Mask with integral cushion and forehead piece

• US 7,503,327 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gunaratnam, Michael Kassipillai
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US10/821,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.25, 128/206.21, 128/206.12, 128/206.24, 128/207.11, 128/207.13, 128/206.27, 128/207.17
• US Class Current: 128/206.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0622 having an underlying cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0638 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/065 in the form of a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0655 in the form of a linear or curvilinear slide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production

Abstract

A respiratory mask has an adjustable forehead support member that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The forehead support member may be adjusted by rotating a forehead pad about an off-center bore or by bending an angular adjustment beam. The mask has a mask cushion with an accordionate membrane having at least two hinged portions. The mask may be constructed with a mask frame, the mask cushion, and the forehead support member molded as one piece.

Claims

1. A respiratory mask comprising:

a mask frame including a forehead support member connected to the mask frame by a living hinge, and a plurality of strap attachment portions, integral to at least one of the mask frame and the forehead support member, for attaching straps to the respiratory mask to mount the respiratory mask on a facial region of a user; and

forehead padding attached to the forehead support member, wherein an angle of the mask frame relative to the facial region of the user is adjusted by rotating the forehead padding with respect to the forehead support member, wherein the forehead padding has a bore, the forehead support member of the mask frame being inserted into the bore.

2. The respiratory mask of claim 1 wherein the bore is an off-center square bore having four inward facing surfaces and the forehead support member has a rectangular cross-section having four outward facing surfaces, wherein each parallel pair of inward facing surfaces is parallel to a pair of outward facing surfaces, and whereby the forehead padding can be fit to the forehead support member in four distinct positions, each position providing a distinct distance different from the others of an outward facing surface of the forehead padding contacting the facial region from an inward facing surface of the forehead padding contacting the forehead support member.

3. The respiratory mask of claim 1 wherein the bore has a plurality of inward facing surfaces and the forehead support member has a cross-section with a corresponding number of outward facing surfaces, wherein each inward facing surface is parallel to an outward facing surface, whereby the forehead padding can be fit to the forehead support member in a corresponding number of distinct positions, each position providing a distinct and different distance of an outward facing surface of the forehead padding contacting the facial region from an inward facing surface of the forehead padding contacting the forehead support member.

4. The respiratory mask of claim 1 wherein the bore is circular and an outer surface of the forehead padding is a single continuous surface, which is not a concentric circle of the bore, whereby the distance of a location on the outer surface of the forehead padding contacting the facial region from an inward facing surface of the forehead padding contacting the forehead support member is continuously variable by rotating the forehead padding.

5. The respiratory mask of claim 1 wherein an inward facing surface of the bore and the forehead support member are constructed and arranged to allow manual rotation of the forehead padding and resist accidental rotation of the forehead padding.

6. The respiratory mask of claim 1 wherein the forehead support member and the forehead padding have cooperative interlocking structure to resist the forehead support member coming out of the bore.

7. The respiratory mask of claim 1 further comprising a substantially ring-shaped mask cushion interposed between the mask frame and the facial region of the user, the mask cushion comprising a single, continuous, accordion-shaped wall with at least two hinge portions.

8. The respiratory mask of claim 7 wherein the mask cushion is integrally formed with the mask frame.

9. The respiratory mask of claim 8 wherein the mask frame and the mask cushion are molded as a single piece.

10. The respiratory mask of claim 8 wherein the mask cushion is molded over the mask frame.

11. The respiratory mask of claim 10 wherein a plurality of channels in the mask frame allow a cushion molding material, which forms the mask cushion, to bleed through the mask frame during a molding process.

13. The respiratory mask of claim 1, wherein the forehead padding is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the forehead support member.

14. The respiratory mask of claim 1, further comprising an air inlet portion comprising an inlet tube, wherein the air inlet portion is connected to the mask frame by a second living hinge.

12. A respiratory mask comprising:

a mask frame having a forehead support member and a plurality of strap attachment portions, integral to at least one of the mask frame and the forehead support member, for attaching straps to the respiratory mask to mount the respiratory mask on a facial region of a user;

a foldable beam between the mask frame and the forehead support member, whereby an angle of the mask frame relative to a facial region of the user is adjusted by folding the foldable beam; and

a substantially ring-shaped mask cushion interposed between the mask frame and the facial region of the user, the mask frame mask cushion comprising a single, continuous, accordion-shaped wall with at least two hinge portions;

wherein the mask cushion is integrally formed with the mask frame, the mask cushion is molded over the mask frame, and a plurality of channels in the mask frame allow a cushion molding material, which forms the mask cushion, to bleed through the mask frame during a molding process.