Abstract: A device for delivering a supply of gases to a user comprising: a patient interface, in use in fluid communication with the supply of gases, a forehead support adapted to pivot about the interface and in use rest on the forehead of a user. The pivot angle restricted in use by positioning or adjustment of a pivot stop on the support or interface. In one embodiment of the patient interface; a mask seals against the face of the user and deliver the gases to the nasal cavity and/or oral cavity and/or throat of said user without substantial pressure on the users face.

Abstract: A nasal mask is disclosed which is more comfortable for the user to wear and reduces side leakage as compared to masks of the prior art. In a first form headgear for securing a mask to the user's face is disclosed where a section of at least one strap securing a mask to a user's face is substantially more elastic then the remainder of the strap. Headgear of this type allows the user to tilt the head backwards without lateral movement of the mask. In a further aspect, headgear tensioners are disclosed which provides a preset fitting of the mask and ensures that a user cannot over tighten the straps. The tensioners are recalling tension devices attached to the straps and/or mask on either side of the mask. In another form the headgear tensioner is a strap attachment on either side of the mask that allows the straps to move back through the attachment to a predetermined position that provides an appropriate tension between the back of the user's head and mask.

Abstract: An improved crew oxygen mask and stowage assembly combination (10) is provided including a stowage box (12) equipped with a door (22), with a crew mask assembly (14) made up of a mask (48), gas-conveying tubing (50) and valve unit (46). The box (12) also includes a valve-controlling switch lever (44) for selective gas-on or gas-off operation of valve unit (46). In normal conditions, the mask (48) and tubing (50) are stowed within box (12) with lever (44) oriented in the gas-on position, so that the tubing (50) is pressurized and mask (48) may be quickly pulled from the box (12) and used. After such use, the switch lever (44) is shifted to the gas-off position, causing the tubing (50) to be depressurized; this allows easy restowage of the tubing (50) and mask (48) within the box (12). However, when door (22) is closed, the switch lever (44) is cammed back to the gas-on position, thereby repressurizing tubing (50) and returning the combination (10) to a full-ready condition.

Abstract: A forehead support (10) for a respiratory mask (14). The forehead support (10) includes a pair of arms (22). The arms (22) are each adapted to locate a forehead cushion (30). The arms (22) are also adapted to pivot relative to each other. The arms (22) are also selectively lockable at two or more angular positions relative to each other. The forehead support (10) can thus be adjusted to suit the facial topography of the wearer of the respiratory mask (14).

Abstract: A respiratory mask is provided according to the invention. The respiratory mask includes a respiratory interface adapted to input and output a gas to a respiratory system of a person, a hat having a substantially semi-hemispheric portion adapted to fit over a head of the person and a brim extending outwardly from at least a front portion of the semi-hemispheric portion, and a hose having a proximal end connected to the respiratory interface and passing through the brim and attached to the semi-hemispheric portion, wherein the brim positions and retains the hose, with a distal end of the hose capable of being connected to a gas supply.

Abstract: A box for storage of passenger oxygen masks in an aircraft has a housing which contains a network for distributing oxygen from a general pipe or from a chemical generator and a door arranged to be beneath the box when it is in position in an aircraft. An inside face of the door or of the housing carries cradles defining a retaining position for each of the oxygen masks and latches that are displaceable responsive to closing the door from a position in which they define mask-retaining sockets to a position in which the latches release the masks.

Abstract: An improved crew oxygen mask and stowage assembly combination (10) is provided including a stowage box (12) equipped with a door (22), with a crew mask assembly (14) made up of a mask (48), gas-conveying tubing (50) and valve unit (46). The box (12) also includes a valve-controlling switch lever (44) for selective gas-on or gas-off operation of valve unit (46). In normal conditions, the mask (48) and tubing (50) are stowed within box (12) with lever (44) oriented in the gas-on position, so that the tubing (50) is pressurized and mask (48) may be quickly pulled from the box (12) and used. After such use, the switch lever (44) is shifted to the gas-off position, causing the tubing (50) to be depressurized; this allows easy restowage of the tubing (50) and mask (48) within the box (12). However, when door (22) is closed, the switch lever (44) is cammed back to the gas-on position, thereby repressurizing tubing (50) and returning the combination (10) to a fall-ready condition.

Abstract: A harness assembly (40) for a nasal mask (42) for communicating breathable gas to a patient's airways, for example in the administering CPAP or like breathable gas delivery treatments. The harness assembly (40) includes a cap portion (44) adapted to engage, in use, the occipital region of the skull (43). In one form, the cap portion (44) includes a D-shaped coupling (48) at each end and the harness assembly (40) includes a pair of upper (52) and lower (54) straps, each of the straps (52, 54) extending between one of the D-shaped couplings (48) and the nasal mask (42). The harness assembly (40) grips the head (43) in a region substantially fixed relative to the face and, as such, tension of the straps (52, 54) is not substantially affected by head movement. Couplings of other shapes are also discussed.

Abstract: A ring binder includes a substantially rigid curved upper plate supporting a pair of hinged leaves. A plurality of ring members are secured to the hinged leaves for engaging corresponding holes in sheets of material retained by the ring binder. An actuating lever is located at each end of the curved upper plate for actuating the hinged leaves to open and close the ring members. Each actuating lever includes a tab having a cushion member formed thereon, for example by molding. The tab has an aperture therein, and cushion material enters the aperture during molding to secure the cushion member onto the tab. The cushion member is engaged by the fingers of a user to pivot the actuating lever in order to move the ring members between the open position and the closed position. The cushion member is a soft pad of material such as plastic. The cushion member provides improved tactile characteristics to the actuating lever, making the actuating lever comfortable to use.

Abstract: HEAD PROTECTION EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE DONNED QUICKLY The breathing protection equipment comprises a breathing mask provided with a regulator for connection to a source of breathing gas under pressure, and a harness having at least one extensible strap whose ends are connected to the mask and which comprises an element that can be inflated temporarily by the gas under pressure in order to lengthen the strap until it is of a size that is sufficient to enable the user to put the harness over the head, and that can be exhausted to enable the strap to press the mask against the face. A flexible cover covering the head is fixed in leaktight manner to the single strap or to the top strap of the harness, and it is also fixed to the mask; it is transparent, at least in a portion facing the eyes when the equipment is being worn.

Abstract: Protective breathing equipment comprises a breathing mask provided with a regulator for connection to a source of pressurized breathing gas and a harness having at least one extensible strap whose ends are connected to the mask and which includes an element that is temporarily inflatable by the pressurized gas to lengthen the strap until it is large enough to enable the user to engage the harness on the head, and exhaustible to allow the strap to press to press the mask against the face. The extensible strap is connected to the face-piece by at least one mechanical member of length that is adjustable by the user while wearing the equipment.

Abstract: An improved face mask that is retained by a carriage and harness assembly, thereby allowing the face mask to drop down from the face of the wearer.

Abstract: A lightweight oxygen delivery system for a patient comprising a curved resilient headband to extend from side to side over a patient's head and to be comfortably seatably engaged thereon. A clip is secured towards one end of the headband. An elongated tubular boom is secured at one end to the clip to extend and hold its position, when in operation from said one end at the clip to another end located at a space in front of, and proximal to the patient's nose and mouth. An oxygen diffuser port is located at the other end of the boom, to deliver oxygen from the boom to the space in the vicinity of the patient's nose and mouth. The clip is constructed so as to hold securely an oxygen delivery tube from an oxygen source in fluid communication with said one end of the boom so as to deliver oxygen from the source to the boom for discharge through the diffuser.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nasal breathing mask having a mask part (1) and a mask-holding part (2), which at the top end is connected to an elongate tube (3) which in turn is connected to a hose connection for a breathing hose and on which a forehead plate (10), connected to a forehead-plate mount (11), is axially adjustable, a region (9) which is more flexible than the rest of the tube (3) being designed and arranged along the path of the tube (3) in such a way that the mask part can be moved toward the user with respect to the forehead-plate mount (11), in order to allow adjustment as a function of the patient's anatomy.

Abstract: An oxygen mask for use on an infant is provided. The oxygen mask includes a face mask and a strap assembly connected to the face mask and extendable around the head of the infant for holding the face mask snugly against the infant's face. The strap assembly includes an upper rear strap, a lower rear strap, and a plurality of forward straps. The upper rear strap and the lower rear strap are joined so that the upper and lower rear straps form a loop. A first pair of the forward straps extend from the loop at a first juncture and each strap is adjustably connected to the face mask in a spaced apart relation. Similarly, a second pair of forward straps extend from an opposing side of the loop at a second juncture and are adjustably connected to the face mask in a spaced apart relation.

Abstract: An improved face mask that is retained by a carriage and harness assembly, thereby allowing the face mask to drop down from the face of the wearer.

Abstract: A breathing mask for delivering oxygen to a patient. The breathing mask has a headset for seating about the cranial region of the head of the patient, with a hollow gas delivery arm coupled to the headset. The mask also has a nosepiece that is coupled only to the hollow gas delivery arm and that delivers oxygen to the nostrils of the patient. Finally; the mask has a source of oxygen for coupling oxygen to the hollow gas delivery arm.

Abstract: A mask is provided for administering medication, particularly asthmatic medication, to equine animals, particularly horses. The mask has a body that fits over the nostrils of the horse. An aerosolization chamber is secured to the body and opens into the interior thereof, and is supplied with misted medications such as from a metered dose inhaler, for inhalation by the animal. The mask and body is also provided with one or more exhalation ports, and a strap or band or the like for securing the body to the animals face overlying the nostrils.

Abstract: A connector arrangement joining a respirator mask and headgear is adapted for single-handed disengagement by the patient, A first, rigid connector part 470 is formed into the rigid mask frame 400, with a mating second connector 600 attached to a strap of the headgear. The connectors are held away from the patient's face by the connection to the mask frame.

Abstract: A nasal cushion (30) comprises a substantially triangularly shaped frame (32) from which extends a membrane (34). The frame (32) has a scalloped edge (36) by which the cushion (30) is affixed to a mask body. The membrane (34) has an aperture (38) into which the wearer's nose is received. The membrane (34) is spaced away from the rim (40) of the frame (32), and its outer surface (41) is of substantially the same shape as the rim (40). Respective notches (42,44) receive the bridge of the wearer's nose. The wearer's nose is received through the aperture (38) into the chamber within the mask body (46). The seal forming portion (45) thus contacts both the surface of the wearer's nose and a portion of the wearer's face in the region between the base of the nose and the upper lip, and around the sides and over the bridge of the nose.

Abstract: A mask system for delivering air to a user includes a suspension mechanism to allow relative movement between a face-contacting cushion and a mask shell. The suspension mechanism also provides a predetermined force to the cushion that is a function of mask pressure, displacement of the cushion or both.

Abstract: A box for storage of passenger oxygen masks in an aircraft has a housing which contains a network for distributing oxygen from a general pipe or from a chemical generator and a door arranged to be beneath the box when it is in position in an aircraft. An inside face of the door or of the housing carries cradles defining a retaining position for each of the oxygen masks and latches that are displaceable responsive to closing the door from a position in which they define mask-retaining sockets to a position in which the latches release the masks.

Abstract: A quick release mechanism and headpiece for use with a respirator. The quick release mechanism uses an over center latch pivotly attached to a yoke to control the tension in a pair of upper tension cords. In the latched position the upper tension cords traverse the yoke and together with a pair of lower tension cords support and seal the respirator mask against the face of the wearer. In the unlatched position the upper tension cords loosely support the mask below the chin of the wearer in a parked position. The upper and lower tension cords are attached to a circular shaped headpiece having a crown piece fitting to the top of the head of the wearer and a base portion fitting to the back of the head of the wearer. The headpiece is advantageously comprised of multiple layers wherein the outer layer is comprised of a rigid material and the inner layer is comprised of a compliant material.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight latch (38) especially adapted for use with an emergency deployment oxygen mask container (20) is provided which is made up of a minimum of parts and which can be delatched in multiple ways. The latch (38) includes a latch assembly (40) designed to be mounted in the oxygen mask container box (22) and a cooperating latch pin (44) secured to a cover (24). The assembly (40) has a primary latch body (46) supporting a diaphragm (48), latch member (50) and shiftable piston (52); the latch member (50) includes a plurality of laterally displaceable, hook-shaped locking legs (86) configured to interfit with latch pin (44). The piston (52) is shiftable in opposite axial directions within latch member (52), and cooperating surfaces on the member (50) and piston (52) serve to positively displace the latching legs (86) in response to piston movement. During pneumatic operation, the piston (52) is shifted within latch member (50) under the influence of diaphragm (48).

Abstract: A lightweight oxygen delivery system for a patient comprising a curved resilient headband to extend from side to side over a patient's head and to be comfortably seatably engaged thereon. A clip is secured towards one end of the headband. An elongated tubular boom is secured at one end to the clip to extend and hold its position, when in operation from said one end at the clip to another end located at a space in front of, and proximal to the patient's nose and mouth. An oxygen diffuser port is located at the other end of the boom, to deliver oxygen from the boom to the space in the vicinity of the patient's nose and mouth. The clip is constructed so as to hold securely an oxygen delivery tube from an oxygen source in fluid communication with said one end of the boom so as to deliver oxygen from the source to the boom for discharge through the diffuser.