Patent Publication Number: US-2007118944-A1

Title: Face shield

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a face shield, and, particularly to a face shield for use during bathing, such as in hair washing, to prevent water, shampoo, conditioner and/or other irritants from entering a person&#39;s eyes.  
      Washing a person&#39;s hair, particularly a person of diminished, limited, or not fully developed capacity, such as a handicapped adult or a child, can be challenging especially when the person is nervous in the water, is afraid of getting water, shampoo and/or conditioner in his eyes, or is otherwise uncooperative. For example, oftentimes a child resists when the adult bathing the child attempts to wet the child&#39;s hair, apply shampoo or conditioner, and rinse the child&#39;s hair. The adult may attempt to wash the child&#39;s hair despite his protests. This response usually results in water, shampoo or conditioner getting into the child&#39;s eyes, and the child&#39;s hair not getting thoroughly cleaned. The end result is an unhappy child and a frustrated adult.  
      Bath time visors have long been used to keep water, shampoo and conditioner out of children&#39;s eyes when washing their hair. For example, a one piece foam device is available which includes a forward visor portion and a rearward integral strap portion. The visor portion deflects liquid from the child&#39;s eyes and the strap portion extends around the circumference of the child&#39;s head to attach the device to the child. This device often fails because it does not fit snuggly on younger children with smaller heads and it is difficult to thoroughly wash the hair held down and covered by the strap.  
      Alternative visor designs include an elastic strap, an adjustable strap or snaps for attaching the visor portion to the child&#39;s head. Although these visors are more securely fitted to the head, it remains difficult to thoroughly wash the hair held down and covered by such devices.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,154 by Cohn, III discloses a bathing mitt with a web member disposed between the thumb and forefinger for shielding a child&#39;s face from liquid. The adult inserts his entire hand into the mitt and extends the web member by spreading his thumb and forefinger. Then the adult places the bath mitt on the child&#39;s forehead such that the extended web member shields the child&#39;s eyes from liquid. Unfortunately, this device fails if the adult does not keep his thumb and forefinger properly extended. In that regard, the web buckles to form a gap, thus permitting liquid to run into the child&#39;s eyes. Furthermore, the adult will have difficulty removing his entire hand from this device, particularly when it becomes wet.  
      It is desirable to develop improved devices, systems and methods to shield at least a portion of a person&#39;s face (for example, from irritants during bathing).  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a face shield that limits or prevents water, shampoo, conditioner and/or other irritants from contacting or entering a person&#39;s (for example, a child&#39;s) eyes, nose and/or mouth. In several embodiments, the face shield is adapted to function generally independently of the person&#39;s head size.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a face shield for use during bathing that does not interfere with thorough washing, particularly of the hair.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a face shield that can be positioned and held in place by a user. As used herein, the term “user” refers to either a person utilizing the face shield on another or to a person utilizing the face shield on himself.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide a face shield that can easily be removed from a user&#39;s hand.  
      In one aspect the present invention provides a face shield for preventing an irritant from entering a person&#39;s eyes. The face shield includes: a shield member adapted to extend over at least a portion of the person&#39;s eyes and including a front surface, a back surface and a top edge; a barrier member attached to the shield member that is engagable with the person&#39;s face to provide contact between the barrier member and face; and a hand contact adapted to receive a portion of a hand. The shield member can be generally planar or curved. Likewise, the barrier member can be generally planar or curved. The barrier member can, for example, be attached to the back surface of the shield member or to the top edge of the shield member. The barrier member can be compressible to form a generally sealing engagement with at least a portion of the person&#39;s face. The shield member can be flexible. Likewise, the barrier member can be flexible. The shield member and/or the barrier member an also be transparent. The shield member can further include an outer edge; and a protective edging on at least a portion of the outer edge.  
      The hand contact can, for example, include at least one friction hold adapted to receive at least one finger of the hand. The friction hold can be flexible. The hand contact can also or alternatively include at least one projection extending outward from the front surface adapted to receive at least one finger. The hand contact can also or alternatively include a hand attachment extending outward from the front surface adapted to attach the face shield to the hand. The hand attachment can be removeably attached to the front surface. In several embodiments, the hand attachment includes at least one finger hook, finger pocket, finger strap, finger recess or finger loop on the front surface, each of which is adapted to receive at least one finger of a hand. The at least one finger hook, finger pocket, finger strap, finger recess or finger loop can be located generally opposite the barrier member. The hand attachment also or alternatively includes at least one hook, strap or loop extending outward from the front surface that is adapted to receive the hand.  
      In another aspect, the present invention provides a face shield for preventing an irritant from entering a person&#39;s eyes. The face shield includes: a shield member adapted to extend over at least a portion of the person&#39;s eyes, the shield member including a front surface; a barrier member attached to the shield member that is engagable with the person&#39;s face to provide contact between the barrier member and face; a hand contact on the front surface for receiving at least a portion of a hand and including at least one friction hold proximately located opposite the barrier member for receiving at least one finger of the hand; and a hand attachment extending outward from the front surface for attaching the face shield to the hand.  
      In still a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of shielding a person&#39;s face to prevent an irritant from entering a person&#39;s eyes including: grasping a shield comprising a barrier member attached to the shield and placing the shield in proximity to the person&#39;s face; and applying force to the shield to engage the barrier member with the person&#39;s face to provide contact between the barrier member and the person&#39;s face. The barrier member can be compressed against the person&#39;s face. The person can, for example, be a child being bathed, and the shield can be grasped by a person other than the child.  
      The face shields of the present invention extend over at least a portion of a child&#39;s or other person&#39;s eyes during use. The barrier member extends from the shield and is engagable with the child&#39;s or other person&#39;s face to provide contact between the shield member and face. The hand contact is adapted to receive at least a portion of the user&#39;s hand so that the user can readily and easily apply a compressive force to the shield/barrier member. The face shields of the present invention do not require any type of attachment member extending around the head of the child or other person in connection with whom the device is used, thereby provide ready access to the child&#39;s or other person&#39;s hair. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2A  is a back view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3A  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A ;.  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a back view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8A  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8A ;  
       FIG. 9A  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A ;  
       FIG. 10  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 14  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 16A  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 16B  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16A ;  
       FIG. 17  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 18  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 18 ;  
       FIG. 20  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ;  
       FIG. 22  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 22 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Several representative embodiments of face shields of the present invention are discussed herein in connection with use thereof in bathing a person, and, particularly, a child. One skilled in the art, however, appreciates that the face shields of the present invention can be used in a wide variety of situations in addition to bathing as well as in connection with any person to shield at least a portion of the person&#39;s face. For example, the face shields of the present invention may also be used during hairstyling to prevent hair spray from entering a person&#39;s eyes.  
      An embodiment of the face shield  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 2 B. The face shield  10  includes a shield member  12  which covers or shields at least a portion of a person&#39;s face (for example, a child&#39;s eyes) when the shield  10  is positioned on his face. Face shield  10  can also extend downward to cover or shield the child&#39;s nose or mouth. The shield member  12  includes a front surface  14 , back surface  16 , outer edge  18  and top edge  19 . Protective edging  20  can also be provided around the perimeter of outer edge  18  and/or top edge  19  to reduce any likelihood of injury to the child or adult bathing the child from contact with outer edge  18  and top edge  19 . The shield member  12  can, for example, be made of any liquid impervious or repellent material, including, but not limited to, polymeric materials such as plastic, foam or vinyl. Shield member  12  can be rigid or flexible, opaque or transparent. Shield member  12  can be generally planar or curved in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the shield member  12  is flexible and transparent. Examples of suitable materials for shield member  12  include polyethylene, polypropylene and/or polycarbonate.  
      The face shield  10  of the present invention further includes a barrier member  22  attached the shield member  12  (for example, to the back surface of shield member  12 ) at or below the top edge  19  by any suitable attachment mechanism or means, such as stitching, a waterproof fastener or an adhesive as known in the attachment arts. As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 2 B, when barrier member  22  is attached below top edge  19 , a liquid deflector  21  is formed at the back surface  16  of shield member  12 . When face shield  10  includes a deflector  21 , additional liquid can be prevented from splashing over top edge  19  and onto front surface  14  of shield member  12 . The transparent shield member  12  preferably allows the child to watch the adult while, for example, having his hair washed.  
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate an alternative embodiment wherein a barrier member  22 ′ is attached to top edge  19 ′ of face shield  10 ′. In general, the operation of face shield  10 ′ is very similar to the operation of face shield  10  and like components are numbered similarly with the addition of a designation “′” thereto.  
      Referring back to  FIGS. 1 through 2 B, barrier member  22  preferably extends horizontally across the width of the shield member  12  at least a distance equal to the spacing of the eyes. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , barrier member  22   a  is curved downward at its outer, lateral edges to prevent liquid from entering the top and sides of the person&#39;s eyes. In this embodiment, barrier member  22   a  can provide a continuous barrier to liquid across the person&#39;s forehead and down along the sides of his face. Barrier members  22  and  22   a  can, for example, be made of any liquid resistant or liquid absorbent material such as foam or sponge and can also be flexible, compressible or resilient to, for example, facilitate conformation to the person&#39;s face and/or sealing to the person&#39;s face as well as to enhance the comfort of the person. Suitable materials for barrier member  22   a  include, but are not limited to, polymeric materials such as foam rubbers (for example, polyurethane rubbers) and various elastomers.  
      Referring again, for example, to  FIGS. 1, 2A ,  3 A and  4 , face shield  10  can also include one or more hand contacts adapted to receive at least a portion of the user&#39;s hand and facilitate the application of force to shield  12  to compress barrier member  22  into contact with the child&#39;s face. Such a hand contact can, for example, include a hand contact area  24  or  24 ′ located on the front surface  14  of shield  12 . In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2A ,  3 A and  4 , hand contact area  24  is positioned generally opposite the barrier member  22 . Hand contact area  24  can be coextensive in area with barrier member  22 , cover a larger area that barrier member  22  or cover a smaller area the barrier member  22 . Moreover, hand contact area  24  need not be positioned opposite barrier member  22 . As shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 , hand contact area  24  is adapted (for example, textured) to receive at least a portion of the user&#39;s hand, such as a thumb and forefinger, which are used to apply force to shield  12  and to, thereby, compress barrier member  22  into contact with the child&#39;s face. In that regard, barrier member  22  of face shield  10  is held in contact with the child&#39;s face and compressed via application of force to shield member  12  to prevent liquid from, for example, entering the child&#39;s eyes. Alternatively,  FIG. 4  shows the hand contact area  24  can receive the child&#39;s hands which compress barrier member  22  or  22   a  onto the child&#39;s face.  
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the hand contact area 24  can include at least one friction hold  25  to prevent the user&#39;s fingers from slipping from the hand contact area  24 . The friction hold  25  can, for example, include a textured material known in the art, which can be a flexible material. Front surface  14  of shield  12  can be adapted or textured (for example, knurled) in one or more regions of hand contact area  24  to form friction hold  25 . Alternatively, the entirety of front surface  14  of shield member  12  can be textured or otherwise adapted to facilitate grasping of face shield  10  and application of compressive force to barrier member  22 . In such an embodiment, the hand contact area would be coextensive with shield member  12 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , friction hold  25  may extend the entire width of the front surface  14  proximately opposite barrier member  22 . Alternatively, friction hold  25  can be formed as one or more areas of textured material/surface which can, for example, be located generally opposite barrier member  22 .  
      In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , in addition to or in the alternative to hand contact area  24 , shield  12  can include a hand contact including one or more abutment members such as protrusions, projections, flanges or nubs  26  and  28  protruding or projecting outwardly from the front surface  14  of shield member  12  for receiving in abutting engagement one or more fingers of the user&#39;s hand. When the user&#39;s fingers engage projections  26  and  28 , the user can hold on to face shield  10  and compress the barrier member  22  onto the child&#39;s face.  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , shield  12  additionally or alternatively includes one or more hand contact abutment members formed as recesses  26 ′ and  28 ′ extending inwardly from the front surface  14  of shield member  12  for receiving in abutting engagement one or more fingers of the user&#39;s hand. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 9A and 9B , recesses  26 ′ and  28 ′ extend through shield member  12  in the area of friction hold  25  and partially into barrier member  22 .  
      The face shields of  FIGS. 1 through 9 B are held in place on a person&#39;s face, such as a child&#39;s face, by the user, previously defined as either a person utilizing the face shield on another or to a person utilizing the face shield on himself. For example, a child as the user may position the face shield  10  onto his face by placing the barrier member  22  on his forehead, brow line, or directly covering his eyes. Then using one or both hands, the child positions his fingers or palms on the hand contact area  24  and/or other hand contact of the present invention, and applies suitable force to compress the barrier member  22  onto his face. Barrier member  22  thereby creates a generally sealing contact between the face shield  10  and the child&#39;s face.  
      Alternatively, an adult, as the user, may position the face shield  10  onto the child&#39;s face by placing the barrier member  22  on the child&#39;s forehead, brow line, or covering his eyes. Then using one hand, the adult positions at least one finger and thumb, or his palm on to the hand contact area  24  and/or other hand contact of the present invention and applies force to compress barrier member  22  onto or into contact with the child&#39;s face. Again, barrier member  22  can create a sealing engagement between the face shield  10  and the child&#39;s face.  
      In several other embodiments of the present invention, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 10 through 23 , face shield  10  of the present invention further includes a hand contact including a finger and/or hand attachment  30  for attaching the face shield  10  to the user&#39;s hand. A function of the hand attachment  30  is to allow the user to intermittently remove the face shield  10  from a person&#39;s face while still holding onto the face shield  10 . Thus, the user will not have to repeatedly pick up the face shield  10  when the person&#39;s eyes need to be shielded again.  
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show hand attachment  30  may include at least one finger hook for receiving at least one finger of the user&#39;s hand. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , hand attachment  30  includes two finger hooks or handles  32  and  34  for receiving the user&#39;s thumb and at least one finger. Finger hooks  32  and  34  can, for example, be made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, including, but not limited to, a polymeric materials such as a plastic or a foam, and can be attached to the front surface  14  of shield member  12  by any suitable attachment mechanism or means, such as a waterproof fastener or adhesive. Finger hooks  32  and  34  can, for example, extend outward from the hand contact area  24  at a position generally opposite the barrier member  22  to, for example, facilitate application of compressive force to barrier member  22 . The user places his forefinger and thumb onto the hand contact area  24  while inserting his forefinger under hook  32  and inserting his thumb under hook  34 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 12 , hand contact area  24  may also include friction hold  25  as previously described in regards to  FIG. 8 . The user may compress barrier member  22  to the child&#39;s forehead by pressing his forefinger and thumb on the hand contact area  24 . When the user needs to remove the face shield  10  from the person&#39;s face, the user releases the compression of his forefinger and thumb, and separates his hand from the person&#39;s head. The face shield  10  remains attached to the user&#39;s forefinger and thumb via finger hooks  32  and  34 .  
      Another embodiment of a hand attachment  30   a  is shown in  FIG. 13 . Hand attachment  30   a  includes at least one finger pocket for receiving at least one finger or thumb or the user&#39;s hand. Similar to the finger hooks  32  and  34  described above, finger pockets  36  and  38  can, for example, be made of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic or foam. Alternatively, for added comfort, finger pockets  36  and  38  may be made of a softer material such as fabric or canvas. In the illustrated embodiment, finger pockets  36  and  38  extend outward from the hand contact area  24  generally opposite the barrier member  22 , and are attached to the front surface  14  of shield member  12  by any suitable attachment mechanism or means, such as stitching, a waterproof fastener or adhesive. However, as with a number of other hand contacts of the present invention, shield  10  can include finger pockets  36  and  38  without hand contact area  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the user places his first two fingers and thumb onto the hand contact area  24  while inserting his fingers into finger pocket  36  and inserting his thumb into finger pocket  38 . Then, the user may compress barrier member  22  to the person&#39;s forehead by pressing his fingers and thumb on the hand contact area  24 . When the user needs to remove the face shield  10  from the person&#39;s face, the user releases the compression of his fingers and thumb, and separates his hand from the person&#39;s head. The face shield  10  remains attached to the user&#39;s forefinger and thumb via finger pockets  36  and  38 .  
      Similar to the finger pockets  36  and  38  described above, a hand attachment  30   b  can alternatively include finger straps  400  and  420 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Finger straps  400  and  420  can, for example, be made of any suitable material such as plastic, foam or fabric. Finger straps  400  and  420  extend outward from the hand contact area  24  proximately opposite the barrier member  22 , and are attached to the front surface  14  of shield member  12  by any suitable attachment mechanism or.means. In this embodiment, finger straps are attached at their respective ends to the front surface  14  by waterproof fasteners  440 ,  442 ,  460  and  462 . Finger straps  400  and  420  can be removeably attached to the front surface  14  in the case that each of fasteners  440 ,  442 ,  460  and  462  is a removable fastener such as a snap or similar device. Opening  470  for receiving at least one of the user&#39;s fingers is formed by finger strap  400  and front surface  14 . Opening  480  for receiving the user&#39;s thumb is formed by finger strap  420  and front surface  14 . The user places his forefinger and thumb onto the hand contact area  24  while inserting his forefinger into opening  470  and inserting his thumb into opening  480 . Then, similar to the device described in reference to  FIG. 13 , the user may compress barrier member  22  to the child&#39;s forehead by pressing his forefinger and thumb on the hand contact area  24 . Face shield  10  remains attached to the user&#39;s hand via finger straps  400  and  420 .  
       FIGS. 16A and 16B  show another embodiment of a hand attachment  30   c . In this configuration hand attachment,  30   c  includes finger loops  40  and  42  made of any plastic, foam or fabric. Finger loops  40  and  42  extend outward from the hand contact area  24  generally opposite the barrier member  22 , and are attached to the front surface  14  of shield member  12  by any suitable attachment means. As shown in  FIGS. 16A and 16B , finger loops  40  and  42  are attached to the front surface  14  by pivots  44  and  46 , respectively. Pivots  44  and  46  allow loops  40  and  42  to rotate upon the front surface  14  to accommodate the span between the user&#39;s thumb and forefinger when the user inserts his forefinger into finger loop  40  via a first opening  47  and his thumb into finger loop  42  via a second opening  48 . Finger loops  40  and  42  can be removeably attached to front surface  14  in the case that each of pivot  44  and  46  is a removable fastener such as a snap or similar device. Operation of this embodiment is similar to that of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 10 through 15 .  
       FIG. 17  illustrates a further embodiment of a hand attachment  30   d  including a single finger loops  42 ′ made of, for example, a plastic, fabric. In the illustrated embodiment, finger loops  42 ′ extend outward from the hand contact area  24  below (in the orientation of  FIG. 17 ) the position of barrier member  22 . Finger loop  42 ′ can, for example, be attached to the front surface  14  of shield member  12  by fasteners  49 ′.  
      The hand attachments of the present invention can also include a device which attaches the shield member  12  to the palm or the back of the user&#39;s hand. As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , hand attachment  30   e  can include a hand hook or handle  50  made, for example, of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic or foam. Hand hook  50  extends outward from front surface  14  and can be attached thereto by any suitable mechanism or means, such as a waterproof fastener  51  or adhesive. Hand hook  50  can be removeably attached to front surface  14  in the case that fastener  51  is a removable fastener such as a snap or similar device. Hand hook  50  can, for example, be located or positioned near the center line of top edge  19  and at or below the hand contact area  24 . The user places his hand under hand hook  50  and positions at least his forefinger and thumb onto hand contact are  24 . Then, the user may compress barrier member  22  to a person&#39;s forehead by pressing his finger and thumb on the hand contact area  24 . When the user needs to remove the face shield  10  from the person&#39;s face, the user releases the compression of his fingers and thumb, and separates his hand from the person&#39;s head. The face shield  10  remains attached to the user&#39;s hand via hand hook  50 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , hand attachment  30   f  can, for example, also include a hand strap  52  made of any suitable material such as plastic, foam or fabric. Hand strap  52  extends outward from front surface  14  and includes a first end  55  and a second end  57 . Each end  55  and  57  is attached to the front surface  14  by any suitable mechanism or means, such as stitching, waterproof fasteners  54  and  56 , or adhesive. Hand strap  52  is removeably attached to the front surface  14  in the case that each fastener  54  and  56  is a removable fastener such as a snap or similar device. Opening  58  for receiving the user&#39;s hand is formed by hand strap  52  and front surface  14 . Hand strap  52  can, for example, be located approximately at the center line of top edge  19  and at or below the hand contact area  24 . The user places his hand into opening  57  such that the hand strap  52  extends over the back of his hand. Then the user positions at least his forefinger and thumb onto hand contact are  24 . Operation of this embodiment of the invention is similar to that of the device shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , and face shield  10  remains attached to the user&#39;s hand via hand strap  52 .  
      Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . In this embodiment, hand attachment  30   g  includes a hand loop  60  made of any suitable material such as plastic, foam or fabric. As shown in  FIGS. 27 and 28 , hand loop  60  extends outward from front surface  14  and can be located generally at the center line of top edge  19  and at or below the hand contact area  24 . Hand loop  60  can be attached to front surface  14  by any suitable mechanism or means including, for example, stitching, waterproof fastener  62 , or adhesive. When fastener  62  is a pivot, as shown in  FIGS. 27 and 28 , it permits movement of the hand loop  60  relative to the front surface  14 . When fastener  62  is a removable fastener such as a snap, hand loop  60  is removeably attached to front surface  14 . Hand loop  60  includes opening  64  for receiving the user&#39;s hand.  
      In this embodiment, the user places his hand into opening  64  such that the hand loop  60  extends over the back and palm of his hand. Then the user positions at least his forefinger and thumb onto hand contact are  24 . Because hand loop  60  pivots via fastener  62 , the user&#39;s can more easily position his forefinger and thumb onto the hand contact area  24 . For example, the user may find the present invention more comfortable to use when his forefinger is placed on to the hand contact area  24  closer to the top edge  19  and his thumb is placed on the hand contact area  24  further from the top edge  19 . Operation of this embodiment is similar to that of the devices shown in  FIGS. 19 through 24 , and face shield  10  remains attached to the user&#39;s hand via hand loop  60 .  
      When a child or an adult is holding the face shield  10  in place by any of the embodiments described above, the adult can, for example, wet the child&#39;s hair, apply shampoo or conditioner, and rinse the child&#39;s hair, all without any liquid entering the child&#39;s eyes. Any liquid coming in contact with barrier member  22  is deflected away from the eyes to the sides of the child&#39;s face. When made of an absorbent material, barrier member  22  also absorbs some of the liquid, thus further keeping the child&#39;s eyes clear. Front surface  14  of shield member  12  prevents any liquid from entering the child&#39;s eyes, nose and mouth by deflecting liquid toward the outer edge  18  of shield member  12 .  
      The foregoing description and accompanying drawings set forth embodiment, including preferred embodiments, of the invention at the present time. Various modifications, additions and alternative designs will, of course, become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes and variations that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.