Patent ID: 7509958

Claim:
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, comprising: a frame; and a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame and including a pair of side portions and a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions, the pair of side portions including at least one strap, wherein: the rear portion has at least one strap constructed of at least two layers of material, one of the layers of material having a more rigid construction than the other of the layers of material to resist compression of the at least one strap of the rear portion in a first direction, the rear portion of the headgear being operatively connected to the pair of side portions to thereby resist movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction, each of the pair of side portions includes an upper strap removably attachable to an upper portion of the frame and a lower strap removably attachable to a lower portion of the frame, the upper strap being adapted to extend above the patient's ear and the lower strap being adapted to extend below the patient's ear, and the rear portion includes an upper strap, a lower strap, and an intermediate strap arrangement between the upper and lower straps of the rear portion, the intermediate strap arrangement including the at least one strap constructed of two layers of material.