Connector for a respiratory mask and a respiratory mask

A respiratory mask comprising:

• a mask shell defining an interior of the respiratory mask;
• a mask inlet for connecting in fluid communication with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit;
• and
• a gas washout vent passage having an inlet forming part of the mask shell and in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere, the outlet including exterior surface that forms a smooth prolongation with an adjacent exterior surface of the mask shell, the vent outlet is disposed on the side of the mask remote the mask interior and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet,
• wherein the mask shell includes a body portion and a cap portion, the body portion including the exterior surface, and the cap portion including an interior surface spaced apart from the exterior surface, the body portion exterior surface and the cap portion interior surface including a gas washout vent passage therebetween.

A mask comprising:

• a mask shell defining an interior;
• a connector provided to the shell, the connector including a mask end and a supply conduit end that are substantially perpendicular to one another;
• a gas washout vent passage associated with the connector;
• and
• a separate cap portion covering at least a portion of the connector and including at least a portion of the vent passage,
• the cap portion including an inlet portion in fluid communication with the interior and having a first cross-sectional area and an outlet portion in fluid communication with atmosphere and having a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, wherein the cap portion includes a transition portion of smoothly reducing cross-section extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion.