Passenger Oxygen Mask for Use in an Aircraft, Emergency Oxygen System, and Aircraft

Abstract

A passenger oxygen mask for use in an aircraft comprises a face piece defining a breathing space and having a proximal end, which is to be placed on the face of a user, and an opposite distal end; and a valve plate arranged at the distal end of the face piece. The valve plate is equipped with an oxygen port for an inflow of oxygen from an oxygen source into the breathing space; and an inlet valve for an inflow of ambient air into the breathing space. The valve plate has an elongated shape, having a longitudinal dimension in a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse dimension, which is smaller than the longitudinal dimension, in a transverse direction (T).

Claims

1. A passenger oxygen mask for use in an aircraft, comprising: a face piece defining a breathing space and having a proximal end, which is to be placed on the face of a user, and an opposite distal end; and a valve plate arranged at the distal end of the face piece and equipped with: an oxygen port for an inflow of oxygen from an oxygen source into the breathing space; and an inlet valve for an inflow of ambient air into the breathing space; wherein the valve plate has an elongated shape, having a longitudinal dimension in a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse dimension, which is smaller than the longitudinal dimension, in a transverse direction (T); wherein the oxygen port and the inlet valve are arranged along the elongated shape of the valve plate; and wherein the proximal end of the face piece has an elongated shape having a proximal longitudinal dimension (a.sub.P) in the longitudinal direction (L) and a proximal transverse dimension (b.sub.P), which is smaller than the proximal longitudinal dimension (a.sub.P), in the transverse direction (T).

2. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet valve for an outflow of air out of the breathing space, wherein the oxygen port, the inlet valve and the outlet valve are arranged along the elongated shape of the valve plate.

3. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the proximal longitudinal dimension (a.sub.P) of the face piece is larger than the longitudinal dimension of the valve plate and/or wherein the proximal transverse dimension of the face piece is larger than the transverse dimension of the valve plate.

4. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the proximal longitudinal dimension (a.sub.P) of the face piece is in the range of between 80 mm and 120 mm, in particular in the range of between 90 mm and 110 mm; and/or wherein the proximal transverse dimension (b.sub.P) of the face piece is in the range of between 70 mm and 100 mm, in particular in the range of between 80 mm and 90 mm, more particularly 85 mm.

5. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the valve plate is in the range of between 40 mm and 80 mm, in particular in the range of between 50 mm and 70 mm, more particularly in the range of between 60 mm and 65 mm; and/or wherein the transverse dimension of the valve plat is in the range of between 10 mm and 30 mm, in particular in the range of between 15 mm and 25 mm, more particularly in the range of between 18 mm and 22 mm.

6. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the face piece has a distance (H) between its distal end and its proximal end in the range of between 30 mm and 70 mm, in particular in the range of between 40 mm and 60 mm, more particularly in the range of between 45 mm and 55 mm.

7. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the face piece comprises a distal portion protruding from the valve plate and a proximal portion extending from a proximal end of the distal portion towards the proximal end of the face piece, and wherein the proximal portion of the face piece has a larger opening angle (α.sub.P) than the distal portion.

8. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 7, wherein the distal portion of the face piece has a distance (H.sub.D) between its proximal end and the distal end of the face piece in the range of between 10 mm and 30 mm, in particular in the range of between 15 mm and 25 mm, more particularly in the range of between 19 mm and 21 mm.

9. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 7, wherein the proximal end of the distal portion of the face piece has a transverse dimension (D) in the range of between 30 mm and 50 mm, in particular in the range of between 35 mm and 45 mm, more particularly a transverse dimension (D) in the range of between 39 mm and 41 mm.

10. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the face piece has a substantially oval shape.

11. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the face piece comprises curved portions, each curved portion extending between a longitudinal side portion and a transverse side portion of the face piece, respectively, wherein the curved portions in particular have a curvature radius (R) in the range of between 30 mm and 50 mm, more particularly a curvature radius (R) in the range of between 35 mm and 45 mm.

12. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, wherein the face piece comprises at least one bulge portion extending from a transverse side portion at the proximal end (24b) of the face piece, wherein the bulge portion in particular has a longitudinal extension (d.sub.a) in the range of between 3 mm and 15 mm, more particularly in the range of between 5 mm and 10 mm, in the longitudinal direction (L), and/or a transverse extension (d.sub.b) in the range of between 10 mm and 30 mm, more particularly in the range of between 20 mm and 25 mm, in the transverse direction (T).

13. The passenger oxygen mask according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible oxygen bag fluidly coupled to the oxygen port.

14. An aircraft emergency oxygen system, comprising: an oxygen source, and at least one passenger oxygen mask according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the oxygen port of the at least one passenger oxygen mask is fluidly coupled to the oxygen source, wherein the oxygen source is in particular configured for continuously supplying oxygen to the at least one passenger oxygen mask, or wherein the oxygen source is in particular configured for supplying oxygen pulses to the at least one passenger oxygen mask.

15. An aircraft comprising passenger the oxygen mask according to claim 1.

16. An aircraft comprising the emergency oxygen system according to claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Further exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with respect to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an aircraft, in particular an airplane, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a schematic side view,

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an emergency oxygen system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a passenger oxygen mask in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a passenger oxygen mask in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a face piece, as may be used in a passenger oxy-gen mask according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view through the face piece of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an aircraft 100, in particular an airplane, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a schematic side view. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the aircraft 100 is a large passenger airplane. It is possible that the aircraft 100 is a commercial passenger airplane, a private airplane, a military aircraft, or a rotorcraft, such as a helicopter.

[0053] The aircraft 100 comprises a plurality of emergency oxygen systems 2, which may be embodied in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an emergency oxygen system 2 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The emergency oxygen system 2 comprises an oxygen source 10. The oxygen source 10 in turn comprises a control unit 12. The control unit 12 is configured for controlling the discharge of oxygen from the oxygen source 10 in operation. The emergency oxygen system 2 comprises a passenger oxygen mask 20, also referred to simply as oxygen mask 20 herein, that is coupled to the oxygen source 10 via an oxygen hose 28. While the oxygen source 10 is able to provide oxygen to a plurality of passenger oxygen masks, FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary situation where the oxygen source 10 is connected to a single oxygen mask 20.

[0055] Each row of seats of the aircraft 100 may have two emergency oxygen systems 2 associated therewith, one assigned to the seats on the left side of a center aisle and one assigned to the seats on the right side of the center aisle.

[0056] For the exemplary embodiment of each row of seats having six seats, every emergency oxygen system 2 may have one oxygen source 10 and three oxygen masks 20, coupled to the oxygen source 10. Such a set-up is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 via five exemplary passenger windows 102, each being associated with a row of passenger seats, and via five exemplary emergency oxygen systems 2, depicted in phantom due to their arrangement within the aircraft 100.

[0057] The oxygen source 10 may be a continuous oxygen source 10, which, when activated, supplies a continuous stream of oxygen to the oxygen mask 20.

[0058] According to an alternative embodiment, the oxygen source 10 may be a pulsed oxygen source 10, which, when activated, supplies oxygen pulses to the oxygen mask(s) 20. In such an embodiment, the control unit 12 is configured for synchronizing the oxygen pulses, supplied to the at least one oxygen mask 20, with the breathing of the user wearing the oxygen mask 20.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a passenger oxygen mask 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0060] The oxygen mask 20 comprises a valve plate 22 providing a base of the oxygen mask 20.

[0061] The oxygen mask 20 further comprises a face piece 24 and an elastic band 26. The elastic band 26 is fixed to the valve plate 22 via two mounting protrusions 27, extending from the valve plate 22.

[0062] The valve plate 22 comprises a front side, which is visible in FIG. 3, and an opposite rear side, which is not visible in FIG. 3. When the oxygen mask is positioned on a user's head, the rear side of the valve plate 22 is facing the user's head.

[0063] The face piece 24 protrudes from the read side of the valve plate 22 and defines a breathing space 25. Together, the valve plate 22 and the face piece 24 form a cup-like structure, whose interior is the breathing space 25. When using the oxygen mask 20, a user may place said cup over his/her nose and mouth and may fasten the oxygen mask 20 with respect to his/her head via the elastic band 26.

[0064] The valve plate 22 has an elongated shape having a longitudinal dimension in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse dimension, which is smaller than the longitudinal dimension, in a transverse direction T. When the oxygen mask 20 is donned by a user in its correct operational position, the longitudinal direction L extends basically vertically, i.e. in a direction extending from the chin towards the forehead of the user's head.

[0065] The valve plate 22 may, in particular have a rectangular shape. Alternative elongated shapes, such as elliptical shapes, are possible as well. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the valve plate 22 has a basically rectangular shape with rounded corners.

[0066] The oxygen mask 20 has an oxygen port 34 for an inflow of oxygen from an oxy-gen source 10 into the breathing space 25, an inlet valve 30 for an inflow of ambient air into the breathing space 25, and an optional outlet valve 32 for an outflow of air out of the breathing space 25.

[0067] When the oxygen mask 20 is installed as part of an emergency oxygen system 2, as it is depicted in FIG. 2, the oxygen port 34 is fluidly coupled to the oxygen source 10 via an oxygen hose 28, which is not shown in FIG. 3, in order to allow for supplying gaseous oxygen from the oxygen source 10 via the oxygen hose 28 and the oxygen port 34 into the breathing space 25.

[0068] The inlet valve 30 is a one-way valve, allowing ambient air to enter into the breathing space 25, where it mixes with the oxygen supplied from the oxygen source 10 forming an oxygen rich gas mixture, which is to be inhaled by the user of the oxy-gen mask 20.

[0069] The optional outlet valve 32 is a one-way valve, allowing gas exhaled by the user to leave the breathing space 25.

[0070] The oxygen port 34, the inlet valve 30 and the outlet valve 32 are located within and supported by the valve plate 22 in a configuration in which they are arranged along the elongated shape of the valve plate 22. The oxygen port 34, the inlet valve 30 and the outlet valve 32 may, in particular be arranged next to each other in a linear configuration, which is oriented along the longitudinal direction L.

[0071] The oxygen port 34, the inlet valve 30 and the outlet valve 32 may be arranged on a common virtual line extending along the longitudinal direction L. The common virtual line may, in particular extend along the center of the valve plate 22, when viewed along the transverse direction T.

[0072] In an alternative configuration, which is not explicitly shown in the figures, the oxygen port 34, the inlet valve 30 and the outlet valve 32 may be arranged along the elongated shape of the valve plate 22, without being arranged on a common virtual line. Instead, one or two or all of the oxygen port 34, the inlet valve 30 and the outlet valve 32 may be offset, in the transverse direction T, from a virtual line extending along the longitudinal direction L.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a passenger oxygen mask 20 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The oxygen mask 20 of FIG. 4 has the features described with respect to FIG. 3 and additionally comprises an oxygen bag 36, mounted to the valve plate 22 and fluidly connected to the oxygen port 34.

[0074] The oxygen bag 36 is made of a flexible gas-tight material and comprises an oxygen inlet port 38. When an oxygen mask 20, as it is depicted in FIG. 4, is used as part of an emergency oxygen system 2, as it is depicted in FIG. 2, the oxygen inlet port 38 of the oxygen bag 36 is fluidly coupled to the oxygen source 10 via the oxygen hose 28, in order to allow for supplying gaseous oxygen from the oxygen source 10 via the oxygen hose 28, the oxygen bag 36 and the oxygen port 34 into the breathing space 25. The oxygen inlet port 38 may include a flow indicator for indicating whether a flow of gaseous oxygen is supplied via the inlet port 38 into the oxygen bag 36.

[0075] Oxygen masks 20 comprising oxygen bags 36, as depicted in FIG. 4, are usually employed in combination with oxygen sources configured for supplying a continuous flow of oxygen to the oxygen mask 20. In such a configuration, the oxygen bag 36 acts as an oxygen buffer by inflating and buffering the oxygen supplied by the oxygen source, while the user wearing the oxygen mask 20 is not inhaling. When the user takes his/her next breath, the oxygen buffered within the oxygen bag 36 is inhaled by the user. As a result, the oxygen bag 36 is deflated before it is filled again with new oxygen supplied by the oxygen source.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a face piece 24 that may be used in a passenger oxygen mask 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The viewing direction of FIG. 5 is orthogonal to the plane of the valve plate 22, which is not shown in FIG. 5. In other words, the viewing direction of FIG. 5 is orthogonal to the front of the face of a user wearing the oxygen mask 20.

[0077] The face piece 24 has a distal end 24a, which is mounted to the valve plate 22, and an opposite proximal end 24b, which abuts against the face of a user wearing the oxygen mask 20.

[0078] The distal end 24a, which is depicted in the center of FIG. 5, has an elongated shape having a distal longitudinal dimension a.sub.D in the longitudinal direction L and a distal transverse dimension b.sub.D in the transverse direction T. In particular, the distal end 24a has a shape which basically corresponds to the shape of the rear side of the valve plate 22. This allows to conveniently mount the distal end 24a of the face piece 24 to the valve plate 22. In an alternative embodiment, the distal end 24a of the face piece 24 may be formed integrally with the valve plate 22.

[0079] The distal transverse dimension b.sub.D of the face piece 24 is smaller than its distal longitudinal dimension a.sub.D(b.sub.D<a.sub.D).

[0080] The distal end 24a may have a longitudinal dimension a.sub.D in the range of between 40 mm and 80 mm, in particular a longitudinal dimension a.sub.D in the range of between 50 mm and 70 mm, more particular a longitudinal dimension a.sub.D in the range of between 60 mm and 65 mm. The distal end 24a may further have a transverse dimension b.sub.D in the range of between 10 mm and 30 mm, in particular a transverse dimension b.sub.D in the range of between 15 mm and 25 mm, more particular a trans-verse dimension b.sub.D in the range of between 18 mm and 22 mm.

[0081] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the transverse sides 23b of the distal end 24a have curved shapes, each of the transverse sides 23b of the distal end 24a may, in particular extend along a semicircle, extending between two opposite longitudinal sides 23a of the distal end 24a.

[0082] The longitudinal sides 23a of the distal end 24a may extend parallel to each other. In an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal sides 23a of the distal end 24a may be inclined with respect to each other so that the width of the distal end 24a along the transverse direction T varies along the longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal sides 23a of the distal end 24a may, in particular be inclined so that the distal end 24a has its maximum width w.sub.max at a central position, which is located at the center of the distal end 24a along the longitudinal direction L. In FIG. 5, a transverse line C-C extends through said central position.

[0083] The proximal end 24b, which in the sectional view depicted in FIG. 5 surrounds the distal end 24a, has an elongated shape having a proximal longitudinal dimension a.sub.P in the longitudinal direction L and a proximal transverse dimension b.sub.P in the transverse direction T, which is smaller than the distal longitudinal dimension a.sub.P(b.sub.P<a.sub.P).

[0084] The proximal longitudinal dimension a.sub.P of the face piece 24 may be in the range of between 80 mm and 120 mm, in particular in the range of between 90 mm and 110 mm. The proximal transverse dimension b.sub.P of the face piece 24 may be in the range of between 70 mm and 100 mm, in particular in the range of between 80 mm and 90 mm, more particularly 85 mm.

[0085] The face piece 24 also comprises curved portions 40 resulting in a rounded contour, in particular in an oval contour, of the proximal end 24b of the face piece 24.

[0086] The face piece 24 may, in particular comprise four curved portions 40, wherein each of the curved portions 40 extends between a longitudinal side portion 42a and a transverse side portion 42b of the proximal end 24b of the face piece 24, respectively.

[0087] The curved portions 40 may have a curvature radius R in the range of between 30 mm and 50 mm, in particular a curvature radius R in the range of between 35 mm and 45 mm, more particularly a curvature radius R in the range of between 39 mm and 41 mm.

[0088] The face piece 24 may further comprise at least one bulge portion 44, protruding from a transverse side portion 42b of the proximal end 24b of the face piece 24. The at least one bulge portion 44 may, in particular be centered on a longitudinal central line A, extending centrally along the longitudinal direction L of the face piece 24.

[0089] The face piece 24 may comprise two bulge portions 44, extending from opposing transverse sides 42b of the proximal end 24b of the face piece 24, as depicted in FIG. 5.

[0090] The at least one bulge portion 44 may have an extension da in the longitudinal direction L, which is in the range of between 3 mm and 15 mm, in particular in the range of between 5 mm and 10 mm, more particularly in the range of between 7 mm and 8 mm. The at least one bulge portion 44 may have an extension d.sub.b in the transverse direction T, which is in the range of between 10 mm and 30 mm, in particular in the range of between 20 mm and 25 mm, more particularly in the range of between 22 mm and 24 mm.

[0091] The extension d.sub.b of the at least one bulge portion 44 in the transverse direction T may be identical with or different from the distal transverse dimension b.sub.D of the distal end 24a.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view through the face piece 24 of FIG. 5, with the depicted cross-sectional plane representing a cut along line C-C shown in FIG. 5.

[0093] The face piece 24 has a distance (height) H between its distal end 24a and its proximal end 24b, which may be in the range of between 30 mm and 70 mm, in particular in the range of between 40 mm and 60 mm, more particularly in the range of between 45 mm and 55 mm.

[0094] As depicted in FIG. 6, the face piece 24 may comprise a distal portion 46 and a proximal portion 48. The distal portion 46 includes the distal end 24a, which is arranged at the valve plate 22, which is not shown in FIG. 6, and protrudes from the distal end 24a towards a proximal end 46b of the distal portion 46. The proximal portion 48 extends from the proximal end 46b of the distal portion 46 towards the proximal end 24b of the face piece 24.

[0095] The distance HD between the distal end 24a of the face piece 24 and the proximal end 46b of the distal portion 46 may be in the range of between 10 mm and 30 mm, in particular in the range of between 15 mm and 25 mm, more particularly in the range of between 19 mm and 21 mm.

[0096] The distance HP between the proximal end 24b of the face piece 24 and the distal end 48a of the proximal portion 48 may be in the range of between 20 mm and 40 mm, in particular in the range of between 25 mm and 35 mm, more particularly in the range of between 29 mm and 31 mm.

[0097] The distal portion 46 of the face piece 24 may have a distal opening angle α.sub.D, and the proximal portion 48 of the face piece 24 may have a proximal opening angle α.sub.P, which is larger than the distal opening angle α.sub.D(α.sub.P>α.sub.D).

[0098] The distal opening angle α.sub.D may in particular be in the range of between 10° and 50°, in particular in the range of between 20° and 40°, more particularly in the range of between 30° and 36°.

[0099] The proximal opening angle α.sub.P may in particular be in the range of between 50° and 90°, in particular in the range of between 60° and 80°, more particularly in the range of between 70° and 75°.

[0100] The proximal end 46b of the distal portion 46 of the face piece 24, which abuts the distal end 48b of the proximal portion 48, may have a transverse dimension D in the range of between 30 mm and 50 mm, in particular in the range of between 35 mm and 45 mm, more particularly a transverse dimension in the range of between 39 mm and 41 mm.

[0101] While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.