Abstract: A nasal dilator and method of making nasal dilators are provided. The dilator may have a composite base element of at least two regions, the base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon; the base element further including a spring element which imparts return memory into the base element so that the base element returns towards a planar conformation during use. The spring element has elastic memory effected by differential properties in the at least two regions.

Abstract: A nasal dilator and method of making nasal dilators are provided. The dilator may have a composite base element of at least two regions, the base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon; the base element further including a spring element which imparts return memory into the base element so that the base element returns towards a planar conformation during use. The spring element has elastic memory effected by differential properties in the at least two regions.

Abstract: A nasal dilator and method of making nasal dilators are provided. The dilator may have a composite base element of at least two regions, the base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon; the base element further including a spring element which imparts return memory into the base element so that the base element returns towards a planar conformation during use. The spring element has elastic memory effected by differential properties in the at least two regions.

Abstract: A filter material for entrapping particles and actively affecting the trapped particles within the filter. The fabric has a blend of hydrophilic superabsorbent fibers and non-superabsorbent hydrophilic fibers that is sufficiently porous as to allow gaseous flow through the fabric. The fabric having a thickness and the fabric has as a coating of a mixture of a chemically or physically active compound and a liquid carrier forming an active composition on both the outer surface of the hydrophilic superabsorbent fibers, and the hydrophilic superabsorbent fibers have a central volume also retaining the active composition. The central volume of the hydrophilic superabsorbent fibers acting as a reservoir for replacement of the active compound into the coating when concentration of active compounds in the coating are reduced to a concentration less than concentrations of the active compound within the central volume; and the liquid carrier is an aqueous liquid.

Abstract: Specific composite materials described herein are based on the discovery that certain selections of materials and manufacturing conditions and processes provide unexpectedly improved self-supporting thin-film composite materials. It has been discovered that certain combinations of backing materials, shrink film materials, and manufacturing conditions provide improved composites having highly controllable, readily repeatable, and stable arc shaped cross-web curled structures. In general, the composite materials described herein comprise a dimensionally alterable film such as a polyester shrink film having a first surface and a second surface, and a polyester backing material having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface of the backing material is laminated to the first surface of the dimensionally alterable film.

Abstract: An apparel or material which may be placed anywhere or worn about the neck or other parts of the body of a human. The apparel/material has a structure that, when repositioned from about the wearer, will retain a position about a mouth and nose of the human, as by elasticity or taughtness of a wrapping about the face. The apparel is sufficiently porous as to allow a human to breath comfortably through the fabric when placed over the mouth and nose of the human. The fabric has as a coating is created with on at least the outer surface and through at least 25% of the thickness of the fabric a moisture-sensitive antimicrobial composition, wherein the antimicrobial moisture-sensitive composition comprises an antimicrobially active compound and a carrier, the carrier by hydrophilic and able to absorb sufficient moisture from exhaled breath from the human as to maintain a wet surface on the carrier to which viral particles will adhere more strongly than to a dry surface of the same carrier.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of self-supporting extendable materials such as tapes used for sealing, adhering two surfaces together, masking, medical tape, and the like; papers, vinyls, and decal substrates. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to coated extendable self-supporting materials, for example, adhesive tapes, papers, and adhesive sheets, and the manufacture of adhesive tapes and papers, wherein a length of tape or other material extends rigidly a certain distance and does not coil or curl onto itself, or curl or coil prematurely onto the receiving substrate. Yet, the material maintains flexibility to be pliable and generally to conform to a surface to which it may be applied. The material is available in sheet form or as roll goods.