JP2002000748A - Mask auxiliary tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mask auxiliary tool for smoothly performing respiration and a conversation by using an original mask of a type available on the market and covering both a mouth and a nose without impairing the mask function of preventing drying of the nose and the inflow of dust or pollen. SOLUTION: This mask auxiliary tool 1 comprises an almost cylindrical body 2, an outlet 3 existing in the body 2, positioned below a nostril at installing time and having an expiration valve 6 opening outside and an opening part 5 existing in the body 2 and positioned on the almost front of the nose at installing time. Since a space is generated between a gauze surface of the mask and the nose and the mouth by installing the mask auxiliary tool 1 having such constitution under the mask, a stifling state of the respiration and troublesomeness at conversation time and meal time caused by sticking of the mask to the nose and the mouth can be eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mask assisting device for preventing or reducing breathlessness caused by compression of a mask without impairing the function of the mask.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, masks of the type covering both the nose and mouth have been sold and used. These conventional masks have enhanced functions of preventing the infection of colds and preventing the inflow of dust and pollen by increasing the density of gauze and providing an aperture.

[0003] In recent years, in particular, there is a high demand for protecting the nasal mucosa and respiratory organs from increasing allergic diseases caused by dust and pollen, and drying out in hotels and airplanes. For this reason, a mask that covers only the nose has been developed.

In order to eliminate breathlessness, a mask that only covers the nose is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-1263.
As disclosed in JP-A-2000-3746, a mask body is formed from a plurality of air-permeable fabrics, and the nose is narrowed on both sides of the mask body to cover only the nose.
As described in No. 8, there is a type of mask that covers only the nose having a nose blocking portion for closing the nostrils and a nose hook for contacting the back of the nose. In each of these, a band-shaped cloth is provided with rubber portions for ear hanging at both ends.

[0005] As a device for covering only the nose for the purpose of humidification or the like, there is, for example, a nose covering device as disclosed in JP-A-10-118183. The nose covering device has a cover for gently covering the nose having an inhalation hole and an exhaust portion equipped with an exhaust valve positioned below the nostril when worn, a functional ventilation sheet attached to the main body, Mounting means for mounting the cover on the nose.

[0006]

The conventional mask of the type that covers both the mouth and the nose has a problem that it sticks to the nose or mouth each time the breath is breathed, causing difficulty in breathing and discomfort. Also, if you have a conversation while wearing a mask, your voice will muffle and it will be difficult to hear, and you will need to remove it at meals and the like.
In particular, when using a mask whose adhesion to the face is increased by a diaphragm or a mask having a high density of gauze, inconvenience often occurs in breathing and conversation.

[0007] In addition, the mask of the type that covers only the nose has a problem in that when breathing through the nose, the gauze of the mask sticks to the nostrils, causing a feeling of difficulty in breathing. Compared to masks that cover both, prices are higher and sales are limited. further,
Some conventional examples have a great psychological resistance to the wearer since the appearance is greatly different from a mask that covers both the mouth and the nose.

Accordingly, the present invention utilizes a commercially available mask that covers both the mouth and the nose as it is, without impairing the function of the mask, such as drying of the nose and preventing inflow of dust or pollen. It is another object of the present invention to provide a mask assisting device capable of performing breathing and conversation smoothly.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present inventor has developed a mask assisting device for providing a space between the nose and the mask. That is, the present invention provides a mask assisting device having a substantially cylindrical main body and an opening located in the main body and located substantially in front of a nose when worn. This mask assisting device is used by being attached between a face of a mask (a nose) and a commercially available mask made of cloth. Such an aid creates a space between the gauze surface of the mask and the nose and mouth, thereby eliminating breathlessness caused by sticking the mask to the nose and mouth.

[0010] Further, an exhaust hole having a generally cylindrical main body, an exhaust valve which is located below the nostril when installed in the main body and opens outwardly, and which is located substantially in front of the nose when installed in the main body. A mask aid having an opening located therein. When the mask assisting device having such an exhaust valve is mounted under the mask, the exhaust valve allows the exhaled air to be released from the exhaust hole to the outside world, and the inhaled air to be supplied to the mask at the opening at the front of the nose of the assisting device. It will only be done through gauze. If the mask assisting device of the present invention is mounted and only the opening of the mask assisting device of the present invention is covered with a mask, and the mask is worn so as not to cover the lower part from the exhaust port, the inflow of dust and pollen can be prevented. ,
It is possible to breathe lighter without impairing the function of the mask to prevent the nasal cavity from drying, and to eliminate troublesomeness in conversation and eating. The exhaust valve of the mask aid of the present invention may be formed of a thin sheet having one end fixed to the main body.

In the mask assisting device of the present invention, the main body may be provided with a projection which is folded inward so as to be located between the nostrils or at the lower end of the nose near the nostrils when worn. In addition, a space is created between the exhaust valve and the nostril due to the protruding portion, so that air that has passed through the gauze in the opening at the front of the nose can be smoothly taken in as intake air.

In the mask assisting device of the present invention, the main body may be formed in a nose shape. By forming the main body in the shape of a nose, there is almost no external discomfort caused by wearing the mask assisting tool, and there is no hindrance to the visual field.

Further, the main body of the mask assisting device of the present invention may be provided with a folded portion along the face at an edge portion of the main body in contact with the face. By providing such a folded portion, irritation to the skin due to the portion of the mask aid that touches the face is reduced, and the adhesion to the face is increased. Thus, it is possible to prevent air from leaking from a gap between the mask assisting device and the face, and to take in only air that has passed through the gauze at the opening at the front of the nose as intake air.

Further, in the mask assisting device of the present invention, the main body portion can be constituted by a flexible sheet. By using a flexible sheet as a material, it can be held flat, or folded properly during storage, sale, or carrying.

Further, a monitor device for detecting the movement of the exhaust valve of the mask assisting device can be provided, so that the respiratory condition can be monitored and data on apnea syndrome and the like can be obtained.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a mask assisting device according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the mask assisting tool 1 of the first embodiment includes a cylindrical main body 2 and two exhaust holes 3.
And a protruding portion 4 between the exhaust holes 3 and an open portion 5. The exhaust holes 3 each have an exhaust valve 6. When the mask is worn on top of the mask aid 1, the opening 5 is in contact with the gauze surface of the mask and is located substantially in front of the nose.

The main body 2 may be a cylindrical type having a diameter enough to cover the entire nose when worn, and a space is created between the gauze surface of the mask and the nose and mouth so that breathing can be performed smoothly. It has an appropriate height. The diameter of the cylinder of the main body 2 can be arbitrarily changed, and can be, for example, about 5 cm. Also, the diameter of the cylinder of the main body on the side in contact with the face,
It can be larger than the diameter of the opening 5 side. For example, by making the diameter on the side in contact with the face larger by 0.5 to 2 cm than the diameter on the side of the opening 5, when a mask is put on the mask aid of the present invention, an unnatural appearance is felt. Can be reduced.

The height of the main body 2 can be appropriately changed according to the size of the mask and the height of the nose of the individual to be worn, and can be designed to be, for example, about 1 to 5 cm, preferably about 2 to 4 cm. Is not limited to the range. The height does not have to be constant over the entire body 2.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the side with the exhaust hole 3 (the side near the nostril on the midline of the face when viewed from the front at the time of wearing) is placed on the opposite side (so as to be able to follow the three-dimensional shape of the face). (Closer to the eyes on the midline of the face). By changing the height along the three-dimensional shape of the face in this way, when masking is performed from above the mask assisting tool 1, the unpleasant appearance is reduced, and the mask assisting tool 1 Increases adhesion to the face.

The material of the main body 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can maintain the above-mentioned shape, and a polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate, plastic, paper, resin-coated paper and the like can be appropriately selected.

The exhaust hole located below the nostril when worn is
One or more holes may be provided, for example, one or two holes may be provided. The exhaust hole can be formed by making a hole in the main body of the mask aid of the present invention. The total area of the holes may be any size as long as breathing can be smoothly performed, and it is preferable that the total area of the holes is larger than the total area of the nostrils.

The exhaust valves 6 are mounted such that one end of each of the exhaust valves 6 is fixed to the exhaust hole 3 of the main body 2, the valve is opened outward by a nose breath, and the valve is closed during inhalation. The exhaust valve 6 uses a thin sheet that can be easily turned by a nose breath. Examples of such an exhaust valve include a sheet made of polyvinyl chloride and a natural or synthetic resin sheet.

The mask assisting tool 1 having the exhaust valve 6 is mounted, and the mask is put on the mask assisting tool 1 so that the exhaust hole 3
Only the exhalation ventilates. The air that has passed through the gauze surface of the mask is taken in from the opening 5 at the front of the nose of the main body 2 as intake air.

The protruding portion 4 is a portion which is folded inward so as to be located between the nostrils or at the lower end of the nose near the nostrils when worn. When the protrusion 4 is attached between the nostrils or the lower end of the nose, a space is created between the nostrils and the exhaust hole 3. This space prevents the exhaust valve 6 from being in close contact with the nostrils, thereby preventing air intake from being obstructed. This space created by the projection 4 allows the outside air that has passed through the gauze of the mask to be more smoothly taken in as intake air.

The mask assisting device of the present invention is used by mounting the mask assisting device so as to cover the nose and wearing the mask on the mask assisting device. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which the mask assisting device of the present invention is mounted and a mask is worn. When the mask 7 is placed on the mask aid 1 of the present invention, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the mask 7 may be worn so as to cover only the opening of the mask assisting tool 1 and not to cover the exhaust hole.
The mask 7 may be worn so as to cover both the nose and the mouth as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, even when the mask 7 is mounted so as to cover only the opening of the mask assisting tool 1 from above the mask assisting tool 1, air that has passed through the gauze of the mask 7 can be taken in only for inhalation. it can. By wearing the mask 7 in this way, it is possible to prevent the inflow of dust and pollen, to prevent the nasal cavity from drying, and to eliminate troublesomeness in eating and talking.

The mask assisting device of the present invention is held between the mask and the face and pressed, whereby the mask is appropriately brought into close contact with the face and its position is maintained. If necessary, a stretchable wearing band or the like can be attached to prevent slippage, and the ear can be worn over the ear like a mask to increase stability. In addition, the stability can be enhanced by applying an adhesive to a contact portion of the main body with the face or attaching the adhesive to the skin or the gauze surface of the mask with a double-sided tape or the like.

If necessary, a gauze moistened with water or a volatile agent may be inserted between the mask aid of the present invention and the gauze of the mask, or the gauze itself of the mask may be replaced with water or volatile gauze. May be moistened with the agent. This makes it possible to humidify the inspired air, protect the nasal mucosa and respiratory organs from drying out, and allow the continuous intake of drug-containing air into the body. Similarly, by sandwiching and using a sheet having an innumerable number of pores, the dust removing and pollen removing effects can be enhanced.

Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a mask assisting device according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the main body 2 is formed so as to follow the shape of a nose. In this embodiment, the appearance is more natural and the visual field is not hindered even when the mask assisting device is worn.

Third Embodiment In a third embodiment of the present invention, the mask assisting device of the present invention is provided with a folded portion along the face at an edge portion in contact with the face. By providing such a folded portion, irritation to the skin due to the portion of the mask assisting tool touching the face is reduced. In addition, by increasing the adhesion to the face, air leakage from the gap between the mask aid and the face is prevented, and only air taken in through the gauze at the opening of the nose front of the mask aid is taken in as air. Can be. Such a folded portion can be provided in the mask aid of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a fourth embodiment in which a monitor for detecting the movement of a valve is added to the exhaust valve 6 of the mask assisting tool.
This monitor device 10 is a device that monitors the movement of breathing from the open / closed state of the exhaust valve 6. The sensor 11 is formed by attaching contacts to the end of the exhaust valve 6 and the corresponding position of the mask auxiliary tool 1 respectively. The sensor 11 is connected to the exhaust valve 6.
Use an extremely lightweight and small one that does not hinder the movement of the user. The sensor 11 is connected to a discrimination counter by a lead wire, and gives a second pulse from a clock circuit to the discrimination counter. The discrimination counter counts the second pulse, and the sensor 11
Reset by a signal from If the number of second pulses is less than 5 seconds before resetting, that is, if it is less than 5 seconds, it will be normal, and it will not be output to the next counter. Is sent to each counter A or counter B, and the number of signals is displayed on the display device.

The above-mentioned monitor device can monitor the condition of temporary respiratory arrest during sleep, which is called apnea syndrome. In this case, a mask assisting device is attached in advance before the patient sleeps, and a mask is attached so as not to further shift, or is fixed by an attaching means such as an attaching band. With the aid of a mask equipped with such a monitoring device, it is possible to know how many seconds and how many times breathing has stopped within a certain time during overnight sleep. Further, the monitor device can be used not only for apnea syndrome, but also for diagnosis of a disease or the like for which a respiratory condition needs to be sensed.

The main body of the mask aid of the first to fourth embodiments described above can be formed of a flexible sheet such as paper or plastic. For example, it can be formed as a flat surface as shown in FIG. 5 and can be held flat or appropriately folded during storage, sale or carrying.
At the time of use, the notch 8 is combined so as to match A and A 'to form a cylindrical shape, and the protruding portion 4 is bent inward to form a three-dimensional shape. A and A 'with magic tape (registered trademark), adhesive, adhesive tape, etc. instead of the notch
It is also possible to mold by adhering the above.

[0032]

According to the mask assisting device of the present invention, the feeling of pressure caused by the close contact of the gauze when using the mask can be eliminated, and breathing can be performed easily. In addition, it is worn under the mask so that the appearance when used is less uncomfortable. Furthermore, it is economical and can be used repeatedly only by wearing it under a commercially available mask without impairing the function as a mask for preventing infection of cold, dust prevention, humidification and the like. Further, a monitor device for monitoring the movement of the exhaust valve can be added to observe the state of breathing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a mask assisting device of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which the mask assisting device of the present invention is worn and a mask is worn.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the mask aid of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a fourth embodiment in which a monitoring device for detecting the movement of a valve is added to the exhaust valve of the mask assisting tool.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a mask aid of the present invention formed on a flat surface with a flexible sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mask auxiliary tool 2 Main body 3 Exhaust hole 4 Projection part 5 Open part 6 Exhaust valve 7 Mask 8 Notch 10 Monitor device 11 Sensor

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A mask assisting device having a substantially cylindrical main body and an opening in the main body which is located substantially in front of a nose when worn. 2. A generally cylindrical body, an exhaust hole in the body that is located below the nostrils when worn and has an exhaust valve that opens outwardly, and substantially in front of the nose when worn in the body. A mask assisting tool having an open portion located there. 3. The mask assisting tool according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust valve is formed of a thin sheet having one end fixed to the main body. 4. The body according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with a protruding portion which is folded inward so as to be located between the nostrils or at the lower end of the nose near the nostrils when worn. The mask aid as described. 5. The mask assisting tool according to claim 1, wherein the main body is formed in a shape of a nose. 6. A folded portion is provided along the face at an edge portion of the main body which is in contact with the face when worn,
The mask aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adhesion between the body and the face is enhanced. 7. The mask assisting tool according to claim 1, wherein the main body is made of a flexible sheet. 8. The mask assisting tool according to claim 2, further comprising a monitor for detecting a movement of the exhaust valve.