Patient interface assembly with simultaneous maskstrap adjustment

Abstract

A patient interface assembly that includes a patient interface device and a headgear. The headgear includes a first headgear strap and a second headgear strap having first end portions connected to opposite sides of the patient interface device. Second end portions of the first headgear strap and a second headgear strap are coupled to a first beam member and a second beam member respectively. The first and second beam members extend behind a head of such as user during use and are joined together via an adjustment mechanism that allows the overall length of the first beam and the second beam to be selectively adjusted.

1 . A patient interface assembly, comprising:
 (a) a patient interface device adapted to communicate a flow of gas with an airway of a user; and   (b) a headgear adapted to attach the patient interface device to a head of such a user, the headgear comprising:
 (1) a first headgear strap having a first end portion operatively coupled to a first side of the patient interface device and a second end portion, 
 (2) a second headgear strap having a first end portion operatively coupled to a second side of the patient interface device opposite the first side and a second end portion, 
 (3) a first beam member having a first end portion operatively coupled to the second end portion of the first headgear strap and a second end portion, wherein the first beam is adapted to extend behind a head of such as user during use, 
 (4) a second beam member having a first end portion operatively coupled to the second end portion of the second headgear strap and a second end portion, wherein the second beam is adapted to extend behind a head of such as user during use, and 
 (5) an adjustment mechanism adapted to join the second end portion of the first beam to the second end portion of the second beam such that an overall length of the first beam and the second beam can be selectively adjusted. 
   
     
     
         2 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first ear loop operatively coupled between the second end portion of the first headgear strap and the first end portion of the first beam, and a second ear loop operatively coupled between the second end portion of the second headgear strap and the first end portion of the second beam. 
     
     
         3 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first ear loop is integral with the first end portion of the first beam or is rotatably coupled to the first end portion of the first beam, and wherein the second ear loop is integral with the first end portion of the second beam or is rotatably coupled to the first end portion of the second beam. 
     
     
         4 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first ear loop and the second ear loop are generally “C” shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first ear loop and the second ear loop are formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first ear loop and the second ear loop are configured to remain below an ear of a user at all times during use of the patient interface assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first ear loop and the second ear loop are configured to remain below above an ear of a user at all times during use of the patient interface assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the patient interface device is a mask. 
     
     
         9 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mask includes a mask body and forehead support operatively coupled to the mask body, and wherein the first end portion of the first headgear strap and first end portion of the second headgear strap are operatively coupled to the mask body. 
     
     
         10 . The patient interface assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a third headgear strap having a first end portion operatively coupled to a first side of the forehead support and a second end portion operatively coupled to the first end portion of the first beam, and   a fourth headgear strap having a first end portion operatively coupled to a second side of the forehead support opposite the first side and a second end portion operatively coupled to the first end portion of the second beam.