Holding device for a respiratory mask

1. A holding device for a respiratory mask comprising:

a headband adapted to extend in an application position from a forehead portion of a patient around a back head portion of the patient;

a strengthening element releasably coupled to the headband to add flexural strength to the headband, the strengthening element being adapted to extend from the forehead portion laterally to respective ear portions and to descend behind the respective ear portions towards the patient's neck, the strengthening element having bracket sections positioned below respective ear portions adjacent the back head portion; and

a support coupled to respective bracket sections to support the bracket sections in the back head portion.

2. A holding device for a respiratory mask as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the strengthening element has a section adapted to project towards the nose tip of the patient, which urges the respiratory mask against the face of the patient.

3. A holding device for a respiratory mask as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the introduction of forces into the respiratory mask is performed in a manner that a deformation axis extends through a point of gravity which extends through a pressure distribution of a mask rest surface.

4. A holding device for a respiratory mask as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the support defines a deformation axis that corresponds to the deformation axis acting on the mask.

5. A mask, comprising:

a headband;

a seal associated with a conduit having an opening at an upper end thereof, the opening being positioned above the seal and adapted to connect with an over-the-head type air delivery conduit;

a support frame extending from the headband to support the seal, the support frame including an upper end and a U-shaped lower end, the support frame including lateral portions spaced apart to define a gap that extends from the lower end to the upper end; and

a reinforcement element extending along at least part of the headband, the support frame being supported by the reinforcement element,

wherein the upper end of the conduit extends between the spaced lateral portions and within the gap.

6. A mask according to claim 5 , wherein the support frame is adapted to exert a press-on force to force the seal into the patient's face in use.

7. A mask according to claim 5 , wherein the headband is adapted to engage the patient in the application position from a forehead portion of the patient around a back head portion of the patient.

8. A holding device for a respiratory mask, comprising:

a pair of upper side band portions adapted to extend over the patient's ears;

an upper rear band portion adapted to extend along an upper portion of the patient's head, the upper rear band portion provided between the upper side band portions;

a pair of lower side band portions adapted to extend below the patient's ears;

a lower rear band portion adapted to extend along or adjacent a neck portion of the patient's head, the lower rear band portion provided between the lower side band portions;

a pair of connecting portions adapted to extend behind the patient's ears to interconnect the upper side band portions and upper rear band portion with the lower side band portions and lower rear band portion;

at least one of the band portions including a hook and loop fastener; and

at least one of the band portions having a multi-layered construction including a foam padding layer and a textile layer, the textile layer being provided between the foam padding layer and the patient's skin and adapted to contact the patient's skin.

9. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered construction includes an outer material layer adapted to face away from the patient's skin, the outer material layer constructed of a material adapted to adhesively connect with the hook and loop fastener.

10. A holding device according to claim 9 , wherein the outer material layer is constructed of a fleece material.

11. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered construction includes a flexible reinforcement layer.

12. A holding device according to claim 11 , wherein the flexible reinforcement layer is constructed of a thin spring sheet.

13. A holding device according to claim 12 , wherein the flexible reinforcement layer is constructed of a thin spring steel sheet.

14. A holding device according to claim 11 , wherein the flexible reinforcement layer is structured to allow the holding device to maintain its spatial shape.

15. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered construction includes a flexible reinforcement layer and an outer material layer constructed of a material adapted to adhesively connect with the hook and loop fastener, the flexible reinforcement layer provided between the outer material layer and the foam padding and textile layers.

16. A holding device according to claim 15 , wherein the multi-layered construction includes a further foam padding layer between the outer material layer and the flexible reinforcement layer.

17. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered construction is formed by an ultrasonic welding process.

18. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered construction is formed by a flame backing process.

19. A respiratory mask, comprising:

a nasal-only seal; and

a holding device according to claim 1 .

20. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered construction includes rounded lateral edges.

21. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered construction includes a patient contacting side having a generally convex exterior surface.