Breathing Mask Wearing Tool with Ear-Plugging Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breathing masks for CPAP treatment cause discomfort due to restrictive headgear, ear pain from elastic bands, displacement during sleep, and increased manufacturing costs, while also failing to prevent condensation and hose interference.
Innovation Solution
A breathing mask with a wearing tool featuring U-shaped frame portions that curve around the earflaps and plug into the tragus, providing adjustable and secure fit without ear pressure, combined with a dual-structured frame and L-shaped hose to prevent condensation and hose displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If headgear-style wearing tool with straps is used to fix the breathing mask, then the mask can be secured in place, but the user experiences discomfort and feeling of restraint
Solution Approach 1:
The wearing tool is divided into multiple functional components: a headgear portion with straps for securing the mask, and ear hooks that latch around the earflaps. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the headgear provides secure fixation while the ear hooks provide stable support without pressing on the head, reducing discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear hooks serve as an intermediary element between the breathing mask and the user's head. Instead of straps directly pressing on the head causing discomfort, the ear hooks act as intermediate attachment points that provide stable support through the earflaps, mediating the connection and reducing direct pressure on sensitive areas.
2Reliability
If cold mask-style wearing tool with elastic bands is used to fix the breathing mask, then the mask can be secured, but the user experiences ear pain from bands biting the ear bases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using elastic bands that bite into the ear bases (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by using rigid ear hooks that latch around the earflaps from the outside. This reversal of the fixing mechanism eliminates the biting pressure on the ear bases while maintaining secure fixation through the latching action around the earflaps.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the breathing mask is designed with dual-structured frame with heat insulating air layer, then condensation is suppressed, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The breathing mask employs a thin film insulating layer formed between the inner and outer walls of the frame. This thin film approach provides effective thermal insulation to prevent condensation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, avoiding the need for complex multi-chamber designs or thick insulating materials.
4Device complexity
If the flexible hose is positioned without L-shape tube, then the structure is simpler, but the hose gets crushed when user lies on side
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible hose is configured with an L-shape curvature that positions it away from areas where it would be crushed when the user lies on their side. This curved positioning strategy allows the hose to naturally route around potential compression zones, maintaining gas supply continuity without requiring additional rigid protective structures or complex positioning mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wearing tool (14) for a breathing mask, for reducing a discomfort feeling brought by wearing the breathing mask, the wearing tool comprising: - a pair of straps (10) each having a first end portion which is connected to the breathing mask; and - a frame portion (130a) which is connected to a second end portion of the strap and is placed around an ear flap off the user; wherein the frame portion has a biasing portion (130b) which abuts and biases the base of the ear of the user. The wearing tool may further comprise a pair of fixing members (12), each connected to the second end portion of the strap and plugged in a tragus of the user.