join, a second rear portion edge of the rear portion abutting a second lower strap edge of the second lower strap at the second lower join; wherein the first lower strap comprises a first lower patient-contacting fabric material layer and a first lower outwardly facing loop material layer, the second lower strap comprises a second lower patient-contacting fabric material layer and a second lower outwardly facing loop material layer; wherein the first lower strap and the second lower strap are each configured to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears in use; wherein a first upper hook portion is located proximate a free end of the first upper strap, a second upper hook portion is located proximate a free end of the second upper strap, a first lower hook portion is located proximate a free end of the first lower strap, and a second lower hook portion is located proximate a free end of the second lower strap; wherein the first upper strap, the second upper strap, first lower strap, and the second lower strap are length-adjustable via a hook and loop connection; wherein the mask is secured to the patient'"'"'s head with only four points of attachment including the first upper strap, the second upper strap, the first lower strap and the second lower strap; wherein at least a portion of the rear loop is constructed from a laminate having at least a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, the first fabric layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a non-patient-contacting side in use and the second fabric layer being constructed and arranged as a patient-contacting layer, and further wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are joined at a first longitudinal edge joint and a second longitudinal edge joint; wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer directly contact one another along each said first longitudinal edge joint and second longitudinal edge joint; wherein the first fabric layer is formed of a first fabric material that has different properties than a second fabric material of the second fabric layer; wherein the laminate has a first rounded lateral edge and a second rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section; wherein the first longitudinal edge joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of the first rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section and the second longitudinal edge joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of the second rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section; and wherein the first longitudinal edge joint and the second longitudinal edge joint are selected from the group consisting of;
an ultrasonic weld joint, a heat sealed joint, and a computer numerical controlled knife joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A respiratory mask assembly for treatment of sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
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a mask; a headgear system comprising; a rear portion having a closed rear loop to engage and circumscribe a back of the patient'"'"'s head, the rear loop having a variable width and an inner edge and an opposite outer edge; a first upper strap and a second upper strap each attached to the rear loop via stitching, the first upper strap attached at a first join, the second upper strap attached at a second join, a first rear loop edge of the rear loop abutting a first upper strap edge of the first upper strap at the first join, a second rear loop edge of the rear loop abutting an edge of the second upper strap at the second join; a first lower strap and second lower strap each attached to the rear portion via stitching, the first lower strap attached at a first lower join, the second lower strap attached at a second lower join, a first rear portion edge of the rear portion abutting a first lower strap edge of the first lower strap at the first lower join, a second rear portion edge of the rear portion abutting an second lower strap edge of the second lower strap at the second lower join; a first rear loop width measured from the inner edge to the first join being greater than a second rear loop width measured from the inner edge to the outer edge at a location between the first join and the first lower join; wherein the first lower strap and the second lower strap are each configured to extend below the patient'"'"'s ears in use; wherein a first upper hook portion is located proximate a free end of the first upper strap, a second upper hook portion is located proximate a free end of the second upper strap, a first lower hook portion is located proximate a free end of the first lower strap, and a second lower hook portion is located proximate a free end of the second lower strap; wherein the first upper strap has a first upper length spanning between the first join and the first upper hook portion, the second upper strap has a second upper length spanning between the second join and the second upper hook portion, and the first lower strap has a first lower length spanning between the first lower join and the first lower hook portion, the second lower strap has a second lower length spanning between the second lower join and the second lower hook portion; wherein said first upper length is relatively more extensible than the first lower length, and the second upper length is relatively more extensible than the second lower length; wherein the first upper strap is constructed from a laminate having at least a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, the first fabric layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a non-patient-contacting side in use, and further wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are joined at a first longitudinal edge joint and a second longitudinal edge joint; wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are joined along each said first longitudinal edge joint and second longitudinal edge joint; wherein the first longitudinal edge joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of a first lateral edge when viewed in cross section and the second longitudinal edge joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of a second lateral edge when viewed in cross section; wherein the mask is secured to the patient'"'"'s head with only four points of attachment including the first upper strap, the second upper strap, the first lower strap and the second lower strap; and wherein the first upper strap, the second upper strap, first lower strap, and the second lower strap are length-adjustable via a hook and loop connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A respiratory mask assembly for treatment of sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
a mask; a headgear system including a plurality of straps cooperative with the mask and permitting adjustable fit of the mask, the plurality of straps comprising; a rear portion having a closed rear loop with a rear strap to engage and circumscribe a back of the patient'"'"'s head; a first upper strap and second upper strap each attached to the rear strap via stitching, the first upper strap attached at a first join, the second upper strap attached at a second join, the first upper strap adjustably associated with to a first part of the mask, the second upper strap adjustably associated with a second part of the mask; a first lower strap and second lower strap each attached to the rear strap via stitching, the first lower strap attached at a first lower join, the second lower strap attached at a second lower join, the first lower strap adjustably associated with a third part of the mask, the second lower strap adjustably associated with a fourth part of the mask; wherein at least the rear strap of the rear portion is constructed from a laminate having at least a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, the first fabric layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a non-patient-contacting side in use, and further wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are joined at a joint, and wherein at least the rear strap has a first rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section; wherein each said joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of the first rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section; and wherein the rear strap includes a first rear strap portion and a second rear strap portion; wherein the first rear strap portion extends continuously in one piece from a first bottom edge of the rear portion to at least beyond the first join, wherein the first rear strap terminates at the first bottom edge, the second rear strap portion of the rear strap extends continuously in one piece from a second bottom edge of the rear portion to at least beyond the second join, wherein the second rear strap portion terminates at the second bottom edge; wherein a first strap lower edge of the first lower strap aligns with the first bottom edge of the first rear strap portion; wherein a second strap lower edge of the second lower strap aligns with the second bottom edge of the second rear strap portion and wherein the rear loop is arched such that in use an upper portion of the rear loop extends along a first plane such that the upper portion lies flat on a crown of the patient'"'"'s head, and wherein a lower portion of the rear loop extends along a second plane such that the lower portion of the rear loop lies flat on a back of the patient'"'"'s head, wherein the first plane is substantially orthogonal to the second plane. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A respiratory mask assembly for treatment of sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
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a mask; a headgear comprising; a strap that connects to the mask, wherein when worn the strap forms a rear loop that extends along a patient'"'"'s occiput of in a rear portion of the strap and the strap also extends to a front of the patient'"'"'s head; wherein the rear loop of the strap is configured to extend along the patient'"'"'s parietal bones; a portion of the rear loop of the strap is extensible; wherein the strap includes a first front portion and a second front portion, the first front portion connected to the rear portion at a first join, the second front portion connects to the rear portion at a second join; wherein each of said first front portion and second front portion removably connects the rear portion of the strap to the mask via clips; wherein the first front portion includes a first hook portion proximate a free end of the first front portion, and the second front portion includes a second hook portion proximate a free end of the second front portion; wherein when used the patient'"'"'s eyes and ears are unobstructed by the headgear; wherein the rear portion is constructed and arranged to remain relatively fixed in position on the patient'"'"'s head in use; wherein the rear portion has a different extensibility than each of said first front portion and said second front portion; wherein the first front portion has a first length spanning between the first join and the first hook portion, the second front portion has a second length spanning between the second join and the second hook portion, wherein the first length is extensible up to less than 5% under forces normally encountered in use of the respiratory mask assembly and the second length is extensible up to less than 5% under forces normally encountered in use of the respiratory mask assembly; and wherein stretch characteristics are approximately equal on both sides of the rear loop. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification