Rotatable Coupling Assembly With Rotation Limiting Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory interface devices face challenges in maintaining a consistent, tangent seal with the user's face due to limited or excessive rotation of the mask, leading to incomplete sealing and tangling issues with existing coupling assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A coupling assembly with first and second rotatable components, each equipped with rotation limiting structures, limits the rotation of the mask relative to the support assembly, ensuring it remains substantially tangent to the user's face, using cooperative positioning devices like flexible teeth and racks or friction-increasing materials to maintain orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a slot coupling is used to connect the mask and support assembly, then the structure is simple, but the mask rotation is overly limited and cannot provide sufficient adjustment range
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly is divided into multiple components: a coupling body with a slot, a rotatable coupling component with a projection, and rotation limiting structures. This segmentation allows the slot to provide guidance while the rotatable component with limited rotation capability provides adjustable positioning, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and rotation range.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling assembly transitions from a static slot connection to a dynamic system where the rotatable coupling component can rotate within limited ranges defined by the rotation limiting structures. This dynamic capability allows the mask to be adjusted to different orientations while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If snaps or post couplings are used to allow free rotation, then the mask can be positioned flexibly, but the support assembly becomes tangled and the mask may rotate beyond the tangent position
Solution Approach 1:
Rotation limiting structures are built into the coupling assembly to prevent the mask from rotating beyond the tangent position. These structures proactively constrain the rotation range, preventing the harmful effect of over-rotation that would compromise the seal, while still allowing sufficient flexibility for proper positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable coupling component acts as an intermediary between the fixed coupling body and the mask. It provides the necessary rotation flexibility while the rotation limiting structures mediate to prevent excessive rotation, thus maintaining both flexibility and reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the mask is allowed to rotate freely relative to the support assembly, then user comfort can be adjusted, but the mask may not maintain a complete seal against the user's face
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly provides dynamic rotation capability within controlled limits. Users can adjust the mask orientation for comfort by rotating the coupling component within the ranges permitted by the rotation limiting structures, ensuring both comfort adjustment and seal maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation limiting structures define specific angular ranges for mask rotation. These parameter constraints ensure that the mask remains within the optimal angular position for maintaining a complete seal, while still allowing sufficient rotation for user comfort adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling assembly for a respiratory interface device support assembly and a respiratory interface device mask is provided. The respiratory interface device support assembly has at least one strap structured to be coupled to each lateral side of the respiratory interface device mask. The coupling assembly includes a first rotatable coupling component structured to be coupled to the support assembly and having a first rotation limiting structure, and, a second rotatable coupling component structured to be coupled to the mask and having a second rotation limiting structure. When coupled, the first rotatable coupling component first rotation limiting structure and the second rotatable coupling component first rotation limiting structure limit the rotation of the first rotatable coupling component relative to the second rotatable coupling component.