Respiratory Mask Valve Assembly for Compact Secure Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve devices for respiratory masks face challenges in packaging and transport due to inefficient stacking and secure fastening mechanisms, leading to increased space requirements and potential damage during handling.
Innovation Solution
The valve device features a cover with a recess that accommodates the fastening element of another device, allowing for compact stacking, and a fastening mechanism that includes a funnel-shaped recess and elastic fastening ring for secure attachment to the mask body, facilitating easy assembly and disassembly without damaging components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fastening mechanisms are used for valve devices, then secure attachment to mask body is achieved, but stacking space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element is designed to be nested within the cover structure. The cover includes a recess that receives the fastening element when the valve device is stacked, allowing compact stacking while maintaining the fastening mechanism's attachment security during use
2Strength
If rigid fastening structures are used, then attachment strength is improved, but ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element is designed as an elastic component that can dynamically deform during assembly and disassembly. The elastic deformation allows the fastening element to be inserted into and removed from the cover recess without permanent deformation, while maintaining strong attachment during use
3Reliability
If multiple fastening components are used, then attachment reliability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element and cover are designed as integrated components where the cover includes a recess specifically shaped to receive the fastening element. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining reliable attachment through the combined structure
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
This design enables a more compact and secure stacking of valve devices, reducing space requirements and simplifying handling while ensuring robust attachment to the mask body, enhancing transport efficiency and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
In the absence of airflow the elasticity of the valve element acts as pre-tension that moves the valve element at its outer edge against the sealing surface and closes the passage
Implementation Method 2
the fastening element could be arranged at least partially within the recess of the cover. The fastening elements may, for example, be an elastic fastening ring that is designed such that when pushed onto the fastening latch it stretches under elastic deformation so that a pretension of the fastening ring acts on the fastening latch in radial direction so that the fastening ring is retained on the fastening latch by frictional force
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a valve device (3) for a respiratory mask (1), comprising a support body (9) which is designed to be attached on a front side of a filtering mask body (2) of the respiratory mask (1) at a mask body opening (8) and which provides a support body opening (14), whereby the support body (9) features a valve seat (18) that surrounds the support body opening (14) in a circular manner with a continuous sealing surface (19), further comprising an elastic valve element (11) with a circular disc shape that is attached to the support body (9) such that it rests on the sealing surface (19) with its outer edge in its unactuated state and such that its outer edge is at least partially moved away from the sealing surface (19) in its actuated state, and further comprising a cover (10) that is attached to the support body (9) and that at least essentially covers the valve element (11), whereby the support body (9) comprises a support body main section (12) that is designed to rest on the front side (13) of the mask body (2) and at least one support body fastening latch (35) that protrudes in axial direction from the support body main section (12) in a direction away from the cover (10) to at least partially extend through the opening (8) of the mask body (2), whereby the fastening latch (35) is designed to accommodate a first fastening element (38) to fasten the valve device (3) to the mask body (2). It is provided that the cover (10) comprises a recess (23) that corresponds to a section of the fastening element (38) that faces away from the support body (9).