WO2001049371A2

WO2001049371A2 - Nose filter

Info

Publication number: WO2001049371A2
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Bracco; Ivano Montanari
Original assignee: Bruno Bracco; Ivano Montanari
Priority date: 2000-01-05
Filing date: 2001-01-03
Publication date: 2001-07-12
Also published as: WO2001049371A3; ITTO20000008A1; AU3049501A

Abstract

Nose filter consisting of a base support material, made with synthetic or fabric, slightly elastic and flexible, easily modelling on user's nose, with an adhesive surface (3) in order to stick on user's nose; two filters (4), parallel each other, corresponding to user's nostrils, are enclosed inside the base material (2).

Description

NOSE FILTER

The present invention refers to a nose filter, positioned on the outer side of nose, sticking to it, modelling according to its shape and showing two small filters corresponding to nostπls The main purpose of an air filter is to hold inside its fibres, both natural and synthetic, dust, bacteπa, smog, pollen, etc, i e all those substances particularly irritant for buccal cavity and first respiratory tract

For personal protection from the above said substances are currently used filtering elements known as filter masks positioned on the face, such as to cover both mouth and nose

Several shapes and dimensions are available for sale Some of them present a stiff structure filteπng expired and inspired air, and may have a valve, positioned in the centre of the mask, called exhalation valve, in order to reduce partially moisture inside the mask Another type of facial air filtering mask is carried out with particular pleating, and is mainly used by sanitary staff since it fits easily to any shape and dimension of face, due to its flexibility and extensibility Furthermore, it's so light not to tire who wears it Unluckily, current types of face masks present some inconveniences difficulty of understanding pronounced by a mask user - continuous glass misting, for glass bearers, due to steam escaping through the ask edges and licking the lenses after a heavy duty, we may have a consistent amount of moisture, inside the mask, even if exhalation valve are used material used for mask production is fairly expensive, since it must meet severe international specifications on filtration (e g solid particles smaller than 0 02 micron), therefore a fairly large amount of expensive material has to be used to produce a mask We are not aware of the existence of small dimension, disposable, in biocompatible material, light, not much cumbersome and easily modelling air filters to position exclusively on nose Referring to what we stated before, the present invention intends to eliminate or reduce all inconvenient of face masks currently used up to now, accomplishing a nose filter which is easily applicable, light and not cumbersome, such as to allow small packages containing several parts, with a filtering capability not smaller than the current masks, easily modelling according any nose shape, avoiding misting of glasses and other eye protection devices Furthermore, it must make all listeners comprehend what user says, it must be particularly cheap, even if it has all specifications and advantages of the masks currently used These purposes and other advantages of this invention, which will be illustrated here after, are achieved by means of a nose filter characterized by the following items: a base support material, synthetic or textile, slightly elastic and flexible and easily modelling on user's nose, with an adhesive surface in order to stick to nose skin - a couple of filtering elements, ellipse-shaped, each of them has two longitudinal sides parallel to a median axis passing through said filters. said filters are inserted in the fabric forming the above said base support, in a position corresponding to the user's nostrils.

A brief description of a preferential achievement of the invention will follow here after, as illustrative (not restrictive) example, with reference to the enclosed drawings.

Fig. 1 is an aerial view of a nose filter according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of a front view of a nose filter fig. 1 according to the invention

Fig. 3 is an aerial view of a different productive version as per fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a section of a front view of a nose filter as per fig. 3 Fig. 5 is an aerial view of a further productive version of the nose filter as per fig. "1

Fig. 6 is a section of a front view of a nose filter as per fig. 5

Fig. 7 shows an aerial view of a further productive version of the nose filter as per fig. 1

Fig. 8 is a section of a front view of a nose filter as per fig. 7 Fig. 9 is the profile of a face on which a nose filter as per fig. 1 has been applied, according to the invention.

In fig. n. 1 and 2 a first version of a nose filter according to the invention (indiicated with the arrow 1) is shown. This filter basically consists of a base or support material 2, similar to the material used for transdermic plasters, but any other material (fabric or synthetic) can be used to make this base, provided it has good performances in flexibility, compactness and resistance.

Base material (2) has an adhesive surface (3) on which a thin layer of biocompatible gluing agent is applied, in order to adhere perfectly to the nose skin according to the nose shape. In the central area of base material (2), two filters (4) are inserted inside the fabric.

These filters are made with porous material, such as activated carbon, polypropylene, alveolate resins, filtering fabric, etc.

These filters have a thickness similar or superior to the base material (2), in order to stick easily and perfectly to user's nostrils or to be inserted into them. Filters (4) are ellipse-shaped with longitudinal sides slightly pressed and therefore straight (see fig.1 ref. 8) and parallel to the A-A' median axis of said filters (4). In fig. 3 and 4 another version of nose filter (1) according to the invention is shown, which differs from Fig 1 and 2, due to the fact that

The filters (4) are slightly curved to facilitate their wearability or introduction inside nostπls Around the filters a small round stπng (5) in hydrophilic material is provided, in order to receive and stop mucus in case it should flow from nose

In fig 5 and 6 another version of nose filter (1) according to the invention is shown, which differs from the previous fig 1 and 2, because filters (4) are slightly curved to facilitate their wearability or their introduction inside nostrils, and because of the presence, at the centre of each filters (4), of a filteπng membrane valve in elastic filtering material like polypropylene in order to facilitate the flow of expired air by increasing its speed and by eliminating moisture excess in nose vestibules

In fig 7 and 8 another version of nose filter (1) according to the invention is shown, which differs from the previous Fig, 1 and 2 for the presence of a peπpheral edge (7) in elastic material all around base material (2), in order to increase adhesion of nose filter

(1) after modelling on nose itself

Fig 9 shows a practical application of nose filter (1), subject of our invention, modelled on user's nose, in this figure advantages are outlined, such as Use easiness - Small dimensions

Simplicity in modelling

Correct correspondence of filters to nares

Only some application of the nose filter versions have been described according to tfte invention, but this one is not limited by the examples stated above any other shape or dimension of filter or base material or filtering membrane valves is included in the ambit of the same inventive idea, as better illustrated in enclosed claims

Claims

1 - Nose filter (1 ) characterized by the fact of including the following: a base support material (2), fabric or synthetic, slightly elastic and flexible, easily modelling on user's nose, with an adhesive surface (3), suitable to stick to the nose skin a couple of filters (4) having a long -ellipse shape each filter (4) has two longitudinal sides (8) parallel to a median axis (A-A¹) passing through said filters (4); said filters (4) are inserted in the fabric forming the above said base support (2), in a position corresponding to the user's nostrils.

2 - Nose filter (1 ) as per claim 1 , characterized by the fact that perimetrically to said filters (4) is disposed a little string (5) with round section said filters (4) have a slightly curved shape to facilitate their wearability and to give a better adhesion to nostrils.

3 - Nose filter (1 ) as per claim 2, characterized by the fact that said little string is made of absorbent material.

4 - Nose filter (1 ) as per claim 1 , characterized by the fact that each filter (4) has, placed in a central position, a filter valve consisting of a filtering membrane suitable to facilitate expiration of the air by the user.

5 - Nose filter(1 ), as per claim 1 , characterized by the fact that perimetrically to the base support (2) there is a rim (7) in elastic material in order to increase adhesion of filter after it has been worn on the nose.