Nose Ornament And Sachet

Abstract

A nose ornament mountable to an unpierced nose is provided in the form of an open loop. The ends of the loop preferably terminate in small spheres spaced apart a distance adapted to permit engagement of one of the outer nostril walls therebetween. The bight of the loop may be formed in any desired decorative configuration. In one embodiment, an odorous element or sachet is carried on the bight of the nose ornament and thereby suspended adjacent the wearer's nostril.

Description

This invention relates to nose ornaments and, more particularly to nose ornaments for persons with unpierced noses.

Nose ornaments, commonly referred to as nose rings, are historically well known. Heretofore, nose rings or ornaments were secured to the nose through an aperture provided by the piercing of the nose. Modern societies have generally regarded nose piercing as a facial disfigurement, thereby resulting in minimal use of nose ornaments.

In accordance with the present invention, a nose ornament mountable to an unpierced nose is provided in the form of an open loop. The ends of the loop preferably terminate in small spheres spaced apart a distance adapted to permit engagement of one of the outer nostril walls therebetween. Preferably, the spheres abut the thickening or ridge defined at the lower margin of the outer nostril wall, to securely mount the nose ornament. The bight of the loop may be formed in any desired decorative configuration. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an odorous element or sachet may be carried on the bight of the nose ornament and thereby suspended adjacent the wearer's nostril. Thus, the wearer, in the course of normal breathing, will enjoy the fragrance of the sachet.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nose ornament mountable to an unpierced nose.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nose ornament incorporating a sachet or odorous element.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for mounting a sachet or odorous element in close proximity to the wearer's nostril.

The nose ornament according to the present invention is advantageous in that it is securely mountable to an unpierced nose, thereby eliminating the need for piercing the nose. Thus, the decorative effect of nose ornamentation may be enjoyed by the wearer without any disfigurement of the nose or other unpleasant consequences. moreover, nose ornaments incorporating sachets according to an aspect of the present invention provide the wearer with a pleasant fragrance or aroma which may be enjoyed in and of itself, or may be employed to mask unpleasant aromas.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a nose ornament according the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the nose ornament of FIG. 1 mounted to a wearer's nose;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the nose of FIG. 2 along the line 3--3 of FIG. 3, illustrating the mounting procedure for the nose ring of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, similar to FIG. 1, of a nose ornament and sachet according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the nose ring of FIG. 4 mounted to a wearer's nose; and

FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of the sachet portion of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 4.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, the nose ornament according to the present invention will now be described in detail. As best seen in FIG. 1, the nose ornament according to the present invention generally comprises an open loop 10 terminating in a pair of spheres 12. The bight of loop 10 may be formed in any decorative configuration, as for example the circular configuration depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. Of course, the alternative configurations of the bight portion of loop 10 are virtually limitless and may, for example, include heart-shaped, star-shaped or any other complex curve including complex curves having re-entrant portions.

It is essential, however, that the ends of the loop 10 carrying spheres 12 be spaced apart a distance adapted to permit engagement of a nostril wall therebetween. Specifically, applicant has found the spacing between the spheres 12 should be from about 0.1 to 0.15 inch.

Spheres 12 are provided on the ends of loop 10 to provide a smooth surface for abuttment against the nose. However, spheres 12 are preferably sufficiently small so as to be substantially unnoticeable. In this manner, the appearance of the nose ornament according to the present invention will simulate the appearance of a conventional nose ring mounted in a pierced nose. To this end, applicant has found that it is preferable to employ spheres 12 having a diameter from about 0.035 to 0.05 inch. Spheres 12 smaller than this range may not adequately distribute the load of the nose ornament on the surface of the nose, and thus might be somewhat uncomfortable. Spheres 12 greater than this range will be unduly noticeable, and might thus detract from the appearance of the nose ornament.

Typically, the nose ornament according to the present invention may be formed from gold wire. Of course, other materials, such as plastic or the like may be employed. It is important however, that spheres 12 be formed of a relatively inert or noncorrosive material, such as gold, to avoid adverse reactions with the interior of the nostril.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting of the nose ornament according to the present invention will now be described in detail. Specifically, there is depicted a nose ornament according to the present invention mounted on a nose N. As best seen in FIG. 2, the nose ornament according to the present invention is typically mounted by engaging an outer nostril wall between the ends of the loop or spheres 12. Specifically, applicant has found that noses generally include a thickened region on the outer nostril wall adjacent the lower rear margin of the nose, defining a ridge R. Thus, the spacing between spheres 12 is slightly greater than the general thickness of the nostril wall, but slightly smaller than the thickness of the ridge portion R.

Accordingly, the nose ornament according to the present invention is disposed on the nose N slightly above the ridge R defining the thickened portion of the lower margin of the nostril wall, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this manner, the nose ornament will be securely mounted to the nose N, as the thickened portion of the nostril wall below ridge R exceeds the spacing between the spheres 12. Thus, gravitational forces acting upon the nose ornament will urge it into mating engagement with the thickened region of the nostril wall below ridge R, thereby securing the nose ornament in place. In other words, the spheres 12 may be regarded as resting upon the thickened region defined below ridge R. In this manner, the nose ornament need impart no compressive forces to the nostril wall. Thus, while the nose ornament may be somewhat resilient, such resiliency is not essential to the mounting thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the manner in which the nose ornament according to the present invention is placed on the nose will now be described in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front portion of the lower margin of the nostril wall is generally substantially thinner than the rear portion thereof. Accordingly, the nose ornament according to the present invention is preferably initially placed on the front portion of the lower margin of the nostril wall, as illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 3. Since this portion of the nostril wall is substantially thinner than the rear portion thereof, the nostril wall will readily pass there-between. The nose ornament may then be moved rearwardly on the nose wall to seat spheres 12 above ridge R as illustrated in FIG. 2 and in broken line in FIG. 3. As previously described, the nose ornament will then be secured in position in accordance with the present invention. In order to remove the nose ornament, the procedures need merely be reversed.

It is thus apparent that the nose ornament according to the present invention is readily mountable upon an unpierced nose, to produce the desired ornamental effect. Moreover, the nose ornament according to the present invention imparts little force to the nostril wall and thus produces no appreciable annoyance or sensation.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, a nose ornament and sachet according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail. The nose ornament and sachet according to this embodiment comprises an open loop 20 having a pair of spheres 22 on the ends thereof. Spheres 22 are substantially identical to spheres 12 previously described, and are thus spaced apart as previously described for engagement on the outer nostril wall. The bight or loop 20 may, once again, be formed in any decorative configuration. For example, the bight of loop 20 has been illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 as being a complex curve having a lower portion 20a and an upper portion 20b. As is apparent from FIG. 5, lower portion 20a is so named since it is generally disposed beneath the nostril when the nose ornament is mounted on nose N. Similarly, upper portion 20b is so named since it is generally disposed above the nostril when mounted on nose N.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, an odorous element or sachet is provided on the nose ornament. Specifically a scent pod or sphere 24 is slidably disposed on the bight of loop 20. As best seen in FIG. 6, scent pod 24 comprises a hollow sphere having two holes 26 for slidable engagement on loop 20. Disposed interior of the sphere is an odorous substance 28. Odorous substance 28 preferably comprises a fibrous absorbent material such as absorbent cotton. The odor or aroma is imparted to the fibrous material 28 by emersing the scent pod 24 in perfume or other liquid odorous substance. The perfume will, of course, be absorbed and contained in absorbent material 28, and the odor thereof will be emitted from the sphere 24 through holes 26. Such construction of scent pod 24 enables the wearer to select the fragrance for the scent pod. Moreover, the perfume will evaporate with the passage of time, so that the scent may be varied by replenishing the scent pod with a different perfume. Of course, a permanently aromatic material may alternatively be employed interior of sphere 24, to provide a permanent sachet of fixed aroma.

The mounting of the nose ornament and sachet according to this embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 5, and is substantially indentical to that described with respect to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, as is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, the scent pod 24 carried on loop 20 may be disposed beneath the nostril of the wearer to provide for the inhallation of the scent carried therein.

According to a further aspect of this embodiment, means may be provided to secure the scent pod 24 remote from the nostril opening of the wearer, so that the wearer may minimize the inhallation of the scent, when desired, while still wearing the nose ornament. To this end, upper portion 20b of the nose ornament includes means for securing the scent pod 20b above the nostril opening. Specifically, the upper portion 20b of the nose ornament may be formed in a shape adapted to grip the scent pod 24 so as to secure the scent pod on loop 20 remote from the wearer's nostril. As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, upper portion 20b may preferably include a stricture region formed by two portions of the loop disposed adjacent one another, adapted to receive and engage scent pod 24. Such positioning of scent pod 24 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 in dashed outline. Specifically, scent pod 24' represents the scent pod 24 wedged in the stricture region of upper portion 20b. It is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5 that when scent pod is so positioned, one portion of the loop 20 will urge against the perimeter of scent pod 24 to wedge scent pod 24 at the location depicted as 24'. Thus, the scent pod will be secured remote from the nostril to enable the wearer to minimize the inhallation of fragrance, on demand.

Of course, other alternative means may be provided to releasably secure the scent pod 24 remote from the nostril. For example, a thickened portion of the loop 20 may be provided to engage the holes 26 in scent pod 24.

Thus, the nose ornament and sachet according to this embodiment of the present invention suspends an odorous element below the nostril to provide for locating the scent pod remote from the nostril to minimize this effect, on demand. The sachet according to the present invention is advantageous in that the wearer may enjoy the aroma thereof in and of itself, or may employ the sachet to mask unpleasant odors.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, it is apparent that adaptations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art. Such adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A nose ornament mountable to a nostril wall comprising a loop, means for contacting the nostril wall for mounting said loop to said nostril wall, said loop having an upper portion extending above said contacting means for positioning above the nostril lower margin and a lower portion extending below said contacting means for positioning below said margin, an odorous element carried on said loop and means for selectively retaining said element on said upper or lower portions of said loop.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said odorous element comprises a hollow sphere slidably mounted on said loop and an absorbent material disposed interior of said sphere.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for selectively retaining said element comprises a stricture section of said loop.

4. A method for mounting a nose ornament on a nostril wall having a thin portion at the lower front margin and a thickened portion at the lower rear margin, said nose ornament having an open loop terminating in two ends spaced apart a distance intermediate the thicknesses of said thin and thickened portions, at least one said end being small in cross-section relative to the nostril external opening and being dimensioned to fit comfortably therewithin, comprising the steps of moving said nose ornament onto the nostril wall by passing said thin front portion of the nostril wall between said ends while maintaining said loop in relaxed condition, said one end entering said nostril and the other end remaining outside the nose adjacent said nostril wall, and moving said ends rearwardly to wedge between said ends the thickened rear portion of the lower margin of said nostril wall.

5. The method according to claim 4 comprising the step of mounting an odorous element on said loop.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said odorous element comprises a hollow sphere slideably mounted on said loop and an absorbant material disposed interior of said sphere.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said absorbant material comprises cotton.