US3850168A - Oxygen mask apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Quickly installable, head-worn breathing apparatus has a tiltable, essentially rigid, elliptical ring at the rear of the apparatus frame for engaging the back of the crown of the wearer''s head, making the apparatus universally adapted for heads of different sizes. Springs in the side members of the frame maintain the face mask in pressurized, covering relationship with the wearer''s nose and mouth, while adjusting units in each side member, operable with one hand, permit the length of the frame to be varied so as to change the pressure of the face mask against the face of the wearer. Quick release mechanism is provided for coupling the face mask with the valve body.

Description

United States Patent Ferguson et al.

OXYGEN MASK APPARATUS Inventors: James F; Ferguson, Independence;

William C. Wissmeuller, Kansas City, both of Mo.

Puritan-Bennett Corporation, Kansas City, Mo.

Filed: Sept. 21, 1971 Appl. No.: 182,449

Assignee:

US. Cl....' 128/1467, 179/156 Int. Cl A62b 7/14 Field of Search 128/1467, 147.3, 146.4,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1960 Seeler 128/1467 6/1962 Carolan.... 128/1467 7/1963 Meister 128/1467 12/1968 Hamlin 128/1467 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 8/1967 U.S.S.R 128/1467 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Williams [57] ABSTRACT Quickly installable, head-wom breathing apparatus has a tiltable, essentially rigid, elliptical ring at the rear of the apparatus frame for engaging the back of the crown of the wearers head, making the apparatus universally adapted for heads of different sizes. Springs in the side members of the frame maintain the face mask in pressurized, covering relationship with the wearers nose and mouth, while adjusting units in each side member, operable with one hand, permit the length of the frame to be varied so as to change the pressure of the face mask against the face of the wearer. Quick release mechanism is provided for coupling the face mask with the valve body.

1 Claim, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIEL NUVZS I974 sum 2 BF 2 OXYGEN MASK APPARATUS.

This invention relates generally to breathing apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus which is especially designed for rapid removal and installation with the capability of fitting heads of various sizes without the need for adjustment.

Previous quick-donning oxygen masks such as the type shown and disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,040,741, have attempted to solve the problem of providing quick and easy installation of the oxygen mask such that the pilot or other user of the mask need not be forced to wear the mask at all times. Manifestly, if the mask is not to be worn by the pilot constantly, then it must be of such a design as to permit the pilot to quickly don the mask without losing control of the airplane. While the mask and harness assembly disclosed in the above Patent has proven to be successful in accomplishing this goal, certain shortcomings have been discovered which are remedied by the present invention.

For example, the assembly of said Patent utilized a harness having a pair of adjustable straps, one of which was adapted to extend approximately from one ear of the wearer to the opposite ear across the top of the wearers head, while the remaining strap spanned the distance across the back of the wearers head in the zone of junction between the neck and head of the wearer. While this arrangement permitted quick donning of the harness and mask, adjustment of the straps was needed according to the head size of the individual wearing the harness. Thus, where the same harness and mask assembly was utilized by different pilots on successive flights, if the head sizes of the various pilots differed to any appreciable extent, it was necessary to adjust the straps of the harness to increase or decrease the size of the harness as the situation required.

Another source of difficulty with assemblies of the harness type is providing sufficient clearance between components of the assembly and the ears of the wearer so as not to interfere with earphones on the wearers head. Additionally, because of the need for leaving at least one hand free for operation 'of the controls of the aircraft, the means of adjusting the prior art assemblies were often unsatisfactory.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide quick donning, head-worn breathing apparatus which is universally adapted to fit heads of various sizes, yet is comfortable for the wearer and does not create other undesirable problems such as blocking the line of vision of the wearer or interfering with the earphones also on the wearers head. Basically, this object is accomplished by providing a rigid, elliptical halo or headpiece which takes the place of the conventional harness straps and is adapted to fit on the rear crown portion of the wearers head. The limited size, shape and geometrical relationship of the halo with respect to the remainder of the mask apparatus enables it to retain the frame of the mask apparatus on any wearers head without the need for adjustment.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide adjusting controls for varying the pressure of the oxygen mask against the wearers face, each of which may be operated with one hand of the user, thereby permitting him to continue operation of the aircraft controls with the remaining free hand.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of quick release retaining means for the facepiece and valve body of the mask assembly, thereby permitting the facepiece to be readily installed and removed from the apparatus as required for maintenance or substitution.

A still further important object of the instant invention is the provision of a pressure-sensitive switch between the facepiece and valve body of the mask assembly for activating a microphone disposed in the facepiece.

Other equally important aims of the present invention include the objects of providing means for yieldably biasing the swingable halo into a space-conserving, storage position; providing for shifting of the side members of the apparatus frame relative to the front cross member thereof about normally vertically axes to facilitate installation of the apparatus, all without sacrificing the structural rigidity and shaperetaining properties of the frame; and providing swinging of the mask assembly relative to the apparatus frame to facilitate installation of the apparatus with the assembly being normally biased into its proper position for covering the nose and mouth of the wearer.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mask apparatus of the present invention shown in place on a wearers head;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus and wearer of FIG. 1 illustrating in particular the position of the halo-like headpiece on the wearers head;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3, showing details of the adjusting unit.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the underside of one of the side members of the frame showing the adjusting unit therefor;

FIG. 7 is a slightly enlarged, fragmentary, exploded view of the mask assembly illustrating the interrelationship of the structural components on the facepiece and valve body of the assembly;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the valve body and mounting yoke taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the valve body taken along line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail view of the retaining structure on the facepiece, with a lug of the retaining collar on the valve body shown in cross section; and

FIG. 1 1 is an enlarged, fragmentary exploded view of the spring-biasing structure for the headpiece.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4, the breathing apparatus has anopen box frame 20 provided with a pair of laterally spaced, normally fore-and-aft extending,tubular side members 22, a front, slightly bowedcross member 24 spanning the distance betweenside members 22,.

and a pair of inwardly projectingstub arms 26 and the rearward ends ofside members 22. Thefront member 24 supports aface mask assembly 27, whilearms 26 carry a halo-like headpiece in the nature of anelliptical ring 28 therebetween for approximate swinging movement ofring 28 between a flat storage position as shown in FIG. 4 where the plane ofring 28 is substantially parallel with the plane of side members 22and'an installation position wherein thering 28 fits upon the rear portion of the crown of the wearers head as shown in FIGS. I and 2. The continuous base, interior and top surface ofring 28 are covered with a soft casing of a suitable elastomer, with the base of ring28 normally engaging the wearers head while the circumscribed portion thereof is cleared by the opening defined byring 28. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the major axis ofring 28 extends longitudinally ofside members 22, while the axis of rotation ofring 28 defined byarms 26 traverses such major axis.

Ring 28 is adapted for rotation and yieldably biased into its FIG. 4 position by means of the structure in FIG. 11 which includes, for each side ofring 28, aboss 30 projecting outwardly therefrom having apost 32, and anannular base 34 associated therewith for projection into thetubular arm 26. The outermost tip end ofpost 32 is threaded for reception of anut 36 fitting into a mating recess in the outer end ofarm 26. Ashoulder 38 onboss 30 is adapted to interengage with mating, spaced-apart shoulders 40 on the interior ofarm 26 to limit the extent of rotation ofring 28, while atorsion spring 42 interconnecting thebase 34 with an abutment 44 within thearm 26 yieldably biases thering 28 into the position of FIG. 4.

Eachside member 22 is generally L-shaped with theshort leg 46 thereof extending upwardly from thelonger leg 48 thereof for junction with thecorresponding arm 26 which serves to space theleg 46 laterally outwardly from the respective ear of the wearer as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As also shown in these Figures,

- thelegs 46 ofside members 22 are disposed rearwardly of the temples of the wearer, generally behind his ears, whereby to further clear the area around his ears for the use of earphones. Thelonger leg 48 of eachside member 22 extends forwardly fromrear leg 46 below the line of vision of the wearer for junction with the cross member 24.-

Eachleg 48 is tubular for telescopically receiving an extension 50 (FIG. which, in turn, telescopically receives a spring-loadedtube 52 pinned at the forward end thereof for swinging about a vertical axis through apivot 54. Tube 52 houses atension spring 56 fixed at one end to thepivot 54 and at the opposite end toextension 50 such that constant compressive force is maintained against theface mask assembly 27 viacross member 24.

Eachextension 50 may be extended or retracted from itscorresponding member 22 to thereby vary the pressure ofmask assembly 27 against the face of wearer by virtue of the one-hand operational locking andcontrol unit 60 on eachside member 22. Eachunit 60, as shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes alatch 62 inextension 50, spring-loaded by virtue of acoil spring 64, which is biased into locking engagement with any one of a series ofapertures 66 in the bottom wall ofleg 48 ofside member 22. Thelatch 62 has a generallycircular base 68 which abuts the corresponding mating surfaces of therespective apertures 66 to preclude longitudinal movement ofextension 50 relative to member Referring primarily to FIGS. 7 and 8, thefront member 24 includes aU-shaped yoke 78 having a pair ofupstanding arms 80 which swingably carry theface mask assembly 27 therebetween.Assembly 27 includes avalve body 82 having a pair of outstanding,cylindrical cars 84, each of which is pivotally secured to acorresponding yoke arm 80 by means of apivot bolt 86. Atorsion spring 88 interconnecting eachear 84 and thecorresponding arm 80 serves to yieldably bias thebody 82, and henceassembly 27, generally away fromyoke 78 into a disposition wherein thefacepiece 90 ofassembly 27 is in covering relationship with the nose and mouth of the wearer. A pair of circumferentially spacedshoulders 92 on eachear 84 mate with correspondingshoulders 94 on thearms 80 to limit the extent of swinging ofbody 82. As shown in FIG. 9, anoxygen supply hose 96 is coupled with the outside ofbody 82 for delivering oxygen through thebody 82 intofacepiece 90.

Thefacepiece 90 is releasably coupled with thevalve body 82 by virtue of retaining mechanism broadly denoted by the numeral 98.Mechanism 98 includes acollar 100 which is rotatably received within the central opening 102 ofbody 82 and has a plurality of generally rectangular lugs I04 projecting inwardly from the inner surface ofcollar 100. A compression spring 106 (FIG. 8) between the backside ofbody 82 andhose 96, serves to 'yieldably bias thecollar 100 into the rotative disposition shown in FIG. 7, wherein thelugs 104 are adapted to be received within mating slots 108 (FIGS.

7 and 10) on thetubular component 110 projecting fromfacepiece 90 whencomponent 110 is fully received within thecollar 100. A cam shoulder 1 12 at the entrance of eachslot 108 serves to engage thecorresponding lug 104 when component 1 10 offacepiece 90 is inserted intocollar 100, thereby causing the latter to be momentarily rotated out of its locking disposition to align thelugs 104 with theircorresponding slots 108.AIocating protuberance 114 on the upper portion ofcomponent 110 is'received within amating cavity 116 onvalve body 82.

I Thefacepiece 90 is also provided with amicrophone 118 above component 110' which is adapted to be coupled with a radio transmitter. A small pressure-sensitive switch 120 (FIGS. 7 and 9) in thevalve body 82 is coupled with themicrophone 118 for opening and closing of the microphone circuit and is disposed for actuation by theflat surface 112 surroundingcomponent 110 offacepiece 90. Acoil spring 124 between thevalve body 82 andsurface 122, biases the latter away fromswitch 120 such that, during storage of the breathing apparatus,switch 120 normally remains in an open condition. However, upon installation of the assembly, sufficient pressure is maintained againstfacepiece 90 to depressswitch 120 thereby actuating themicrophone 118.

During storage of the breathing apparatus thering 28ad mask assembly 27 assume their positions of FIG. 4 with thering 28 lying in a generally flat plane parallel to theside members 22. At this time, in the event of an emergency, the apparatus may be grasped with one hand about thevalve body 82 with the remaining hand free to operate the controls of the aircraft. Then, with a sweeping action, theframe 20 is placed over the head until the normallyflat ring 28 engages the rear crown portion thereof, at which time theframe 20 may be pivoted downwardly and thefront member 24 pulled outwardly against the action ofsprings 56 to bring thefacepiece 90 into covering relationship with the nose and mouth of the wearer as shown in FIG. 1. During this sweeping and swinging motion, theface mask assembly 27 may be rotated clockwise, viewing FIGS. 1 and 4, to facilitate installation of the apparatus, after which time theassembly 24 will return to its normal nose and mouth-covering position. The tension inspring 56 insures a firm seal between thefacepiece 90 and the face of the wearer, and also automatically causes theswitch 120 to be depressed to actuate themicrophone 118.

It is unnecessary to make time-consuming adjustments to compensate for variations in head size among pilots on successive flights with the same apparatus. Thering 28 is universally adapted to fit heads of any size and thesprings 56 inside members 22 compensate for size variation while maintaining a proper seal of thefacepiece 90.

It may be desirable, however, in other than emmergency situations, for the pilot to lengthen the frame to increase or decrease the pressure offacepiece 90. This adjustment is easily accomplished by depressing thethumb pads 74 to unlock eachlatch 62, thereby permitting thetubular legs 48 ofmembers 22 to be shifted relative toextensions 50. Release of thethumb pads 74 when thelatches 62 are in alignment withrespective apertures 66 causes theframe 20 to be relocked at a new length, The above operation may be accomplished either when both hands of the user are free such that one hand is used for eachside member 22 simultaneously, or, because thevertical pivots 54 joiningside members 22 withfront member 24 permit distortion of the rectangular configuration offrame 20, the length of eachside member 22 may be varied one at a time, using one hand for each side member adjustment while the remaining hand is left free to operate the controls of the aircraft.

Removal of thefacepiece 90 for purposes of maintenance or substitution of a new facepieceis easily accomplished by shifting the operating lever 1000 ofcollar 100 to move thelugs 104 out of theirmating slots 108, thereby freeing thefacepiece 90 for removal. The reinsertion of thefacepiece 90 is a simple reversal of the above process wherein thelever 100a may be again rotated to immediately align thelugs 104 withslots 108 or, the facepiece may be forced into collar without shiftinglever 100a, in which latter case the cam shoulders 112 operate to automatically momentarily rotatecollar 100 to properly align lugs 104.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various minor modifications and substitutions of equivalents could be made from the preferred structure described for purposes of illustration without departing from the spirit and gist of the invention. Accordingly, the invention should be deemed limited only by the fair scope of the claims that follow.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In head-worn breathing apparatus having a breathing mask assembly adapted to cover the nose and mouth of the wearer during use, the combination with said assembly of: I

an open frame including a pair of elongated, spaced apart, fore-and-aft extending side members adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the wearers head during use, and structure at the normally forward ends of said members for supporting said mask assembly between the members, said structure including a yoke pivotally supporting the assembly for swinging of the latter about a generally horizontal axis extending between said members, and means pivotally joining said yoke with the forward ends of the members for swinging of the latter about respective generally vertical axes relative to the yoke;

a head piece supported between said members at the rear ends of the latter having a single substantially rigid, generally planar, open ring, crown-engaging element pivotally mounted on each of said members for tilting movement about a generally horizontal axis and adapted to retain the frame on the wearer with said assembly in alignment with the wearers nose and mouth; and

yieldable means associated with said frame for yieldably biasing the assembly against the wearers crown.

Claims (1)

1. In head-worn breathing apparatus having a breathing mask assembly adapted to cover the nose and mouth of the wearer during use, the combination with said assembly of: an open frame including a pair of elongated, spaced apart, foreand-aft extending side members adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the wearer''s head during use, and structure at the normally forward ends of said members for supporting said mask assembly between the members, said structure including a yoke pivotally supporting the assembly for swinging of the latter about a generally horizontal axis extending between said members, and means pivotally joining said yoke with the forward ends of the members for swinging of the latter about respective generally vertical axes relative to the yoke; a head piece supported between said members at the rear ends of the latter having a single substantially rigid, generally planar, open ring, crown-engaging element pivotally mounted on each of said members for tilting movement about a generally horizontal axis and adapted to retain the frame on the wearer with said assembly in alignment with the wearer''s nose and mouth; and yieldable means associated with said frame for yieldably biasing the assembly against the wearer''s crown.

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