Nasal dilator with variable spring rate

Abstract

A nasal dilator strip and methods, the strip including a first layer including a cover having adhesive on a surface thereof, the cover having a first edge with a convex locating feature and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being an uninterrupted edge, and a second layer having opposite surfaces, one opposite surface of the second layer being secured to the first layer, at least a portion of the other opposite surface of the second layer having adhesive to hold the two-layer nasal dilator strip in place on a user's nose, the second layer including a substantially planar resilient member, the resilient member having a constant thickness and longitudinal sides which converge from a center of the resilient member to a pair of spaced apart ends.

1 . A two-layer nasal dilator strip comprising:
 a first layer including a cover having adhesive on a surface thereof, the cover having a first edge with a convex locating feature and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being an uninterrupted edge; and   a second layer having opposite surfaces, one opposite surface of the second layer being secured to the first layer, at least a portion of the other opposite surface of the second layer having adhesive to hold the two-layer nasal dilator strip in place on a user's nose, the second layer including a substantially planar resilient member, the resilient member having a constant thickness and longitudinal sides which converge from a center of the resilient member to a pair of spaced apart ends which, if forced together from initial positions to reduce direct spacing between the ends, results in restoring forces in the resilient member to restore the direct spacing between the ends.   
     
     
         2 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the second layer also includes a cushion member. 
     
     
         3 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 2  wherein the opposite surface of the cushion member has adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 2  wherein the opposite surface of the resilient member does not have adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the second edge of the cover is an uninterrupted linear edge. 
     
     
         6 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the resilient member is made of plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 6  wherein the resilient member is made of polyester sheet material. 
     
     
         8 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the resilient member has a thickness of about 0.010 of an inch to about 0.015 of an inch. 
     
     
         9 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the cover and the resilient member are fabricated from transparent materials. 
     
     
         10 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the resilient member is symmetrical with respect to a lateral centerline of the resilient member. 
     
     
         11 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the resilient member is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the resilient member. 
     
     
         12 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal sides of the resilient member converge from a lateral centerline to the ends. 
     
     
         13 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the resilient member has a spring rate which diminishes from the center to the ends. 
     
     
         14 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 13  wherein the resilient member has a constantly varying spring rate which diminishes from a lateral centerline of the resilient member to the ends. 
     
     
         15 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 1  wherein the resilient member generates restorative forces capable of supporting a load of 25 to 30 grams applied to an end of the resilient member. 
     
     
         16 . A nasal dilator strip comprising:
 a cover having adhesive on a surface thereof, the cover having a first edge with a convex locating feature and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being an uninterrupted edge; and   a substantially planar resilient member secured to the cover, the resilient member having a constant thickness and longitudinal sides which converge from a center of the resilient member to a pair of spaced apart ends which, if forced together from initial positions to reduce direct spacing between the ends, results in restoring forces in the resilient member to restore the direct spacing between the ends.   
     
     
         17 . The nasal dilator strip of  claim 16  wherein the nasal dilator strip is a two-layer nasal dilator strip, a first layer including the cover and a second layer including the resilient member. 
     
     
         18 . The nasal dilator strip of  claim 17  wherein at least a portion of a surface of the second layer opposite the cover has adhesive to hold the two-layer nasal dilator strip in place on a user's nose. 
     
     
         19 . The nasal dilator strip of  claim 18  wherein the second layer also includes a cushion member, the cushion member having the adhesive to hold the two-layer nasal dilator strip in place on a user's nose. 
     
     
         20 . The nasal dilator strip of  claim 16  wherein the resilient member is symmetrical with respect to a lateral centerline of the resilient member. 
     
     
         21 . The nasal dilator strip of  claim 16  wherein the resilient member is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the resilient member. 
     
     
         22 . A two-layer nasal dilator strip comprising:
 a first layer including a transparent cover having adhesive on a surface thereof, the cover having a first edge with a convex locating feature and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being an uninterrupted edge; and   a second layer having opposite surfaces, one opposite surface of the second layer being secured to the first layer, at least a portion of the other opposite surface of the second layer having adhesive to hold the two-layer nasal dilator strip in place on a user's nose, the second layer including a substantially planar transparent resilient member, the resilient member being made of polyester sheet material, the resilient member having a constant thickness of about 0.010 of an inch to about 0.015 of an inch, the resilient member having longitudinal sides which converge from a center of the resilient member to a pair of spaced apart ends which, if forced together from initial positions to reduce direct spacing between the ends, results in restoring forces in the resilient member to restore the direct spacing between the ends, the resilient member being symmetrical with respect to a lateral centerline of the resilient member, the resilient member being asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the resilient member, the resilient member having a spring rate which diminishes from the center to the ends.   
     
     
         23 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 22  wherein the second layer also includes a cushion member. 
     
     
         24 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 23  wherein the opposite surface of the cushion member has adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 23  wherein the opposite surface of the resilient member does not have adhesive. 
     
     
         26 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 22  wherein the second edge of the cover is an uninterrupted linear edge. 
     
     
         27 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 22  wherein the longitudinal sides of the resilient member converge from the lateral centerline to the ends. 
     
     
         28 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 22  wherein the resilient member has a constantly varying spring rate which diminishes from a lateral centerline of the resilient member to the ends. 
     
     
         29 . The two-layer nasal dilator strip of  claim 22  wherein the resilient member generates restorative forces capable of supporting a load of 25 to 30 grams applied to an end of the resilient member. 
     
     
         30 . A method of manufacturing a two-layer nasal dilator strip, the method comprising:
 forming a first layer including a cover having a first edge with a convex locating feature and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being an uninterrupted edge;   forming a second layer having opposite surfaces, the second layer including a substantially planar resilient member, the resilient member having a constant thickness and longitudinal sides which converge from a center of the resilient member to a pair of spaced apart ends which, if forced together from initial positions to reduce direct spacing between the ends, results in restoring forces in the resilient member to restore the direct spacing between the ends;   applying adhesive to a surface of the first layer;   securing one opposite surface of the second layer to the first layer; and   applying adhesive to at least a portion of the other opposite surface of the second layer to hold the two-layer nasal dilator strip in place on a user's nose.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising applying a release liner to the other opposite surface of the second layer to protect the adhesive. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein securing includes securing the resilient member substantially centered on the cover. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the second layer includes forming a second layer including the resilient member and a cushion member. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein applying adhesive to at least a portion of the other opposite surface of the second layer includes applying adhesive to the opposite surface of the cushion member. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein applying adhesive to at least a portion of the other opposite surface of the second layer includes not applying adhesive to the opposite surface of the resilient member. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the first layer includes forming a cover with an uninterrupted linear second edge. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the second layer includes forming the resilient member of plastic. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein forming the resilient member includes forming the resilient member of polyester sheet material. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the resilient member includes forming the resilient member with a thickness of about 0.010 of an inch to about 0.015 of an inch. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the first layer includes forming the cover of a transparent material, and wherein forming the second layer includes forming the resilient member of a transparent material. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the second layer includes forming the resilient member asymmetrically with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the resilient member. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the second layer includes forming the resilient member symmetrically with respect to a lateral centerline of the resilient member. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein forming the resilient member includes forming the resilient member with the longitudinal sides converging from the lateral centerline to the ends. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the second layer includes forming the resilient member with a spring rate diminishing from the center to the ends. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein forming the resilient member includes forming the resilient member with a constantly varying spring rate diminishing from a lateral centerline of the resilient member to the ends. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 30  wherein forming the second layer includes forming the resilient member to generate restorative forces capable of supporting a load of 25 to 30 grams applied to an end of the resilient member. 
     
     
         47 . A method of introducing separating stresses in nasal outer wall tissues of a user's nose, the method comprising:
 providing a two-layer nasal dilator strip including
 a first layer including a transparent cover, the cover having a first edge with a convex locating feature and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being an uninterrupted edge, and 
 a second layer having opposite surfaces, one opposite surface of the second layer being secured to the first layer, at least a portion of the other opposite surface of the second layer having adhesive, the second layer including a substantially planar transparent resilient member, the resilient member being made of polyester sheet material, the resilient member having a constant thickness of about 0.010 of an inch to about 0.015 of an inch, the resilient member having longitudinal sides which converge from a center of the resilient member to a pair of spaced apart ends which, if forced together from initial positions to reduce direct spacing between the ends, results in restoring forces in the resilient member to restore the direct spacing between the ends, the resilient member being symmetrical with respect to a lateral centerline of the resilient member, the resilient member being asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the resilient member, the resilient member having a spring rate which diminishes from the center to the ends; 
   orienting the two-layer nasal dilator strip on the user's nose with the other opposite surface of the second layer facing a surface of the nose, with the first edge having the convex locating feature pointing toward a tip of the nose and with the second uninterrupted edge pointing away from the tip of the nose;   bending the two-layer nasal dilator strip over a bridge of the nose; and   attaching the adhesive to the surface of the nose.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein bending includes generating in the resilient member restoring forces capable of supporting a load of 25 to 30 grams applied to an end of the resilient member. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein attaching includes resisting the restoring forces generated in the resilient member.