Patent Publication Number: US-2007113322-A1

Title: Face shield

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to the field of safety mechanisms. More specifically the present invention relates to a face shield formed of a durable shield panel configured to correspond substantially to and follow the contours of a human face, and having laterally mounted and rearwardly protruding panel support arms for resting on user ears and a nose bridge structure protruding rearwardly from the shield panel rear surface for resting on a user nose and thereby supporting and spacing the shield panel from a user face, the shield panel preferably being formed of transparent plastic.  
      The nose bridge structure preferably includes a resilient or rigid nose bridge having a rearwardly extending U-shape with a bridge rearward segment bent upwardly relative to a bridge forward segment and sized to fit snugly over the bridge of a user nose. The shield panel preferably includes a vertical series of horizontal breathing slots, and the breathing slots preferably take the form of louvers.  
      The nose bridge structure preferably includes a nose bridge connection means including two horizontally spaced apart bridge mounting studs integral with and protruding rearwardly from the shield panel and the nose bridge preferably is tubular and has two forwardly opening tubular bridge passageway openings force fitted snugly and engagingly over respective bridge mounting studs. This construction is preferred because no fasteners appear on the front of the shield panel. Alternatively the nose bridge support includes two horizontally spaced apart screw ports in the central shield panel and two respective nose bridge mounting screws fitted rearwardly through the screw ports and engagingly into the tubular bridge passageway openings to secure the nose bridge to the shield panel.  
      The panel support arms preferably are secured to the shield panel with hinges. The panel hinges preferably each include a panel mounted hinge portion connected to the shield panel and an arm mounted hinge portion connected to a respective support arm. Each panel mounted hinge portion preferably one of: protrudes from and is integral with the shield panel rear surface adjacent the panel periphery, or as directly mounted to the panel peripheral edge, or is fastened to an elongate perimeter member secured to and extending along the panel peripheral edge.  
      An alternative to the panel support arms are two laterally spaced apart head hook arms with or without a nose bridge. The shield panel optionally is pigmented or coated with any of various colors, tints or a mirror coating.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      There have long been face covering devices for shielding the face from impact, water and various wavelengths of light. These prior devices generally have not fully covered the face, have not been spaced a sufficient distance from the face or any distance from the face to permit breathing without shortening the device to expose a portion of the face including the nose, such as goggles, have been awkward to put on, and have not be capable of properly fitting all sizes and shapes of faces so that several size devices must be provided.  
      It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a face shield which covers the entire face for full protection.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide such a face shield which spaces itself from the user face a sufficient distance, such as one quarter inch minimum, to permit breaths to be drawn and exhaled freely behind the shield.  
      It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a face shield which is put on and taken off in the same way as a pair of glasses, for speed and ease of use.  
      It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a face shield which is universal in that one size fits everyone.  
      It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a face shield which is sturdy, reliable, suited to numerous shielding functions, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.  
      A face shield is provided, including a shield panel sized to cover at least a portion of a human face; a panel support structure mounted to the shield panel and protruding rearwardly for abutting and holding the face shield on a user head; and a nose bridge structure protruding rearwardly from the shield panel for resting on a user nose and thereby supporting the shield panel while spacing the shield panel from a user face.  
      The shield panel preferably is configured to substantially follow the contours of a human face. The shield panel preferably is formed of transparent material. The nose bridge structure preferably includes a nose bridge having a rearwardly extending U-shape with a bridge rearward segment bent upwardly relative to a substantially horizontal bridge forward segment and sized to fit comfortably and snugly over a user nose. The shield panel preferably includes an air vent having at least one breathing opening.  
      The at least one breathing opening preferably includes a vertical series of horizontally extending breathing slots. The breathing slots preferably each include a horizontal cut in the shield panel having a slot upper lip portion immediately above the cut and a slot lower lip portion immediately below the cut, and the slot upper lip portion protruding forwardly relative to the slot lower lip portion to define an air passing separation between the slot upper lip portion and the slot lower lip portions while the slot upper lip portion deflects sunlight and debris from entering the slot.  
      The nose bridge structure preferably includes a nose bridge connection structure including two horizontally spaced apart bridge mounting studs integral with and protruding inwardly from the shield panel and where the nose bridge comprises two forwardly opening bridge passageway openings force fitted snugly and engagingly over respective bridge mounting studs. The nose bridge connection structure alternatively includes two horizontally spaced apart screw ports in the shield panel and two nose bridge mounting screws fitted rearwardly through respective screw ports and engagingly fitted into the bridge passageway openings to secure the nose bridge to the shield panel. Still alternatively the panel support structure includes panel support arms laterally to the shield panel for resting on user ears.  
      The panel support arms preferably are secured to the shield panel with panel hinges. The panel hinges each preferably include a panel mounted hinge portion connected to the shield panel and an arm mounted hinge portion connected to a respective support arm. The shield panel includes a panel periphery and a panel peripheral edge and the panel mounted hinge portions optionally one of: protrude from and are integral with the shield panel rear surface adjacent to the panel periphery; and are directly mounted to the panel peripheral edge; and are fastened to an elongate perimeter member secured to and extending along the panel peripheral edge.  
      The shield panel optionally has one of: pigmentation and a tint and a mirror coating. The shield panel has a shield panel upper end and optionally is truncated at the shield panel upper end. Still alternatively shield panel is opaque.  
      The shield panel optionally has at least one of: an impact resistant resin, an anti-fog hard coat, and a scratch resistant hard coat, an ultraviolet light protection resin, and an ultraviolet protection coating.  
      The shield panel has a panel upper end and the support arms optionally are head hook arms secured to the shield panel upper end and shaped to wrap over the top of a user head, with or without a nose bridge. The shield panel has a panel upper end and the support structure optionally includes a support cap for fitting onto a user head, the support cap having a cap forward end, where the shield panel extends into the support cap and is secured within the cap forward end. The shield support structure optionally includes an ear engaging structure.  
      The shield panel can be truncated at its upper end at a point just above the eyes so that the user can wear a hat or cap not connected to the face shield.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective rear view of the preferred embodiment of the face shield having hinge portions protruding from the panel peripheral edge.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective rear view of the preferred embodiment of the face shield having hinge portions protruding from the panel periphery spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective rear view as in  FIG. 1  having a shield panel perimeter member joined directly to the shield panel peripheral edge where the panel mounted hinge portions are secured to the peripheral member.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 1  in which two screws pass rearwardly through the shield panel for fitting into forwardly opening tubular nose bridge open ends.  
       FIG. 5  is a view as in  FIG. 4  in which tubular nose bridge open ends protrude forwardly for fitting over member studs protruding rearwardly from the shield panel.  
       FIG. 6  is a view as in  FIG. 4 , in which a hollow tubular bridge mounting member extends rearwardly from the shield panel, and a nose bridge mounting screw is fitted forwardly through a screw passageway through the middle of a forwardly protruding nose bridge strut engagingly into the hollow interior of the bridge mounting member.  
       FIG. 7  is a view as in  FIG. 5  in which two tubular bridge mounting members protrude rearwardly from the shield panel and the nose bridge has a screw port at each end through which nose bridge mounting screws are fitted which register with and engagingly enter respective tubular bridge mounting members.  
       FIG. 8  is a view as in  FIG. 5  except that the nose bridge has a forwardly protruding slat for fitting snugly and engagingly into a tubular member protruding rearwardly from the shield panel.  
       FIG. 9  is a view as in  FIG. 1  except that the hinge portion is fastened to an elongate panel perimeter member extending along the panel peripheral edge.  
       FIG. 10  is a view as in  FIG. 9  except that the elongate panel perimeter member is spaced apart from and connected to the panel peripheral edge.  
       FIG. 11  is a view as in  FIG. 1  except that the ear engaging panel support arms are replaced with two head engaging hook arms. The face shield may be provided with or without a nose bridge.  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective front view as in  FIG. 11  except that the shield panel upper end is truncated and the head engaging hook arms are replaced with a cap which may be either separate from or secured to the panel upper end.  
       FIG. 12  is a view as in  FIG. 12  with an alternative cap style illustrated.  
       FIG. 14  is a view as in  FIG. 12  with yet another cap style illustrated.  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective front view as in  FIG. 1  except that the ear engaging panel support arms are replaced with a strap mesh structure for fitting onto the user head.  
       FIG. 16  is a view as in  FIG. 15  except that a head engaging pivoting bill replaces the strap mesh.  
       FIG. 17  is a view as in  FIG. 16  except that ear engaging structures replace the pivoting bill.  
       FIG. 18  is view as in  FIG. 1  omitting the hinge structures and including a forehead abutment structure and a chin spacer.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
      Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.  
     First Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-18 , a face shield  10  is disclosed which includes a durable shield panel  20  configured to correspond substantially to and follow the contours of a human face, and having laterally mounted and a panel support structure  40  such as rearwardly protruding panel support arms  42  for resting on user ears and a nose bridge structure  60  protruding rearwardly from the shield panel  20  central rear surface for resting on a user nose and thereby supporting and spacing the shield panel  20  from a user face, the shield panel  20  preferably being formed of transparent plastic.  
      The nose bridge structure  60  preferably includes a resilient or rigid nose bridge  70  having a rearwardly extending U-shape with a substantially horizontal bridge forward segment  74  and a bridge rearward segment  72  bent upwardly relative to the bridge forward segment  74  and sized to fit snugly over the bridge of a human nose.  
      The nose bridge structure  60  preferably includes nose bridge connection means  80  including two horizontally spaced apart bridge mounting studs  82  integral with and protruding rearwardly from the shield panel  20 . Alternatively a centrally positioned single mounting stud  82  is provided on shield panel  20  and the nose bridge  70  has a single centrally positioned tubular bride passageway opening  72  which force or press fits over the single mounting stud  82 . This construction is preferred because no fasteners appear on the front of the shield panel  20 .  
      Several alternative versions of nose bridge structures  60  are specifically contemplated. For yet another version, the nose bridge connection means  80  includes two horizontally spaced apart screw ports  84  in the central shield panel  20  and two respective nose bridge mounting screws  86  fitted rearwardly through the screw ports  84  and engagingly into the tubular bridge passageway openings  72  to secure the nose bridge  70  to the shield panel  20 . See  FIG. 4 . For still another version, the nose bridge  70  has two forwardly protruding tubular nose bridge open ends  76  which fit snugly and engagingly over nose bridge mounting members  82  in the form of studs. See  FIG. 5 . For a further version, a hollow tubular bridge mounting member  82  is provided, and a nose bridge mounting screw  86  is fitted forwardly through a screw passageway  88  through the middle of a forwardly protruding nose bridge strut  70  engagingly into the hollow interior of the bridge mounting member  82 . See  FIG. 6 . For one such version, hollow tubular bridge mounting members  82  are provided, and a nose bridge mounting screws  86  are fitted forwardly through screw holes  88  in opposing ends of nose bridge  70  engagingly into the hollow interiors of the bridge mounting members  82 . See  FIG. 7 . For a yet further version, the nose bridge connection means  80  includes a laterally elongate tubular member  92  secured to the shield panel  20  and opening rearwardly, and the nose bridge  70  has a forwardly protruding slat  94  which fits snugly and engagingly into the tubular member  92 . See  FIG. 8 .  
      The panel support arms  42  preferably are secured to the shield panel  20  with panel hinges  170 . The panel hinges  170  preferably each include a panel mounted hinge portion  172  connected to the shield panel  20  and an arm mounted hinge portion  174  connected to a respective support arm  40 . Each panel mounted hinge portion  172  preferably one of: protrudes from and is integral with the shield panel  20  rear surface adjacent the panel periphery  22  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or is directly mounted to the panel peripheral edge  24  as shown in  FIG. 1 , or is fastened to an elongate panel perimeter member  26  secured to and extending along the panel peripheral edge  24 , as shown in  FIG. 9  which may be spaced outward from the peripheral edge  24  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Alteratively the perimeter member  26  is attached or molded to the peripheral edge  24 , preferably in the same way that ordinary eyeglass frames fit around sun glass lenses. See  FIG. 3 .  
      Another contemplated panel support structure  40  are two laterally spaced apart head hook arms  182 . See  FIG. 9 . Head hook arms  182  are secured to the shield panel  20  upper end and extend rearwardly, and are shaped to engagingly wrap over the top of the user head. A nose bridge is optional. Yet another alternative to panel support arms  40  is a support cap  110 . See  FIGS. 12-14 . The shield panel  20  upper end is inserted into and secured within support cap  110  forward end with any suitable fastening means such as glue. The shield panel  20  upper end alternatively is secured to a network of straps  120  for fitting over a user head. See  FIG. 15 . As a variation of this embodiment, a single strap  120  for wrapping around the back of the user head is provided. A pivoting bill  130  mounted on opposing hinge rivets  132  is optionally provided. See  FIG. 14 . An ear engaging structure  140  alternatively or additionally to any of the above panel support structures  40 , protrudes inwardly from each side of the shield panel  20 . See  FIG. 17 .  
      The shield panel  20  preferably has a rearwardly and laterally extending forehead abutment spacer  150 . See  FIG. 18 . Forehead abutment spacer  150  preferably is secured to the inward face of shield panel  20  with spacer screws  152  or other fastening means, and preferably is absorbent to function as a sweat band, and may provide additional support for the face shield  10 . A chin spacer  160 , preferably in the form of a resilient pad may be additionally provided, and once again may provide additional support for the face shield  10 .  
      The shield panel  20  preferably has an air vent  80  which preferably includes a vertical series of horizontally extending breathing slots  192 , the breathing slots preferably taking the form of louvers. See  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The louvers are horizontal cuts in the shield panel  20 , each having a slot upper lip portion  192   a  immediately above each cut protruding forwardly of a slot lower lip portion  192   b  immediately below each cut to define a separation between the upper and lower cut edges through which air can pass, while the forwardly protruding upper lip portion  192   a  deflects sunlight and debris from entering the slot  192 . For virtually all embodiments, it is noted that breathing slots  192  are optional and can be omitted if desired, since the spacing of the shield panel  20  from the user face permits breathing.  
      The shield panel  20  optionally is pigmented or coated with any of various colors, tints or a mirror coating. Additionally or alternatively, the shield panel  20  has an impact resistant resin, an anti-fog hard coat, or a scratch resistant hard coat, an ultraviolet light (UV) protection resin, or an ultraviolet protection coating. The face shield may be of different shapes and sizes to fit children and adults of various ages, and the shield panel  20  may be truncated at its upper end so that the user can wear a hard hat or virtually any hat. The hat or a cap  110  can be secured to the face shield  10  or separate from face shield  10  if other shield panel  20  support means are provided. A nontransparent shield panel  20  is also contemplated for various uses such as for protecting the user face during sun tanning.  
      While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.  
     PARTS LIST  
     
         
           10 . Face shield  
           20 . Shield panel  
           22 . Panel periphery  
           24 . Panel peripheral edge  
           26 . Panel perimeter member  
           40 . Panel support structure  
           42 . Panel support arms  
           60 . Bridge structure  
           70 . Nose bridge  
           72 . Bridge rearward segment  
           74 . Bridge forward segment  
           76 . Studs on bridge itself  
           80 . Bridge connection means  
           82 . Bridge mounting members (studs)  
           84 . Screw ports  
           86 . Bridge mounting screw  
           88 . Screw passageway  
           92 . Laterally elongate tubular member  
           94 . Laterally elongate slat  
           110 . Support cap  
           120 . Network of straps  
           130 . Pivotal bill  
           132 . Pivotal bill hinge rivets  
           140 . Ear engaging structures  
           150 . Forehead spacer  
           152 . Forehead spacer screws  
           160 . Chin spacer  
           170 . Panel hinges  
           172 . Panel mounted hinge portion  
           174 . Arm mounted hinge portion  
           182 . Head hook arms  
           192 . Breathing slots  
           192   a . Slot upper lip portion  
           192   b . Slot lower lip portion