Patent Publication Number: US-2020301172-A1

Title: Method and Portable Aid for Mindfulness Meditation

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to provisional application No. 62/174,628 filed on Jun. 12, 2015, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/179,065 and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/231,528 under 35 U.S.C. § 120, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Public understanding and acceptance of Mindfulness Meditation has increased considerably in recent years. Its benefits are now recognized in a variety of areas including business, organized sports, public and private schools, colleges, hospitals. Examples include the Department of Veterans Affairs which recommends Mindfulness meditation as a therapeutic tool in treating PTSD, and the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) movement, which has made strides in treating chronic depression by incorporating Mindfulness with cognitive therapy. Professional sports teams such as the Seattle Seahawks, the Chicago Bulls, and the L.A. Lakers have made Mindfulness a part of their core athlete training programs. School based programs like MindUP in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. train teachers to teach and students to use Mindfulness to be less stressed, more focused and resilient. 
     “Mindfulness” is a deliberate, observational and non-judgmental approach to consciousness which cultivates moment-by-moment awareness of both thought and perception. The goal is a quiet, focused and undistracted mind. Those who practice it are often better able to understand themselves as well as more clearly perceive, understand, and react effectively with the present and the people in it. 
     “Mindfulness Meditation” comprises a number of systematic ways of maintaining and deepening the practice of Mindfulness. One of the more common and effective of these is simply sitting, with erect posture in a quiet setting, eyes open and directed forward toward a visually non-distracting background such as a screen or blank wall. Inner concentration on one&#39;s breathing is often recommended, especially for the inexperienced. The inner stream of thoughts is neither repressed nor intently examined, just calmly observed, and over time many of these thoughts and memories, even painful ones, can lose their power to distract from or color perception of the present. 
     This style of meditation has been practiced for many hundreds of years by adherents of Zen Buddhism as the shortest (but arguably also the most difficult) route to enlightenment. The eyes are kept open and unfocused to combat sleepiness and maintain a sense of the present moment and, where possible, facing a wall, curtain, or the like is recommended to prevent unwanted visual distractions. However, these conditions are not always possible, especially in group meditation or where unoccupied stretches of a wall, screen, or curtain are not available. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,319: Wind Mosaic Glasses, a wearable meditative aid similar to eyeglasses is described wherein the outflowing breath of a user moves a small deflector surface under the nostrils which in turn rotates an outer, geometrical patterned lens relative to an inner and fixed lens having a differing pattern, to create a changing kaleidoscopic or moire&#39; pattern. The user can thus monitor breathing while viewing entertaining geometrical patterns. Several significant drawback to using this device during mindfulness meditation are that it visually isolates the user from the user&#39;s actual visual environment, and its visual effects would distract the user from awareness of thoughts, which is perhaps the central tenet of mindfulness meditation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,945: Eyeglass System Having Spinning Bezels, describes eyeglasses having rotatable, removable, and interchangeable circular bezels, which have a variety of geometric to increase the novelty and attractiveness of the glasses. Although the inventor mentions the possibility of other bezel designs having a calming or soothing effect during meditation, this device would have drawbacks similar to those of U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,319. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,906: Personal/Private Light Screen, a largely opaque light screen worn like eyeglasses is presented having a self-contained light source configured to isolate the wearer from ambient light save for a pair of very small closable apertures allowing the wearer to read a closely positioned book or text if so desired. This device is similar to a larger class of such devices intended to counteract Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) using intense light sources. Again the drawback of such devices if used during mindfulness meditation is their tendency to overwhelm the ambient external and internal environment. 
     What is needed then is a portable meditative aid that can be worn in a manner similar to typical eyeglasses and would provide the wearer with a translucent visual region of limited size on which to focus during meditation without blocking the entire visual field. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for at least partially blocking a field of view that includes a first member extending between a first edge and a second edge, the first member having a translucent portion, a first elongated side member attached adjacent the first edge of the first member, and a second elongated side member attached adjacent the second edge of the first member, the first and second elongated members being generally parallel to another and lying in a single horizontal plane. 
     In some embodiments, the first member is comprised of two smaller members, the two smaller members being joined by an arcuate portion adjacent edges thereof that are opposite to the edges attached to the elongated edges. 
     In some other embodiments, the first member has a transparent portion in addition to the translucent portion. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for at least partially blocking a field of view includes a frame, a first member extending between a first edge and a second edge, the first member having a translucent portion and attached to the frame, a first elongated side member attached to the frame, and a second elongated side member attached to the frame, the first and second elongated members being generally parallel to another and lying in a single horizontal plane. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is perspective view of a third embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a front perspective view of a sixth embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention using typical eyeglass frames; 
         FIG. 22  is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a depiction of sitting mindfulness meditation using a wall as a focal zone; 
         FIG. 24  depicts sitting meditation using the one embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention to create a focal zone; and 
         FIG. 25  depicts group sitting meditation using the one embodiment of an apparatus for use in mindful meditation according to the present invention to create a focal zone 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  is a first embodiment of an apparatus  100  for at least partially blocking a field of view. The apparatus  100  has a first member  102  extending between a first edge  104  and a second edge  106 . The first member  102  has a translucent portion  108 , which in  FIGS. 1-4  cover the entirety of the first member  102 . However, as described below in more detail, the translucent portion  108  may only cover a portion of the first member  102 . The apparatus  100  also has a first elongated side member  110  attached adjacent the first edge  104  of the first member  102 . The apparatus  100  also has a second elongated side member  112  attached adjacent the second edge  106  of the first member  102 . The two elongated side members  110 , 112  extend rearwardly from the first member  102  and they are generally parallel to another and lying in a single horizontal plane A. See  FIG. 4 . The first member  102  has an outside surface  114  and an opposing, inside surface  116 . On the inside surface  116  are attachments  120  adjacent the first edge  104  and the second edge  106  for the two elongated side members  110 , 112 . The attachments  120  preferably include pins or screws  122  to allow for the two elongated side members  110 , 112  to be attached to the first member  102  in a rotatable manner. However, the elongated side members  110 , 112  could be fixedly attached to the attachments  120  or even fixedly attached directly to the first member  102 . 
     The first member  102  also includes a rounded bottom edge portion  124 , the rounded bottom edge portion  124  could be viewed as a cut-out portion of first member  102  that is configured to engage a bridge of a nose (not illustrated) of a user of the apparatus  100 . As will be clear to a user of the apparatus  100 , the apparatus  100  generally looks and operates like a pair of glasses in that the two elongated side members  110 , 112  correspond to the temples and the first member  102  as the front (frame and lenses) of the eye glasses. 
     The translucent portion  108  can be formed on either the outside surface  114  or on the opposing, inside surface  116 . The translucent portion  108  (and those described below) can be formed in a number of ways. For example, the translucent portion  108  can be made by adhering a film to the first member  102 , either on the outside surface  114  or on the inside surface  116 . The film can be glued to the surfaces or by static cling. Alternatively, the translucent portion  108  can be made either mechanically (for example, by grinding one of the surfaces of the first member  102 ) or chemically (for example by etching the first member  102 ). 
     A second embodiment of an apparatus  200  for at least partially blocking a field of view is illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 . The apparatus  200  has a first member  202  that includes two smaller members, a first smaller member  202   a  and a second smaller member  202   b . The first smaller member  202   a  has an outside edge  204   a  and an inside edge  204   b . The second smaller member  202   b  has an outside edge  206   a  and an inside edge  206   b.    
     The first smaller member  202   a  and the second smaller member  202   b  each have a translucent portion  208 , which in  FIGS. 5-8  cover the entirety of the first smaller member  202   a  and the second smaller member  202   b . However, as described below in more detail, the translucent portion  208  may only cover a portion of the first smaller member  202   a  and the second smaller member  202   b.    
     The apparatus  200  also has a first elongated side member  210  attached adjacent the outside edge  204   a  of the first smaller member  202   a . The apparatus  200  also has a second elongated side member  212  attached adjacent the outside edge  206   a  of the second smaller member  202   b . The two elongated side members  210 , 212  extending rearwardly from the first smaller member  202   a  and the second smaller member  202   b  and they are generally parallel to another and lying in a single horizontal plane B. See  FIG. 8 . The elongated side members  210 , 212  could have any shape or configuration, not just the shape illustrated in the figures. 
     The two smaller members  202   a  and  202   b  are joined by an arcuate portion  226  that connects to the inside edge  204   b  of the first smaller member  202   a  and the inside edge  206   b  of second smaller member  202   b . The arcuate portion  226  has a rounded bottom edge portion that is configured to engage a bridge of a nose (not illustrated) of a user of the apparatus  200 . The arcuate portion  226  may be a separate piece (even made from a different material) or a continuation of (and thus integral with) the two smaller members  202   a  and  202   b.    
     The first smaller member  202   a  and a second smaller member  202   b  both have an outside surface  214  and an opposing, inside surface  216 . On the inside surface  216  are attachments  220  adjacent the outside edge  204   a  and the outside edge  206   a  for the two elongated side members  210 , 212 . The attachments  220  preferably include pins or screws  222  to allow for the two elongated side members  210 , 212  to be attached to the first member  102  in a rotatable manner. However, the elongated side members  210 , 212  could be fixedly attached to the attachments  220  or even fixedly attached directly to the two smaller members  202   a  and  202   b.    
     A third embodiment of an apparatus  300  for at least partially blocking a field of view is illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 . The apparatus  300  has a first member  302  extending between a first edge  304  and a second edge  306 . The first member  302  has a translucent portion  308   a  and two transparent portions  308   b , one on either side of the translucent portions  308   a . In this configuration, the person using the apparatus  300  may focus on the translucent portion  308   a  during meditation, and use the transparent portions  308   b  before and/or after meditating. The transparent portions  308   b  may also have an optical prescription if so desired. The translucent portion  308   a  covers about 40 percent of the first member  302 , but may cover anywhere from 20 to 70 percent. Additionally, while the translucent portions  308   a  appear to be of similar size and areas, they may be of different sizes and areas, meaning that the translucent portion  308   a  would be disposed farther up or down on the first member  302 . 
     The apparatus  300  also has a first elongated side member  310  attached adjacent the first edge  304  of the first member  302 . The apparatus  300  also has a second elongated side member  312  attached adjacent the second edge  306  of the first member  302 . The two elongated side members  310 , 312  extend rearwardly from the first member  302  and they are generally parallel to another and lying in a single horizontal plane C. See  FIG. 12 . The elongated side members  310 , 312  could have any shape or configuration, not just the shape illustrated in the figures. 
     The first member  302  has an outside surface  314  and an opposing, inside surface  316 . On the inside surface  316  are attachments  320  adjacent the first edge  304  and the second edge  306  for the two elongated side members  310 , 112 . The attachments  320  preferably include pins or screws  322  to allow for the two elongated side members  310 , 312  to be attached to the first member  302  in a rotatable manner. However, the elongated side members  310 , 312  could be fixedly attached to the attachments  320  or even fixedly attached directly to the first member  302 . 
     The first member  302  also includes a rounded bottom edge portion  324 , the rounded bottom edge portion  324  could be viewed as a cut-out portion of first member  302  that is configured to engage a bridge of a nose (not illustrated) of a user of the apparatus  300 . As will be clear to a user of the apparatus  300 , the apparatus  300  generally looks and operates like a pair of glasses in that the two elongated side members  310 , 312  correspond to the temples and the first member  302  as the front (frame and lenses) of the eye glasses. 
       FIGS. 13-16  illustrates a fourth embodiment of an apparatus  400  for at least partially blocking a field of view. The apparatus  400  has a first member  402  that includes two smaller members, a first smaller member  402   a  and a second smaller member  402   b . The first smaller member  402   a  has an outside edge  404   a  and an inside edge  404   b . The second smaller member  402   b  has an outside edge  406   a  and an inside edge  406   b.    
     Each of the first smaller member  402   a  and a second smaller member  402   b  have translucent portion  408   a  and two transparent portions  408   b , one on either side of the translucent portions  408   a . In this configuration, the person using the apparatus  400  may focus on the translucent portion  408   a  during meditation, and use the transparent portions  408   b  before and/or after meditating. The transparent portions  408   b  may also have an optical prescription if so desired. The translucent portion  408   a  covers about 40 percent of the first member  302 , but may cover anywhere from 20 to 70 percent. Additionally, while the translucent portions  408   a  appear to be of similar size and areas, they may be of different sizes and areas, meaning that the translucent portion  408   a  would move up or down on the first member  402 . 
     The apparatus  400  also has a first elongated side member  410  attached adjacent the outside edge  404   a  of the first smaller member  402   a . The apparatus  400  also has a second elongated side member  412  attached adjacent the outside edge  406   a  of the second smaller member  402   b . The two elongated side members  410 , 412  extending rearwardly from the first smaller member  202   a  and the second smaller member  402   b  and they are generally parallel to another and lying in a single horizontal plane D. See  FIG. 16 . The elongated side members  410 , 412  could have any shape or configuration, not just the shape illustrated in the figures. 
     The two smaller members  402   a  and  402   b  are joined by an arcuate portion  426  that connects to the inside edge  404   b  of the first smaller member  402   a  and the inside edge  406   b  of second smaller member  402   b . The arcuate portion  426  has a rounded bottom edge portion that is configured to engage a bridge of a nose (not illustrated) of a user of the apparatus  400 . The arcuate portion  426  may be a separate piece (even made from a different material) or a continuation (and thus integral) of the two smaller members  402   a  and  402   b . As illustrated, the arcuate portion  426  may also have a translucent portion or be transparent. 
     The first smaller member  402   a  and a second smaller member  402   b  both have an outside surface  414  and an opposing, inside surface  416 . On the inside surface  416  are attachments  420  adjacent the outside edge  404   a  and the outside edge  406   a  for the two elongated side members  410 , 412 . The attachments  420  preferably include pins or screws  422  to allow for the two elongated side members  410 , 412  to be attached to the first member  402  in a rotatable manner. However, the elongated side members  410 , 412  could be fixedly attached to the attachments  420  or even fixedly attached directly to the two smaller members  402   a  and  402   b.    
     Another embodiment of an apparatus  500  for at least partially blocking a field of view is illustrated in  FIGS. 17-20 . The apparatus  500  has a first member  502  that includes two smaller members, a first smaller member  502   a  and a second smaller member  502   b . The first smaller member  502   a  has an outside edge  504   a , an inside edge  504   b , and a top edge  504   c . The second smaller member  502   b  has an outside edge  506   a , an inside edge  506   b , and a top edge  506   c.    
     The first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b  each have a translucent portion  508 , which as illustrated in  FIGS. 17-19  cover a portion of the first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b . However, the translucent portion  508  may cover the entire surface of the first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b.    
     The apparatus  500  has a frame  518  to which the first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b  are attached. The first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b  are rotatably attached to the frame  518  at the top edge  504   c  and top edge  506   c , respectively. The first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b  have two openings  528  adjacent the top edge  504   c , 506   c  to allow a clip or other piece  530  to pass through the openings  528  and around a portion of the frame  518 . Preferably, the clip  530  will be chosen to allow the first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b  to remain either in an up position, such as illustrated in  FIG. 17  by second smaller member  502   b . The first smaller member  502   a  and a second smaller member  502   b  both have an outside surface  514  and an opposing, inside surface  516 . The translucent portion  508  may be disposed or formed on either the outside surface  514  or the inside surface  516 . 
     The apparatus  500  also has a first elongated side member  510  attached to the frame  518  adjacent the outside edge  504   a  of the first smaller member  502   a  (when the first smaller member  502   a  is in a down position). The apparatus  500  also has a second elongated side member  512  attached to the frame  518  adjacent the outside edge  506   a  of the second smaller member  502   b  when it is in the down position. The two elongated side members  510 , 512  extending rearwardly from the frame  518  and they are generally parallel to another and lying in a single horizontal plane E. See  FIG. 20 . The elongated side members  510 , 512  could have any shape or configuration, not just the shape illustrated in the figures. 
     The frame  518  includes an arcuate portion  526  that connects the two frame portions supporting the first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b . The arcuate portion  526  has a rounded bottom edge portion that is configured to engage a bridge of a nose (not illustrated) of a user of the apparatus  500 . 
     The frame  518  may also include attachments  520  for the two elongated side members  510 , 512 . The attachments  520  preferably include pins or screws  522  to allow for the two elongated side members  510 , 512  to be attached to the frame  518  in a rotatable manner. However, the elongated side members  510 , 512  could be fixedly attached to the frame  518 . 
     A sixth embodiment of an apparatus  600  for at least partially blocking a field of view is illustrated in  FIGS. 21-22 . In this embodiment, a frame  618  of a pair of glasses has a first smaller member  602   a  and the second smaller member  602   b . The first smaller member  602   a  and the second smaller member  602   b  each have a translucent portion  608   a , which as illustrated cover a top portion of the first smaller member  602   a  and the second smaller member  602   b . The translucent portion  608   a  may also be present on the lower portion (reversed with the transparent portion  608   b ) or cover the entire surface of the first smaller member  502   a  and the second smaller member  502   b  and come within the scope of the present invention. The first smaller member  602   a  and a second smaller member  602   b  both have an outside surface  614  and an opposing, inside surface  616 . The translucent portion  608   a  may be disposed or formed on either the outside surface  614  or the inside surface  616 . 
     The use of the apparatus according to the present invention will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 23-35 . In  FIG. 23 , a person  700  is illustrated focusing on a wall during mindfulness meditation using a wall  702  as a focal zone. However, such a focal zone is not always possible or available to those wanting to engage in mindfulness meditation. Thus, the person  700  is depicted in  FIG. 24  as using one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention to create a focal zone  704  without the need to have a blank wall or other appropriate location. As a result, the person  700  can really create a focal zone where ever they may be. And  FIG. 25  illustrates the use of the apparatus according to the present invention by person  700  in a group setting. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.