Forehead support for facial mask

Abstract

A pad for a forehead support includes an outer wall having a first side configured to engage a user's forehead and a second side having engaged surfaces configured to rest against engaging surfaces of the forehead support; at least one retaining wall provided between the first side and the second side; and at least one retained portion configured to be retained by a retainer formed on the forehead support, wherein a space is defined between the outer wall and the engaged surfaces. The space has a substantially constant cross sectional profile, and the outer wall, the at least one retaining wall, and the engaged surfaces are formed of a deformable elastomeric material. Deformation of the pad occurs by deflection of at least the outer wall and the at least one retaining wall.

1 . A respiratory mask system for sleep disorder therapy, the respiratory mask comprising:
 a face contacting portion configured to engage a patient's face;   a post fixedly extending from the face contacting portion;   a forehead pad configured to engage the patient's forehead;   a bridge supporting the forehead pad; and   an adjustable arm that connects the bridge to the post,   wherein the bridge is structured so that movement of the adjustable arm relative to the post translates to linear movement of the bridge toward and away from the post.   
     
     
         2 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the post extends from the face contacting portion in a first direction and the adjustable arm extends from the post in a second direction, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable arm is movable between a plurality of discrete positions relative to the post. 
     
     
         4 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 3  further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable arm at said plurality of discrete positions relative to the post. 
     
     
         5 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the forehead pad extends all the way across the bridge. 
     
     
         6 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge is configured to receive headgear straps. 
     
     
         7 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable arm is cantilevered from the post. 
     
     
         8 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the forehead pad is configured to engage the patient's forehead at contact points that are arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the face contacting portion is a full face mask. 
     
     
         10 . The respiratory mask system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable arm at a plurality of discrete positions relative to the post,
 wherein the post extends from the face contacting portion in a first direction and the adjustable arm extends from the post in a second direction, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal to each other,   wherein the forehead pad extends all the way across the bridge,   wherein the bridge is configured to receive headgear straps,   wherein the adjustable arm is cantilevered from the post,   wherein the forehead pad is configured to engage the patient's forehead at contact points that are arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to one another, and   wherein the face contacting portion is a full face mask.   
     
     
         11 . A patient interface structure for sleep disorder therapy, the patient interface structure comprising:
 a respiratory mask configured to engage a patient's face;   a forehead support extending from the respiratory mask and configured to engage a patient's forehead, the forehead support comprising:
 a support structure fixedly extending from the respiratory mask; 
 a forehead pad configured to engage the patient's forehead; 
 a bridge supporting the forehead pad; and 
 an adjustable arm that connects the bridge to the support structure; and 
   headgear attached to the respiratory mask and opposing ends of the bridge,   wherein the bridge and the adjustable arm are structured so that movement of the adjustable arm relative to the support structure translates to linear movement of the bridge toward and away from the support structure.   
     
     
         12 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , wherein the bridge and the adjustable arm are configured to move relative to the respiratory mask without the support structure moving relative to the respiratory mask. 
     
     
         13 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , wherein the support structure extends from the respiratory mask in a first direction and the adjustable arm extends from the support structure in a second direction, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustable arm is movable between a plurality of discrete positions relative to the support structure. 
     
     
         15 . The patient interface structure of  claim 14  further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable arm at said plurality of discrete positions relative to the support structure. 
     
     
         16 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , wherein the forehead pad extends all the way across the bridge. 
     
     
         17 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , wherein the respiratory mask is a full face mask. 
     
     
         18 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustable arm is cantilevered from the support structure. 
     
     
         19 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , wherein the bridge is configured to engage the patient's forehead at contact points that are arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The patient interface structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable arm at a plurality of discrete positions relative to the support structure,
 wherein the bridge and the adjustable arm are configured to move relative to the respiratory mask without the support structure moving relative to the respiratory mask,   wherein the support structure extends from the respiratory mask in a first direction and the adjustable arm extends from the support structure in a second direction, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal to each other,   wherein the forehead pad extends all the way across the bridge,   wherein the respiratory mask is a full face mask,   wherein the adjustable arm is cantilevered from the support structure, and   wherein the bridge is configured to engage the patient's forehead at contact points that are arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to one another.   
     
     
         21 . A patient interface system for sleep disorder therapy, the patient interface system comprising:
 a respiratory mask;   a forehead support extending from the respiratory mask and configured to engage a patient's forehead, the forehead support comprising:
 a support structure with opposing first and second ends, the first end fixedly extending from the respiratory mask; 
 an adjustable arm cantilevered from the second end of the support structure; 
 a bridge connected to the support structure by the adjustable arm, the bridge and adjustable arm being structured so that movement of the arm relative to the support structure translates to movement of the bridge relative to the support structure; and 
 a forehead pad supported by the bridge and configured to directly engage the patient's forehead at two contact points, the two contact points being arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to each other; and headgear attached to the bridge. 
   
     
     
         22 . The patient interface system of  claim 21 , wherein the respiratory mask is a full face mask. 
     
     
         23 . The patient interface system of  claim 21 , wherein the bridge and the adjustable arm are configured to move relative to the respiratory mask without the support structure moving relative to the respiratory mask. 
     
     
         24 . The patient interface system of  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable arm is movable between a plurality of discrete positions relative to the support structure. 
     
     
         25 . The patient interface system of  claim 24  further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable arm at said plurality of discrete positions relative to the support structure. 
     
     
         26 . The patient interface system of  claim 21 , wherein the support structure extends from the respiratory mask in a first direction and the adjustable arm extends from the support structure in a second direction, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
         27 . The patient interface system of  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable arm and the bridge are structured to confine the bridge to one dimensional movement relative to the respiratory mask. 
     
     
         28 . The patient interface system of  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable arm and the bridge are structured so that the movement of the bridge due to movement of the adjustable arm is linear. 
     
     
         29 . The patient interface system of  claim 21 , wherein the forehead pad extends all the way across the bridge. 
     
     
         30 . The patient interface system of  claim 21  further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable arm at a plurality of discrete positions relative to the support structure,
 wherein the respiratory mask is a full face mask, 
 wherein the bridge and the adjustable arm are configured to move relative to the respiratory mask without the support structure moving relative to the respiratory mask, 
 wherein the support structure extends from the respiratory mask in a first direction and the adjustable arm extends from the support structure in a second direction, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal to each other, 
 wherein the adjustable arm and the bridge are structured to confine the bridge to one dimensional movement relative to the respiratory mask, 
 wherein the adjustable arm and the bridge are structured so that the movement of the bridge due to movement of the adjustable arm is linear, and 
 wherein the forehead pad extends all the way across the bridge.