Method and apparatus for filtering air entering an animal's nostrils
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A nose mask for covering the nostrils but not the mouth of an animal, said nose mask comprising:
- a filter element having a central region surrounded by a peripheral region, said filter element being formed from a flexible, air-permeable material which can be shaped during use of said filter element and configured to fit the nose region of the animal such that said central region of said filter element is spaced apart from and does not contact the animal'"'"'s nostrils while said peripheral region of said filter element generally corresponds to the contours of the animal'"'"'s nose region and a lower portion of said peripheral region contacts the nose region in a location between the animal'"'"'s mouth and nostrils,said filter element further including an adhesive material disposed along at least a portion of said peripheral region to releasably secure said filter element to the animal.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for filter air entering an animal'"'"'s nostrils include a filtering element operatively disposed with a lower portion contacting the animal'"'"'s nose region between the animal'"'"'s nostrils and upper lip. A nose mask may be secured against the animal'"'"'s nose region with adhesive or one or more stretchable bands extending around a portion of the head of the animal.
17 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A nose mask for covering the nostrils but not the mouth of an animal, said nose mask comprising:
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a filter element having a central region surrounded by a peripheral region, said filter element being formed from a flexible, air-permeable material which can be shaped during use of said filter element and configured to fit the nose region of the animal such that said central region of said filter element is spaced apart from and does not contact the animal'"'"'s nostrils while said peripheral region of said filter element generally corresponds to the contours of the animal'"'"'s nose region and a lower portion of said peripheral region contacts the nose region in a location between the animal'"'"'s mouth and nostrils, said filter element further including an adhesive material disposed along at least a portion of said peripheral region to releasably secure said filter element to the animal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for filtering air entering an animal'"'"'s nostrils, comprising the steps of:
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providing a nose mask for covering the nostrils but not the mouth of the animal, said nose mask including a filter element having a central region surrounded by a peripheral region, said filter element being formed from a flexible, air-permeable material which can be shaped during use of said filter element and configured to fit a nose region of the animal such that said central region of said filter element is spaced apart from and does not contact the animal'"'"'s nostrils while said peripheral region of said filter element generally corresponds to the contours of the animal'"'"'s nose region; disposing said nose mask over the animal'"'"'s nose region such that a lower portion of said peripheral region of said filter element contacts the nose region in a location between the animal'"'"'s nostrils and mouth; and releasably securing said filter element against the animal'"'"'s nose region by including an adhesive material disposed along at least a portion of said peripheral region of said filter element, and contacting said adhesive material with the animal'"'"'s nose region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An equine nose mask for protecting the nostrils of a horse from particulates and contaminants, the equine nose mask comprising:
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a filter structure containing non-woven, flexible air-permeable elastic material, said filter structure including a first portion configurable to fit over the horse'"'"'s nostrils without covering the mouth of the horse, said first portion having a central region with a shape which can be configured to fit to the horse'"'"'s nostril area during use of said eguine nose mask such that said central region of said first portion is spaced apart from and does not contact the horse'"'"'s nostrils, said first portion also having peripheral region with an edge which extends along and is releasably secured to an area part way between the horse'"'"'s nostrils and the horse'"'"'s upper lip, leaving the horse'"'"'s muzzle free when the equine nose mask is placed on the horse, said filter structure also including a second portion which extends around the horse'"'"'s lower jaw in an area removed from the horse'"'"'s muzzle to assist in holding said first portion of said filter structure over the horse'"'"'s nostrils without blocking the horse'"'"'s mouth, thereby creating a filtering screen which prevents particulates and other contaminants from entering the horse'"'"'s nostrils when the equine nose mask is placed on the horse, said second portion being sufficiently stretchable to permit the horse to open its mouth when the equine nose mask is placed on the horse, thereby minimizing interference with the horse'"'"'s feeding. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification