Patent Application
20210345701
The present disclosure relates to a face shield, such as one that may be utilized during surgical operation or to prevent the transmission of germs and viruses.
Surgical masks may be utilized in various scenarios to prevent the transmission of germs, bacteria, viruses, diseases, etc. One instance may be during a surgery or operation of the patient to prevent the spread of germs. Surgical masks may be utilized in everyday scenarios during a pandemic, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, there may be a utilization for a mask that allows a user to wear the mask for long periods of time without discomforting the user.
According to a first embodiment, a mask includes a shield portion, wherein the shield portion includes a transparent material configured to protect a face of a user, wherein the shield portion includes a top side, a left side, and right side, wherein the left side and right side meet and form a bottom valley point of the shield portion, and a band portion, wherein the band portion includes a first end and a second end, wherein the band portion includes a plurality of male tabs proximate to the first end and a plurality of holes configured to receive the male tabs to secure the mask to the user, wherein the band portion further includes a front rib portion extending away from a front surface of the band portion and in contact with the shield portion when assembled.
According to a second embodiment, a mask that includes a shield portion, wherein the shield portion is a transparent material configured to protect a face of a user. The shield portion includes a top edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein the left edge and right edge meet and form a bottom valley point of the shield portion, wherein the top edge is located between and in contact with the left edge and right edge, and a first hole and a second hole. The mask also includes a band portion, wherein the band portion includes a first end and a second end, wherein the band portion includes a plurality of male tabs proximate to the first end and a plurality of female portions configured to receive the male tabs to secure the band portion to a head of the user, wherein the band portion further includes a front rib portion extending away from a front surface of the band portion and in contact with the shield portion when assembled, wherein the band portion includes a first and second tab extending away from the front surface, wherein the first tab and second tab are configured to enter the first and second hold and secure the shield portion to the band portion.
According to a third embodiment, a mask includes a shield portion, wherein the shield portion is a transparent material configured to protect a face of a user, wherein the shield portion includes at least a top edge, a first hole, and a second hole, and a band portion, wherein the band portion includes a first end and a second end, wherein the band portion includes a plurality of male tabs proximate to the first end and a plurality of female portions configured to receive the male tabs to secure the band portion to a head of the user, wherein the band portion further includes a front rib portion extending away from a front surface of the band portion and in contact with the shield portion, wherein the band portion includes a first and second tab extending away from the front surface, wherein the first tab and second tab are configured to enter the first hole and second hole and secure the shield portion to the band portion.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
In order to prevent further spread of viruses (e.g., COVID-19), face coverings are increasingly becoming recommended or required for the public and frontline workers. Current face shields lack in protection of the chin and neck area. They are often large, heavy and bulky causing fatigue and limits range of motion. Many of them are single use, inaccessible to the public and healthcare workers in non-hospital settings, or complex in design making them difficult to disinfect between uses. Reusable face shields are often expensive. The surgical mask described below addresses these problems.
This face shield may serve as personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect individuals from spreading/contracting COVID-19 or other viruses. Because the government has diverted and reserved most PPE to hospitals, healthcare workers in non-hospital settings are having difficulty obtaining the necessary PPE to provide a safe work environment. Dentists especially are at high risk for COVID exposure given the close proximity to the patient's mouth and nose. The unique design of this mask may protect a user's neck and chin area, yet provides their heads and necks with a wide range of motion. Healthcare workers in private practice settings can use the surgical masks in their own offices. Many face shields are designed to be single use and disposable, which is not environmentally sustainable.
An embodiment of the face shield may be designed to be reusable and may be made of acrylic Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which may be a recyclable material. Often the reusable face shields that are available have complex designs with turning knobs and deep crevices, making them very difficult to confidently disinfect after use, especially after exposure to a COVID positive patient. The germs, bacteria, viruses (e.g., corona virus) can easily settle into the deeper surfaces of the shield, putting the user at risk for exposure.
The surgical mask described below may includes relatively smooth surfaces, making it very easy to disinfect all the surfaces with a sanitizing wipe or spray. Additionally, the face shield may be dishwasher safe providing another way for the user to confidently disinfect the shield. The mask may be recyclable and dishwasher safe, making it easy to disinfect for the everyday consumer, not just those working in a hospital or other medical setting.
The strap portion 120 may also include a vertical strap 140 that may be secured around the user's head. As explained in detail below, the vertical strap 140 may be secured utilizing various fastening methods, such as male tabs that are inserted in an opening, Velcro, or other fastening methods. The vertical strap 140 may be removable from the rest of the strap 120, thus making it an option for some users to wear or not to wear. Thus, the portion of the strap 120 that secured around the circumference of the head (e.g., the forehead and back of the head) may be enough to secure the surgical mask 100 to the user.
The surgical mask 100 may include one or more bands 120 or a strap portion 120 that are utilized to secure to the surgical mask 100 to a user's head. The strap portion 120 may be injection molded and made of material that is easy to disinfect or wash to avoid spreading diseases or germs, such as COVID-19. The strap portion 120 may be injection molded from the same material as the shield portion 101. The strap portion 120 may include multiple parts or portions. The strap portion may include a front surface 123 and a back surface. The back surface of the strap 120 may come in contact with a person's head when in operation. The strap portion 120 may include a front rib 121 which extends away from a front surface of the band. The rib portion 121 may be placed in the center of the strap portion 120 (e.g., band 120) or near the center of the band to align with the back rib portion 114 of the shield 101. By placing the rib portion 121 in the center of the strap 120, the rib portion 121 may provide optimal comfort to the user when the face shield 101 is utilized and placed onto a head of a user. In another embodiment, the area of the strap that the rib portion 121 is placed may have a larger width than the rest of the strap 120.
The rib portion 121 may have a variety of designs for utilization in the surgical mask 100. For example, in one embodiment, the rib portion 121 may simply be an outwardly protruding vertical material. In another embodiment, the rib portion 121 may have an “H” configuration and include two outwardly protruding vertical materials spaced apart that are connected by an outwardly protruding horizontal material to connect the two vertical materials. The horizontal material may be located in the middle between to the two vertical materials, or anywhere between a top side and bottom side of the horizontal materials. Thus, if the horizontal material is located at the bottom side, it may create a “U” configuration and if located on the top side, it may create an upside down “U” configuration. The front rib portion 121 and the back-rib portion 114 may align and secure with one another.
The strap 120 may also include one or more pins 125 that protrude from the front surface of the strap. The pins 125 may be placed near a location that would rest on a temple of a user's head. The pins 125 may be utilized to allow the shield portion 101 to be placed onto the strap portion 120. Thus, the pins 125 may provide a secure connection between the shield portion and the strap, but however, may allow the face shield to be removed from the strap. As shown in the figures, the pin may have a head portion that has a larger area than a base portion. The base portion may be in contact with the front surface of the band. The head portion of the pin 125 may be smaller (e.g., front surface area or diameter) than the slot opening 107, but smaller than the slot 109 to allow the pin 125 to be inserted but secured to the shield 101. Each of the pins of the band may be equal distance apart from each end of the band or from the front rib portion.
The band 120 may also include an adjustable strap portion that includes a plurality of male tabs 129 that extend away from the front surface of the strap. The band 120 may include a female portion, or a plurality of holes 133, which received the male tabs 129 to secure each end of the band. The band may have the male tabs on one portion of the band that is on a certain side of a user's head when worn (e.g., the right side), while the female portion (e.g., the plurality of holes to receive the male tabs) is on another side of the user's head when worn (e.g., the left side). For example, the strap portion 120 may also include a right band portion 131 that include a plurality of female holes 133. The plurality of female holes 133 may engage with the male tabs 129 to secure the surgical mask to a user's head. When one or more male tabs 129 engage with the female holes 133, they may connect the left strap portion 127 to the right strap portion 131 to secure around a user's head. While multiple strap portions are depicted in the illustration, it is easily conceivable that less or more parts may be utilized. For example, the strap portion 120 may be one entire piece instead of the multiple pieces (e.g., middle strap portion, left strap 127, right strap 131, vertical strap 140 shown as two pieces but could be one piece or more).
The strap portion 120 may also include a top band portion 140. The strap portion 120 may include one or more top band portions 120. For example,
The contour of the shield 101 may align with shape a human face. Thus, from the top edge of the shield 101, the mask may protrude out slightly in the nose and mouth area of the face, but then extend into the neck area and under the chin towards the bottom valley portion of the shield 101. Thus, the shield may have a negative curvature. As such, the top of the mask may be somewhat spaced apart from an imaginary line extending from the top to the bottom of the users face from a top section of the shield (e.g., near forehead). The mask may extend out further from the imaginary vertical line at a middle section of the shield (e.g., near face and nose). Then the mask may extend into the imaginary vertical line at a bottom section of the shield (e.g., near the chin and neck area of the face).
The rib portion 121 may have a variety of designs for utilization in the surgical mask 100. For example, in one embodiment, the rib portion 121 may simply be an outwardly protruding vertical material. In another embodiment, the rib portion 121 may have an “H” configuration and include two outwardly protruding vertical materials spaced apart that are connected by an outwardly protruding horizontal material to connect the two vertical materials. The horizontal material may be located in the middle between to the two vertical materials, or anywhere between a top side and bottom side of the horizontal materials. Thus, if the horizontal material is located at the bottom side, it may create a “U” configuration and if located on the top side, it may create an upside down “U” configuration.
The strap 120 may also include one or more pins 125 that protrude from the front surface of the strap. The pins 125 may be placed near a location that would rest on a temple of a user's head. The pins 125 may be utilized to allow the shield portion 101 to be placed onto the strap portion 120. Thus, the pins 125 may provide a secure connection between the shield portion and the strap, but however, may allow the face shield to be removed from the strap. As shown in the figures, the pin may have a head portion that has a larger area than a base portion. The base portion may be in contact with the front surface of the band. Each of the pins of the band may be equal distance a part from each end of the band or from the front rib portion.
The band 120 may also include an adjustable strap portion that includes a plurality of male tabs that extend away from the front surface of the strap. The band may include a female portion, or a plurality of holes, which received the male tabs to secure each end of the band. The band may have the male tabs on one portion of the band that is on a certain side of a user's head when worn (e.g., the right side), while the female portion (e.g., the plurality of holes to receive the male tabs) is on another side of the user's head when worn (e.g., the left side).
The strap portion 120 may also include a right band portion 131 that include a plurality of female holes 133. The plurality of female holes 133 may engage with the male tabs 129 to secure the surgical mask to a user's head. When one or more male tabs 129 engage with the female holes 133, they may connect the left strap portion 127 to the right strap portion 131 to secure around a user's head.
The rib portion 121 may be relatively thin compared to the rest of the band, with various portions extending away from the front surface 123 of the strap 120. The rib portion 121 may have various pieces that run an entire height of the front surface 123 of the band portion. The rib portion 121 may be located at an area has the most height or surface area of the strap. The strap may include one or more holes 135 that may be utilized to put on various other portions of the strap, such as the left strap portion with male pegs or the right strap portion with female holes. In addition, the holes 135 may be utilized for a vertical strap portion 140. Such portions may include male pegs that are inserted in holes 135 secure the various portions of the strap to one another. The strap may include one or more push pins 125 to be utilized to secure the shield 101 to the strap portion 120.
As shown, the strap 120 may encompass a circumference of a user's head and wrap around the forehead and top and back of a user's head when the additional strap portions are attached to holes 135. The vertical strap portion 140 may be sized appropriately to a user's head utilizing the male tabs 137 of the strap. The various portions of the strap may be connected to each other utilizing various securing mechanisms, such as a male tab. The vertical strap portion 140 may be used to secure the middle strap portion to a top of a user's head. The vertical strap portion 140 may be adjusted in sizing utilizing vertical tabs 143 inserted into vertical strap female openings 145. Thus, the vertical strap portion 140 may add additional securing of the surgical mask to the user's head and additionally mitigate movement from the surgical mask to the user's head.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.
