Respiratory Mask With Adjustable Forehead Pad Curvature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional respiratory masks fail to fit closely on all facial types, leading to discomfort and air leakage due to their inability to accommodate varying facial features.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory mask design featuring a mask body with a flexible portion and an adjusting unit, where the adjusting unit with varying hardness is removably coupled to adjust the curvature and distance of the flexible portion, allowing for customizable fit by engaging different adjusting members with different curvatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional respiratory mask with a rigid forehead supporting member is used, then the mask structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot fit closely onto all faces resulting in discomfort and air leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The forehead supporting member is divided into a rigid portion and a flexible portion with different curvature radii. The flexible portion can be bent to different degrees to match different forehead shapes, while the rigid portion maintains structural stability. This segmentation allows the mask to adapt to various facial features without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the forehead supporting member are given different mechanical properties - the rigid portion provides structural support while the flexible portion provides adaptability. This local differentiation of material properties enables the mask to simultaneously maintain structural integrity and achieve custom fit for different users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible portion is made more flexible to accommodate different forehead shapes, then adaptability improves, but the support strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The forehead supporting member is segmented into rigid and flexible portions with distinct curvature radii. The flexible portion can bend to accommodate different forehead shapes while the rigid portion maintains structural support strength, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a custom-fit mask is designed for each user, then comfort and sealability improve, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the forehead supporting member into standardized rigid and flexible portions with different curvature radii, the mask can accommodate multiple forehead shapes using a single base design. This approach enables mass production of standardized components while still achieving custom-fit capability, avoiding the need for completely individualized manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible portion serves multiple functions - it can be bent to different degrees to match various forehead shapes, acting as both a structural connector and an adaptive element. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining custom fit capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A respiratory mask includes a mask body and an adjusting unit. The mask body has a frame portion, a flexible portion extending from the frame portion, and a forehead pad. The flexible portion has a mask-connecting end that is adjacent to the frame portion, and a pad-connecting end that is distal from the frame portion and connected to the forehead pad. The adjusting unit has a hardness greater than that of the flexible portion, and is removably coupled to the flexible portion for adjusting a curvature of the flexible portion and a distance between the forehead pad and the frame portion.