Patent Description:
Improvement is desired in the manufacture of disposable eye shields of the type having a molded plastic frame with ear pieces and a lens that is secured to the frame to provide an eye shield.

One need in the prior art is for eye shields that can easily be stacked one on top of another for shipping and dispensing and that tend to remain parallel to one another in the stacked orientation. Conventional eye shields are provided in stacks in boxes, but the eye shields become entangled and shifted and become difficult to dispense without a user handling several of the eye shields at a time.

United States Patent <CIT> discloses an eye shield dispenser. The dispenser has a front panel, a rear panel, first and second front side panels, first and second rear side panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel. The front panel includes an access port providing access for removal of eye shields contained therein. An optional inclined surface is disposed in the interior of the dispenser near the access port, and eye shields are configured to be placed thereon and manually removed therefrom. The dispenser is shaped to generally correspond with the shape of the eye shields to hold the eye shields in place such that an inner insert is not required.

United States Patent Application <CIT> discloses a flip-to-wear eye shield system. By integrating a hinge into elements of the frame and/or the lens, the eye shield can be manufactured and assembled more quickly and with less costs. In an embodiment, a lens may click (or snap) onto molded posts of a frame in a substantially flat position. An integrated living hinge in the frame may bend to allow the lens to flip downwards toward the frame to a second position for use. The posts may also click (or snap) into place in an underside of the frames. In another embodiment, a lens may click (or snap) onto molded posts of a flame in a substantially flat position. An integrated living hinge, formed by notches in the lens, may allow the lens to bend to flip downwards to the frame to a second position for use. A dispenser allows storing the eye shields in the flat position and dispensing in the second position for use.

United States Patent Application <CIT> discloses an eye shield dispenser. The dispenser includes a tower portion including a front wall, a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls, and an insert portion located within the tower portion, the insert portion including a front wall, and a pair side of walls attached to opposite edges of the front wall. The dispenser also includes an opening in a portion of the tower portion, and at least one tab located in the opening. The tower portion and insert portion are preferably made from a single blank of material. In another embodiment, the insert portion includes a front wall, and a first wing and a second wing attached to opposite edges of the front wall.

The present disclosure advantageously provides aesthetically pleasing eye shields configured to facilitate stacking of the eye shields so that the eye shields remain aligned and parallel to one another and do not entangle so that a user can just grasp the top most eye shield from the stack and not have to handle underlying ones.

The present disclosure also advantageously provides eye shields having a snap-fit feature that enables the lens to be easily attached to the frame and also to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. The snap-fit feature is also specially configured to facilitate stacking of the eye shields.

Also provided in the disclosure is a container that aesthetically and structurally compliments the stacked eye shields and facilitates shipping and dispensing of the eye shields.

The above and other needs are met by an improved eye shield configured to be provided in a stack of like eye shields for shipping and dispensing.

In one aspect, a stack of eye shields according to the disclosure includes a plurality of eye shields each having a frame with receivers located along the frame and latches located to engage the receivers, and spaced apart elevated support surfaces along and rising above an upper portion of the frame; and a lens installed on the frame and having lens apertures extending through the lens and aligned with the receivers of the frame, with the latches engaged with the receivers securing the lens to the frame.

The eye shields are stacked one on top of another with each of the eye shields oriented substantially parallel to one another with each of the elevated surfaces of an overlying one of the frames of the stack being slightly forward of a corresponding one of the elevated surfaces of the underlying frame of the stack, with each frame of each eye shield of the stack having a gap therebetween except at contact surfaces where the elevated support surfaces contact an adjacent lower surface of an overlying eye shield. The elevated support surfaces of the frames stabilize the stack of the eye shields for shipping and dispensing of the stack of the eye shields.

Further advantages of the disclosure are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:.

With reference to the drawings, the disclosure provides an eye shield <NUM>. The eye shields <NUM> are desirably configured to facilitate vertical stacking of the eye shields <NUM> so that the eye shields <NUM> do not entangle so that a user can just grasp the top most eye shield from the stack and not have to handle underlying ones.

The appearance of the eye shields <NUM> is also configured to be aesthetically pleasing and includes various ornamental aspects and features.

The eye shield <NUM> has a lens <NUM> attached in a releasable snap-fit relationship to a frame <NUM> by hinged brow latches <NUM> and hinged temple latches <NUM> of the frame <NUM>.

The lens <NUM> is preferably a one-piece plastic lens die cut from flat plastic film or other suitable lens material. The lens <NUM> includes a plurality of spaced apart lens apertures 12a and 12b defined adjacent an upper edge of the lens <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> is preferably of molded plastic construction and has ear pieces 14a and a curved brow piece 14b. The brow piece 14b preferably has reduced material so as to flex for good fit, but may include an elevated central stiffener 14c and corner braces 14d to maintain desired rigidity. As described more fully below, the elevated stiffener 14c and other elevated structures of the frame <NUM> desirably aid in the stacking of the eye shields <NUM>. The ear pieces 14a meet the brow piece 14b at junctures 14e that are desirably non-linear and angle the ear pieces 14a inwardly.

The brow piece 14b also includes brow receivers <NUM> and temple receivers <NUM> formed thereon configured to cooperate with the lens apertures 12a and 12b and the latches <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, as described more fully below.

The frame <NUM> also includes a plurality of elongate, narrow elevated members or ridges <NUM> defined along upper surfaces of the ear pieces 14a of the frame <NUM>. As described in more detail below, the ridges <NUM> of the frames <NUM> cooperate to facilitate vertical stacking of the eye shields <NUM> and enable maintenance of the stacked eye shields <NUM> in a vertically stacked and substantially parallel relationship for shipping and dispensing of the eye shields <NUM> in the stacked relationship.

The hinged brow latches <NUM> are specially configured to cooperate with the receivers <NUM> and the lens apertures 12a and hold the lens <NUM> in place on the frame <NUM>. The hinged brow latches <NUM> are also configured to be easily unlatched from the receiver <NUM> for removal of the lens <NUM>, and re-latched for replacement of the lens <NUM> if desired. The hinged brow latches <NUM> are preferably of unitary plastic construction co-formed with the frame <NUM>.

The hinged temple latches <NUM> are specially configured to cooperate with the receivers <NUM> and the lens apertures 12b and hold the lens <NUM> in place on the frame <NUM>. The hinged temple latches <NUM> are also configured to be easily unlatched from the receivers <NUM> for removal of the lens <NUM>, and re-latched for replacement of the lens <NUM> if desired. The hinged temple latches <NUM> are preferably of unitary plastic construction co-formed with the frame <NUM>.

As explained more fully below, the hinged brow latches <NUM> and the hinged temple latches <NUM> are configured to rise above the frame <NUM> and to assist in stacking of the eye shields <NUM>.

The hinged brow latches <NUM> and the hinged temple latches <NUM> are substantially similar, except as explained more fully below, the hinged temple latches <NUM> are even further configured to assist with stacking of the eye shields. The hinged brow latches <NUM> could be configured in the same manner, but it has been observed that the locations of the hinged brow latches <NUM> do not cause them to be involved in stacking of the eye shields in the same manner as the hinged temple latches <NUM>.

With additional reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the hinged brow latches <NUM> include a flap 16a hingedly attached to an upper edge of the brow piece 14b as by a hinge 16b, which is preferably a living hinge. The flap 16a is desirably a thin, flat member configured to provide a continuous flat surface, except for a central void area or window 16c formed on the flap 16a. The window 16c provides desired aesthetics to the appearance of the hinged latch <NUM>, and also enables desirable flexion to the flap 16a when force is applied to facilitate disengagement of the hinged latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM>. An elongate catch 16d is located to extend from an inner surface of the flap 16a and located below the window 16c and configured to extend at an upward angle into the receiver <NUM> to engage with the receiver <NUM> in a snap-fit relationship when the flap 16a is closed. The catch 16d includes a projecting tooth 16dd located and configured to engage the receiver <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the hinged temple latches <NUM> include a flap 17a hingedly attached to an upper edge of the brow piece 14b as by a hinge 17b, which is preferably a living hinge. The flap 17a is desirably a thin, flat member configured to provide a continuous flat surface, except for a central void area or window 17c formed on the flap 17a. The window 17c provides desired aesthetics to the appearance of the hinged latch <NUM>, and also enables desirable flexion to the flap 17a when force is applied to facilitate disengagement of the hinged latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM>. An elongate catch 17d is located to extend from an inner surface of the flap 17a and located below the window 17c and configured to extend at an upward angle into the receiver <NUM> to engage with the receiver <NUM> in a snap-fit relationship when the flap 19a is closed. The catch 17d includes a projecting tooth 17dd located and configured to engage the receiver <NUM>.

As mentioned previously, the latches <NUM> and <NUM> are substantially similar, except the hinged temple latches <NUM> are configured to further assist with stacking of the eye shields beyond that which is provided by the latches <NUM>. The difference between the hinge <NUM> and the hinge <NUM> is that the elongate catch 17d of the latch <NUM> is longer than the elongate catch 16d of the latch <NUM>.

As such, and with reference to <FIG>, this causes the lowermost rear surface of the flap 17a to be spaced apart from the lens <NUM> and angled away from the lens <NUM> at an angle a to provide a pocket 17e. Angle a is typically from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees when the eye shields <NUM> are not stacked, with the angle a decreasing for stacked eye shields due to the weight of the stack. In explanation, when the eye shields <NUM> are stacked, the angle a may approach zero as the lens <NUM> may be touching the rear surface of the flap 17a, which allows the next lower adjacent frame/lens to nest into position. Once the frame <NUM> is removed from the stack, the angle a of the latches <NUM> of that frame will be around <NUM>-<NUM> degrees. The maximum angle of angle a for the latch <NUM> in the latched position is preferably about <NUM> degrees.

As shown in <FIG>, the pocket 17e is configured to receive the underlying latch <NUM> of an underlying eye shield <NUM> in a stack of the eye shields <NUM>. The pocket 17e also advantageously provides room or clearance for the lens <NUM> to flex for stacking of the eye shields <NUM> to reduce stresses on the lens <NUM> due to stacking.

The receivers <NUM> and are spaced and located to correspond to the locations of the lens apertures 12a. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the receivers <NUM> define an elongate cavity and are formed along a lower frontal edge of the curved brow piece 14b. The receivers <NUM> are open at the bottom and the front with a rear wall 18a, opposite side walls 18b, sloped entrance wall 18c, and rear ceiling 18d. A catch wall 18e is located between the entrance wall 18c and the rear ceiling 18d and is preferably substantially vertical. A lower portion of the catch wall 18e provides a catch surface 19ee for cooperating with the latch <NUM>.

The receivers <NUM> correspond in configuration to the receivers <NUM> and are spaced and located to correspond to the locations of the lens apertures 12b. As shown in <FIG>, the receivers <NUM> define an elongate cavity and are formed along lower temporal edges of the curved brow piece 14b. The receivers <NUM> are open at the bottom and the front with a rear wall 19a, opposite side walls 19b, sloped entrance wall 19c, and rear ceiling 19d. A catch wall 19e is located between the entrance wall 19c and the rear ceiling 19d and is preferably substantially vertical. A lower portion of the catch wall 19e provides a catch surface 19ee for cooperating with the latch <NUM>.

During assembly of the eye shield <NUM>, the lens <NUM> is located so that the apertures 12a of the lens <NUM> overlie the receivers <NUM> and the apertures 12b overlie the receivers <NUM>. The hinged brow latches <NUM> are likewise located to engage the receivers <NUM> and the hinged temple latches <NUM> are located to engage the receivers <NUM>.

To engage the latch <NUM> with the receiver <NUM>, the flap 16a is rotated so as to pass the catch 16d into the receiver <NUM> through the aligned lens aperture 12a and opening of the receiver <NUM> located between the side walls 18b of the receiver <NUM>. As will be noted, the catch 16d is inclined to match the slope of the sloped entrance wall 18c, which angle is preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees. The catch 16d has a length configured so that when the flap 16a is flush with the lens <NUM> the tooth 16dd snugly engages the catch surface 18ee in a snap-fit frictional relationship and remains engaged with the catch surface 18ee unless force is applied as described herein to disengage the tooth 16dd from the catch surface 18ee.

If it is desired to disengage the latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM> so as to be able to remove the lens <NUM> from the frame <NUM>, a lower edge of the flap 16a may be grasped, as by a fingernail or the like, and the lower edge of the flap 16a flexed rearward slightly to disengage the tooth 16dd from the catch surface 18ee. In this regard the window 16c of the flap 16a enables desirable flexion to the flap 16a when force is applied to facilitate disengagement of the hinged latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM>. The flexion provided by the window 16c avoids permanent bending or the flap 17a.

The sloped configuration of the catch 16d and the entrance wall 18c of the receiver <NUM> and the configurations of the tooth 16dd and the catch surface 18ee also cooperate such that only a very small amount of flexion of the flap 16a is needed to disengage the latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM>, yet the latch <NUM> otherwise remains snugly engaged in the receiver <NUM>. Synergistic with this is the configuration of the catch 16d below the window 16c such that focused force is applied to a lower edge of the flap 16a and the flap 16a is not permanently deformed such that the flap 16a returns to its original flat shape to enable the latch <NUM> to be repeatably engageable and disengageable with the receiver <NUM>.

In a similar manner. to engage the latch <NUM> with the receiver <NUM>, the flap 17a is rotated so as to pass the catch 17d into the receiver <NUM> through the aligned lens aperture 12b and opening of the receiver <NUM> located between the side walls 19b of the receiver <NUM>. As will be noted, the catch 17d is inclined to match the slope of the sloped entrance wall 19c, which angle is preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees. As noted above, the catch 17d has a length longer than that of the catch 16d so that the lowermost rear surface of the flap 17a is apart from the lens <NUM> and angled away from the lens <NUM> to provide the pocket 17e. However, as will be noted in <FIG>, the uppermost portion of the flap 17a above the window 17c engages the lens <NUM> so that the tooth 17dd is in tension and snugly engages the catch surface 19ee in a snap-fit frictional relationship and remains engaged with the catch surface 19ee unless force is applied as described herein to disengage the tooth 17dd from the catch surface 17ee.

If it is desired to disengage the latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM> so as to be able to remove the lens <NUM> from the frame <NUM>, a lower edge of the flap 17a may be grasped, as by a fingernail or the like, and the lower edge of the flap 17a flexed rearward slightly to disengage the tooth 17dd from the catch surface 19ee. In this regard the window 17c of the flap 17a enables desirable flexion to the flap 17a when force is applied to facilitate disengagement of the hinged latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM>. The flexion provided by the window 17c avoids permanent bending or the flap 17a.

The sloped configuration of the catch 17d and the entrance wall 19c of the receiver <NUM> and the configurations of the tooth 17dd and the catch surface 19ee also cooperate such that only a very small amount of flexion of the flap 17a is needed to disengage the latch <NUM> from the receiver <NUM>, yet the latch <NUM> otherwise remains snugly engaged in the receiver <NUM>. Synergistic with this is the configuration of the catch 17d below the window 17c such that focused force is applied to a lower edge of the flap 17a and the flap 17a is not permanently deformed such that the flap 17a returns to its original flat shape to enable the latch <NUM> to be repeatably engageable and disengageable with the receiver <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> there is shown an alternative embodiment of a receiver <NUM>' and a latch <NUM>'. It will be appreciated that the modifications shown herein may also be applied to the latch <NUM> and the receiver <NUM>, but it has been observed that the alternate embodiment is best suited for use in place of the receiver <NUM> and latch <NUM>.

The latch <NUM>' is substantially similar to the latch <NUM>, except it includes a rib 16e extending outwardly from the catch 16d. The receiver <NUM>' is substantially similar to the receiver <NUM>, except it includes a pocket 18f defined to snugly receive the rib 16e. The rib 16e received in the pocket 18f serves to inhibit the lens <NUM> from shifting side-to-side.

<FIG> depict vertical stacking of the eye shields <NUM> and the stacking ridges <NUM>. The ridges <NUM> of the frames <NUM> cooperate to facilitate vertical stacking of the eye shields <NUM> and enable maintenance of the stacked eye shields <NUM> in a vertically stacked relationship for shipping and dispensing of the eye shields <NUM> in the stacked relationship.

In addition, the elevated upper surfaces of the latches <NUM> and the latches <NUM> aid in stacking of the eye shields <NUM>. Also, as seen in <FIG>, the pocket 17e of the latch <NUM> is configured to receive the underlying latch <NUM> of an underlying eye shield <NUM> in a stack of the eye shields <NUM>. The pocket 17e also advantageously provides room or clearance for the lens <NUM> of the underlying eye shield <NUM> to flex for stacking of the eye shields <NUM> to reduce stresses on the lens <NUM> due to stacking. The pocket 17e also helps to inhibit the eye shields <NUM> from shifting and becoming entangled.

With additional reference to <FIG>, the ridges <NUM> are defined on an upper surface of the frame <NUM> at the non-linear juncture 14e of each ear piece 14a to the brow piece 14b, so as to span along a portion of the ear piece 14a, the brow piece 14b and the juncture 14e. The ridges <NUM> are elongate, narrow ridges that define a crooked raised line along the top of the frame <NUM>. The manner of stacking of the ridges <NUM> also inhibits the eye shields <NUM> in the stack from shifting and becoming entangled so that a user can just grasp the top most eye shield from the stack to remove it from the stack and not have to handle underlying ones.

Returning now to <FIG>, it will be appreciated that the uppermost surfaces of the latches <NUM>, the latches <NUM>, the elevated stiffener 14c, and the ridges <NUM> all lie in a common plane elevated above the frame <NUM>. As such, the latches <NUM>, the latches <NUM>, the elevated stiffener 14c, and the ridges <NUM> of adjacent ones of the eye shields <NUM> in a stack are contact surfaces between the stacked eye shields <NUM>.

As a result, each frame <NUM> of each eye shield <NUM> of the stack has a gap G therebetween except at the elevated contact surfaces provided by the latches <NUM>, the latches <NUM>, the elevated stiffener 14c, and the ridges <NUM> of the lower eye shield which contact and support the lower surface of the frame <NUM> of the overlying eye shield <NUM> at contact points CP, as shown in <FIG>. Thus, the elevated contact surfaces provided by the latches <NUM>, the latches <NUM>, the elevated stiffener 14c, and the ridges <NUM> of the frames <NUM> stabilize the stack of the eye shields for shipping and dispensing of the stack of the eye shields.

As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, in stacking of the eye shields <NUM>, the stack is substantially vertical and the eye shields <NUM> are aligned to be substantially parallel P in a stack, but do not directly vertically stack. This is because of the thickness of the lenses <NUM> and that each upper lens <NUM> in a stack overlaps the underlying lens <NUM>. As such, each latch <NUM>, latch <NUM>, stiffener 14c, and upper ridge <NUM> in the stack is slightly forward of the latch <NUM>, latch <NUM>, stiffener 14c, and underlying ridge <NUM>.

Providing the ridges <NUM> at the temple locations of the frame <NUM> enables weight loading of the eye shields to be at locations away from or remote from the lenses <NUM> to avoid stresses to the lenses <NUM> from stacking of the eye shields <NUM>. Thus, the ridges <NUM> provide the primary weight bearing locations for the stack of eye shields.

With reference now to <FIG>, there is shown a dispensing container <NUM> for the stacked eye shields <NUM>. The dispensing container <NUM> is desirably configured for storing and shipment of the eye shields <NUM> in a stacked configuration as shown in <FIG>, and for dispensing of the eye shields <NUM> to users of the eye shields, as shown in <FIG>. The dispensing container <NUM> is also configured to be aesthetically pleasing and includes various ornamental aspects and features. The container <NUM> is also configured to facilitate the stacked eye shields and the dispensing of the of the eye shields in a manner such that a user can just grasp the top most eye shield <NUM> from the stack to remove it from the stack and not have to handle underlying ones.

The erected container includes a front 30a, sides 30b and 30c, rear 30d, bottom 30e, and top 30f. The front 30a, sides 30b and 30c, and rear 30d are vertical surfaces perpendicular to the bottom 30e and rise upwardly from bottom 30e, which is horizontal. The top 30f is slopes downwardly from the front 30a to the rear 30d and is disposed at an angle b relative to horizontal of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees, most preferably between about <NUM>-<NUM> degrees.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the eye shields <NUM> are substantially aligned to be substantially parallel to one another in the stack and are stacked in a sloped configuration in which the ear pieces <NUM> are generally aligned with one another and disposed at an angle c relative to the horizontal bottom 30e of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees, most preferably between about <NUM> and <NUM> degrees. Thus, the top 30f is desirably sloped to be substantially parallel to the generally uniformly sloped ear pieces <NUM> of the stacked eye shields <NUM>. It has been observed that the stacking features of the eye shields <NUM> tend to prevent at least the bulk of the eye shields from shifting and becoming entangled in the stack. That is, while a minor few of the eye shields could potentially shift a little from the stacked orientation as shown, it has been observed that the bulk of the eye shields do not shift and the stack does not become entangled such that a user can just grasp the top most eye shield from the stack to remove it from the stack and not have to handle underlying ones.

The dispensing container <NUM> may be of paperboard construction and formed of a one-piece blank <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The dispensing container <NUM> may be hung from a wall or the like, and may be supported by a wire hanger <NUM> that can be attached to a wall (<FIG>).

Returning to <FIG>, the blank <NUM> includes a front panel <NUM>, opposite side panels <NUM> and <NUM> foldable relative to the front panel <NUM>, and rear panel <NUM> foldable relative to the side panel <NUM>.

The front panel <NUM> includes a tear-away section 42a having a border formed by perforations and configured to be removed to enable access to the stacked eye shields <NUM>, a foldable top flap 42b, and a folding edge 42bb extending from the top flap 42b, with a slot 42bbb formed along the edge 42bb. The tear-away section <NUM> is generally T-shaped and includes portions that extend into the top flap 42b and the side panels <NUM> and <NUM> to facilitate access of the fingers of a user into the container <NUM> for removing the eye shields <NUM>, generally one at a time, from the stack of eye shields in the container <NUM>.

The side panel <NUM> includes a bottom flap 44a having a folding edge 44aa, a side flap 44b, and an upper flap 44c. The side panel <NUM> includes a bottom flap 46a having a folding edge 46aa, and an upper flap 46b. The rear panel <NUM> is includes a bottom flap 48a and an upper folding tab 48b configured to engage the slot 42bbb.

As will be appreciated, the disclosure advantageously provides eye shields configured to facilitate stacking of the eye shields so that the eye shields remain aligned and parallel to one another and do not entangle so that a user can just grasp the top most eye shield from the stack and not have to handle underlying ones.

The present disclosure advantageously also advantageously provides eye shields having a snap-fit feature that enables the lens to be easily attached to the frame and also to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. The snap-fit feature is also specially configured to facilitate stacking of the eye shields.

A container that compliments the stacked eye shields is also provided which facilitates shipping and dispensing of the eye shields.

Claim 1:
A stack of eye shields (<NUM>), comprising
a plurality of eye shields (<NUM>), each eye shield (<NUM>) having:
a frame (<NUM>) having at least two receivers (<NUM>, <NUM>) located along the frame (<NUM>) and at least two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>), each of the latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) located to engage one of the receivers (<NUM>, <NUM>), the frame (<NUM>) having a plurality of spaced apart elevated support surfaces along and rising above an upper portion of the frame (<NUM>); and
a lens (<NUM>) installed on the frame (<NUM>) and having at least two lens apertures (12a, 12b) extending through the lens (<NUM>), each of the apertures (12a, 12b) aligned with one of the receivers (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the frame (<NUM>) with each of the latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) engaged with one of the receivers (<NUM>, <NUM>) securing the lens (<NUM>) to the frame (<NUM>);
wherein the plurality of eye shields (<NUM>) is provided in a stack with the eye shields (<NUM>) stacked one on top of another with each of the eye shields (<NUM>) oriented substantially vertical and parallel to another one of the eye shields with each of the elevated surfaces of an overlying one of the frames (<NUM>) of the eye shields (<NUM>) in the stack being slightly forward of and overlapping a corresponding one of the elevated surfaces of an immediately underlying one of the frames (<NUM>) of the eye shields (<NUM>) in the stack, with each frame (<NUM>) of each eye shield (<NUM>) of the stack having a gap (G) therebetween except at contact surfaces of the frames (<NUM>) where the elevated support surfaces contact an adjacent lower surface of the frame (<NUM>) of its overlying eye shield (<NUM>), whereby the elevated support surfaces of the frames (<NUM>) stabilize the stack of the eye shields (<NUM>) for shipping and dispensing of the stack of the eye shields (<NUM>).