Two-point/four-point adjustable headgear for gas delivery mask

• US 5,517,986 A
• Filed: 09/28/1993
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Walthour, Mary T., Starr, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/128,984
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.22, 128/201.23, 128/201.28, 128/207.11, 128/207.17, 128/206.28, 128/DIG. 15, 128/DIG. 26, 128/206.24, 128/205.25 , 128/206.27, 2/410, 2/417, 2/418, 2/420, 2/422, 2/9, 2/183, 2/173
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0226 specifically adapted for the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/084 Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/15 Hook and loop type fastener

Abstract

An adjustable headgear for use with reusable or disposable nasal and/or oral gas delivery masks. The headgear includes a cap-like headpiece adapted to fit the crown and back of a patient'"'"'s head. Lower strap means provide a two-point connection with the gas delivery mask to achieve a comfortable fit and an effective seal. Depending strap means depending from the head piece are connected to and moveable relative to the lower strap means. The depending strap means offer a stabilizing connection between the head piece and the lower strap means. Upper strap means can be used in the event an effective seal cannot be achieved using only the lower strap means. The upper and lower strap means provide a four-point connection with the gas delivery mask.

Claims

1. An adjustable headgear comprising:

a head piece adapted to fit over the crown and back portion of a human head, said head piece having upper side edges positionable along the crown of a human head and lower side edges positionable along the back portion of a human head;

a pair of depending straps, one of said pair of said depending straps downwardly depending from each of said upper side edges, each of said depending straps terminating in a depending strap loop;

a pair of lower straps positionable beneath the ears of a human head, one of said pair of lower straps extending forwardly from each of said lower side edges toward one of said depending straps, said lower straps terminating in lower connection loops, one of each of said depending strap loops being captively retained within one of said lower connection loops and moveable therealong; and

connector means for adjustably connecting each of said depending straps to an adjacent one of said lower straps, each of said depending loops being movable along the associated one of said lower straps, said connector means further including means for releasably securing each of said depending strap loops to one of said lower connection loops, said means for releasably securing including means provided on each of said depending strap loops for securement to an associated one of said lower connection loops and for immobilizing each of the dependent strap loops relative to an adjacent one of said lower straps, thereby to improve the fit of said head piece on human head.

2. The adjustable headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said head piece is formed from net-like material.

3. The adjustable headgear as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one upper strap connected to said head piece, said at least one upper strap being disposed above said lower straps and terminating in at least one connection loop.

4. The adjustable headgear as defined in claim 3 further comprising:

at least one loop provided on said head piece; and

said at least one upper strap comprises a single axially strap,

whereby said at least one loop on said head piece detachably connects at least an intermediate portion of said single auxiliary strap to said head piece.

5. A patient gas delivery system comprising:

a mask adapted to fit over the face of a patient and having first connector means on opposite sides thereof for connecting said mask to a head piece adapted to fit over the crown and back portion of a patient'"'"'s head, said head piece comprising;

upper side edges positionable along the crown of a patient'"'"'s head and lower side edges positionable along the back portion of a patient'"'"'s head;

a pair of depending straps, one of said pair of depending straps downwardly depending from each of said upper side edges, each of said depending straps terminating in a depending strap loop;

a pair of lower straps positionable beneath the ears of a patient'"'"'s head, one of said pair of lower straps extending forwardly from each of said lower side edges toward one of said depending straps, said lower straps terminating in lower connection loops, one of each of said depending strap loops being captively retained within one of said lower connection loops and moveable therealong, each of said lower connection loops being connected to said first connector means thereby providing two-point connection with said mask; and

second connector means for adjustably connecting each of said depending straps to an adjacent one of said lower straps, each of said depending loops being moveable along the associated one of said lower straps, said second connector means further including means for releasably securing each of said depending strap loops to one of said lower connection loops, said means for releasably securing including means provided on each of said depending strap loops for securement to an associated one of said lower connection loops and for immobilizing each of the dependent strap loops relative to an adjacent one of said lower straps, thereby to improve the fit of said head piece on a patient'"'"'s head.

6. The patient gas delivery system as defined in claim 5 further comprising:

at least one upper strap connected to said head piece above said depending straps; and

third connected means at the top of said mask for connecting said mask to said head piece,

wherein said at least one upper strap terminates in at least one upper connection loop and is connected to said third connector means.

7. The patient gas delivery system as defined in claim 6 further comprising:

a least one loop provided on said head piece; and

said at least one upper strap comprises a single auxiliary strap,

whereby said at least one loop on said head piece detachably connects at least an intermediate portion of said single auxiliary strap to said head piece.

8. The patient gas delivery system as defined in claim 5 wherein said mask comprises an oral gas delivery mask.

9. The patient gas delivery system as defined in claim 5 wherein said mask comprises a nasal gas delivery mask.

10. The patient gas delivery system as defined in claim 5 wherein said mask comprises an oral/nasal gas delivery mask.