# US 9,517,319 B2 · Wearing tool for breathing mask, and breathing mask > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,319 B2 - Document ID: US9517319B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/130,709 - Filed: 2009-11-26 - Published: 2011-10-13 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-27 - Assignees: Teijin Pharma Limited - Applicants: Keiko Omura; Shinya Fujimoto; Akito Nishijima - Inventors: Keiko Omura; Shinya Fujimoto; Akito Nishijima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517319B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0683: {Holding devices therefor} - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0622: {having an underlying cushion} - A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)} - A61M 16/0808: {Condensation traps} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 2205/3633: thermally insulated - A61M 2209/088: on the body - A61M 2210/0618: Nose - A61M 2210/0662: Ears - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract For reducing a discomfort feeling brought by wearing a breathing mask, a wearing tool for the breathing mask which covers nostrils of a user and supplies gas for breathing to the nostrils comprises a pair of connecting members each of which has a longitudinal shape and has a first end portion which is connected to the breathing mask, and a pair of fixing members each of which is connected to a second end portion of the fixing member and is plugged in the tragus of the user. Hence a discomfort feeling due to restraining around the head of the user can be reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wearing tool for a breathing mask which covers nostrils of a user and supplies gas for breathing to the nostrils comprising: a pair of connecting members each of which has a longitudinal shape, and has a first end portion which is connected to the breathing mask; and a pair of fixing members each of which is connected to a second end portion of each of the pair of connecting members respectively, and is configured with a plate piece extending in a longitudinal direction that is anteroposterior direction of the user, wherein the plate piece has a first latching portion having a curved surface adapted to latch in a first dimple inside a tragus of the user, and has a second latching portion having a curved surface adapted to latch in a second dimple inside an antitragus of the user, the second latching portion is in a position substantially opposing the first latching portion in the longitudinal direction of the plate piece, the first latching portion has a shape curving towards entrance of an ear canal, and the second latching portion has a shape curving in the opposite direction of the first latching portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fixing members is connected to each of the pair of connecting members respectively at a position center line in width direction of the connecting member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fixing members comprises a hole or a cutout in a position corresponding to an ear canal of the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fixing members further comprises an inserting portion which is adapted to insert in the ear canal of the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wearing tool according to claim 4, wherein the inserting portion is deformable according to the ear canal of the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The wearing tool according to claim 4, wherein the inserting portion of each of the pair of fixing members has a prescribed angle relative to a center of each of the respective pair of fixing members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The wearing tool according to claim 4, wherein the center of the inserting portion of each of the pair of fixing members is in a deviated position from a center of each of the respective pair of fixing members. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fixing members further has a third latching portion which is adapted to latch in a third dimple inside an incisura intertragica of the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wearing tool according to claim 8, wherein each of the pair of fixing members has, on the third latching portion, a surface which curves along the shape of the third dimple. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fixing members has a portion which has elasticity between the first latching portion and the second latching portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member has an elastic material in the second latching portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fixing members has a portion which is connected to the second end portion of each of the pair of connecting members respectively, and which can tilt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of connecting members is connected, on the second end portion, with a latching member which is adapted to latch around an ear of the user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wearing tool according to claim 13, wherein the latching member has a first portion which has a diameter different from a diameter of a second portion other than the first portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wearing tool according to claim 14, wherein the first portion is a portion which is close to a tip end of the latching member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of connecting members further comprises a supporting member which extends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member, and which has a greater rigidity than that of the connecting member, and the supporting member has a first width on a first region close to the first end portion, and a second width, which is narrower than the first width, on a second region other than the first region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The wearing tool according to claim 1, wherein the first latching portion has a diameter larger than the second latching portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A breathing mask comprising the wearing tool according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 A wearing tool for a breathing mask which supplies a user with gas for breathing comprising: a pair of connecting members each of which has a longitudinal shape and has a first end portion which is connected to the breathing mask; and a pair of frame portions, each of which is connected to a second end portion of each of the pair of connecting members; wherein each of the pair of frame portions comprises: a first portion having a first end connected to the second end portion of one of the pair of connecting members and adapted to be placed around the outer circumference of the ear flap of the user, and the first portion being not pressed between the ear flap and a head of the user when the user lies on the side, the entire first portion having an inner radius larger than the entire outer circumference of the ear flap; and a biasing portion which is connected to a second end of the first portion and is adapted to bias the base of the ear of the user in a forward direction of the user, and a diameter of the biasing portion being configured to be smaller than a diameter of a part of the first portion, the part of the first portion being positioned along the biasing portion; wherein each of the pair of connecting members has a strap and a supporting member, wherein said supporting member comprises a first plate-shape member which is fixed at the breathing mask, and a second plate shape member which is fixed at the strap, wherein the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member are configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis which is provided at a position on an extended line of the second region of the supporting member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The wearing tool according to claim 19, wherein each of the pair of frame portions curves in substantially U-shape. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The wearing tool according to claim 19, wherein a tip end of the biasing portion is apart from the first portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The wearing tool according to claim 19, further comprising a pair of fixing members each of which is connected to the second end portion of each of the pair of connecting members, and is adapted to plug in a tragus of the user. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The wearing tool according to claim 19, wherein the first portion circumvents the environs of the ear flap of the user. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) A breathing mask comprising the wearing tool according to claim 19. ### Claim 25 A wearing tool for a breathing mask which covers nostrils of a user and supplies pressurized gas for breathing to the nostrils comprising: a pair of connecting members each of which has a longitudinal shape and has a first end portion, which is connected to the breathing mask, and a second end portion at the opposite end of the first end portion, which is connected to each of a pair of fixing portions, and which is adapted to fix the breathing mask at the environs of the nostrils of the user and is adapted to pass on a cheek of the user; wherein each of the pair of connecting members has a strap having a longitudinal shape and being located between the first end portion and the second end portion and a supporting member provided on the strap, extending in the longitudinal direction of the strap, and having greater rigidity than that of the strap, the supporting member of said each of the pair of connecting members has a first region having a first width and being located to the first end portion and a second region extending from the first region toward the second end portion and having a second width, which is narrower than the first width, and the strap of said each of the pair of connecting members is adapted to pass on cheekbones of the user at a position parallel to the second region and the second region of the supporting member is adapted to pass below the cheekbones and be prevented from passing on the cheekbones; wherein said supporting member comprises a first plate-shape member which is fixed at the breathing mask, and a second plate shape member which is fixed at the strap, wherein the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member are configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis which is provided at a position on an extended line of the second region of the supporting member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The wearing tool according to claim 25, further comprising the pair of fixing members each of which is connected to the second end portion of each of the pair of connecting members and is adapted to plug in a dimple inside a tragus of the user, wherein the length of each of the pair of connecting members can be adjusted by the second end portion of the connecting member folding back and latching at the center portion of the connecting member, and said each of the supporting members is provided in a position of each of the pair of connecting members which does not overlap with the second end portion which folds back. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The wearing tool according to claim 25, further comprising a fixing element provided on the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member, which fixes a position of the rotation of the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member. ### Claim 28 A breathing apparatus comprising: a breathing mask having a third width and adapted to cover nostrils and peripheral area of the nostrils of a user and supply gas for breathing to the nostrils; and a wearing tool connected to the breathing mask, wherein the wearing tool comprises: a pair of connecting members each of which has a longitudinal shape and has a first end portion which is connected to the breathing mask, and a second end portion at the opposite end of the first end portion; wherein each of the connecting members has a strap having a longitudinal shape and being located between the first end portion and the second end portion and a supporting member provided on the strap, extending in the longitudinal direction of the strap, and having greater rigidity than that of the strap, the supporting member further comprises a first plate-shape member which is fixed at the breathing mask and has a first width and a second-plate shape member which is fixed on the strap and has a second width, the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member are rotatably connected with each other at a rotational axis so that the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member are rotatable with respect to each other, and the rotational axis is provided at the bottom end portion of the first plate-shape member and in a direction of the second width of the second plate-shape member, and the position of the bottom end portion in the first width and the second width corresponds to the position of a bottom end portion in the third width of the breathing mask. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The breathing mask according to claim 28, wherein the thickness of the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member is from 0.1 millimeters to 3.0 millimeters. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The breathing mask according to claim 28, further comprising, on the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member, a fixing element which fixes a position of the rotation of the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The breathing mask according to claim 30, wherein the first plate-shape member and the second plate-shape member have substantially fan-like shape having the rotation axis as a pivot, and the fixing element is provided in the region around the arc of the fan-like shape. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The breathing mask according to claim 31, wherein the fixing element comprises: a plurality of holes placed along an arc of either of the first plate-shape member or the second plate-shape member, and a protrusion which is provided on the other of the first plate-shape member or the second plate-shape member, and which can latch at any of the plurality of holes. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The breathing mask according to claim 31, wherein the fixing element comprises: a hole which has a cutout on its rim and is provided in a region around an arc of the fan-like shape of either of the first plate-shape member or the second plate-shape member, and a protrusion which can move within the hole and can latch at the cutout, and which is provided in the other of the first plate-shape member or the second plate-like member. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The breathing mask according to claim 31, wherein the fixing element comprises a gear mechanism which is provided at the rotation axis.