Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a nose filter adapted to be inserted into a nostril, the nose filter comprising: a housing having an external shape corresponding to the nostril, for enforcing breathed air to pass through the housing; filtering membrane(s), for filtering inhaled air; a first air passageway(s), through the filtering membrane(s); a second air passageway(s), bypassing the filtering membrane(s); and valve(s), for enforcing inhaled air to pass through the filtering membrane(s), and bypass the filtering membrane(s) upon exhalation; wherein the valve(s) are operative to block the second air passageway(s) upon inhalation, and operative to open the second passageway(s) upon exhalation.

Description:
The current application is a 371 of PCT Application no. PCT/IL2006/000509, filed 26 Apr. 2006 which claims priority of U.S. Provisional application No. 60/681,843, filed 17 May 2005, whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of air filters. More particularly, the invention relates to a nose filter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior attempts to provide a disposable respiratory nose filter generally fall within one of two categories: mask-style nose filters, i.e., those designed to cover the exterior of the nostrils of the nose; and, intrusive-style nose filters, i.e., those which are designed to be inserted into a nasal passageway. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,773 and the patents referenced therein generally disclose mask-like nose filters. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,773 discloses a mask-like filter, which includes a meshed filler region surrounded by an adhesive region. The adhesive region further includes tabs which adhere to the base, lateral and tip portions of the nose. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,774,601 and 4,984,302 disclose the use of cotton, wool, polyethylene or polyester as a material used to filter particulate in a Rose filter attached to the exterior of the nose. Both filters, however, cover a large portion of the face and can irritate the skin with which it comes in contact. Generally speaking, mask-like nose filters are extremely awkward, cumbersome and unsightly. Further, when mask-like nose filters become wet, they cling or stick to the face of the wearer, making it difficult to speak or breathe. Additionally, such nose filters lack aesthetic appeal. Intrusive-style nose filters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,917, 3,905,335, 4,052,983, 5,417,205 and 5,568,808. U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,917 discloses a non-disposable nose filter which includes a filter retaining means (i.e., a housing), filtering material, and a detachable cap having finger gripping means provided at the end of the cap. Unlike the present invention, the filter retaining means in U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,917 is formed from a hard molded plastic such as polytetrafluorethylene or Bakelite. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,335 discloses a nasal air filter comprising a pair of interconnected cylinders having a filter material within. The cylinders further contain yieldable flange means which engage the inner nostril walls. U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,983 discloses a filter device insertable into the nasal passages which include a pair of flexible casings, each casing releasable receives a filter cartridge. The filter cartridges have a multitude of cilia-like, nylon filaments which act to electrostatically charge the air as it moves past the filaments, thus aiding in the filtering process. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,205 discloses an air filter comprised of two filter units linked by a connecting element. Each filter unit further comprises first and second gauze filters and a plurality of rods extending from the first gauze filter to the second gauze filter and retaining a stack of wet filter cloth between the gauze filters. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,808 discloses an air filter generally comprised of housing, a filter component and a flutter valve. Upon inhalation the flutter valve forms a seal with the lower external portion of the nostril forcing air to pass through the filter component. Upon exhalation the seal between the flutter valve and the external portion of the nostril is broken, allowing air to escape through the area between the housing and the inner nostril wall. If such an air filter is used with an over-abundance of medicant (i.e., a medicinal substance) or aqueous solutions, the broken seal would allow the medicant or solutions to escape from the nostril. 
     An improved nose filter in accordance with the present invention eliminates the drawbacks and inconvenience of the prior nose filters described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a nose filter adapted to be inserted into a nostril, the nose filter comprising: 
     a housing  10  having an external shape corresponding to the nostril, for enforcing breathed air to pass through the housing; 
     filtering membrane(s)  30 , for filtering inhaled air; 
     a first air passageway(s)  31 , through the filtering membrane(s); 
     a second air passageway(s)  32 , bypassing the filtering membrane(s); 
     and valve(s), for enforcing inhaled air to pass through the filtering membrane(s)  30 , and bypass the filtering membrane(s) upon exhalation; wherein the valve(s) are operative to block the second air passageway(s)  32  upon inhalation, and operative to open the second passageway(s)  32  upon exhalation. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a nose filter adapted to be inserted into a nostril, the nose filter comprising:
         a housing  10  having an external shape corresponding to the nostril, for enforcing breathed air to pass through the housing;   filtering membrane(s)  30 , for filtering inhaled air; and   valve(s), for enforcing inhaled air to pass through the filtering membrane(s), and bypass the filtering membrane(s) upon exhalation, the at least one valve comprises a seal  22 , the seal being movable upwards upon inhalation, thereby closing the second air passageway(s)  32 , and movable downwards upon exhalation, thereby opening the second air passageway(s)  32 .       

     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the valves comprises of a cavity  38  and a flexible cover  39  attached to the lower side of the cavity. 
     Preferably the housing includes upper cavities  11  and bottom cavities  12 . The filtering membranes  30  are disposed therebetween. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the external shape of the housing  10  conforms to the shape of a nostril passageway, and the dimensions of the external side of the housing  10  are greater than the dimensions of the nostril, thereby sealing the nose air passageway in order to enforce breathed air to pass through the nose filter. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shape of the housing conforms to the shape of a nasal passage, thereby preventing irritating the sensitive inner wall of the nostril into which the filter is inserted. 
     Preferably the nose filter is not exposed from the nostril thereof, thereby resulting with aesthetically pleasing form. 
     The housing may be formed from flexible material as well as from a rigid material. 
     The filtering membrane may comprise one or more filtering layers. In case of a plurality of filtering layers, each layer may have a different filtering characteristic. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for filtering air passing through a nostril, the method comprises the steps of: providing one or more filtering membranes, for filtering air; redirecting inhaled air to the nostril to pass through the air filtering membranes; and redirecting exhaled air from the nostril to bypass the air filtering membranes. 
     The nose filter may filter dust, germs, allergic matter, or other foreign particulate from the air passing through the nostrils into the sinus cavity. It has been found that as the air passes through the filter, the air is also warmed before it reaches the sinus cavity and eventually the lungs. 
     The nose filter also moisturizes the mucous membranes of the sinus cavity and prevents dryness or irritation due to pollen, smoke, industrial chemicals, perfumes, dust, mold, and other allergenic. 
     Other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may be better understood in conjunction with the following figures: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates the nose filter during exhalation time, and  FIG. 1B  illustrates the nose filter during inhalation time. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the parts of the nose filter, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-section of a nose filter while exhaling, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-section of a nose filter while inhaling, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  schematically illustrates a nose filter, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While this invention is adaptable to many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     Each of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  FIG. 2  is a cross-section of a nose filter, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates the nose filter during exhalation time, and  FIG. 1B  illustrates the nose filter during inhalation time. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the parts of the nose filter, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The nose filter comprises: a housing  10 , a valve (comprising elements  21 ,  24 , and  25  in the figures) and a filtering membrane  30 . 
     The housing  10  comprises an upper cavity  11 , and a lower cavity  12 . The air passes through the cavities while the wearer thereof breathes. 
     In the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 2 , the valve comprises an axle  21 , and a seal (obturator)  22  to which the filtering membrane  30  (a filtering substance) is attached. The axle  21  is movable through cavity  27  of an adherent  25 , which is attached to the housing  10 . The adherent  25  comprises one or more cavities  26  for enabling inhaled and exhaled air to pass through adherent  25 . 
     Upon inhaling, as illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the inhaled air pushes the seal  22  upward to the narrow portion of housing  10  until stopped by housing  10 , thereby closing the air passage  28  and forcing inhaled air to pass through the filtering membrane  30 . Upon exhaling, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the exhaled air pushes the seal  22  downward until stopped by the adherent  25 , thereby opening an air passage  28  between the seal  22  and the housing  10 , through which the air passes out. 
     The seal  22  must have one or more cavities  24 , through which air can pass through the seal  22 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a cross-section of a nose filter while exhaling, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-section of a nose filter while inhaling, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , housing  10  comprises upper cavity  11 , and lower cavities  12  and  12 A. Housing  10  includes a first lower cell  54  containing a stationary filtering membrane  30 ; a second lower cell  50 ; and an upper cell  52 . A substantial portion  60  of the upper cell  52  is vertically aligned with the lower cells  50  and  54 . A center wall  62  separates the lower cells  50  and  54 . The first lower cell  54  includes a lower cavity  12  and a top passageway  56 . The second lower cell  50  includes a lower cavity  12 A and a top passageway  38 . The bottom of upper cell  52  includes passageways  56  and  38 ; and the top of upper cell  52  includes upper cavity  11 . The valve comprises an air passageway  38  and an elastic cover thereof  39 , which covers the bottom of the passageway  38 . In its “normal” state, the elastic cover  39  covers the air passageway  38 . On exhalation, when the air  32  passes downwards, the elastic cover  39  bends thereby allowing the air  32  to pass through the passageway  38 , through lower cell  50 , down to lower cavity  12 A, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . On inhalation, when the inhaled air  31  passes upwards, the elastic cover  39  blocks the passageway  38 , thereby forcing the inhaled air  31  to pass through the stationary filtering membrane  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . The elastic cover  39  blocks the exhaled air, left within housing  10  below passageway  38 , from returning by the inhaling, into cavity  11  and into the nostril. The normal state of the elastic cover  39  is illustrated in  FIG. 3B . In this state the cover  39  covers the entire passageway  38 . 
     As a result, the nose filter of the present invention is less constraining and more readily simulates normal breathing by the wearer. 
       FIG. 4  schematically illustrates a nose filter, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. It includes two nose filters, one for the left nostril and one for the right nostril. The left and the right nose filters are connected by a flange  19 , being disposed below and outside housings  10  of the nose filters. The disposition of elastic cover  39  within housing  10  and not outside housing  10  enables disposing flange  19  outside housing  10 . 
     The housing  10  may be formed of flexible or rigid material. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, any plastic or rubber-like material which is non-toxic and which will not irritate the inner wall of the nostril may be used to form the housing. The housing  10  may be formed also from synthetic rubber latex. However, the present invention also contemplates embodiments wherein the housing comprises natural porous filtering material, such as activated carbon, cotton, linen, gauze or the like. It has been found that when the housing is formed from a plastic or rubber-like material arid and the nose filter is inserted into the nostril, the housing  10  also aids in forcing the nasal passageway open, thus allowing more air to pass through the nose filter and into the sinus cavity. 
     When the nose filters of the present invention are not in use, they may be kept in a convenient container filled with a saline or other aqueous solution to retain moisture of the filter component. It will also be understood that the size and shape of the nose filters of the present invention may be varied to accommodate noses of different sizes and shapes. 
     While the specific embodiment has been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without markedly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of protection is only intended to be limited by the scope of the accompanying claims. 
     The filtering membrane  30  may comprise a plurality of layers, each of a different filtering material, thereby allowing a plurality of filtering characteristics. In all of the embodiments of the present invention, any suitable material such as cotton, activated carbon or a cellulose material may be used to form the filtering membrane. However, in a preferred embodiment, the filtering membrane consists of an absorbent material, such as activated carbon. The filtering membrane may further be soaked in a saline solution, herbal or vitamin oil, medicant or any aqueous solution. For example, the nose filters of the present invention may be moistened with a nose drop spray, medicant or aqueous solution, even when the filter is inserted in the nostril. 
     The nose filter may be operative for filtering dust, germs, allergic matter, or other foreign particulate from the air passing through the nostrils into the sinus cavity. It has been found that as the air passes through the filter, the air is also warmed before it reaches the sinus cavity and eventually the lungs. 
     The nose filter can be designed to easily inserted and removed from the nostril, and which will conform to the shape of the nasal passageway without irritating the sensitive inner wall of the nostril. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be embodied in other forms and ways, without losing the scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.