Abstract:
The specification shows a personal sensory reduction system for limiting light and sound to a wearer&#39;s eyes and ears. A method for reducing the light and sound to eyes and ears is also shown and described.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is a personal sensory reduction system for limiting light and sound to a wearer&#39;s eyes and ears; further, the invention is also a method for accomplishing the same. 
   THE INVENTIVE SYSTEM 
   The inventive system includes a headband having opposing ends, a blindfold, and a pair of dome-shaped structures positioned adjacent the respective opposing ends of the headband. Each dome shaped structure is adapted to envelop the ears of the wearer. A noise-attenuating means (i.e., foam padding, styrofoam, or annular layers) is positioned within an interior of each dome shaped structure, and an alarm is positioned to emit an auditory signal into the interior portion of at least one of the dome-shaped structures. 
   Optionally, the personal sensory reduction system may also include a timer in communication with the alarm to selectively activate the auditory signal. In a preferred embodiment of the personal sensory reduction system, the blindfold is removably attachable to the headband. Alternatively, the blindfold may be removably attachable to the dome-shaped structures. 
   Preferably, the blindfold will be a substantially opaque cloth that is removably attachable. The attachment may be accomplished by any known method of attachment, such as a button, a hook and loop fastener, a snap, a loop on the blindfold that surrounds the headband (also known as a rod pocket). Moreover, the blindfold may be a pivoting hood structure selectively positionable to shield the eyes of the wearer. In that event, the hood-structure should comprise a substantially opaque cloth attached to the headband. In preferred embodiments, the headband biases the dome-shaped structures over the ears of the wearer. The dome shaped structures may have padding that covers the edges. 
   THE INVENTIVE METHOD 
   The invention is also a method for limiting light and sound to a wearer&#39;s eyes and ears. The inventive method is accomplished by providing a headband having opposing ends, and placing a blindfold over the wearer&#39;s eyes, and positioning a pair of dome-shaped structures adjacent opposing ends of the headband. The inventive method further includes the steps of adapting the dome-shaped structures to envelop the ears of the wearer, and equipping an interior portion of each dome-shaped structure with a noise-attenuating means (for example, foam padding, styrofoam, a gelatin-filled chamber, annular layers, or the like), and placing an alarm inside at least one dome-shaped structure. The inventive method will also require one to configure the alarm to emit an auditory signal. 
   Optionally, the method may include the steps of providing a timer; and configuring the timer to selectively activate the auditory signal. In that regard, the method may also include the step of integrally forming the timer and the alarm inside the at least one dome-shaped structure. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the blindfold comprises a substantially opaque cloth that is removably attachable to either the headband or the dome-shaped structures. The attachment may be accomplished by any known means, such as a button, hook and loop fastener, snap, or a loop on the blindfold that allows the headband to pass. therethrough (commonly known as a rod-pocket). 
   In an alternate embodiment of the inventive method, the blindfold includes a pivoting hood structure selectively positionable to shield the eyes of the wearer. In this embodiment, the hood structure comprises a substantially opaque cloth attached to the system at either the dome-shaped structures or the headband. 
   The headband should bias the dome-shaped structures over the ears of the wearer. Further, the method may also include the step of padding the edges of each dome shaped structure. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a frontal view of the inventive system according to the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective, exploded view of a first preferred embodiment, according to the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective, exploded view of a second preferred embodiment, according to the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows the front view of invention, as it would be worn by a user. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows a frontal view of the system  10 . The system  10  includes a pair of dome-shaped structures  12  positioned adjacent opposing ends of a headband  14 . The dome-shaped structures  12  are each equipped with padding  16  covering its edges. The padding  16  around the dome-shaped structures is configured to surround the ears of a wearer (not shown in  FIG. 1 ; see  FIG. 4 ) so that each dome-shaped structure  12  envelops a respective ear of its wearer. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  also includes a blindfold  18  that is configured to cover the eyes of a wearer (not shown in  FIG. 1 ; see  FIG. 4 ). The blindfold  18  is shown to be a substantially opaque cloth, but it could be a pliable plastic structure that may be rotatably attached to the system  10  so that it could shield the wearer&#39;s eyes. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a noise attenuating means  13  is positioned within the interior portion of the dome-shaped structures  12 . The noise-attenuating means  13  may include foam padding, styrofoam, annular layers, gelatinous material, or the like. 
   A timer  24  is positioned inside at least one of the dome-shaped structures  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the timer  24  is integrally formed within the interior portion of the dome-shaped structure  12 . Alternately, the timer  24  may be held by a bracket  22  inside the dome-shaped structure  12 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the blindfold  18  is attached to the system  10  by a plurality of loops  20  that encircle the headband  14 . Alternately, the blindfold  18  may be attached to the system  10  by any known means of attachment, such as buttons, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, or the like. Further, the blindfold may be affixed to the headband  14 , the dome-shaped structures  12 , or both. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the inventive system  10 , which includes a headband  14  with dome-shaped structures  12  positioned adjacent respective ends of the headband  14 . In this embodiment, a respective bend  26  is positioned near each end of the headband  14 , and a connector  28  is affixed near the bend  26 . The connector  28  on the headband is configured and positioned to meet a cooperating connector  30  that is positioned on the blindfold  18 . The connectors  28 ,  30  may be any known type of connectors, such as buttons, snaps, or hook-and-loop fasteners. Of course, alternate designs for the blindfold  18  are also possible, and certainly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the blindfold  18  may be a hood-like structure configured to cover the eyes of the wearer, such as a rotatable (yet pliable) opaque shield positionable over a wearer&#39;s eyes. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the blindfold  18  may also be equipped with a loop  20  adjacent each opposing end  18  of the blindfold  18 ; the loop  20  may allow the headband to pass through, or it may be hooked onto the dome-shaped-structure  12 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , foam padding  16  is positioned around the edges of the dome shaped structures  12 . A timer  24  is inside at least one of the dome-shaped structures  12 . This timer  24  may include a display  32  that may be selectively set by using buttons  36 . The timer  24  should also be equipped with an alarm  34  that can emit an auditory signal at a time that is selectively input into the timer  24  by using the buttons  36 . In order to suit personal preferences of a wearer, the auditory signal may be adjustable in volume. 
     FIG. 3  shows a perspective and exploded view of another embodiment of the inventive system  10 . In this embodiment, the headband  14  lacks the bend (as in  FIG. 2 , for example), but instead is assumes a generally semi-circular shape configured to fit around a wearer&#39;s head. A connector  28 ′ is positioned adjacent an end of the headband  14 , and is configured to meet with a cooperating connector  30 ′ positioned on the blindfold  18 . Alternatively, the connector  28 ′ may be positioned on the dome-shaped structure  12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the blindfold  18  may be a pliable yet opaque shield (i.e., made of plastic) that can be affixed to the system  10  and then rotatably positioned so that it can cover the eyes of a wearer. When a blindfold  18  is not desired, a wearer may either remove the blindfold  18  from the system  10  entirely, or pivotally rotate the blindfold  18  in direction R, out of one&#39;s line of sight. Also, the headband may include several telescoping segments, or segments that enable the headband and dome-shaped structures  12  to be folded onto one another, similar to “folding earmuffs” structure that has become known in the art. 
   Many of the remaining features of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  are analogous to the features explained with respect to the embodiment in  FIG. 2 ; as such a detailed discussion of these aspects is not necessary to understand the inventive system  10 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a preferred embodiment of the system  10 , as it would be worn by a user. The headband  14  creates a force B that biases the dome-shaped structures  12  over the ears of the wearer. In order to more effectively prevent light from contacting the wearer&#39;s eyes  39 , the blindfold  18  should comprise an opaque material, such as felt, heavy cloth, or light-blocking or dark plastic. Loops  20  are positioned adjacent opposing ends of the blindfold  18 , and may be attached to the system  10  either at the headband  14  (as shown) or by attaching to the dome-shaped structures  12 . 
   Having described and illustrated the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the above and foregoing is for illustration and demonstration only. The description herein are not intended to limit the breadth of this invention.