GB2438833A

GB2438833A - A device for alleviating snoring

Info

Publication number: GB2438833A
Application number: GB0611132A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Chalk; Chris Grant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-06
Filing date: 2006-06-06
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Also published as: GB0611132D0

Abstract

A device for alleviating snoring 1 comprising first and second substantially spherical parts, 2, 3, the spherical parts being insertable into a first and second nasal passage respectively of a user, wherein, in use, air flow through the nasal passages of the user is substantially restricted. The first and second parts may be joined by a bridge (4), and may be nipple-ended (5 and 6 in Fig. 2).

Description

-I-

A device for alleviating snoring The present invention relates to a device which seeks to reduce the occurrence and, or the intensity of snoring.

Snoring often results as a consequence of breathing through the open mouth such that air flow causes the uvula and soft palate to vibrate producing an often harsh sound. The resulting sound can often be of such a level that it disturbs the sleep of others.

A number of devices for alleviating snoring are known, these include nasal strips which are affixed to the skin on the bridge of the nose and seek to maintain an unrestricted air flow though the nostril into the nasal cavity.

Other devices for alleviating snoring such as that disclosed in EP 0 824 015 include devices which are inserted into the nose and seek to open and shape the nasal passages so that breathing is facilitated.

Further examples of devices to alleviate snoring include gum-shield type devices such as that disclosed in WO 98/02119, which encourage the wearer to breathe through the nose.

However, these inventions can be cumbersome and uncomfortable.

The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages and provide a new and inventive approach to reducing the occurrence of snoring, which in contrast to the prior art, where it is taught to increase the air flow through the nasal passages, the present invention restricts the air flow through the nasal passages.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for alleviating snoring comprising first and second generally spherical parts, the first and second spherical parts being insertable into a first and a second nasal passage respectively of a user, wherein in use air flow through the nasal passages of the user is substantially restricted.

Preferably, the spherical parts of the device are manufactured from a resilient material.

Preferably, the resilient material has delayed resilience so that a user may deform the material and insert the spherical parts into the nostrils, before the material returns substantially to its original form.

Preferably, the resilient material is a plastic material. The plastic material may be a hard plastic material or a soft plastic material. A soft plastic material will provide a more comfortable fit against the soft and often sensitive inner surface of the wearer's nose.

Preferably, the plastics material is a pharmaceutical grade plastic which is smooth and easy to handle. The device may also be made of plastic materials such as rubber, latex, silicone or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the plastics material may be transparent. This enables a user to use the device discretely.

Preferably, the spherical parts are formed to a nipple shaped end, which seeks to provide improved comfort and fit inside the nostril of the user.

Preferably, the first and second substantially spherical parts are joined by a bridge part. This bridge part is preferably circular in cross section and formed of the same material as the spherical parts. In this way, the device, including the bridge part, may be formed of one piece. The bridge part may be used to assist in the removal of the device from the user's nose. The bridge part may also be formed to provide a loop or grip for the user's fingers.

Preferably, the bridge part may be attached to the spherical parts with suitable adhesive. The adhesive may be chosen such that the adhesive will fail on repeated use of the device to ensure that, in the interests of hygiene, a user must use a new device each time.

In a further preferred embodiment, a nose clip is provided which in use is positioned substantially adjacent to the external rear part of the nose at the junction between the nostrils and the face and seeks to provide an improved seal between the device and the wall of the nasal passage. The nose clip is substantially U-shaped in form. The nose clip may be joined to the bridge of the device. The nose clip has a degree of resilience such that it pinches the nostril closer to the spherical part to a ensure a closer fit of the spherical part in the nasal cavity. The clip may be covered in a soft material to provide a comfortable fit against the user's nose.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Figure 2 is a top view of the device Figure 3 is a view of the device in use Figure 4 is a view of the device in use with a nasal clip Figure 1 shows a front view of the device, 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Generally spherical parts 2, 3 are made of a soft resilient material. The material may be a plastic material such as a pharmaceutical grade plastic which is smooth and easy to handle. The material used to form the generally spherical parts may also comprise rubber, latex, silicon or a combination thereof. The device 1 may have a further outer layer or a surface coating or a lubricant. This coating or lubricant may serve to facilitate the insertion of the device. The coating may also serve to prevent a reaction by a user who is allergic to latex materials. The device is designed so that the fist and second generally spherical parts fit into the respective vestibule areas of the user's nose and substantially fill the lower part of the nostril so that air flow through the nose is substantially restricted. The user is then forced to breath through the mouth. The two generally spherical parts 2, 3 are attached to each other with a substantially U-shaped loop 4. This loop may be formed of the same material as the spherical parts and in use, fits under the columella of the user's nose.

Figure 2 is a top view of the device I and shows a nipple shaped form, 5, 6. The nipple shaped form is a protuberance from the surface of the generally spherical part 2, 3. The nipple form 5, 6 is located on the upper edge of the generally spherical part, so that the nipple shaped form 5, 6 is positioned uppermost in the user's nose, when the device I is inserted into the nasal passage of the user. This nipple form 5, 6 seeks to provide an improved fit in the nasal passage of the user and also seeks to aid the location of the device in the nose. The nipple shaped form 5, 6 also seeks to facilitate the insertion of the device by the user. The nipple shaped form 5, 6 may also be formed of the same material as the generally spherical parts 2, 3 and the device comprising the nipple shaped form 5, 6 may therefore be formed as one piece. The nipple shaped form 5, 6 may be of a different hardness to the generally spherical part 2, 3 and may be formed of an alternative material and joined to the generally spherical part 2, 3 using for

example an adhesive.

Figure 3 is a view of the device in use. The device is located in the lower nasal cavity of the user's nose 7. The bridge part 4 is seen resting under the columella 8 of the user's nose 7. In use, the generally spherical parts 2, 3 do not protrude substantially from the nostrils of the user. To facilitate the discreet wearing of the device, the bridge part 4 may be formed of a transparent material.

Figure 4 is a view of the device in use with the nose clip 9. The nose clip 9 is substantially U-shaped in form. The nose clip 9 may be formed of a plastic or a metal or a combination thereof. The nasal clip 9 has a degree of resilience such that it pinches the nostril closer to the spherical part 2, 3 to a ensure a closer fit of the spherical part 2, 3 in the nasal cavity. The nose clip 9 is positioned substantially adjacent to the external rear part of the nose 7 at the junction between the nostrils and the face and seeks to provide an improved seal between the device 1 and the wall of the nasal passage. The nose clip 9 may comprise two small loops at each end of the clip 9 such that in use these loops rest against the junction between the nostrils and the face. The clip may be covered in a soft material to provide a comfortable fit against the user's nose 7. The nose clip may be joined to the bridge part 4 of the device I using fixing means. The fixing means may for example include a hole in the bridge part 4 through which the clip 9 is located or adhesive or a loop and hook type means.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for alleviating snoring comprising first and second

generally spherical parts, the first and second spherical parts being insertable into a first and a second nasal passage respectively of a user, wherein, in use, air flow through the nasal passages of the user is substantially restricted.

2. A device for alleviating snoring according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spherical parts are connected by a bridge part.

3. A device for alleviating snoring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device is formed of a resilient material.

4. A device for alleviating snoring according to any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the device is formed of rubber, latex, silicone or a combination thereof.

5. A device for alleviating snoring according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spherical parts are formed to a nipple shaped end.

6. A device for alleviating snoring according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further includes a nasal clip.

7. A device for alleviating snoring, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.