Abstract:
An eye shade is presented including a first side connected to an intermediate layer. A second side is connected to the intermediate layer. A first outer eye portion and a second outer eye portion are formed from the first side, the intermediate layer and the second side. The first and second outer eye portions extend outward. The first outer eye portion and the second outer eye portion are convex shaped.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to eye shades, and more particularly to an eye shade designed to exclude light rays from the eyes without contacting a person&#39;s eyes or eyelashes. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are many eye shades on the market today to assist people to get a restful sleep by occluding light rays. Eye shades can be used in many places and for many reasons. The existing eye shades, however, have some limitations. One of these limitations is that the existing eye shades do not permit users to open their eyes while wearing the eye shade without having a portion of the eye shade touch either a user&#39;s eye or eye lashes. Another limitation is that an eye shade user may have applied eye makeup that can be smudged or altered by coming into contact with an eye shade while it is being worn. Since eye shades may be used for purposes other than sleep, permitting the wearer to open one&#39;s eyes affects comfort. Moreover, a person with very long eyelashes, or enhanced eyelashes, may experience a very uncomfortable feeling wearing an eye shade, which interferes with blinking of his or her eyes. 
     SUMMARY 
     An eye shade is presented having a first side coupled to an intermediate layer. A second side is coupled to the intermediate layer. A first outer eye portion and a second outer eye portion are formed from the first side, the intermediate layer and the second side. The first and second outer eye portions extend outward. The first outer eye portion and the second outer eye portion are convex shaped. A user wearing the eye shade over their eyes avoids contact with the inner eye portions even if the person had long or enhanced eyelashes. 
     Also presented is an eye shade including a first side connected to an intermediate layer. A second side is connected to the intermediate layer. A first inner eye portion and a second inner eye portion are formed from the first side, the intermediate layer and the second side. The first and second inner eye portions extend inward. The first inner eye portion and the second inner eye portion are concave shaped. A user wearing the eye shade over their eyes avoids contact with the inner eye portions even if the person had long or enhanced eye lashes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention having outer convex shaped eye portions extending away from a front portion. 
     FIG. 1A illustrates an edge view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of an eye portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of another embodiment of the invention having inner concave shaped eye portions extending away from a rear portion. 
     FIG. 3A illustrates an edge view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of an eye portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of still another embodiment of the invention having outer convex shaped eye portions extending away from a front portion and a symmetrical front portion. 
     FIG. 5A illustrates an edge view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 5B illustrates a side view of an eye portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to an eye shade. Referring to the figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described. The exemplary embodiments are provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, eye shade  100  comprises left outer eye portion  110 , right outer eye portion  120 , outer nose portion  130  and front portion  140 . Left outer eye portion  110 , and right outer eye portion  120  are convex in shape extending away from front portion  140 . Outer nose portion  130  is convex in shape extending away from front portion  140 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the rear view of eye shade  100 . Left inner eye portion  210  is the inner compliment to left outer eye portion  110 . Right inner eye portion  220  is the compliment to right outer portion  120 . Left inner eye portion  210  and right inner eye portion  220  are both concave shaped. Rear portion  240  is the compliment to front portion  140 . Inner nose portion  230  is the compliment to outer nose portion  130 . Inner nose portion  230  is concave in shape. 
     Left inner eye portion  210  and right inner eye portion  220  can vary in length, width and depth dimensions to prevent various sized eyelashes and eye portions of users from coming into contact with the surface of either left inner eye portion  210  or right inner eye portion  220 . FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of an eye portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  1 . Only one eye portion is illustrated as the left and right eye portions are symmetrical The depth h (illustrated in FIG. 1B) of either left inner eye portion  210  or right inner eye portion  220  can be a depth in the range of three-fourths (¾) of an inch to three and a half (3½) inches at the center of either inner left eye portion  210  or inner right eye portion  220 . That is, different embodiments can have different depth h to accommodate various length eye lashes or enhanced eyelashes (such as false or fake eyelashes). Eye shade  100  can vary in dimension so as to accommodate various facial shapes and sizes. 
     Eye shade  100  can have both front portion  140  and rear portion  240  comprised of suitable man-made material that can be formed over an inner portion lying between front portion  140  and rear portion  240  that is comprised of suitable compressible material, such as a foam rubber type material. The composition of front portion  140 , rear portion  240  and inner portion  190  (illustrated in FIG. 1A) lying between front portion  140  and rear portion  240  are such that eye shade  100  can be formed by a heat source in a press which molds the composite materials. Since eye shade  100  is comprised of molded material, eye shade  100  has “memory.” Therefore, eye shade  100  can be folded, twisted, washed, etc., and will retain its formed shape. 
     Eye shade  100  can have varying means for positioning on or attaching to a face. Such means include a single strap, a plurality of coupled straps, etc. These positioning/attaching means can be made of a single elastic piece attached to right end side  160  and left end side  150 , or separate pieces wherein complimentary pieces are each coupled to right end  160  and left end  150 . For embodiments of eye shade  100  having a plurality of positioning/attaching pieces, various means can be used for fastening each of the plurality of pieces together. These means include, VELCRO® hook and loop fasteners, metal connectors, plastic connectors, buckles, snaps, etc. The positioning pieces can be adjustable and also vary in length and width, to accommodate various sized users. 
     In this embodiment the nose portion, comprising outer nose portion  130  and inner nose portion  230 , can be varied in size to accommodate various sized noses. In another embodiment of the invention, the nose portion can be partially or entirely removed. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of another embodiment of the invention. Eye shade  300  is comprised of left outer eye portion  330 , right outer eye portion  320 , front portion  310 , left end  350 , right end  340 , outer nose portion  380  and bridging portion  360 . Left outer eye portion  330  and right eye outer eye portion  320  are can be flat or slightly convex in shape extending outward slightly from bridging portion  360 . Left outer eye portion  330  and right outer eye portion  320  comprise most of eye shade  300  with the exception of outer nose portion  380  and bridging portion  360 . In another embodiment of the invention, left outer eye portion  330  and right outer eye portion  320  are combined to form a single outer portion (not shown). In this embodiment of the invention, eye shade  300  does not have left and right outer eye portions that are separately distinguishable. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of eye shade  300 , Left inner eye portion  420  surrounds left inner eye cavity portion  440 . Right inner eye portion  410  surrounds right eye cavity  450 . Left inner eye cavity  440  and right inner eye cavity  450  are concave in shape. Inner nose portion  430  is concave in shape. When eye shade  300  is placed over a user&#39;s eyes, left inner eye cavity  440  and right inner eye cavity  450  are not brought into contact with a user&#39;s eyelashes or eye portions. Left inner eye cavity  440  and right inner eye cavity  450  can be formed with varying dimensions to allow a person with long eyelashes or enhanced eyelashes (i.e., false or fake eyelashes, from coming into contact with the surface of eye shade  300 . FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of an eye portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  3 . Only one eye portion is illustrated as the left and right eye portions are symmetrical. The depth h (illustrated in FIG. 3B) of either left inner eye cavity  440  or right inner eye cavity  450  can be a depth in the range of three-fourths (¾) of an inch to three and a half (3½) inches at the center of either inner left eye cavity  440  or inner right eye cavity  450 . That is, different embodiments can have different depth h to accommodate various length eye lashes or enhanced eyelashes (such as false or fake eyelashes). Eye shade  300  can vary in dimension so as to accommodate various facial shapes and sizes. 
     Eye shade  300  can have varying means for positioning on or attaching to a face. Such means include a single strap, a plurality of coupled straps, etc. These positioning/attaching means can be made of a single elastic piece attached to right end side  340  and left end side  350 , or separate pieces wherein complimentary pieces are each coupled to right end side  340  and left end side  350 . For embodiments having a plurality of positioning/attaching pieces, various means can be used for fastening each of the plurality of pieces together. These means include, VELCRO® hook and loop fasteners, metal connectors, plastic connectors, buckles, snaps, etc. The positioning pieces can be adjustable and also vary in length and width, to accommodate various sized users. 
     In this embodiment the nose portion, comprising outer nose portion  330  and inner nose portion  430 , can be varied in size to accommodate various sized noses. Also, the nose portion can be partially or entirely removed without affecting the scope of this embodiment. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of still another embodiment of the invention. Eye shade  500  is comprised of front portion  510 , left outer eye portion  520 , right outer eye portion  530 , outer nose portion  540 , left side portion  550 , and right side portion  560 . Left outer eye portion  520  and right outer eye portion  530  are convex in shape extending away from front portion  510 . Outer nose portion  540  is triangular shaped and polygonal in dimension. Outer nose portion  540 , however, is not necessarily restricted to such a shape, and for example, may be circular, elliptical, oval, triangular with rounded angles, trapezoidal, diamond shaped, heart-shaped, etc. Eye shade  500  has a linear upper circumferential portion. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of eye shade  500 . Left inner eye portion  620  and right inner eye portion  630  are concave in shape. Left inner eye portion  620  and right inner eye portion  630  can have variable dimensions to allow for varying lengths of eye portions (i.e., eyeball, upper and lower eyelids, eyebrow), eyelashes and additional eyelash enhancements (i.e., false or fake eyelashes) that can be added to a person&#39;s upper or lower eye lids, without such lashes or enhancements coming into contact with the inner surface of either left inner eye portion  620  or right inner eye portion  630 . FIG. 5B illustrates a side view of an eye portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  5 . Only one eye portion is illustrated as the left and right eye portions are symmetrical The depth h (illustrated in FIG. 5B) of either left inner eye portion  620  or right inner eye portion  630  can be a depth in the range of three-fourths (¾) of an inch to three and a half (3½) inches at the center of either inner left eye portion  620  or inner right eye portion  630 . That is, different embodiments can have different depth h to accommodate various length eye lashes or enhanced eyelashes (such as false or fake eyelashes). 
     Eye shade  500  can have both front portion  510  and rear portion  610  comprised of suitable man-made material that can be formed over inner portion  590  (illustrated in FIG. 5A) lying between front portion  510  and rear portion  610  that is comprised of suitable compressible material, such as a foam rubber type material. The composition of front portion  510 , rear portion  610  and inner portion  590  lying between front portion  510  and rear portion  610  is such that eye shade  500  can be formed by a heat source in a press which molds the composite materials. Since eye shade  500  is comprised of molded material, eye shade  500  has “memory.” Therefore, eye shade  500  can be folded, twisted, washed, etc., and will retain its formed shape. 
     Eye shade  500  can have varying means for positioning on or attaching to a face. Such means include a single strap, a plurality of coupled straps, etc. These positioning/attaching means can be made of a single elastic piece attached to right side portion  560  and left side portion  550 , or separate pieces wherein complimentary pieces are each coupled to right side portion  560  and left side portion  550 . For embodiments having a plurality of positioning/attaching pieces, various means can be used for fastening each of the plurality of pieces together. These means include, Velcro, metal connectors, plastic connectors, buckles, snaps, etc. The positioning pieces can be adjustable and also vary in length and width, to accommodate various sized users. 
     In this embodiment of the invention, the nose portion, comprising outer nose portion  540  and inner nose portion  640 , can be varied in size to accommodate various sized noses. Also, the nose portion can be partially or entirely removed. 
     The forming of eye cavities having suitable dimensions and shapes allow the inventive eye shades to be worn by users without having a user&#39;s eye portions (i.e., eyeball, upper and lower eyelids, eyebrow), eye lashes, or eye lash enhancements(i.e., false or fake eyelashes) coming into contact with inner eye portions of the eye shades during use. Also, a user&#39;s eye makeup will not be compromised by wearing the various embodiments of the invention as the eye portions of the eye shade embodiments extend beyond the general orbital area (e.g., eye liner extending beyond the orbital extremity area opposite of the nasal area, eye shadow, eyebrow liner). Therefore, a user can open, close, or blink their eyes without coming into contact with an inner eye portion of embodiments of the invention. Moreover, a user wearing enhanced eye lashes, such as very long novelty eye lashes, can use the above mentioned embodiments of the invention without the enhanced eye lashes coming into contact with inner portions. 
     While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.