Nasal filter

A nasal filter is provided, including first and second rim portions, first and second crease portions, and a bridge portion. The first or second rim portion has a shape configured for contacting and being latched on a perimeter of a user's nostril. The first or second crease portion is provided in the first or second rim portion, and the first or second crease portion comprises concentric ring-shaped creases and collapsed into a plane defined by the first or second rim portion when flattened and deployed into a conic or circular pyramid shape configured to fit in the user's nostril when pressed perpendicularly to the plane. The bridge portion connects the first rim portion to the second rim portion. The nasal filter is configured to be deployed into the user's nostrils and to provide a filtering of breathed-in air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nasal filter.

Air pollution becomes a serious problem in this world full of burning of fossil fuels in a gigantic and accelerating speed nowadays. The internal combustion engines, factories, and other air-polluting products or cultures in a human scale such as smoking are the sources of dust, fine dust, etc.

Protection from such pollutants is one of major issues in the health or environment community.

Personal protection gears have been suggested in the corresponding industry, but there are many issues to improve.

The invention suggests a new approach to solve the above problems of the prior arts.

Accordingly, a need for a nasal filter has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of the invention is to provide a nasal filter, which can be used personally and can be worn very conveniently.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nasal filter, which can provide the maximized protection by maximizing its filtering surface inside of the nostril.

An aspect of the invention provides a nasal filter, comprising a first rim portion, a first crease portion, a second rim portion, a second crease portion, and a bridge portion.

The first rim portion has a shape configured for contacting and being latched on a perimeter of the user's nostril.

The first crease portion is provided in the first rim portion, and the first crease portion comprises a plurality of concentric ring-shaped creases and collapsed into a first plane defined by the first rim portion when flattened and deployed into a conic or circular pyramid shape configured to fit in the user's nostril when pressed perpendicularly to the first plane.

The second rim portion has a shape configured for contacting and being latched on a perimeter of the other nostril of the user.

The second crease portion is provided in the second rim portion, and the second crease portion comprises a plurality of concentric ring-shaped creases and collapsed into a second plane defined by the second rim portion when flattened and deployed into a conic or circular pyramid shape configured to fit in the user's nostril when pressed perpendicularly to the second plane.

The bridge portion connects the first rim portion to the second rim portion.

The nasal filter is configured to be deployed into the user's nostrils and to provide a filtering of breathed-in air.

The first and second rim portions may be thicker than the first and second crease portions, respectively.

Each of the rim portions and the crease portions may have a color coded for properties of the nasal filter including effectiveness, enhancement, and flavor.

Each of the first and second rim portions may have substantially a shape of circle, ellipse, or rectangle.

Each of the first and second crease portions may have at least four (4) concentric ring-shaped creases. Actually, the number of ring-shaped creases can be selected for a specific design of the nasal filter. Their numbers and exact dimensions can be chosen for maximizing the filtering area.

The bridge portion may comprise one or more creases for facilitating to adjust a width thereof.

The nasal filter may further comprise a first folding holder portion and a second folding holder portion.

The first folding holder portion is attached to an outer end of the first rim portion, comprises a horizontal part and a vertical part extending from the horizontal perpendicularly, and is configured for holding a perimeter of the user's nostril.

The second folding holder portion is attached to an outer end of the second rim portion, comprises a horizontal part and a vertical part extending from the horizontal perpendicularly, and is configured for holding a perimeter of the other nostril of the user.

Each of the first and second folding holder portions may be adapted to be flattened or bent and held in a specific shape.

The nasal filter may further comprise a filter container made of a plate having a recess with a shape of the nasal filter adapted to receive the nasal filter.

The recess of the filter container may have a substantially same thickness as the first or second rim portion.

The nasal filter may further comprise a top sheet cover portion to be applied to and cover a top side of the filter container with the nasal filter received in the recess.

Each of the first and second folding holder portions19,29may comprise a plurality of impressions configured for bending, so that each of the first and second folding holder portions19,29can be bent, forming the horizontal and vertical parts described in the above.

The top sheet cover portion may be detachable.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the nasal filter according to the invention has a simple structure, enabling very powerful filter against air pollution; (2) the nasal filter according to the present invention is easy to put on and use; (3) One size fits all without any other assistant material; and (4) There is no chemical adhesive needed to adjust fitting the filter to or inside the nostrils.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, the embodiments of the invention are described in detail.

FIGS. 1 through 7show nasal filters according to embodiments of the present invention.

An aspect of the invention provides a nasal filter100, comprising a first rim portion10, a first crease portion15, a second rim portion20, a second crease portion25, and a bridge portion30as shown inFIG. 1.

The first rim portion10has a shape configured for contacting and being latched on a perimeter of nostril of the user's nose900as shown inFIG. 1.

The first crease portion15is provided in the first rim portion10, and the first crease portion15comprises a plurality of concentric ring-shaped creases and collapsed into a first plane defined by the first rim portion10when flattened and deployed into a conic or circular pyramid shape configured to fit in the user's nostril when pressed perpendicularly to the first plane as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The second rim portion20has a shape configured for contacting and being latched on a perimeter of the other nostril of the user.

The second crease portion25is provided in the second rim portion20, and the second crease portion25comprises a plurality of concentric ring-shaped creases and collapsed into a second plane defined by the second rim portion when flattened and deployed into a conic or circular pyramid shape configured to fit in the user's nostril when pressed perpendicularly to the second plane as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The bridge portion30connects the first rim portion10to the second rim portion20.

The nasal filter100is configured to be deployed into the user's nostrils and to provide a filtering of breathed-in air as shown inFIG. 1.

The first and second rim portions10,20may be thicker than the first and second crease portions15,25, respectively. However, in certain embodiments of the invention, the first and second rim portions10,20may have same thickness as the first and second crease portions15,25.

Each of the rim portions10,20and the crease portions15,25may have a color coded for properties of the nasal filter100including effectiveness, enhancement, and flavor. Thus, the user may know the various kinds of the nasal filter by the color. The nasal filter may be impregnated with a specific texture, fragrance, etc. Sometimes the color may give a clue of the material of which the nasal filter is made.

Each of the first and second rim portions10,20may have substantially a shape of circle, ellipse, or rectangle. In the illustrated embodiments, the first and second rim portions10,20have rectangular shape. Of course, the shapes can be mixed in a nasal filter100as long as they can be deployed into a conic or pyramid shape or any shape which can fit in the nostrils.

Each of the first and second crease portions15,25may have at least four (4) concentric ring-shaped creases as shown inFIG. 3. However, the number of creases is not limiting in any case. The exact number of creases may depend on the pitch of the creases and even of the material thereof.

The bridge portion30may comprise one or more creases35for facilitating to adjust a width thereof as shown inFIG. 5. With the one or more creases35, the nasal filter100may accommodate more easily for different users.

The nasal filter100may further comprise a first folding holder portion19and a second folding holder portion29as shown inFIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 6.

The first folding holder portion19is attached to an outer end of the first rim portion10, comprises a horizontal part and a vertical part extending from the horizontal perpendicularly especially when deployed, and is configured for holding a perimeter of the user's nostril. However, sometimes the distinction between the crease portions15,25and the folding holder portions19,29is not so obvious. They may form a crease portion together as shown inFIGS. 1, 3, and 5.

Likewise, the second folding holder portion29is attached to an outer end of the second rim portion20, comprises a horizontal part and a vertical part extending from the horizontal perpendicularly, and is configured for holding a perimeter of the other nostril of the user.

Each of the first and second folding holder portions may be adapted to be flattened or bent and held in a specific shape.

The nasal filter100may further comprise a filter container40made of a plate having a recess42having a shape of the nasal filter100adapted to receive the nasal filter100as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

The recess42of the filter container40may have a substantially same thickness as the first or second rim portion10,20.

The nasal filter100may further comprise a top sheet cover portion50to be applied to and cover a top side of the filter container40with the nasal filter100received in the recess42as shown inFIG. 7.

The top sheet cover portion50may be detachable.

The rim portions10,20and the crease portions15,25are made of filtering material such as filtering paper. In certain embodiments of the invention, the crease portions15,25only may be made of filtering material.

Referring toFIG. 1, the flat mesa portion at the top of the crease portions15,25may be provided with a pointed structure with another crease, which may contribute more filtering area as discussed in the above.

Referring toFIG. 4, the recess42has a bottom floor blocking the bottom side thereof, which was indicated by double dashed lines on the bottom and by the differences between the depth of the recess42and the thickness of the filter container40.

Each of the first and second folding holder portions19,29may comprise a plurality of impressions configured for bending as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, so that each of the first and second folding holder portions19,29can be bent as shown inFIG. 5, forming the horizontal and vertical parts described in the above.