Abstract:
A surgical mask of the type worn about the nose and face and tied about the head or ears. To the inner surface of the mask, a nasal dilator, in the form of two attachment devices, each with a base upon which two layers of pressure sensitive adhesive is applied using one of the adhesive layers. The mask is pinched in towards the sides of the nose and the adjacent portions of the face to attach the mask to the nose and adjacent portions of the face. When the pinch in forces are removed the mask attempts to return to its initial position and outwardly moves the skin and muscles of the sides of the nose and adjacent face portions to expand the nasal passages of the nose. The attachment devices cover muscles which control the lower valve and the inner valve of the nose and are attached with ⅔ of their area on the nose and ⅓ of their area on the face.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to surgical masks worn by surgeons, dentists and the like and which cover the nose, mouth, chin and portions of the cheeks and more particularly to such a mask that does not interfere with the breathing of the mask wearer. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A nasal dilator prevents the outer wall tissue of the nasal passages of the nose from drawing in during breathing and thus reduces the amount of air which can be taken in. One approach to counter the drawing in of the outer wall tissue is the use of a band, which includes a resilient member. The resilient member is initially flat and when applied to the wearer&#39;s nose is caused to take on an accurate configuration. The resilient member has an elastic memory and attempts to return to its initial flat condition forcing the outer wall tissue of the nose to move outwardly and open the nasal passages. 
     This approach has been applied to surgical masks so that the mask does not interfere with the breathing of the mask wearer. One device uses a base layer having a first face upon which a first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is placed to adhere to the outer wall tissue of the nose. A second layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is placed upon the opposite face of the base layer to adhere to the interior surface of a surgical mask. A counterbalance strip is placed on a portion of the second layer of adhesive so that it is placed between the base layer and the mask. The counterbalance strip is a flat resilient strip of plastic or the like with an elastic memory so that when the mask is put on, the counterbalance strip is caused to take on an accurate shape about the nose. When the forces used to adhere the mask to the nose are removed, the counterbalance strip attempts to return to its initial position and pulls the outer wall tissue outwardly increasing the size of the nasal passageways and permitting easier breathing. 
     Present nasal dilators are positioned above the flared portion of the nose and extend from one side of the nose over the dorsum to the other side of the nose as shown in FIG.  6 . In such a placement the nasal dilator operates over the lower or traverse nasalis muscles but does not effect procerus muscles or levator labii superioris alacque nasi muscles closer to the bridge of the nose and thus limits the amount the outer wall tissue can be moved and the size of the nasal passage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention overcomes the difficulties noted above with respect to the prior art by eliminating the flexible resilient strip entirely and using the mask itself as the resilient member. Two layers of adhesive are used to attach the attachment means to the inner surface of the mask body and to the nose and face of the mask wearer. The attachment means is proportioned to extend from above the flared nostrils or ala towards the bridge of the nose to act upon the face and a number of muscles that control the nasal passageway. The two attachment means each have a base layer and a first adhesive layer on one face of the base layer for attachment to the inner surface of the mask body. A second adhesive layer is placed on the other face of the base layer to adhere to the nose and a portion of the face adjacent the nose. The base layer is so positioned that two thirds of the attachment means area is over the sides of the nose and one third of the area is over the face of the wearer adjacent the nose. 
     A surgical mask when placed over the nose and portions of the cheeks does not follow the contours of the nose and cheeks but rather forms a generally triangular shaped structure with the nose dorsum at the apex of the triangle and the mask body ends at the cheeks. Because the mask body is generally stiff and does not follow the contours of the nose and face, voids are created between the inner surface of the mask body and the sides of the nose and adjacent face portions. The attachment means are each located on the mask body adjacent one of these voids. The mask body is depressed towards the wearer&#39;s face and nose using forces applied to the mask body over the voids until the second adhesive layer of said base layer is firmly engaged with the wearer&#39;s nose and face at which time the depressing forces are removed and the mask body tries to return to its initial position and pulls the outer wall tissue of the nose and the adjacent face portion outwardly thereby increasing the size of the nasal opening. It is an object of the invention to provide a surgical mask with an improved nasal dilator. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a surgical mask with an improved nasal dilator which dispenses with the need for a separate flexible resilient counterbalance strip. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a surgical mask with an improved nasal dilator which employs the resilience of the surgical mask body to provide the forces required to outwardly displace the outer wall tissue of the nose and adjacent face portions. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide a surgical mask with an improved nasal dilator that acts upon a greater portion of the outer tissue of the nose and adjacent face portions than previously known devices. 
     Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention, and the best modes which are presently contemplated for carrying them out. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the drawing in which similar elements are given similar reference characters: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a face and nose. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of a nose. 
     FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of a nose and adjacent face portions showing fully open nasal passages. 
     FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but with the nasal passages constricted. 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration of a nose and adjacent face portions showing the various muscle groups therein. 
     FIG. 6 is an illustration of a nose with a prior art nasal dilator applied thereto and is FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,929 issued Aug. 20, 1996. 
     FIG. 7 shows a rear elevational view of prior art surgical mask with a nasal dilator and is FIG. 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,470 issued Dec. 1, 1998. 
     FIG. 8 shows a rear elevational view of another prior art surgical mask with a nasal dilator and is FIG. 13 of the &#39;470 patent. 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the nasal dilator of the &#39;470 patent and is FIG. 9 thereof. 
     FIG. 10 is the nose of FIG. 1 with a first form of nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto and with the mask body omitted. 
     FIG. 11 is the nose of FIG. 1 with a second form of nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto and with the mask body omitted. 
     FIG. 12 is the nose of FIG. 1 with a third form of nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto and with the mask body omitted. 
     FIG. 13 is top plan view, partly in section, of a nose and adjacent facial portions and showing the normal position of a surgical mask according to the prior art thereon. 
     FIG. 14 is a plan view, partly in section, of a nose and adjacent facial portions, as shown in FIG. 13 but with two attachments means, according to the concepts of the invention, mounted on the inner surface of the surgical mask. 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view, partly in section, of a nose and adjacent facial portions as shown in FIG. 13 with the surgical mask depressed towards the nose and facial portions to install the two attachment means to the nose and face of the mask wearer. 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view, partly in section, of the nose and adjacent facial portions expanded by the recovering surgical mask. 
     FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view of a cone-type facial surgical mask with a fourth form of a nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto. 
     FIG. 18 is a rear elevation view of a rectangular-type facial surgical mask with the nasal dilator attachment means of FIG. 17 applied thereto. 
     FIG. 19 is a rear elevational view of the facial surgical mask of FIG. 17 with a fifth form of nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto. 
     FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of the facial surgical mask of FIG. 18 with the fifth form of nasal dilator attachment means of FIG. 19 applied thereto. 
     FIG. 21 is an illustration of a face with a sixth form of nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto and omitting the mask body. 
     FIG. 22 is an illustration of a face with a seventh form of nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto and omitting the mask body. 
     FIG. 23 is an illustration of a face with an eighth form of nasal dilator attachment means applied thereto and omitting the mask body. 
     FIG. 24 is an illustration of a face showing the positions of the attachment means of FIG. 19 thereon with the mask body omitted. 
     FIG. 25 is a top plan view of two attachment means covered with a single release material. 
     FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 27 is a front elevational view of an attachment means according to the instant invention. 
     FIG. 28 is a rear elevational view of a prior art cone-type mask with a ninth form of nasal dilation attachment means applied to the inner surface of such mask 
     FIG. 29 is a rear elevational view of a rectangular-type facial surgical mask with the ninth form attachment means applied to the inner surface of such mask. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning first to FIGS. 1 to  5  certain exterior and interior structures of the nose and adjacent facial portions are shown. The nose  30  extends from a mobile septum  32  over a tip  34  along dorsum  36  to bridge  38 . The margin  40  marks the transition from the nose  30  outer wall tissue to the face  42 . The nasal passages or naris  44  extend through the nose  30  from the lower portion of the ala  48  or outwardly flared nostrils. As will be explained below, the muscle groups adjacent the ala  48  provide a lower valve  50  for the nasal passages to open or constrict such nasal passages. The muscle groups between the ala  48  and the bridge  38  provide an inner valve  52  for the nasal passages to also open or constrict such nasal passages. 
     FIG. 3 shows a healthy nose with the nasal passages  54  and  56  open to their maximum extent and outer wall tissue  58 ,  59  at its minimum size. The presence of a malfunction, such as a deviated septum, or swelling due to allergic reactions, causes the outer wall tissue  58 ,  59  to be drawn in or collapse and restrict or completely block the nasal passages  54 ,  56  respectively as is shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the major muscle groups of the nose  30  and adjacent portion of the face  42 . The transverse nasalis  62  extends over the top of the ala  48  and provides the lower valve  50 . The procerus  64  and the levator labii superioris alacque nasi  66  extend over the top of the nose  30  in the region of bridge  38  and to the face portion  42  adjacent the nose  30 . These muscle groups  64  and  66  operate the inner valve  52 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, a known prior art nasal dilator  70  is made up of an adhesive layer  72  to adhere to the nose  30  of a wearer and a flexible, resilient strip  74 . The nasal dilator  70  is positioned above the ala  48  and over the transverse nasalis  68 . The nasal dilator  70  also extends across the dorsum  36  and above the ala  48  on the opposite side of the nose  30  but not visible in the figure. The strip  74  is flat before installation upon the nose  30  and is formed into a generally U-shape by such installation. The strip  74  has a plastic memory and attempts to return to its initial, flat state, thus providing the opening forces to open the lower valve  50  of the nasal passages or naris  44  by acting upon the muscle group  62 . The nasal dilator  70  has no effect on the large muscle groups  64  and  66  and thus fails to assist in opening the inner valve  52 . 
     FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  show surgical masks employing a nasal dilator according to the prior art and are respectively, FIGS. 8,  13  and  9  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,470. These masks  20  (FIG. 7) and  60  (FIG. 8) use a nasal dilator or easier breathing device  118  as shown in FIG.  9 . The easier breathing device  118  consists of layer of pressure sensitive adhesive  126  protected by a release layer  128  which is removed to adhere the masks  20  and  60  to the nose of the wearer. A base layer  122  has a first surface  124  to which the pressure sensitive adhesive layer  126  is applied and a second surface  130  to which another layer of pressure sensitive adhesive  132  is applied. The central portion of the adhesive layer  132  is covered by a counterbalance strip  134 . A release layer  136  covers the strip  134  and the remaining exposed portions of the adhesive layer  132 . Release layer  136  is removed to permit the easier breathing device  118  to be adhered to the inner surface of the masks  20  and  60 . The easier breathing device  118  extends over the dorsum and is adhered to the nose  30  above the ala  48  and operates, as described above, on the lower valve  50  of FIG.  2 . 
     It has been found that it is possible to provide increased dilation by using a nasal dilator which operates upon the lower valve  50  and the inner valve  52 . The nasal dilator is made up of two attachment means one for each side  46 ,  47  of nose  30  and adhered to a surgical mask inner surface and to the nose  30  and adjacent face portions  42 . The attachment means are each proportioned such that two thirds of the attachment means area is adhered to the side  46 ,  47  of a nose  30  and one third of the attachment means area is adhered to the side of the face  42  and over the margin  40 . The attachment means can take many different shapes, each of which is proportioned in size to maintain the 2/3:1/3 ratio. FIG. 10 shows one of the rectangular attachment means  76  which are rectangular in shape and attached to the side  46  of the nose  30  and to the face  42  and extend over the margin  40 . FIG. 11 shows a triangular shaped attachment means  78  whose apex  80  is adjacent the bridge  38  of nose  30  and whose base  84  is adjacent the top of ala  48 . In FIG. 12 a modified triangular attachment means  86  is shown. The apex  80  has been rounded as at  88  to provide greater comfort to the wearer. 
     Each of the attachment means  76 ,  78  and  86 , as well as other attachment means to be described below are composed of a number of layers as shown in FIG. 27. A base layer  90  is made up of foam or any other material, which is compliant but solid. Base layer  90  has a first face  94  to which is applied a first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive  96  protected by a first release layer  104  and a second face  106  to which is applied a second layer of pressure sensitive adhesive  108  protected by a second release layer  110 . One of the release layers  110 ,  106  is removed to expose one of the associated adhesive layers  96 ,  108 , respectively and the attachment means  76 ,  78  or  86  is adhered to the inner surface of a mask as will be described below. One attachment means  76 ,  78  or  86  is positioned on the mask so that it can be brought into contact with one side  46  of a nose  30  and the adjacent portion of the face  42 . The second attachment means  76 ,  78  or  86  is then positioned so that it can make contact with the second side  47  of the nose  30  and the adjacent portion of the face  42 . 
     Referring to FIG. 17 two triangular shaped attachment means  112  are attached to the inside surface  34  of mask  20  and in FIG. 18 the same two triangular shaped attachment means  112  are attached to the inside surface  65  of mask  60 . The positioning of the attachment means  112  will be in conformance with the nose/face proportions as set forth above. FIGS. 19 and 20 show the positioning of two generally rectangular attachment means  114  on the inside surface  34  of mask  20  and inside surface  65  of mask  60 . The position of the attachment means  114  with respect to the face of the wearer is shown in FIG.  24 . The long dimension of a rectangular attachment means does not have to extend in parallel with the dorsum  36  of nose  30  but may extend at right angles thereto as shown in FIG. 21 where each of the attachment means  116  extend from the dorsum  36  onto the face  42 . The rectangular attachment means  114  may also be set on a diagonal to the mask  20  as shown in FIG. 28 or the mask  60  shown in FIG.  29 . Some trimming of the ends of the attachment means  114  may be necessary to conform to the shape of the respective masks  20 ,  60 . Similarly, the triangular attachment mean  112  can be rotated 90° so that apex  118  extends to the dorsum  36  and the base  122  is parallel with the dorsum  36  as shown in FIG. 22. A modified rectangular attachment means  140  is shown in FIG.  23 . The attachment means  140  is generally rectangular but has portions of the side edges  142 ,  144  and the top edge  146  removed as at  148 ,  150  to prevent contact with the eyes of the wearer. FIGS. 22,  23  and  24  show the various attachment means  112 ,  140  and  114  in their position on the face of the wearer with no mask present to appreciate the interaction of the attachment means with the nose and face of the wearer. 
     Although the attachment means are generally made of separate pads the two attachment means can be covered with a common release layer  152  of a non-woven material, such as felt, which adheres to the adhesive layer  108  and bridges as at  154  the two attachment means  116  as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. The release layer  152  is scored as at  156  to permit portions of the release layer  152  to be removed without affecting the attachment means  116  which is covered by the release layer  152 . If the wearer does not wish to use the nasal dilator at all, he can retain the release layer  152  in place providing a cushion over the dorsum  36  of nose  30 . If only one side of the nose, for example side  46 , is to be engaged by an attachment means  116   b,  the release layer  152  is torn at score lines  156   a  and  156   b  to separate attachment mean pads  116   a  and  116   b  and to remove the bridge  154 . The release layer  152   b  of attachment means  116   b  can be removed and the adhesive layer thereunder used to adhere the mask to the nose and face. The release layer  152   a  can be retained on attachment means  116   a  to prevent adherence to the side  47  of nose  30 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 13 to  16 , the operation of the instant invention is shown and described. A mask such as  60  when positioned on a wearer extends across the dorsum  36  as the high point and the mask  60  ends  63  engage the cheeks of such wearer. The mask  60  is held in place by anyone of a number of fastening means, namely strings that tie behind the head, strings that go about the ears or the like. The fastening means are intended to place the overall mask  60  in tension. In FIG. 13, the position of the mask  60  with respect to the dorsum  36  of nose  30  and the ends  63  of the mask  60  is shown. Mask  60  follows the dorsum  36  which spaces the mask  60  from the face  42 . The ends  63  of the mask  60  engage the face  42 . With the mask  60  stretched by the fastening means about the head or ears and the dorsum  36  of nose  30  space  160  exists between the side  46  of nose  30  and the face portion  42 . In a similar fashion, space  162  exists between the side  47  of nose  30  and the face portion  42 . 
     FIG. 14 shows the mask  60  of FIG. 13 but with attachment means, such as attachment means  114  adhered to the inside surface  164  of mask  60  and each of the two attachment means  114  is located in one of the spaces  160 ,  162  respectively. It should be noted that the attachment means  114  are not in contact with the nose  30  or the face  42 . 
     To engage the attachment means  114  with the nose  30  and face  42  it is necessary to pinch in the mask  60  as shown in FIG.  15 . The mask  60  has an inwardly directed force along arrow  168  applied by the thumb of the wearer and a second inwardly directed force applied along arrow  170  by the forefinger of the wearer. As a result the attachment means  114   a  is attached to the side  46  of nose  30  and to the adjacent portion of the face  42  and attachment means  114   b  is attached to the side  47  of nose  30  and to the adjacent portion of the face  42 . 
     When the pinching forces along arrows  168  and  170  are removed, the mask  60  attempts to return to its initial position as shown in FIG.  13 . As it does it lifts the skin of the nose  30  on sides  46  and  47  and the adjacent skin of the face  42  as shown in FIG. 16 along with the muscles below the skin to open the nasal passages (not shown). 
     While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, as are presently contemplated for carrying them out, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.