FACE SHIELD FOR COVERING FACIAL REGION OF SUBJECT
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a face shield for covering a facial region of a subject. The face shield includes a headband to be worn on a head of the subject. The face shield includes a face protector connectable to the headband for covering the facial region of the subject, wherein the face protector including a foldable structure having a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers of the foldable structure are held together for providing multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject.
This application is based on and derives the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/248,982, filed on Sep. 27, 2021, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present application relates generally to the field of personal protective equipment (PPE), and more specifically to a face shield for covering/protecting a facial region of a subject.
INTRODUCTIONIn general, personal protective equipment (PPE) can be used in healthcare sector to minimize exposure to potentially infectious microbes/airborne particles and prevent a user from spreading infection to others. The PPE may include at least one of, but is not limited to, surgical masks, non-surgical masks, gloves, googles, face shields, gowns, masks, respirators, coveralls, vests, full body suits, and so on. In particular, the face shield aims to provide coverage/protection for a face of the user by blocking inhalation of harmful airborne particles/microbes and spreading of aerosol or droplet borne microbes.
Existing face shields can cover the face of the user only until jaw, so that the face shield is completely open below the jaw. Since the face shield is completely open below the jaw, when the user sneezes, the droplet borne microbes can easily spread into air. Thus, the existing face shields can offer a basic level of coverage/protection to the user.
In addition, a length of the existing face shields is fixed. Therefore, the existing face shields can create a discomfort for the users with heads of different sizes and shapes.
SUMMARYAccordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure address these and other difficulties relating to the existing face shields.
An advantage of some embodiments is that a face shield is provided, which mitigates, alleviates, or eliminates all or at least some of the above-discussed drawbacks of the existing face shields.
An advantage of some embodiments is that the face shield provides a complete coverage/protection for a facial region of a subject and comfortable fit adjustments for all subjects with heads of different sizes and shapes.
An advantage of some embodiments is that the face shield comprises a headband and a face protector connectable to the headband for providing the complete coverage for the facial region of the subject.
An advantage of some embodiments is that a face protector of the face shield comprises a foldable structure having a plurality of layers, which provides multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject (including below a jaw, sides, cheeks, and ears of the subject). As a result, spreading of aerosol or droplet borne microbes into air and inhalation of harmful airborne particles/microbes may be prevented.
An advantage of some embodiments is that the face protector comprising the foldable structure with the plurality of layers acts as a barrier between the facial region of the subject and a surrounding space of the subject. Such a barrier blocks spreading of the aerosol or the droplet borne microbes into the air and inhalation of the harmful airborne particles/microbes. As a result, spreading of droplet born microbes based diseases may be prevented.
An advantage of some embodiments is that components of the face shield are adjusted in accordance with a shape/size and at least one facial angle of the subject towards the face protector. As a result, the face shield may comfortably fit to the subjects with various sizes and shapes of heads. Also, the face shield may fit in a slim profile.
Exemplary embodiments include a face shield for covering a facial region of a subject. The face shield comprises a headband to be worn on a head of the subject. The face shield further comprises a face protector connectable to the headband for covering the facial region of the subject, wherein the face protector being comprising a foldable structure having a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers of the foldable structure are held together for providing multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject.
In some embodiments, the face shield further comprises a forehead rest connectable to the face protector and a forehead of the subject for providing a spacing between the face protector and the facial region of the subject.
In some embodiments, a length of the headband and the face protector is in accordance with a shape of the head and at least one facial angle of the subject.
In some embodiments, the headband comprises a headband foam pad comprising a plurality of protrusions. The headband further comprises a rigid hairband comprising a plurality of first slots for adjusting a length of the rigid hairband in connection with the headband foam pad. One of the plurality of first slots is occupied by one of the plurality of first protrusions after adjusting the length of the rigid hairband in connection with the headband foam pad.
In some embodiments, the headband foam pad is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam.
In some embodiments, the rigid hairband is made of a soft plastic material.
In some embodiments, the rigid hairband comprises one or more filter-mounting pins for mounting at least one filter on the face protector.
In some embodiments, the at least one filter comprises a facemask.
In some embodiments, the foldable structure of the face protector comprises an upper layer connectable to the forehead rest for covering an upper facial region of the subject. The upper layer comprises at least one first holding element being arranged at side edges of the upper layer. The foldable structure further comprises a central layer and a lower layer for covering a middle facial region and a lower facial region of the subject, respectively. The central layer and the lower layer comprise a plurality of second holding elements being arranged at side edges of the central layer and the lower layer.
In some embodiments, the at least one first holding element and the plurality of second holding elements may include one or more of: magnets, and velcros.
In some embodiments, the at least one first holding element of the upper layer being adapted for connecting the face protector to the headband.
In some embodiments, each of the central layer and the lower layer comprises a plurality of second slots and fold lines. The plurality of second slots of the central layer and the lower layer are fastened using the plurality of second holding elements to hold the central layer and the lower layer together for providing the multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject.
In some embodiments, the plurality of second slots of the central layer and the lower layer are fastened using the plurality of second holding elements by folding the face protector with a flat profile from the lower layer towards the central layer and folding the central layer and the lower layer along with the fold lines towards a center of the face protector.
In some embodiments, the face protector is sterilized using an ultra violet light (UV-C).
In some embodiments, the face protector is made of a transparent, flexible, and antimicrobial plastic.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following Detailed Description in view of the Drawings briefly described below.
The embodiments herein, the various features, and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
As mentioned above, there is a need for a face shield for providing a complete coverage for a facial region of a subject and providing comfortable fit adjustments for all the subjects according to a shape and size of their head. The embodiments herein achieve this by providing a face shield comprising a face protector connectable to a headband, wherein the face protector comprises a foldable structure having a plurality of layers for providing multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject. As a result, the face shield prevents the subject from inhaling harmful microbes or spreading of aerosols or droplets borne microbes into air. In addition, a length of the headband and the face protector is in accordance with a shape and at least one facial angle of the subject towards the face protector. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the face shield 100 may provide a complete coverage/protection (including a region below a jaw, sides, cheeks and ears of the subject) for the facial region of the subject. As shown in
The headband 102 to be worn on a head of the subject. The headband 102 may be adapted to hold the face protector 104 for covering the facial region of the subject.
The face protector 104 is connectable to the headband 102 for covering the facial region of the subject. The face protector 104 comprises a foldable structure 108 having a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers of the foldable structure 108 may act as a barrier between the facial region of the subject and a surrounding space of the subject. The plurality of layers of the foldable structure 108 are held/fastened together for providing the multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject.
In some embodiments, a length of the headband 102 and the face protector 104 may be in accordance with a shape of the head and at least one facial angle of the subject towards the face protector 104 (i.e., a portion or an angle of face that is showing towards the face protector 104). Thus, the face shield 100 may provide comfortable fit adjustments for all the subjects according to a shape and size of their head.
The forehead rest 106 referred herein may be a foam pad, which is connectable to the face protector 104 and a forehead of the subject for providing a spacing between the face protector 104 and the facial region of the subject.
Various components of the face shield 100 arranged to cover the facial region of the subject are explained in conjunction with figures in later parts of the description.
The headband foam pad 202 may comprise a plurality of protrusions. For simplicity, the headband foam pad 202 comprising protrusions 206 is shown in
The headband foam pad 202 may be connectable to the rigid headband 204 that encircles a base of a main body of the headband 102. In some examples, the rigid headband 204 may be made of a soft plastic material. As shown in
The mask-mounting pins 220 may be arranged at side edges of the rigid hairband 204. The filter-mounting pins/mask-mounting pins 220 may be adapted for mounting at least one filter on the face protector 104. In some examples, the at least one filter may be a facemask. Thus, the subject may use the mask-mounting pins 220 to wear the facemask without placing any stress on ears. The facemask may be used for additional protection against spreading or inhaling of droplet borne microbes.
The rigid hairband 204 may comprise a plurality of slots/holes. In embodiments disclosed herein, the slots of the rigid hairband 204 may be referred to as first slots, headband slots, or the like. For simplicity, the rigid hairband 204 comprising two first slots 210a and 210b is shown in
The rigid hairband 204 comprises the filter-mounting pins/mask-mounting pins 220 and earpieces 222 being arranged at side edges of the rigid hairband 204. The mask-mounting pins 220 may be adapted to mount the facemask/filter on the face protector 104, thereby providing an in-built provision for the subject to wear the facemask without applying any stress on ears. The earpieces 222 may allow the subject to comfortably use the earphones while wearing the face shield 100 and the facemask. In some examples, the mask-mounting pins 220 and the earpieces 222 may be made of a soft plastic material.
In some embodiments, the length of the headband 102 may be adjusted by adjusting the length of the rigid hairband 204 in accordance with the shape/size of the head of the subject. The length of the rigid hairband 204 may be adjusted by sliding one of the protrusions 206 of the headband foam pad 202 into one of the first slots (210a, 210b) of the rigid hairband 204 selected by the subject in accordance with the shape/size of the head of the subject.
The mask-mounting pins 220 may be provide an in-built provision for the subject to wear the facemask without applying any stress on ears. The earpieces 222 may allow the subject to comfortably use the earphones while wearing the face shield 100 and the facemask.
The face protector 104 comprises the foldable structure 108 comprising the plurality of layers (may also be referred to as plurality of origami folds, since the folds are inspired from origami). In some embodiments, each of the plurality of layers ensure that the face protector 104 may be unfolded flat in a slim profile.
In an embodiment herein, as shown in
Each layer may comprise a plurality of holding elements. The upper layer 302 comprises two holding elements 308a and 308b, wherein the two holding elements 308a and 308b being arranged at side edges of the upper layer 302. In embodiments disclosed herein, the two holding elements 308a and 308b of the upper layer 302 may be referred to as first holding elements 308a and 308b. The first holding elements 308a and 308b of the upper layer 302 may be adapted to connect the face protector 104 to the headband 102. In some embodiments, the first holding elements 308a and 308b of the upper layer 302 may connect the face protector 104 to the earpieces 222 being arranged on the rigid hairband 204 of the headband 102. In some examples, the holding elements 308a and 308b of the upper layer 302 may connect the face protector 104 to the earpieces 222 in accordance with the shape and the at least one facial angle of the subject towards the face protector 104.
The central layer 304 comprises two holding elements 310a and 310b, wherein the two holding elements 310a and 310b being arranged at side edges of the central layer 304. The lower layer 306 comprises two holding elements 312a and 312b, wherein the two holding elements 312a and 312b being arranged at side edges of the lower layer 306. In embodiments disclosed herein, the holding elements 310a, 310b, 312a, and 312b of the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 may be referred to as second holding elements ((310a, 310b), (312a, 312b)).
In some embodiments, the first and second holding elements ((308a, 308b), (310a, 310b), and (312a, 312b)) may include one or more of: magnets, and velcros. In some examples, the magnets disclosed herein may include neodymium magnets.
The central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 comprise a plurality of slots/holes and fold lines 314. As shown in
In some embodiments, the plurality of second slots ((316a, 316b), (318a, 318b)) of the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 may be fastened using the plurality of second holding elements ((310a, 310b), (312a, 312b)) for holding the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 together. Holding the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 together using the second holding elements ((310a, 310b), (312a, 312b)) provides the multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject.
In some embodiments, the plurality of second slots ((316a, 316b), (318a, 318b)) of the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 may be fastened using the plurality of second holding elements ((310a, 310b), (312a, 312b)) by folding the face protector 104 with a flat profile from the lower layer 306 towards the central layer 304 and folding the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 along with the fold lines 314 towards a center/center region of the face protector 104.
For holding/assembling the plurality of layers/cuts 304 and 306 of the foldable structure 108, the face protector 104 may be arranged to be in the flat profile, as shown in
The face protector 104 is connected to the headband 102 for covering the facial region of the subject. The face protector 104 comprises the foldable structure 108 having the plurality of layers that is the upper layer 302, the central layer 304, and the lower layer 306. The central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 are held together for providing the multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject. The forehead rest 106 is connected to the face protector 104 and a forehead of the subject for providing a spacing between the facial region of the subject and the face protector 104, so that that the user may wear other filters like the face mask 502 for additional protection. In some examples, the forehead rest 106 may be made of an EVA foam. In some examples, the headband 102 and the forehead rest 106 may be aesthetically modified with multiple colors, patterns, or the like.
The headband 102 comprises the headband foam pad 202 and the rigid headband 204. The headband foam pad 202 may comprise the protrusions, for example, X shaped protrusions 206. The rigid hairband 204 may comprise the first slots, for example, X shaped slots 210a and 210b, the earpieces 222, and the mask-mounting pins 220. The length of the rigid hairband 204 may be adjusted in connection with the headband foam pad 202 by sliding one of the X shaped protrusions 206 of the headband foam pad 202 into one of the X shaped first slots 210a and 210b of the rigid hairband 204. Thus, the length of the headband 102 may be adjusted in accordance with the shape/size of the head of the subject.
In some examples, the foam pad may be made of an EVA foam and the rigid hairband 204 may be made of a soft plastic. Thus, retractable nature of the headband 102 due to its natural shape and the material allows for secure fit to the head of the subject.
The mask-mounting pins 220 may be adapted to mount the facemask 502 on the face protector 104, so that the subject may be allowed to wear the facemask without applying any stress on ears. The earpieces 222 may allow the subject to use the earphones while wearing the face shield 100 and the facemask.
The face protector 104 is being connected to the headband 102 for covering the facial region of the subject. The face protector 104 comprises the upper layer 302, the central layer 304, and the lower layer 306. The upper layer 302 is connectable to the forehead rest 106. The forehead rest 106 may provide a spacing between the face protector 104 and the forehead of the subject, so that the user may allow to wear other filters like the face mask 502. The upper layer 302 further comprises the first holding elements 308a and 308b at the side edges, which connects the face protector 104 to the earpieces 222 of the rigid headband 204 of the headband 102 at a suitable position. Thus, the face protector 104 is connected to the headband 102 and the length of the face protector 104 is adjusted in accordance with the shape and the facial angle of the subject using the first holding elements 308a and 308b.
The central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 are held/fastened together for providing multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject. The central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 may be held together by fastening the plurality of second slots ((316a, 316b), (318a, 318b)) of the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306 using the plurality of second holding elements ((310a, 310b), (312a, 312b)) being arranged at side edges of the central layer 304 and the lower layer 306.
Thus, the face shield 100 disclosed herein provides a complete coverage for the facial region of the subject and comfortable fit adjustments for all the subjects according to a shape and size of their head.
Advantages of the embodiment herein provides a more complete coverage (including below a jaw, sides, cheeks, or the like) for the face of the subject to ensure lesser spread or inhalation of droplets borne microbes. Due to the foldable structure of the face protector, it is ensured that multiple levels/layers of coverage are available to the subject. Further, the face shield allows the subjects with various sizes and shapes of heads to have a comfortable fit. Even smaller sized PET plastic face protector for kids may be made using origami inspired face protector. In some examples, bone conduction devices may also be used along with the face shield.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A face shield for covering a facial region of a subject, the face shield comprising:
- a headband to be worn on a head of the subject; and
- a face protector connectable to the headband for covering the facial region of the subject, wherein the face protector being comprising a foldable structure having a plurality of layers,
- wherein the plurality of layers of the foldable structure are held together for providing multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject.
2. The face shield according to claim 1, wherein the face shield further comprises a forehead rest connectable to the face protector and a forehead of the subject for providing a spacing between the face protector and the facial region of the subject.
3. The face shield according to claim 1, wherein a length of the headband and the face protector is in accordance with a shape of the head and at least one facial angle of the subject towards the face protector.
4. The face shield according to claim 1, wherein the headband comprises:
- a headband foam pad comprising a plurality of protrusions; and
- a rigid hairband comprising a plurality of first slots for adjusting a length of the rigid hairband in connection with the headband foam pad, wherein one of the plurality of first slots is occupied by one of the plurality of protrusions after adjusting the length of the rigid hairband in connection with the headband foam pad.
5. The face shield according to claim 4, wherein the headband foam pad is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam.
6. The face shield according to claim 4, wherein the rigid hairband is made of a soft plastic material.
7. The face shield according to claim 4, wherein the rigid hairband comprises one or more filter-mounting pins for mounting at least one filter on the face protector.
8. The face shield according to claim 7, wherein the at least one filter comprises a facemask.
9. The face shield according to claim 1, wherein the foldable structure of the face protector comprises:
- an upper layer connectable to the forehead rest for covering an upper facial region of the subject, wherein the upper layer comprises at least one first holding element being arranged at side edges of the upper layer; and
- a central layer and a lower layer for covering a middle facial region and a lower facial region of the subject, respectively, wherein the central layer and the lower layer comprise a plurality of second holding elements being arranged at side edges of the central layer and the lower layer.
10. The face shield according to claim 9, wherein the at least one first holding element and the plurality of second holding elements include one or more of: magnets, and velcros.
11. The face shield according to claim 9, wherein the at least one first holding element of the upper layer being adapted for connecting the face protector to the headband.
12. The face shield according to claim 9, wherein each of the central layer and the lower layer comprises a plurality of second slots and fold lines,
- wherein the plurality of second slots of the central layer and the lower layer are fastened using the plurality of second holding elements to hold the central layer and the lower layer together for providing the multiple layers of coverage for the facial region of the subject.
13. The face shield according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of second slots of the central layer and the lower layer are fastened using the plurality of second holding elements by folding the face protector with a flat profile from the lower layer towards the central layer and folding the central layer and the lower layer along with the fold lines towards a center of the face protector.
14. The face shield according to claim 1, wherein the face protector is sterilized using an ultra violet light (UV-C).
15. The face shield according to claim 1, wherein the face protector is made of a transparent, flexible, and antimicrobial plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 27, 2022
Publication Date: Mar 30, 2023
Inventors: Vyasateja J N (Bangalore), Arun Kumar Murugan (Chennai)
Application Number: 17/953,438