US3416521A - Breathing mask suspension - Google Patents

Description

1963 I H. A. s. HAMLIN I I 3,416,521

BREATHING MASK SUSPENS ION Filed Sept 27, 1965 INVENTOR HUMPHREY ALBERT SAMUEL HAMLIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,416,521 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An oro-nasal mask suspension assembly which can be quickly donned using only a single hand, the assembly including a shell supporting the mask and also supporting folding side-arms which bear a flexible head-engaging loop between them. The side-arms are telescopic and resiliently urged to their shortest length, and also biased from the folded condition to a user wearing position that extends on each side of a users face during use.

This invention relates to oro nasal mask assemblies, and more particularly, although not exclusively, to quickdonning oxygen masks used by aircrew.

Known quick-donning masks are cumbersome and not readily stowable, have the disadvantage of requiring adjustment to fit the wearer, and are not provided with self-erecting side arms.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lightweight, collapsible and self-erecting mask assembly capable of being compactly stowed, readily accessible and quickly donned.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mask assembly that requires substantially no adjustment to fit thewearer.

The invention consists in an oro-nasal mask assembly having self-erecting arms for securing the mask to the head of the wearer.

The invention also consists in an oro-nasal mask assembly including a flexible mask housed in a substantially rigid shell, extensions of the shell supporting self-erecting side arms.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become. apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an oblique view of the assembly.

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-section of a side arm and its meanS. f attachment to the shell.

A glass fibre shell 1 includes an oro-nasal portion 2 which supports a flexible mask 3 secured in a leakproof manner at inlet 4. Shell 1 develops as a laterally extending hollow web 5 which provides housings for an airmix valve 6, expiratory valve 7 and oxygen supply demand regulator 8 (not shown) and duct means communicating with the interior of the mask 3 by way of inlet 4.

Web 5 carries a pair of extensible self-erecting side members 9 pivotally attached by studs 10. The studs 10 project from first part 11 of the side members 9, and are inserted in blind holes 12 and retained by pins or a staple 13, engaging a groove 14 of stud 10. The arms 9 are each flexibly jointed by means of a pair of tension springs 15. Half of each spring is inserted in a blind hole in the first part 11 and the remainder inserted in a second part 16 of the side member 9. The ends of the springs are securely anchored in the first and second parts 11 and 16 respectively, the side members 9 'being flexibly constrained to remain erected. Each side member 9 is of rectangular, single stage telescopic construction, having a slider-arm 17 urged to remain retracted when in the free state, by means of a clock-type spring 18. The spring 18 is anchored in a housing 19 on the inner face of the side member 9 adjacent the second part 16. End 20 of the slider arms 17 is bent around on its inner face and provides a pivotal attachment 21, comprising a tubular clip and integral stud 22 and nut 23. Attachment 21 provides support at each side of the wearers head for a flexible loop 24 which may also be extensible for the comfort of the wearer in that because of the elasticity thereof the loop 24 may be stretched to fit any head size.

In operation of the invention, the mask assembly is collapsed by folding the side members 9 across the back of the mask 3, using the tension springs 15 as hinges. This also collapses flexible loop 24 and produces a compact arrangement for stowage in a position, say, over the wearers head. To don the mask assembly, the user grasps the rigid shell 1 and pulls the assembly from the stowage. Side members 9 erect themselves under the influence of tension springs 15, and flexible loop 24 returns to its free state. The user carries the shell portion forward over the head whilst allowing flexible loop 24 to train and engage the back of the head; continuing forward movement of the shell portion causes slider arms 17 to extend against the influence of the clock-type springs 18 until the shell portion is in a position to be drawn down in front of the users face, and fitted snugly over the nose and mouth, under the tension of the clocktype springs 18.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the embodiment herein described and illustrated can be etfected without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the side member pivotal attachment and the side arms retraction means could be integrated so that the stud provides the axle for a spring-loaded winch; simple selferecting means could comprise a hinge on the inner face of the side member with a simple elastic strap in tension on the outer face; further simplification can include a non-extensible side member supporting an elastic headengaging loop.

I claim as my invention:

1. An oro-nasal mask assembly comprising a respiratory mask supported within a mask housing, a pair of self-erecting arms extending outwardly from said housing for securing said mask to the head of a wearer, said arms being foldable to a position where said arms lie closely adjacent said mask housing, means for automatically erecting said arms to the normal wearing positions thereof in the absence of restraint on said arms and means associated with said arms for maintaining said assembly in engagement with the head of a wearer.

2. An oro-nasal mask assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mask housing comprises a substantially rigid shell having a cavity therein and said arms are foldable to lie across said shell cavity.

3. An oro-nasal mask assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arms are extensible.

4. An oro-nasal mask assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a flexible loop for engaging with the head of a wearer, said flexible loop being carried by said self-erecting arms.

5. An oro-nasal mask assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said flexible head loop is formed of an elastic material.

6. An oro-nasal mask assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said self-erecting arms each include an extensible portion, said assembly further comprising means for biasing said extensible arm portions to a retracted position.

7. An oro-nasal mask assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includes extensions for supporting said self-erecting arms, said extensions providing housing means and ducts for valves communicating With the interior of the mask.

8. An oro-nasal mask assembly comprising a flexible respiratory mask, a substantially rigid shell having a cavity therein housing said mask, a pair of self-erecting arms supported by said shell, said arms being foldable to a position Where said arms lie across said shell cavity, means for automatically erecting said arms to the normal wearing positions thereof adjacent the sides of the face of the wearer in the absence of restraint on said arms, a flexible head loop carried by said arms, and means for enabling axial extension of said arms and for biasing said arms to the retracted position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Canada. Great Britain.

1/ 1962 Italy.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

K. L. HOWELL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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