Vent and/or Diverter Assembly for Use in Breathing Apparatus

A vent assembly for a respiratory mask, comprising:

• a main vent portion formed in a mask shell and configured to permit gas to flow via a primary flow path through the mask shell to the environment when the respiratory mask is in use during a first predetermined condition of the vent assembly;
• a flap portion including a porous section and a flap insert wherein the flap portion is configured to substantially seal against the main vent portion to provide the primary flow path through the main vent portion and the porous section of the flap portion during the first predetermined condition of the vent assembly;
• wherein
• the flap portion is further configured to develop a gap between the mask shell and the flap portion when a predetermined second condition of the vent assembly and flow pressure causes a predetermined deflection of the flap to provide a secondary flow path from the mask shell around the flap portion to the environment.

A vent assembly for a respiratory mask comprising:

• a main vent portion configured to permit gas to flow via a primary flow path through a mask shell to the environment when the respiratory mask is in use during a first predetermined condition of the vent assembly;
• and
• a secondary vent portion configured to provide a secondary flow path during a predetermined second condition of the vent assembly and flow pressure,
• wherein the predetermined second condition occurs when the main vent portion is blocked by a predetermined amount of debris.

A method for manufacturing a vent assembly provided on a respiratory mask, said method comprising:

• providing the vent assembly with a main vent portion and a secondary vent portion;
• structuring the main vent portion so as to enable gas to be vented through a porous member of the main vent portion during normal operation of the vent assembly;
• and
• structuring the secondary vent portion so as to enable gas to be vented through the secondary vent portion in dependence on whether a predetermined amount of debris has accumulated on the porous member of the main vent portion.