Nasal mask interface assembly

1. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member configured to fit over a nose of a user in use, the seal member comprising:

a sidewall extending around a periphery of the seal member and having upper and lower sections, the upper section defining an apex of the seal member shaped to fit over a bridge of the nose of the user in use, the lower section defining left and right corners of the seal member, wherein left and right portions of the lower section of the sidewall proximate to the left and right corners of the seal member, respectively, are thickened relative to adjacent portions of the sidewall that are adjacent to the left and right portions;

a thickened band positioned along the sidewall and extending from a left side of the apex, over the apex, to a right side of the apex of the sidewall, the thickened band projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall that faces the user in use;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the sidewall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of the user and an interior surface opposite the face contacting surface, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, a lip surface disposed at a lower portion of the flange and adapted to contact the face of the user in use at a location above a vermillion border and below nares of the user, a lateral surface disposed at an upper portion of the flange and adapted to extend over a bridge of the nose of the user, and left and right cheek surfaces disposed on the upper portion of the flange and extending between the lip surface and the lateral surface, the left and right cheek surfaces adapted to contact at least two of left and right medial cheek surfaces of the user and left and right lateral nose surfaces of the user; and

a left thickened panel positioned along a left side of the upper portion of the flange, and a right thickened panel positioned along a right side of the upper portion of the flange, the left and right thickened panels being configured to provide additional pressure pressing the flange against lateral sides of the nose of the user in use;

wherein each of the left and right thickened panels comprises a substantially trapezoidal pad projecting from the interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface, the left and right thickened panels defining locally thickened regions of the flange that are thicker than the remainder of the flange, wherein each of the first and second thickened panels are spaced from the thickened band, and wherein the edge of the opening forms an innermost side of the substantially trapezoidal pad.

2. The seal member according to claim 1 , wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed along the edge of the flange that at least partially defines the opening.

3. The seal member according to claim 1 , wherein longest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to the edge of the flange that at least partially defines the opening.

4. The seal member according to claim 1 , wherein the left and right thickened panels have top edges angled relative to the edge of the flange, and bottom edges perpendicular to the edge of the flange.

5. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member configured to fit over a nose of a user in use, the seal member comprising:

a sidewall extending around a periphery of the seal member and having upper and lower sections, the upper section defining an apex of the seal member shaped to fit over a bridge of the nose of the user in use;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the sidewall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of the user and an interior surface opposite the face contacting surface, the flange comprising an edge that at least partially defines an opening, a lip surface disposed at a lower portion of the flange and adapted to contact the face of the user in use at a location below nares of the user, a lateral surface disposed at an upper portion of the flange and adapted to extend over a bridge of the nose of the user, and left and right cheek surfaces disposed on the upper portion of the flange and extending between the lip surface and the lateral surface; and

a left thickened panel positioned along a left side of the upper portion of the flange, and a right thickened panel positioned along a right side of the upper portion of the flange, the left and right thickened panels being configured to provide additional pressure pressing the flange against lateral sides of the nose of the user in use;

wherein each of the left and right thickened panels comprises a substantially trapezoidal pad projecting from the interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface, the left and right thickened panels defining locally thickened regions of the flange that are thicker than the remainder of the flange, and wherein the edge of the opening forms an innermost side of the substantially trapezoidal pad.

6. The seal member according to claim 5 , the lower section of the sidewall defining left and right corners of the seal member, wherein left and right portions of the lower section of the sidewall proximate to the left and right corners of the seal member, respectively, are thickened relative to adjacent portions of the sidewall that are adjacent to the left and right portions.

7. The seal member according to claim 5 additionally comprising a thickened band positioned along the sidewall and extending from a left side of the apex, over the apex, to a right side of the apex of the sidewall, the thickened band projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall, wherein each of the first and second thickened panels are spaced from the thickened band.

8. The seal member according to claim 5 , wherein the left and right cheek surfaces are each adapted to contact at least two of left and right medial cheek surfaces of the user and left and right lateral nose surfaces of the user in use.

9. The seal member according to claim 5 , wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to the edge of the flange that at least partially defines the opening.

10. The seal member according to claim 5 , wherein longest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to the edge of the flange that at least partially defines the opening.

11. The seal member according to claim 5 , wherein the left and right thickened panels have top edges angled relative to the edge of the flange, and bottom edges perpendicular to the edge of the flange.

12. A seal member for an interface assembly, the seal member configured to fit over a nose of a user in use, the seal member comprising:

a sidewall extending around a periphery of the seal member and having upper and lower sections, the upper section defining an apex of the seal member shaped to fit over a bridge of the nose of the user in use;

a flange extending inwardly from a proximal end of the sidewall, the flange comprising a face contacting surface that is configured to bear against a face of the user an interior surface opposite the face contacting surface, and an edge that at least partially defines an opening; and

a left thickened panel positioned on the interior surface along a left side of an upper portion of the flange, and a right thickened panel positioned on the interior surface along a right side of the upper portion of the flange, the left and right thickened panels configured to provide additional pressure pressing the flange against lateral sides of the nose of the user in use, and wherein the edge of the opening forms an innermost side of each of the left and right thickened panels.

13. The seal member according to claim 12 , the flange comprising a lip surface disposed at a lower portion of flange and adapted to contact the face of the user in use at a location below nares of the user, a lateral surface disposed at an upper portion of the flange and adapted to extend over a bridge of the nose of the user, and left and right cheek surfaces disposed on the upper portion of the flange and extending between the lip surface and the lateral surface.

14. The seal member according to claim 12 , wherein each of the left and right thickened panels comprises a substantially trapezoidal pad projecting from the interior surface of the flange away from the face contacting surface, the left and right thickened panels defining locally thickened regions of the flange that are thicker than the remainder of the flange.

15. The seal member according to claim 12 , wherein the lower section of the sidewall defines left and right corners of the seal member, wherein left and right portions of the lower section of the sidewall proximate to the left and right corners of the seal member, respectively, are thickened relative to adjacent portions of the sidewall that are adjacent to the left and right portions.

16. The seal member according to claim 12 additionally comprising a thickened band positioned along the sidewall and extending from a left side of the apex, over the apex, to a right side of the apex of the sidewall, the thickened band projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall, wherein each of the first and second thickened panels are spaced from the thickened band.

17. The seal member according to claim 13 , wherein the left and right cheek surfaces are adapted to contact at least two of left and right medial cheek surfaces of the user and left and right lateral nose surfaces of the user in use.

18. The seal member according to claim 13 , wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed along the edge of the flange that at least partially defines the opening.

19. The seal member according to claim 13 , wherein shortest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to the edge of the flange that at least partially defines the opening.

20. The seal member according to claim 13 , wherein longest sides of the left and right thickened panels are disposed parallel to edge of the flange that at least partially defines the opening.