# US 10,864,342 B2 · Mask with removable headgear connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,342 B2 - Document ID: US10864342B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/892,601 - Filed: 2018-02-09 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-30 - Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd - Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd - Inventors: Robert Edward Henry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864342B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece} - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0622: {having an underlying cushion} - A61M 16/0638: {in the form of a pivot} - A61M 16/0644: {having the means for adjusting its position} - A61M 16/065: {in the form of a pivot} - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 16/0694: {Chin straps} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A62B 18/084: {Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) ## Abstract A mask for delivering breathable gas to a patient at positive pressure to treat sleep disordered breathing, may comprise: a rigid mask frame having a bore and an interfacing structure, the interfacing structure being located on the rigid mask frame and along a peripheral edge of the bore, said mask frame having no built-in or integral headgear attachment points; a sealing cushion provided to the rigid mask frame and adapted to form a seal with the patient's face, the rigid mask frame and the sealing cushion together forming, at least partly, a breathing cavity; and a headgear connector adapted to engage the interfacing structure with a snap-fit, said headgear connector including a pair of lower headgear clip anchors adapted to be engaged with respective ones of a pair of lower headgear clips to attach a pair of lower side straps, said headgear connector including a fixed forehead support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mask system for delivering a supply of air generated by a flow generator at a positive pressure in a therapeutic range of 2-30 cm H2O to a patient's airways to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising: a mask frame having a bore and a ring-shaped interfacing structure, the bore having a cylindrical shape structured to convey the supply of air to the patient's airways in use, the ring-shaped interfacing structure projecting from the bore in a radial direction, and the mask frame having no built-in or integral headgear attachment points; a cushion provided to the mask frame and adapted to seal with the patient's face in use; headgear including a pair of upper side straps configured to extend above the patient's ears in use, a pair of lower side straps configured to extend below the patient's ears in use, a rear portion configured to cup the occiput of the patient's head in use, and a pair of lower headgear clips adapted to receive respective ones of the pair of lower side straps; an elbow assembly adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver the supply of air to the patient's airways; and a headgear connector adapted to engage the ring-shaped interfacing structure with a snap-fit, the headgear connector having a circular opening with a closed shape, the headgear connector including a pair of lower headgear clip anchors adapted to engage with respective ones of the pair of lower headgear clips to attach respective ones of the pair of lower side straps, and the headgear connector including a pair of openings adapted to attach to respective ones of the pair of upper side straps, wherein the mask frame and the headgear connector are constructed to resist movement between the mask frame and the headgear connector when the mask frame and the headgear connector are attached, and wherein the mask frame is more rigid than the cushion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the headgear connector includes a fixed forehead support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the headgear connector does not include a forehead support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the mask frame and the cushion are configured to deliver the supply of air to the patient's nose and mouth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the cushion and the mask frame are permanently attached. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the mask system further comprises a vent for gas washout. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of the mask frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the headgear connector is removably attachable to the mask frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein the headgear connector and the mask frame are non-malleable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mask system according to claim 1, wherein: the mask frame and the cushion are configured to deliver the supply of air to the patient's nose and mouth, the cushion and the mask frame are permanently attached, the mask system further comprises a vent for gas washout, at least a portion of the headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of the mask frame, the headgear connector is removably attachable to the mask frame, and the headgear connector and the mask frame are non-malleable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A respiratory therapy system comprising: the mask system according to claim 1; a flow generator configured to generate a supply of air at a positive pressure in a therapeutic range of 2-30 cm H2O; and an air delivery tube configured to be connected to the elbow assembly to deliver the supply of air from the flow generator to the mask system to provide the supply of air to the patient. ### Claim 12 A mask system for delivering a supply of air generated by a flow generator at a positive pressure in a therapeutic range of 2-30 cm H2O to a patient's airways to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising: a mask frame having a bore and a curved interfacing structure, the curved interfacing structure projecting radially from the bore, the mask frame having no built-in or integral headgear attachment points; a cushion provided to the mask frame and adapted to seal with the patient's face; an elbow assembly adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver the supply of air to the patient's airways; headgear including a pair of upper side straps configured to extend above the patient's ears in use, a pair of lower side straps configured to extend below the patient's ears in use, a rear portion configured to cup the occiput of the patient's head in use, and a pair of lower headgear clips adapted to receive respective ones of the pair of lower side straps; and a headgear connector having a headgear connector opening, the headgear connector opening being circular, the headgear connector being adapted to engage the curved interfacing structure of the mask frame to removably connect the headgear connector to the mask frame, the bore and the headgear connector opening being concentrically disposed about a common axis when the headgear connector and the mask frame are connected, wherein the headgear connector and the mask frame are non-malleable, wherein the headgear connector and the mask frame are detachably connected together by translating the mask frame and the headgear connector towards one another along the common axis until a snap-fit connection is established between the headgear connector opening of the headgear connector and the curved interfacing structure of the mask frame, wherein the headgear connector includes a pair of lower headgear clip receptacles adapted to be engaged with respective ones of the pair of lower headgear clips to attach respective ones of the pair of lower side straps, wherein the mask frame and the headgear connector are constructed to resist movement between the mask frame and the headgear connector when the mask frame and the headgear connector are attached, and wherein the headgear connector includes a pair of upper openings adapted to attach to respective ones of the pair of upper side straps. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein the headgear connector includes a fixed forehead support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein the headgear connector does not include a forehead support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein the mask frame and the cushion are configured to deliver the supply of air to the patient's nose and mouth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein the cushion and the mask frame are permanently attached. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein the mask system further comprises a vent for gas washout. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of the mask frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein the headgear connector is removably attachable to the mask frame. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The mask system according to claim 12, wherein: the mask frame and the cushion are configured to deliver the supply of air to the patient's nose and mouth, the cushion and the mask frame are permanently attached, the mask system further comprises a vent for gas washout, at least a portion of the headgear connector is shaped to conform to a portion of the mask frame, the headgear connector is removably attachable to the mask frame. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) A respiratory therapy system comprising: the mask system according to claim 12; a flow generator configured to generate a supply of air at a positive pressure in a therapeutic range; and an air delivery tube connected to the elbow assembly to deliver the supply of air from the flow generator to the mask system to provide the supply of air to the patient. ### Claim 22 A mask system for delivering a supply of air generated by a flow generator at a positive pressure in a therapeutic range of 2-30 cm H2O to a patient's airways to treat sleep disordered breathing, the mask system comprising: a mask frame having a bore and a curved interfacing structure, the curved interfacing structure projecting radially from the bore, the mask frame having no built-in or integral headgear attachment points; a cushion provided to the mask frame and adapted to seal with the patient's face; an elbow assembly adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube to deliver the supply of air to the patient's airways; a vent for gas washout; a headgear connector having a headgear connector opening, the headgear connector opening being circular, the headgear connector being adapted to engage the curved interfacing structure of the mask frame to removably connect the headgear connector to the mask frame, the bore and the headgear connector opening being concentrically disposed about a common axis when the headgear connector and the mask frame are connected; and headgear configured to be attached to the headgear connector to hold the cushion in a sealing position on the patient's face in use, wherein the headgear connector and the mask frame are non-malleable, wherein the headgear connector and the mask frame are detachably connected together by translating the mask frame and the headgear connector towards one another along the common axis until a snap-fit connection is established between the headgear connector opening of the headgear connector and the curved interfacing structure of the mask frame, and wherein the mask frame and the headgear connector are constructed to resist movement between the mask frame and the headgear connector when the mask frame and the headgear connector are attached. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The mask system according to claim 22, wherein the headgear connector includes a fixed forehead support. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The mask system according to claim 22, wherein the headgear connector does not include a forehead support. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The mask system according to claim 22, wherein: the headgear includes a pair of upper side straps configured to extend above the patients ears in use, a pair of lower side straps configured to extend below the patients ears in use, a rear portion configured to cup the occiput of the patients head in use, and a pair of lower headgear clips adapted to receive respective ones of the pair of lower side straps, the headgear connector includes a pair of lower headgear clip receptacles adapted to be engaged with respective ones of the pair of lower headgear clips to attach respective ones of the pair of lower side straps, the headgear connector includes a pair of upper openings adapted to attach to respective ones of the pair of upper side straps, the mask frame and the cushion are configured to deliver the supply of air to the patient's nose and mouth, the cushion and the mask frame are permanently attached, and the headgear connector is removably attachable to the mask frame. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) A respiratory therapy system comprising: the mask system according to claim 22; a flow generator configured to generate a supply of air at a positive pressure in a therapeutic range; and an air delivery tube connected to the elbow assembly to deliver the supply of air from the flow generator to the mask system to provide the supply of air to the patient.