Abstract:
A nosebleed arrest element is placed into a human mouth to alleviate bleeding from a nose. An upper portion of the device is placed between an interior portion of an upper lip and the gingiva of a crest of a maxillary bone. Placement of the device provides sufficient pressure upon subjacent arterial passageways to stem a flow of blood. A lower portion of the device protrudes from the mouth of a user. The lower portion is provided with a grasp catch to obviate swallowing of the device as a whole and to assist with maneuvering and removal of the device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no current co-pending applications. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an implement capable of being placed within a nasal cavity of a patient to arrest a nosebleed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Those of us that suffer from frequent nosebleeds have our favorite method for stopping them. One (1) method that finds success with many nosebleed sufferers is that of pressure against the front upper lip and gum area. A person may simply press their finger between their lip and gum while pressing firmly up against the nose. There is a blood vessel which runs against the upper lip, and pressure against it reduces blood flow, and allows the blood to clot. Many people have found that placing an object such as a rolled up piece of paper, a paper towel, gauze, tissue, or the like, produces the same effect. However, such materials are not often easy to find. Additionally, it is sometimes somewhat difficult to remove the material afterwards. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which nosebleed sufferers can be provided relief using the lip pressure technique, in a manner which addresses the above shortcomings. The use of the nosebleed arrest implement provides most users the ability to stop a nosebleed in a matter of seconds, in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a quick and easily obtainable device that effectively slows down and arrests a nosebleed. 
     In one (1) embodiment, the device is in the configuration of a implement having an upper member having a thickness, a height, and a width and stem centrally located on a lower end of the upper member, also having a thickness, a height, and a width. The upper member is capable of being inserted into an area of a mouth between an upper lip and a gingiva on a crest of a maxillary bone to assist in arresting a flow of blood from a nasal cavity by application of restrictive pressure upon arterial passageways resulting from insertion of the upper member. The stem is configured such that the stem length extends away from the mouth when the upper member is properly positioned and aids in grasping and placing the upper member in the proper location and also for providing additional pressure. 
     In another embodiment, the upper member is fabricated from a water-soluble material. 
     In another embodiment the upper member and stem are configured from a unitary material. In such an embodiment, both the upper member and stem are fabricated from a water-soluble material. 
     Both the upper member and the stem have a posterior side, an anterior side, an upper side, a lower side, a first end, and a second end. 
     In another embodiment, the upper member is configured to be a curvilinear polyhedron and the stem is configured to be a linear polyhedron. In another embodiment, the stem second end terminates in a semicircular profile. 
     In another embodiment, the upper member is configured to have a thickness between the posterior side and the anterior side that tapers downward from the upper side to the lower side. 
     In another embodiment, the first end and second end of the upper member are configured to be an arcuate profile such that a greater amount of material is disposed along a midline of said length and a lesser amount of material along an upper edge thereof and a lower edge thereof. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a nosebleed arrest implement  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a posterior surface  24  of the nosebleed arrest implement  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of an anterior surface  22  of the nosebleed arrest implement  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the posterior surface  24  of the nosebleed arrest implement  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an plan view of a top of the nosebleed arrest implement  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an alternate device  80  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  nosebleed arrest implement 
               20  upper member 
               22  anterior surface 
               24  posterior surface 
               26  upper edge 
               28  lower edge 
               32  first end 
               34  second end 
               36  upper member first thickness 
               37  upper member second thickness 
               38  length 
               42  upper member height 
               50  stem 
               52  stem thickness 
               54  stem width 
               55  stem first end 
               56  stem second end 
               58  stem height 
               70  alternate device 
               72  first member 
               74  first member length 
               76  first member diameter 
               78  catch 
               82  connector 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of the described embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 , and an alternate embodiment, herein depicted within  FIG. 6 . However, the disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only certain configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     It can be appreciated that, although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one (1) element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It also will be understood that, as used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one (1) or more stated elements, steps or functions without precluding one (1) or more unstated elements, steps or functions. Relative terms such as “front” or “rear” or “left” or “right” or “top” or “bottom” or “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one (1) element, feature or region to another element, feature or region as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. It should also be understood that the sizes and relative orientations of the illustrated elements are not shown to scale, and in some instances they have been exaggerated for purposes of explanation. 
     The present invention describes a nosebleed arrest implement (herein referred to as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means to stop a flow of blood from a nasal cavity of a user by the application of restrictive pressure upon certain arterial passageways in proximity to a crest of a maxillary bone resulting from the insertion of an upper member  20  of the device  10  into an area between the upper lip and the gingiva on the crest of the maxillary bone. In the ensuing discussion, any reference to a back, posterior, or rear, will indicate that portion of the device  10  placed against the gingiva, while the front, or anterior, will indicate that portion placed against the interior of the lip. It should be noted that since the size of the users to which the device  10  may be useful can vary considerably, there must be a range of sizes implicit in any embodiment of the device  10  without limiting the scope of the invention. An alternate device  70 , having a cylindrical first member  72  is provided with a catch  78  and a connector  82  for removing the alternate device  80  from the user&#39;s oral cavity after use. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention are disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes an upper member  20  and a stem  40 . In a preferred embodiment, the upper member  20  and the stem  50  are composed of a molded thermoplastic material and as such may be presented in a wide variety of colors and surface finish textures. However, it is understood that other materials, such as, but not limited to, synthetic rubber, foamed polymers, metals, ceramics, or natural and/or synthetic textiles, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The upper member  20  is configured to be a curvilinear polyhedron having an anterior surface  22  and a posterior surface  24 . The anterior surface  22  is intended to be placed in proximity to the interior of a user&#39;s upper lip. The posterior surface  24  is configured to conform to a range of sizes encompassing users of a certain size range and be provided with any feature, including embossing or other surface texturing as may beneficially accomplish the securement of the device  10  within the intended cavity of use. The upper member thickness  36  is configured to be the amount of constituent material comprising a distance between the anterior surface  22  and the posterior surface  24 . In various embodiments the upper member second thickness  36  is approximately five ten-thousandths of an inch (0.05 in) and the upper member first thickness is approximately four-and-one-half tenths of an inch (0.45 in), although these thicknesses may vary. 
     The upper member  20  is configured to have a first end  32  defining a lateral margin thereof and a second end  34  at an opposite lateral boundary. The length  38  of the upper member  20  is the distance between the first end  32  and the second end  35 . In various embodiments the length  38  of the upper member may vary from approximately one-half of an inch (½ in.) to approximately two-and-one-quarter inches (2¼ in.). The first end  32  and the second end  34 , in a preferred embodiment, are configured to be provided with an arcuate profile such that a greater amount of material is disposed along the midline of the length  38  and a lesser amount of material along an upper edge  26  and a lower edge  28 . The distance between the upper edge  26  of the upper member  20  and the lower edge  28  is the upper member height  42 . In a preferred embodiment, the upper member height  42  is configured to flare out from some reduced magnitude at the upper edge  26  to an increased girth along the longitudinal centerline between the anterior surface  22  and the posterior surface  24 . Some embodiments may include a corresponding reduction in girth between the longitudinal centerline and the lower edge  28  of the upper member  20 . 
     Attached to, and extending from, a center point of the lower edge  28  is the stem  50 . A stem first end  55  is attached at the lower edge  28  and extends to a stem second end  56 . The stem  50  is configured to be of a sufficient stem height  58 , from the stem first end  55  to the stem second end  56 , so as to protrude from a user&#39;s mouth even when the upper member  20  is placed in position for use. The stem second end  56  is configured to have a semicircular, or at least arcuate, profile. The user may grasp the stem second end  56  to maneuver the device  10 . The stem  50  may be formed simultaneously with the upper member  20  as a single piece, or may be attached in a subsequent process to share a common anterior surface  22  and a common posterior surface  24 . The stem  50  is a linear polyhedron having a stem thickness  52 , configured to be the material between the anterior surface  22  and the posterior surface  24 , and a stem width  54  defined as the distance between the lateral edges of the stem  50 . In various embodiments the height  56  of the stem  50  may vary from approximately one-half of an inch (½ in.) to approximately three inches (3 in.) without limiting the scope or the intent of the device  10 . The stem thickness  52  and the stem width  54  may be of any suitable dimension to accomplish the function of the device. In various embodiments the stem thickness  52  may be approximately five ten-thousandths of an inch (0.05 in.) to four-and-one-half tenths of an inch (0.45 in) while the stem width  54  may be approximately one-half of an inch (½ in) to approximately two-and-one quarter inches (2¼ in.). 
     In some embodiments, one (1), or more of the components  20 ,  50  of the device  10  may be water soluble, such solubility taking a sufficient period of time for the device  10  to be effective in terminating the epistaxis. After that period of time, the device  10  is envisioned to be absorbed or swallowed so as to minimize the amount of material to be disposed of by a user. Such substances may include gelatinous sugar mixtures, such as those found in some candies, or other foodstuffs. The precise chemical composition may be tailored to provide a device  10  which can meet the application period requirements, while still being edible by the user once the symptoms have been alleviated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an isometric view of the apparatus  100 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  70  includes a generally cylindrical first member  72  having a finite first member length  74  and a suitable first member diameter  76 . It is understood that other alternately shaped first members  72 , such as rectangular, may also be utilized without limiting the scope of the alternate device  70 . A catch  78  is configured to be attached to a central location of the first member  72  by means of a connector  82 . The catch  78  is a generally spherical body having sufficient size to allow for the proper removal of the first member  72  upon the completion of the intended task while restricting the inadvertent swallowing thereof. The connector  82  is configured to be any natural or synthetic textile filament of sufficient length to protrude from the user&#39;s mouth even when the first member  72  is positioned correctly for the proper use. The first member length  74  may vary from approximately one inch (1 in.) to two-and-one-half inches (2½ in) while the first member diameter  76  may vary from approximately one-quarter of an inch (¼ in) to approximately five eighths of an inch (⅝ in.). The selection of constituent materials for the first member  72  and for the catch  78  may be the same as those for the upper member  20  of the device  10 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be arranged as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the apparatus  10  having a desired size and style to suit the taste of the user experiencing epistaxis; grasping the stem second end  56  of the stem  50  so as to competently maneuver the device  10 ; inserting the upper member  20  between the interior of the upper lip and the upper gum having the anterior surface  22  in contact with the upper lip and the length  38  parallel to the gum line; permitting the stem  50  to protrude from between the lips; allowing a sufficient amount or time to elapse for the hemorrhaging to cease; and removing the device  10 . The device  10  may be cleaned and sterilized for reuse if the constituent material was provided for that purpose. 
     The alternate embodiment of the device  70 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , may be utilized by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the alternate device  80  having the desired size; grasping the first member  72 ; inserting the first member  72  between the interior of the upper lip and the upper gingiva having the first member length  74  aligned parallel to the gum line; permitting the catch  78  and that contiguous end of the connector  82  to protrude from the mouth; allowing a sufficient amount or time to elapse for the hemorrhaging to cease; and removing the device  70 . 
     The foregoing embodiments of the nosebleed arrest implement have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles, configurations, and modifications of the invention can be incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure upon reading the specification and that the embodiments of the disclosed nosebleed arrest implement shown and described are for the purposes of clarity and disclosure and to limit the scope. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.