Cough containment apparatus

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. 61/212,176, Filed 2009 Apr. 7 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This application relates to cough containment, specifically pertaining to cough due to viruses, influenzas and any contagious respiratory infection.

2. Prior Art

The “Cough Containment Apparatus” is a totally new concept with no prior art references. The closest prior art form for cough containment would be the surgical mask.

When one suffered the effects of respiratory infection and began to cough, he or she may cough into a napkin, handkerchief or onto ones sleeve. Although these things can be a form of containment, after awhile these devices become saturated with germs, bacteria and viruses, and at some point they still come into contact with the hands. Most people have some degree of “cough etiquette” they are taught to cover their mouths when coughing, as a result, they cough into their hands or sleeves. There are also those who lack “cough etiquette” such people cough into the open air. With hundreds of thousands or even millions of people doing this, pathogens and viruses spread at a rapid rate.

Billionaire James LeVoy Sorenson was the inventor of the disposable surgical mask. Since then many companies such as 3M, U-line and Kimberly-Clark (just to mention a few) market the disposable surgical mask;

U.S. Pat. Document Re 3,884,227 September 1971 Becker . . . U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,315
U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,307 December 1988 Haber, et al.
said mask can be worn to contain the cough while suffering the symptoms of respiratory infection, but the mask is very cumbersome and uncomfortable to wear and draws unwanted attention to ones-self . . . also the virus stays in ones face causing recontamination.

For this reason the “C/C Apparatus” is superior to the mask when said mask is used for cough containment, because it,

ADVANTAGES

• • Keeps the virus away from the face and hands avoiding recontamination.
  • Can be worn almost anywhere without drawing unwanted attention to ones-self by covering the face
  • “C/C apparatus” is a more hygienic comfortable way to contain the cough
  • Can help contain influenza A and B as well as SARS and H1N1 viruses greatly reduces there ability to multiply and spread throughout households and job sites, preventing other from getting infected
  • Can help reduce the number of people that get sick each year
  • Gives respiratory Viruses a place to go
  • Can help contain and possibly control another flu pandemic outbreak
  • Reduces the transfer of the virus through touch (contaminating objects)
  • Continues reducing the viruses ability to multiply even after the filter is discarded
  • Can be used by persons of almost any age
  • The “C/C Apparatus” offers multiple levels of protection.

These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

The “C/C Apparatus” is a disposable filter (cured in a known virus killer) with means of containing ones cough, said apparatus has a wristband attached whereby it is worn on ones wrist like a wristwatch. When one suffers the effects of respiratory infection (such as the effects of influenza) and begins to cough the idea is to cough into said apparatus instead of coughing into ones hands, sleeve or the open air. The cough is delivered into said apparatus where a filter and a liner contains the cough and kills the virus, whereby dispersing clean air out of its vents.

DRAWING

Figures

In the drawings, some closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the “C/C Apparatus” in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front partial sectional view of said apparatus showing internal and external components in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2-A is a front view showing venting holes and all external components of said apparatus in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top partial sectional view of said apparatus showing all components in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, of a filter container box in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4-A is a perspective view of a container box top with ample hole in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a filter in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a precut container box liner in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top and side view of a cough receptacle in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of said apparatus showing a wristband in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of said Apparatus in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a one-piece filter container box with top attached in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a front and side view of an illustration of the operation of the “C/C Apparatus”

DRAWING

Reference Numerals

• 12—Filter container box, with venting holes
• 14—Filter
• 16—Filter container box Top, with hole for receptacle
• 18—Container box liner
• 20—Cough receptacle
• 22—Wristband

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1—One Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one version of the Cough Containment Apparatus. Said apparatus and its components interact as follows:

A container box 12 made out of recycled cardboard having ⅜″ venting holes spaced equally apart and centered on the front, back and sides of said box. Box 12 is typically 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm thick and has a 3¼″ radius arc at the top of said box which runs from side to side, said arc typically measures 2¾″ from corner to corner or 1⅜″ from center of said box to its corners (typical 2). The side walls of said box tapers downward ¾″ at a 20 degree inward angle with a 3¼″ radius arc at the bottom of said box which runs parallel with the top arc. The bottom arc measures 2¼″ from corner to corner or 1⅛″ from center of said box to its corners (typical 2) which can be seen when viewing said box from the front or back as seen in (FIGS. 2, 2A, and 4). In one embodiment said box consists of two parts, box 12 and a container box top 16. Said box and said top can be made to be a one piece container box, (with top attached) as seen in FIG. 10. In one embodiment box 12 is produced using recycled cardboard, a arc shaped box and round venting holes, however said box can consist of other materials, shapes, sizes and venting. Other materials such as coated paper, paper mash a, vinyl, nylon, laminated paper, various plastic zed materials or any material ridged enough to house said contents etc. Various shapes can also be used such as oblong, U shape, round, rectangle, tube, square, oval, etc.

Various venting options can also be used, such as, slots, squares, triangles, rectangles, open ends, etc. In the preferred embodiment a surgical grade mask material liner 18 (FIG. 6) is precut to size and used to line the inside of box 12 (FIG. 4). A high particulate filter 14 (FIG. 5) is placed inside said box on top of liner 18 (FIGS. 2, 9.) In one embodiment said filter is a ridged air filter which is folded end over end and compressed together like the bellows of an accordion FIG. 5. However said filter can be made out of any type of high particulate filter paper or fabric, woven or non woven material, such as cotton, cloth, wool, polyester, vinyl or paper toweled type material etc. In the preferred embodiment said filter is cured in tea tree oil, the filter can also be cured in virus killers other than said oil, such as those found in germicides, sanitizers, disinfectants and alcohols. Said filter can also be produced using no virus killers at all (used just for containment). Said box is then enclosed with a container box top 16, (with 2″ dia. hole in its top.) as shown in FIGS. 2, 4A. Said top has an adhesive coating on the inside of its four lips, which secures said top in place. Although this is one embodiment, said box and said top can be made to be one piece, whereas said top is connected to one side of said box, said top folds over and tucks into the opposite end of the box (FIG. 10.) Top 16 can also be made out of various materials such as coated paper, paper mash a, vinyl, nylon, laminated or impregnated fibrous materials, various plastic zed materials or any material ridged enough to house said contents.

A cough receptacle 20, 2⅛″ dia. (with adhesive bottom) FIG. 7 is glued in placed over the hole in top 16 as seen in (FIGS. 2, 2A, 3). In one embodiment said receptacle is made of rubber, but other material can be used such as cardboard, coated paper, paper mash a, vinyl, nylon, laminated or impregnated fibrous materials, various plastic zed materials etc or any material ridged enough to hold its shape. A 1″×10″ hook and loop fastener strap wristband 22 (FIG. 8) is glued in place on the bottom of box 12. (FIGS. 1, 2, 2A, 3, & 8.) This strap is used as a wristband to secure said Apparatus to ones wrist FIG. 11. In the preferred embodiment wristband 22 consist of a hook and loop fastener, other types of wristbands can be used such as, (elastic bands, plastic with snaps or buttons, or a draw strap with a locking bracket etc.)

Operation

The “C/C Apparatus” is a totally new concept; the closest prior art form for cough containment would be the surgical mask. (FIG. 1 shows the “C/C Apparatus”.) A disposable filter attached to a wristband is to be worn on the wrist like a wristwatch (as shown in FIG. 11.) When one suffers the effects of respiratory infection (such as the effects of Influenza) and begins to cough, the idea is to cough into said apparatus instead of coughing into ones hands, sleeve or the open air.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of said container box with venting holes. The venting holes relieves the pressure which is created by the cough. Box 12 is the main body of said apparatus, and houses liner 18, and filter 14.

FIG. 6 is a top view of liner 18. The liner is used to line the inside of box 12, adding additional filtration to contain the cough and the virus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of filter 14. Said filter is cured in tea tree oil or other germicide or disinfectants (known for its anti-viral properties). When one coughs into said apparatus, filter 14 contains the bulk of the cough, transferring the virus into the filter where it's engaged by the tea tree oil, which starts to break the virus down on contact preventing its ability to spread and multiply.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of container box top 16. Said top is glued in place sealing the apparatus. The seal allows the pressure created by the cough to disperse through the venting holes in box 12. Filter 14 and liner 18 offers means to contains the cough and the virus, dispersing clean air through said venting holes.

FIG. 7 is a top and side view of Cough receptacle 20. When said receptacle is glued in place, it provides a comfortable avenue to deliver ones cough.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of wristband 22. When said wristband is glued in place, it offers means to attach said apparatus to the users wrist FIG. 11. Since said apparatus attaches to the wrist, it avoids the covering of the face and moves the virus away from the face avoiding recontamination that the prior-art surgical mask experiences.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that various embodiments can be used to accomplish the same results.

Container box 12 (FIG. 4) can consist of other materials, shapes, sizes and venting. Alternative Embodiments for box 12 (FIG. 4) includes but not limited to: A

• • Hand held tube,
  • U shaped box that contours around the side of the wrist,
  • Said box can be one piece with said top attached (FIG. 10),
  • Said box can also be a plastic permanent cartridge with a changeable filter.
  • Said box can also be oblong, round, rectangle, square, oval, etc.
    Some embodiments can be designed to be worn on the back of the hand or inside of the wrist, or could be constructed using no container box at all, (using a filter in a bag or pouch like enclosure).
    Box 12 and top 16 (FIGS. 4 & 4A) can consist of other materials such as coated paper, paper mash a, vinyl, nylon, laminated or impregnated fibrous materials, various plastic zed materials, any material ridged enough to hold said contents in place etc. There are also various venting options that can be implemented on said box such as:
  • Slots, squares, triangles, rectangles, open ends or partial sidewalls etc.

Alternative embodiments for said liner 18 (FIG. 6) includes but not limited to,

• • Approved surgical grade mask material
  • Air filter type paper,
  • Woven paper toweled type fibers
  • Anti-bacterial fabric's
  • Any high particulate filter paper, fabric or materials that are woven tightly enough to contain and hold the acclaimed particulates.
  • Said apparatus can also be assembled using no liner at all.

Alternative embodiments for filter 14 (FIG. 5) includes but not limited to,

• • High particulate filter paper or materials that are ridged and woven tightly enough to contain and hold the acclaimed particulates,
  • Non-woven fabrics or fibers such as cotton, polyester, wool, nylon etc.

In one embodiment filter 14 is cured in tea tree oil, said filter can be cured in virus killers other than tea tree oil, such that is found in germicides, sanitizers, disinfectants and alcohol based products etc. Said filter can also be produced using no virus killers at all (used just for containment). Virus killers can also be produced in a separate spray bottle that the user applies as directed. The user then disposes of the said filter when said spray bottle is empty.

Alternative embodiments for cough receptacle 20 (FIG. 7) includes but not limited to, Rubber, plastic, cardboard, coated paper, paper mash a, vinyl, nylon, laminated or impregnated fibrous materials and various plastic zed materials. Said apparatus can also be assembled using no cough receptacle at all. (By coughing into the hole in top 16).

Alternative embodiments for wristband 22 (FIG. 8) includes but not limited to,

• • elastic straps
  • plastic strap with snaps or buttons
  • draw strap with locking bracket
  • Velcro hook and loop fastener
    While my above description contains many specificities these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several embodiments.