Apparatus and method for improving nasal breathing

• US 5,806,525 A
• Filed: 09/16/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thaddeus Harris Jr. Pope
• Original Assignee: Thaddeus Harris Jr. Pope
• Inventors: Pope, Thaddeus Harris Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/714,693
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 128/845, 128/846, 128/857, 128/858, 128/200.24, 128/204.12, 128/206.18, 128/207.18, 128/912, 128/848, 128/DIG. 26, 606/191, 606/196, 606/199, 606/204.45, 602/54, 602/56, 602/58
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/08 Devices for correcting deformities of the nose ; Devices for enlarging the nostril, e.g. for breathing improvement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

An apparatus for opening nasal passages of a human head is disclosed, with the human head having a nose, a first cheek and a second cheek, and with the nose having a bridge portion, a first nasal wall and a second nasal wall. The apparatus includes a metallic biasing member having a length sufficient to span a distance from the first nasal wall to the second nasal wall across the bridge portion. The apparatus further includes a non-woven base, secured to the biasing member, having a length sufficient to span a distance from the first cheek to the second cheek across the nose. Additionally, the apparatus includes an adhesive material disposed on the baising member and the base for attaching the baising member and the base to the human head. Moreover, the apparatus includes a strippable liner positioned in contact with the adhesive material. A method of opening nasal passages of a human head is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for opening nasal passages of a human head having a nose, a first cheek and a second cheek, with said nose having a bridge portion, a first nasal wall and a second nasal wall, comprising:

a metallic biasing member having a length sufficient to span a distance from said first nasal wall to said second nasal wall across said bridge portion;

a non-woven base, secured to said biasing member, having a length sufficient to span a distance from said first cheek to said second cheek across said nose;

an adhesive material disposed directly on said biasing member and said base for attaching said biasing member and said base to said human head; and

a strippable liner positioned in contact with said adhesive material.

2. An apparatus for opening nasal passages of a human head having a nose, a first cheek and a second cheek, with said nose having a bridge portion, a first nasal wall and a second nasal wall, comprising:

a biasing member having a length sufficient to span a distance from said first nasal wall to said second nasal wall across said bridge portion;

a base, secured to said biasing member, having a length sufficient to span a distance from said first cheek to said second cheek across said nose, and

an adhesive material for attaching said biasing member and said base to said human head, said adhesive material being disposed directly on said biasing member and said base.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said biasing member includes a first nasal wall support portion and a second nasal wall support portion;

said base includes a first end portion and a second portion;

said adhesive material is disposed directly on (1) said first nasal wall support portion of said biasing member, (2) said second nasal wall support portion of said biasing member, (3) said first end portion of said base, and (4) said second end portion of said base.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said biasing member includes a metallic material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said metallic material is an aluminum alloy.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said base includes a first end portion and a second end portion,

said first end portion and said second end portion each has a substantially black color.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said base further includes an intermediate portion which connects said first end portion and said second end portion, and

said intermediate portion has a substantially white color.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said base includes a first end portion and a second end portion,

said first end portion and said second end portion each has a first color,

said base further includes an intermediate portion which connects said first end portion and said second end portion, and

said intermediate portion has a second color which is different from said first color.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first color is darker than said second color.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said base includes a non-woven material.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said base has a first side,

said biasing member has a first side and a second side,

said first side of said base is secured to said first side of said biasing member, and

said adhesive material is disposed directly on said first side of said base and said second side of said biasing member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a strippable liner positioned in contact with said adhesive material.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said biasing member possesses a trapezoidal shape.

14. An apparatus for opening nasal passages of a human head having a nose, with said nose having a bridge portion, a first nasal wall, and a second nasal wall, comprising:

a metallic biasing member having a length sufficient to span a distance from said first nasal wall to said second nasal wall across said bridge portion, said biasing member further having a first nasal wall support portion and a second nasal wall support portion; and

an adhesive material disposed directly on (1) said first nasal wall support portion of said biasing member, and (2) said second nasal wall support portion of said biasing member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said biasing member further includes an intermediate portion which connects said first nasal wall support portion to said second nasal wall support portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein when said apparatus is attached to said human head:

said adhesive material secures said first nasal wall support portion of said biasing member to said first nasal wall,

said adhesive material secures said second nasal wall support portion of said biasing member to said second nasal wall, and

said intermediate portion of said biasing member is juxtaposed to said bridge portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said metallic material is an aluminum alloy.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a strippable liner which is positioned in contact with said adhesive material.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a base secured to said biasing member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said base includes a non-woven material.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said biasing member possesses a trapezoidal shape.

22. A method of opening nasal passages of a human head having a nose, a first cheek and a second cheek, with the nose having a bridge portion, a first nasal wall, and a second nasal wall, comprising:

providing a biasing member having a length sufficient to span a distance from the first nasal wall to the second nasal wall,

providing a base having a length sufficient to span a distance from the first cheek to the second cheek across the nose; and

attaching the biasing member and the base to the human head so that (1) the biasing member is juxtaposed to the first nasal wall, the second nasal wall, and the bridge portion, and (2) the base is juxtaposed to the first cheek, the second cheek and the nose.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the biasing member includes a metallic material.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein (1) a first end portion of the base has a substantially black color, and (2) a second end portion of the base has a substantially black color, and further comprising the steps of:

positioning the first end portion of the base adjacent to the first cheek, and

positioning the second end portion of the base adjacent to the second cheek.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a third portion of the base has a substantially white color, and further comprising the step of:

positioning the third portion of the base adjacent to the nose.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein (1) a first end portion of the base possesses a first color, (2) a second end portion of the base possesses the first color, and (3) and a third portion of the base possesses a second color which is different from the first color, further comprising the steps of:

positioning the first end portion of the base adjacent to the first cheek,

positioning the second end portion of the base adjacent to the second cheek; and

positioning the third portion of the base adjacent to the nose.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first color is darker than the second color.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the biasing member possesses a trapezoidal shape.