Collapsible Oxygen Mask With Spring-Supported 3D Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oxygen masks in aircraft overhead PSUs are cumbersome to pack, prone to tangling, and often poorly placed by passengers, reducing their effectiveness due to non-intuitive design and limited coverage.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible oxygen mask design featuring flexible materials, springs, and straps that conform to a 3D surface, allowing for compact storage and intuitive use, with optional full-face coverage and integrated air filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If oxygen masks are packed tightly in overhead PSUs, then storage space is optimized, but the masks may deploy prematurely or affect door closure
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen mask is divided into multiple independent components: the mask body, headgear, and oxygen hose are separable. This segmentation allows each component to be packed independently in a compact arrangement within the PSU, optimizing storage space while preventing premature deployment of the entire assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen mask components are nested within each other during storage - the headgear is positioned inside the mask body, and the oxygen hose is coiled and stored within the headgear assembly. This nested configuration maximizes space efficiency in the overhead PSU while maintaining component integrity and preventing accidental deployment
2Reliability
If oxygen masks are packed loosely to avoid tangling, then deployment reliability is improved, but storage space is wasted and masks become tangled
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen hose is pre-attached to the mask body in a predetermined configuration before packing. The headgear is pre-positioned in a specific orientation relative to the mask. This preliminary arrangement ensures that during deployment, the components are already in the correct positions and orientations, preventing tangling while allowing compact packing
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional cup-shaped oxygen masks are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the masks are not intuitive to use resulting in poor placement
Solution Approach 1:
The mask body is designed with a contoured shape that curves to match the natural contours of the human face. The headgear features padded ear cups and an adjustable headband that conform to the head shape. This curved, ergonomic design is immediately intuitive to users, guiding correct placement without requiring instructions, while remaining manufacturable using standard molding techniques
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the mask have specialized features tailored to specific facial areas: the nose clip area is reinforced and shaped to fit the nasal bridge, the cheek areas have flexible material for sealing, and the headgear has padded contact points for comfort. These localized quality enhancements make the mask self-explanatory and easy to position correctly
4Device complexity
If oxygen masks only cover nose and mouth, then the design is simple, but coverage is limited reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen mask is designed as a full-face mask that simultaneously protects multiple vital areas: the nose, mouth, and eyes are all covered by the single mask structure. The headgear integrates multiple functions including securing the mask, providing comfort padding, and enabling adjustment. This multi-functional design increases protective effectiveness while maintaining a unified, manageable structure rather than requiring multiple separate devices
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enables efficient packing, easy deployment, and enhanced protection by covering the nose, mouth, and eyes, while providing oxygen and filtering debris, improving user comfort and visibility during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring disposed circumferentially around the first flexible material, the first spring providing structural support to the oxygen mask along a first plane
Implementation Method 2
a second spring disposed laterally across the first flexible material and providing structural support to the oxygen mask along a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane
Implementation Method 3
an air valve configured to allow air to pass between the interior of the oxygen mask and an exterior of the oxygen mask
Data Source
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AI summary
An oxygen mask (400) is disclosed herein. The oxygen mask (400) includes a first flexible material (402) having a first surface and a second surface, a first spring (404) disposed circumferentially around the first flexible material (402), the first spring (404) providing structural support to the oxygen mask (400) along a first plane, wherein the first flexible material (402) and the first spring (404) define an interior of the oxygen mask (400), an air valve (412) configured to allow air to pass from the interior of the oxygen mask (400) to an exterior of the oxygen mask (400), an air hose (410) coupled to the oxygen mask (400) and configured to allow an air flow into the oxygen mask (400), and a strap (408) coupled to the first flexible material (402) and the first spring (404), wherein the strap (408) is configured to pull the first flexible material (402) and the first spring (404) to conform to a 3D surface.