DEVICE FOR IMPROVING RESPIRATION AND FOR ELIMINATING SNORING

Abstract: A device (1) for improving respiration and eliminating snoring, comprising elements (2) for fixing to a portion of the face of a person and by engagement elements (3) for engaging two regions of the nose which are spaced from the nasal lobule or columella and are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the nasal lobule; the engagement elements are connected to the fixing means (2) through at least one traction element (6, 6'), so that during the traction of the grip region a simultaneous effect of lifting the columella (5) and of lateral rotation inside the nose (4) is achieved to dilate the nostrils of the nose along their entire extent and allow better passage of the air in the nasal cavities.

Description: DEVICE FOR IMPROVING RESPIRATION AND FOR ELIMINATING SNORING Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for improving respiration and for eliminating snoring. Background Art In particular, the present invention is applied advantageously whenever the respiratory activity of a user or patient is to be assisted so as to allow easier inspiration and expiration of air through the nose. In many situations, the device can be advantageous and in some cases even therapeutic for optimizing and enhancing the respiratory function. These situations may consist of fatigue in normal individuals, respiratory difficulties caused, for example, by deviations of the nasal septum, by medical emergencies such as shock and fainting while waiting for the administration of oxygen, sports activity of various kinds and in order to eliminate the noisy and hoarse emission of sounds produced during sleep and known as snoring. Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft palate, produced by the flow of air through the mouth, which the snoring individual is forced to keep partly open due to respiratory difficulties through the nose, such as for example those listed above. A conventional respiration-improving device comprises an adhesive bandage adapted to be fixed to an upper portion of the face of a person and by elements for engaging two regions of the nose which are proximate to the nasal lobule or so-called columella and are arranged on opposite sides with respect to said columella. Such engagement elements are connected to the adhesive bandage by means of at least one traction element, so that once the engagement elements have been anchored to the rim of the respective nostrils and the adhesive bandage has been arranged in a region of the external nasal pyramid which produces a traction effect on the traction element, the engagement elements are able to lift the columella, allowing better passage of air through the nasal cavities. The conventional device suffers the drawback that since the engagement elements are anchored to regions of the nose which are proximate to the nasal lobule, the nostrils, under the action of the device, tend to dilate in a direction which is parallel to a plane of symmetry of the nose but maintain their modestly dilated condition, or may even contract, with reference to a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to provide a device which improves respiration by facilitating the passage of air inside the nose both during inspiration and during expiration, without suffering the above noted drawback, and allows to permanently eliminate snoring. According to the present invention, a device for improving respiration and eliminating snoring is provided which comprises means for fixing to a portion of the face of a person and means for engaging at least one grip region of the nose which is proximate to the nasal lobule or columella, said means being connected to the fixing means by at least one traction element, so as to apply traction to said grip region, characterized in that said engagement means comprise at least one substantially flat expanded grip element which is arranged and shaped so as to allow, during the traction of said grip region, the simultaneous effect of lifting said columella and dilating at least one nostril of the nose proximate to said grip region. Brief Description of the Invention The characteristics of the invention, according to the above aim, can be clearly understood from the appended claims and detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non- limitative embodiment thereof, and wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of the device for improving respiration and eliminating snoring, according to the present invention, applied to the nose of a person; Figure 2 is an enlarged-scale perspective view of details of the device of Figure 1; Figures 3a and 3b are respectively schematic profile views of a nose in two configurations which relate respectively to non-use and use of the device of Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 are respectively front and lateral schematic views, more detailed than Figures 3a and 3b, of a nose whereto a device according to the present invention has been applied. Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3b, 1 generally designates a device for improving respiration and eliminating snoring. The device 1 for improving respiration comprises means 2 for fixing to a portion 8 of the face of a person and means 3 for engaging two regions 12 of the nose 4 arranged on opposite sides with respect to the nasal lobule or columella 5 and spaced from it by portions having a set length. The engagement means 3 are connected to the fixing means 2 through two traction elements 6 being connected to an additional traction element 6' which is anchored directly to said fixing means 2. In operation, the device 1 acts with a double mechanical action with respect to the two regions 12 of the nose on which it is engaged through the engagement means 3, and specifically it produces an upward traction, in the direction of the arrow FI of Figure 4 and Figure 5, with consequent lifting of the columella 5 and of both lateral cartilages 15 (alar and triangular cartilages) of the nose 4, and optimum dilation of the entire nasal cavity formed by the nostril 7. This dilation allows to raise two regions 12 of the nose 4 which are relatively distant from the nasal lobule or columella 5 in order to improve the passage of air in said nasal cavities. The engagement means comprise a grip element 9, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, which has a free end 11, designed to be inserted in a nostril 7, which is flattened and has a larger cross-section than the remaining parts of element 9. Moreover, the traction elements 6 are angled so as to keep the grip elements 9 mutually spaced, so that in use they engage portions 12 of respective nostrils 7 which are significantly spaced from the lobule or columella 5. The fixing means 2 comprise a laminar element having a variable shape, adhesive characteristics and being adapted to replicate the profile or shape of a portion of the face by adhering thereto. For example, said means comprise an adhesive bandage 2' which is adapted to replicate a portion of the nose 4 (for example the bridge 8, as in the figures) by remaining attached thereto. The adhesive bandage 2' can be made of skin-colored material, so as to blend in with the rest of the face. The connection between the two grip elements 9 and the adhesive bandage 2' can be provided in different manners. A first example, shown in Figure 2, illustrates two separate traction elements 6 which connect the grip elements 9 to the traction element 6'. The grip elements 9 can be made, for example, of soft plastic material or rubber or other suitable material. The traction elements 6 and 6' can be made of nylon, silk or other suitable material. Another embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention comprises the shape of the grip elements 9, which must always be aimed at partially replicating the shape of the nose 4 or at least of the external and internal portions 12 of the nostrils 7. In other words, the grip element 9 is to be made (as a twin or single part) of malleable plastic material, so as to adapt it to the shape of the nose 4: in this manner a better distribution of the forces applied by the traction element to the ends of the nostrils 7 is achieved. Such embodiment may further provide for the engagement means 3 thus shaped to have adhesive characteristics by being at least partially constituted by an adhesive bandage. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, each grip element 9 is substantially shaped like a folded paddle. The element 9 therefore has a substantially U-shaped longitudinal cross-section and is provided with a rounded free end 11 so as to engage the peripheral rim 10 of a nostril 7 and enter said nostril with the free end 11. According to what is shown in Figures 2, 3b, 4 and 5, the grip element 9 is arranged and shaped so as to allow, during the traction of the grip region 12, the simultaneous effect of lifting columella 5 and of lateral rotation inside the nose 4, so as to dilate over its entire extension at least one nostril 7 of the nose 4 proximate to the grip region 12. In this manner, each element 9 allows to provide the upward traction in the direction of the arrow FI of Figures 4 and 5, with consequent lifting of the columella 5 and of both lateral cartilages 15 (alar and triangular cartilages) of the nose 4, and said optimum dilation of the entire nasal cavity formed by the nostril 7. In each grip element 9, the free end 11, which is to be inserted in a respective nostril 7, has a larger cross-section than the remaining part or parts that compose it, which comprise a first portion 13 connected to the traction element 6, 6' and an intermediate portion 14 connected to the free end 11; such portions are mutually gradually offset so that on engagement with to the rim 10 of the respective nostril 7, the first portion 13, in contact with the outer surface of the nose 4, is closer to the columella 5 than the free end 11 in contact with the internal surface of the nose 4. The invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. All the details may furthermore be replaced with technically equivalent elements. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO99A000201 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for improving respiration and eliminating snoring, comprising means (2) for fixing to a portion (8) of the face of a person and engagement means (3) for engaging at least one grip region (12) of the nose (4) which is proximate to the nasal lobule or columella (5), said engagement means being connected to the fixing means (2) through at least one traction element (6, 6'), so as to apply traction to said grip region (12), characterized in that said engagement means (3) comprise at least one substantially flat expanded grip element (9) which is arranged and shaped so as to allow, during the traction of said grip region (12), a simultaneous effect of lifting said columella (5) and dilating at least one nostril (7) of the nose proximate to said grip region (12). 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said grip element (9) is substantially shaped like a folded paddle, has a substantially U-shaped longitudinal cross-section and is provided with a free end (11) so as to engage a peripheral rim (10) of a nostril (7) and enter it with said free end (11). 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said grip element (9) is arranged and shaped so as to allow, during traction of said grip region (12), the simultaneous effect of lifting said columella (5) and of lateral rotation inside the nose (4) so as to dilate over its entire extent at least one nostril (7) of the nose (4) proximate to said grip region (12). 4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that in said grip element (9) the free end (11), designed to be inserted in said nostril (7), has a larger cross-section than the remaining part of said grip element. 5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said grip element (9) has a first portion (13) which is connected to said traction element (6, 6') and an intermediate portion (14) which is connected to said free end (11), said portions being mutually gradually staggered so that after engagement on the rim (10) of the respective nostril (7), said first portion (13), in contact with the outer surface of the nose (4), being closer to said columella (5) than the free end (11), in contact with the inner surface of the nose (4). 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two grip elements (9), each of which is provided for a respective nostril (7) of the nose. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the two grip elements (9) are arranged on opposite sides with respect to said columella (5) and spaced therefrom proximate to the base (15) where the nose (4) is seated onto the contour of the face. 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (2) comprise a laminar element (2') which has adhesive characteristics and is adapted to replicate the profile or shape of a portion (8) of the face by adhering thereto. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said fixing means (2) comprise an adhesive bandage (2'). 10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said grip elements (9) are two in number and in that there is a single traction element (6') which connects said grip elements (9) to said fixing means (2). 11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said grip elements (9) are two in number and are mutually connected by two traction elements (6) which can be arranged transversely to the direction of the bridge (8) of the nose (4) and are connected to an additional traction element (6') which is fixed to said fixing means (2).

Inventors: CACCAMO LUIGI, CACCAMO, LUIGI
Applicants: CACCAMO ALESSANDRO, CACCAMO LUIGI, CACCAMO SAMANTHA, CACCAMO, ALESSANDRO, CACCAMO, LUIGI, CACCAMO, SAMANTHA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61F5
IPC codes: A61F5