Patent Application
20220053868
The embodiments of the invention are generally related to face masks or shields for use with rigid protective headwear.
A thermoformed protective face shield includes a curved top portion adapted to conform to the forehead portion of a rigid protective headwear. The face shield further includes a visor portion extending outward from a lower end of the curved top portion, thereby creating a space between the user's face and a face cover portion. The face cover portion extends downward from the visor portion and covers and provides protection for the face of a user. A side shield portion may extend inward from the face cover portion for shielding the sides of a user's face. A perimeter flange may extend perpendicular to the perimeter of the face shield for providing structural support to the face shield and additional protection to the user. The visor portion may include one or more channels to provide structural support and/or ventilation.
The above discussed and other features and advantages of the present face shield will be appreciated and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description and drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
The face shield of the disclosed embodiments is illustrated in
With reference to
Any one or all of channels 20 may be solid or have sealed ends, thereby serving to provide structural support to visor portion 50. Alternatively any one or more channels 20 may include an airway which, as shown in
As noted above, face shield 10 includes visor portion 50 extending outwardly from the lower end of curved top portion 15. As shown for example in
At least one of face cover portion 60, visor portion 50, and side shield portion 70 may be formed from an optically dear material. In one embodiment, each of face cover portion 60, visor portion 50, and side shield portion 70 are formed from an optically dear material, thereby allowing a user to clearly see through face shield 10 at all angles. In yet another embodiment, any one or all of face cover portion 60, visor portion 50, and side shield portion 70 may be formed from and/or layered with a photochromic material to provide an adaptive response to ambient lighting conditions.
As previously discussed, heat and moisture can build up in the space between a user's face and face cover portion 60, causing fogging of face cover portion 60 and/or of a user's glasses, if applicable. An airway may be provided in channel(s) 20 to provide an exhaust mechanism for such heat and/or moisture to move out of face cover portion 60, such as by convection and/or in response to the user's breathing. In particular, heat and moisture that could potentially build up behind face cover portion 60 enters the intake end(s) 22 of the channel(s) 20 and exits the discharge end(s) 24 of the channel(s) 20. Thus, the buildup of heat and moisture, and any resulting fogging, is reduced or prevented.
Side shield portion 70 is made up of a plurality of side segments extending rearwardly from face cover portion 60. In the embodiment shown in HG. 1, side shield portion 70 is made up of seven side segments; however, a larger or smaller number of side segments may be used. The side segments are relatively planar segments that come together at angles to provide a shield that surrounds the sides and bottom of a user's face. As shown for example in
Face shield 10 may include a perimeter flange 80 extending approximately perpendicularly from the perimeter of the face shield 10. As shown in
Face shield 10 may be formed as a one-piece unit from a thermoplastic material. As previously indicated, this material may be a transparent, optical grade thermoplastic material; or may be, incorporate, or be layered with a material that prevents certain wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, or certain amounts of certain wavelengths, from passing through, The process for forming face shield 10 includes heating a plastic sheet before bringing it over a mold cavity and utilizing vacuum to form the sheet to the mold cavity. After removing the formed part from the mold cavity, the perimeter of the formed part is trimmed from a web of the sheet using a die. In addition, face shield 10 may be customized to fit a particular user by trimming, as with scissors. Alternatively, one or more portions of face shield 10 may be formed as separate pieces and then joined by any suitable means, including ultrasonic welding or gluing.
Any suitable thickness of material may be used to mold face shield 10. In one embodiment, the material may be from about 0.025 inches thick to about 0.156 inches thick. Typically, a medical grade polyethylene terephthalate glycol is used. However, other suitable materials include polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, or polyethylene terephthalate. The material is light-weight to provide a lightweight comfortable face shield that may be comfortably worn for prolonged periods of time.
Face shield 10 may be attached or releasably connected to protective rigid headwear 100 in any suitable manner. For example, tape, including single-sided tape, may be used to connect curved top portion 15 and/or visor portion 50 to protective rigid headwear 100. Such tape may run from the outer surface of face shield 10, such as the outer surface of curved top portion 15, to the outer surface of curved upper portion 105 of protective rigid headwear 100 that extends beyond curved top portion 15 when face shield 10 is engaged with rigid protective headwear 100.
Alternatively or in addition, double-sided tape may be placed on the inner surface of curved top portion 15 and/or of visor portion 50, and/or on the corresponding outer surface of curved lower portion 110 and/or brim portion 115, and the corresponding surfaces of face shield 10 and rigid protective headwear 100 may then be brought into contact, whereby the tape will adhere face shield 10 to protective rigid headwear 100. On the present context, “inner” refers to the side facing the user, which may also be thought of as the interior side, while “outer” refers to the side facing away from the user, which may also be thought of as the exterior side.)
In another embodiment, a hook-and-loop fastener or fasteners may be used. For example, either the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener may be adhered to the inner surface of curved top portion 15 and/or of visor portion 50; the corresponding loop portion or hook portion of the hook-and-loop fastener may be adhered to, respectively, the outer surface of curved lower portion 110 or the outer surface of brim portion 115; and the corresponding surfaces of face shield 10 and rigid protective headwear 100 may then be brought into contact to engage the hook-and-loop fastener.
In yet another embodiment, one or more snap fasteners may be used, with the male half or the female half of the snap fastener being glued, riveted, or otherwise attached to the inner surface of curved top portion 15 and/or of visor portion 50; the corresponding female half or male half of the snap fastener may be glued, riveted, or otherwise attached to, respectively, the outer surface of curved lower portion 110 and/or the outer surface of brim portion 115; and the corresponding surfaces of face shield 10 and rigid protective headwear 100 may then be brought into contact to enable snapping the male half and the female half together.
Additional embodiments for connecting the present face shield to rigid protective headwear may be readily envisioned, including but not limited to using an elastic or tensionable band positioned substantially horizontally around the outer circumference of rigid protective headwear 100 and passing over the outer surface of curved top portion 15. A relatively permanent form of connection between face shield 10 and rigid protective headwear 100 may also be used, such as adhesive. Other forms of connection will be readily apparent and may be employed without departing from the present scope.
While some exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.
