FACE SHIELD

Abstract

A face shield for shielding a user's face and neck from a light or radiation source, the face shield comprising a base member upon which a person lying in a supine position can place their head, a shade member arranged for positioning between the light source and the user's face and at least one elongate substantially upright member extending between the base member and the shade member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to protective devices for bodies and in particular to shields to protect a person's face and surrounding areas from the sun or other light source.

BACKGROUND ART

Shields for protecting a person's face from the sun are generally well known and there are many different types of shields available.

The general concept of a compact shade that blocks the face of someone sunbathing or lying in the sun, while allowing the circulation of air to flow naturally on and around that persons face and head while laying out tanning the rest of their body is known. The shade portion of the shield is usually made from protective material to assist with keeping the skin healthy and protected from the sun's rays and its many harmful effects that occur when the face is over exposed to the sun.

The devices are used to protect a sunbather's face from the suns harmful rays, providing maximum protection for the face from the sun while allowing the rest of the body to remain exposed. More people are becoming conscious of the damage that the sun can do to one's face and are taking various precautions to protect themselves from the fatal and/or irreversible damages such as; premature aging, sun spots, permanent scars from blemishes, skin cancer, heat stroke, and 2nd degree burns. The general concept allows sunbathers who enjoy lying in the sun, maximum protection from the sun for their face, while getting the circulation of air about the face and head that creates comfort while sunbathing.

The simplest precautions taken by sunbathers protecting their face from the sun while lying outside include placing a piece of clothing, a hat, cloth or some sort of fabric/material directly on one's face, which can cause a level of discomfort by not allowing the natural circulation of air. Therefore, the sunbather becomes hot, uncomfortable and may begin to sweat. Another common form of protection from the sun is sunscreen. Sunscreens are not 100% effective and are often heavy and may cause discomfort and/or skin irritations when applied to the face.

More advanced shields which allow air to circulate around a user's face were developed as a substitute. One such shield is a cloth covered framework having three panel sections hingedly attached to each other. The three panels include a horizontally positioned base panel on which the head is rested, a vertical header panel which supports a shade panel hingedly arranged for positioned in parallel alignment with the base panel as a sun shade. There are pockets on the outer surfaces of the panels and the framework can be folded up into a carrying package. The shade panel has side flaps for additional shading and as a retainer for the folded framework. Handles for carrying and fasteners for the side flaps as a retainer are provided.

Another configuration used is provided by a pair of rigid upright support members and a cross member connected to their upper ends from which a panel of flexible material is suspended by one edge. When the lower ends of the support members are pushed into the ground along a line perpendicular to the direction from which the wind blows, the panel is blown by the wind to a substantially horizontal position to provide a shaded area of a size to protect the face of a sun bather lying prone on the ground.

A third type of shade is provided by a face shield formed of a rigid transparent material, containing pigmenting or surface films to block the transmission of damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun. In cross-section, this material is formed into an arc. From each end of the arc, simple support legs are provided such that the face shield will rest on the earth surface with room for motion of the user's head beneath the shield. Air circulation is enhanced by such support and by ventilation holes in the face shield near the support legs. The support legs are foldable toward the concave centre of the face shield, and are useful as carrying handles for the face shield in an inverted position which can be used as a device to carry items.

A further relatively simple apparatus is a foldable face shade for a sunbather comprising a first U-shaped frame component, a second U-shaped frame component, a hinge movably connecting the tips of said first U-shaped frame component to the tips of said second U-shaped frame component, whereby said two U-shaped frame components form a frame foldable in half, and UV deflecting material attached to said frame.

The most common problem with the devices listed above is that the user does not have a high comfort level or level of support for their heads when using the shields. Incorrect support can lead to neck pain when the devices are used for extended periods of time.

They also tend to leave a person's head on the ground. It is well known that people who lie on the beach for instance and simply use a towel leaves the user's head on the towel at ground level and it is very common to get sand on the towel. When a person lies down on the towel, the sand on the towel is transferred to the person's head.

The present invention is directed to providing a shade device that not only protects a user's face from the sun and any ultraviolet rays while still allowing a user to have air circulate over their face, but also providing a comfortable head rest keeping a user's head off the ground and in alignment with the supine body.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a face shield, which may at least partially overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a face shield for shielding a user's face and neck from a light or radiation source, the face shield comprising a base member upon which a person lying in a supine position can place their head, a shade member arranged for positioning between the light source and the user's face and at least one elongate substantially upright member extending between the base member and the shade member.

The face shield is particularly adapted to block the sun from the face of the user while sunbathing or lying in the sun, while allowing the circulation of air to flow naturally on and around that persons face and head and allowing tanning to occur over the rest of their body.

The face shield comprises a base member upon which a person may place their head.

The base member may preferably be substantially similar to the shade member. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the base member may be inflatable and be disk-shaped or substantially circular. In this embodiment, the base member may suitably have a thicker outer annular portion and a thinner central portion. The thinner central portion may preferably be formed from a material which is substantially impermeable to ultraviolet light or rays. It is particularly preferred that the base member and the shade member are substantially similar as this will allow the user to locate their head on either member and still have a shade member located above their face. The central portion may preferably be recessed into the base member so as to allow a person's head to be comfortably located thereon.

The base member is preferably attached to the bottom of the upstanding member. Alternatively the base member may not be attached to the bottom of the outstanding member but may be attached part of the way down the upstanding member allowing the insertion of the remainder of the upstanding member into the ground until the base member is located adjacent the ground. This may prevent the face shield from moving when such is not required.

The base member is suitably similar in size to the shade member.

The shade member may preferably be a substantially planar member. As the shade member may be suitably located at an upper portion of the upstanding member, the shade member may preferably be quite light in weight. The shade member may suitably comprise one or more frame members with a material which is at least partially but preferably substantially impermeable to ultraviolet light or rays attached to or otherwise associated with the one or more frame members. In a particularly preferred form, there may be a single substantially circular frame member with the material attached to the frame member in order to provide shade.

The shade member is preferably large enough to provide shade to a user's head and/or part of their upper torso as well.

The shade member may preferably be movable with respect to the upstanding member between a first use positioned in which the shade member is configured to provide shade to a person's face and a second travel position wherein in the shade member or the face shield as a whole is configured to be more compact and therefore easily transportable.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shade member may be an at least partially inflatable member. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the shade member is disk-shaped or substantially circular. The inflatable shade member may suitably have a thicker outer annular portion and a thinner central portion. The central portion may be formed from a material which is substantially impermeable to ultraviolet light or rays but still allow person to see through the portion. This material may preferably be an ultra violet impermeable fabric for example. The central portion may preferably be recessed into the shade member so as to allow a person's head to be comfortably located thereon when the shade member is used as the base member.

The upstanding member may preferably be of any shape provided that the member is shaped so as not to prevent the airflow about the user's head.

The upstanding member may preferably be attached to a peripheral portion of the shade member. The outstanding member may suitably be pivotably attached to the peripheral portion of the shade member.

The upstanding member may be of any height suitable to allow a user to locate their head beneath the shade member. Most preferably, the upstanding member may be approximately between 20 and 50 cm in length.

The upstanding member may preferably be provided with a pointed or otherwise shaped lower portion in order to allow the upstanding member to be inserted into the ground. The lower portion may suitably be a wedge shaped portion.

The upstanding member may suitably be provided with a flattened or enlarged upper portion to allow a force to be exerted easily on the upstanding member in order to locate the upstanding member in the ground. The flattened or enlarged upper portion may be adapted to be struck with a hammer or pushed by a user's hand, for example.

The upstanding member may typically be wide enough to offer shade to a user's face from the sun when the sun is that a small angle of inclination to the horizon. In this situation, the upstanding member may be positioned between the sun and the user's face.

The upstanding member in the most preferred embodiment may be substantially vertical, but it should be clear that this is a preferred configuration only. The upstanding member may not be vertically oriented but instead be diagonal or even helical in nature.

In a most preferred aspect, the upstanding member may be inflatable. The upstanding member may suitably be resilient and may also be deformable. Ideally, the inflatable upstanding member may be manufactured from a strong but pliable plastic material, capable of maintaining its shape when inflated, but malleable when deflated.

Each of the members and preferably all of the members comprising the face shield may preferably be formed in discrete portions and may be separately inflatable and deflatable. Each member may further comprise a valve to inflate or deflate the member. Of course, one valve may allow inflation and deflation of the entire face shield simultaneously. Each valve may be adapted for use by means to inflate the member such as, a user's mouth or other means for example a pump. The valves on each of the members may be of a substantially similar type so that more than one means to inflate or deflate the member is not required.

The members may be detachably secured to one another in their assembled form. The members may be detached from one another in order to facilitate more convenient storage or transport of the face shield. There may be means for attachment located on each member to facilitate attachment to the other members.

The face shield may preferably further comprise a peg member associated with the face shield base portion adapted to be inserted into the ground to prevent the face shield from moving or blowing away.

The upstanding member may be rotatably connected to the base member and/or the shade member. The rotatable connection provided between any of the members may be adapted to be releasably secured in a particular position or orientation so as not to move when movement is not desired. For example, a means for releasably securing the rotatable connection in a particular position may be a pin member extending through the connection. Preferably the upstanding member may be rotatable about the horizontal only, in order to allow the user to maintain the face shield between the face and the sun as the sun moves across the sky during the day.

In order to further increase the adaptability of the face shield, the upstanding member may be provided with rotatable connections to both the base member and the shade member. The rotatable connections may be capable of rotating the attached members in a 360 degree arc with respect to the upstanding member.

In a broad form, the invention resides in a face shield for shielding a user's face and neck from a light or radiation source, the face shield comprising at least one elongate, substantially upright member, and a shade member arranged for positioning between the light source and the user's face. Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the face shield according to an aspect of the invention shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the face shield according to a second aspect of the invention in the travel configuration.

FIG. 3 shows the face shield of FIG. 2 in the use position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the face shield according to a third aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

According to an aspect of the invention, a face shield 10 is provided.

The face shield 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a first particular embodiment of the invention. The face shield of the first embodiment comprises a base member 11, an upstanding member 12 and a shade member 13. The face shield 10 is shown with a user 14 in position with their head placed on the base member 11 and shielded from sun by the shade member 13.

Both the base member 11 and the shade member 13 are substantially similar in this embodiment as the user 14 can then use the face shield in either orientation without sacrificing protection or comfort. The structure of both the base member 11 and the shade member 13 are described with reference to the shade member 13.

The shade member 13 is substantially circular in shape when viewed from above. The shade member 13 has an enlarged outer annular shaped portion 15 and a thinner central portion 16. The enlarged outer annular shaped portion 15 is inflatable. The thinner central portion 16 may be inflatable but need not be. Indeed, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the thinner central portion is shown as an at least partially transparent or see-through section which is attached to the outer annular shaped portion 15.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the three members, the base member 11, the upstanding member 12 and the shade member 13 are all attached to each other in a permanent fashion. While each member may have a separate valve for inflation and deflation of the member, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has only one valve 17 located on the upstanding member 12. This valve is used to inflate or deflate all three members simultaneously.

The face shield shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured from a lightweight, but strong and pliable material such as plastic.

According to the second embodiment of the invention shown, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the face shield 10 has an elongate upstanding member 12 having a sharpened or pointed lower end 18 adapted for insertion into the ground. The upstanding member 12 also has a flattened upper end 19 adapted for the application of a force thereto, in order to force or drive the lower end 18 of the upstanding member 12 into the ground.

The shade member as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown as a substantially circular frame member 20 with ultraviolet impermeable fabric 21 associated with the frame member 20. The shade member is rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end of the upstanding member 12. The shade member can be moved from the travel position or stored position shown in FIG. 2 into the shade position or use position shown in FIG. 3. According to this embodiment of the upstanding member 12 may be manufactured from a lightweight but strong and rigid plastic material, and the frame member 20 is manufactured from a lightweight but strong and rigid metal such as wire.

According to the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the base member 11 and the shade member 13 are again substantially similar. According to this embodiment, both the base member 11 and the shade member comprise a substantially circular frame member 20 with ultraviolet impermeable fabric 21 associated with the frame member 20. The upstanding member in this embodiment comprises a rigid lightweight member 22 extending diagonally or helically between the base member 11 and the shade member 13 and maintaining the spacing between them. The lightweight diagonal member 22 also provides additional support for an upstanding member comprising two substantially vertical frame members 23 with a portion of ultraviolet impermeable fabric 21 secured to and extending between the frame members 23.

The particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4 also comprises a peg member 24 secured to the frame member 20 of the base member 11 by a length of wire or string 25 or the like. The peg member 24 is adapted to be inserted into the ground to prevent the face shield 10 from moving or blowing away when the user leaves it for example, for an activity.

Claims

1. A face shield for shielding a user's face and neck from a light or radiation source, the face shield comprising a base member upon which a person lying in a supine position can place their head, a shade member arranged for positioning between the light source and the user's face and at least one elongate substantially upright member extending between the base member and the shade member.

2. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base member is inflatable.

3. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base member is disk-shaped.

4. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base member has a thicker outer annular portion and a thinner central portion.

5. The face shield as claimed in claim 4 wherein the central portion is recessed into the base member so as to allow a person's head to be comfortably located thereon.

6. The face shield as claimed in claim 4 wherein the thinner central portion is formed from a material which is substantially impermeable to ultraviolet light or rays.

7. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base member is attached to the bottom of the upstanding member.

8. The face shield as claimed in claim 2 wherein the base member is substantially similar to the shade member.

9. The face shield as claimed in claims 1 wherein the base member is attached part of the way down the upstanding member allowing insertion of a lower portion of the upstanding member into the ground until the base member is located adjacent the ground.

10. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shade member comprises one or more frame members with a material which is at least partially impermeable to ultraviolet light or rays associated with the one or more frame members.

11. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shade member is inflatable.

12. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shade member is disk-shaped.

13. The face shield as claimed in claim 11 wherein the shade member has a thicker outer annular portion and a thinner central portion.

14. The face shield as claimed in claim 13 wherein the central portion is recessed into the shade member.

15. The face shield as claimed in claim 13 wherein the thinner central portion is formed from a material which is substantially impermeable to ultraviolet light or rays.

16. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shade member is attached to an end of the upstanding member opposite the base member.

17. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upstanding member is attached to a peripheral portion of the shade member.

18. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upstanding member is provided with a shaped lower portion in order to allow the upstanding member to be inserted into the ground.

19. The face shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein any one or more of the base member, shade member and upstanding member are inflatable and deflatable.

20. The face shield as claimed in claim 19 wherein each member includes a valve to inflate or deflate the member.