Respiratory mask facial seal
First Claim
1. A facial seal comprising:
- a seal portion operatively coupled to said mask body for sealing engagement with a face of a human user, said seal portion having a recoil characteristic substantially corresponding to that of human fat tissue, and including a property of recoiling back to substantially its original shape when not stressed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved flexible respiratory mask facial seal, as well a respiratory mask incorporating such seal. The facial seal comprises an annular member including a peripheral sidewall bounded by an inner end and an outer end generally opposite the inner end. The inner end is adapted for attachment to the shell or body portion of a respiratory mask and the outer end defines a contoured sealing surface adapted for confronting sealing engagement with a user'"'"'s face. The annular member is formed of a gel substance possessing resilience characteristics corresponding to those of human fat tissue. Preferably, the annular member is encapsulated in a thin, pliable, membranous covering to enhance the durability and washability of the facial seal. Because the facial seal simulates the resiliency of human fat tissue, the user experiences the sensation of a natural substance against his skin when the mask is donned.
401 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A facial seal comprising:
a seal portion operatively coupled to said mask body for sealing engagement with a face of a human user, said seal portion having a recoil characteristic substantially corresponding to that of human fat tissue, and including a property of recoiling back to substantially its original shape when not stressed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A facial seal comprising:
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an annular peripheral wall portion having an inner end and an outer end opposite said inner end, said inner end being attachable to a body of a respiratory mask and said outer end including a seal portion having a contoured sealing surface for sealing engagement with a user'"'"'s face, at least said seal portion being formed from a gel substance having a resiliency substantially corresponding to that of human fat tissue, said gel substance including a property of recoiling back to substantially its original shape when not stressed; and an attaching means, having a shape corresponding to that of said inner end of said peripheral wall portion, for attaching said inner end to said body of said respiratory mask. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A respiratory mask comprising:
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a respiratory mask body; a flexible, resilient respiratory mask facial seal for engagement with a face of a human user to form a sealed interface encompassing a predetermined portion of such user'"'"'s face, said facial seal comprising an annular peripheral wall portion having an inner end and an outer end opposite said inner end, said inner end being attachable to said respiratory mask body and said outer end including a seal portion having a contoured sealing surface for sealing engagement with a user'"'"'s face, at least said seal portion being formed from a gel substance having a resiliency substantially corresponding to that of human fat tissue, said gel substance including a property of recoiling back to substantially its original shape when not stressed; and an attaching means, having a shape corresponding to that of said inner end of said peripheral wall portion, for attaching said inner end to said respiratory mask body. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification