Abstract:
Modular eye protection may include a frame, temples, and a frame, which may comprise temples and a top bar. The modular eye protection may also include a modular headband with a forehead pad, lens, and elastic band. Both embodiments of the modular eye protection may be assembled with eye shield lenses or face shields lenses. Dispensing units may also dispense the various components of the modular eye protection. The modular nature, method of assembly, and dispensers allow for minimal physical contact with objects, mitigating contact with pathogens in areas such as surgical rooms where cleanliness is important. The modular eye protection may also be disposable to further prevent spreading of pathogens.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a National Stage Entry of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/012326 filed on Jan. 21, 2014 which claims a benefit of priority under 35 USC §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/754,670, filed Jan. 21, 2013, the entire contents of both which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of protective eyewear. In particular, the invention is related to disposable, modular eye protection that is easy to assemble in a modular fashion. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,760 discloses a disposable face shield. The face shield protects the wearer against airborne particles and droplets that potentially contain pathogens. The face shield includes a plastic shield with a cord attached to a crescent shaped foam member for securing the shield about the wearer&#39;s face. The foam member is designed to conform to the wearer&#39;s forehead. 
         [0006]    One particular problem of the above-mentioned face shield is that when a plurality of face shields is stored they occupy a great deal storage space. Furthermore, should the wearer desire an eye shield in addition to a face shield, or instead of a face shield, even more storage space must be used. The pre-assembly of face shields or of eye shields also adds to the cost of the protective wear. 
         [0007]    An added disadvantage is the dispensing process of a typical face shield or eye shield. Normally, these types of products are stored in boxes or bags, which are stored in cabinetry. In a healthcare facility, hand sanitation is very critical to mitigate the spread of pathogens. Thus, the handling of packaging cabinet doorknobs, and drawers introduces opportunities for a person&#39;s hands to contact a pathogen. 
         [0008]    Therefore, what is needed is a convenient way to store and dispense eye protection such as face shields and eye shields. What is also needed is a storage and dispensing device that minimizes contact with a person&#39;s hands on any objects. What is further needed is an eye protection design that can either be formed into eye shields or a face shield using common parts. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Modular eye protection is hereby disclosed with a frame including arms extending from the sides of the frame, for example, temples. The frame also includes a top bar, and a detachable nose bridge. The frame is configured to attach to a lens with an interference fit. A lens preferably attaches to the frame with a male and a female component that are retained together with an interference fit. The modular eye protection is also configured to be disposable following a single use. The nose bridge provides a space between the lens and the person&#39;s face so the lens is not in contact with the person&#39;s face. This provides a level of ventilation and prevents the lens from fogging up during use. 
         [0010]    Additionally, the frame is configured to receive both a face shield lens to cover a majority of a person&#39;s face and an eye shield lens to cover a person&#39;s eyes. This makes the frame modular and it can be used to construct an eye shield or a face shield, depending on the wearer&#39;s needs. 
         [0011]    In order to minimize the storage space necessary to store the modular eye protection, a dispenser is configured to conveniently store and dispense a plurality of frames, detachable nose bridges, and lenses. This lessens the amount of hand contact a person needs to make with cabinet doors, knobs, and packaging thus helping keep the hands more sanitary. This is especially important in healthcare environments. 
         [0012]    The dispenser preferably includes a frame-dispensing portion with a vertical, unobstructed dispensing column. A dispensing opening is at a bottom portion of the column. The dispenser is preferably further configured to receive a cartridge of a plurality of frames and dispense a single frame at a time. Each frame may be dispensed with a dispensing means that is a spring-loaded device or an electronically actuated device. Preferably, the dispensing means also includes an unobstructed column that uses gravity to advance a frame after one is removed. The dispenser may further include a lens-dispensing portion attached to the frame-dispensing portion with an eye shield lens and a face shield lens-dispensing portion. The face shield lens-dispensing portion includes a storage compartment configured to store a plurality of face shield lenses and a slider configured to advance a new face shield lens following a dispensing of a face shield. The eye shield lens-dispensing portion includes a storage compartment configured to store a plurality of eye shield lenses, and a slider configured to advance a new eye shield lens following a dispensing of an eye shield lens. An access panel opens and closes allowing access to a storage compartment of the eye shield lens-dispensing portion and the face shield lens-dispensing portion, in order to allow personnel to refill any of the various parts, as they are dispensed. Stored lenses are kept clean and hygienic in the covered storage compartment. A large quantity of stored lenses (1000 or more) is made possible by various methods including perforated roll, or z-fold, or stacking. The dispenser when advancing the lenses will separate the perforations if in a roll or z-fold. If lenses are stacked, the dispenser will control the dispensing of lenses in a way to permit only one lens to be advanced using friction rollers or other mechanisms. The large supply of bulk frames and lenses will enable less frequent resupply and increase compliance due to reliable availability of the protective eyewear. While each lens is dispensed without any packaging in one embodiment, in another embodiment, a bagged dispensing portion may be connected to the lens-dispensing portion and configured to dispense a plurality of individually bagged eye shield lenses, individually bagged face shield lenses, or individually bagged masks. The dispensing system may also include a reprocessing bin for storage of reusable frames to be disinfected or sterilized, or a similar disposal compartment for lenses or frames to be discarded. 
         [0013]    The dispenser will allow for a kanban-style resupply system, giving an externally visible indication of the need to refill any compartment. The compartments will allow sufficient space for the amount of units in a standard refill cartridge plus the remaining few units that triggered the resupply visual notification. The size and shape of the frame reprocessing bin will match the dispensing compartment, such that a matching quantity of inventory rotation between the usage point and sterile processing is possible. 
         [0014]    The dispenser will allow for a transparent document holder on the front surface, such that usage guidelines and educational messages can be placed by users. 
         [0015]    Electronic versions of inventory monitoring and resupply notification are envisioned, with the possibility of resupply messages sent to central supply via wireless or LAN. The transparent document holder would be replaced by an optional programmable LCD color display in the electronic version. 
         [0016]    The modular eye protection may also include a first plurality of openings in the frame with a second plurality of channels extending through the frame. Each lens may include a second plurality of openings in a top portion of the lens with a second plurality of channels extending through the lens. The first plurality of channels may be in fluid communication with the second plurality of channels through the first and second plurality of openings, forming a venting system when the frame is attached to the lens. The venting system may allow air to flow from in front of the modular eye protection to behind the frame through the first and second plurality of channels. In order to prevent liquid from contacting a wearer&#39;s face, a liquid trap in each channel in the lens may be configured to trap liquid entering the respective channel and prevent the liquid from entering a space behind the lens. Additionally, when forming a face shield, the modular eye protection may touch a person&#39;s cheeks on both sides of the face allowing it to wrap around the wearer&#39;s face. 
         [0017]    The eye protection may also be assembled in a unique manner. This includes actuating a slider either manually or electronically on a dispenser to advance a lens from a lens dispenser. A frame may then be removed from a frame-dispensing portion that is attached to the lens-dispensing portion. The frame may then be attached to the lens by pushing the frame into the lens while the lens is still contained within the lens-dispensing portion, forming one of an eye shield and a face shield. Either an eye shield or a face shield may then be removed from the lens-dispensing portion, depending on which parts were selected. 
         [0018]    Another method of assembling the modular eye protection may include connecting a frame to a lens by pushing the frame against the lens, while the lens is still stored in a dispenser. The frame may then be pivoted to an angle generally 90 degrees to the lens, while the lens is still stored in the dispenser. The lens may then be removed from the dispenser by pulling the frame away from the dispenser maintaining the frame at 90 degrees to the lens. A first and second end of the lens may then be attached to receiving holes in each of the first and second temples of the frame with a push-to-connect attachment. 
         [0019]    One type of dispenser for the modular eye protection may include an enclosure containing a face shield lens-dispensing compartment and an eye shield lens-dispensing compartment. A hinged panel on a side of the enclosure may allow access to a cavity within the face shield lens-dispensing compartment and access to a cavity within the eye shield lens-dispensing compartment. Each cavity may store a plurality of face shield lenses and eye shield lenses, respectively. An opening in the eye shield lens-dispensing compartment may dispense a single eye shield lens at a time while an opening in the face shield lens-dispensing compartment may dispense a single face shield lens at a time. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, a mask-dispensing compartment may be connected to the enclosure. An opening in the mask-dispensing compartment may dispense a single mask at a time. The hinged panel on the side of the enclosure may also allow access to a cavity within the mask-dispensing compartment for storing a plurality of masks. 
         [0021]    Another embodiment of the invention may include a modular head band. The head band may include an elastic band configured to wrap around a head of an individual. A forehead pad may attach to the elastic band and be constructed, preferably, of a polyester foam. The forehead pad may also be constructed with a plurality of channels extending longitudinally through the forehead pad. Each channel may include an opening on each end of the forehead pad. The channels may also allow an air flow within the respective channels. In order to attach a lens to the forehead pad, the pad may include a first reception slot that receives and retains a lens. A second reception slot may be included to receive and retain the elastic band. The lens may be either a face shield to cover a majority of a person&#39;s face or an eye shield to cover a person&#39;s eyes. 
         [0022]    The forehead pad may be selected by a wearer from a plurality of forehead pads, each having different thicknesses. The thickness is dependent on which variant the user selects; for eyeshield configuration the lens does not have to clear the nose and a thinner foam pad is sufficient. The thicker pad is selected when mated to a full face shield to achieve the stand-off required to clear the nose. The lens, of either an eye shield or a face shield, may include a printed area on an upper portion of the lens in contact with the first reception slot for producing an anti-glare effect. Optionally, a user definable printed section on the elastic band may display a logo, a message, or a picture. For example, the elastic band may display a printed sports team, entertainer, or school. 
         [0023]    The modular head band may be dispensed by a dispenser that includes a first storage vessel with a first cavity and a plurality of forehead pads. A first opening on a lower portion of the first storage vessel may dispense a single forehead pad at a time. A second storage vessel may be attached to the first storage vessel and include a second cavity and a plurality of elastic bands. The second storage vessel may also include a second opening on an upper portion for dispensing a single elastic band at a time. Similar to drawing tissues from a tissue box, each elastic band may be connected to one another and removal of a single elastic band from the second opening detaches the single elastic band from the plurality of elastic bands within the second cavity. 
         [0024]    The modular head band may be assembled by removing a forehead pad from an opening on a lower portion of a container. A lens may be fastened to a first reception slot in the forehead pad by inserting the lens into the first reception slot. An elastic band may be fastened to a second reception slot in the forehead pad by inserting the elastic band into the second reception slot. Additionally, multiple pre-assembled modular headbands may be stored by vertically stacking a plurality of pre-assembled modular head bands in a container and assigning a common Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) to the pre-assembled modular headband. 
         [0025]    These and other aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views, and in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of modular eye protection according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of the modular eye protection of  FIG. 1  being worn by a person; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a dispenser for modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of the use of the dispenser according to  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective view of the use of the dispenser according to  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4C  illustrates a perspective view of the use of the dispenser according to  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4D  illustrates a perspective view of the modular eye protection assembled in  FIGS. 4A-4C  being worn by a person; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of modular eye protection being worn by a person; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of modular eye protection being worn by a person; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a partial perspective view of modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7B  illustrates a partial perspective view of modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  illustrates a dispenser for modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 9A  illustrates a partial perspective view of the operation of the dispenser of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 9B  illustrates a partial perspective view of the operation of the dispenser of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 9C  illustrates a partial perspective view of the modular eye protection assembled in  FIGS. 9A-9B ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a perspective view of modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 10B  illustrates a section view along line AA of  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 11A  illustrates a perspective view of the modular eye protection of  FIG. 10A  being worn by a person; 
           [0047]      FIG. 11B  illustrates a perspective view of a modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention being worn by a person; 
           [0048]      FIG. 12A  illustrates a perspective view of a dispenser for the modular eye protection of  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 12B  illustrates a perspective view of modular eye protection according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0050]      FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective view of storage and packing options of modular eye protection. 
       
    
    
       [0051]    In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents, which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the words “connected,” “attached,” or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0052]    The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description. 
         [0053]    A series of modular eyewear, storage devices for said eyewear, and an assembly method of the same is hereby disclosed. Beginning with  FIG. 1A , fully-assembled modular eye protection  14  is shown forming an eye shield  15 . The eye shield  15  is constructed out of two basic elements, the frame  16  and a lens  22 . The frame  16  includes a top bar  20  and temples  18  on each end of the top bar  20 . In this instance, the lens  22  is in the form of an eye shield lens  24 , thus forming an eye shield  15 . As shown and described in other Figures, the lens  22  may include a plurality of shapes. The manner in which the lens  22  attaches to the frame  16  is preferably kept constant in order to provide a modularity that allows one to assemble different modular eye protection  14  for different purposes while using similar components, such as the frame  16 . Preferably, the lens  22  attaches to the frame  16  with a plurality of male components  26  extending from the frame  16  attaching to a plurality of female components  28  on an upper portion of the lens  22 . The male component  26  and female component  28  may include a variety of different fasteners. Preferably, the fasteners do not require any tools and may be joined together with minimal effort. The preferred method of joining the male component  26  and the female component  28  includes the male component  26  extending from the frame  16  and passing through the female component  28  on the lens  22  in an interference fit, thus allowing friction to retain the two components together. Additionally, while the frame  16  is shown with temples  18  rigidly attached to the top bar  20 , the attachment may include hinges so as to allow articulation of the temples  18  with respect to the frame  16 . The frame  16  may also be constructed out of a rigid plastic material; however, it may also be a flexible material so as to allow the frame  16  to conform to a variety of different shapes. 
         [0054]      FIG. 1B  shows the eye shield  15  being worn by a person  30 . The lens  22  protects the eyes  32  in front of the lens  22 , from the periphery of the lens  22 , and from a lower portion of the lens  22 . Due to the shape of the top bar  20 , foreign objects are prevented from contacting the eye  32  from above the eye shield  15 . The frame  16  and the top bar  20  remain in contact on all portions of the forehead  134  of the person  30 . The lens  22  may be of any shape and preferably in this embodiment in the shape of an eye shield lens  24 . The eye shield lens  24  may also extend down the face  60  of the person  32  to protect more than just the eyes  32 . 
         [0055]    Moving on to  FIG. 2 , the modular eye protection  14  is shown with a variety of different components that may be attached to the frame  16 . For example, the lens  22  may be either an eye shield lens  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , or it may also include a face shield lens  34 . The male components  26  on the frame are more easily seen in  FIG. 2 . In the center of the top bar  20 , the male component  26  may include a projection extending along at least part of the length of the top bar  20 . Each lens  22 , whether the eye shield lens  24  or the face shield lens  34 , includes female components  28  that fit with the male components  26  of the frame  16 . This allows assembly of different modular eye protection  14  with the common frame  16 . Additionally, the nose bridge  36  may be attached to the frame  16  to provide added support to the frame  16  and prevent movement while being worn. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a dispenser  38  facilitating modular construction of the modular eye protection  14  may be used. The dispenser  38  preferably includes a frame-dispensing portion  40  including a column  42  with a dispensing opening  46  on a lower portion of the column  42 . An access panel  44  on an upper portion of the column  42  allows access to the interior of the column  42  for storage of the plurality of frames  16 . While the frame-dispensing portion  40  may include a spring-loaded mechanism, an electronically-controlled mechanism, or any other type of device to deliver frames  16  to the dispensing opening  46 , preferably the column  42  is unobstructed, and gravity powers the frame-dispensing portion  40  allowing a frame  16  to fall to the dispensing opening  46 . As a frame is removed from the dispensing opening  46 , gravity allows another frame  16  to fall to the dispensing opening  46  from within the column  42 . Adjacent to the frame-dispensing portion  40  is a lens-dispensing portion  51 . The lens-dispensing portion  51  may dispense both an eye shield lens  24  and a face shield lens  34 . An eye shield lens-dispensing portion  52  may dispense eye shield lenses  24  while the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54  may dispense face shield lenses  34 . 
         [0057]    A storage compartment  48  is included in both the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  52  and the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54 . The storage compartments  48  may store a plurality of eye shield lenses  24  and face shield lenses  34 . A common axis panel  44  on the lens-dispensing portion  51  allows access to the storage compartments  48  of both the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  52  and the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54 . While any method may be used to advance a new lens  22  in the lens-dispensing portion  51 , preferably a slider  50  is included in each one of the eye shield-dispensing portion  52  and the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54 . When the respective slider  50  is actuated, a lens  22  may be advanced in either the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  52  or the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54 , depending on which slider  50  was actuated. Again, the slider  50  does not need to be a manually-activated device. The slider  50  may include an electronic pushbutton, a voice-actuated mechanism, or a proximity/motion sensor to detect the movement of an object, such as a hand requesting a lens  22 . Such a hands-free device would mitigate the spreading of pathogens. Additionally, a bagged-dispensing portion  58  may dispense a face shield lens  34 , and eye shield lens  24 , a surgical mask or any other device in an individually wrapped bag. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 D illustrate a typical example of the dispenser  38  being used. Beginning with  FIG. 4A , an eye shield lens  24  may be advanced from the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  52  by actuating a slider  50  proximate to the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  52 . This action causes a lens  22  to be delivered from the storage compartment  48 . Similarly, activating the slider  50  proximate to the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54  advances a face shield lens  34  from the storage compartment  48  of the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54 . Moving to  FIG. 4B , a frame  16  may be taken from the column  42  of the dispensing opening  46  in the frame-dispensing portion  40 . In order to prevent unnecessary touching of a lens  22 ,  FIG. 4C  illustrates how a lens  22  may be attached to a frame  16 . The frame  16  may be physically pushed against the lens  22  allowing the female components  28  of the lens  22  to interlock with a male component  26  of the frame  16  with an interference fit. This may be done while the lens  22  is still within the respective dispensing portion. For example, if it is desired to construct an eye shield  15 , one would actuate the slider  50  proximate the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  52  and press a frame  16  against the eye shield lens  24 . If one were to construct a face shield  62 , as shown in  FIG. 5B , one would advance a face shield lens  34  from the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54  by actuating a slider  50  proximate the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54  and press a frame  16  against the face shield lens  34  allowing the female components  28  of the face shield lens  34  to interlock with a male components  26  of the frame  16  while the face shield lens  34  is still within the face shield lens-dispensing portion  54 .  FIG. 4D  illustrates an assembled example of the modular eye protection  14 , in this case an eye shield  15 , which is worn on the face  60  of a person  30 . The dispenser  38  allows construction of modular eye protection  14  by only touching a slider  15  and the frame  16 , as discussed above. 
         [0059]    Transitioning to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a person  30  is shown wearing a frame  16  that has been attached to either an eye shield lens  24  to form an eye shield  15 , or a frame  16  to face shield lens  54  to form a face shield  62 . In the example shown in  FIG. 5A , an eye shield  15  is shown wherein the eye shield lens may protect more than just the eyes  32  of the person  30 . The eye shield lens may extend down past the eyes  32  protect a greater area. As shown in  FIG. 5B , the face shield lens  34  may include a nose bridge  36  that is attached directly to the face shield lens  34  allowing the face shield to extend a distance away from the face  60  of the person  30 . This distance allows for more ventilation and prevents the face shield lens from fogging up due to the water vapor in the person&#39;s breath. The face shield lens  34  may curve around the face  60  and contact the cheeks  64  of the person  30  to add further protection against foreign objects from contacting the face  60 . 
         [0060]    Another way to mitigate the fogging of any lens  22  is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this example, the frame  16  is constructed to build an eye shield  15  with an eye shield lens  24 . A plurality of openings  66  in the top bar  20  of the frame  16  provide added ventilation to the eye shield lens  24 . This ventilation is further shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . In  FIG. 7A , the opening  66  is shown to communicate with a channel  68  between a lens  22  and the frame  16 . This channel  68  allows an air flow  70  between the face  60  of a person  30 , as shown in  FIG. 5B , and an area in front of the lens  22 . The channel  68  may include a liquid trap  74  in the form of a recess in the frame  16 . The liquid trap  74  prevents liquid  72  from entering the opening  66  and contacting the eyes  32  or the face  60  of a person  30 . The liquid trap  74  traps and stores the liquid  72 , preventing it from traveling down the channel  68 . The liquid trap  74  may also collect solids, foreign objects, or any other object. A similar channel  68  and liquid trap  74 , as shown in  FIG. 7A , may also be included in other parts of the frame  16 , as shown in  FIG. 7B . The frame  16  may include multiple channels  68  and multiple openings  66  on the top bar  20 . Each of the channels  68  may also include a similar liquid trap  74  and function as described above with respect to  FIG. 7A . 
         [0061]    Now turning to  FIG. 8 , an alternative dispenser  76  may be used to dispense lenses  22  as shown in any of the previous figures. The dispenser  76  preferably includes an eye shield lens-dispensing portion  78  that is attached to the face shield lens-dispensing portion  80 . The two dispensing portions  78 ,  80  may be attached together allowing for a common access panel  88  to access the interior of the dispenser  76 , the face shield lens storage compartment  86 , and eye shield lens storage compartment  90 , which may be useful for restocking the dispenser  76 . The dispenser  76  may also include a first opening  82  on the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  78  through which eye shield lenses  24  may be dispensed. The dispenser  76  may also include a second opening  84  on the face shield lens-dispensing portion  80  through which face shield lenses  34  may be dispensed. The dispenser  76  may also include additional dispensing portions for dispensing any device shown in any of the figures. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 9A ,  9 B, and  9 C illustrate how the dispenser  76  may be used. Beginning with  FIG. 9A , a frame  16  is positioned in front of the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  90  such that the female component  28  of the eye shield lens  24  may be positioned over the central portion of the top bar  20 . The frame  16  may then be pivoted in a downward direction to approximately 90° with respect to the eye shield lens  24 . This allows the male component  26  of the frame to interact with the female component  28  of the eye shield lens  24 . The frame  26  may be slightly pushed against the eye shield lens  24  allowing for proper interference fit of the female component  28  and the male component  26 . The frame  16  may then be drawn away from the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  90  that will draw the eye shield lens  24  out of the eye shield lens-dispensing portion  90 . At this point, the eye shield lens  24  may be slightly curved to match the profile of the frame  16 . A push to connect attachment  94  on the ends of the eye shield lens  24  may then be inserted into a receiving hole  92  and each temple  18  of the frame  16 . Due to the shape of the push to connect attachment  94 , the eye shield lens  24  is effectively fastened to the frame  16 . The attachment of a lens  22  to the frame  16  using a receiving hole  92  on the frame  16  and a push to connect attachment  94  on the ends of the lens  22  may be used in any of the modular eye protection embodiments. In addition, the push to connect attachment  94  may be in the form of any suitable attachment device such as a male post being inserted into a receiving hole with an interference fit or even hook and loop fasteners. Preferably, the attachment means of the lens  22  to a frame  16  does not require any additional fasteners and the fastening means are incorporated on the frame  16  and respective lens  22 . 
         [0063]    An alternative embodiment of modular eye protection  14  is shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . In this embodiment, a modular headband  96  includes a forehead pad  98  and an elastic band  100 . The forehead pad  98  is constructed out of any suitable material such as rubber, felt, plastic, paper, and foam. Preferably, the forehead pad  98  is constructed out of a molded polyurethane foam. The polyurethane foam may be open cell or closed cell. The forehead pad  98  may also be extruded or molded in a long length and cut to the desired size during manufacturing. A lens  22  may be inserted into a first reception slot  108  on the forehead pad  98 . Preferably, the first reception slot  108  may receive the lens  22  with a simple interference fit. The elastic band  100  may fit in a second reception slot  110  that extends along the length of the forehead pad  98 . This configuration allows the forehead pad  98  to conform to various shapes of a person&#39;s head with the applied pressure of the elastic band  100 . The forehead pad  90  includes openings  106  on each end of the forehead pad  98  for channels  102 . The channels  102  extend through the interior of the forehead pad  98 , lengthwise, along the forehead pad  98 . The channels  102  provide for air flow and increased cushioning when the forehead pad  98  is worn by an individual. Additionally, the thickness  104  of the forehead pad  98  may vary depending on the particular application. For example, a thinner forehead pad  98  may be suitable for a smaller individual while a thicker forehead pad  98  may be preferable for a larger individual. The lens  22  may also include a printed area  112 . The printed area  112  may be included in any of the lenses  22  in any of the modular eye protection  14  embodiments shown in any of the figures. The printed area  112  assists in reducing glare from light sources in front of the lens  22 . The printed area preferably only covers an upper portion of the lens  22 , including a small portion of the lens  22  that extends out of the second reception slot  110 . 
         [0064]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  show modular eye protection  14  in different embodiments of the modular headband  96  variant as disclosed above.  FIG. 1A  shows one embodiment in which the lens  22  of the forehead pad  98  is an eye shield lens  130 . The elastic band  100  surrounds the wearer&#39;s head allowing the forehead pad  98  to conform to the forehead  134  of the person  30 . The eye shield lens  130  protects the eyes  32  of the person  30 . The eye shield lens  130  may also extend down a portion of the face  60 . The printed area  112  is shown to only include a small portion of the eye shield lens  130 .  FIG. 1B  shows another embodiment in which the lens  22  is a face shield lens  132 . The face shield lens  132  protects the eyes  32  and also covers the entire portion of the face  60  that is below the forehead pad  98 . 
         [0065]    Turning now to  FIG. 12A , a first storage vessel  114  is shown that dispenses forehead pads  98  that are already attached to a lens  22 . The lens  22  may be either a face shield lens  132  or an eye shield lens  130 . The first storage vessel  114  includes a first opening  116  through which the forehead pad  98  and attached lens  22  may be dispensed. The first storage vessel  114  may be in the form of a box that has a first cavity  122  in which forehead pads  98  and attached lenses  22  may be stored. A panel that opens to allow proper refilling may be further included, or the box may be disposable. Additionally, any device may be dispensed from the first storage vessel  114  such as just forehead pads  98 , just lenses  22 , or fully-assembled modular headbands  96 . A second storage vessel  118  may be located alongside the first storage vessel  114 . The second storage vessel  118  may include a second cavity  124  that stores a plurality of elastic bands  100 . Each individual elastic band  100  may be connected to another elastic band  100  similar to tissues in a tissue box. As an elastic band  100  is drawn out of a second opening  120 , an additional elastic band  100  may be exposed from the second opening  120 . The first elastic band  100  may then detach from the other elastic band  100  much like drawing a tissue from a tissue box.  FIG. 12B  shows a representation of an assembled modular headband  96  including a forehead pad  98  attached to an elastic band  100  and a lens  22 . The printed area  112  may also be seen. 
         [0066]    Turning now to  FIG. 13 , various storage methods for modular eye protection, in this case modular head bands  96 , are shown. Forehead pads  98  may be attached to elastic bands  100  and lenses  22  to form face shields  62  or eye shields  15 , as described above. Due to the shape of the modular head bands  96 , vertically stacked face shields  126  or vertically stacked eye shields  128  may be assembled allowing for compact storage and transportation. The vertically stacked face shields  126  and vertically stacked eye shields  128  may also be assigned stock keeping unit numbers “SKUs” designating which dispenser, or department the devices are intended for. The SKU may also define any desired information that is intended to be communicated. 
         [0067]    The individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape and assembled in virtually any configuration. Further, although various embodiments of eye protection, face shields, head bands, and dispensers are described herein with certain features, any of the features may be combined with or removed from any of the embodiments. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each dispenser may be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other embodiment. 
         [0068]    It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.