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JP-7857203-B2 - Headgear and method for forming headgear

JP7857203B2JP 7857203 B2JP7857203 B2JP 7857203B2JP-7857203-B2

Inventors

  • フリーストーン ポール マシュー
  • ベターリッジ マックス レオン
  • ゴードン カラム ロス
  • ガオ ヴィッキー ダン
  • ウィリス キャメロン ロバート
  • コリンズ ジャニーン エリザベス
  • グラハム ライアン アンソニー
  • カペレヴィッチ ヴィタリー
  • ボーンホルト メリッサ キャサリン
  • ランドルズ ソフィー キャスリン
  • シュー サイラス サオ ジン
  • トマス スティーヴ
  • リーヒー ローナン

Assignees

  • フィッシャー アンド ペイケル ヘルスケア リミテッド

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220928
Priority Date
20160316

Claims (20)

  1. A headgear used with a breathing apparatus, A first strap having a first textile casing, A second strap having a second textile casing and connected to the first strap at a position between the ends of the first strap, Equipped with, The first textile casing and the second textile casing have a seamless tubular shape. A single plastic core material is integrally formed within the first textile casing and the second textile casing . By elastically deforming, displacing, or tearing the threads of the first textile casing, gaps or holes are formed in the wall of the first textile casing, and the integral plastic core material extends into the second textile casing through these gaps or holes, thereby the integral plastic core material extends from the first textile casing of the first strap to the second textile casing of the second strap . headgear.
  2. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein the integral plastic core material connects the first textile casing and the second textile casing .
  3. The headgear according to claim 1, further comprising a connector surrounding the joint between the first strap and the second strap.
  4. The headgear according to claim 2, further comprising a connector surrounding the joint between the first strap and the second strap.
  5. The headgear according to claim 1, further comprising a connector surrounding the joint between the first strap and the second strap, wherein the integral plastic core material is coupled to the connector such that the connector, the first textile casing, the second textile casing , and the integral plastic core material are formed as an integrated structure.
  6. The headgear according to claim 2, further comprising a connector that surrounds the joint between the first strap and the second strap, wherein the integral plastic core material is coupled to the connector such that the connector, the first textile casing, the second textile casing , and the integral plastic core material are formed as an integrated structure.
  7. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein the first strap and the second strap are connected via a connecting member disposed between the first strap and the second strap , and the connecting member is formed of the integral plastic core material.
  8. The headgear according to claim 7, wherein the integral plastic core material is an elastomer so that the connecting member can be stretched.
  9. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein the first strap and the second strap are joined together via an integrally formed web portion, the web portion being formed from the integral plastic core material and positioned between the first strap and the second strap .
  10. The headgear according to claim 9, further comprising a soft-touch material overmolded onto the outer surface of the web portion.
  11. The headgear according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first textile casing and the second textile casing are knitted, woven, braided or crocheted.
  12. The headgear according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the end of the second textile casing of the second strap is in contact with the first textile casing of the first strap.
  13. The headgear according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the end of the second textile casing of the second strap abuts against the first textile casing of the first strap, and the end of the second textile casing of the second strap has a sealing portion.
  14. The headgear according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the end of the second textile casing of the second strap abuts against the first textile casing of the first strap, and the end of the second textile casing of the second strap has a sealing portion, the sealing portion being formed by cutting with a hot knife.
  15. The headgear according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a strap connector disposed on the outer surface of at least one of the first strap and the second strap, the strap connector being formed from the integral plastic core material.
  16. The headgear according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one of the first strap and the second strap has a soft edge portion that extends along the edge of the first strap and/or the second strap in the longitudinal direction.
  17. The headgear according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first strap and the second strap has a soft edge portion that extends along the edge of the first strap and/or the second strap in the longitudinal direction, and the soft edge portion of at least one of the first strap and the second strap includes a portion of the first textile casing of the first strap and/or the second textile casing of the second strap that is not filled with the integral plastic core material.
  18. A method for forming a headgear in a molding die, The steps include: placing a first tubular textile casing and a second tubular textile casing in the cavity of the molding die; The steps include introducing molten plastic material into the molding die and into the first tubular textile casing, The process involves elastically deforming, displacing, or tearing the threads of the first tubular textile casing to form gaps or holes in the wall of the first tubular textile casing, through which an integral plastic core extends into the second tubular textile casing, thereby pushing the molten plastic material through the first tubular textile casing into the second tubular textile casing, The process involves solidifying the molten plastic material within the first tubular textile casing and the second tubular textile casing to form an integrated plastic core. Includes, A method for forming a headgear, wherein the first tubular textile casing and the second tubular textile casing have a seamless tubular shape.
  19. A method for forming a headgear according to claim 18, wherein the step of arranging a first tubular textile casing and a second tubular textile casing within the cavity of the molding die further includes positioning the first tubular textile casing so as to be in contact with the second tubular textile casing.
  20. A method for forming a headgear according to claim 18, wherein the step of arranging a first tubular textile casing and a second tubular textile casing in the cavity of the molding die further includes positioning the first tubular textile casing so as to be in contact with the second tubular textile casing, the end of the second tubular textile casing abutting with the first tubular textile casing at a position between the ends of the first tubular textile casing.

Description

Invocation by reference to any priority application: This application relates to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/309,400, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/323,459, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/364,767, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/401,462, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/468,915, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/323,489 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/327,942, and those applications in their entirety are incorporated herein by reference and constitute part of this disclosure. This disclosure generally relates to headgear used in conjunction with respiratory devices. More specifically, this disclosure relates to the formation of three-dimensional headgear, parts of three-dimensional headgear, and processes for molding such headgear. Further applications of the molding process are also disclosed. This disclosure also generally relates to full-face subnasal patient interfaces having closed-loop headgear and various components of the patient interface. Patient interfaces are used to provide respiratory therapy to the airways of individuals suffering from one of several respiratory diseases or conditions. These therapies include, but are not limited to, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) therapy. CPAP therapy can be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which a patient's airway intermittently collapses during sleep, preventing them from breathing for periods of time. The cessation of breathing, or apnea, causes the patient to wake up. Repeated and frequent episodes of apnea can prevent patients from achieving sufficient and restful nighttime sleep. CPAP therapy involves delivering a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to the patient's airway via a patient interface. The continuous positive airway pressure acts like a splint within the patient's airway, holding it open to prevent interference with the patient's breathing and sleep. A patient interface typically comprises a mask assembly and a headgear assembly. The mask assembly is configured to deliver a supply of continuous positive airway pressure to the patient's airway via a seal or cushion that forms a substantial airtight seal in or around the patient's nose and/or mouth. Mask assemblies are available in a wide range of styles, including full-face masks, nasal masks, direct-nasal masks, and mouth masks, which create a substantial airtight seal with the nose and/or mouth. The seal or cushion is held in place on the patient's face by the headgear assembly. To maintain a substantial airtight seal, the headgear assembly should provide support to the mask assembly so that it is held in a stable position relative to the patient's face during use. Such patient interfaces can also be used to deliver NIV and other therapies. The patient interface creates a substantial “seal” over or around the user’s nose and/or mouth, while the cannula, although not providing a seal, provides a delivery route for supplemental respiratory gas delivery. The combination of this “seal” and the sealed area of the respiratory device and its internal pressure generates a force that tends to push the respiratory device away from the face. To counteract this force, a headgear with a continuous strap that passes around the back and/or top of the user’s head is typically used. This shows a side view of a bifurcated headgear configuration formed by the burst-through intra-molding configuration of this disclosure.The above shows a top perspective view of the bifurcated headgear configuration of this disclosure.This shows an enlarged side view of the joint between the top strap and the bottom strap of the bifurcated headgear configuration of this disclosure.This shows an enlarged side view of the joint between the top strap and the bottom strap of the bifurcated headgear configuration of this disclosure.This diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the joint between the top strap and the bottom strap of the bifurcated headgear configuration of this disclosure.A perspective view of the injection mold forming the bifurcated headgear configuration of this disclosure is shown.This shows a top view of the second half of the injection molding die.This shows an enlarged top perspective view of the top and bottom straps positioned within the second mold half of the injection molding die.This shows a bottom cross-sectional view of the fully formed bifurcated headgear section.A perspective view of the second mold half shows an alternative in-mold strap cavity configuration that forms an X-shaped joint and a T-shaped joint.A top view of a strap configuration having X-shaped and T-shaped joints is shown.The image shows a top view of an alternative in-mold strap configuration having straps joined to one another by integrally formed connecting members positioned between the straps.The image shows a top view of an alternative