초록 ▼

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and at least one locking clip. The frame has a main body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body, at least one of the side frame members including a locking clip receiver assembly.

A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and at least one locking clip. The frame has a main body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body, at least one of the side frame members including a locking clip receiver assembly. The at least one locking clip has a main body providing a front portion adapted to be removably coupled with the at least one locking clip receiver assembly and a rear portion adapted to be removably coupled to a headgear assembly. The rear portion includes a cross bar that forms an opening through which a strap of the headgear assembly can pass and be removably coupled with the cross bar, and the front portion includes at least one resiliently flexible spring arm that is flexible within the plane of the main body.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a main frame body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main frame body, at least one of the side frame members including an integrally formed locking cli

What is claimed is: 1. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame having a main frame body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main frame body, at least one of the side frame members including an integrally formed locking clip receiver assembly; and at least one locking clip having a main clip body providing a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion adapted to be removably coupled with the at least one locking clip receiver assembly and the rear portion adapted to be removably coupled to a headgear assembly, wherein the rear portion of the locking clip includes a cross bar that forms an opening through which a strap of the headgear assembly can pass and be removably coupled with the cross bar, and the front portion of the locking clip includes a pair of resiliently flexible spring arms that are flexible within the plane of the main clip body, wherein the locking clip receiver assembly includes a slot and the locking clip includes a central support tab positioned between the pair of spring arms, the central support tab inserted into the slot when the locking clip and locking clip receiver assembly are removably coupled so as to prevent relative movement between the locking clip and the locking clip receiver assembly, wherein the slot includes a protrusion and the central support tab includes a groove, the protrusion being inserted into the groove when the locking clip and locking clip receiver assembly are removably coupled to one another, and wherein the protrusion is tapered. 2. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein each spring arm includes a locking tab at a free end thereof, the locking tab configured to be inserted into the slot and interlocked with a locking flange provided within the slot to removably couple the locking clip to the locking clip receiver assembly. 3. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central support tab has a length that is greater than a length of each of the spring arms. 4. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 3, wherein the slot includes a locking portion and a central portion, each spring arm being insertable into the locking portion of the slot and the central support tab being insertable into the central portion of the slot. 5. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 4, wherein the locking portion of the slot has a height approximately equal to a height of a front portion of each spring arm, and the central portion of the slot has a height approximately equal to a height of the central support tab. 6. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 5, wherein the height of the locking portion is less than the height of the central portion to prevent the central support tab from being inserted into the locking portion of the slot. 7. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends outwardly away from the slot. 8. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a length that is at least half a length of the central support tab. 9. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein a force applied to one of the pair of spring arms is not be transferred to the other of the pair of spring arms due to the engagement between the groove of the central support tab and the protrusion of the slot. 10. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking clip is configured to allow the patient to grasp the same between the thumb and forefinger of the patient. 11. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein both side frame members include a locking clip receiver assembly, and the mask assembly includes a pair of locking clips adapted to be removably coupled with a respective one of the locking clip receiver assemblies. 12. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mask assembly is a nasal mask. 13. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 1, wherein the groove is complementarily tapered to the protrusion. 14. A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame including a locking clip receiver assembly; and at least one locking clip having a main clip body providing a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion adapted to be removably coupled with the at least one locking clip receiver assembly and the rear portion adapted to be removably coupled to a headgear assembly, wherein the front portion of the locking clip includes a pair of resiliently flexible spring arms, wherein the locking clip receiver assembly includes a slot and the locking clip includes a central support tab positioned between the pair of spring arms, the central support tab inserted into the slot when the locking clip and locking clip receiver assembly are removably coupled so as to prevent relative movement between the locking clip and the locking clip receiver assembly, wherein the slot includes a protrusion and the central support tab includes a groove, the protrusion being inserted into the groove when the locking clip and locking clip receiver assembly are removably coupled to one another, and wherein the protrusion is tapered. 15. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 14, wherein the rear portion of the locking clip includes a cross bar that forms an opening through which a strap of the headgear assembly can pass and be removably coupled with the cross bar. 16. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 14, wherein the spring arms are flexible within the plane of the main clip body. 17. A respiratory mask assembly according to claim 14, wherein the groove is complementarily tapered to the protrusion.