Anti-snoring device comprising a skin compatible adhesive

• US 20030149387A1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mohamed Ali Barakat
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Barakat, Mohammed Ali, Palumbo, Gianfranco
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

Anti-snoring devices, more specifically to externally worn anti-snoring devices covering essentially a wearer'"'"'s mouth and being adhesively attached to a wearers skin in the peri-oral area are described. The articles utilise an improved adhesive so as to facilitate easy application and removal of the article from the wearer, whilst ensuring maintenance of the article in the desired position. In particular the adhesives provide attachment on greasy and oily skin.

Claims

1. An anti-snoring device (10) comprising:

a flexible sheet of material, wherein said sheet further comprises a central mouth portion (16), a peripheral portion (18), a wearer facing side (12), and an ambient facing side (14);

wherein at least a portion of said mouth portion (16) is adhesive free; and

,

wherein said peripheral portion (18) is provided with a discontinuous application of adhesive on said wearer facing side (12).

2. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 1, wherein said sheet comprises a breathable material.

3. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 1, wherein said sheet of material comprises a non-woven material.

4. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 1, wherein said adhesive free portion of said mouth portion (16) has an area of at least 10% of the total surface area of said wearer facing side (12).

5. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 4, further comprising adhesive coated areas (20), wherein said adhesive coated areas (20) have a total surface area of less than 50% of the total area of said wearer facing side (12).

6. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 1, wherein said peripheral portion (18) comprises adhesive coated areas (20) and adhesive free areas (22).

7. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 1, wherein said adhesive on said wearer facing side (12) is provided as parallel adhesive strips.

8. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 7, wherein said adhesive strips are horizontally oriented.

9. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 1, wherein said adhesive has a dry peel strength (P_DI) and a greasy peel strength (P_GI) and the ratio of P_DI to P_GI is from 1:

1 to 1.0;

0.2.

10. An anti-snoring device (10) comprising:

a flexible sheet of material,

wherein said sheet further comprises wearer facing side (12) and a garment facing side (14);

wherein said wearer facing side (12) further comprises an adhesive;

wherein said adhesive has dry peel strength (P_DI) and a greasy peel strength (P_GI); and

,

wherein the ratio of P_DI to P_GI is from 1;

1 to 1.0;

0.2.

11. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 10, wherein the ratio of said dry peel strength (P_DI) to said greasy peel strength (P_GI) is from 1:

1 to 1.0;

0.3.

12. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 10, wherein said dry peel strength (P_DI ) ranges from 0.1N/cm to 5.0N/cm.

13. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 12, wherein said greasy peel strength (P_GI) ranges from 0.1N/cm to 5.0N/cm.

14. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 10, wherein said adhesive is provided as a layer having a thickness, C, measured in millimetres (mm),

wherein said adhesive has a viscous modulus at a temperature of 25°

C. (77°

F.), G″

₂₅ (100 rad/sec); and

,

wherein said viscous modulus G″

₂₅ (100 rad/sec) and said thickness, C, of said adhesive satisfy the equation;

G″

₂₅(100 rad/sec)≦

[(7.00+C)×

3000]Pa.

15. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 14, wherein said viscous modulus G″

₂₅ (100 rad/sec) and said thickness C satisfy the following equation;

G″

₂₅(100 rad/sec)≦

[(5.50+C)×

1700]Pa.

16. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 14,

wherein said adhesive has an elastic modulus at a temperature of 37°

C. (100°

F.), G′

₃₇ (1 rad/sec), and a viscous modulus at a temperature of 37°

C. (100°

F.), G″

₃₇ (1 rad/sec),

wherein said G′

₃₇ (1 rad/sec) ranges from 500 Pa to 20000 Pa;

wherein said G″

₃₇ (1 rad/sec) ranges from 100 Pa to 15000 Pa; and

,

wherein the ratio of G′

₃₇ (1 rad/sec)/G″

₃₇ (1 rad/sec) ranges from 1 to 30.

17. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 10,

wherein said adhesive is a substantially water insoluble pressure sensitive adhesive comprising a polymer which forms a 3-dimensional matrix;

and,

wherein said adhesive comprises less than 10% by weight of said adhesive of hydrocolloid particles.

18. The anti-snoring device (10) of claim 17, wherein said adhesive further comprises:

a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylics, sulphonated polymers, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidines, polyethylene oxide, and mixtures thereof; and

,

a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, polyethylene glycols, sorbitol, water, and mixtures thereof.