Respirator mask

Abstract

A mask for supplying gas under pressure to an airway of a human including a flexible manifold shell, an air inlet connected to an air delivery pipe, and at least two side walls which are at least partially formed by portions of the manifold shell. A flexible face contacting element defines an orifice to accommodate the nose of the human. Straps connected to the mask allow forces exerted by the straps to deform the manifold shell at least along X and Y axes, creating a variety of different orifice shapes. The face contacting part includes a flexible membrane allowing X and Y axis movement of the mask and movement of the mask along a Z axis between the user's face and the manifold shell. The flexible membrane may deform while retaining a gas seal against the face of a wearer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mask for supplying gas under pressure to an airway of a wearer, the mask comprising:
 a flexible manifold being made of a flexible material, the manifold including an air inlet connected to an air delivery pipe, the manifold shell having two separate splayed side walls which are at least partially formed by portions of the manifold shell, a length of each splayed side wall defined by a distance between an uppermost part of the mask which locates near a nose bridge of the wearer and a lowermost wall of the mask which locates under a nose of the wearer, the splayed side walls and lowermost wall together forming a generally triangular shape;   a flexible face contacting element defining an orifice to accommodate the nose of the wearer;   a first connecting strap having a first end connected to the mask and a second end connectable to a mask retaining strap;   a second connecting strap having a first end connected to the mask and a second end connectable to the mask retaining strap;   wherein the first strap and the second strap engage respective side walls of the mask for distributing opposing distortional forces to a substantial portion of the respective side walls when the mask is in use;   wherein the connection of the straps to the mask allow forces exerted by the first and second straps to deform the manifold at least along X and Y axes to create a variety of different orifice shapes;   wherein the first and second straps respectively engage the splayed side walls of the mask along a connecting length along each splayed side wall which is within a range of between 30% and 100% of an extent of a full length of each of the splayed side walls, thereby joining the first and second straps to respective said side walls of the mask so that an axis normal to the Y axis intersects with at least part of each strap, a ratio of a height of the manifold to the connecting length of the first and second straps falling within a range of between 0.8 and 2.0;   wherein the face contacting element includes a flexible membrane configured and arranged to be disposed between a face of the wearer and the manifold, the flexible membrane configured to allow X and Y axis movement of the mask and movement of the mask along a Z axis between the face of the wearer and the manifold;   wherein the flexible membrane deforms or displaces in a rolling motion which retains a gas seal against the face of the wearer; and   wherein the at least two splayed side walls of the manifold distribute distortional forces from the first connecting strap and the second connecting strap to the manifold, enabling the flexible face contacting element to create a variety of different mask orifice shapes and attitudes.   
     
     
         2 . A mask according to  claim 1  wherein the first end of each strap connects to a side wall of the mask via webs integral with the side walls of the manifold and when transmitting a distributed load to the mask, the webs are capable of inducing distortion in the mask along the X, Y and Z axes while the flexible membrane maintains said seal between the mask and the face of the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . A mask according to  claim 2  wherein a length of contact between each of the webs of the respective first and second straps is greater than a width of each said first and second straps. 
     
     
         4 . A mask according to  claim 3  wherein the webs are integral with the side walls of the manifold and each of the webs contacts a respective manifold side wall at an interface between the manifold and the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         5 . A mask according to  claim 4  wherein the manifold has an average wall thickness within a range of from 1 mm to 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A mask according to  claim 5  wherein the flexible face contacting membrane has as average wall thickness within a range of from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A mask according to  claim 6  wherein a height of the manifold is measured from a lowermost wall of the manifold to an uppermost portion of the manifold at a point which is engageable with a nose bridge of the wearer. 
     
     
         8 . A mask according to  claim 7  wherein the manifold includes a third strap for anchoring the mask. 
     
     
         9 . A mask according to  claim 8  wherein the webs each form an oblique angle of attachment between the webs and the manifold. 
     
     
         10 . A mask according to  claim 8  wherein the webs are integral with the side walls of the manifold and when transmitting a load to the mask, are capable of inducing distortion in the mask along the X, Y and Z axes while a seal is maintained between the mask and the face of the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A mask according to  claim 8  wherein the webs each have an oblique angled edge which conforms to oblique angled side walls of the manifold and which form contact lengths between each web and the manifold. 
     
     
         12 . A mask according to  claim 11  wherein a resultant force generated by distributed loadings applied by locations of the straps is applied at a location generally in the middle third of a height of the manifold. 
     
     
         13 . A mask according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible membrane is configured and arranged to maintain the seal between the mask and the face of the wearer irrespective of induced movement of the mask in either the X, Y or Z directions, when a load is applied by the straps on the mask. 
     
     
         14 . A mask according to  claim 13  wherein, the face contacting element includes at least one part which is thicker than a thickness of remaining parts of the face contacting element. 
     
     
         15 . A mask according to  claim 14  wherein the face contacting element includes wall thickenings in regions located on sides of a nose of the wearer when the mask is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         16 . A mask according to  claim 15  wherein the face contacting element includes a wall thickening in a region located under the nose of the wearer when the mask is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         17 . A mask according to  claim 16  wherein the manifold includes external strengthening ribs. 
     
     
         18 . A mask according to  claim 17  wherein the manifold is configured to receive a gas supply line configured to deliver gas to the mask. 
     
     
         19 . A mask according to  claim 18  wherein the mask includes an auxiliary fixation arrangement configured to apply a pressure to cheeks of the face of the wearer to keep the cheeks retained inwardly and to apply a pressure to a chin of the wearer to maintain an upward force on the chin. 
     
     
         20 . A mask according to  claim 19  wherein the mask is a full face mask which is configured to cover and seal the nose and mouth of the wearer. 
     
     
         21 . A mask according to  claim 20  wherein a groove is formed between the face contacting element and the manifold. 
     
     
         22 . A mask according to  claim 21  wherein the groove allows distortion and displacement of the face contacting element relative to the manifold. 
     
     
         23 . A mask according to  claim 19  wherein the mask covers and seals only the nose of the wearer. 
     
     
         24 . A mask according to  claim 23  wherein a groove is formed between the face contacting element and the manifold. 
     
     
         25 . A mask according to  claim 24  wherein the groove allows distortion and displacement of the face contacting element relative to the manifold. 
     
     
         26 . A mask for supplying gas under pressure to an airway of a wearer, the mask comprising:
 a flexible manifold shell made of a flexible material, the manifold shell including means for connection to a gas delivery pipe, the manifold shell having two separate splayed side walls which are at least partially formed by portions of the manifold shell, a length of each splayed side wall defined by a distance between an uppermost part of the mask which locates near a nose bridge of the wearer and a lowermost wall of the mask which locates under a nose of the wearer, the splayed side walls and lowermost wall together forming a generally triangular shape;   a first mask shape forming element configured and arranged to distribute distortional forces to a substantial portion of a first side wall of the at least two side walls, the first mask shape being one of attached to and integral with a significant portion of the first side wall along a connecting length along the first side wall which is within a range of between 30%-100% of an extent of a full length of the first side wall; and   a second mask shape forming element configured and arranged to distribute distortional forces to a substantial portion of another side wall of the at least two side walls, the second mask shape forming element being one of attached to and integral with a significant portion of the another side wall, along a connecting length along the second side wall which is within a range of between 30%-100% of an extent of a full length of the second side wall, each of the first mask shape forming element and the second mask shape forming element comprising generally triangular shaped webs, one side of each of the generally triangular shaped webs engaging one of the at least two side walls and being one of connected to and connectable to, a strap; and   a flexible face contacting element defining an orifice configured and arranged to accommodate a nose of the wearer;   wherein forces exerted by the first mask shape forming element and the second mask shape forming element are capable of deforming the flexible face contacting element and manifold shell in X and Y planes to create a variety of different mask/orifice shapes;   wherein the manifold shell defines a manifold height extending along a Y axis;   wherein the first mask shape forming element defines a first connecting length joining the first mask shape forming element to a first of the at least two side walls and the second mask shape forming element defines a second connecting length joining the second mask shape forming element to a second of the at least two side walls;   wherein a ratio of the manifold height to each of the first connecting length and the second connecting length falls within a range of from 0.8 to 2.0; and   wherein a resultant force applied from a distribution of load through each of the webs over one of predetermined lengths of each of the webs and over a span of point loads applied to each of the webs lies approximately in a middle third of the manifold height to allow the mask to accommodate distortion from such applied load.   
     
     
         27 . A mask according to  claim 26  wherein the mask is made from a flexible material and the face contacting element includes at least one side provided with a thickening in a wall over at least part of the at least one side of the face contacting element. 
     
     
         28 . A mask according to  claim 27  wherein the thickening in the wall is one of abrupt and gradual.