Abstract:
Eye shade structure comprising inner and outer compressible material layers, and a resiliently compressible intermediate layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers, the layers being flexible and locally compressed to define two re-entrant recesses adapted to be located over the user&#39;s eyes, the locally compressed layers defining reduced thickness sections of the layers in registration with the recesses, the inner and outer layers having portions bounding the recesses, and providing cushions to engage users facial structure bounding the eyes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to eye protection, and more specifically to improvements in structure of eye shade devices. 
     There is need for disposable, simple, inexpensive eye shade devices, particularly as applicable to the heads of infants so as to extend over the eyes. There is also need to provide improved devices which are easily applied over the eyes and configured to allow eyelid movement despite retention of the device or devices directly over the user&#39;s eyes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved, simple, inexpensive eye shade device, or devices, meeting the above needs. Basically, the invention is embodied in eye shade structure that comprises: 
     a) inner and outer compressible material layers, and a resiliently compressible intermediate layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers, 
     b) the layers being flexible and locally compressed to define two re-entrant recesses adapted to be located over the user&#39;s eyes, 
     c) the locally compressed layers defining reduced thickness sections of said layers in registration with such recesses, 
     d) the inner and outer layers having portions bounding the recesses, and providing cushions to engage user&#39;s facial structure bounding the eyes. 
     It is another object to provide such structure configured to have spectacles shape, and with retention band means attached to the layers at opposite ends of the spectacles so as to extend about the user&#39;s head. 
     A further object is to provide the layers in compressible material form, the intermediate layer consisting of synthetic resinous foam. As will be seen, the inner and outer layers may advantageously comprise brushed NYLON, for skin contact comfort, and the intermediate layer may consist of polyester foam capable of being compressed under heat application to retain compressed composite shape. 
     Yet another object is to provide the two spaced re-entrant recesses formed by one of said inner and outer layers, and there being two additional re-entrant recesses formed by the other of the inner and outer layers, and in registration with the respective recesses formed by the one layer. 
     As will be seen, the two recesses formed by the one layer typically face in a first direction, and the recesses formed by the other layer face in a second direction, opposite said first direction. All of the recesses may typically have the same shallow depth. Also, the two reduced thickness sections each have thickness less than one-half the thickness of the layers bounding such recesses. 
     A further object is to provide retention band means having
         i) an inner layer that is surface tacky to removably adhere to the wearer&#39;s skin,   ii) an outer support layer that is adherent to said inner layer.       

     The band typically has an anchoring sub-section of increased overall width along band length subtended by said slit. Also, support tab means press-connects an end portion of said band support layer to one of said inner and outer layers. 
     A further object includes provision of retention tab means attached to said spectacles so as to retain the spectacles to the user&#39;s head. The retention tab includes at least one tab compressing a support layer having a tacky surface to adhere to the user&#39;s skin, and a carrier layer attached to the support layer and being press-connectible to one of said inner and outer layers. 
     An added object is to provide spectacles graphics on one of the inner and outer layers, to define graphical rims bounding the recesses. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing one preferred form of the invention in elevation; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged section taken on lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation taken on lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a band attached to spectacles structure, and extending about a wearer&#39;s head; 
         FIG. 5  is a view taken on lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a section showing a modification. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shade structure  10  includes inner and outer compressible layers  11  and  12 , and a resiliently compressive intermediate material layer  13  sandwiched between and adhesively bonded to  11  and  12  to provide a single unit. The layers are flexible, and have thickness t 1 , t 2  and t 3 , where
 
t 3 &gt;t 1  
 
t 3 &gt;t 2  
 
t 1 =t 2  
 
over the major extents of the structure.
 
     The layers are locally compressed to define two re-entrant recesses  13  and  14  sized and positioned to extend over, or in registration with the user&#39;s eyes, as for example an infant&#39;s eyes  80  and  81 .  FIG. 2  shows, in broken lines at  11   a  and  12   a  the surfaces of the layers  11  and  12  prior to their compression to thinned positions at  11   b  and  12   b , with reduced thickness intermediate layer  13   b  therebetween. These compressed portions of the structure may be formed as by a forming tool or tools  15  heated to forming temperature T 2  and pressed against the layer  11  at the local zones of recesses  13  and  14 . See also the re-entrant transition thickness zones or cushioning portions  16  and  17  connecting  11  and  11   b , looping about the recesses  13  and  14  with beveled slopes as shown, and corresponding bevel walls of tools  15 . 
     An additional forming tool  15 ′ is typically employed at the opposite side of the structure to press against the layer  12  and at the local zones of recesses  18  and  19 . See also the resultant transition thickness zones or cushioning portions  20  and  21  connecting  12  and  12   b , looping about the recesses  18  and  19 , with beveled slopes as shown. Resultant zone  13  is opposite zone  18 ; and zone  14  is opposite zone  19 . Nose notch  70  is located in the layered composite, between  13  and  14 , and between  18  and  19 . 
     As shown, the recesses  13  and  14  formed by thinned layer  11  face in a first direction  30 ; and the recesses  18  and  19  formed by thinned layer  12  face in the opposite direction  31 . Also, all recesses may typically have approximately the same shallow depth “d”. 
     Further, as an indicator of placement over the eyes, graphics are typically displayed or printed on one of the layers  11  and  12 , as for example in spectacles form, as indicated at  35  in  FIG. 1 . See for example printing at  35 ′, indicating spectacle rims bounding the recess and printing at  35 ″ indicating the shape of spectacles ear stems. The inner and outer layers are also formed at their bounding outer edges to have convex curvature as at  45 , to meet or approximately meet at  45 ′, enclosing the adjacent intermediate layer extent  46 . As a result, the three composite layers form cushions between the recesses and the layer outer bounding extents, which have comfortable contact with the wearer&#39;s skin when held in position as by resiliently yieldable head band structure  50 . The latter has connection to the described layers at reduced width zones  51  and  52 . In this regard, the inner and outer layers  11  and  12  advantageously consist of resiliently compressible material such as brushed NYLON, and the intermediate layer  13  may advantageously consist of polyester foam. The overall thickness of the material between opposite recesses  13  and  18 , and between opposite recesses  14  and  19  is typically less than ½ inch the overall thickness of the uncompressed layers at zones bounding the recesses. This provides for recess  13  and  14  depth&#39;s from the outer surface of layer  11  accommodating blinking of the user&#39;s eyes. 
     The entire structure between  51  and  52  is preferably a one-piece, resiliently compressible bendable one-piece frame unit. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a retention band or band means  60  includes
         i) an inner layer  61  that is surface tacky or sticky (non slip) is adapted to adhere to the user&#39;s head skin  62 ; and   ii) an outer or support layer  63  adherent to the inner layer, at  64 , as via suitable adhesive.       

     Connections to the ends of the device  10  of  FIG. 1  are shown, generally, at  65  and  66 . The band  60  is preferably yieldably resilient, i.e. resiliently stretchable. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the band typically has at least one, and preferably two laterally spaced, longitudinally elongated slits  67 , formed in an intermediate anchoring sub-section  68  of increased overall width w 1 . Slits  67  extend in parallel relation in  68 . The inner layer may preferably consist of polyester-polyurethane material; and the outer layer may preferably consist of Nylon/Spandex material, whereby the band is easily foldable, and yet acts as an anchor, due to increased “stickiness” area. 
     Also, at  65  and  66 , retention or support tab means  70  is provided to press-connect an end portion  71  of the band support layer to one of the inner and outer layers  61  and  63 . Two such tabs are shown, to connect opposite ends of the spectacles shape. Tab  70  comprises a support layer  80  and a VELCRO (hook) layer  81  bonded to  80 , and adapted to hook connect to the end of the band, at  82 , and to hook connect to the fabric of the spectacles unit, at  83 . It may be pulled free of either or both connections at  82  and  83 , and re-attached, to adjust length. 
       FIG. 6  shows an alternate retention tab  90  to directly connect the spectacles unit to the user&#39;s skin, as at the side of the head. It includes a support layer  91  having a tacky (non-slip) surface to adhere to the user&#39;s skin, at selected location, and a carrier or base layer  92  attached to  91 . Layer  92  is press-connectible to the spectacles material, via VELCRO connection at  93 . A peel-off thin plastic cover layer  94  is located on  91  to protect the sticky surface, prior to use.