[0001] The present invention relates to a fixation clip for a respirator mask, in particular
a nose fixation clip, the fixation clip comprising an elongated clip element having
an U- or V-shaped arrangement with at least one flexible portion that allows an elastic
deformation of the clip element for providing a pretention on the respirator mask.
[0002] Moreover, the invention relates to a respirator mask for a human being, comprising
a main body element that is designed to cover the mouth of the user with a mouth section
and the nose of the user with a nose section, whereby a fixation clip is assigned
to the nose section of the main body element.
[0003] Respirator masks are well-known in the prior art. In order to avoid inhaling dust
particles or the like, respirator masks are used such that they cover the mouth and
the nose of the user so that all air that the user inhales has to go through a filter
element of the respirator mask. Although, respirator masks exist which make use of
changeable filter elements, many respirator masks are used which are of the disposable
kind, whereby a main body element of the mask is made up from a filtering material
itself. In this way, a very light and easy to use respirator mask is provided. In
order to guarantee that the respirator mask is attached to the face of the user in
a sealing manner such that all intake air goes through the filter material, a tight
seat on the face of the user is necessary, in particular in the area of the user's
nose. It is known in the prior art to assign a fixation clip to the nose part of the
respirator mask, the fixation clip being elastically deformable such that it provides
a certain pretension that guarantees the sealing seat of the respirator mask on the
user's face.
[0004] However, the fixation clip can render the respirator mask rather stiff when it comes
to handling, transport and distribution, since the fixation clip is often already
V- or U-shaped corresponding to the typical contour of a user's nose area. As such,
transporting the fixation clip itself or the respirator mask with the fixation clip
requires a certain amount of space and handling measurements. Furthermore, it is also
known to flatten the respirator mask with the fixation clip for an easy transport
and handling of the respirator mask. However, by flattening the respirator mask, the
fixation clip is stressed before it is used. In order to guarantee the function of
the fixation clip during use after the flattening, it must be carefully constructed
in order to endure usage as well as transport and handling.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a better fixation clip
that allows for a safe usage of a respirator mask that comprises the fixation clip
on the one hand as well as an easy handling and transportation of the fixation clip
or the respirator mask on the other hand.
[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved by a fixation clip with the features
of claim 1. The inventive fixation clip has the advantage that it can easily be deformed
from an essentially flat arrangement to the arrangement needed for usage on the respirator
mask, meaning the U- or V-shaped arrangement, without losing its ability for providing
the above described pretension. In its flat arrangement the fixation clip is easily
transported. Also the respirator mask comprising the fixation clip can be transported
in a flat arrangement such that it is easy to stack a number of respirator masks above
each other to form a tight package of respirator masks that is easy to handle. The
inventive fixation clip is designed such that at least one, preferably each flexible
portion of the clip element is designed as bistable hinge connection that provides
an instable sticking point between two stable arrangements of the clip element, one
stable arrangement being the before-mentioned U- or V-shaped arrangement and another
arrangement being an at least essentially flat or straight arrangement. One of the
stable arrangements is thus the at least essentially flat arrangement for stacking
and the other stable arrangement is the U- or V-shaped usage arrangement of the fixation
clip. By usage of a bistable hinge connection, the flat arrangement is reached without
the need for a permanent stress due to an elastic deformation during transportation
and handling. By moving the clip element from the one arrangement to the other arrangement
by overcoming the resistance of the bistable hinge connection at the sticking point,
the user may bring the fixation clip element into its form necessary for usage on
the respirator mask whereby the sticking point of the bistable hinge connection guarantees
that in the U- or V-shaped arrangement the elasticity of the fixation clip is available
for the before-explained pretension that guarantees the sealed seat of the respirator
mask on the user's face.
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clip element comprises
at least two, three or four flexible portions that are arranged spaced apart from
one another along the length of the clip element. By using more than just one flexible
portion of the described type a more flexible arrangements of the clip element and
the fixation clip are possible, since it is not required that only one bistable hinge
connection provides the overall movement range of the fixation clip. Instead, the
overall movement range is divided by the number of flexible portions such that the
movement range of each single bistable hinge connection is reduced to a minimum such
that the realization of each bistable hinge connection becomes more convenient and
affordable.
[0008] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, each bistable hinge
connection connects two adjacent and in particularly at least essentially stiff clip
sections of the clip element with one another. This means that between two rather
stiff clip sections of the clip element a bistable hinge connection is arranged or
constituted. The stiff or essentially stiff clip sections guarantee the overall elasticity
and sufficient stiffness of the clip element for the pretension of the fixation clip
during use. The rather stiff clip sections may be designed flat or with an in particular
light curvature in its longitudinal direction to allow for a comfortable seat on the
user's face on the one hand and a room-efficient arrangement during transportation
on the other hand.
[0009] It is preferred that each bistable hinge connection comprises at least one first
protrusion on a first clip section of the two adjacent clip section protruding in
the direction of the second clip section of the adjacent clip sections for establishing
the sticking point. According to one embodiment of the invention the first protrusion
is pressed against the second clip section only temporary when moving the clip sections
from one stable arrangement to the other stable arrangement in order to establish
an instable pressure resistance point of the bistable hinge connection between the
stable arrangements. The first protrusion establishes the sticking point of the bistable
hinge connection only temporarily such that the pressure resistance of the sticking
point acts only within a predefined movement range of the two clip sections relative
to one another, whereby the movement direction is defined by the hinge connection
itself. This means that only in a certain movement range the so called sticking point
the movement of the two clip sections is hindered, whereby the sticking point can
be overcome by the user through usage of a sufficient force. The first protrusion
is therefore preferably designed such that it only acts in the afore-mentioned movement
range providing a preferred pressure resistance. The protrusion may be designed with
a sharp or flat or rounded protrusion and that is pressed against the second clip
section at the sticking point.
[0010] The second clip section preferably comprises at least one second protrusion that
protrudes in the direction of the first protrusion of the first clip section, for
example such that it is pressed against the at least one second protrusion of the
second clip section to establish the initial pressure resistance point. Whereas the
first protrusion may also contact the free end of the second clip section directly,
it is preferred that the second clip section also comprises a second protrusion that
acts together with the first protrusion. By doing so, the bistable hinge connection
between the adjacent clip section is easily and cost-efficient realized. According
to a further embodiment a second clip section comprises at least two second protrusions
which are arranged in the direction of movement spaced apart from each other in order
to establish two instable pressure resistant points between all three stable arrangements
of the two adjacent clip sections. In this capacity, the bistable hinge connection
acts as detent mechanism that provides at least two pressure resistant points or sticking
points such that the adjacent clip sections can be arranged in three stable arrangements.
This embodiment has the advantage that on top of the possibility to transport the
fixation clip or the respirator mask in a at least essentially flat manner, the user
may now adjust the tension and the arrangement of the fixation clip to its personal
or individual needs. In case the user has a small nose, for example, he may tighten
the fixation clip by moving the arrangement of at least one bistable hinge connection
into the third stable arrangement instead of the second stable arrangement which would
be suitable for a person with a lager nose. Furthermore, the film hinge is preferably
elastically deformable such that the adjacent clip sections can be moved away from
each other in order for the first protrusion to overcome the pressure resistance point
without plastically deforming the bistable hinge connection. This ensures that only
an elastic deformation takes place when the clip sections are moved from one arrangement
to the other stable arrangement. As such, the arrangements can be switched more than
just once by the user which allows for a robust and easy to use fixation clip. It
is furthermore preferred that the first protrusion protrudes beyond a bending axis
of the hinge between the adjacent clip sections. By protruding beyond the bending
axis, the pressure resistance point is defined. In particular, depending on the length
of the first protrusion, the acting pressure at the pressure resisting point of the
bistable hinge connection is adaptable. For example, in order to gain a higher pressure,
the first protrusion protrudes further beyond the bending axis and for a lower pressure
the first protrusion protrudes less beyond the bending axis of the hinge between the
clip sections. While it is preferred that the hinge between the adjacent clip sections
is designed as film hinge, it is also possible to design the hinge as common multiple
part hinge.
[0011] According to a further development of the present invention, a spring element is
arranged between the first protrusion and the second protrusion in a preloaded manner
and is preferably designed in one piece with the first and the second protrusion.
Due to the preload or pretension of the spring element, it acts on the first and second
clip section such that they are pushed into a stable arrangement. By overcoming the
pretension or preload of the spring element by moving the adjacent or neighbouring
clip sections from one arrangement to the other, the spring element is elastically
deformed such that the clip element for example may be deformed from the essentially
flat manner to the U-shaped arrangement. The spring element ensures that without external
force the clip element remains in its present arrangement. Therefore, the spring element
defines the force of the pressure resistant point or the sticking point which has
to overcome by the user in order to change the arrangement of the fixation clip. In
case the spring element is designed in one piece with the first and second protrusion,
the bistable hinge connection is realized in a very cost-efficient and reliable way.
[0012] According to a further advantageous development of the fixation clip, the adjacent
clip sections are connected to one another via a at least one film hinge. The film
hinge provides the basic movable or flexible connection between the two adjacent clip
sections of the clip element. The form hinge is small and cost-efficient and allows
for reliable connection between the two clip sections. In particular, the film hinge
is designed in one piece with the clip sections so that the clip element itself is
also designed in one piece with the respective film hinges. The film hinge is also
known as integral hinge or living hinge.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the film hinge comprises two
spaced apart film hinge sections. By arranging the first protrusion preferably between
the two film hinge sections guarantees that the film hinge sections are stressed equally
by the pressure resistance. Consequently, if the first protrusion is arranged between
the two film hinge sections, the second protrusion, if available, is also arranged
between the two film hinge sections. According to a further preferred embodiment,
the film hinge sections are arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal
extension of the clip element such that between the two film hinge sections a film
hinge element is provided that is connected to the first clip section and the second
clip section via its own film hinge. Preferably, two film hinge elements are provided
on either side of the at least first protrusion. Providing the hinge element between
the clip sections allows for two in particular parallel arranged bending axes of the
bistable hinge connection and thus for a more flexible arrangement of the adjacent
clip sections and a reliable bistable hinge connection in between the adjacent clip
sections.
[0014] In particular, at least the first protrusion and/or the second protrusion are designed
in one piece with the respective clip section. Hence, the protrusions are easily and
cost-efficiently designed with the clip element. Accordingly, a misuse of the fixation
clip is less likely and a long life of the fixation clip is ensured, due to the small
number of single pieces. Furthermore, the bistable hinge connection is preferably
designed in one piece with the clip element. According to this embodiment, the first
protrusion and/or the second protrusion on the one hand as well as the film hinge
on the other hand are designed in one piece with the clip element such that the flexible
portion of the clip element is designed in one piece with the clip element and the
fixation clip is in particular easy to handle and to manufacture.
[0015] The inventive respirator mask with the features of claim 13 is characterized by the
inventive fixation clip as described above. The respirator mask has the advantages
described before, in particular with respect to an easy handling and storing on the
one hand and a reliable pretension during use on the other hand.
[0016] Preferably, the fixation clip is integrated into the main body portion of the respirator
mask such that the main body portion is deformable from an essentially flat arrangement
to an essentially U- or V-shaped arrangement at the nose section. Thus, the fixation
clip is integrated into the main body and thus forms a part of the respirator mask.
The fixation clip is preferably permanently fixed to the main body portion such that
it cannot be removed by the user and exchanged for a new fixation clip element.
[0017] Alternatively, the fixation clip is removable integrated into the main body portion
such that the user may exchange an old or broken fixation clip for a new one or such
that the respirator mask and the fixation clip can be transported separately from
another. It is particularly preferred that the fixation clip is arranged within a
holding pocket of the main body portion. The main body portion thus comprises a holding
pocket for incorporating the fixation clip. It is preferred that the contour of the
holding pocket is essentially equal to that of the fixation clip such that the fixation
clip is arranged within the holding pocket with only little or no play in order to
secure the arrangement of the respirator mask on the user's face.
[0018] Further advantages and preferred embodiments result from features described above
and combinations thereof as well as from the claims. In the following, the invention
shall be further explained by use of the drawings. To that extent
- Figure 1
- shows a respirator mask with a fixation clip in a perspective presentation,
- Figure 2
- shows the fixation clip in three different arrangements in a side view and
- Figures 3A and 3B
- show a flexible portion of the fixation clip in two different arrangements in a perspective
representation, respectively.
[0019] Figure 1 shows in a schematic perspective presentation a respirator mask 1 for a
human being. The respirator mask 1 comprises a main body portion 2 that consists of
a filter material and is designed to cover a mouth and a nose of a user. For that
reason, the main body element 2 comprises a mouth portion 3 intended to cover the
mouth and a nose portion 4 intended to cover the nose of the user, whereby the mouth
portion 3 and the nose portion 4 merge into one another and are thus formed in one
piece by the main body element 2.
[0020] The main body element comprises on its outer edge 5 an optional sealing lip 6 that
extends all around the outer edge 5 and is intended to sit on the face of the user
in a sealing manner such that all intake air that the user breathes, whether it is
through the nose or the mouth, will have to go through the main body element 3 with
the filter material, such that the user will only breath filtered air.
[0021] The nose portion 4 is designed with a V- or U-shaped curvature such that it is adapted
to fit on the nose of a user. In order to guarantee a safe seat of the respirator
mask 1 on the face of the user, in particular in the area of the nose, a fixation
clip 7 is assigned to the nose portion 4. The fixation clip 7 is elastically bendable
to provide a pretension that acts on the respirator mask 1, in particular the main
body portion 2, to guarantee a safe seat on the user's face. The fixation clip comprises
an elongated clip element 8 which is bent into a V- or U-shaped form in order to be
adapted to the nose portion 4 of the main body portion 2. In order to adapt the pretension
to a user individually and in order to allow an easy transportation of the respirator
mask 1 and the fixation clip in particular, the clip element 8 is provided with presently
four flexible portions 8. Three of which can be seen in figure 1. By use of the flexible
portions, the clip element 8 can be moved or formed into different arrangements as
shown in figure 2.
[0022] Figure 2 shows in a side view the fixation clip 7 in three different arrangements
A, B and C. In the first arrangement A, the fixation clip 7 is arranged in an essentially
flat arrangement or almost completely flat-manner. The clip element 8 comprises five
at least essentially stiff clip sections 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 in its longitudinal
extension. Between each adjacent clip section 10 to 14 one of the flexible portions
9 is provided. That means that clip sections 10 and 11, clip sections 11 and 12, clip
sections 12 and 13 and clip sections 13 and 14 are connected to each other by one
of the flexible portions 9, respectively.
[0023] According to the present embodiment, the clip sections 10 to 14 are shaped with a
curvature in their longitudinal extension in order to provide a comfortable fit of
the fixation clip 7 on the respirator mask 1, in particular to ensure a comfortable
pretension that acts on the user's face without being distant far from the main body
element 2, so as to allow for a advantageously integrated design of the fixation clip
into the respirator mask 1.
[0024] When the fixation clip 7 is in the first arrangement A, as shown in figure 2, the
fixation clip is easily stackable such that a number of fixation clips of the same
kind can be stacked on one another for easy transport and handling of the fixation
clips. Also, in case the fixation clip 7 is already integrated into the main body
portion 2 of the respirator mask 1, the respirator mask 1 can be transported in a
rather flat or folded manner such that a number of respirator masks 1 of the same
kind can be stacked on one another in a room-efficient capacity to allow for an easy
transport and handling of a number of respirator masks 1 during transport.
[0025] By use of the flexible portions 9, the arrangement may be changed to one of the arrangements
B or C as shown in figure 2. Each flexible portion 9 is designed as bistable hinge
connection 15 that provides a sticking point between two stable arrangements of the
clip element, in particular of the two clip sections that are connected by the respective
flexible portion 9.
[0026] Due to the design as bistable hinge connection 15, the flexible portions 9 allow
the fixation clip 7 to be shaped into different stable arrangements, wherein in each
arrangement an elastic deformation of the clip element 8 may occur in order to establish
the before-mentioned pretension. This is in particular of advantage in the arrangements
B and C as shown in figure 2, which are the usage-arrangements on a user's face or
at least on the pre-shaped respirator mask 1 of figure 1.
[0027] In the second or third arrangement B, C, the fixation clip 7 provides a pretension
that acts on the nose portion 4 of the respirator mask when the clearance between
the two free ends of the clip element 8 is smaller than the nose portion 4 such that
the clip element 8 is elastically bent such that a pretension occurs. As long as the
pretension does not overcome the sticking point or pressure resistance of the respective
bistable hinge connection 15 the arrangement of the clip element 8 remains stable.
[0028] Figures 3A and 3B show a preferred embodiment of the bistable hinge connection 15
in two different arrangements for a better understanding. The bistable hinge connection
15 is designed in one piece with the clip element 8 and thus in one piece with neighbouring
clip sections 11 and 12, for example.
[0029] The bistable hinge connection 15 comprises a film hinge 16 through which the adjacent
clip sections 11 and 12 are swivelably connected to one another. According to the
present embodiment, the hinge connection 15 comprises two hinge elements 17 that are
spaced apart from one another and designed in one piece with the clip sections 11
and 12. Between the hinge elements 17 and the respective clip section element 11,
12 a film hinge section 18 is provided such that two bending axes 19 are formed which
are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the
clip element 8.
[0030] Between the hinge elements 17, a first protrusion 20 of the clip section 11 and a
second protrusion 21 of the second clip section 12 are arranged. The protrusion 20
extends into the direction of the second clip section 12 and the protrusion 21 into
the direction of the first clip section 11. According to the present embodiment, the
protrusions are connected to one another through a flexible spring element 22 which
is designed integral or in one piece with the protrusions 20 and 21. The spring element
22 is designed as flat spring that comprises a wavy course from one protrusion 20
to the protrusion 21.
[0031] The spring element 22 is preloaded such that it pushes the adjacent clip sections
11 and 12 in one of two possible arrangements relative to one another.
[0032] For a better understanding, it is assumed that the hinge bending axis 18 form a virtual
plane, whereby the spring element 22 can be arranged on either side of that virtual
plane. If the spring element 22 is arranged on the lower side of the plane as shown
in figure 3A, it pushes the clip sections 11, 12 into the direction of the first arrangement
A such that they are arranged in a rather flat manner to one another. If the spring
element 22 is arranged above the plane, as shown in figure 3B, it pushes the clip
sections 11 and 12 into the V- or U-shaped arrangement as shown in figure 2 (B or
C). In case the spring element 22 lies within the plane between the bending axes 19,
the arrangement or the clip element 8 is instable. This position marks the sticking
point or pressure resistance point of the bistable hinge connection 15.
[0033] Preferably, the clip sections 11 and 12 are designed such that they limit the bending
extent of the film hinge 16 to a given extent such that the clip sections 11 and 12
cannot be bend beyond the given extent, in particular in both bending directions.
According to the present embodiment, this limitation is provided by the design of
the hinge elements 17 and the clip sections 11 and 12 at their opposing surface. As
can be seen in figures 3A and 3B, close to the film hinge sections 18, the hinge elements
17 as well as the clip section elements 11 and 12 comprise a tapered or wedge-shaped
end pointing towards one another. The chosen degree of the surfaces 23 at the ends
define the bending-limit. Once the opposing surfaces 23 of the clip section 11 and
the hinge section 17 or the clip section 12 and the hinge section 17 come in contact
with one another, a further bending of the film hinge 16 is prohibited because the
clip sections 11, 12 prohibit the hinge sections 17 from bending any further. The
surfaces 23 of the clip sections 11, 12 and the hinge sections 17 are thus designed
as movement-limiting stop-surfaces 23.
[0034] It is required that the user uses a certain amount of force in order to bend the
clip sections 11 and 12 from one arrangement to the other by elastically deforming
the spring element 12 such that it can be moved through the sticking point through
the virtual plane where the largest pretension force occurs. This means that when
the spring element 22 is on either side of the virtual plane, the clip sections 11,
12 are in a stable arrangement to one another. Only by overcoming the spring tension
of the spring element 22, the user is able to change the arrangement. Therefore, the
clip element 8 can be moved into different arrangement as shown in figure 2, whereby
in each of these arrangements an elastic pretension is available as long as the pretension
force of the spring element 22 is not overcome.
[0035] According to an alternative embodiment of the present hinge connection 15, the protrusions
20 and 21 are connected on their free ends pointing to one another and may come into
contact only within the disconnected plane, whereby an elasticity is provided by the
hinge sections 18 allowing the protrusion to be moved through the plane by elastically
stretching the film hinge sections 18 or preferably the hinge elements 17 themselves.
1. Fixation clip (7) for a respirator mask (1), in particular a nose fixation clip, the
fixation clip (7) comprising an elongated clip element (8) having an U- or V-shaped
arrangement with at least one flexible portion (9) that allows an elastic deformation
of the clip element (8) for providing a pretention on the respirator mask (1), characterized in that at least one flexible portion (9) of the clip element (8) is designed as bistable
hinge connection (15) that provides an instable sticking point between two stable
arrangements of the clip element (8), one stable arrangement being the U- or V-shaped
arrangement and another stable arrangement being an at least essentially flat arrangement.
2. Fixation clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the clip element comprises at least two, three or four flexible portions (9) that
are arranged spaced apart from another along the length of the clip element (8).
3. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each bistable hinge connection (15) connects two adjacent and in particularly at
least essentially stiff clip sections (11,12) of the clip element (8) with one another.
4. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each hinge connection comprises at least one film hinge (16) that connects the two
adjacent clip sections (11,12) swiveable to one another.
5. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each bistable hinge connection (15) comprises at least a first protrusion (20) on
a first clip section (11) of the two adjacent clip sections (11,12) protruding in
the direction of the second clip section (12) of the adjacent clip sections (11,12)
for establishing the sticking point.
6. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second clip section (12) comprises at least one second protrusion (21) and that
protrudes in the direction of the first protrusion (20) of the first clip section
(11).
7. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring element (22) is arranged between the first protrusion (20) and the second
protrusion (21) in a preloaded manner
8. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (22) is preferably designed in one piece with the first and the
second protrusion (20,21).
9. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjacent clip sections (11,12) are connected to one another via at least one
film hinge (16).
10. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each film hinge (16) comprises two spaced apart film hinge (18) sections between
which the first protrusion (20) is arranged.
11. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film hinge comprises at least one hinge element (17) that is connected to the
first clip section (11) and to the second clip section (12) via a film hinge (18)
section respectively.
12. Fixation clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the first protrusion (20) and/or the second protrusion (21) are designed
in one piece with the respective clip section (11,12).
13. Respirator mask (1) for a human being, comprising a main body element (2) that is
designed to cover the mouth of the user with a mouth section (3) and the nose of the
user with a nose section (4), whereby the nose section (4) is supported by use of
a fixation clip (7) that extends across the nose section (4), characterizes in that the fixation clip (7) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 15.
14. Respirator mask according to claim 13, characterized in that the fixation clip is integrated into the main body portion (2) such that the main
body portion (2) is deformable form an essentially flat arrangement to an essentially
U- or V-shaped arrangement at least at the nose section (4).
15. Respirator mask according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixation clip (7) is arranged within a holding pocket of the main body portion
(2).