Collapsible Oxygen Mask Structure for Compact Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oxygen masks in aircraft 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 PSUs, then storage space is optimized, but masks and hoses may deploy or affect door closure
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen mask system is divided into separate components: the mask body, the headgear, and the hose are independently packable. The mask can be stored in a compact form without the hose attached, allowing tight packing while preventing accidental deployment or door closure interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose is extracted and separated from the mask body during storage. This allows the mask to be packed tightly in the PSU without the hose creating deployment risks or interfering with door closure mechanisms, while the hose can be separately managed.
2Ease of operation
If oxygen masks are packed loosely in PSUs, then mask and hose tangling is prevented, but storage space is wasted and packing becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mask and hose into separate components, each can be packed independently in an organized manner. This reduces tangling issues while allowing more efficient space utilization compared to loose packing of complete assemblies.
3Ease of manufacture
If cup shaped oxygen masks are used, then manufacturing is simple, but placement is non-intuitive resulting in poor effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The mask design incorporates a more anatomically contoured shape that better conforms to the human face, particularly around the nose and mouth areas. This curved, ergonomic design makes placement more intuitive while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through molding processes.
4Device complexity
If oxygen masks cover only nose and mouth, then device complexity is reduced, but coverage is insufficient for full face protection
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen mask system is designed to provide multiple levels of protection: it can be used as a standard nose-and-mouth mask for basic oxygen delivery, or extended to provide full-face coverage when needed. This multi-functional design increases adaptability without significantly increasing base complexity.
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 improved coverage of the face, including the eyes, while providing oxygen and filtering debris, enhancing passenger safety and comfort 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
AI summary
An oxygen mask is disclosed herein. The oxygen mask includes a first flexible material having a first surface and a second surface, a first spring disposed circumferentially around the first flexible material, the first spring providing structural support to the oxygen mask along a first plane, wherein the first flexible material and the first spring define an interior of the oxygen mask, an air valve configured to allow air to pass from the interior of the oxygen mask to an exterior of the oxygen mask, an air hose coupled to the oxygen mask and configured to allow an air flow into the oxygen mask, and a strap coupled to the first flexible material and the first spring, wherein the strap is configured to pull the first flexible material and the first spring to conform to a 3D surface.