Method and apparatus for filtering air entering an animal's nostrils

A method and apparatus for filter air entering an animal's nostrils include a filtering element operatively disposed with a lower portion contacting the animal's nose region between the animal's nostrils and upper lip. A nose mask may be secured against the animal's nose region with adhesive or one or more stretchable bands extending around a portion of the head of the animal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to air filtration, more particularly filtering air entering the nostrils of an animal.

BACKGROUND

Horses and other animals are sometimes located in environments having airborne particulate matter, such as stables, training areas, or race tracks. The airways of horses or other animals may be irritated or inflamed, or the breathing function impeded, by the inhalation of particulate matter, such as dust, dirt, pollens, grains, grasses, or hay particles. Inhalation of these materials, particularly hay and some processed grains, may lead to allergic reactions or the respiratory condition known as “heaves,” which is also known as recurrent airway obstruction. Believed to be primarily caused by chronic exposure to dusts and molds in hay and other materials, heaves can greatly impair the function of a horse's lungs, making it difficult for the horse to breathe at rest, and even more so during physical exertion. Similar to human asthma, heaves may cause the muscles inside the airways to constrict in response to external stimuli such as dust, pollen, or mold.

Horses typically breathe primarily through the nose. When feeding on hay, grains, oats or other dry materials, a horse may be susceptible to inhaling the feed or other particulate matter into the nostril, particularly if the horse inhales air through its nose while its nose is positioned near the feed. The feed may also tend to collect on the horse's nose during feeding, particularly on any moist regions of the nose. Moreover, particles such as dust, dirt or dander may be released into the air while a horse is being cleaned.

Various types of masks have been developed for use with horses to perform various functions. Fly masks have been designed to protect the sensitive areas of a horse's head from flies or gnats. Pre-warmer masks have been developed for cold-weather horse racing to warm the air entering a horse's nasal cavity and lungs. Other masks for use with horses have been designed to administer medication, such as bronchodilators or Corticosteroids, by inhalation.

Previous masks, however, do not filter air entering the nostrils, or cover the nose and mouth, and thus are not useful during feeding, when the susceptibility to inhaling hay and grain particles may be heightened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first separate aspect of an embodiment of the invention, a nose mask for an animal comprises a flexible, air-permeable filter element that is operatively adaptable to fit a nose region of an animal and to generally correspond to the contours of the nose region, and a lower portion of the nose mask contacts an area between the animal's mouth and nostrils.

In a second separate aspect of an embodiment of the invention, a nose mask filters from entering an animal's nostrils various particles that might irritate the animal's airway or impede breathing, and does not block the mouth, minimizing interference with normal feeding.

In a third separate aspect of an embodiment of the invention, a nose mask for an animal is adaptable to generally fit the contours of an animal's nose region, inhibiting air flow between the mask and the animal's head.

In a fourth separate aspect of an embodiment of the invention, a nose mask for an animal is conveniently secured to or removed from an animal using a securing member that is stretched around an animal's lower jaw to hold the filter element against the animal's nose region, the securing member being sufficiently stretchable that the animal may open its mouth with the mask in place on the nose region, minimizing interference with normal feeding.

In a fifth separate aspect of an embodiment of the invention, a nose mask for an animal is secured to an animal with an adhesive that contacts the animal's nose region and secures a filter element against the nose region.

In a sixth separate aspect of an embodiment of the invention, a nose mask for an animal provides clearance between a filter element and an animal's nostrils.

The various aspects of the invention may be present independently or in combination in one or more embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1,2and3illustrate a preferred embodiment of a nose mask1for an animal. Though the nose mask may be used with other animals, an exemplary application is with respect to horses as shown.

The nose mask1ofFIGS. 1,2and3has a flexible, air-permeable filter element3, a first securing member5, and a second securing member7.

The filter element3has a central region9surrounded by a peripheral region11disposed along the edge of the filter element. The filter element3has a shape that allows the filter element to fit over a horse's nostrils13(indicated by dotted lines), and has a peripheral region11with a shape that generally corresponds to the contours of a horse's nose region, i.e., a region of the muzzle surrounding the nostrils13. The filter element3preferably tends to retain the form in which it is manufactured, but is flexible to be shaped to substantially conform to the contours of a horse's nose region.

When operatively disposed on a horse, the peripheral region11of the filter element3contacts a horse's nose region, with a lower portion of the peripheral region11having a lower edge15contacting the nose region between a horse's upper lip17and nostrils13. The filter element3is positioned away from the mouth, minimizing interference with normal feeding.

Gaps between the filter element3and the horse's nose region are minimized to minimize air flow between the mask1and nose region. Preferably, there is substantially continuous contact between the peripheral region11and the horse's nose region so that air flows through the filter element3rather than between the mask1and the horse's nose region.

Viewed from above, such as inFIG. 2, the edge of the filter element3preferably is curvilinear, and may be in the general shape of an oval or circle. The edge of the filter element3generally follows the contours of the animal's nose region when operatively disposed.

As shown inFIG. 5, a lower edge29and an upper edge31of a filter element27of an embodiment of a nose mask26having a first securing member33and a second securing member35may lie out of plane. For example, as shown inFIG. 5, the upper edge31may be arcuate viewed from a side, and arch upwardly away from side edges32of the filter element27, to facilitate correspondence of the filter element27with the contours of the animal's nose region. The lower edge29or side edges32, or both, also may be arcuate or otherwise curvilinear viewed from a side.

Alternately, as shown inFIG. 6, a lower edge39and an upper edge41of the filter element37of an embodiment of a nose mask36having a first securing member43and a second securing member45may lie substantially in a single plane.

Returning toFIGS. 1,2and3, the central region9of the filter element3preferably is spaced apart from and does not contact the nostrils13. The central region9preferably has a convex outer surface16that arches from the nostrils13to provide clearance between the central region9and the nostrils13when the mask1is operatively disposed in contact with a horse's nose region. Alternately, the central region may have a form that is not convex, but provides clearance between the central region and the nostrils.

Preferably, the filter element3is shaped to provide approximately one inch of clearance between an inner surface18of the filter element3and the nostrils13, as may be measured perpendicularly to each nostril13, or measured along the axis of each nostril13passage. Alternately, the central region of the filter element may contact the horse's nose region without providing clearance between the central region and the nostrils.

In order to form the filter element into the a shape that generally corresponds to the contours of an animal's nose region, the filter element may be formed in separate segments which are appropriately stitched or sealed together to form the desired shape.

A filter element may be made from or include a filtering material that may be made from or include one or more of various types of commercially available filter material used for filtering various airborne particles, such as non-woven polyester fiber, electrostatically charged polypropylene, activated charcoal, various types of natural fibers, foam, mesh, or a material that is gas-absorbing, webbed, or porous, or that has an open-cell structure. A filter element may be made from or include one or more materials, and may have multiple layers of materials, such as the materials or layers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,347. Preferably, a filter element may be made from materials like the materials used in “N95” particulate respirators sold by Moldex Metric, Inc. of Culver City, Calif. under the designation “2200N Series.”

As shown inFIG. 5, a first securing member33is connected with and extends between a first attachment point28and a second attachment point30located at spaced-apart locations in the peripheral region of the filter element27. A second securing member35is connected with and extends between a third attachment point34and a fourth attachment point38located at spaced-apart locations in the peripheral region of the filter element27.

Each securing member is preferably made of a stretchable material that tends to return toward its original shape. Each securing member preferably is formed in the shape of a band or string, and is releasably securable to the animal's head to secure the filter element against the nose region.

To secure the mask to a horse's head as shown inFIG. 1, the filter element3is placed on the horse's nose region with a lower edge15of the filter element3positioned between a horse's upper lip17and nostrils13, and the first securing member5and second securing member7are preferably extended around the horse's lower jaw.

Alternately, as shown for the embodiment of a nose mask19shown inFIG. 4, the filter element25is placed on the horse's nose region with a lower edge24of the filter element25positioned between a horse's upper lip and nostrils, and a first securing member21may be extended around the horse's lower jaw. The second securing member23preferably is extended around the horse's head behind the ears, or in the poll area. If the horse is wearing a halter, the second securing member may connected with the halter, such as by being extended around the halter or a halter ring, or tied or otherwise secured to the halter or halter ring.

When operatively extended, each securing member is in tension and helps secure the filter element against the horse's nose region. A securing member may be released by stretching the securing member and removing it from tensioned contact with the horse. A securing member may be made of rubber or other stretchable material, and may be attached to the filter element with adhesive, by stapling or stitching, or by other conventional means. Alternately, the filter element may be provided with a passage at each attachment point, and a securing member may be inserted through the passage, and secured to the filter element such as by tying a knot.

As an alternative to, or in conjunction with, securing members, an adhesive, such as glue or tape may be disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral region of the filter element, preferably near the edge of the filter element, and placed in contact with the horse's nose region to releasably secure the filter element to the horse. To minimize air flow between the filter element and the horse's nose region, the adhesive preferably is disposed substantially continuously along the entire length of the peripheral region of the filter element. The mask may be released by lifting or peeling the filter element away from the horse's nose region.

Preferably, the filter element remains in a form substantially conforming to the contours of a horse's nose region under tension of one or more securing members, or by adhesion to a horse's nose region.

Many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification together with the accompanying drawings and claims. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses of the applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.