Ultrasonic welding of fabrics for sleep apnea treatment

• Main Authors: DUNN, JESSICA LEA, HASKARD, KIRRILY MICHELE, OVZINSKY, GRANT MILTON, FORMICA, JUSTIN JOHN, BARBARA, ANTHONY PAUL, LAGUZZA, MICHAEL CHARLES
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.10.2013
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING; HATS; HEAD COVERINGS; HEADWEAR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; LIFE-SAVING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A respiratory apparatus may employ ultrasonic welds. The ultrasonic welding may be used to join a variety of headgear, mask and accessory components. This process may enhance comfort, fit and/or performance of the joined components and/or overall mask assembly. A component may be a single layer component such as a textile or fabric, or a composite or multiple layer component such as fabric and foam composites, or outer fabric layers and inner spacer fabrics. Further, a component may be a strap, some other headgear component, a mask component, an accessory component or the like.