US2295321A - Nasal filter element - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1942.

E. W. ANDERSON NASAL FILTER ELEMENT Filed June 12, 1941 ATTOPA/LYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1.942

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NASAL FILTER ELEMENT Elmer W. Anderson, Leonia, N. J. Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,689.

'7 Claims. (Cl. 128-148) This invention relates to improvements in nasal filter devices for excluding irritant and injurious minute particles, such as pollen and dust from being inhaled into the nasal passage of a wearer.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a nasal filter which is external to the nose and which is intended for use in association with a nasal filter holder of the kind set forth in my PatentNo. 2,161,607 granted June 6, 1939.

Another object is to provide a nasal filter made of flexible material and which will conform closely to the shape of the human nose and to its adjoining facial mergings, such as where the nose. joins into and merges with the upper lip, and also where the sides of the nose join into and merge with the cheeks.

One of the important features of the invention is to provide-a close snug fitting nasal filter so that there is no leakage of air around it and at the same time so that only a very light pressure is needed to hold it in position.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a nasal filter which will have a neat appearance when in position on the wearers face-and achieving this purpose first by taking up a minimum of facial area; second by having its surfaces smooth, wrinkle free and without any bunching up or gathering together of excess material; third by having a smoothly rounded end for the tip of the nose instead of a sharply pointed peak; and fourth by having its outline in the full face view giving a straight line appearance.

Another feature of the invention resides in a nose filter having a nose receiving pocket constructed of porous fabric, the bottom wall of the pocket which fits beneath the bottom of the nose and covering the nostrils having removable superposed filter sheets whereby the porosity of the bottom of the pocket may be regulated to suit the breathing comfort of the wearer. A person having a naturally light inhalation may remove such number of filter sheets so that those remaining in the pocket permit free and easy breathing. However, where it is desirable for the wearer to have maximum protection as in very dusty conditions all of the filter sheets are permitted to remain in place. v v

A further feature of the invention is the-provision of a sanitary nasal filter which is of simple construction and of inexpensive manufacture so as to permit of the disposal of the same after reasonable use without economic loss to the user.

Other features of the invention reside in a nasal filter device which may be snugly fitted and secured over the nose of a wearer; which is light in weight and which in covering only a minimum amount of facial area in the facial regions adjoining the nose has therefore no tendency to cause facial warmth and perspiration when worn; which is capable of being worn for a relatively long period of time without any-feeling of discomfiture; which maybe worn while talking. eating, and smoking; and which may be safely worn while sleeping, for it does not interfere with the natural respiration of a wearer when relaxed.

Other novel features of the invention will become apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the nasal filter device in position upon the face of a wearer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical transverse sectional view through the nasal filterdevice in worn position.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, but omitting the facial features.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the nasal filter device per se with part broken away in section.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on. the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a collective plan view of the several separate parts from which the nasal filter device is constructed.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral I0 designates the nasal filter device in its entirety which is constructed of three separate parts, namely a fabric piece adapted to overlie the entrances to the nostrils of a wearer and to fit against the upper lip and which I shall term a fabric base piece A; a filter element B;,and a body piece C adapted to fit over the nose and against the adjacent cheek portions of the wearers face; these several pieces being illustrated in plan and separated condition in Figure 7.

The base piece A is made from a single piece of fabric such as linen, cotton, or'other like flexible porous material and is cut to provide an elongated lip portion ll foldable upwardly lengthwise upon itself on the medial fold line l2 to provide a relatively narrow front wall l3 and a like rear wall I4. Integral with the rear wall l4 and extending from the free longitudinal edge thereof are spaced apart semi-circular shaped gap covering fiaps |5-|5. The flaps |5-|5 are equidistantly spaced from the mid portion of the wall H for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. Integral with the front wall l3 and extending centrally from the free longitudinal edge thereof is a bottom wall IS, the same having rearwardly diverging side edges and a rounded front edge IS. The bottom wall I6 is of a shape conforming substantially to the shape of the under side of a human nose. Th free edges of the bottom wall It are foldable upwardly on the dotted seam line IS. The bottom wall |6is foldable at substantially right angles to the wall l3 on the dotted fold line 20. The ends of the dotted seam line |9 terminate in central alinement with the fiaps |5-|5, for when the wall I4 is folded against the wall l3, the flaps are disposed behind the ends of the dotted seam line l9.

The filter element B consists of a plurality of like superposed porous paper sheets, each of which is designated 2|. I have discovered that a relatively thin tissue-like paper known under the name of Textilex meets the requirement for it is thin, soft, tough, and porous and not disintegratable by the presence of moisture. Each filter sheet 2| includes an elongated-attaching fiap 22 having a filter body portion 22 integral therewith and detachable therefrom by tearing on the tear line 22'. The body portion 23 is of a shape and size substantially equal to the bottom wall l6 to overlie the same as will be hereinafter explained. The flap 22 is of a height substantially equal to that of the wallsv l3 and I4 between which it fits and is; of a length shorter than the walls I! and I4 so as to terminate short of the ends of the said walls -to enable free and easy folding of the ends as illustrated in Figure 3.

The body piece C like the base piece A is constructed from a like porous fabric material which is cut to provide an intermediate side wall portion 24 and opposed angularly extending end portions 25-25. The side wall portion 24 has a midrounded bottom edge 26 which merges with upwardly diverging straight edges 26'-26', the said edges 25, 26'-26' being foldable upwardly on the dotted seam line 21 which extends parallel to the said edges. The top edge 28 of the side wall portion 24 is straight and its ends meet the top angular straight edges 29-29 of the end portions 25-25. A dotted fold line 30 extends parallel to the top edge of the body piece C on which the edge is folded and stitched to provide a hemmed edge 3|. Attaching flaps 32-32 extend downwardly from the end portions 25-25 for reception between the walls l3 and M of the base piece A so that when in position between these walls l3 and I4 thebottom edges of the flaps 32-32 will touch the fold line l2 of the base, piece A. With respect to each of the end portions 25-25 the bottom edge of each fiap 32-32 is parallel to the top edge 29-29 and in the completed article as shown in Figure 4 the top edges of the attaching tabs T-T will there- .fore be parallel to the bottom edge of th lip -section L.

The side wall portion 24 of body piece ,C is attached or joined to the bottom wall l6 of base piece A by sewing the two pieces together while fiat in such a manner that dotted line 21 will coincide exactly with dotted line IS, the seam 33 shown so that a smooth external appearance is obtained.

A line of stitching 34- adjacent to the top edges of the walls I3 and I4 secures these walls together and also serves to hold the flaps 22 of the filter sheets 2| as well as the attaching flaps 32-32 of body piece C in position between walls l3 and I4. Where the respective surfaces of bottom wall l6, side walls 24 and end portions 25 intersect or meet at a point, the flaps |5-|5 act as gap covers, to prevent leakage of air, by their overlapping or covering of any gaps that might occur at that point as a result of accidental slight misalinement of parts in assembling.

When the parts A, B, and C are folded, fitted together and stitched in the manner described, a nasal filter I0 is produced and which is of a shape as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The finished nasal filter l0 includes a pre-shaped nose receiving pocket P consisting of the bottom wall i6 and side wall portions 24, a stack of filter sheets 23 overlying the bottom wall I6, rearwardly foldable attaching end tabs T-T, and a depending lip portion L.

Whereas various means of securing the nasal filter device I 0 in position on the nose of a wearer may be used, Ihave illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the device as being held in wearing position by a nasal filter holder H, of the kind set forth in my Patent No. 2,161,607 granted June 6, 1939. The holder H includes a U-shaped frame F having wing plates W-W attached to the respective upstanding arms thereof and which have the ends of an elastic head band D detachably connected thereto. Fixed to the wing plates are spring clips E-E having their free ends facing downwardly. In applying the filter device I0 to the holder H, the top edges of the end tabs T are inserted between the wing plates W and the respective clips E to the position shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. The nose receiving pocket P extends forwardly between the arms of the frame F while the forwardly bowed bight portion'of the frame is disposed against the lip portion L. After the filter device I II has been thus positioned in the holder H, the pocket P is fitted to the nose with the rearwardly folded tabs T fitting against the cheeks and protecting the skin against contact with the metal clips E. When the filter device is correctly adjusted to the nose, the filter sheets 23 underlie the entrances to the nostrils while the lip portion L is snugly held against the upper lip by the forwardly bowed bight portion of the frame F. It will therefore be apparent that the filter device is snugly held in position over the nose of the wearer and any airbreathed in is drawn through the filter sheets 23. The porosity of the filter element 2| may be varied to meet the strong or weak inhalation of the user, by tearing. away certain of the sheets 23 on the tear line 22'.

From the foregoing description, it will be uning, and will be found extremely helpful by sufferers of hayfever to prevent pollen and other irritants from coming in contact with the delicate mucous membranes of the nose during natural breathing. The inexpensive nature of the device permits of its disposal after a limited use and for sanitary reasons.

Whereas the porous sheets 23 are referred to as filter sheets, they may be medicated for the relief of head-colds, catarrh, and other nasal or head ailments. I

If desired, the lip portion L may be made wider to depend over the mouth of the user in instances of use where a mouth shield is desired.

The invention set forth herein constitutes an improvement over the nasal filter element disclosed in my prior application SerialNo. 263,382, filed March 22, 1939.

While I have shown and described'what I consider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, various changes in construction as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: i

1. A nasal filter device including a nose shape body constructed of porous fabricmaterial defining a nose receiving pocket having a bottom wall of a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the underside of a human nose, a side wall for bridging the nose, a lip portion depending from the rear edge of the bottom wall, a plurality of porous flexible filter sheets secured to the lip portion and having their free portions folded into the pocket fiat against the bottom wall, the free portions of the filter sheets being of a shape substantially conforming to that of the bottom wall.

2. A nasal filter device including a nose shaped body constructed of porous fabric material defining a nose receiving pocket having a bottom wall of a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the underside of a human nose, a side wall for bridging the nose, a lip portion depending from the bottom wall, a flexible porous filter element comprising a plurality of like thin paper-filter sheets arranged one against the other, each paper filter sheet being divided by a weakened tear line into an attaching flap portion and a free body portion, the body portion being of a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the bottom wall, said attaching portions being secured to the lip portion by stitching while the body portions are folded along the tear line into the pocket and lie in suporposed relation over the bottom wall.

3. A nasal filter device comprising a base piece of flexible porous fabric having an elongated lip forming section folded lengthwise upon itself to provide front and rear walls, a bottom wall section integral with the top edge of the front wall and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said bottom wall section being of a shape substantially conforming to the underside of a human nose; a fabric body piece having a side wall portion and end portions, the lower edge of the side wall portion fitting against the edges of the bottom wall section and stitched thereto, at-

taching tabs extending downwardly from the end ,through said walls and through the attaching tabs and attaching portions which are disposed therebetween.

i 4. A nasal filter device as set forth in claim 3,

in which the filter element comprises a pack of separate porous paper sheets, each sheet having a weakened tear line extending thereacross to permit the tearing away of the free portion thereof.

5. A nasal filter device as set forth in claim 3,

including flexible gap covering tabs integral with the top edge of the rear wall of the lip forming section and respectively disposed in alinement with ends of the side edges of the bottom wall section.

6. A nasal filter device including a base piece of flexible porous fabric material having an elongated lip forming section folded lengthwise upon itself to provide front and rear layers of material, a bottom wall section integral with the top edge of the front layer and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said bottom wall section being of a shape substantially conforming to the underside of a humannose; a fabric body piece having a side wall portion and end portions, the lower edge of the side wall portion fitting against the edges of the bottom wall section and stitched thereto, attaching tabs extending downwardly from the end portions and being disposed between said front and rear layers, and a line of stitching extending the length of the fron. and rear layers and passing through the same and through the attaching tabs.

'7. A nasal filter device including a nose shaped body constructed of porous fabric material defining a nose receiving pocket having a bottom wall of a shape substantially conforming to the underside of a human nose, a side wall for bridging the nose, a lip portion depending from the bottom wall, a flexible porous filter element comprising a plurality of thin paper filter sheets arranged one against the other, each paper sheet being divided by a hinge score into an attaching flap portion and a free body portion, the body

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