Safety stowage apparatus for crew oxygen masks

A stowage box for a crew oxygen mask, the mask presenting a hollow mask body having a face-engaging periphery and adapted to receive at least the nose and mouth of a wearer, the hollow mask body having an external switch member shiftable between a switch-on and switch-off position, said stowage box comprising:

• structure defining a mask-receiving enclosure and including opposed, spaced apart front and rear walls, spaced apart sidewalls interconnecting the front and rear walls and an apertured top cover adapted to permit at least a portion of the hollow mask body to protrude therethrough when the mask is received within said enclosure for ready access by said wearer;
• and
• means for preventing stowage of the mask in said enclosure when the mask's switch member is in one of the switch-on or switch-off positions while permitting such stowage when the switch member is in the other of the switch on or switch off positions, said stowage-preventing means comprising inwardly extending, first and second abutment elements operatively coupled to said front and rear walls respectively,
• one of said first and second elements being configured for engaging the mask's switch member adjacent said body,
• the other of said first and second elements being configured for engaging the mask's periphery.

A stowage box for a crew oxygen mask, the mask presenting a hollow mask body having a face-engaging periphery and adapted to receive at least the nose and mouth of a wearer, the hollow mask body having an external switch member shifiable between a switch-on and switch-off position, said stowage box comprising:

• a mask-receiving enclosure and including opposed, spaced apart front and rear walls, spaced apart sidewalls interconnecting the front and rear walls and an apertured top cover adapted to permit at least a portion of the hollow mask body to protrude therethrough when the mask is stowed therein for ready access by said wearer;
• and
• first and second inwardly extending abutment elements operatively coupled to said front and rear walls respectively,
• one of said first and second elements being configured for engaging the mask's switch member adjacent the mask's hollow body,
• the other of said first and second elements being configured for engaging the mask's periphery,
• said abutment elements configured for cooperatively preventing stowage of the mask in said enclosure when the mask's switch member is in one of the switch-on or switch-off positions while permitting such stowage when the switch member is in the other of the switch on or switch off positions.