NOSE-FITTING ADJUSTER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nose-fitting adjuster. Particularly, the present invention relates to a nose-fitting adjuster, which can seal, without directly and intensely compressing the nose and a peripheral portion thereof, the corresponding portion, for a device, such as masks, goggles, gas masks, and VR headsets, that includes a portion coming in close contact with the nose region.

Claims

1. A nose-fitting adjuster comprising: a cover unit configured to cover at least a part of a nasal cartilage of a user and a peripheral portion thereof; and at least one of a first fixing unit to a third fixing unit, wherein 1) the first fixing unit is configured to press a first pressing portion, which is at least a part of a nasolabial fold of the user, at an outer surface of the cover unit such that the cover unit is brought into tight contact with a skin of the user, 2) the second fixing unit is configured to press a second pressing portion, which is at least a part of levator labii superioris muscle or a levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle of the user, at the outer surface of the cover unit such that the cover unit is brought into tight contact with the skin of the user, and 3) the third fixing unit is configured to press a third pressing portion, which is at least a part of an outer circumferential portion of an alar crease of the user, at the outer surface of the cover unit such that the cover unit is brought into tight contact with the skin of the user.

2. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, further comprising an additional fixing unit configured to press at least a part of the nasal cartilage of the user at the outer surface of the cover unit.

3. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 2, wherein a degree of pressure applied by the fixing unit is higher than a degree of pressure applied by the additional fixing unit.

4. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a region pressed by the fixing unit or the additional fixing unit is formed in a shape of at least one of a dot, a line, and a surface.

5. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein at least one region is pressed by the fixing unit or the additional fixing unit.

6. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 2, wherein a region pressed by the additional fixing unit is formed in a shape of micro-protrusions.

7. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit or the additional fixing unit is formed in a shape of at least one of a dot, a line, a surface, and a solid.

8. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit is configured to press an additional pressing portion at the outer surface of the cover unit, in addition to the first pressing portion to the third pressing portion.

9. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 8, wherein the additional pressing portion is formed in a shape of at least one of a dot, a line, and a surface.

10. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the fixing unit and the additional fixing unit presses the cover unit at the outer surface of the cover unit is a direction perpendicular to the skin of the user, an extension direction of wrinkles formed at a face of the user, a direction perpendicular to the wrinkles formed at the face of the user, a direction along an outer periphery of a nose of the user, an inward or outward direction of the outer periphery of the nose of the user, an extension direction of muscles around the nose of the user, or a composite combination of the directions.

11. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a maximum range within which the cover unit is capable of being disposed is from above tip-defining points to a lower end of a nasal bone as an upward-downward range and is between opposite cheekbones of a face of the user as a leftward-rightward range.

12. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein when the cover unit is brought into tight contact with the skin by at least one of the first fixing unit to the third fixing unit, 1) a relative position of the cover unit pressed by the fixing unit is fixed and the cover unit is stretched, whereby the cover unit is brought into tight contact with the skin, 2) the relative position of the cover unit pressed by the fixing unit is not fixed and the cover unit is deformed along an external shape of a nose, whereby the cover unit is brought into tight contact with the skin, or 3) the relative position of the cover unit pressed by the fixing unit is not fixed and the cover unit is stretched, whereby the cover unit is brought into tight contact with the skin.

13. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit and/or the additional fixing unit is fixed by a separate support unit provided outside the cover unit.

14. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 13, wherein at least one region of the fixing unit and/or the additional fixing unit fixed by the support unit is formed in a shape of at least one of a dot, a line, and a surface.

15. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 14, wherein the fixing unit and/or the additional fixing unit is configured to perform motion comprising rotation, movement, and twisting while being fixed by the support unit.

16. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 13, wherein a region of the fixing unit and/or the additional fixing unit that presses the cover unit and a region of the fixing unit and/or the additional fixing unit fixed by the support unit are connected to each other via an elastic material having a bent portion.

17. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the cover unit is made of an elastic material or an inelastic material.

18. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is made of an elastic material or an inelastic material.

19. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 2, wherein a region pressed by the fixing unit or the additional fixing unit is formed in a shape of at least one of a dot, a line, and a surface.

20. The nose-fitting adjuster according to claim 2, wherein at least one region is pressed by the fixing unit or the additional fixing unit.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0043] FIGS. 1 to 3 are anatomical schematic views showing a face on which a fixing unit of a nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention may be disposed.

[0044] FIGS. 4 to 69 are views showing various examples of the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention.

[0045] FIGS. 70 to 72 are photographs showing that a first fixing unit to a third fixing unit according to the present invention, which are capable of being brought into tight contact with a face of a user in the state in which a fitting function of a conventional mask (KF94) is not used, are manufactured in the shape of a metal clip and are then worn in order to measure an official leakage rate based on the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 73 is a photograph showing that an elastic member configured to be fixed to only left and right parts of a face of a user in order to check displacement depending on whether the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention is provided and then the elastic member is worn in order to track change in position of the elastic member at a peripheral portion of a nose using a motion sensor.

[0047] FIG. 74 is a view showing results of observation of positional displacement.

BEST MODE

[0048] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be easily implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. In describing the principle of operation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, however, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when the same may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

[0049] In addition, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to parts that perform similar functions or operations. In the case in which one part is said to be connected to another part in the entire specification, not only may the one part be directly connected to the other part, but also, the one part may be indirectly connected to the other part via a further part. In addition, that a certain element is included does not mean that other elements are excluded, but means that such elements may be further included unless mentioned otherwise.

[0050] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. However, the embodiments are provided merely to illustratively describe the present invention, and therefore the scope of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments.

[0051] A nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention is an apparatus configured to seal a nose and a peripheral portion thereof. For a mask, goggles, a gas mask, or a VR headset, it is not possible to completely seal the nose and the peripheral portion thereof, and therefore improvement thereon is necessary.

[0052] A cover unit according to the present invention covers at least a part of a nasal cartilage of a user (including lateral nasal cartilage, major alar cartilage, and minor alar cartilages in FIG. 1) and a peripheral portion thereof. The remaining surface of the cover unit excluding the portion of the cover unit that directly abuts a face may be coupled to a face attachment apparatus, such as a mask, goggles, a gas mask, or a VR headset, or may be coupled to a support unit.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a mask to which the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention is added by way of example. The cover unit according to FIG. 4 is indicated in light gray. Dark gray indicates the portion of the cover unit that is exposed outside, and light gray indicates the portion that is hidden by a main body of the mask and thus is not visible. At least a part of a lower-end bent line of the cover unit, excluding an upper-end bent line abutting a face, is coupled to the mask.

[0054] In FIG. 4, a black solid line that entirely surrounds a periphery of the face indicates the outermost contour of the mask. The cover unit of FIG. 4 may be elastic cloth. The cover unit is configured such that the at least a part of the lower-end bent line, excluding the upper-end bent line abutting the face, is coupled to the mask. The cover unit presses a region including an outer circumferential portion of alar creases (indicated by a vertical hatch line) from the outside of the cover unit such that the cover unit is brought into tight contact with the skin. In the case of FIG. 4, the outer circumferential portions of opposite alar creases of the nose are pressed, whereby the cover unit may be stretched or deformed and may then be brought into tight contact with the nose without the nasal cartilage being particularly pressed.

[0055] In FIG. 4, the apparatus attached to the face is the mask, and therefore the cover unit becomes an upper-end interface, and a lower interface becomes the main body of the mask. When the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention is applied to an apparatus that is attached to regions around eyes, such as a VR headset, the cover unit may form a lower-end interface.

[0056] FIGS. 5 to 28 show in detail that a region pressed by a fixing unit is formed in the shape of dots or a line.

[0057] FIGS. 5 to 16 schematize only the cover unit and the fixing unit configured to fix the same. The portion indicated by gray is an illustration of the cover unit according to the present invention. The cover unit may cover the alar creases and peripheral portions thereof (FIGS. 5 to 7 and 11 to 13), or may cover an upper end part of cartilage and a peripheral portion thereof (FIGS. 8 to 10 and 14 to 16).

[0058] In FIGS. 5 to 16, black dots indicate the portion of the fixing unit that presses the cover unit toward the face of the user at the outer surface of the cover unit. Dotted circles indicate the portions of the fixing unit that are fixed to the support unit. A black line or a curved line at the center thereof and a hatch line at the peripheral portion thereof indicate that the pressing portion is formed in the shape of a line. FIG. 4 also shows that the pressing portion is formed in the shape of a line. The positions of the black dots that press the cover unit may be changed due to elasticity thereof.

[0059] The fixing unit presented by way of example in FIGS. 5 to 16 is formed in the shape of an elastic spring, wherein one end of the fixing unit is fixed to the support unit, and the other end of the fixing unit presses the cover unit toward the face of the user at the outer surface of the cover unit. A straight line (FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, and 160 or a bent portion (FIGS. 7, 10, 11, 13, and 14) is formed between the region at which the fixing unit presses the cover unit and the region at which the fixing unit is fixed by the support unit. A singe bent portion may be provided, or several bent portions (FIGS. 11 and 13) may be provided.

[0060] The shape having the straight line or the bent portion may be changed in design depending on the direction in which the fixing unit applies pressure. The direction in which the fixing unit presses the cover unit at the outer surface of the cover unit may be the direction perpendicular to the skin of the user (FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 11), the extension direction of wrinkles formed at the face of the user, the direction perpendicular to the wrinkles formed at the face of the user (FIG. 11), the direction along the outer periphery of the nose of the user (FIG. 12), the inward or outward direction of the outer periphery of the nose of the user (FIGS. 6, 7, and 13), the extension direction of muscles around the nose of the user (FIGS. 9 and 14), or a composite combination of the above directions (FIGS. 10 and 15).

[0061] Meanwhile, the relative position of the cover unit that is pressed by the fixing unit may or may not be fixed. In FIGS. 5 to 16, in connection with the relative position of the cover unit that is pressed by the fixing unit, the positions of the black dots of the portion that is pressed by the fixing unit may be changed by elasticity of the fixing unit.

[0062] In FIGS. 5 to 7 and 11 to 13, the fixing unit corresponds to a first fixing unit, a second fixing unit, or a third fixing unit, and in FIGS. 8 to 10 and 14 to 16, the fixing unit corresponds to the second fixing unit. In FIGS. 5 to 16, the fixing unit is disposed in symmetry with respect to the nose. In an illustration of FIGS. 5 to 16, one fixing unit is configured such that one pressing region is formed in the shape of a dot. However, one fixing unit may be fixed to the support unit at one region (FIGS. 5 to 12, 14, and 15) or two regions (FIGS. 13 and 16).

[0063] In FIGS. 17 to 22, a connection unit configured to connect the fixing unit disposed in symmetry with respect to the nose is added, in addition to the construction of FIGS. 5 to 16. Even in the construction of FIGS. 17 to 19, however, the central part of the elastic spring does not still directly press the nose. In this case, the spring that forms the fixing unit is constituted as a single body.

[0064] FIGS. 23 to 28 show various embodiments in which, in the construction of FIGS. 5 to 16, two or more regions are fixed to the support unit and two or more bent portions are provided. This structure may be changed in design depending on the shape of the apparatus that is attached to the face or the region to be pressed. Various shapes of FIGS. 23 to 28 may be configured by deforming a single body.

[0065] This shape may also be deformed depending on the position of the support unit. When the support unit is formed near the face, the fixing unit is disposed along the face. When the support unit is formed spaced apart from the face, the fixing unit is configured so as to be spaced apart from the face. In this way, the spring-shaped elastic member may be variously deformed using three axes, i.e. x, y, and z axes.

[0066] FIGS. 29 to 37 show in detail that the region that is pressed by the fixing unit is formed in the shape of a surface.

[0067] In FIGS. 29 to 37, a diagram filled with a black color indicates that the portion of the fixing unit that presses the cover unit at the outer surface of the cover unit is formed in the shape of a surface. FIGS. 29 to 31 show that two fixing units, to which the cartilage is not connected, are disposed in a symmetrical fashion, and FIGS. 32 to 34 show that an intermediate unit is connected. FIGS. 35 to 37 show that the pressing portion includes a dot, a line, and a surface. Even in this case, the fixing unit may be integrally formed using an elastic material, such as an elastic metal.

[0068] FIGS. 38 to 55 show the case in which the portion that is pressed by the fixing unit or an additional fixing unit is formed in the shape of a surface and the fixing unit or the additional fixing unit is three-dimensional. In FIGS. 38 to 55, the black surface indicates the side surface of the fixing unit when the lower part of the face of the user is viewed from above the upper part of the face of the user. Gray at the peripheral portion of the nasal cartilage indicates the additional fixing unit, wherein the additional fixing unit is also three-dimensional. The fixing unit defined in FIGS. 38 to 55 is an elastic solid made of foam, which may be constituted by a single body or several bodies. The portion of the fixing unit that presses the cover unit is a surface, and the portion of the fixing unit that is fixed to the support unit is also a surface.

[0069] FIGS. 56 to 58 show other three-dimensional shapes of the fixing unit, wherein the fixing unit is made of an elastic material, such as foam or silicone, and the region of the fixing unit that applies pressure is formed in the shape of a surface or micro-protrusions. The region of the fixing unit that is fixed to the support unit is formed in the shape of a surface, and FIGS. 56 to 58 show various shapes capable of dispersing pressure applied to the face of the user as illustrations.

[0070] FIGS. 59 to 69 show various illustrations in which the fixing unit and/or the additional fixing unit is capable of performing motion, including rotation, movement, and twisting, while being fixed to the support unit. Various mechanical motions, such as sliding, rotation, and hinged folding, may be applied as unrestricted examples of the concrete motion of the fixing unit.

[0071] FIGS. 67 to 69 are illustrations in which an object, the shape of which is changeable, such as foam, an air cap, silicone, or a spring, is fixed to the support unit, and the fixing unit is connected, whereby non-mechanical motion is applied thereto.

Examples

[0072] FIGS. 70 to 72 are photographs showing that a first fixing unit to a third fixing unit according to the present invention, which are capable of being brought into tight contact with the face of the user in the state in which a fitting function of a conventional mask (KF94) is not used, are manufactured in the shape of a metal clip and are then worn in order to measure an official leakage rate based on the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention.

[0073] An official leakage rate when the clips according to FIGS. 70 to 72, i.e. the third fixing unit (Example 1), the second fixing unit (Example 2), and the first fixing unit (Example 3) according to the present invention, were brought into tight contact with the face of the user was measured.

Comparative Examples

[0074] A disposable KF94 mask, which is a conventional mask, was used as Comparative Examples. The mask is configured such that iron capable of being deformed in order to seal the peripheral portion of the nose is inserted into the portion of the mask corresponding to the peripheral portion of the nose. An official leakage rate was measured using the mask. In Comparative Examples 1, 2, and 3, the leakage rate was measure using the conventional KF94 mask at the position at which the leakage rate was measured in Examples 1, 2, and 3.

[0075] <Measurement of Official Leakage Rate>

[0076] The leakage rate was measured according to a leakage rate test method stated in “guidelines on standards of health masks (civil service guideline)” guideline-0349-04 of the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation in Korea. The leakage rate results of according to the present invention are leakage rate results obtained by performing tests after a test apparatus and method were certified by the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation in Korea.

[0077] In the result values in the table below related to the leakage rate, a first behavior to a fifth behavior correspond respectively to (A) walking for two minutes without moving the head or speaking, (B) moving the head from side to side 15 times for about two minutes as if investigating the wall of a tunnel, (C) moving the head up and down 15 times for about two minutes as if investigating the roof and the floor, (D) speaking out loud Korean text for two minutes, and (E) walking for two minutes without moving the head or speaking, stated in “guidelines on standards of health masks (civil service guideline)” guideline-0349-04.

[0078] For each behavior, a test was performed for about two minutes, tests were performed a total of five times, and the average was obtained.

[0079] <Comparison in Official Leakage Rate Results>

[0080] Tables 1, 3, and 5 show official leakage rates when the third fixing unit (Example 1), the second fixing unit (Example 2), and the first fixing unit (Example 3) according to the present invention were brought into tight contact with the face of the user, and Tables 2 and 4 show official leakage rate results in Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2. In Comparative Example 3, tight contact was impossible, and therefore it was not possible to measure the leakage rate. When the leakage rate was measured by force, a value of 40% or more was measured, and therefore a substantially meaningful value was not derived.

[0081] Table 6 shows official leakage rate results of Example 4 when the same experiment was performed in the state in which the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention was disposed only on the nasal cartilage without pressing the regions of Examples 1, 2, and 3.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Tester Koreatech Test date Oct. 28, 2020 Mask wearer Joony Mask manufacturer Sample 2 Mask model name NFA_Medium Mask serial number 002 Test round 2 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 2.05 Correction value before 0.0000024329 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0072946996 value (V) In-chamber measurement 11.46 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0052187303 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 8.19 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.09 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 253 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 347 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 2.462 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.061 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.244 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.723 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.682 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Tester Koreatech Test date Oct. 28, 2020 Mask wearer Joony Mask manufacturer Sample 2 Mask model name Noseclip Medium Mask serial number 002 Test round 4 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 4.12 Correction value before 0.0000040403 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0067938882 value (V) In-chamber measurement 10.67 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0051466752 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 8.08 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.18 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 246 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 354 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 3.452 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.354 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 4.454 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 3.708 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 6.814 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Tester Koreatech Test date Oct. 28, 2020 Mask wearer Joony Mask manufacturer Sample1 Mask model name NFA_Upper Mask serial number 001 Test round 1 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 0.36 Correction value before 0.0000027466 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0072424736 value (V) In-chamber measurement 11.37 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0051501300 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 8.08 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.01 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 249 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 351 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 0.755 during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.336 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.428 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.130 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.143 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Tester Koreatech Test date Oct. 28, 2020 Mask wearer Joony Mask manufacturer Sample1 Mask model name Noseclip_Upper Mask serial number 001 Test round 4 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 1.57 Correction value before 0.0000022869 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0068224883 value (V) In-chamber measurement 10.71 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0050919662 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 7 .99 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.06 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 238 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 362 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 1.575 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.547 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.826 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.796 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.050 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Tester Koreatech Test date Oct. 28, 2020 Mask wearer Joony Mask manufacturer Sample 3 Mask model name NFA_Lower Mask serial number 003 Test round 3 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 2.04 Correction value before 0.0000031152 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0068813179 value (V) In-chamber measurement 10.81 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0051730185 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 8.12 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) in-mask measurement value 0.09 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 260 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 340 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 2.609 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.104 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.068 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.629 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.785 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Tester Koreatech Test date Oct. 28, 2020 Mask wearer Joony Mask manufacturer Sample5 Mask model name Modi_nasal bone Mask serial number 5 Test round 4 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 0.71 Correction value before 0.0000024432 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0059834309 value (V) In-chamber measurement 9.39 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0049673023 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 7.80 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.02 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 244 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 356 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 0.685 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.641 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.807 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.648 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.770 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

[0082] Table 7 below shows the official leakage rates of Examples 1 to 4 according to the present invention and Comparative Examples 1 and 3 for comparison therebetween.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Official leakage rate Remarks Example 1 2.05% Third fixing unit Example 2 0.36% Second fixing unit Example 3 2.04% First fixing unit Example 4 0.71% Second fixing unit Comparative 4.12% Less 11% based on Example 1 KF94 satisfied Comparative 1.57% Less 11% based on Example 2 KF94 satisfied Comparative — Not fixed and Example 3 measurement impossible

[0083] When the official leakage rates were measured, Examples 1, 2, 3, and 4 according to the present invention and Comparative Examples satisfied the criterion of KF94; however, all examples of the present invention had lower leakage rates than Comparative Examples. <Compared to jaw motion results>

[0084] Tables 8, 10, and 12 show the results obtained by performing “(D) speaking out loud Korean text for two minutes,” in which jaws were moved, among the above leakage rate test methods, five times in the state in which masks including the nose-fitting adjusters according to Example 1 to Example 3 of the present invention were worn, and Tables 9 and 11 show the results of Comparative Examples 1 and 2. In the case of (D), much leakage actually occurs; however, the leakage is not clearly recognized within the regulation of an official test, and therefore additional experiments were performed thereon.

[0085] As can be seen from Table 8, the mask including the nose-fitting adjuster according to Example 1 has a leakage rate of 1.87%, which is an excellent value, even for test (D). Referring to Table 9, when the conventional KF94 mask was used at the same position, the leakage rate was 8.02%, which satisfied the criteria of less than 11%, however, the leakage rate was four or more times the leakage rate of Example 1.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Mask model name NN003 Mask serial number 003 Test round 5 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 1.87 Correction value before 0.0000024509 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0072987548 value (V) In-chamber measurement 11.46 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0048150216 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 7.56 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.09 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 282 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 318 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 2.312 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 3.379 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.066 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.628 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.075 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Mask model name NN002 Mask serial number 002 Test round 5 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 8.02 Correction value before 0.0000025650 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0069551891 value (V) In-chamber measurement 10.92 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0045803887 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 7.19 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.40 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 282 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 318 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 9.486 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 8.483 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 8.208 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 9.129 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 5.096 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

[0086] As can be seen from Table 10, the mask including the nose-fitting adjuster according to Example 2 has a leakage rate of 0.41%, which is an excellent value. Referring to Table 11, when the conventional KF94 mask was used at the same position, the leakage rate was 1.41%, which satisfied the criteria, however, the leakage rate was four or more times the leakage rate of Example 2.

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Tester Koreatech Test date Jul. 30, 2020 Mask wearer YI Mask manufacturer KF94 Mask model name Modi_Upper Mask serial number 001 Test round 1 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 0.41 Correction value before 0.0000017391 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0067575390 value (V) In-chamber measurement 10.61 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0044641244 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 7 .01 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.01 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 281 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 319 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 0.702 (pass) during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.275 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.496 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.359 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.209 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 11 Tester Koreatech Test date Jul. 30, 2020 Mask wearer YI Mask manufacturer KF94 Mask model name Nor_upper Mask serial number 002 Test round 1 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 1.41 Correction value before 0.0000015896 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0066951225 value (V) In-chamber measurement 10.51 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0047870668 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 7.51 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 293 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 307 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 1.672 during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.699 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.656 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.025 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 0.961 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

[0087] As can be seen from Table 12, the mask including the nose-fitting adjuster according to Example 3 has a leakage rate of 2.31%, which is an excellent value. In contrast, in Comparative Example 3, tight contact was impossible, and therefore it was not possible to measure the leakage rate. When the leakage rate was measured by force, a value of 40% or more was measured, and therefore a substantially meaningful value was not derived.

TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 12 Mask model name Modi_NFA_Low Mask serial number 001 Test round 1 Mask leakage rate judgment 11 criterion (%) Mask leakage rate (%) 2.31 Correction value before 0.0000025399 mask measurement (V) Correction value before 0.00 mask measurement (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0082376058 value (V) In-chamber measurement 12.94 value (mg/m.sup.2) In-chamber measurement 0.0049608726 value after test (V) In-chamber measurement 7.79 value after test (mg/m.sup.2) In-mask measurement value 0.000 (V) In-mask measurement value 0.13 (mg/m.sup.2) Inspiratory time (1 278 second) Expiratory time (1 second) 322 Zero offset (V) 0 Average leakage rate 1.235 during first behavior (%) Average leakage rate 4.931 (pass) during second behavior (%) Average leakage rate 2.474 (pass) during third behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.484 (pass) during fourth behavior (%) Average leakage rate 1.339 (pass) during fifth behavior (%)

[0088] Table 13 below shows the official leakage rates of Examples 1 to 3 according to the present invention and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 measured through the tests having the highest leakage rates for comparison therebetween. In many cases, users work for a long time while wearing masks, and most of the users talk with each other. Referring to Table 13 below, even in this case, Examples 1 to 3 according to the present invention show leakage rates similar to Table 7, from which it can be seen that uniform sealing is guaranteed even when jaw muscles or facial muscles are moved. In addition, low leakage rates are maintained irrespective of position and whether muscles are used, and therefore it is possible to always obtain excellent results even though users are not accustomed to mask wearing.

TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 13 Leakage rate due to jaw motion Remarks Example 1 1.87% Third fixing unit Example 2 0.41% Second fixing unit Example 3 2.31% First fixing unit Comparative 8.02% Less 11% based on Example 1 KF94 satisfied Comparative 1.41% Less 11% based on Example 2 KF94 satisfied Comparative — Not fixed and Example 3 measurement impossible

[0089] In contrast, the conventional mask shows a great difference in leakage rate between when the jaw muscles or facial muscles of the user are stopped and when the jaw muscles or facial muscles of the user are moved, and the difference in leakage rate is increased by four times or more depending on position. There is a shortcoming in that the leakage rate is not uniform depending on whether the users are accustomed to mask wearing and whether the users talk with each other. Meanwhile, the results of measurement of the leakage rates on the nasal cartilage of the user without pressing the regions of Examples 1, 2, and 3 when the nose-fitting adjuster according to the example of the present invention and when KF94 of the comparative example through the same experiment are shown in Table 10 and Table 11, which show similar results. Even in this case, the result according to the present invention shows a leakage rate equivalent to about ¼ of the leakage rate of the comparative example.

[0090] <Displacement Experiment>

[0091] In order to check displacement of the apparatus fixed to the face depending on whether the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention is provided, an elastic member fixed to only left and right parts of the face of the user was manufactured, and change in position of the elastic member around the nose was observed using a motion sensor.

[0092] FIG. 73 is a photograph showing that the user wears the elastic member having the nose-fitting adjuster according to Example 2 added thereto in order to perform a displacement experiment. In FIG. 73, displacement of the portion indicated by a tip point of the nose was observed. In the state in which the user wears the elastic member having the nose-fitting adjuster according to Example 2 added thereto or the elastic member having the nose-fitting adjuster according to Example 2 not added thereto, displacement of the point was observed while the user said “a-e-i-o-u”. Coordinates from a reference point were calculated, and the distances therefrom were measured. The measurement results over time are shown in FIG. 74. The x axis indicates minute, and the y axis indicates displacement.

[0093] Even when the conventional mask is brought into tight contact with the peripheral portion of the nose of the user as the result of bending the portion of the mask corresponding to the peripheral portion of the nose, tight contact is lowered due to contraction and relaxation of facial muscles occurring as the user speaks. The dotted line indicated in FIG. 74 shows the result when the elastic member having the nose-fitting adjuster according to Example 2 not added thereto was worn, as the result similar thereto. When the nose-fitting adjuster according to the present invention is added, displacement of the relevant region (see the solid line of FIG. 74) is small even in the case in which the user has a conversation, and therefore it can be indirectly checked that tight contact can be continuously maintained.

[0094] In the present invention, positional change is small, friction against the skin due to displacement is small. Consequently, there is an advantage in that, when the mask must be worn for a long time due to COVID-19, it is possible to prevent injury to the skin due to friction between the ridge of the nose and the mask.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0095] The present invention may provide a nose-fitting adjuster including a cover unit configured to cover at least a part of a nasal cartilage of a user and a peripheral portion thereof and at least one of a first fixing unit to a third fixing unit, wherein the nose-fitting adjuster is configured such that 1) the degree of tight contact between the cover unit and a skin of the user is high, 2) tight contact is continuously maintained and friction is minimized even when facial muscles are moved, 3) the degree of tight contact is not lowered due to vibration generated when the user moves in a state of wearing a mask, 4) the region that is pressed for tight contact is minimized, 5) the degree of pressure is easily adjusted depending on the height of a nose of the user, and 6) a predetermined level of tight contact can be provided to users who are not accustomed to adjustment of an apparatus or a mechanism, such as the elderly and weak or children, whereby it is possible to seal the nose and a peripheral portion thereof.