Manufactured to shape headgear and masks
AssigneeResMed Pty Ltd
InventorsJessica Lea Dunn, Justin John Formica, Anthony Paul Barbara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A headgear or headgear segments are manufactured to shape thereby producing little or no waste material. Such headgear or headgear segments (components) may comprise a unitary, substantially seamless structure. Techniques such as knitting, braiding, crocheting, and 3D printing may be used to produce the headgear. As a result, the manufacturing process may have reduced steps, the amount of material waste may be reduced, and there are virtually no seams in the headgear between adjoining sections, thereby resulting in headgear with enhanced comfort.
Claims22
A mask system for treating a patient for sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
- a mask adapted to seal against a patient's face thereby forming a breathing cavity to deliver pressurized air to the patient's airways for positive pressure treatment;
- and
- a headgear assembly to support the mask in position on the patient's face during treatment, the headgear assembly including:
- a pair of lower strap portions, each lower strap portion comprising:
- a tubular knit textile having a pocket or tunnel formed therein, each lower strap portion having an inner patient-contacting side and an outer non-patient contacting side, the lower strap portions being configured to, in use, extend respectively along a side of the patient's face between the patient's eye and ear;
- and
- a rigidizing material disposed in the pocket or tunnel of the tubular knit textile to rigidize the headgear assembly, the rigidizing material having increased rigidity as compared to the tubular knit textile and an entirety of the rigidizing material being plastic, the rigidizing material having a first surface oriented to face towards the patient's skin, in use, and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- a top strap portion connected to and extending between the pair of lower strap portions, the top strap portion being configured to, in use, extend over a top of the patient's head in use;
- and
- a rear strap portion connected to and extending between the pair of lower strap portions, the rear strap portion being configured to, in use, extend around a rear portion of the patient's head,
- wherein the inner patient-contacting side of each lower strap portion has an inner textile material with 1) an inner surface engaged with the first surface of the rigidizing material, and 2) an outer surface on an opposite side of the inner textile material than the inner surface and arranged to directly contact the patient's skin during use, and
- wherein the outer non-patient contacting side of each lower strap portion has an outer textile material with 1) an inner surface engaged with the second surface of the rigidizing material, and 2) an outer surface on an opposite side of the outer textile material than the inner surface and oriented away from the patient's skin during use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.