# US 10,946,157 B2 · Elastic headgear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,946,157 B2 - Document ID: US10946157B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/972,398 - Filed: 2018-05-07 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-27 - Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd - Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd - Inventors: Kirrily Michele Haskard; Anthony Paul Barbara; Alicia Kristianne Wells - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946157B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)} - 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)} ## Abstract Headgear, comprising at least one strap; and at least one rigidizer, the headgear being arranged to position one of the at least one strap and one of the at least one rigidizer, with regard to one another such that the rigidizer imparts a desired shape to at least a portion of the strap while allowing said portion of the strap to move relative to the rigidizer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A patient interface system for providing pressurized breathable gas to a patient's airways to treat sleep disordered breathing, the patient interface system comprising: a mask comprising: a cushion; and a mask frame; headgear connected to the mask frame to retain the mask on the patient's face during treatment, the headgear comprising: a first rigidizer and a second rigidizer, the first rigidizer and the second rigidizer each having a curvature that substantially conforms to a corresponding portion of the patient's face in use; and a strap having a first free end, a second free end, a back portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion being joined to the back portion opposite one another, the strap being constructed from an elastic material, wherein the first free end engages the first rigidizer to connect the first side portion to the first rigidizer such that the first rigidizer substantially imparts its curvature upon the first side portion of the strap and the second free end engages the second rigidizer to connect the second side portion to the second rigidizer such that the second rigidizer substantially imparts its curvature upon the second side portion of the strap, and wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are stretchable relative to the first rigidizer and the second rigidizer, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the cushion is a nasal cushion, a full-face cushion, or nasal prongs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the first rigidizer and the second rigidizer do not affect the stretchable length of the strap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the elastic material comprises elastane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the strap is constructed from a textile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The patient interface system of claim 5, wherein the textile is woven. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are woven, knitted, braided, molded, or extruded. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are tubular. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The patient interface system of claim 8, wherein the first side portion has a first opening proximate the first free end of the strap and the second side portion has a second opening proximate the second free end of the strap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The patient interface system of claim 9, wherein the first rigidizer extends into the first side portion through the first opening and the second rigidizer extends into the second side portion through the second opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the first rigidizer has a first rigidizer free end opposite the mask, the first side portion being freely movable relative to the first rigidizer free end, and the second rigidizer has a second rigidizer free end opposite the mask, the second side portion being freely movable relative to the second rigidizer free end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the back portion is bifurcated to form a first back strap portion and a second back strap portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The patient interface system of claim 12, wherein a distance between the first back strap portion and the second back strap portion is adjustable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein each of the first rigidizer and the second rigidizer has a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension, the length dimension and the width dimension being greater than the thickness dimension. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein further comprising a tube having a first end connected to the mask frame and a second end configured to be connected to a source of the pressurized breathable gas. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the strap is length-adjustable only by stretching. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the strap further comprises a pocket proximate to each of the first free end and the second free end that engages a corresponding of the first rigidizer and the second rigidizer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, further comprising a sliding mechanism to allow the strap to be overlapped to a different extent to change an overall length of the headgear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein the back portion is tubular. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The patient interface system of claim 1, wherein: the elastic material further comprises a textile, the first side portion and the second side portion are tubular, the first side portion has a first opening proximate the first free end of the strap and the second side portion has a second opening proximate the second free end of the strap, the first rigidizer extends into the first side portion through the first opening and the second rigidizer extends into the second side portion through the second opening, the first rigidizer has a first free rigidizer end opposite the mask, the first side portion being freely movable relative to first free rigidizer end, and the second rigidizer has a second free rigidizer end opposite the mask, the second side portion being freely movable relative to second free rigidizer end, the back portion is bifurcated to form a first back strap portion and a second back strap portion, a distance between the first back strap portion and the second back strap portion is adjustable, and the strap further comprises a pocket proximate to each of the first free end and the second free end that engages a corresponding of the first rigidizer and the second rigidizer.