Patent Application
20110283443
I. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to transparent, biodegradable materials that can be attached to eyewear, computer screens, mobile phones, vehicle windscreens and the like and then removed when vision becomes obscured.
II. Description of Related Art
When eyewear is worn in an environment where it may become muddy or damaged, disposable lenses are often used. For example, multiple disposable lenses placed on eyewear enable a user to clear their vision by removing the dirty or damaged lens. In motorsport, for example, disposable lenses such as these are often referred to as “tear off” lenses because of the ability of the wearer to tear the lens off with minimal fuss.
For example, during motocross riding, disposable, tear off lenses are mounted on helmets or goggles so that the rider can remove them when his vision becomes obscured. Throughout a race, a rider may remove multiple lenses, discarding each on the track. After the race, race track owners must invest considerable time and resources removing the tear offs from the race course and surrounding area. After cleanup, the tear offs still have to be disposed of, creating further expense. Further, depending upon the tear off material, their disposal may create environmental issues such as due to leaching of toxic chemicals, increased waste buildup in landfills, etc. The non biodegradable nature of prior art disposable lenses limits their use to situations where they can be easily recovered for safe disposal. Thus, a need exists for a transparent, biodegradable material that can be used to protect eyewear, computer screens or other materials and can be removed and discarded in a wide variety of environments without the need for clean up or disposal.
The present invention provides a transparent, biodegradable material for use on eyewear, computer screens, touch sensitive devices, mobile phones, and the like. Because the material is transparent, it can provide protection for eyewear or devices such as laptops and mobile phones without obscuring vision or display. Because the material is biodegradable, it can be safely discarded no matter the location, thereby reducing cleanup and disposal costs. The biodegradable nature of the material greatly extends its range of uses to include uses such as road motorcycling, search and rescue use, medical uses, mountain biking, vehicle windscreen protection such as for helicopters, skydiving, parasailing, sailing, laptops and mobile phone use, caving, potholing, spelunking, cave diving, a wide variety of military uses, protection in conditions such as sandstorms, and other activities where biodegradable, transparent, removable screens would be advantageous.
The material of the invention may be water resistant to aid its use in these activities. As another example, the material may resist degradation for a period of time before beginning to degrade. The material may also biodegrade only upon exposure to a catalyst or other biodegradation initiating chemical. Or the material may degrade initially at a slow rate before accelerating its rate of degradation. Further, the material may degrade at steady but slow rate or at a fast but steady rate, as needed.
The transparent, biodegradable material of the present invention is designed for use with transparent screens, such as helmet and headgear visors, eyewear, vehicle windshields and windscreens, and electronic display screens. Transparent screens of the electronic display screen type may include laptop screens, computer screens, mobile phone screens, touch sensitive display screens, and the like.
For example, during inclement weather, a motorcycle user's helmet visor may become obscured due to dirt, oil, or the like. The visor may act as a lens or a shield, or both. Currently, motorcycle riders traveling on public roads are unable to use disposable, tear off lenses because they are not biodegradable and, thus, discarding them while riding would constitute littering and also harm the environment. The biodegradable material of the invention would solve this problem, enabling the rider to safely remove a lens and dispose of it without harming the environment. This would increase the safety of riding during inclement weather for road motorcycles users, such as civilians, police officers or military personnel. This would also be advantageous for off road motorcycling or mountain bike users.
The material of the invention may be transparent so that, when multiple layers of the material are placed on top of each other, the vision of the user is not unduly impaired. The biodegradable material used in the layers may also offer light control, and can be clear or tinted. The material may offer light control down to 1% or may be clear and allow all light to pass through. Light control may be obtained through use of biodegradable dyes with the biodegradable material. For example, if multiple layers were placed on the visor of a motocross rider, they would be transparent enough to enable the rider to operate his vehicle. The material of the invention may also be laminated together in order to improve transparency. However, the material need not be laminated in order for it to function as a transparent, biodegradable lens or screen. For example, the material may simply be layered onto eyewear, a windshield, a computer screen or other material being covered without being laminated or treated in any other way.
Further, the use of computers, mobile phones and the like in extreme or unpredictable weather conditions such as those found on oil rigs, fishing ships, or military vehicles creates the need for a transparent screen to protect against dirt and damage. In these situations, a biodegradable material would have the advantage of reduced clean up and disposal, which can be expensive due to the remote location of activities such as these. For example, the material of the invention could be used on a screen of vehicles such as helicopters or motor vehicles for protection in sandstorms or other weather likely to obscure vision or cause damage to windshields or the vehicle body. Further, the material may be used for personal use to protect delicate paint work or the like on vehicles. The material may be used on surfaces that are exposed to the elements or are otherwise subject to damage. The material may be used to protect from damage due to weathering, or may be used on surfaces that are subject to significant contact, risk of damage, or wear. For example, the material may be used on one or both sides of the transparent glass or polycarbonate/plastic panels that surround hockey rinks and other athletic surfaces in order to separate the players from the audience.
As another example, military and rescue personnel in extreme weather conditions and remote locations, such as sandstorms in the desert or storms at sea would benefit from a removable, transparent, biodegradable protective screen for their eyewear, computer screens and the like.
In another example, the material of the invention could be used by medical professionals to protect eyewear or medical devices during operations or when providing emergency medical care. The transparent, biodegradable material of the invention would be particularly useful when medical care must be provided in remote locations or in harsh working conditions such as during a national disaster. The material of the invention may provide protection for eyewear of the caregiver during use and then be safely and easily disposed due to its biodegradable nature.
The transparent, biodegradable material of the invention may alone, or in combination with other material(s), provide protection against emission of electromagnetic radiation. For example, by placing the material of the invention on a computer or television screen the emission or transmission of electromagnetic radiation may be reduced. For instance, the material may reduce the emission or transmission of infrared (IR) radiation. The material of the invention may provide security against compromising emanations and may be capable of being certified as providing such security under applicable testing standards. The material of the invention may also be placed on cables, wires, LEDs, keyboards or any other material that may need protection from emission or transmission of electromagnetic radiation.
The foregoing examples are intended to be illustrative and in no way limit the invention as claimed to only those uses. For example, the material of the invention may be used in analogous situations by the logging industry, the coast guard, or other rescue entities, or in everyday situations by cell phone or computer users who desire to protect their screen without harming the environment.
The removable screens and lenses of the current invention may be made from biodegradable, transparent materials. For example, transparent, biodegradable plastics may be used. The screens may be made from one or a combination of the following: corn starch based plastics, polylactic acid (PLA) plastics, cellulose acetate, cellulose blends, cellulose esters, polyvinyl alcohol, thermoplastics, polyesters, transparent biodegradable polycarbonate, carboxylic acid esters, biodegradable plastic resins, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate or other transparent, biodegradable materials. In the alternative, the transparent, biodegradable material of the invention may be made from a genetically modified plant material, such as genetically modified corn starch. Further, the material of the invention may be manufactured via an additive that converts a non biodegradable material into a biodegradable one.
The invention may also include a biodegradable adhesive to attach the material of the invention to goggles, helmets, computer screens or any other material in need to a transparent biodegradable layer. Cellulose tape or adhesives made from natural sources may be used for this purpose, although any adhesive sufficiently biodegradable and transparent would suffice. If minimal adhesive is used, or if it is used only at certain locations, then the adhesive need not be as transparent as the lens/screen material. In fact, the adhesive need not be transparent at all. For example, if the adhesive is only placed out of the line of sight of the eyewear/screen then the adhesive need not be transparent at all. The adhesive should be strong enough to hold the layers together during use but also pliant enough to allow easy removal of a layer by hand without tearing or unintentionally removing multiples layers.
The material of the invention may be removeably attached by other means that do not rely on an adhesive. For example, by physical means including tabs, buttons, ties, magnets, hooks or the like. Additionally, static or friction may be used to attach the biodegradable, transparent and removable lenses or screens made from the material of the present invention.
In another embodiment, the material of the invention may include a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) on a film. These films may be capable of being used on a touch sensitive device, such as the screen of a mobile phone. The material of the invention may function with touch sensitive devices that rely upon physical touch, resistive displays, capacitive displays, or some combination. For example, certain devices may function via the proximity of an object, such as a finger or pointer, altering the electromagnetic field near the device. Embodiments of the invention including low tack PSA on a film are not limited to being used with touch sensitive devices, however. These embodiments may also be used on other devices disclosed herein, such as goggles. Further, these embodiments may involve multiple layers of films as discussed herein.
The device protected by the transparent, biodegradable material of the present invention may be a cell phone or other portable electronic device including a display screen. The cell phone or portable electronic device may include a keypad or touch-sensitive area for entering data and allowing the user to provide commands to the device. The transparent, biodegradable material may be used to protect both the display screen area and also the keypad or touch-sensitive area of such devices. The layers of the transparent, biodegradable material may be shaped to match the dimensions of the display screen of a cell phone or electronic device, and may also be shaped to cover a keypad or touch sensitive area. When covering a keypad or touch sensitive area, the transparent, biodegradable material may be flexible or may contain indentations to allow for individual coverage of each key or area without affecting a user's ability to operate the keypad or touch sensitive area.
The material of the invention may biodegrade due to exposure to oxygen, ultra violet light, microbes, bacteria, or any other environment or chemical that causes decomposition. For example, the transparent material of the invention may be biodegradable in one or more of the following environments, alone or in combination: landfills, home composting, industrial composting, soil, sewage sludge, waste water, anaerobic environments, aerobic environments, ultra violet light and any other environment such that the material decomposes. Also, the material may biodegrade after a chemical is added to destabilize it and initiate decomposition. The material may also biodegrade spontaneously without exposure to any chemical or particular degrading environment. The material of the invention may biodegrade partially on its own and then require further exposure or processing to complete degradation.
Instead of using an adhesive to join together the layers of the invention and also to attach the layers to transparent screen or device, the biodegradable material may also be attached without the use of adhesive. In one embodiment, the transparent, biodegradable material may be a biodegradable plastic material and the attachment between layers and to a device may be achieved by static or friction. In another embodiment, the attachment may be achieved by tabs, buttons, hooks, ties, or the like.
Because various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61347625 | May 2010 | US |
