Face Mask Oral Attachment Mechanism for Strapless Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current face masks, particularly CPAP masks, often struggle to create an effective airtight seal around diverse facial shapes, leading to discomfort and inefficiency due to the need for straps that can cause pressure and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A customized face mask assembly that includes a releasable attachment mechanism to the oral appliance, allowing the mask to be secured by the wearer's teeth, eliminating the need for uncomfortable head straps and enabling a better fit tailored to individual facial contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional straps are used to secure the face mask, then the mask can be held in place, but discomfort and pressure are caused on the wearer's head and ears
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the traditional head straps from the face mask system entirely. Instead of using straps that wrap around the head and ears, the patent uses an oral appliance with teeth-gripping elements that secure the mask through the mouth, eliminating the source of discomfort and pressure on the head and ears while maintaining mask security.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an oral appliance as an intermediary mechanism between the face mask and the wearer's head. This oral appliance, which engages with the teeth, serves as a mediator that transfers the securing function from the uncomfortable head straps to a comfortable oral structure, thereby maintaining mask attachment without causing head and ear discomfort.
2Reliability
If the face mask is customized to fit individual facial contours, then a better seal is achieved, but the complexity of manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by customizing only the critical sealing portions of the face mask to match individual facial contours, while maintaining standard manufacturing processes for the overall mask structure. The oral appliance and its attachment mechanism are customized to the wearer's oral anatomy, allowing for improved seal effectiveness without requiring complete customization of the entire mask assembly, thus managing manufacturing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the oral appliance is designed to engage the teeth for secure attachment, then the mask becomes easier to remove and adjust, but the risk of dental damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs flexible, biocompatible materials for the oral appliance that can engage with teeth through gentle mechanical interlocking rather than rigid gripping. The flexible nature of the material allows for easy adjustment and removal while distributing forces across multiple tooth contact points, reducing the risk of dental damage compared to rigid, high-force gripping mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates cushioning elements in the oral appliance design that preemptively protect the teeth from excessive forces. These cushioning features are built into the appliance structure before use, allowing for secure engagement with teeth while cushioning against potential damage during adjustment and removal operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A face mask assembly may include an oral appliance connected to a post. A face mask assembly may include a face mask comprising a shell, a liner, an adapter, and a threaded, slotted sleeve configured to receive the post. A face mask assembly may include a threaded nut configured to selectively engage the threaded, slotted sleeve, wherein engaging the threaded nut on the threaded, slotted sleeve causes the threaded, slotted sleeve to engage the post and fix the position of the face mask relative to the oral appliance.