Mask with gusset
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:
- a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the gusset portion being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is at least 1.30.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mask system for delivering air to a user includes a suspension mechanism to allow relative movement between a face-contacting cushion and a mask shell. The suspension mechanism also provides a predetermined force to the cushion that is a function of mask pressure, displacement of the cushion or both.
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Citations
124 Claims
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1. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the gusset portion being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is at least 1.30. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50)
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23. A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract within a range of displacement to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, the gusset portion defining a gusset area exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas in use such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the gusset area provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, the force Fc being maintained in approximately constant proportion to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and a total force of the mask on the face Fm being maintained within a range of about 35-108 grams per gf/cm2 pressure of the supply of pressurized breathable gas over an operating pressure range of the mask.
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34. A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract within a range of displacement to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, the gusset portion defining a gusset area exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas in use such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the gusset area provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, the force Fc being maintained within a range of about 8-61 grams per gf/cm2 pressure of the supply of pressurized breathable gas over an operating pressure range of about 4-25 gf/cm2.
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47. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the gusset portion being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is greater than 1.00, a change in total force of the mask on the face Fm being generally directly proportional at a given operating pressure to a displacement of the mask shell toward the user'"'"'s face from an initial seal position within a range of such mask shell displacement of about 6-25 mm.
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51. An apparatus for disposition between a mask shell and a face-contacting cushion of a breathable gas mask arrangement adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas, comprising:
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a gusset portion having a first side attachable to a user side of the mask shell and a second side attachable to the cushion;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the gusset portion being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is at least 1.30. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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56. A cushion assembly for attachment to a mask shell of a breathable gas mask arrangement adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas, comprising:
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a gusset portion having a first side attachable to a user side of the mask shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion attached to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the gusset portion being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is at least 1.30.
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61. A mask assembly for supplying pressurized breathable gas to a user, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive the pressurized breathable gas;
a cushion having a portion for contacting a user'"'"'s face in use and providing a seal between the mask assembly and the user'"'"'s face;
a suspension mechanism attached between the mask shell and the cushion; and
a headgear for attaching the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the suspension mechanism is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the suspension mechanism being exposed to the pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is at least 1.30. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract within a range of displacement to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, the gusset portion having a gusset area exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas in use such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the gusset area provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, the force Fc being maintained within a range of about 0.3-4 grams per gf/cm2 pressure of the supply of pressurized breathable gas per linear centimeter around a circumference of the cushion in contact with the user'"'"'s face over an operating pressure range of about 4-25 gf/cm2. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A mask assembly attachable to a user for receiving and supplying pressurized air to the user, comprising:
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a cushion for contacting a user'"'"'s face; and
a suspension mechanism axially movably supporting the cushion and exposed to the pressurized air to provide a first axial spring force to the cushion proportional to a pressure of the air, the first axial spring force being at least 30% greater than a second axial spring force on the cushion due to the pressurized air acting directly on the cushion. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 79, 80)
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78. A mask assembly attachable to a user for receiving and supplying pressurized air to the user, comprising:
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a mask shell;
a cushion for contacting a user'"'"'s face and having a first projected area on the user'"'"'s face; and
a suspension mechanism attached to the mask shell axially movably supporting the cushion and having a second projected area on the user'"'"'s face greater than the first projected area on the face by at least 30%.
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81. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas, and a cylinder portion axially extending on a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side in the form of a piston axially slideably engaged with the cylinder portion of the mask shell and a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the piston can axially slide in the cylinder portion of the mask shell to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, a surface of the piston being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is greater than 1.00. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the gusset portion being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is greater than 1.00, the gusset portion including a sidewall having a thickened cross-section at a base of the sidewall. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face;
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask shell to the user; and
a generally rigid backstop attached to the mask shell for contacting a first sidewall portion of the gusset portion to limit movement of the first sidewall portion;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, an interior of the gusset portion being exposed to the supply of pressurized breathable gas and having a projected area on the user'"'"'s face Ag which is greater than an area Ac of contact of the cushion with the user'"'"'s face such that the supply of pressurized breathable gas acting on the area Ag provides a component of a contact force Fc of the cushion on the user'"'"'s face, and a ratio of Ag/Ac is greater than 1.00. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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97. A breathable gas mask arrangement, comprising:
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a mask shell having a portion adapted to receive a first supply of pressurized breathable gas and a user side;
a gusset portion having a first side attached to the user side of the shell and having a second side;
a cushion having a first portion constructed and arranged to attach to the second side of the gusset portion and a second portion constructed and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s face in use and provide a seal between the mask arrangement and the user'"'"'s face; and
a headgear constructed and arranged to attach the mask arrangement to the user;
wherein, the gusset portion is constructed and arranged such that it can expand and contract to alter a distance between the mask shell and the cushion, the gusset portion having a flexible sidewall with a cross-section enclosing a gusset chamber having an interior volume separated from an interior of the mask shell, the sidewall having at least one port connecting the gusset chamber to a second supply of pressurized gas. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
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104. A mask cushion for sealingly connecting a breathing mask to a wearer'"'"'s face, the cushion comprising:
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a sidewall having an axially outer edge;
a flexible membrane attached to the sidewall, the membrane having a face contacting portion extending axially to a position beyond the axially outer edge of the sidewall and constructed and arranged to move axially between the extended position and a retracted position where the axially outer edge of the sidewall contacts the wearer'"'"'s face to limit further axial movement of the flexible membrane. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124)
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Specification