Improvements in Eye Shields.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Eye Shields.
I ALFRED DWIGHT WARREN of Worcester in the County of Worcester and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Specialty Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The aim of this invention is to produce a new and improved eye shield or
protector that may be used in driving, by workmen in shops, &c.
To this end the invention consists of the device described and claimed in this
Specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which→
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my shield open and ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
Fig. 4 is a view of one of the blanks of which the device is made, and
Fig. 5 a plan with the device closed.
My device consists, primarily, of two sections of peculiar construction and nearly
similar in form, which are transversely hinged together.
In detail, A and B represent the rims, of thin flexible metal, which are
originally stamped out, as shown in Fig. 4. The two blanks for each eye-piece or
section are exactly the same, except that the piece B may have three hinge-joints
and the piece A may have two. Each blank consists of the rim, projecting from
which are the two series of tongues a and b.and the projections c, which are formed
into the hinge-joint, as described further on. The blank also has the projection d,
punched wherein is a small hole, in which may be secured means, as wires or an
elastic, for holding the shield on the face. On the rim is placed a piece of mica,
gelatine, or other transparent material, preferably but not necessarily of a flexible
texture. This piece of mica M is cut out the same shape as the rim and is laid on
the same, and the tongues or fingers a are bent back or over to secure the same in
place, as shown particularly on the right-hand section in Fig. 3. Now a piece of
felt rubber or other suitable material Fis bent to fit the rim, as shown, and these
pieces of felt are cut or stamped out in suitable form in large quantities. The
pieces of felt are formed with suitable holes, as ', gl, to afford ventilation, and with
suitable notches. The felt is placed around the rim, and the tongues are bent
over to fit the notches and hold tlie felt in place on the rim. Further, it will be
seen that the notches form additional ventilating-holes, and as the tongues & fit
in the notches no part of the metallic rim will come into contact with the face of
the wearer.
The pieces of the blanks are bent back and preferably soldered, so
as to form hinge-joints, and a suitable pin p is set in these joints, preferably by
heading the same over. so as to form a hinge connection between the two sertions.
Fastened to one of the sections are one or more projecting pieces g, which bear
against the other section when the two are opened, so that the sections can only be

page_text: opened to the position shown, but so that the two sections may be folded back on
each other, as shown in Fig. 5, for convenience in carrying. Further, it will be
seen that when the sections are folded together the felt will protect the mica from
being scratched.
The manner in which my device is used is apparent. The sections are opened
out as shown in Fig. 3, and as the mica and the rims are flexible the device can be
closed to snugly fit the face. If the mica should be broken, there would be no
flying pieces to strike the eye; but as the mica is not brittle this is not liable to
happen.
I contemplate in some instances using lenses, so as to form a pair of glasses, but
in this case the parts holding rigid lenses would not be flexible, though the lenses
themselves and the rinis A. & B. may be curved if desired to the form shown in
Fig. 3. The lenses are fixed in the shields A. B in same way as the mica above
described by simply bending the tongues a a over and upon their edges and then
applying the felt or rubber F as explained and securing same by the fingers bb.
thus the felt will allow the shield to conform nicely to the face of the wearer. By
the use of coloured mica the device is of great utility on the water, &c., where it is
desired to protect the eyes from the bright light and the wind. Further, as- the
device is entirely put together without the use of glue the same cannot come to
pieces if exposed to moisture, or if dampened from perspiration from the face of the
wearer.
I contemplate in some instances omitting the hinge-joint and making the device
in one section; but for most purposes the hinge is an important point.
Modifications of the device herein described may be made by a skilled mechanic
without departing from the scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An eye-shield comprising two transparent sections, each constructed of flexible
materials, transversely hinged together, substantially as described.
2. An eye-shield consisting of two transparent sections transversely hinged
together, each section being made of a flexible transparent material, and a flexible
binding for each section, substantially as described.
3. An eye-shield consisting of two transparent sections transversely hinged
together, each section made of mica and having a binding of light flexible metal,
and a strip of felt or other suitable material held by each of said bindings,
'substantially as described.
4. An eye-shield consisting of the rim having two sets of fingers, as a and b, a
transparent material held in place by the fingers a, and a strip of felt held in place
by the fingers b, substantially as described.
5. An eye-shield consisting of the rim having two sets of fingers, as a and b, a
transparent material held in place by the fingers a, and a strip of felt or suitable
material held in place by the fingers b, the felt being notched, as at f, to receive
the fingers b, substantially as described.
6. An eye-shield consisting of two sections transversely hinged together, each
section being constructed of a light flexible metallic rim, a trausparent flexible or
rigid material held by said rim, and a strip or binding of felt or suitable material
also held by said rim, substantially as described.
7. An eye-shield composed of two flexible sections hinged together, one of the
sections having the extending projections g, so arranged that the sections can be
opened so as to be only in substantially the same line and so that the same can then
be bent to fit the face, substantially as described.
8. The blank for eye-shields, comprising the rim having the two sets of laterally-
projecting fingers, as a and b, and the extending pieces e, which may be bent to
form hinge-joints, substantially as described.

page_text: 9. An eye-shield constructed substantially as herein described and set forth in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of February 1892.
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Filing Agent.