Granted Patent B2

US 12,746,360 · App. 18/194,975 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Inventors: Brett John Huddart (Auckland, NZ); Jeroen Hammer (Auckland, NZ); Matthew Robert Geoff Slight (Auckland, NZ); Vitaly Kapelevich (Auckland, NZ); David Monroy Felix (Auckland, NZ); Jason Allan Klenner (Auckland, NZ); Andrew Paul Maxwell Salmon (Auckland, NZ)

Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited

A61M16/0683A61M16/06A61M16/0672A61M16/0816A61M16/0825

Abstract

Claims (34)

1 . A directional lock assembly for a respiratory mask headgear, the directional lock assembly comprising:

a first lock element comprising a first lock element opening;

a pair of first lock element retainers;

a second lock element comprising a second lock element opening;

a pair of second lock element retainers;

a core member;

a housing comprising:

a first end wall comprising a first end wall opening,

a second end wall comprising a second end wall opening,

a first side wall and a second side wall each extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, wherein the first side wall is opposite from the second side wall, and

a first chamber configured to house the first lock element and a second chamber configured to house the second lock element;

wherein the first end wall opening, the second end wall opening, the first lock element opening, and the second lock element opening allow the core member to pass through the first lock element opening and the second lock element opening;

wherein the first end wall opening and the second end wall opening are aligned with each other;

wherein a first one of the pair of first lock element retainers is positioned on the first side wall and a second one of the pair of first lock element retainers is positioned on the second side wall, and a first one of the pair of second lock element retainers is positioned on the first side wall and a second one of the pair of second lock element retainers is positioned on the second side wall;

wherein the pair of first lock element retainers are configured to pivotally retain the first lock element within the first chamber and the pair of second lock element retainers are configured to pivotally retain the second lock element within the second chamber; and

wherein the first lock element and the second lock element are each configured to pivot between a first position and a second position.

2 . The directional lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the application of a tension force to the core member causes the first lock element and the second lock element to pivot between the first position and the second position.

3 . The directional lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first position is an open position and the second position is a locked position.

4 . The directional lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by an internal wall of the housing, wherein the internal wall comprises an internal wall opening for the core member to pass through, wherein the internal wall opening, the first end wall opening, and the second end wall opening aligned with each other.

5 . The directional lock assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first chamber accommodates the first lock element and the second chamber accommodates the second lock element, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber differ in size and the first lock element and the second lock element differ in size, wherein the size of the first chamber allows the first lock element to pivot between the first position and the second position, and wherein the size of the second chamber allows the second lock element to pivot between the first position and the second position.

6 . The directional lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lock element comprises a first shaft and a first arm that extends from the first shaft, and the second lock element comprises a second shaft and a second arm that extends from the second shaft.

7 . The directional lock assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are cylindrical.

8 . The directional lock assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first arm comprises a first opening and the second arm comprises a second opening, and wherein the first opening and the second opening are configured to receive the core member.

9 . The directional lock assembly of claim 6 , wherein first arm comprises a first arm first section and a first arm second section, wherein the first arm first section extends radially or perpendicularly from the first shaft, and the first arm second section extends at an obtuse angle from an angle of the first arm first section; and wherein the second arm comprises a second arm first section and a second arm second section, wherein the second arm second section extends radially or perpendicularly from the second shaft, and the second arm second section extends at an obtuse angle from an angle of the second arm second section.

10 . The directional lock assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first arm first section is shorter than the second arm first section.

11 . The directional lock assembly of claim 10 , wherein the angle between the first arm first section and the first arm second section is greater than the angle between the second arm first section and the second arm second section.

12 . The directional lock assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are substantially the same width as the housing, the first arm is narrower than the first chamber, and the second arm is narrower than the second chamber.

13 . The directional lock assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first lock element retainers comprise a first circular bush and a first elongate slot, and the second lock element retainers comprise a second circular bush and a second elongate slot, and wherein the first circular bush and the second circular bush intersects with a bottom of the housing to form an entrance.

14 . The directional lock assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first shaft is cylindrical and the second shaft is cylindrical, wherein a diameter of the first shaft is substantially the same as a diameter of the first circular bush such that the first shaft is configured to be received and retained by the first circular bush, and wherein a diameter of the second shaft is substantially the same as a diameter of the second circular bush such that the second shaft is configured to be received and retained by the second circular bush.

15 . The directional lock assembly of claim 13 , wherein first elongate slot is configured to allow the first lock element to be received into the housing, and wherein the second elongate slot is configured to allow the second lock element to be received into the housing.

16 . The directional lock assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first elongate slot extends radially from the first circular bush towards a top of the housing, and wherein the second elongate slot extends radially from the second circular bush towards the top of the housing.

17 . The directional lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are configured to be open at one or both of a top and a bottom of the housing.

18 . The directional lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the directional lock assembly is in the first position, the first end wall opening, the second end wall opening, the first lock element, and the second lock element are all aligned.

19 . The directional lock assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the directional lock assembly is in the second position, a path of the core member through the directional lock assembly is nonlinear or tortuous and movement of the core member through the directional lock assembly is restricted.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (7)

References Cited (400)