Respiratory interface
Respiratory interfaces have magnetic elements for coupling and/or adjusting parts of the interface, such as a magnetic coupling system ( 121 a, 121 b ) arranged to magnetically couple a seal module ( 101 ) to a mask frame ( 100 ), or to magnetically hold a seal adjustment position. A magnet or magnets may have an embedded particulate magnetic material.
1 . A respiratory interface comprising:
a mask frame,
a seal module that couples to the mask frame and that is configured to interface to a mouth and/or nose of a user to deliver respiratory gases to the user, and
a magnetic coupling system that magnetically couples the seal module to the mask frame,
wherein the magnetic coupling system comprises at least one magnet associated with one of the seal module or the mask frame and at least one other magnet or ferrous part associated with an other of the seal module or the mask frame that are attracted to one another by a magnetic attraction force,
wherein one or both of the at least one magnet and the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part is elastically moveably mounted by an elastically movable mount comprising a stretchable material and configured such that when the seal module and the mask frame are brought towards one another, at a break point at which the magnetic attraction force exceeds an elastic retractive force of the elastic elastically movable mount, one or both of the at least one magnet and the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part moves within and relative to a balance of a respective one of the seal module and the mask frame in a manner that stretches the elastically movable mount before the elastically movable mount recovers as the seal module and the mask frame are fully coupled,
wherein an audible sound is produced on coupling and uncoupling of the magnetic coupling system,
wherein, on coupling of the magnetic coupling system, the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part moves relative to the balance of the seal module or the mask frame in response to the magnetic attraction force and the audible sound is produced by direct or indirect physical contact between the at least one magnet and the at least one other magnet or ferrous part, which contact stops the movement of the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part,
wherein, on uncoupling of the magnetic coupling system, the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part moves relative to the balance of the seal module or the mask frame in response to the elastic retractive force and the audible sound is produced by direct or indirect physical contact between the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or ferrous part and the seal module or the mask frame, which contact stops the movement of the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part, and
wherein the audible sound is produced only by the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part directly or indirectly audibly striking one another or one of the seal module or the mask frame.
2 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet comprises a segment of solid magnetic material.
3 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet comprises particulate magnetic material embedded in the seal module or the mask frame.
4 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part associated with the seal module are provided at or around an aperture into the seal module which interfaces with the mask frame to receive a flow of respiratory gases through the aperture into the seal module.
5 . The respiratory interface according to claim 4 , further comprising a gel material captured around the aperture into the seal module or an aperture through the mask frame.
6 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part associated with the mask frame are provided at or around an aperture through the mask frame which interfaces with the seal module to deliver a flow of respiratory gases through the aperture into the seal module.
7 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the mask frame and the seal module each include a mating locating feature, the mating locating feature comprising interfacing structures that are configured to limit relative rotation therebetween.
8 . The respiratory interface according to claim 7 , wherein the mating locating feature is at an upper part of the mask frame and the seal module respectively.
9 . The respiratory interface according to claim 7 , wherein the seal module is a first seal module and the respiratory interface comprises a second seal module with a second mating locating feature similar to the mating locating feature of the first seal module, wherein the first seal module and the second seal module are interchangeable and are each configured to couple to the mask frame.
10 . The respiratory interface according to claim 9 , wherein the second seal module is configured to interface to a different part of a face of the user than the first seal module.
11 . A method of attaching the second seal module for the respiratory interface according to claim 9 , wherein the mask frame, the first seal module and a headgear is in place upon a user, including the steps of:
moving the mask frame away from the user to open a gap between the mask frame and an airway of the user,
moving the first seal module toward the user, thereby breaking a magnetic coupling between the mask frame and the first seal module,
removing the first seal module through the gap,
inserting the second seal module through the gap,
positioning the second seal module over at least one airway of the user, and
returning the mask frame toward the user to close the gap and engage the magnetic coupling system.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving the mask frame away from the user against a biasing element of a strap of the headgear.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the biasing element is an elastic portion of the strap.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the mask frame remains engaged at a forehead portion of the headgear and the mask frame is pulled away from the user at a lower portion of the user, thereby creating or widening the gap at a mouth region of the user.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving the mask frame away from the user, thereby decoupling a magnetic coupling between the mask frame and the headgear.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the moving the first seal module toward the user comprises pivoting the first seal module about a structure of the mask frame spaced apart from the magnetic coupling system.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the structure is a locator projection that is received within a locator recess of the first seal module.
18 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part is located at a lower portion of the mask frame or the seal module.
19 . The respiratory interface according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part are located on opposite sides of an opening through the mask frame or the seal module or both.
20 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the stretchable material is a soft synthetic elastic material and the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part are embedded in the soft synthetic elastic material.
21 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet or the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part are captured on a rim of the seal module by an elastically stretchable fabric cover that comprises the stretchable material and forms the elastically movable mount.
22 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is associated with the seal module, and wherein the magnetic coupling system comprises the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part and the at least one other magnet or ferrous part is associated with the mask frame.
23 . The respiratory interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part associated with the seal module and the mask frame are provided to the seal module and the mask frame such that the at least one magnet and the at least one other magnet or the ferrous part attract when the seal module is coupled to the mask frame in a single predetermined orientation of the seal module relative to the mask frame and repel when the seal module is offered to the mask frame in any orientation other than the single predetermined orientation.