Cone-Shaped Nose Mask for Protected Eating and Dental Care

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing face masks that cover both the nose and mouth require removal during eating or dental treatment, leaving the wearer unprotected, and none allow for comfortable breathing and protection during these activities.

Innovation Solution

A nose mask designed to be worn over the nose only, featuring a cone shape with a flexible band and a foam layer on the nose ridge for secure fit, allowing 100% nasal breathing during eating or dental treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a face mask covers both nose and mouth, then protection against airborne pathogens is improved, but the ability to eat and receive dental treatment while protected deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against airborne pathogensVSAvoidability to eat and receive dental treatment while protected

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mask is segmented to cover only the nose area, separating the protective function from the mouth area. This allows the mask to provide pathogen protection while leaving the mouth exposed for eating and dental treatment activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mask applies protection locally to the nose region where airborne pathogen entry is most concerning, rather than covering the entire face. This localized approach maintains protection effectiveness while enabling mouth-based activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a face mask covers both nose and mouth, then protection against airborne pathogens is improved, but comfortable breathing during eating and dental treatment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against airborne pathogensVSAvoidbreathing discomfort during eating and dental treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the mask to cover only the nose, the design eliminates the harmful effect of mouth coverage that causes breathing discomfort during eating and dental treatment, while maintaining protection through nasal coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of covering the mouth and nose as traditional masks do, the invention inverts the approach by covering only the nose, allowing natural mouth breathing during eating and dental procedures while maintaining protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If a nose mask is designed to fit securely over the nose, then protection effectiveness is improved, but comfort and ease of wear deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidcomfort and ease of wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mask utilizes flexible materials and thin film structures that can conform to the nose shape, providing secure fit and protection effectiveness while maintaining comfort and ease of wear through material flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The mask design incorporates curved surfaces that match the natural contours of the nose, improving both fit security and comfort by avoiding rigid or angular structures that would compromise either protection or wearability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12544604B2Nose mask

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 PELLERANO DANIA ALTAGRACIA

AI summary

The nose mask is intended to be used during an airborne pandemic. The nose mask is a single triangle/cone shaped that covers only the nose, that comes with two ear elastic bands or a single head elastic band for support. The nose mask is designed to be disposable with a filter for better protection and to minimize the passage of aerosols, fluids and airborne pathogen agents or to be made with washable material allowing users to re-use it.