Headgear for a respiratory mask and a method for donning a respiratory mask

Headgear for supporting a respiratory mask on a patient's face while breathable gas is delivered to the patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the headgear comprising:

• at least one rigidizer, the at least one rigidizer being configured to extend over the patient's cheek and between the patient's eye and ear when the respiratory mask is worn;
• and
• a cover comprising a fabric material, the at least one rigidizer being disposed within an interior portion of the cover, the rigidizer having increased rigidity as compared to the fabric material,
• wherein the at least one rigidizer is positioned between a face contacting side and a non-face contacting side of the cover,
• wherein, in a transverse cross-sectional view of the headgear, the cover extends laterally beyond the rigidizer to form lateral edge portions of the headgear,
• wherein the face contacting side of the cover has 1) a first outer surface arranged to contact the patient's skin when the respiratory mask is worn during treatment of sleep disordered breathing and 2) a second inner surface opposite the first outer surface,
• wherein the non-face contacting side of the cover has a first inner surface that engages a surface of the rigidizer, and
• wherein, in the lateral edge portions, the second inner surface of the face-contacting side of the cover is directly adhered to the first inner surface of the non-face contacting side of the cover, and
• wherein the cover is secured in place on the rigidizer, and the cover is not configured to be slidably installed or slidably removed from the rigidizer.