Importance

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Abstract

A gas flow delivery system for delivering a gas into headgear adapted to be worn by a user, is disclosed. The gas delivery system comprises a gas source, headgear having a user interface configured to receive at least the nose and/or mouth of a user within an internal region thereof, and a fluid circuit in communication with the gas source at one end and the internal region of the user interface of the headgear at another end. A magnetic coupling assembly is interposed in the fluid circuit. The magnetic coupling assembly includes a first magnetic coupling member and a second magnetic coupling member, where the first and second magnetic coupling members have opposing mating surfaces and define an axis along which the first and second magnetic coupling members magnetically engage one another. Each of the first and second magnetic coupling members comprise a main body portion and a retaining cap connected to the main body portion, the retaining cap and main body portion of each coupling member define an annular chamber in which a ring-shaped magnet is disposed. The retaining caps of each of the first and second magnetic coupling members also define the opposing mating surfaces of the first and second coupling members. At least a portion of the opposing mating surfaces may be transverse to the axis. The headgear comprises an interface input tube and the first magnetic coupling member is connected to the interface input tube. The second magnetic coupling member is connected to a gas delivery tube that defines at least part of the fluid circuit. The second magnetic coupling member may be separated from the first magnetic coupling member through the application of an axial pull force. The second magnetic coupling member may also be separated from the first magnetic coupling member through a torque created by the application of a force orthogonal to the axis to the second magnetic coupling member.

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First Claim