Abstract:
Embodiments provide methods for storing a respiratory mask. In one embodiment, the respiratory equipment may include a respiratory mask having a front side and a rear side and a cavity having an opening in the rear side. There may also be provided an inflatable harness adapted to maintain the respiratory mask against the user face, and a storage element comprising a housing In one embodiment, the method may include pulling on the harness on the front side of the respiratory mask in order to place the harness on the respiratory mask in an storage position outside said cavity, and maintaining the harness on the respiratory mask in the storage position and inserting the respiratory mask into the housing of the storage element.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a method for storing a respiratory mask and to a respiratory equipment for aircraft, said respiratory equipment including a respiratory mask, an inflatable harness and a storing element. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In particular, the invention deals with a method which comprises:
       a) providing a respiratory equipment including:
           a respiratory mask having a front side and a rear side (at the opposite of the front side), the respiratory mask comprising a cavity having an opening in the rear side, the rear side of the respiratory mask being adapted to be applied on a user face in a use position in which the user face closes the opening of the cavity,   an inflatable harness adapted to maintain the respiratory mask against the user face, and   a storage element comprising a housing adapted to store the respiratory mask in a storage position,   
           inserting the respiratory mask into the storage element so as to place the respiratory mask at a storage place of the storage element.       
 
         [0008]    The respiratory mask typically worn by aircraft crewmembers must be attached surely and rapidly on the crewmember head. And it must require only one hand to be attached; since the other hand of the user is frequently required for some other essential tasks. 
         [0009]    For example, if because of a pressurization failure, the pilot of an aircraft is required to rapidly don his respiratory mask to provide him with the necessary oxygen for breathing, he often must do so with one hand while his other hand is occupied in controlling the aircraft. Thus, the use of an inflatable head harness has been suggested in order to enable the respiratory mask to be donned using only one hand. Generally, the head harness has substantially a dome shape or an annular shape and is expanded diametrically by the introduction of pressurized gas to cause the harness to increase in size so that it can be positioned over the head of the user. The gas flow is controlled by a valve attached to the respiratory mask, and, after enlargement of the harness, the respiratory mask is placed in position against the face of the user, with the harness extended over and spaced from the back of the head. Once the respiratory mask is properly positioned, the pressure in the harness is released, causing the harness to contract and to contact the head of the pilot, whereby the respiratory mask is securely held in its proper position. Meanwhile, the other hand of the pilot is free to control the aircraft or to perform such other tasks as may be required. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The invention aims at improving the efficiency of the respiratory mask donning and in particular reducing the time of inflation of the inflatable harness. 
         [0011]    For this purpose, according to the invention the method for storing the respiratory mask further comprises: 
         [0012]    b) pulling on the harness on the front side of the respiratory mask in order to place the harness on the respiratory mask in an storage position outside said cavity, and 
         [0013]    c) maintaining the harness on the respiratory mask in the storage position and inserting the respiratory mask into the housing of the storage element, so as to place the respiratory mask at a storage place of the storage element. 
         [0014]    In the storage position, the harness is pulled which tends to extend the harness and avoids that the harness have a bend. The harness is maintained substantially in the storage position when the respiratory mask is stored in the storage element. Therefore, the harness is outside the cavity of the respiratory mask when it is in the storage element. When the respiratory mask has come out of the housing, the harness is outside the cavity of the respiratory mask and the harness  20  can be inflated. So, the risk of having a bend of the harness inserted in the cavity of the respiratory mask when the harness begins to inflate is reduced, as long as the occurrence of inflation problem increasing the time required for inflating the harness. 
         [0015]    According to another feature in accordance with the invention, preferably the method comprises:
       providing the respiratory mask with a top edge and a bottom edge around the cavity, the top edge being opposite the top edge, and   placing an upper resting portion of the harness against the top edge of the respiratory mask in the storage position during step b).       
 
         [0018]    Thus, the harness is more easily maintained in the storage position and the subsequent inflation of the harness is quicker. 
         [0019]    According to a supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises maintaining the resting portion of the harness between the top edge of the respiratory mask and a wall of the housing of the storage element when the respiratory mask is at the storage place. 
         [0020]    Thus, the harness is more surely maintained in the storage position when the respiratory mask is at the storage place. 
         [0021]    According to another supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises placing a lower resting portion of the harness against the bottom edge of the respiratory mask and exerting a tension on the harness between the upper resting portion and the lower resting portion in the storage position of the respiratory mask. 
         [0022]    Thus, the harness is even more easily maintained in the storage position and the subsequent inflation of the harness is quicker. 
         [0023]    According to another supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises pulling on a connection portion of the harness away from the cavity on the back side of the respiratory mask, and then in a substantially circular movement pulling on the connection portion of the harness successively:
       above the top edge, and   on the front side of the respiratory mask, so as to place the upper resting portion of the harness against the top edge of the respiratory mask.       
 
         [0026]    Thus, the harness is efficiently placed in a satisfying storage position on the respiratory mask. 
         [0027]    According to another feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises:
       providing the respiratory equipment with a strap having a catching portion and a connection portion, said connection portion of the strap being connected to the harness,   pulling on the catching portion of the strap during step b), and   releasing the strap after inserting the respiratory mask into the storage element and placing the respiratory mask in the storage place of the storage element.       
 
         [0031]    Thus, step b) is easier to achieve. 
         [0032]    According to a supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises:
       providing the respiratory mask with a support supporting the respiratory mask, and   during step c) gripping the support (for inserting respiratory mask into the storage element) and catching the catching portion of the strap (for maintaining the harness in the storage position) with a single hand.       
 
         [0035]    Thus, placing the respiratory mask at the storage place while pulling on the strap is made easier, since only one hand is required. 
         [0036]    According to another supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises fixing the respiratory mask at the storage place before releasing the strap. 
         [0037]    Thus, the harness is more surely maintained in the storage position. 
         [0038]    According to another supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the strap is preferably elastically stretchable. 
         [0039]    Thus, it is easier to exert a pulling tension on the harness. 
         [0040]    According to another supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises:
       providing the harness with an inflatable tube having two ends connected to the respiratory mask and forming an harness loop intended to surround the head of the user, and   connecting the connection portion of the strap to the inflatable tube substantially in the middle of the inflatable tube between the first end and the second end.       
 
         [0043]    Thus, a substantially equal pulling tension can be easily exerted over the whole inflatable tube. 
         [0044]    According to supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, the method preferably comprises:
       providing the harness with a second inflatable tube having two ends connected to the respiratory mask and forming a second harness loop intended to surround the head of the user,   connecting a second connection portion of the strap to the second inflatable tube substantially in the middle of the second inflatable tube between the first end and the second end, and   simultaneously pulling on the inflatable tube and the second inflatable tube during step b).       
 
         [0048]    Thus, the harness is more safely maintained on the user head when in the use position without requiring more care to prevent the second inflatable tube from entering within the cavity of the respiratory mask. 
         [0049]    Moreover, the invention also deals with respiratory equipment. In accordance with the invention, the respiratory equipment includes:
       a respiratory mask having a front side and a rear side (opposite the front side), the respiratory mask comprising a cavity having an opening on the rear side of the respiratory mask, the rear side of the protective mask being adapted to be applied on a user face in a use position in which the user face closes the opening of the cavity,   an inflatable harness adapted to maintain the respiratory mask against the user face,   a storage element comprising a housing adapted to store the respiratory mask at a storage place, and   a strap having a catching portion and a connection portion, said connection portion of the strap being connected to a connection portion of the harness.       
 
         [0054]    Therefore, the harness can be more easily placed in a storage position which reduces the risk of occurrence of inflation problem increasing the time required for inflating the harness. 
         [0055]    According to another feature in accordance with the invention, the strap is preferably elastically stretchable. 
         [0056]    Thus, exerting a pulling tension on the harness is made easier. 
         [0057]    According to the invention, the respiratory equipment has preferably the following features:
       the respiratory mask has a top edge and a bottom edge,   the harness is adapted to be placed in an storage position in which an upper resting portion of the harness is placed against the top edge of the respiratory mask,   the respiratory mask comprises a support supporting the respiratory mask, and   the strap has a catching length between the catching portion and the connection portion, said catching length being long enough such that the catching portion of the strap reaches the support when the harness is in the storage position.       
 
         [0062]    Thus, placing the respiratory mask at the storage place while pulling on the strap is made easier, since only one hand is required. 
         [0063]    According to the invention, the respiratory equipment has preferably the following features:
       the harness comprises an inflatable tube having a first end and a second end connected to the protective mask and forming an harness loop intended to surround the head of the user, and   the connection portion of the strap is connected to a connection portion of the inflatable tube substantially in the middle of the inflatable tube between the first end and the second end.       
 
         [0066]    Thus, a substantially equal pulling tension can be easily exerted over the whole inflatable tube. 
         [0067]    According to the invention, the respiratory equipment preferably further has the following features:
       the harness comprises a second inflatable tube having a first end and a second end connected to the protective mask and forming a second harness loop intended to surround the head of the user, and   a second connection portion of the strap is connected to a connection portion of the second inflatable tube substantially in the middle of the second inflatable tube between the first end and the second end.       
 
         [0070]    Thus, the harness is more safely maintained on the user head when in the use position without requiring more care to prevent the second inflatable tube from entering within the cavity of the respiratory mask. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0071]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings in which: 
           [0072]      FIG. 1  illustrates in perspective a respiratory equipment at a first step of a storing method in accordance with the invention, 
           [0073]      FIG. 2  illustrates in plan view the respiratory equipment having a harness placed in a storage position on a respiratory mask, during insertion in a storage box, 
           [0074]      FIG. 3  illustrates the respiratory equipment with the harness placed in the storage position on the respiratory mask and the respiratory mask placed at a storage place in the storage box, 
           [0075]      FIG. 4  illustrates the respiratory equipment coming out of the storage box, 
           [0076]      FIG. 5  illustrates the respiratory equipment in a use position, 
           [0077]      FIG. 6  illustrates at enlarged scale a portion referenced VI in  FIG. 5 , 
           [0078]      FIG. 7  illustrates a variant of respiratory equipment having the harness placed in the storage position on the respiratory mask and the respiratory mask at a storage place in a storage cup. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0079]      FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6  illustrate a respiratory equipment  1  placed in a cabin  9  of an aircraft and essentially comprising a respiratory mask  10 , an inflatable harness  20 , a storage element  30  and a strap  40 . 
         [0080]    The respiratory mask  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6  is a full face respiratory mask and includes a support  11 , an on-demand regulator  12 , an oronasal face piece  14  and an eye protective shield  16  fixed to the support  11 . 
         [0081]    The support  11  is rigid, supports the oronasal face piece  14  and forms a housing containing the on-demand regulator  12 . The support  11  includes two opposite gripping surfaces  11   a,    11   b.  In order to hold the respiratory mask  10 , the user  8  may pinch the support  11  by pressing on both gripping surfaces  11   a,    11   b.  Gripping surface  11   a  is part of a lever which can slightly rotate when it is tightly pressed. 
         [0082]    As shown in particular in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the eye protective shield  16  includes a transparent lens  18  and a peripheral flange  17  having an edge  19  including a top edge portion  19   a,  a bottom edge portion  19   b  opposite the top edge portion  19   a  and side edge portions extending between the top edge portion  19   a  and the bottom edge  19   b.    
         [0083]    The respiratory mask  10  has a front side  10   a  and a rear side opposite the front side  10   a.  As shown in  FIG. 1 , the oronasal face piece  14  comprises a cavity  13  having an opening in the rear side  10   b  of the respiratory mask  10 . The eye protective shield  16  comprises a cavity  15  having an opening  15   a  on the rear side  10   b  of the respiratory mask  10 . The opening  15   a  is surrounded by the peripheral flange  17 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rear side  10   b  of the respiratory mask  10  is intended to be sealingly applied on a face  8   c  of a user  8  in a use position. In the use position, the oronasal face piece  14  is sealingly applied on the face  8   c  of the user  8  around the nose and the mouth of the user  8 , so that the user  8  breathes the respiratory gas which is in the cavity  13 . Moreover, in the use position, the peripheral flange  17  is applied on the face  8   c  of the user  8  around the eyes, so that the opening  15   a  is closed by the face  8   c  of the user  8 . The opening  15   a  is substantially part of the separation plan extending between the front side  10   a  and the rear side  10   b  of the respiratory mask  10 . 
         [0084]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the cavity  13  of the oronasal face piece  14  and the cavity  15  of the eye protective shield  16  are distinct. But in an alternative embodiment, the cavity  13  of the oronasal face piece  14  and the cavity  15  of the eye protective shield  16  may be put together. 
         [0085]    The respiratory equipment  1  further comprises a gas supply tube  2 . The gas supply tube  2  is flexible and comprises an upstream end  2   a  and a downstream end  2   b.  The gas supply tube  2  is connected at the upstream end  2   a  to a source of pressurised respiratory gas  4  (in particular oxygen) through a supply line  6 . The downstream end  2   b  of the gas supply tube  2  is connected to the regulator  12 , so that the cavity  13  of the oronasal face piece  14  is supplied in respiratory gas through the on-demand regulator  12  in accordance with the requirement of the user breathing. 
         [0086]    The harness  20  comprises an upper inflatable tube  22  and a lower inflatable tube  24 , each inflatable tube  22 ,  24  forming a loop having a first end  22   y,    24   y  and a second end  22   z,    24   z  connected to the support  11 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the use position each of the upper inflatable tube  22  and the lower inflatable tube  24  surrounds the head of the user  8 . The regulator  12  comprises a valve to selectively connect an internal chamber of the inflatable tubes  22 ,  24  with a source of pressurised gas for inflating the harness  20  upon actuation of the lever including the gripping surface  13   a  or to the ambient air of the cabin  9  for deflating the harness  20  upon actuation of the lever including the gripping surface  13   a  upon releasing of the lever including the gripping surface  13   a.  In the embodiment illustrated, the source of pressurised gas supplying the inflatable tubes  22 ,  24  is the source of respiratory gas  4  as described for example in WO9958197. In an alternative embodiment, the inflatable tubes  22 ,  24  may be supplied in pressurised gas by an autonomous source of pressurised gas as described for example in WO2008017630. 
         [0087]    The harness  20  further comprises non-inflatable elements forming spacers  26 ,  28 , each connected at an upper end to the upper inflatable tube  22 , away from the first  22   y  and second  22   z  ends of the upper inflatable tube  22  and at a lower end to the lower inflatable tube  24 , away from the first  24   y  and second  24   z  ends of the lower inflatable tube  24 . The spacers  26 ,  28  are in resilient material, such as rubber or elastomeric material. Preferably, the spacers  26 ,  28  have a tubular shape of circular section cross section. 
         [0088]    The harness  20  further comprises a lateral strap  27  connected at each of its two ends to the upper inflatable tube  22 . The lateral strap  27  extends over the head of the user  8  in the use position. 
         [0089]    The strap  40  comprises a catching portion  42 , a first connection portion  44  connected to a connection portion  23  of the upper inflatable tube  22  and a second connection portion  46  connected to a connection portion  25  of the lower inflatable tube  24 . The catching portion  42  forms a free end of the strap  40 , the second connection portion  46  forms an opposite free end of the strap  40 , and the first catching portion  44  is intermediate between the catching portion  42  and the second connection portion  46  of the strap  40 . 
         [0090]    The strap  40  is advantageously elastically stretchable, so that the user  8  may easily exert a tension T on the harness  20  by exerting a pulling force on the catching portion  42  of the strap  40 , as illustrated by arrow F in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0091]    The first catching portion  44  is connected to the upper inflatable tube  22  substantially in the middle of the upper inflatable tube  22  between the first  22   y  and second  22   z  ends, the connection portion  23  being substantially at the apex of the loop formed by the upper inflatable tube  22 . The second catching portion  46  is connected to the lower inflatable tube  24  substantially in the middle of the lower inflatable tube  24  between the first  24   y  and second  24   z  ends, the connection portion  25  being substantially at the apex of the loop formed by the lower inflatable tube  22 . So, the pulling force F exerted on the strap  40  causes a substantially uniform tension T on both upper  22  and lower  24  inflatable tubes. 
         [0092]    The storage element  30  has an internal housing  32  delimited by a back wall  38  and a peripheral wall  34 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the back wall  38  is intended to rest on the floor of the cabin  9 , so the back wall  38  forms the bottom of the housing  32 . The housing  32  is in communication with ambient air of the cabin  9  by an opening  36  at the opposite of the back  38 . 
         [0093]    In order to store the respiratory mask  10  in the storage element  30 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , first the user  8  holds the support  13  with a first hand  8   a  and pull on the strap  40  with a second hand  8   b.  So, the user  8  pinches the support  13  with the first hand  8   a  by pressing the opposite surfaces  11   a,    11   b  on the front side  10   a  of the respiratory mask  10 , pinches the catching portion  42  of the strap on the rear side  10   b  of the respiratory mask  10  and move his two hands away from each other. Therefore, the user  8  simultaneously pulls on the connection portion  23  of the first inflatable tube  22  and on the connection portion  25  of the second inflatable tube  24  of the respiratory mask  10  away from the respiratory mask  10  and in particular away from the cavities  13  and  15 . 
         [0094]    Then, the second hand  8   b  of the user  8  follows a substantially semicircular movement going above the respiratory mask  10  while pulling on the connection portions  23 ,  25  of the harness  20 . Therefore, the user  8  successively pulls on the catching portion  42  of the strap  40  far from the front side  10   a,  above the top edge  19   a  and then on the front side  10   a  close to the support  11 . 
         [0095]    The strap  40  has a catching length between the catching portion  42  and the connection portion  44  which is long enough to enable placing the catching portion on the support  11  when the harness in the storage position. 
         [0096]    So, as shown in  FIG. 2 , then the user  8  pulls on the catching portion  42  of the strap  40  and holds the support  11  with the same hand  8   a.  The harness  20  is thus in a storage position in which two upper resting portions  22   a  of the upper inflatable tube  22  rest on the top edge portion  19   a  of the eye protective shield  16  and two lower resting portions  22   b  of the upper inflatable tube  22  rest on the bottom edge portion  19   b  of the eye protective shield  16 . 
         [0097]    The user  8  exerts the pulling force F on the strap  40  which causes the tension T exerted on the harness  20  between the upper resting portions  22   a  and the lower resting portions  22   b  of the upper inflatable tube  22 , therefore preventing the upper inflatable tube  22  from entering into the cavity  15 . 
         [0098]    In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the resting portion  22   a  of the upper inflatable tube  22  is shown slightly remote from the top edge  19   a  o of the eye protective shield  16  in order to make the representation more understandable. But in actual fact the upper resting portions  22   a  of the upper inflatable tube  22  rest on the top edge portion  19   a  of the eye protective shield  16 . 
         [0099]    Then, the user  8  inserts the respiratory mask  10  in the housing  32  of the storage element  30  while pulling on the strap  40  for maintaining the harness in the storage position and places the respiratory mask  10  at the storage place as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0100]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the back wall  38  being the bottom wall of the storage element  30 , when the respiratory mask  10  is at the storage place, the eye protective shield  16  of the respiratory mask  10  rests on the back wall  38  of the storage element  30  through the resting portions  22   a  of the upper inflatable tube  22  which is maintained between the top edge  19   a  of the respiratory mask  10  and the back wall  38 . 
         [0101]    Then, the user  8  releases the strap  40  and the support  11 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the respiratory mask  10  is stored in the housing  32  of the storage element  30  at the storage place and the harness is maintained in the storage position on the respiratory mask  10 . 
         [0102]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the storage element  30  is a storage box having at least one door, preferably two doors hinged between an open position and closed position, to selectively close the opening  36 . Preferably, the doors include a notch through which extends the support  11  in the storage position, so that the user may grasp the support  11  of the respiratory mask  10  without opening the doors. 
         [0103]    When required, the user  8  grasps the respiratory mask  10  by the support  11  and pull the respiratory mask  10  towards him through the opening  36 . In the embodiment illustrated, the user  8  rotates the respiratory mask  10  while pulling the respiratory mask  10  towards him as shown in  FIG. 4 . The harness  20  progressively deploys and falls due to gravity. So, the harness  20  is maintained away from the cavity  15  of the eye protective shield  16 . 
         [0104]    Then, the user  8  presses the lever the lever including the gripping surface  13   a  to inflate the harness  20  and then the user applies the respiratory mask  10  on his face  8   c,  in a use position. In the use position, the whole retaining device  40  is release from the respiratory mask  10 . 
         [0105]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in use position, the strap  40  is still secured to the harness  20 , the portion of the strap  40  between the first connection portion  44  and the second connection portion  46  extending opposite the rear of the user head and being slightly tight. The portion of the strap  40  between the first connection portion  44  and the catching portion  42  is hung up from the connection portion  23  of the first inflatable tube  22  outside the portion of the strap  40  between the first connection portion  44  and the second connection portion  46 . 
         [0106]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  differs from the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 6  in that the storage box is replaced by a storage cup deprived of door and having a the back wall  38  opposite the opening  36  forming a substantially vertical wall. 
         [0107]    When the respiratory mask  10  at the storage place shown in  FIG. 7 , the support  11  is releasably maintained relative to the storage cup  30  thanks to an abutting flange  11  c. Otherwise, the harness  20  is in the storage position and the upper resting portion  22   a  of the harness  20  is maintained between the top edge  19   a  of the respiratory mask  10  and a top wall  34 , of the housing  32  of the storage element  30 . 
         [0108]    When the user wants to don the respiratory mask, the user pulls therefore the respiratory mask  10  towards him without substantially rotating the respiratory mask  10 . 
         [0109]    Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated for illustrative and not limitative purpose. For example, the strap could be a rope having a substantially circular section instead of a flat and elongated section as the strap shown in the embodiments described above.