Patent Description:
The present invention further concerns a respiratory mask comprising a mask body that is designed to cover the mouth and nose of a user and that comprises a mask body opening, and that further comprises a valve device as described above that is arranged at the mask body opening.

Valve devices and respiratory masks, as described above, are known from the prior art. The not yet disclosed patent application <CIT> describes a valve device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. A support body of the valve device is attached to a mask body such that it reaches through a mask body hole with a couple of fastening latches. The support body covers the mask body opening and provides a support body opening that communicates with the mask body opening to allow air to be led through the mask body and the support body. A disc-shaped valve element is arranged at the support body opening such that it lies with its outer edge on a circular sealing surface that surrounds the support body opening. In its unactuated state the valve element sealingly closes the support body opening such that air may not flow through the mask body opening. To that regard, the valve element acts as non-return valve: If an airstream hits the valve element with a sufficient force through the support body opening, the valve element may be moved away from the sealing surface on its edge thereby allowing the airstream to pass through the valve device. 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. The valve device therefore allows a user who wears a respiratory mask that comprises the valve device to easily exhale through the valve device. When inhaling the valve element closes the support body opening and air may only flow through the mask body itself, such that the wearer only receives air that is filtered by the mask body of the respiratory mask. Alternative designs of valve devices are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>), and/or <CIT>.

In order to safely attached the valve device to the mask body, the at least one fastening latch is pushed through the mask body opening and a first fastening element is arranged between a back grip of the fastening latch and the backside of the mask body to secure the support body element on the mask body. Here, the fastening latch is of circular shape and the fastening element is a fastening ring that is pushed over the back grip of the circular fastening latch under elastic deformation securing itself on the fastening latch and at the same time fastening the support body element on the mask body. A cover secures the valve element such that it can freely move while it is guarded from outside manipulation and secured from harm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a better valve device, in particular with respect to packaging and transport.

The inventive valve device with the features of claim <NUM> is characterized in that the cover comprises a recess that corresponds to a section of the fastening element that faces away from the support body. Therefore, the low side of the fastening element and the upside of the cover corresponds to one another such that 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. In the mounting process the fastening element or in this example the fastening ring is pushed onto the fastening latch after the fastening that has been pushed through the mask body opening so that the mask body close to the mask body opening is axially held between the support body that rests on the front side of the mask body and the fastening ring or element that is arranged on the backside of the mask body, thereby retaining the support body or the valve device safely on the mask body. However, when multiple valve devices that is designed according to the present invention are stacked on one another, the fastening element of one valve device may at least partially be accommodated within the recess of the cover of another valve device. Due to the corresponding shape of the recess and the fastening element the stacking of the valve devices or of respiratory masks that comprises these valve devices requires less space than before because the valve devices are partially staked within one another. The recess is the last designed to at least partially accommodate a second fastening element that corresponds to the first fastening element. With two valve devices that are both designed according to the presentinvention, one valve device on top of the other valve device can be partially pushed with its fastening element into the cover of the other valve device below, thereby creating a very densely packed stack of valve devices or respiratory masks. that corresponds to the first fastening element. The recess and the first fastening element therefore correspond to one another with respect to their shape and/or dimensions, at least with respect to the section of the fastening element that faces away from the support body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recess is funnel-shaped. This has the advantage that the recess of the cover acts as centering device for a further valve device which is to be stapled on the valve device in the above-described manner with its fastening element in the recess. The funnel-shaped recess is preferably arranged coaxially to the main or center axis of the support body opening that in particular defines the valve opening. Furthermore, the funnel-shaped recess has the advantage that the second fastening element or the fastening element of the second valve device, which is arranged within the funnel-shaped recess, may easily be taken out of the recess without harm. Therefore, the initially stapled valve devices or respiratory masks can easily be taken apart from the staple without harming the fastening element of one valve device or the cover of the other valve device. Preferably. The funnel-shaped recess is arranged coaxially to the valve element or the support body opening.

Preferably, the fastening latch comprises at least one back grip element that extends radially outward to accommodate the first fastening element axially between the back grip element and a backside of the mask body when the valve device is mounted to the mask body. In this case the fastening element, also if designed as fastening ring, is held on the at least one fastening latch not only via a frictional lock but also via a form-fit between the back grip element and the backside of the mask body or - if not yet mounted to the mask body - between the back grip element and the support body main section.

Furthermore, the recess or the cover preferably comprises at least one cover opening that allows air coming from the valve opening to pass the cover. While the cover essentially protects the valve element beneath, it also provides a pass way for the air exiting the respiratory mask, the exhalation air. The cover opening is preferably arranged in a side wall of the cover such that the exiting air does not directly pass the valve device but gets deflected by the cover to exit the valve device sideways or with regard to the main/center axis radially. It is particularly preferred that the cover comprises two cover openings that are arranged distanced from another to allow the airflow with only low resistance. According to a further embodiment, the at least one cover opening is arranged in the cover distanced to the funnel-shaped recess. Furthermore, the cover preferably comprises at least one central cover opening in the area of the recess. The central cover opening in the area of the recess is preferably designed to accommodate the at least one fastening latch of another valve device that is designed according to the present invention when the valve devices are stapled or stacked on one another. Therefore, the contour of the central cover opening preferably corresponds at least essentially to the contour of the fastening latch. As such the central cover opening is preferably designed as ring shaped opening to accommodate at least one ring shaped fastening element of the support body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastening latch at least partially forms the valve opening. The fastening latch is in particular a longitudinal or axial extension of the support body at the area of the support body opening, thus prolonging the opening of the support body defining an air channel that reaches through the support body and the mask body, respectively. The fastening latch is therefore not only designed to fasten the support body to the mask body but also to direct the air passing through the valve opening.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first fastening element is arranged between the at least one fastening latch and the support body main section. As such, the valve device that includes the first fastening element can easily be handled prior to mounting to the mask body. If mounted to the mask body, the mask body partially lies between the fastening element and the support body main section.

Preferably, the support body comprises multiple fastening latches that are arranged in a circular manner in particular to form the valve opening. According to this embodiment, the multiple fastening latches extend into the same direction, in particular in axial direction from the support body main section so as to protrude through the mask body opening if mounted to the mask body. Due to their circular arrangement, the fastening latches themselves form a sleeve or tube that comprises the valve opening or more particular the air channel. Preferably, the fastening latch or latches are designed elastically deformable, in particular such that they may deflect radially inward with their free ends. It is in particular preferred that the back grip of each fastening latch is arranged on the respective free end of the fastening latch. According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the fastening latch is preferably designed as circular fastening latch ring having an inner diameter that defines the valve opening. Instead of multiple fastening latches that are arranged in a circular arrangement, the circular fastening latch ring precisely defines a tube for the air channel. The circular fastening latch ring may have one or more back grips on its outer circumference that protrude radially outward to accommodate at least one fastening element between the back grip and the support body main section or - if mounted - the mask body.

Preferably, the first fastening element is designed as at least essentially stiff fastening ring. The fastening ring may be made of plastic, in particular hard plastic. The fastening ring has the advantage that it holds itself on the circular arranged fastening latches or the circular fastening latch. In the mounted state, the fastening ring is axially retained between the back grips of the one or the multiple fastening latches and the backside of the mask body. The fastening ring is particularly preferred arranged coaxially to the valve opening and on the outer circumference of the multiple fastening latches or the circular fastening latch. Preferably, the inner diameter of the fastening ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the fastening latches that is defined by the back grips. During the assembly process the fastening ring is pushed over the back grips by elastically deflecting the fastening latches radially inward. The fastening ring is therefore stiff in comparison to the fastening latches in order to deflect the fastening latches during the assembly process. The fastening ring is therefore easily mountable and securely fixed onto the support body and the mask body. The described design has the advantage that, although the mounting process is easy, the fastening ring is safely secured to the mask an cannot be lost due to the form-locking arrangement axially between the back grips on one side and the mask body on the other side.

Preferably, an inner diameter of the first fastening ring is greater than an outer diameter of the circularly arranged fastening latches or the one circular fastening latch, in particular axially distanced to the back grips, so that the fastening ring is arranged on the support body or the fastening latches with radial play. This allows an easy mounting process without the need for high forces and the fastening ring is safely secured between the back grips and the mask body.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention the first fastening ring is elastically deformable. Therefore, the fastening ring preferably provides a pretension when mounted on the mask body such that the support body is safely held on the mask body, and particularly loose-prove. The elasticity of the fastening ring furthermore facilitates the mounting of the fastening ring to the circular fastening latch or latches by widening the inner diameter of the fastening ring when overpassing the respective back grip. The attachment of the main body to the mask body is therefore facilitated by the use of the elastic deformable fastening ring without the need for other attachment means such as glue, a weld joint, stitching or the like. The usage of the elastic deformable fastening ring has the further advantage that the respiratory mask that comprises the inventive valve device is easily dismountable without the need to destroy any connection.

Furthermore, the inner diameter of the first fastening ring in its relaxed state is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer circumference of the multiple fastening latches or the circular fastening latch. Thereby, the fastening ring is also held radially fixed to the support body of the valve device.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the first fastening ring comprises a first surface that is oriented towards the support body main section - or in the mounted state towards the mask body - and a second surface that is oriented away from the support body main section, whereby the second surface is funnel-shaped, in particular corresponding to the funnel-shaped recess of the cover. The ring in its sectional view deviates from a circular design. In particular, the fastening ring in its cross section has a trapezoidal design, whereby in particular the second surface or lower surface is designed to provide the funnel shape on the lower end. Thus, the fastening element is funnel-shaped on its free surface (the surface facing away from the mask body) which may be arranged on or more precise at least partially in the recess of a cover of another valve device that is designed according to the present invention.

Preferably, the funnel-shaped recess is constituted by a cover ring section, whereby an outer edge of the cover ring section is fastened to the support body. It is particularly preferred that the cover ring section is deformed to provide the funnel-shape of the recess. This means, that the thickness of the cover in the area of the recess is essentially the same such that the cover in the area of the recess protrudes towards the valve element beneath due to the funnel-shape. Distanced to the funnel-shaped recess, the cover is fastened to the support body so that the funnel-shaped recess is arranged distanced to the main body as well as the valve element allowing the valve element to be deformed during an exhaling process.

The support body and the cover preferably form at least one plug-in connection radially distanced to the valve opening. The plug-in connection allows for an easy attachment of the cover to the main body and therefore for an easy and cost-efficient mounting process of the valve device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plug-in connection comprises a pin that protrudes from the support body or the cover and a receptacle in the cover or the support body, whereby the pin is plugged into the receptacle in a form- and in particular force-fitting manner. By providing a force-fit between the pin and the receptacle, the cover is safely held on the support body. It is particularly preferred that only one, only two, only three or more than three plug-in connections are arranged between the cover and the support body as described above, and that the plug-in connections are preferably evenly distributed around the circumference of the valve opening and radially distanced thereto. By providing at least three plug-in connections a safe and robust connection of the cover to the support body is guaranteed for a long time of usage.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the cover preferably comprises a fastening protrusion that centrally presses the valve element against the above-described valve seat. The pretension of the valve element that guarantees the sealing contact of the valve element on the sealing surface of the valve seat is hereby provided by the fastening protrusion. The fastening protrusion extends axially so far that it reaches in axial direction up to the valve seat and in particular beyond the valve seat to pre-tense and pre-form the valve element in its unactuated state.

The valve seat preferably comprises an annular sealing surface that is preferably arranged in a straight plane, in particular perpendicular to the axial extension of the support body ring section. Therefore, the sealing surface is easily realized during manufacturing and the overall geometry of the valve element and the sealing surface allows a safe and tight sealing contact along the whole circumference of the valve element at its outer edge.

The support body preferably comprises a support seat adjacent to the fastening protrusion such that the valve element is clamped between the fastening protrusion and the support seat axially distanced to the valve seat. The support seat opposite to the fastening protrusion limits the maximum deformation of the valve element when the cover is mounted on the main body. The support seat hinders the protrusion to protrude axially so far that that it deforms the valve element in particular such that it partially opens.

By clamping the valve element between the fastening protrusion and the support seat, the valve element is safely fixed to the valve device. It is particularly preferred that the valve element has a central through hole through which an end portion of the fastening protrusion extends in particular such that it is plugged into a receptacle of the support seat in a form and force fitting manner. Hereby, a further plug-in connection is provided that is centrally arranged.

Preferably, the support seat is held in the valve opening by at least one support beam that extends from the support body, in particular radially into the valve opening. It is particularly preferred that the valve seat is held by at least two, preferably at least three support beams that extend radially into the valve opening and which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the valve opening. The main cross-section of the valve opening is not impaired by two or three support beams and thus the beams do not provide a further or noticeable airstream resistance.

The cover preferably comprises a support beam that extends from the fastening protrusion diagonally across the valve element, and particularly lying on the valve element. Thereby, the valve element may be moved away from the valve seat or the sealing surface preferably only in an area far away from the support beam, in particular on both sides of the support beam. In the longitudinal extension of the support beam, the valve is safely secured to the valve seat by the support beam. Due to this design, the airflow is directed to the left and to the right of the support beam and the valve element always opens in a same area of the valve element. The support beam is particularly arranged such that in the mounted state on the mask body it lies within the extension of a nose line of a user such that acceleration air will be passed to the left and to the right of the user instead of top and to the bottom. This has the advantage that condensation that might occur during the usage of the respiratory mask will not flow into the mask in the moment the valve element is in its actuated state.

The inventive respiratory mask is characterized by the inventive valve device, thereby obtaining the advantages described above.

Further advantages and preferred embodiments and combinations thereof result from the further description and the claims. The invention shall be described in more detail with reference to the figures below. It is shown in.

<FIG> shows in a top view an advantageous respiratory mask <NUM> that comprises a mask body <NUM> and a valve device <NUM>. The mask body <NUM> is a filtering mask body that allows air to flow through the material of the mask body <NUM> and it is designed to cover the mouth and nose of a user's face. The mask body <NUM> is therefore essentially cup-shaped with a sealing surface face <NUM> on its outer edge <NUM> which is to lie on the user's face during use so that an airflow between the mask body <NUM> and the wearer's face is prohibited. The mask body <NUM> comprises a nose portion <NUM> that is designed to accommodate at least partially a nose of the wearer and a main portion <NUM>, from which the nose portion <NUM> essentially radially extends. The main portion <NUM> and the nose portion <NUM> are essentially of a concave shape. The valve device <NUM> is arranged in the bottom part of the main portion <NUM> distant to the edge <NUM> of the mask body <NUM> so that the valve device <NUM> is distant to the nose and mouth of the wearer during use.

<FIG> shows the respiratory mask <NUM> in an enlarged side view of the valve device <NUM>. The valve device <NUM> is arranged at a mask body opening <NUM> that extends through the mask body <NUM> at the bottom section of the cup-shape at the main portion <NUM>. The valve device <NUM> covers the mask body opening. The valve device <NUM> comprises a support body <NUM> that is fixed to the mask body <NUM> and a cover <NUM> that is attached to the support body <NUM>. Furthermore, the valve device <NUM> comprises a valve element <NUM> that is elastically deformable and which acts as one way valve as will be explained in more detail below. The cover <NUM> protrudes from the mask body <NUM> in the mounted state of the valve device <NUM> so as to secure and protect the valve element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the respiratory mask <NUM> along the line A-A as shown in <FIG>. The support body <NUM> comprises an essentially circular support body main section <NUM> that rests on a front surface face <NUM> of the mask body <NUM> at the mask body opening <NUM> such that the support body main section <NUM> lies on the surrounding edge of the mask body <NUM> that surrounds the mask body opening <NUM>. The support body main section <NUM> comprises a support body opening <NUM> having an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the mask body opening <NUM>. The support body opening <NUM> is constituted by a tube element <NUM> that extends essentially perpendicular to the support body main section <NUM> such that it reaches through the mask body opening <NUM>. The tube element <NUM> thereby constitutes an air channel <NUM> that reaches through the mask body opening <NUM> and extends in axial direction of the tube element <NUM>.

The support body main section <NUM> furthermore comprises a support body recess <NUM> on its upper side opposite to the tube element <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is funnel-shaped and coaxially aligned to the tube element <NUM>. The recess <NUM> ends at the inner diameter of the support body opening <NUM> and is limited on its outer circumference by a protruding circular or annular valve seat <NUM> which provides a continuous circular sealing surface <NUM> for the valve element <NUM>. The sealing surface <NUM> extends in a straight plane that is oriented at least essentially perpendicular to the axial extension of the valve opening <NUM> or the air channel. The valve element <NUM> is of a circular disc shape and arranged coaxially to the valve opening <NUM> and the sealing protrusion <NUM>, respectively. In its unactuated state, the valve element <NUM> rests with its outer edge on the sealing surface <NUM> to safely close the valve opening <NUM> and thus to prohibit air to stream through the valve device <NUM>. The outer edge is to be understood as the outer rim area, that extends along the whole circumference of the valve element <NUM>, facing the sealing protrusion <NUM> or sealing surface <NUM>, and that reaches from the outer border that extends along the outer diameter of the valve element <NUM> radially inward so that the outer edge is understood as the outermost ring segment of the valve element <NUM> in particular with a radial width of <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>, in particular <NUM> to <NUM>. To ensure that the valve element <NUM> sealingly rests on the sealing surface <NUM> along its whole circumference, the valve element <NUM> is slightly pressed into the support body recess <NUM> by the cover <NUM>, whereby the pressing force acts on the center or the middle of the valve element <NUM> such that it is evenly elastically deformed to obtain a concave shape. In its relaxed state, the valve element <NUM> extends in a straight plane so that when the valve element <NUM> is slightly pressed into the recess <NUM>, the inherent elasticity produces a preload or pretension that acts on the sealing surface <NUM> so that the sealing arrangement of the valve element <NUM> on the sealing surface <NUM> along its outer circumference or edge is secure.

The support body <NUM> is shown in a perspective view in <FIG>. The support body <NUM> comprises on its outer edge three axially protruding pins <NUM> that are equally distributed along a circumference of the support body <NUM>. The pins <NUM> are arranged parallel to one another and protrude away from the tube element <NUM> in the direction of the cover <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> comprises for each of the pins <NUM> a receptacle <NUM>. Each receptacle <NUM> has an inner diameter that is preferably at least partially smaller than the outer diameter of the pin <NUM> so that when a pin <NUM> is pushed into a receptacle <NUM>, a form- and force fit between the cover <NUM> and the support body <NUM> is produced. The form- and force fit secures the cover <NUM> on the support body <NUM> safely. Alternatively or additionally, the cover <NUM> may be attached to the support body <NUM> via a material bond that is, for example, facilitated by welding or with an adhesive. The receptacles <NUM> are distributed along the outer circumference of the cover <NUM> corresponding to the distribution of the pins <NUM> so that for each pin <NUM> a receptacle <NUM> is available. Each pin <NUM> and receptacle <NUM> constitute a plug-in connection <NUM> that holds the cover <NUM> on the support body <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> is shown in a perspective view in <FIG>. Corresponding to the number of pins <NUM>, the cover <NUM> comprises three receptacles <NUM> which are designed as recesses in the cover <NUM>. The pins <NUM> and the receptacles <NUM> preferably comprise an at least partially conical shape to facilitate the respective plug-in connection <NUM>. The conical shape provides a self-centering function for the cover when mounted on the support body <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> furthermore comprises a funnel-shaped recess <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The funnel-shaped recess <NUM> is provided by a circular ring section <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. An inner diameter of the ring section <NUM> is smaller than the outer diameter of the valve element <NUM>, such that in the mounted state, when the ring section <NUM> is arranged coaxially to the valve element <NUM>, the ring section <NUM> partially covers the valve element <NUM>, in particular the ring section <NUM> safely covers the outer edge of the valve element <NUM>. The thickness of the ring section <NUM> is essentially constant so that the funnel-shaped recess <NUM> on the top side of the cover <NUM> is also visible on the downside of the cover <NUM> which faces the valve element <NUM>.

On its outer circumference, the ring section <NUM> merges into an upper side wall <NUM> and in a lower side wall <NUM> which are arranged diametrically opposed on the cover <NUM> and which extend sideways from the cover <NUM> in the direction of the support body <NUM>, as also shown in <FIG>. The upper side wall <NUM> is preferably designed to rest on the front surface <NUM> of the mask body <NUM> facing the nose portion <NUM> so that the side wall <NUM> prohibits exhaled air to flow directly into the direction of the eyes of the wearer. The lower side wall <NUM> comprises one of the receptacles <NUM>. Between the side walls <NUM> and <NUM>, the cover <NUM> is distant to the mask body <NUM> in the mounted state, in particular as shown in <FIG>, so that the cover <NUM> and the mask body <NUM> provide two side openings <NUM>, through which air that passes through the valve opening <NUM> may pass through as well. The side openings <NUM> are therefore arranged on the left and the right side of the valve device <NUM> during use, such that exhaled air exits the valve device <NUM> sideways, as indicated with arrows in <FIG>.

The cover <NUM> furthermore comprises a fastening protrusion <NUM> that is arranged centrally in the cover <NUM> and which protrudes axially into the direction of the valve opening <NUM> and the valve element <NUM>. The fastening protrusion <NUM> is designed as fastening pin that preferably comprises a tip <NUM> with a conical shape to provide a self-centering function. The tip <NUM> has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of a central valve element opening <NUM>, so that the pin <NUM> may be pushed through the valve element <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> furthermore comprises a shoulder <NUM> with an outer diameter that is greater than outer diameter of the pin <NUM>. The outer diameter of the shoulder <NUM> is such that it is greater than the inner diameter of the valve element opening <NUM> so that, when the pin <NUM> is pushed through the valve element opening <NUM>, the shoulder <NUM> may rest on the valve element <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, for example. However, the pin <NUM> is preferably designed such that the shoulder <NUM> is distanced to the valve element <NUM> so that the shoulder does not exercise a force onto the valve element <NUM>. The shoulder <NUM> is designed such that when the cover <NUM> is mounted on the support body <NUM>, the shoulder <NUM> lies axially distanced to the sealing surface <NUM> within the support body recess <NUM>, whereby this distance preferably corresponds to the thickness of the valve element <NUM>. Hence, the valve element <NUM> is pushed by the shoulder <NUM> into the recess <NUM> thereby providing the above-described pretension on the sealing surface <NUM>.

The support body <NUM> preferably comprises a support seat <NUM> that is arranged centrally in the valve opening <NUM>. The support body <NUM> comprises at least one, in the present example three, evenly distributed support beams <NUM> that extend radially from the support body main section <NUM> into the valve opening <NUM> and which are connected with the valve seat <NUM>. In particular, the support body <NUM>, the support beams <NUM> and the valve seat <NUM> are designed in one piece. The support beams <NUM> therefore carry or support the support seat <NUM>. The support seat <NUM> comprises a receptacle <NUM> that is designed to accommodate at least partially the pin <NUM> of the cover <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The receptacle <NUM> preferably also comprises a conical shape, at least in its entrance region, so that the pin <NUM> is easily self-centered in the receptacle <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is thereby additionally supported by the central fourth plug-in in connection <NUM> that is constituted by the pin <NUM> and the support seat <NUM>.

The support seat <NUM> is preferably designed such that its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the valve element opening <NUM> so that the valve element <NUM> is axially held between the shoulder <NUM> and the support seat <NUM>. It is particularly preferred that the valve element <NUM> is held between the shoulder <NUM> and the support seat <NUM> in a form-fitting manner in particular with no or only minimal axial play so that the valve element is not axially pressed between the shoulder <NUM> and the support seat <NUM>. For this the axial extension of the pin <NUM> is such that if the pin rests on the bottom of the receptacle <NUM> the distance between the shoulder <NUM> and the support seat <NUM> is equal or just a little bit greater than the thickness of the valve element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a side view of the support body <NUM>. In this view, the structure of the tube element <NUM> is visible. The tube element <NUM> is designed with axial slits or axial extending recesses <NUM> which are evenly distributed over the circumference of the tube element <NUM>. Between two neighbouring recesses <NUM>, the remaining part of the tube element <NUM> provides a fastening latch <NUM> which is elastically deformable such that it may be moved or deflected radially inward at its free end under elastic deformation. Preferably, each fastening latch <NUM> comprises at its free end a back grip element <NUM> that protrudes radially outward from the respective fastening latch <NUM>. Due to the tube-design, the fastening latches <NUM> are arranged in a circular manner. According to an alternative embodiment, instead of having multiple fastening latches <NUM>, the tube element <NUM> is designed as one circular fastening latch that comprises a continuous mantel wall that comprises either one back grip element <NUM> that extends over the whole outer circumference of the tube element <NUM> or multiple back grip elements <NUM> that are arranged evenly distributed over the outer circumference of the tube element <NUM>. In that case, the fastening element <NUM> itself is preferably elastically deformable.

The support body <NUM> is designed such that the back grip elements <NUM> are arranged distanced from a backside <NUM> of the mask body <NUM> in the mounted state of the valve device <NUM>, so that a cavity is provided between the back grip elements <NUM> and the mask body <NUM>.

The valve device <NUM> furthermore comprises a fastening element <NUM> that is preferably designed as fastening ring. The fastening ring is preferably rather stiff, at least stiffer than the fastening latches <NUM>, so that the fastening latches <NUM> are deflected radiall inward when the fastening ring is pushed onto the tube element <NUM>, and has an inner diameter which is somewhat greater than the outer diameter of the tube element <NUM> next to the back grips <NUM> and smaller than the outer diameter of the tube element <NUM> at the back grips <NUM>.

In order to mount the valve device <NUM> to the mask body <NUM>, the valve device <NUM> is firstly pushed through the mask body opening <NUM> with the tube element <NUM> such that the back grip elements <NUM> are arranged axially distanced to the mask body <NUM>. Secondly, the fastening ring or fastening element <NUM> is pushed onto the tube element <NUM> or the fastening latches <NUM>. In order to overcome the back grip elements <NUM>, the fastening latches <NUM> are elastically deformed and deflected radially inward. The axial height of the fastening ring is designed such that the fastening ring <NUM> can be accommodated between the back grip elements <NUM> and the backside of the mask body <NUM>. Therefore, once the fastening ring has passed the back grip elements <NUM>, the fastening latches <NUM> snap back into their original position such that the fastening ring is captured between the back grips <NUM> and the backside <NUM> of the mask body <NUM>.

Optionally, in case the fastening ring itself is elastically deformable, the height of the fastening ring is designed such that it is somewhat larger than the axial distance between the back grip elements <NUM> and a backside <NUM> of the mask body <NUM> so that the fastening ring <NUM> produces a pretension in axial direction between the back grip elements <NUM> and the mask body <NUM>, thereby pulling the support body main section <NUM> onto the front surface <NUM> of the mask body <NUM> and safely retaining the valve device <NUM> on the mask body <NUM>. In case the latches <NUM> are designed without back grip element <NUM>, as shown in the example of <FIG>, the radial pre-tension of the fastening element <NUM> retains the fastening ring on the fastening latches <NUM> and thereby the valve device <NUM> on the mask body <NUM> by frictional-locking on the outer circumference of the fastening latches <NUM>.

The fastening ring comprises a first surface <NUM> that, in the mounted state, is pressed against the backside <NUM> of the mask body <NUM>, and a second surface <NUM> that is oriented away from the mask body <NUM>. The distance between the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> in axial direction defines the height of the fastening ring as described above. The lower or second surface <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, comprises a funnel-shaped protrusion <NUM>. The funnel-shaped of the protrusion <NUM> corresponds to the funnel-shaped of the recess <NUM> of the cover <NUM> with regard to its inner and outer diameter and its inclination.

Furthermore, the outer diameter of the tube element <NUM> including the back grip elements <NUM> is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the ring section <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, the inner diameter defining a center cover opening <NUM>. Thus, the ring section <NUM> ends at the central cover opening <NUM> that is arranged coaxially to the valve element <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> furthermore comprises a support beam <NUM> which is axially distanced to the ring section <NUM> and which carries the fastening protrusion <NUM>. In particular, at least the fastening protrusion <NUM>, the valve support beam <NUM> and the ring section <NUM> are made in one piece. The support beam <NUM> extends diagonally across the cover <NUM> and the valve element <NUM> in a direction from the side wall <NUM> to the side wall <NUM> and - if mounted on the mask body <NUM> - along the vertical line A-A that runs from the nose section <NUM> through the central axis of the valve device <NUM>, in particular the valve element <NUM>. The support beam <NUM> is axially distanced to the ring section <NUM> of the cover such that it lies on the valve element or is arranged close to it so that it guarantees that the valve element <NUM> can preferably only be lifted on its edge from the sealing surface <NUM> in the vicinity of the side openings <NUM> between cover <NUM> and mask body <NUM>. The valve element support beam <NUM> preferably hinders the valve element <NUM> on its upper and lower edge to be lifted from the sealing surface <NUM>. The valve element <NUM> can therefore only be deformed into a v-like shape by lifting its edge from the sealing surface <NUM> on diagonally opposing sides.

The fastening protrusion <NUM> is preferably arranged on a central disc section <NUM>, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the central cover opening <NUM>. Thereby, the remaining central opening <NUM> obtains a ring-form.

During use, when inhaling, a user can draw fresh air only through the filtering material of the mask body <NUM> due to the one-way valve function of the valve device <NUM>. When exhaling, the air pressure acts against the valve element, as shown with arrows in <FIG>, such that it may be lifted on its edge from the sealing surface <NUM> close to the side openings <NUM>. Exhaled air may pass through the valve device <NUM> and exit the valve device <NUM> sideways, as shown in <FIG>. The exhalation process is easy and comfortable due to the low-pressure resistance of the valve device <NUM>. The described design of the valve device <NUM> and the respiratory mask <NUM> has the advantage that a number of valve devices <NUM> or respiratory masks <NUM> can be stapled on one another to form a stack for a transport that is very tight compared to known solutions, as shown in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
Valve device (<NUM>) for a respiratory mask (<NUM>), comprising a support body (<NUM>) which is designed to be attached on a front side of a filtering mask body (<NUM>) of the respiratory mask (<NUM>) at a mask body opening (<NUM>) and which provides a support body opening (<NUM>), whereby the support body (<NUM>) features a valve seat (<NUM>) that surrounds the support body opening (<NUM>) in a circular manner with a continuous sealing surface (<NUM>), further comprising an elastic valve element (<NUM>) with a circular disc shape that is attached to the support body (<NUM>) such that it rests on the sealing surface (<NUM>) with its outer edge in its unactuated state and such that its outer edge is at least partially moved away from the sealing surface (<NUM>) in its actuated state, and further comprising a cover (<NUM>) that is attached to the support body (<NUM>) and that at least essentially covers the valve element (<NUM>), whereby the support body (<NUM>) comprises a support body main section (<NUM>) that is designed to rest on the front side (<NUM>) of the mask body (<NUM>) and at least one support body fastening latch (<NUM>) that protrudes in axial direction from the support body main section (<NUM>) in a direction away from the cover (<NUM>) to at least partially extend through the opening (<NUM>) of the mask body (<NUM>), and further comprising a first fastening element (<NUM>), whereby the fastening latch (<NUM>) is designed to accommodate the first fastening element (<NUM>) to fasten the valve device (<NUM>) to the mask body (<NUM>), characterized in that the cover (<NUM>) comprises a recess (<NUM>), on the side that faces away from the support body (<NUM>), that corresponds in its shape and/or dimension to a section of the first fastening element (<NUM>) that faces away from the support body (<NUM>) so that the recess (<NUM>) can at least partially accommodate a second fastening element (<NUM>) that corresponds to the first fastening element (<NUM>).