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A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. An elbow assembly is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including one or more vent openings. A r

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. An elbow assembly is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame, the elbow assembly including one or more vent openings. A removable vent cover is detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings. The vent cover includes a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout. The vent cover includes a ring-shaped base defining an aperture into which a portion of the elbow assembly is inserted.

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What is claimed is: 1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient; an elbow assembly having a first portion including an end portion provided to the front surface of the fra

What is claimed is: 1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient; an elbow assembly having a first portion including an end portion provided to the front surface of the frame, the first portion including one or more vent openings provided opposite the end portion, the elbow assembly including a second portion including a stem adapted to connect to a gas delivery conduit; and a removable vent cover detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings, the vent cover including a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout in a direction generally along the stem, wherein the vent cover includes a ring-shaped base positioned on the second portion to circumscribe the stem of the elbow assembly. 2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vent cover is made of resilient material. 3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the vent cover is detachably connected to the elbow assembly. 4. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the vent cover includes a flange that is detachably connected to a latch provided on the elbow assembly. 5. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the vent cover includes a collar that is detachably connected to a flange provided on the elbow assembly. 6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an aperture provided through a main body of the frame for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity. 7. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elbow assembly includes a mating portion that is inserted into the aperture provided in the frame and a lock is attached to the mating portion from an inner side of the frame so as to prevent withdrawal of the mating portion from the aperture. 8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow that defines an intake port and an exhaust port separated from the intake port using a baffle, and wherein the elbow assembly includes an end portion that interfaces with the aperture of the frame. 9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 8, wherein the baffle is configured to direct exhaust gas away from the nasal breathing cavity in a first direction that is substantially opposite to a second direction in which the intake port delivers incoming gas to the nasal breathing cavity. 10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow having a first end portion in communication with a gas delivery tube and a second end portion detachably coupled to the frame without accessing the nasal breathing cavity. 11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 10, wherein the second end portion of the swivel elbow includes a mating portion adapted to engage the aperture of the frame and a resilient collar that substantially surrounds the mating portion to define a receiving space between the collar and the mating portion, and the frame includes an extension defining the aperture with a flange formed thereon, and wherein the collar is configured to flex outwardly upon entry of the flange into the receiving space until the second end portion reaches an operative position in which the collar flexes inwardly by virtue of the resiliency thereof so as to lock the flange with respect to the collar and thereby detachably couple the elbow assembly to the frame. 12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, wherein the mating portion extends beyond the collar to facilitate alignment of the second end portion of the swivel elbow with respect to the frame. 13. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, wherein the swivel elbow includes release portions on each side of the collar that are flexed towards one another to move the collar outwardly so as to allow the flange to move out of the receiving space to detach the elbow assembly from the frame. 14. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 11, wherein the extension of the frame includes an inside surface that sealingly engages an outside surface of the mating portion of the swivel elbow to seal and provide stability to the connection between the swivel elbow and the frame. 15. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow assembly is adapted to be connected directly to a gas delivery tube without a swivel connector between the elbow assembly and the gas delivery tube. 16. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame, wherein the frame includes a main body accommodating the cushion and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body, each side frame member including an integrally formed first connector portion adapted to be removably coupled with a second connector portion provided on the headgear assembly. 17. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a ledge that protrudes radially away from the ring-shaped base, the at least one vent aperture being provided on the ledge. 18. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the stem and the ring-shaped base share a common longitudinal axis. 19. A removable vent cover for an elbow assembly of a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the removable vent cover comprising: a main body adapted to cover one or more vent openings in the elbow assembly, the main body including at least one vent aperture for gas washout along an exhaust path; a top portion provided to a first side of the main body and including a collar adapted to receive a flange of the elbow assembly; and a ring-shaped base provided to a second side of the main body, opposite the first side, and defining a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction that is generally parallel to but offset from the exhaust path, wherein the main body, the top portion, and the ring-shaped base define a one piece unit made of stretchable, resilient elastic material, and wherein the collar extends in a first plane and the ring-shaped base extends in a second plane that is not parallel to the first plane. 20. A removable vent cover according to claim 19, further comprising a ledge that protrudes radially away from the ring-shaped base, the at least one vent aperture being provided on the ledge. 21. An elbow assembly for a respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: an elbow having a first portion including an end portion configured to be coupled to the mask, the first portion including one or more vent openings provided opposite the end portion, the elbow assembly including a second portion including a stem adapted to connect to a gas delivery conduit; and a removable vent cover detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings, the vent cover including a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout in a direction generally along the stem, wherein the vent cover includes a ring-shaped base positioned on the second portion to circumscribe the stem of the elbow. 22. An elbow assembly comprising: an elbow provided with a cap that covers an exhaust port defined by the elbow, the cap including one or more vent openings; and means for selectively attaching and detaching the cap relative to the elbow while the cap remains secured to the elbow. 23. An elbow assembly comprising: an elbow provided with a cap that covers an exhaust port defined by the elbow, the cap including one or more vent openings; first means for selectively covering the exhaust port by elastically and stretchably attaching and detaching the cap relative to the elbow; and second means for securing the cap to the elbow, said first means being independent of the second means. 24. A removable vent cover for an elbow assembly of a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the removable vent cover comprising: a main body adapted to cover one or more vent openings in the elbow assembly, the main body including at least one vent aperture for gas washout along an exhaust path; a top portion provided to a first side of the main body and including a collar adapted to receive a flange of the elbow assembly; and a ring-shaped base provided to a second side of the main body, opposite the first side, and defining a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction that is generally parallel to but offset from the exhaust path, wherein the collar extends in a first plane and the ring-shaped base extends in a second plane that is not parallel to the first plane. 25. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient; an elbow assembly having a first portion including an end portion provided to the front surface of the frame, the first portion including one or more vent openings provided opposite the end portion, the elbow assembly including a second portion including a stem adapted to connect to a gas delivery conduit; and a removable vent cover detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings, the vent cover including a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout, wherein the vent cover includes a ring-shaped base positioned on the second portion to circumscribe the stem of the elbow assembly. 26. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 25, wherein the vent cover is made of stretchable, elastic material. 27. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 25, wherein a portion of the vent cover is detachably connected to the elbow assembly. 28. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 27, wherein the portion of the vent cover includes a flange that is detachably connected to a latch provided on the elbow assembly. 29. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 27, wherein the portion of the vent cover includes a collar that is detachably connected to a flange provided on the elbow assembly. 30. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 25, further comprising a ledge that protrudes radially away from the ring-shaped base, the at least one vent aperture being provided on the ledge. 31. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 25, wherein the stem and the ring-shaped base share a common longitudinal axis. 32. An elbow assembly for a respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: an elbow having a first portion including an end portion configured to be coupled to the mask, the first portion including one or more vent openings provided opposite the end portion, the elbow assembly including a second portion including a stem adapted to connect to a gas delivery conduit; and a removable vent cover detachably connected to the elbow assembly such that the vent cover is positioned in covering relation with respect to the one or more vent openings, the vent cover including a main body and at least one vent aperture for gas washout, wherein the vent cover includes a ring-shaped base positioned on the second portion to circumscribe the stem of the elbow. 33. An elbow assembly comprising: an elbow provided with a cap that covers an exhaust port defined by the elbow, the cap including a plurality of vent openings; the cap being selectively attachable to and detachable from the elbow while the cap remains secured to the elbow, wherein the elbow includes a flange surrounding the exhaust port, the cap including a collar to receive said flange. 34. An elbow assembly according to claim 33, wherein the collar is stretchable to overcome the flange when attaching and detaching the collar from the flange. 35. An elbow assembly comprising: an elbow provided with a cap that covers an exhaust port defined by the elbow, the cap including a plurality of vent openings; a first attachment device provided to the cap, the first attachment device being elastically stretchable to selectively attach the cap to the elbow such that a seal is formed between the cap and the elbow as the cap is positioned to cover the exhaust port, a second attachment device provided to the cap to secure the cap to the elbow, wherein the second attachment device a ring-shaped member though which a portion of the elbow is inserted. 36. An elbow assembly according to claim 35, wherein the elbow includes a flange or protrusion, and the first attachment device engages the flange or protrusion. 37. An elbow assembly according to claim 35, wherein the second attachment device is stretchable over a portion of the elbow to secure the cap to the elbow. 38. An elbow assembly according to claim 35, wherein the first and second attachment devices are independent of one another such that the cap remains attached to the elbow in a secure manner so long as at least one of the first and second attachment devices is secured to the elbow. 39. An elbow assembly for a respiratory mask assembly that delivers breathable gas to a patient, the elbow assembly comprising: an elbow having a first end for connection with a mask and a second end for connection with an air delivery tube, the elbow including one or more vent openings provided between the first and second ends, the one or more openings being at least partly surrounded by a flange; and a vent cover removably attached to the elbow, the vent cover including a main body adapted to cover said one or more vent openings in the elbow, the main body including at least one vent aperture for gas washout along an exhaust path; a top portion provided to a first side of the main body and including a collar that receives said flange of the elbow; and a ring-shaped base provided to a second side of the main body, opposite the first side, and defining a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction that is generally parallel to but offset from the exhaust path, said ring-shaped base being attached around an outside surface of the second end of the elbow.