Patent Application
20080307560
The invention relates to a head worn apparatus utilizing an adjustable mirror for facilitating the application of eye drops and other medications and the application of cosmetics.
It is generally known that it can be very difficult to apply eye drops after cataract surgery to one's eyes or after a person has been diagnosed with a problem that requires the application of eye drops. Many simply waste expensive medication that drips down the face because the person missed the eye. Similarly, many older people have problems applying their cosmetics due to eye sight problems, arthritis and/or other physical problems.
What is needed is a head worn apparatus that allows hands free and a close mirrored view to assist in placing eye drops in the eyes, putting in contact lenses, inspecting one's face for skin problems such as a suspicious cancer spots, inspecting teeth for proper cleaning or problems with teeth and/or gums, applying cosmetics, removing facial hair, thinning eye brows, shaving by for those confined to wheelchairs or beds, or any other condition where the use of the present invention will facilitate the desired action of the person.
The invention is a head worn apparatus with an adjustably attached mirror that allows for hands free close vision self-application of medication, cosmetics, inspection of the skin and teeth and similar uses. It has an adjustable head band and a pair of generally parallel multiple segmented spaced-apart appendages between which is a cross-member on which the mirror is located and is able to rotate 360 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the cross-member and is able to also rotate about the axis of the cross-member. The appendages can rotate about the connection to the head band and at each joint of the adjoining appendages.
The invention and its preferred embodiments are further descried below in more detail by reference to the drawings described below as well.
In the accompanying drawings:
Referring now to the drawings,
As shown in
A pair of generally parallel multiple segmented spaced-apart appendages 16 extend from opposite sides of the head band 12 in a direction forward of the head band 12. A proximal end 16a of each multiple segmented spaced-apart appendage 16 is rotatably attached to the head band 12 and each adjoining segmented appendage 16b, 16c is also rotatably joined. There are a number of ways known in the art to make the attachment point and the joint rotatable using screw type of connections within an aperture of the joint that is configured to allow for the rotation or pivoting of the part about an axis through the aperture at the joint or attachment point. The configuration depicted in the drawings is merely one example and is not to be construed as limiting in scope. In the depicted example of
A transverse member 18 is located at a distal end 16d of the multiple segmented spaced-apart appendages 16 and is attached so as to extend between the distal end 16d of the appendages 16. This transverse member 18 is preferably in the form of a round rod and can be made from a plastic composite material or a metallic material such as stainless steel.
In order to provide the close up visual aid for the invention, a mirror 20 is provided. Mirror 20 is typical of many mirrors found in the medical and cosmetic application industry. It may be a flat mirror but preferably has a curvature (see right side slight curvature of mirror surface in
The invention 10 includes means 24 for rotating the mirror 20 about an intermediate location 18a of said transverse member 18, as well as means 26 for rotating the mirror 20 about an axis perpendicular to the transverse member 18.
In a preferred embodiment depicted in the drawings (see cross-section example in
The split coupling 28 also includes means for preventing the pin 28c from sliding out of the coupled split coupling 28. This can be accomplished in a number of ways known in the art such as having a ball and socket arrangement at the end of the pin 28c that is encapsulated in the coupled split coupling 28 (ball and socket arrangement is not shown in drawings). However, one preferred method is that depicted where a proximal end of said pin 28c has a portion 28d with a diameter greater than a remainder portion 28e of said pin 28 wherein the larger diameter portion 28d is insertable and rotatably operable within a mating groove 28f when the split coupling 28 is coupled.
The split coupling 28 may be coupled in a number of mechanical ways known in the art such a snap type or interlocking snap type means. However, one simple preferred way is to fasten the halves together using a screw type 28g of threaded connection where the screw 28g is threadedly engaged through at least a partially threaded aperture (not shown) located between the transverse groove 28a and the groove 28b running perpendicular to the transverse groove 28a or alternatively engaged in a threaded nut 28h.
It is preferred that the mirror 20 be maintained in an area generally central between the distal ends 16d of the appendages 16, that is, that this central area define the intermediate location 18a of the transverse member 18. Again, this can be accomplished in a number of ways known in the art such as having some configuration to provide for a side to side travel stop or the ability to apply a tightening of the split coupling 28 so as to make too resistive to attempt to slide the mirror 20 side to side along the transverse member 18. However, one preferred method to accomplish this is to provide for a notched portion 18b along an intermediate portion 18a of the transverse member 18. This notched portion 18b typically has a predetermined length along the generally center area 18a and a diameter (typically reduced diameter) sized so that the generally semi-circular grooves 28a of the coupled split coupling 28 can engage and rotate about the notched portion 18b of the transverse member 18.
Although a standard circumferential adjustable head band 12 is needed, an optional additional head band 30, which is configured to attach to and extend from opposite sides of the circumferential head band 12 over a top of the user's head 14. Again, head band 30 can be made from the same materials as head band 12.
Although the circumferential band 12 should have means 32 for adjusting the size or fit around the head, the additional head band 30 need not be adjustable. However, should this feature be desired, the head band 30 can also be designed to have adjustment means 32 similar to that of the other head band portion of the invention. Again, there are several ways known in the art to accomplish this such as mating hook and loop fasteners, snap mating connections, or other similar features, one of which is depicted by example in the drawings, which is a series of spaced-apart holes 36 on one leg of the band 12,30 and a series of spaced-apart nipples 38 on the other leg of the band 12,30. This latter arrangement is used often as a fit adjustment for ball caps. An additional optional feature is the addition of a strap or belt loop 40 around the band 12,30 that can slide over the coupled band straps and over the coupled nipple/hole fastener so as to effective lock the adjustment.
It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
