Respiratory Mask Forehead Pad Structure to Limit Lateral Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forehead pads in respiratory masks can cause discomfort due to sliding and instability, leading to poor positioning and maintaining of the mask on the patient's face, and may result in irritations or red marks on the forehead.
Innovation Solution
A forehead pad with a hollow main body and reinforcing members made of resilient material, featuring an elongated tubular shape and a fixation structure, which includes a plurality of elongated reinforcing members arranged in an 'X'-shape structure to enhance stability and prevent sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the headgear pulls the mask against the face with strong force to achieve gas tight sealing, then the sealing efficiency is improved, but the forehead pad causes discomfort and irritations
Solution Approach 1:
The forehead pad is designed with a hollow main body made of resilient material that can be compressed beforehand to distribute the pulling force from the headgear. This cushioning structure prevents direct concentration of force on the forehead skin, thereby maintaining gas tight sealing while avoiding irritations and red marks.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a hollow forehead pad is used to reduce discomfort, then patient comfort is improved, but lateral sliding occurs leading to mask instability
Solution Approach 1:
The forehead pad employs a hollow main body made of resilient material that functions as a flexible shell. This flexible structure can deform under compression while maintaining its overall shape, providing both comfort through force distribution and stability through controlled deformation that prevents lateral sliding.
3Ease of operation
If the forehead pad structure is made resilient and deformable, then comfort is improved, but lateral sliding and instability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The forehead pad features local quality differentiation through its hollow main body structure with specific geometric characteristics. The hollow structure provides resilience and deformability at the contact surface for comfort, while the overall structural configuration maintains stability to prevent lateral sliding during mask wearing.
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 improved forehead pad design limits lateral sliding, ensuring better mask positioning and comfort by maintaining a stable seal, reducing irritations, and enhancing the overall wearing experience.
Implementation Method 1
at least the hollow main body and the reinforcing members are made of a resilient material, i.e. flexible or deformable
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a forehead pad (10) for a respiratory mask (1) comprising a hollow main body (11) having an elongated tubular shape and comprising an inner volume (12), and a fixation structure (14) secured to an outer wall (11.2) of the hollow main body and configured for being attachable to the respiratory mask. The forehead pad further comprises a plurality of reinforcing members (13) arranged in the inner volume of the hollow main body, each reinforcing member comprising a first edge (13.1) secured to an inner wall (11.1) of the hollow main body and a second edge (13.2) secured to at least one of the other reinforcing members, and at least the hollow main body and the reinforcing members are made of a resilient material. A respiratory mask, such as a facial mask, equipped with such a forehead pad is usable for treating respiratory troubles.