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EP-4275734-B1 - HEADGEAR ASSEMBLIES

EP4275734B1EP 4275734 B1EP4275734 B1EP 4275734B1EP-4275734-B1

Inventors

  • HUDDART, BRETT JOHN
  • FREESTONE, PAUL MATHEW
  • GRAHAM, Ryan Anthony
  • MCLAREN, MARK ARVIND
  • HAMMER, Jeroen
  • SLIGHT, Matthew Robert Geoff
  • KAPELEVICH, VITALY
  • MONROY FELIX, David
  • GORDON, Callum Ross
  • WALLS, Bruce Michael
  • BORNHOLDT, MELISSA CATHERINE
  • STEPHENSON, MATTHEW ROGER

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20150916

Claims (13)

  1. An elongate strap (7000) for a headgear comprising a textile outer layer (7014) and a plastic core (7012), the plastic core (7012) comprising two long sides and two short sides, the textile outer layer (7014) being secured to the long sides of the core (7012) and spaced from the short sides of the core (7012) to create voids (7032) on each lateral edge (7050) of the strap (7000), and wherein the textile outer layer (7014) secured to the long sides of the core (7012) forms an integral structure such that the plastic core (7012) is fused and permanently bonded with the textile outer layer (7014) without the use of adhesives.
  2. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the voids (7032) occupy about one-third, about half, or about two-thirds of the width dimension of the elongate strap (7000).
  3. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the textile outer layer (7014) surrounds the plastic core (7012) completely.
  4. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the textile outer layer (7014) is a seamless tubular outer layer.
  5. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the lateral edges (7050) of the outer layer (7014) can compress toward the plastic core (7012) to provide some ability of the lateral edges (7050) to deform or provide some cushioning in a width and/or thickness direction of the strap (7000).
  6. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the strap includes a conduit(s) extending in a lengthwise direction along the strap (7000) within the voids (7032).
  7. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the textile outer layer (7014) creates folds between the portion of the strap (7000) having the core (7012) and the portions having the voids (7032).
  8. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the edges of the textile outer layer (7014) are embedded in the core (7012).
  9. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the textile outer layer (7014) is knitted or woven.
  10. An elongate strap (7000) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the strap (7000) comprises an interruption in the core (7012) along a length of the strap (7000).
  11. An elongate strap (7000) according to claim 10, wherein the interruption can form a flexible joint between two portions of the strap (7000).
  12. A headgear comprising multiple elongate straps (7000) according to any one of the previous claims.
  13. A headgear according to claim 12, wherein the multiple straps (7000) comprise coupling arrangements between the multiple straps (7000), the coupling arrangements being formed as a joint that is unitary with and formed at the same time as the core (7012).

Description

BACKGROUND Field The present disclosure relates to headgear and interface assemblies for use in respiratory therapy. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a substantially inelastic three dimensional headgear, portions thereof and a process for moulding such headgear. Further applications of the moulding process are also disclosed. Description of Related Art The treatment of respiratory ailments or conditions with therapies, such as NIV, Bi-level or CPAP, involves the delivery of pressurized air to the airways of a human via a conduit and a breathing apparatus (e.g., a mask or cannula). Typically, a mask creates at least a substantial "seal" on or around the nose and/or the mouth of a user while a cannula does not provide a seal but provides a delivery pathway for supplemental respiratory gas delivery. A result of creating this "seal" is that the combination of the enclosure area of the breathing apparatus and its internal pressure creates a resulting force that attempts to push the breathing apparatus off of the face. To counteract this force, it is normal to use a headgear comprising a series of straps that pass around the back and/or top of a user's head. Headgear such as this are typically made from a compliant material, such as Breath-o-prene™. The use of such a material results in the headgear having relatively little structure when not being worn. This lack of structure can give rise to the straps of the headgear becoming tangled, which in turn can make it difficult for a user to don the headgear and breathing apparatus. The strap(s) require some form of adjustment to account for variation in head size, this adjustment mechanism is typically provided via an adjustment loop between the mask body and the head gear. The adjustment loop can have a hook-and-loop or similar fastener that permits an end of the strap to be passed through a mounting location on the mask or through a clip that attaches to the mask and then attached to another section of the strap. Such an arrangement permits adjustment of the headgear by positioning the end of the strap at a desired location on the other section of the strap to vary a size of the adjustment loop. These types of mechanism are one solution to providing an adjustment mechanism for the headgear and, thus, the interface assembly. Such systems also require a reasonable level of user interaction and, as a result, is prone to misuse or mis-adjustment (e.g., over-tightening). As a practical matter, micro-adjustment of such systems is difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. The creation of practical and not so practical solutions to this has been the subject of considerable development effort from a number of organisations, which has resulted in numerous patents. Further, these traditional headgear are usually configured to have some elasticity. This can result in the headgear stretching over, and applying pinching forces to, the user's head, which can be uncomfortable. It is desirable to make headgear and breathing apparatus that are easy to use and comfortable to wear because this may improve a user's compliance with the therapy being provided. US 2010/258136 A1 discloses a headgear for a respiratory mask and a method for donning a respiratory mask. WO 2010/066004 A1 discloses a headgear for use with a mask. WO 2012/143822 A1 discloses an adjustment mechanism for a headgear for use in a patient interface system. SUMMARY The systems, methods and devices described herein have innovative aspects, no single one of which is indispensable or solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the claims, some of the advantageous features will now be summarized. A headgear system and/or an interface assembly incorporating a headgear system that upon fitment to the head of a user automatically adjusts to the correct size and, once in use, transforms in properties from an elasticated "stretchy" strap/strapping to an "inelastic" strap/strapping. The present invention provides an elongate strap for a headgear according to claim 1. In some configurations, a headgear assembly for supporting a respiratory interface on a user comprises a rear headgear portion configured to contact the rearward and/or upper portions of a head of the user. The rear headgear portion comprises a plastic core and a textile casing. The plastic core and the textile casing are formed as an integral structure by the application of a molten plastic material into the textile casing. Each side of the rear headgear portion comprises a mounting portion configured to be located forwardly of an ear of the user in use. An interface connection arrangement is provided to the mounting portion on each side of the headgear assembly. Each interface connection arrangement is configured to be directly or indirectly coupled to the respiratory interface. Each interface connection arrangement includes at least one length adjusting arrangement. Each length adjusting arrangement com