Patent ID: 8763612

Claim:
A locking clip for removably coupling a frame and a headgear assembly of a respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the locking clip comprising: a main body providing a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having a front end potion adapted to be inserted into a front opening slot of the frame and the rear portion adapted to be removably coupled to the headgear assembly; and a pair of resiliently flexible spring arms, each spring arm including a finger grip portion adapted to be manually manipulated by the patient to release the locking clip from the frame, the finger grip portion being positioned rearward of the front opening of the slot when the front end portion is inserted into the slot, the front portion including a central support tab positioned between the pair of spring arms, the central support tab adapted to be inserted into the slot of the frame to guide the locking clip into engagement with the frame, the central support tab providing the front end portion adapted to be inserted into the front opening of the slot of the frame and a rear end portion to which each said spring arm is connected, wherein each spring arm is spaced from the main body by a flexing space having an open end that extends from a lateral side of the clip, and the open end being positioned rearward of the front opening the slot when the front end porton is inserted into the slot, and wherein each spring arm includes a locking tab provided to a free end of the spring arm, the locking tab being laterally spaced and laterally adjacent the front end portion of the central support tab.