Patent Publication Number: US-2004049826-A1

Title: Optically correct and clear eyeshields

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 of the co-pending U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/130,115 filed on Sep. 26, 2000 and entitled “EYESHIELDS.” The design application Ser. No. 29/130,115 filed on Sep. 26, 2000 and entitled “EYESHEELDS” is also hereby incorporated by reference. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 of the co-pending U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/130,173 filed on Sep. 27, 2000 and entitled “EYESHIELDS.” The design application Ser. No. 29/130,173 filed on Sep. 27, 2000 and entitled “EYESHIELDS” is also hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The invention relates to the field of medical eyeshields. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of designing and manufacturing medical eyeshields with optically correct and optically clear lenses.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Physicians perform various eye surgeries daily, each requiring specific types of care. Many times, after one of these surgeries, as part of the rehabilitation process, the patient is required to shield the eye from the environment as to not hinder the healing process. Additionally, many of these patients are able to maintain normal vision while the eye heals. Such operations include cataract surgery and the ever increasingly popular vision correction surgeries. Because a patient of one of these surgeries regains normal vision immediately or shortly after the operation is completed, an optically clear and correct eyeshield is needed so that the patient may perform everyday !asks while the eye heals. It is also important that the eye receives adequate air circulation during the healing process.  
       [0004] Existing eyeshields do not provide the patient with all of the necessary aforementioned aspects. Prior eyeshield designs lack a functional eyeshield that also allows for comfort and accurate vision. In other words, prior designs do embody an eyeshield that allows for proper air circulation for optimal healing capabilities combined with a comfortable fit and optically correct vision.  
       [0005] Absent in the prior art is a design encompassing all of the aspects necessary to effectively and efficiently heal the eye while allowing the patient normal vision through an optically correct lens. A design such as this is needed to allow a patient to quickly heal from a surgery without losing the ability to perform everyday functions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention is an apparatus for shielding a human eye while allowing air to circulate to the eye. The present invention is an eyeshield which includes an optically correct viewing area and a plurality of vents. The eyeshield can be held in place with tape, or adhesive or can include an adjustable strap for holding the eyeshield and the optically correct viewing area in place in front of the user&#39;s eye. The eyeshield of the present invention includes one surface that faces the eye and one surface that faces away from the eye.  
       [0007] The eyeshield in the present invention is optically clear as well as optically correct in that it does not distort the user&#39;s vision. This is achieved by two different methods. The preferred method utilizes a polished mold to achieve an optically correct surface while another method to achieve an optically correct eyeshield utilized by the present invention is to die cut the lens from an optically correct material.  
       [0008] The present invention may be fashioned to protect one or both eyes. In both cases, the plurality of vents are actually a plurality of apertures. The preferred embodiment includes apertures in the form of slots while an alternate embodiment includes apertures in the form of holes. In either case, the plurality of vents do not distort the patient&#39;s vision. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevation view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 8 illustrates a front elevation view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 9 illustrates a top perspective view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 10 illustrates a side perspective view of an optically correct eyeshield in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0019]FIG. 11 illustrates a front elevation view of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 12 illustrates a rear elevation view of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 13 a  illustrates a bottom view of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0022]FIG. 13 b  illustrates a top view of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0023]FIGS. 13 c  &amp;  13   d  illustrate side views of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0024]FIG. 14 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0025]FIGS. 15 &amp; 16 illustrate a side perspective view of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 17 illustrates a front perspective view of an optically correct eyeshield for two eyes in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0027] FIGS.  1 - 5  depict the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the top view in FIG. 1, the eyeshield  10  is fashioned to cover one of the user&#39;s eyes, as well as the area around the eye. The bottom view is a mirror image of the top view. A plurality of vents  14  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention are slots which are arranged in a pattern so that the optically correct lens  12  is not interrupted in the viewing area in front of the eye, and therefore, do not distort the user&#39;s vision. The vents allow fresh air to impinge on the users eye, while keeping fingers, other objects and most dust away from the eye.  
     [0028] Referring to the front elevation view of the preferred embodiment in FIG. 3, the pattern of the plurality of vents  14  is displayed in a clearer fashion. It will be apparent to those of or ordinary skill in the art that other patterns are possible for the vents  14 . However, to maintain the shield as optically correct it is desired that the vents  14  not be positioned in the viewing area of the eyeshield  10 .  
     [0029] Referring again to the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the set of openings  16  allow the strap  18  to be coupled with the eyeshield  10 . The strap  18  is adjustable in that it is made of an elastic material. Alternative embodiments of the strap  18  can utilize adjusting devices coupled with an elastic strap  18 , or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the eyeshield  10  can be affixed to the user&#39;s face over their eye using adhesive tape or another adhesive. In such a circumstance, the openings  16  and the strap  18  need not be present.  
     [0030] The slope of the eyeshield  10  is adopted to make contact along its periphery with the average user&#39;s face. This contact serves to prevent dust and other irritants from access to the interior of the eyeshield  10  along its periphery and hence the eye. The eyeshield  10  is substantially circular. The eyeshield  10  includes a nose bridge protrusion  100 . The nose bridge protrusion  100  is adopted to ride on and above the user&#39;s nose such that the increase in dimension of the eyeshield  10  toward its substantially circular region maintains close proximity to the typical user&#39;s nose and eyebrow. The eyeshield  10  and the nose bridge protrusion  100  can be manufactured in several sizes to accomodate an even wider range of users.  
     [0031] According to the preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the eyeshield  10  is produced from a mold. To achieve the optically correct lens  12  from the mold, the mold is preferably polished.  
     [0032] FIGS.  6 - 10  depict a first alternative embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the eyeshield  20  is again fashioned to cover one of the patient&#39;s eyes as well as the area around the eye. However, the plurality of vents  24  in this case are holes. Similar to the slots of the preferred embodiment, the holes are arranged in a pattern so that the optically correct lens  22  is not interrupted in the viewing area in front of the eye, and therefore, is incapable of distorting the user&#39;s vision. Referring to the front elevation view of the first alternative embodiment in FIG. 8, the pattern of the plurality of vents  24  is displayed in a clearer fashion. Also in the first alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the set of openings  26  allows the strap  28  to be coupled with the eyeshield  20 . The strap  28  is also adjustable in the first alternative embodiment in that it is made of an elastic material. Alternative embodiments of the strap  28  can utilize adjusting devices coupled with an elastic strap  28 , or a combination thereof.  
     [0033] Again, similar to the preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the eyeshield  20  depicted in FIGS.  6 - 10  is produced from a mold. In order to achieve the optically correct lens  22  from the mold, the mold must be polished.  
     [0034] FIGS.  11 - 17  depict a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, the optically correct lens  32  of the eyeshield  30  in this case is fashioned to provide protection for both eyes as well as the area of the face surrounding the eyes. In embodiments such as the second alternative embodiment in FIG. 11, the optically correct lens  32  is die-cut from an optically correct material.  
     [0035] A cushioning structure  40  outlines the perimeter of the optically correct lens  32  on the surface facing the eye. In this second alternative embodiment, the plurality of vents  34  are formed by the spaces formed in the cushioning structure  40 . Other embodiments will include a cushioning structure  40  fashioned as one continuous piece outlining the perimeter of the optically correct lens  32 . In such an embodiment, a plurality of vents are formed by holes in the cushioning structure  40 .  
     [0036] Again referring to the second alternative embodiment in FIG. 11, the set of openings  36  allow the strap  38  to be coupled with the eyeshield  30 . The strap  38  is also adjustable in this second alternative embodiment in that it is made of an elastic material. Alternative embodiments of the strap  38  can utilize adjusting devices coupled with the strap  28 , or a combination thereof.  
     [0037] The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. For example, the application of the eyeshield of the present invention is not limited to eye surgery patients. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.