PERSONAL PROTECTIVE NOSE MASK

Abstract

A Personal Protective Equipment that fits in the Nose of living species, especially human beings, this nose mask is designed for ease of use, comfort to the user, and most of all to filter harmful viruses, bacteria, other filterable microbes, dust particles, and prevent them from entering into their nostrils, thereby protecting the user and preventing them from contracting diseases such as but not limited to COVID-19 (largely known as the novel corona virus during the years 2019 to 2021 pandemic time period), while they are at work, outside, and/or indoors, to ensure that they lead a healthy life. Additionally this Personal Protective Nose Mask can be used for betterment of health by patients, under a Physician's care/treatment who are prescribed inhalable medicines.

Claims

1. A personal protective equipment, a nose mask, comprising: A pair of cylinders, a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the said cylinders are conical, each said cylinder about the same size to fit in a human nostril, first cylinder connected by a flexible connector to the second cylinder, said connector being a holder to insert the said nose mask shell members inside the nostrils, and to pull out the said nose mask shell members together, after use; Wherein each cylinder of the said nose mask is conical for snugly but comfortably fitting into the human nostril; Wherein the said nose mask shell member and the said connector being made of flexible HDPE/Plastic 2, or any similar material known in the prior arts; Wherein the wider mouth end of each said cylinder is attached with a lid, and the said lid being made of hardened plastic like HDPE, or a similar material; Whereby each said lid is rotatable 360° (degree) in the axis of a stem and the said stem holds the respective cylinder and lid together, said first stem and said second stem being made of HDPE or Plastic2 or a similar material; Whereby each said lid locks in place when closed, fully covering the respective mouth of said first cylinder and second cylinder, each said lid keeps the said filter tight without any movement.

2. The nose mask device according to claim 1 comprises a pair of filters, a first filter for said first cylinder, and a second filter for said second cylinder, each said filter fully inserted into each said cylinder via the wide mouth end to the narrow mouth end; the inserted said filters held firmly by the tight grips with the inner wall of said cylinders; Wherein each said filter thus inserted projects slightly outside the narrow end of said cylinder; the said pair of filters touches the internal end of the nostril (inner nose); Wherein the said inexpensive filters comprises cellulose acetate fibers, the said filters resemble the tips found in cigarettes.

3. The said filters according to claim 2 recommended to be manufactured with at least double the density of fibers present in cigarette filters; a. Wherein doubling of the fiber density means the hydrodynamic particle diameter of cigarette smoke filtered by a regular cigarette filter is around 0.44 micrometers or 440 nanometers, whereas the SARS-CoV-2 virion is tinier in size approximately 0.05-0.2 micrometers or 50-200 nanometers in diameter; b. Whereby the said filters described hereinabove lodged in the said cylinders filters out dust particles and microbes such as but not limited to the COVID-19 virus preventing the said microbes from entering inside the human body during 24×7×365 inhalation process of any human being; c. Whereby the intake of air a.k.a inhalation via the said nose mask device according to claims 3 a. and 3 b. is fresh, pure and filtered, providing a comfortable feel of natural breath to the user of present invention, each time; d. Wherein the said fibers being made of cellulose acetate or a similar chemical composition, said fibers packaged densely inside a cylindrical sheet; each said sheet being made of HDPE/Plastic 2 or any pure hard paper; the materials chosen for said filters being inexpensive to produce for mass consumption; the said filters being recyclable and the production of said filters being low in natural resources consumption.

4. The said first filter and second filter according to claim 3 each consists of two sections, an outer section and an inner section means the atmospheric air enters through front end of the said outer section; the said backend of the said inner section touches the inner most side of the extant nostril; Wherein the said filters being made of denser fibrous layer in the center, wherein the said central section comes filled with a viscous liquid; the said viscous liquid being carefully chosen from various heretofore prior arts that are proven to be germ killers but more importantly safe to inhale in miniscule amounts in daily use; Whereby the said viscous liquid must not cause any side effects when inhaled for a long duration for example 4 to 7 days a week which are common working days in the current world; Wherein the said viscous liquid being a mixture of a proven germ killer with healthy nutrients; whereby usage of the present invention along with the said filters protects the user from harmful viruses such as but not limited to COVID-19, but also in the process, makes the user healthier; Wherein another variant of each pair of said filters being filled with calculated doses of medication for treating health condition of medical patients, whereby the said patient being cured from their medical condition by inhaling medicine in every breathe, in a post COVID-19 world.

5. The personal protective nose mask device according to claim 5 being inserted into the extant nostrils and removed after use from the extant nostrils by grabbing the flexible connector of said device; wherein the said device being overlaid with a face mask when outdoors, to prevent the nose mask device from falling off to the ground after ejection, in cases such as a sneeze or a long sneeze, or while running; Whereby the present invention serves any human being as an added advantage means allowing inhalation and exhalation freely, letting more volume of air inside the extant nostril, thereby the said human body of user in one breathe compared to a regular face/cloth mask.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures

[0011] FIG. 1 is a 3D view of present invention and all its components (i.e. personal protective nose mask)

[0012] FIG. 2 is an aerial 3D view of present invention, both filters selected

[0013] FIG. 3 is an aerial 3D view of present invention, both lids of nose mask selected

[0014] FIG. 4 is an aerial 3D view of personal protective nose mask, displaying both filters

[0015] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of present invention, filters “about to be inserted” into vents

[0016] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of present invention, left side filter inserted into a vent

[0017] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of present invention, right side filter inserted into another vent (both filters fully inserted into the nose mask vents)

[0018] FIG. 8 is another view of personal protective nose mask, inserted filter showing up in the opposite end

[0019] FIG. 9 is a view describing the Nose Mask lids for filters in a “Starting to Close” position

[0020] FIG. 10 is a view of the present invention displaying one of the lids in an “Almost to be Closed” position

[0021] FIG. 11 represents a view of the nose mask (present invention) where both the lids are in a completely closed position

[0022] FIG. 12 shows the view where the personal protective nose mask is in a ready to use state

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 12 thereof, example of the personal protective nose mask and its parts, employing the principles and concepts of present invention and generally designated by the reference number 300 will be described.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 12, a preferred embodiment of the present nose mask 300 is illustrated.

[0025] As described in the summary section above, the present invention nose mask 300, has been designed to protect any human being, especially doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers caring patients who have contracted not only contagious diseases but mainly serious and potentially fatal diseases such as but not limited to COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-Year 2019). The benefits, features, and purposes are described in detail below, and in other sections above, with further granular detail.

[0026] The present invention, a personal protective nose mask consists of a set of soft, flexible, non-rigid cylindrical tubes FIG. 1 thru FIGS. 12 M-T1 and M-T2 that comfortably fits human nostrils, co-ordinated and connected by a flexible connector FIG. 1 thru FIG. 12 M-C, also made of the same material as the tubes. The material for the present invention's shell as explained above can be any kind of durable material that comforts the person wearing it, preferably hardened latex based as historically and to date, devices and/or appliances that needs to be worn by hospitalized people or patients under treatment are usually latex based as its natural, easy and comfortable. Alternately the present invention's nose mask shell can also be made of non-latex based ductile material so as to cater persons who are allergic to latex/rubber. As can be imagined and understood the application of this nose mask 300, whose purpose is to protect any healthy individual from harmful and more importantly deadly viruses and similar microbes, either when they are outside let's say in a hospital visiting a physician for their regular physical appointment, or outside shopping for their daily groceries, or even inside their home along with a family member who is known to have contracted a contagious disease like COVID-19. The main purpose of this present invention (nose mask) 300 has already been explained in the sections above, which is to provide an added protection to the doctors and nurses whose daily duty is to treat, and take care of patients affected by deadly diseases such as but not limited to COVID-19, and most importantly cure them from the disease until they are close to normal so they can be discharged from the health care facility/hospital, back to their residence.

[0027] Talking about the nose mask filters FIG. 1 thru FIGS. 12 F-1 and F-2, they are chosen specifically for their capability of filtering nano particles, and they consist of cellulose acetate fibers which are relatively inexpensive, similar to or same as those filters used in the tip of a typical cigarette filter. However extra care must be taken in selecting, choosing existing pre-manufactured filters for use in conjunction with the present invention (nose mask), or alternately and preferably manufactured solely for the purpose of nose mask. There are a few reasons for designing and manufacturing brand new filters with specific features for use in the present invention, a personal protective nose mask.

[0028] Those reasons are listed as follows. [0029] 1) While there are ongoing research and studies about cigarettes, specifically cigarette filters FIG. 1 thru FIGS. 12 F-1 and F-2, both independently and by the cigarette manufacturers themselves, as early as the year 1959, common cigarette filters, thereby cigarette smoking are known to contribute to cause lung cancer. [0030] How do cigarettes contribute to cancer? [0031] It's been widely learnt from aforementioned research that >90% of cigarettes used, come with filters, which are made of cellulose acetate fibers. And these fibers, in, during and after the manufacturing and packaging processes, are known to be left with loose fiber particles (resulting from the cutting, joining, etc. . . . ), which still are present in the cigarette tip. As can be understood, a smoker smokes one of these cigarettes and when he/she inhales the cigarette, in goes those micro fibers, without the smoker knowing. That is not all. For the purpose of further understanding, mainly as this concerns the human population's invaluable health, thinking in science terms, these loose fibers, if tracking a single strand of fiber, would melt in the hot temperature of the burning cigarette, and will enter from the cigarette into the lungs, causing harm to the body, which eventually results in cancer. As one can imagine, the harmful effects to human body that is caused by a defective cigarette/filter is insurmountable. To solidify the understanding and result, which is an outcome of almost continual research which started around sixty years ago, some of the research milestones are provided below (Courtesy: Cigarettes with defective filters marketed for 40 years: what Philip Morris never told smokers: J L Pauly, A B Mepani, J D Lesses, K M Cummings, R J Streck)

TABLE-US-00001 2000 Survey documents that most all smokers (>95%) perceive that inhalation and/or ingestion of cellulose acetate filter fibers is an additional risk to that known to be associated with cigarette smoking and that tobacco companies have an obligation to inform smokers of this defect. Smokers believe that tobacco companies should advise smokers of filter defects 2000 Fibers, particles, and other filter elements discharged from the filter into mainstream smoke identified as the “third phase” of cigarette smoke 1998 Borowicz and colleagues report results of tests in which cellulose acetate filter fibers and particles are recovered from mouth washes of all smokers and for all cigarettes tested 1998 Filters of novel cigarette appearing nicotine delivery devices are shown to be contaminated with glass fibers and particles (Premier, Eclipse and NEW Eclipse) 1998 Inhaled cellulosic and plastic fibers found in human lungs

[0032] For the full list of research outcomes, the reader may refer to the Research Paper specified above. As the purpose of this specification is none other than detailing the present invention: the personal protective nose mask's specification continues below. Having said the above, definitely the filters to be used with the present invention is recommended to be not the same type of filters used in the cigarettes, but more refined ones. i.e. filters with zero defects, as otherwise using of filters with any defect(s) in the nose mask will defeat the whole purpose of the present invention itself, which has been invented solely to shield human beings from harmful microbes such as deadly viruses, and to prevent them from contracting airborne deadly diseases, ensuring that the users lead a happy, healthy life. [0033] 2) The filters as shown in FIG. 1 thru FIGS. 12 F-1 and F-2 must be 100% defect free, and equally important, must also be able to filter viruses and other harmful microbes. As per recent studies after the worldwide pandemic that started in the year 2019, each SARS-CoV-2 virion is approximately 50-200 nanometers in diameter, whereas the hydrodynamic particle diameter of cigarette smoke captured by regular cigarette filters had been estimated to be only around 0.44 micrometers or 440 nanometers. Hence, filters manufactured to be used with the present invention needs to be denser (i.e. packed with more number of cellulose acetate fibers in the filter, approximately double the amount or more than double the amount of fibers in the existing cigarette filters), thereby able to filter out the COVID-19 virus from entering inside the human body. Size range of the particular virion and the smoke particles were extracted from research papers whose references are as follows. [0034] Reference#1: https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/11/suppl_1/i51 [0035] Reference#2: https://www.hindawicom/journals/jo/2011/819129/3) [0036] 3) The tube pair and filter pair as can be seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12-M-T1 M-T2, and F-1 F-2 respectively, are designed to be cylindrical such that its naturally lodges inside the human nostrils, occupying the nostrils tightly thereby preventing unfiltered air from entering inside the nostrils interior. In other words, while wearing the fully configured extant nose mask, when the person breathes, the only way air can enter inside the nose is via the filters alone. It should be noted that the present invention is quick and easy to use surely, and at the same time comfortable to wear and remove, thereby the general public too quickly getting accustomed to using the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 1 depicts a view where the nose mask M and its components, two lids M-L1 and M-L2 are wide open. The purpose and benefits of these sliding lids M-L1 and M-L2 are twofold, one is to hold each inserted filter tightly in place, and prevent it from falling down, and two is to be the strong front interface through which the air is inhaled into the human body and vice versa. The present invention's lids FIGS. 1 M-L1 and M-L2 are designed to be made of Plastic 2 also called HDPE (high-density polyethylene), or any other similar quality substance. Quality of Plastic chosen, thus specified above is important to be pure so that the plastic does not leach any chemical during the inhalation of air process. The HDPE described in the line above is the same type of Plastic used in food storage, and food packaging, etc . . . .

[0038] Each lid FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 M-L1 and M-L2 are joint to the extant nose mask's tube FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 M-T1 and M-T2 respectively, by sturdy stems FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 M-S1 and M-S2 respectively. The lids thus attached to the nose mask's tubes FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 M-T1 and M-T2 have revolving capability, and the present invention's each lid (FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 M-L1, M-L2) is designed to rotate in the axis of the stems. These lids snugly fit to the tubes in such a way that they are not loose but finger tight (i.e. easily handled with fingers while closing the lids after insertion of filters FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 M-S1 and M-S2 respectively. The lids thus attached to the nose mask's tubes FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 M-T1 and M-T2 have revolving capability, and the present invention's each lid (FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 M-L1, M-L2) is designed to rotate in the axis of the stems. These lids snugly fit to the tubes in such a way that they are not loose but finger tight. (i.e. easily handled with fingers while closing the lids after insertion of filters FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 F-1 and F-2, and also while opening the lids to remove the filters after each use), for ease of use, each and every time.

[0039] The present invention's stems M-S1 and M-S2 are made of hardened plastic and can be Plastic 2/HDPE as well, similar to the material nose mask M is made of. Overall, nose mask M should be made of a non-leaching good quality material such as HDPE/Plastic 2. As a variation, the nose mask M thus manufactured above could also be coated with soft rubber for additional comfort, so the user feels natural to wear the extant nose mask (present invention).

[0040] The nose mask M thus worn can be removed without any effort in the same manner how the user inserted into their nose, by grabbing the extant connector M-C and by pulling out the nose mask gently.

[0041] The soft filters FIG. 1 through FIGS. 12 F-1 and F-2 as can be imagined, are one time use only (use and throw), and are meant in no way to be reused. Hence, after taking away the nose mask, the user simply follows the steps as described in FIG. 12 through FIG. 1, (i.e. in reverse of the insertion order FIG. 12, FIG. 11, FIG. 10, up to FIG. 1), thereby pulling each filter F-1 and F-2 from its lid end (M-L1 and M-L2) removing and discarding the used filters, and next is to clean the nose mask along with the lids thoroughly using soapy water, hand soap or body wash and drying the nose mask by using a fresh cloth towel, or paper towel, before next use.