U.S. patent application number 13/135988 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for flexible nose guard with nostril coverage.
Invention is credited to Robert Gregory Beliveau.
Application Number | 20120036608 13/135988 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45563655 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120036608 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beliveau; Robert Gregory |
February 16, 2012 |
Flexible nose guard with nostril coverage
Abstract
A flexible nose guard is provided for protecting the entire nose
from sunlight, cold, and other outdoor elements. In a preferred
embodiment, the nose guard has a pentagonal body that covers the
bridge and sides of a user's nose, resembling an upside-down
pentagon with rounded corners. The top portion of the nose guard is
substantially flat and conforms to the bridge of the nose. The
bottom portion of the nose guard is rounded and configured to rest
on top of the bridge of the nose. The bottom portion has two
perforated triangular extensions that connect to form a nostril
covers that provide protection from the elements while allowing the
user to breath. Alternatively, a nostril cover can be provided by a
single piece of triangular fabric that is connected with the bottom
of the nose guard. The nose guard offers numerous means of
attachment to the user's face.
Inventors: |
Beliveau; Robert Gregory;
(San Pedro, CA) |
Family ID: |
45563655 |
Appl. No.: |
13/135988 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12806348 |
Aug 11, 2010 |
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13135988 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 9/029 20130101;
G02C 5/126 20130101; A61F 2013/00476 20130101; A61F 2013/00387
20130101; G02C 11/00 20130101; A63B 71/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/9 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/05 20060101
A41D013/05 |
Claims
1. A nose guard comprising: a flexible body configured to cover the
bridge, sides, and nostrils of a user's nose; a pair of nostril
extensions connected with the body that can be reversibly connected
to form a nostril cover; a pair of nose pad cuts, located on the
upper center portion of the nose guard, configured to receive the
nose pads of a user's eyewear; a hook patch, located on the upper
center portion of the nose guard, configured to attach to a user's
eyewear; a detachable eyewear-fastening strap having a hook fabric
on one end and a loop fabric at the other end, the hook and loop
fabrics forming a reversible bond when brought into contact; and a
pair of fastening slits located to the top and bottom of the hook
patch, said slits configured to receive the eyewear-fastening
strap.
2. The nose guard of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing
strip that facilitates shape retention and conformance to the
user's nose.
3. The nose guard of claim 1 whose flexible body is comprised of:
an outer first layer of fabric having a sun protective factor; a
intermediate second layer of material; and a skin-facing third
layer of material that contacts the nose.
4. The nose guard of claim 3 wherein the outer first layer of
fabric is a spandex material.
5. The nose guard of claim 3 wherein the intermediate second layer
is an open-cell foam material.
6. The nose guard of claim 3 wherein the third layer is a
perforated micro-suede material.
7. The nose guard of claim 3 wherein the nose guard is made by
flame bonding and thermoforming the first, second, and third layers
together.
8. The nose guard of claim 3 wherein the edge of the nose guard is
defined and sealed by laser cutting.
9. The nose guard of claim 3 wherein the nose guard features a
plurality of perforations or holes configured to allow air exchange
between the inside of the nose guard and the environment.
10. The nose guard of claim 3 wherein the layers of fabric are
embossed, printed, silkscreened, or sublimated with a logo or
design.
11. The nose guard of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing strip has an
adhesive surface that facilitates adhesion to the user's nose.
12. A nose guard comprising: a flexible body configured to cover
the bridge, sides and nostrils of a user's nose; a pair of nose pad
cuts, located on the upper center portion of the nose guard,
configured to receive the nose pads of a user's eyewear; and a hook
patch, located on the upper center portion of the nose guard,
configured to attach to a loop patch affixed to the user's eyewear.
a detachable eyewear-fastening strap having a hook fabric on one
end and a loop fabric at the other end, the hook and loop fabrics
forming a reversible bond when brought into contact; a pair of
fastening slits located to the top and bottom of the hook patch,
said slits configured to receive the eyewear-fastening strap; and a
pair of nostril extensions that reversibly connect to form a
nostril cover.
13. The nose guard of claim 12 further comprising an adhesive strip
on the skin-facing side of the nose guard.
14. The nose guard of claim 12 further comprising a thin
reinforcing strip on the skin-facing side of the nose guard that
facilitates shape retention and conformance to the user's nose.
15. A nose guard comprising a flexible body configured to cover the
bridge, sides, and nostrils of a user's nose; a triangular piece of
fabric connected with a bottom portion of the body to form a
nostril cover; and a reinforcing strip that facilitates shape
retention and conformance to the user's nose.
16. The nose guard of claim 15, whose flexible body is comprised
of: an outer first layer of fabric having a sun protective factor;
a intermediate second layer of material; and a skin-facing third
layer of material that contacts the nose.
17. The nose guard of claim 16 wherein the outer first layer of
fabric is a spandex material.
18. The nose guard of claim 16 wherein the intermediate second
layer is an open-cell foam material.
19. The nose guard of claim 16 wherein the third layer is a
perforated micro-suede material.
20. The nose guard of claim 16 wherein the reinforcing strip has an
adhesive surface that facilitates adhesion to the user's nose.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of patent
application Ser. No. 12/806,348 entitled "Flexible Nose Cover"
filed on Aug. 11, 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention pertains to recreational nose guards designed
to protect the nose from sunburn, frostbite, and other outdoor
elements.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Today's society is increasingly involved in outdoor sports
and recreational activities yet concerns about avoiding skin cancer
and other harmful effects of the sun are also greater than ever. In
particular, there is a need among outdoor enthusiasts (e.g.
mountaineers, cyclists, skiers) and workers to protect their nose
from exposure to harmful Ultraviolet light and extreme cold, or
other elements that can cause discomfort or skin damage.
Importantly, there is a need for nose guards that are versatile and
can be easily attached to the user's face and various types of
eyewear, such as eyeglasses and goggles. Existing nose guards are
limited in their attachment options, level of protection, level of
user comfort, and/or adequate conformance to the user's nose. For
example, many nose guards are pre-attached to goggles and require
the wearer to use the whole apparatus. Moreover, existing nose
guards are rigid, heavy, uncomfortable and/or difficult to use.
Because existing nose guards are made of a non-breathable solid
material such as vinyl or aluminum, the result is perspiration on
the user's nose. Flexibility and comfort are often sacrificed for
durability, and vice versa.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,875 to Weisberger (1967) discloses a
nose and lip guard which detachably connects to each other and to a
pair of eyeglasses. However, such a device is limited for use with
eyeglasses and does not provide a comfortable fit or attractive
appearance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,036 to Daprato (1992) discloses a
nose protector configured to attach to eyeglasses, but consists of
a guard and a complex system of cords for attaching the protective
nose guard to the eyeglasses. Again, this device can only be used
with eyeglasses and does not have an easy means of attachment.
Similarly, the sun-protective nose guard disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,717,992 to Tilghman (1998) can only be attached to eyeglasses via
a loop strap, and does not provide a conforming fit due to a lack
of flexibility. Breathability is also an important factor for
reducing sweat and providing comfort, and minimizing the fogging of
eyewear. U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,847 to Lauttamus (1994) discloses a
sun-protective nose guard that attaches to eyeglasses or goggles
using a strap that is looped over the bridge of the eyewear.
However, the Lauttamus nose guard is described as being of
tear-able and crease-able material, which limits the device to
non-breathable materials such as paper or plastic. Moreover,
existing nose guards do not provide alternative attaching means
that allow them to be worn with eyeglasses, goggles, or without
eyewear.
[0007] Thus, there is a need in the market for a breathable nose
guard that attaches to the user's nose in various ways and is
durable yet comfortably conforms to the face and provides
protection from the elements during outdoor activities. The face
mask disclosed herein addresses these needs.
SUMMARY
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a flexible nose
guard is provided for protecting the entire nose from sunlight, the
cold, and other outdoor elements. The nose guard is configured to
cover the bridge, sides, and nostrils of a user's nose. In a
preferred embodiment, the nose guard has a pentagonal body,
resembling an upside-down pentagon with rounded corners. The top
portion of the nose guard is substantially flat and sized to
conform around the bridge of the nose. The bottom portion of the
nose guard is a rounded corner or hyperbolic-shape configured to
rest on top of the bridge of the nose. The bottom of the nose guard
has two perforated triangular extensions that connect to form a
larger triangular area that covers the user's nostril to provide
protection from the elements while allowing the user to breath. In
a preferred embodiment, the nose guard is composed of an outer
first layer of spandex having a sun protective factor, an
intermediate second layer of open-cell foam, and a third,
skin-facing layer of micro-suede material that contacts the skin.
The nose guard offers different means of attachment to a user's
face. On the surface of the nose guard's outer layer is a Velcro
hook patch that facilitates attachment to a complimentary loop
patch that can be affixed to the underside of the eyewear's nose
bridge. For eyeglasses, a pair of small nose pad cuts in the upper
center portion of the nose guard (on the left and right sides of
the hook patch) are configured to receive the nose pads of the
user's eyeglasses to further secure the face mask to the user's
face. On the upper and lower perimeter of the hook patch is a
fastening slit. The fastening slits are configured to provide added
flexibility in the nose guard body and to receive a hook and loop
fastening strap that is fastened around the bridge of the user's
eyewear. The nose guard contains a thin, flexible reinforcing strip
that can be bent or creased to keep the nose guard contoured to the
shape of the user's nose. In a preferred embodiment the reinforcing
strip is on the skin-facing layer of the nose guard and has an
adhesive surface that provides for better attachment to the nose
and keeps the nasal passages open for easier breathing by pulling
outward on the nostrils. Alternatively, the adhesive can be
provided on a separate adhesive strip on the skin-facing layer of
the nose guard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention, in accordance with preferred and
exemplary embodiments, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, is more particularly described in the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates the layers of the nose guard of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2A illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
having nostril extensions, a pair of nose pad cuts, hook patch, and
loop patch for eyewear attachment.
[0012] FIG. 2B illustrates the nose guard with nostril extensions,
nose pad cuts, surface embossments, and fastening slits and strap
for eyewear attachment.
[0013] FIGS. 3A-B illustrate side views of two embodiments of the
nose guard of the present invention that each utilize a different
means of eyewear attachment: the embodiment of FIG. 3A utilizes
hook and loop patches, while the embodiment of FIG. 3B utilizes a
fastening slit and strap.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
attaching to goggles via hook and loop patches.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
attaching to eyeglasses via hook and loop patches.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
attaching to eyeglasses via a fastening strap.
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
attaching to eyeglasses via "C"-shaped nose pad cuts.
[0018] FIGS. 8A-B illustrates the nose guard of the present
invention having an adhesive reinforcing strip on the skin-facing
layer.
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
being worn by a user via the adhesive reinforcing strip and without
attachment to eyewear.
[0020] FIGS. 10A-B illustrate the nose guard of the present
invention with "S"-shaped nose pad cuts with hook and loop patches
for eyewear attachment.
[0021] FIGS. 11A-B illustrate the nose guard of the present
invention with "S"-shaped nose pad cuts with fastening slits and
fastening strap for eyewear attachment.
[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
having a reinforcing strip and separate adhesive strip on the
skin-facing layer.
[0023] FIGS. 13A-B illustrate the nostril extensions before and
after connecting to form the nostril cover.
[0024] FIG. 14 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
from a bottom view showing the nostril coverage provided by the
nostril cover.
[0025] FIG. 15 illustrates the nose guard of the present invention
with an alternative embodiment of the nostril cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the nose guard of the present
invention is constructed of three flexible, light, and durable
layers: an outer first layer of fabric having a sun protective
factor, an intermediate second layer of open cell foam material,
and a third layer of micro suede or brushed nylon material that
contacts the skin. The outer first layer is such that it can be
embossed, debossed, or sublimated with a desired image or print
logo/design. The outer layer may be composed of spandex (e.g.
polyurethane-polyurea copolymer). The intermediate layer can be
breathable foam such as open-cell foam or perforated closed-cell
foam (e.g. airprene). The third layer of micro-suede has a
breathable, wicking effect that allows greater air exchange and
acts against the discomfort and eyewear fogging caused by moisture
buildup. The layers can be joined via a thermoforming process and
preferably cut via laser cutting or comparable method to provide
well-sealed edges that are resistant to de-lamination. As known in
the art, thermoforming involves heating, sealing/fusing of layers
by compression in a mold, and trimmed. The resulting nose guard
material can be repeatedly used and washed. For example, the
micro-suede layer can first be flame-bonded to the spandex layer,
with the foam layer sandwiched in between, followed by
thermoforming. The result is a light, flexible, durable and more
breathable nose guard that is superior to those existing in the
market (e.g. plastic, metal, or neoprene). However, the nose guard
of the present invention could be comprised of only one, two, or
any number of material layers while keeping with the teachings of
the invention. For example, in an alternate embodiment, the nose
guard could be comprised of a single layer of neoprene, vinyl
webbing or silicone.
[0027] Although, certain materials and manufacturing processes are
disclosed herein, other comparable or suitable materials and
methods may be employed, as known in the art, to carry out the
invention. It should also be understood that the nose guard
disclosed herein can be made in different sizes to suit various
users, and the dimensions of the nose guard can be modified while
keeping with the spirit of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates the layers of the nose guard of the
present invention as described above. In an exemplary embodiment,
the nose guard is preferably constructed of three flexible, light,
and durable layers: an outer first layer 110 having a sun
protective factor, an intermediate second layer 120 of open cell
foam material, and a third layer 130 of micro suede or brushed
nylon material that contacts the skin. The outer first layer 110 is
such that it can be embossed, debossed, or sublimated with a
desired image or print logo/design, for example, as shown in FIG.
2B. The outer layer 110 may be composed of spandex (e.g.
polyurethane-polyurea copolymer). The intermediate layer 120 can be
breathable foam such as open-cell foam or perforated closed-cell
foam (e.g. airprene). The third layer 130 can be a micro-suede with
a breathable, wicking effect that allows for greater air exchange
and acts against the discomfort caused by perspiration. The layers
can be joined via a thermoforming process and preferably cut via
laser cutting or comparable method to provide well-sealed edges
that are resistant to de-lamination. For example, the micro-suede
layer can first be flame-bonded to the spandex layer, with the foam
layer sandwiched in between, followed by thermoforming.
[0029] FIGS. 2A-B illustrate flat, front views of the nose guard of
the present invention, which comprises a pair of nose pad cuts 210,
hook patch 220, loop patch 230, fastening slits 240, and fastening
strap 260. FIGS. 2A and 2B each provide a different means of
attaching the nose guard to the user's eyewear. Also shown are the
triangular extensions from the bottom of the nose guard, i.e.
nostril extensions 280 and 290 that connect with each other via the
reversible connection of connector tab 255 and slit 275 to form a
larger triangular surface, i.e. "nostril cover" that provides
coverage for the user's nostrils (as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14).
Connector tab 255 enters slit 275 while flap 295 slides under
nostril extension 290 to form a secure connection with adequate
coverage. Thus, as used herein, the term "nostril cover" refers to
the nose guard surface that covers both the user's nostrils. When
the nose guard is bent along its vertical axis (to conform to shape
of the user's nose as shown in FIGS. 3 and 14) the nostril
extensions are bent along dotted line 250, and then brought into
contact and connected as shown in FIG. 13. Once connected, the nose
guard remains in a three-dimensional shape configured to receive
the user's nose and provide complete nose protection (as shown in
FIG. 14). Thus, the bottom of the nose and nostrils are also
protected from the elements such as sun/heat, wind and cold. The
connection between the nostril extensions is reversible so that if
the user wishes to return the nose guard to its flat configured as
shown in FIG. 2B, this can be quickly and easily done. The nostril
extensions 280 and 290 have nostril holes 285 that allow the user
to breathe through the nostril cover while protecting the nose from
the elements. In particular, the nostril cover helps keep the
user's nose warm in cold conditions by trapping and re-circulating
the warm air from the user's nose.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the nose pad cuts are
"C"-shaped. However, the nose pad cuts may take other shapes to
receive the nose pads of a user's eyeglasses, such as the
"S"-shaped nose pad cuts shown in FIG. 10 (FIG. 10B shows the nose
guard being bent about the vertical axis, which opens the
"S"-shaped nose pad cuts 1010 to receive eyeglass nose pads). The
nose guard of FIG. 2A features a flat, plain surface while the
embodiment shown in FIG. 2B contain surface embossments 270. The
benefit of surface embossments and ridges is that the nose guard
can be given more or less flexibility in certain directions to
provide for a better fit to the user's nose. Also, the raised
ridges provide padding for additional protection from outdoor
elements as well as physical impact. Loop patch 230 contains an
adhesive backing for attachment to various surfaces. Hook patch 220
is composed of "hook" fabric that is configured to attach with the
"loop" fabric of loop patch 230. The hook and loop strap 260
contains a portion of hook fabric at one end, with the remaining
length of the strap being loop fabric. The hook and loop materials
are preferably a low-profile, micro-Velcro fabric such as that
produced by 3M.
[0031] To further secure the nose guard to the user's face, three
mechanisms allow the user to optionally secure the nose guard to
their eyewear. First, if wearing ski-type goggles or eyeglasses,
the user can affix loop patch 230 to the underside of the eyewear
nose bridge and then bring hook patch 220 in contact with loop
patch 230 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Alternatively, the goggle
liner itself may be composed of essentially loop-like material such
that it can attach to hook patch 220 without the need for applying
loop patch 230. Second, when wearing eyeglasses with nose pads, the
user can insert the nose pads through the nose pad cuts 210 as
shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. Third, if wearing eyeglasses without nose
pads, or as an alternative to using the nose pad cuts 210, the
fastening strap 260 can be put through the fastening slits 240 and
around the bridge of the eyeglasses as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Any
of these three methods secures the nose guard to the user's
eyewear. FIG. 9, discussed below, shows a preferred embodiment of
the nose guard that also gives the user the option of wearing the
nose guard without attachment to any eyewear. However, the two
attachment methods of FIG. 2A (hook and loop patches) and 2B
(fastening strap) could be utilized in the same nose guard. In such
as embodiment, the fastening slits would be place immediately above
and below the hook patch such that the user could elect to use the
hook patch or the fastening strap, depending on their preference
and the type of eyewear being used.
[0032] FIGS. 3A-B illustrate side views of two embodiments of the
nose guard of the present invention that each utilize a different
means of eyewear attachment. The nose guard of FIG. 3A utilizes
hook and loop patches, to attached to a user's eyewear as shown in
FIGS. 4-5. The nose guard of FIG. 3B utilizes a fastening slit and
strap to attach to a user's eyeglasses as shown in FIG. 6. As
shown, fastening strip 260 (side view shown as 265) is inserted
through the fastening slits.
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, which features a thin reinforcing strip affixed to the
third layer (skin-facing side) of the nose guard. The nose guard of
FIGS. 8A and 8B each show exemplary shapes for the reinforcing
strip 810 and 820. While the reinforcing strip can take various
shapes, it should run laterally (horizontally) from one side the
nose guard to the other in order to provide structural support to
the nose guard and allow the nose guard to be contoured to the
user's nose. In an alternate embodiment, the reinforcing strip can
be embedded within the nose guard and not visible to the user, i.e.
between the first and second, or second and third, layers. The
reinforcing strip is made of a flexible material that can be bent
or creased to keep the nose guard portion of the mask contoured to
the shape of the user's nose. The reinforcing strip is preferably
made of a polymeric film such as polyester. Examples of suitable
polyester films known in the art include Mylar (polyethylene
terephthalate), DuraLar, and silicone. Alternatively, the
reinforcing strip can be made of a thin strip of metal (e.g.
aluminum). The reinforcing strip should be thin enough to be
flexible, light, and have a low profile, but thick enough to
provide some structure to the nose guard. For example, the
thickness of the reinforcing strip can be approximately 0.005
inches. For additional comfort and insulation, the reinforcing
strip can feature a fleece lining. Another benefit of the
reinforcing strip is that it prevents warm air from the user's nose
from bouncing off the nostril cover and traveling upwards between
the nose guard and the user's nose where it could fog the user's
eyewear and impair vision in cold conditions. Thus, the reinforcing
strip can act as a fog barrier.
[0034] In one embodiment, the reinforcing strip can be lined with
an adhesive film that sticks to the user's nose. This allows the
nose guard to be worn without attachment to eyewear as shown in
FIG. 9. Moreover, the combination of the adhesive and the natural
restoring force of the bent nose guard causes the user's nostrils
to be pulled outward, which opens the nostril passage and allows
the user to breathe easier. The improved breathing is particularly
advantageous during physical activities such as running, hiking,
biking, manual labor, or other strenuous outdoor activities.
Alternatively, an adhesive strip that is separate from the
reinforcing strip can be utilized as shown in FIG. 12 (showing
reinforcing strip 1205 and adhesive strip 1215). The advantage of
using a separate adhesive strip is that the adhesive can take on
any shape as opposed to being limited to the surface of the
reinforcing strip. As described above, the adhesive strip would
also act as a fog barrier in cold conditions.
[0035] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the nose guard of the present
invention with "S"-shaped nose pad cuts with hook and loop patches
for eyewear attachment. The "S"-shaped cuts are alternatives to the
"C"-shaped cuts shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, but operate in the same
way. The "S"-cuts, like the "C"-cuts, are configured to fit around
the eyewear nose pads and thereby secure the nose guard to the
eyewear. Because the "S"-shaped cuts are not fully enclosed within
the nose guard material, they may provide as quicker and easier
means of attachment. FIG. 10 shows the embodiment with hook and
loop patch for eyewear attachment, while FIG. 11 illustrates the
fastening strap embodiment for eyewear attachment.
[0036] FIGS. 13A and 13B show the nostril extensions before and
after connection with each other to form the nostril cover,
respectively. FIG. 14 illustrates the nose guard of the present
invention from a bottom view showing the nostril coverage. As
described above, the nostril cover helps keep the user's nose warm
in cold conditions by trapping and re-circulating the warm air from
the user's nose. For hot or sunny conditions in which sun
protection is important, the nostril cover protects the nostrils
from sun-burn and heat. This protection is particularly beneficial
in situations where intense sunlight is being reflected upwards
towards the user, such as when sun is reflected off snow during
skiing or when sun is reflected off the water during fishing.
[0037] Finally, FIG. 15 illustrates the nose guard of the present
invention with an alternative embodiment of the nose cover. In this
embodiment, the nostril cover is one continuous piece as opposed to
two reversibly interlocking pieces (i.e. interlocking nostril
extensions). The nose guard of FIG. 15A has a reinforcing strip and
has two nostril holes in the nostril cover, whereas the nose guard
of FIG. 15B does not. As described above, the nostril holes allow
the user to breathe through the nostril cover while protecting the
nose from the elements.
[0038] While there have been described herein what are considered
to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention,
other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those
skilled in the art from the teachings herein. It is therefore
desired to be secured, in the appended claims all such
modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *