Protective skin shields

Abstract

A device for providing solar and ultraviolet radiation protection to facial skin. The device has a configuration at a high level of abstraction that resembles eye glasses. The device is comprised of symmetrical halves. In one embodiment, each of the symmetrical halves is comprised of a noise bridge having a flexible and resilient vertex and extension arms, a cheek shield and a temple arm.

Claims

1. A facial accessory for a human user that provides bilateral protection from sunlight and other ultraviolet radiation comprised of: a A nose bridge having a central vertex region that is resilient and a pair of extension arms which each extend from the central vertex region to a terminus and there being a spread distance between the terminuses and b a pair of cheek shields where each cheek shield has a plate-like structures, lateral surfaces, an outer boundary edge, defined to have frontal, rearward, upward and inner facing directions, a curvature so that the inner surface is capable of wrapping around the front of a user's face with a portion overlaying a user's cheek with said inner surface being concave-like to approximately conform to the topology of the cheek region of a user so as to provide a of user with substantial protection to shield regions a face from sunlight and other harmful ultraviolet radiation where each of the pair of cheek shields is connected to one of terminuses of the pair of extension arms, the pair of cheek shields, the nose bridge and the pair of extension arms comprise a continuous one piece construction of a same material whereby the facial accessory is adapted for when the pair of extension arms are in a state of having an increased spread distance between their terminuses there is a force urging the cheek shields inward that presses the pair of cheek shields against the face of a user to have some stabilizing effect of the facial accessory on the face of the user.

2. The facial accessory of claim 1 where the cheek shield has at least one vent opening whereby there is cooling between a user's cheek and the cheek shield.

3. The facial accessory of claim 1 having a pair of temple arms extending away from the rearward boundary of each of the cheek shields a distance so as to be capable of resting on the top of a user's ears.

4. The facial accessory of claim 3 where the temple arm has a hook region capable of engaging the rear of a user's ear and there is an extension length adjusting means for adjusting the distance that the temple arm extends between the rearward boundary of the cheek shield and the back of a user's ear.

5. The facial accessory of claim 4 where the extension length adjusting means is comprised of a row of a plurality of spaced apart holes and a corresponding row of a plurality of spaced apart posts with posts conformingly fitting into holes with a friction fit whereby the distance that the temple arm extends between the rearward boundary of the cheek shield and the back of a user's ear can be adjusted by selecting which posts are fitted into which holes.

6. A facial accessory for a human user that provides bilateral protection from sunlight and other ultraviolet radiation comprised of: a A nose bridge having a central vertex region that is resilient and a pair of extension arms which each extend from the central vertex region to a terminus and there being a spread distance between the terminuses; b a pair of cheek shields where each cheek shield has a plate-like structures, lateral surfaces, an outer boundary edge, defined to have frontal, rearward, upward and inner facing directions, a curvature configured so that the inner surface is capable of wrapping around the front of a user's face with a portion configured to be overlaying a user's cheek with said inner surface configured to be concave-like to approximately conform to the topology of the cheek region of a user so as provide a user with substantial protection to shield regions a of face from sunlight and other harmful ultraviolet radiation where each of the pair of cheek shields is connected to one of terminuses of the pair of extension arms, the pair of cheek shields, the nose bridge and the pair of extension arms comprise a continuous one piece construction of a same material whereby the facial accessory is adapted for when the pair of extension arms are in a state of having an increased spread distance between their terminuses there is a force urging the cheek shields inward that presses the pair of cheek shields against the face of a user to have some stabilizing effect of the facial accessory on the face of the user; c a pair of temple arms extending away from the rearward boundary of each of the cheek shields where each temple arm extends a distance so as to be capable of resting on the top of a user's ears, has a hook region capable of engaging the rear of a user's ear and an extension length adjusting means for adjusting the distance that the temple arm extends between the rearward boundary of the cheek shield and the back of a user's ear.

7. The facial accessory of claim 6 where the extension length adjusting means is comprised of a row of a plurality of spaced apart holes and a corresponding row of a plurality of spaced apart posts with posts conformingly fitting into holes with a friction fit whereby the distance that the temple arm extends between the rearward boundary of the cheek shield and the back of a user's ear can be adjusted by selecting which posts are fitted into which holes.

8. The facial accessory of claim 6 where the cheek shield has at least one vent opening whereby there is cooling between a user's cheek and the cheek shield.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Protective Skin Shields according to the present invention looking from the outside;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the Protective Skin Shields according to the present invention looking from the inside;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the Protective Skin Shields according to the present invention as being worn by a user where the broken lines depicting a human head shown throughout of the drawing are for illustrative purposes only and form no part of the claimed design;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the Protective Skin Shields according to the present invention and

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a temple arm with a plurality of posts according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) The present invention is described more fully in the following disclosure. In this disclosure, there is a discussion of embodiments of the invention and references to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the invention are shown. These specific embodiments are provided so that this invention will be understood by those skilled in the art. This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein below and in the drawings. The invention is embodied in many different forms and should be construed as such with reference to the appended claims.

(8) Referring to FIG. 1, in general terms and for an overview of the protective skin shields (10), embodiments of this invention are comprised of the following major components: (i) noise bridge (20), (ii) a cheek shield (30) and (iii) optionally temple arms (40).

(9) The protective skin shields (10) is worn on a human user's face. A human user's face is characterized as having a face with a nose, eyes, eye orbitals, cheek region, a temple region and a forehead region. The wearing on a human user's face defines a forward or frontal portion/direction, rearward portion/direction, an upper portion/direction, a lower portion/direction, an inner surface/direction and an outer surface/direction. Notwithstanding the typical literal meaning of the term “human,” within the spirit of the invention, human user would also encompass other primates, animals, aliens and supernatural creatures which may come to Earth that have faces having characteristics bearing similarities to that of a human face.

(10) Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, there is a nose bridge (20) having a central vertex region and a pair of extension arms with each extension arm extending from the central vertex region to a terminus and there being a spread distance between the terminuses. As with a standard nose bridge in eyeglasses, the vertex typically has a “U”-like or “V”-like configuration. While the terminuses of the extension arms are spaced apart like that in typical eyeglasses, unlike typical eye glasses, in preferred embodiments, the vertex is flexible and resilient with the distance between the terminuses of the extension arms being less than that that of the width or breath of a user's nose.

(11) Accordingly, when a user dons the protective skin shields (10) on the user's nose, the terminuses of the extension arms (40) are spread further apart.

(12) As mentioned, preferably, the vertex region is flexible whereby the spread between the terminuses of the pair of extension arms can be increased and decreased. More preferably, the vertex region is resilient whereby when the pair of extension arms are in a state of having an increased spread distance between their terminuses there is a force urging the cheek shields inward that presses the pair of cheek shields against the face of a user to have some stabilizing effect of the facial accessory on the face of the user.

(13) Preferably, the nose bridge (20) is a nose bridge have elongated extension arms compared to that in common glasses. Elongated extensions compared to that in the nose bridge of commonly worn eye glasses both allows for proper positioning of the cheek shields (30) on a user's face to overlay the cheek and acts as levers to maximize the central vertex region inwardly biasing and urging the cheek shields (30) towards a user's face to stabilize the device on the user's face.

(14) Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the cheek shield (30) is a plate-like structure. The plate-like structure has length, breadth, a peripheral or boundary edge, thickness and two oppositely opposed surfaces. The plate-like structure has the property of impeding the transmission of sun light and/or other ultraviolet radiation (discussed further below.) Depending on the material out which the cheek shield (30) is made (discussed below,) the thickness of the cheek shield (30) is typically between about 1/32 of an inch to about a ¼ of an inch. A thicker thickness is preferred for a more robust property of impeding sun light transmission and/or other ultraviolet light transmission. A thinner thickness is preferred for a more robust exchange of heat through the shield to reduce a heat build-up between the user's face and the inner surface of the shield. A thinner shield also keeps down weight for greater comfort by a user. These factors are balanced to achieve a desired overall performance.

(15) The cheek shield (30) is preferable fabricated from plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate and polyamides. A low-density material is preferred to keep down the weight of the shield and provide more comfort for a user when wearing the protective skin shields (10). With 3D printing technology evolving, the materials used in 3D printing and the method of 3D printing are viable for fabrication may become preferred for fabrication.

(16) In preferred embodiments, the shield is made from a flexibly deformable plastic that has a modulus of flexibility such that it is bendable to reduce the potential for face cutting in the event of impact. In alternative embodiments of the invention, colorants and light absorbing dopants can be added to the plastic to reduce or essentially completely prevent the transmission of sun light or other ultraviolet radiation. In an alternative embodiment, the cheek shield (30) can be fabricated from a bilayer of polarized material oriented out of phase; paper products; linens and/or metals.

(17) Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the plate-like structure has a curvature complementary to a user's face and wraps around the front of a user's face. In preferred embodiments, the inner surface is concave-like to accommodate the topography of a user's face and thereby conformably and stably rest on a user's face. The plate-like structure has shape so as overlay a user's cheek or significant portion of a user's cheek and can have a lower edge that follows a jaw bone line. The cheek shield (30) portion contacts a user's face at its boundary edge. Optionally, it can have a contact point or region to the cheek of a user so as to create lower contact point or region on the cheek of a user. In preferred embodiments, the inner topography to conform to a cheek is augment by an outer topography that is an aerodynamic configuration to reduce wind drag. This helps stabilize the protective skin shields (10) on a user's face

(18) Referring to FIG. 3, in a most preferred embodiment, the extension arms are of suitable length so that an upper boundary of the cheek shield (30) follows approximately along the zygomatic arch of a user and the inner surface with a concave-like inner surface to approximately conform to the topology of the cheek region of a user. The result being enhanced stabilization on a user's face.

(19) Referring to FIG. 4, in preferred embodiments, the cheek shield (30) has at least one vent opening (70) whereby there is cooling between a user's cheek and the cheek shield. The ventilation openings or heat diffusers (70) enhance the influx of cool air to a space between the inner surface of the shield and a user's face. The ventilation openings or heat diffusers (70) also allow for an out flux of hot air and sweat that may build up between the inner surface of the shield and a user's face. The ventilation openings or heat diffusers (70) can be circular, a slit, a polygon, an irregular shape and/or a combination of the foregoing. In a preferred embodiment, the ventilation openings or heat diffusers (70) are slits. In alternative embodiments, the ventilation openings or heat diffusers (70) can be in fluid communication with longitudinal channels fashioned into the inner surface of the shield that run along the surface so as to disburse cooling air to particular points spaced throughout the inner surface of the shield.

(20) Optionally, the cheek shield can have an upward appendage to overlay a portion of the temple region of a user (not illustrated.) This appendage can be configured to conform to the topography of a user's temple region.

(21) Not illustrated and optionally, the shield can be shaped, textured, colored, painted and/or decorated to have an attractive appearance. Users can decide from a large variety of designs, according to taste and fancy. Decorations and shaping include gothic, medieval, futuristic and robotic themes.

(22) Referring to FIGS. 1-3, optionally, there can be a pair of temple arms (40) extending away from the rearward boundary of each of the cheek shields (30) a distance so as to be capable of resting on the top of a user's ears. The temple arm (40) is similar at a high level of abstraction and conceptualization to the temple are of eye glasses. It extends along the side of the users face and has a hook region to engage the ear of a user. Referring to FIG. 1, optionally, the temple arm 30 has a hook region (50) capable of engaging the rear of a user's ear.

(23) Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in preferred embodiments having temple arms (40) there an extension length adjusting means for adjusting the distance that the temple arm extends between the rearward boundary of the cheek shield and the back of a user's ear. One physical structure (not illustrated) is a two-piece temple arm with one larger piece having perimeter tracking in which a smaller piece frictionally slides. Optionally, there can be a locking or clamping mechanism. Another physical structure is a temple arm with a friction ridden elbow joint (not illustrated.) This physical structure functions along the lines of a hypotonus triangle. The greater the bend angle, the shorter the distance from the rearward edge of the cheek shield (30) to the back of a user's ear. Optionally, there can be a locking or clamping mechanism.

(24) Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in most preferred embodiments, the extension length adjusting means is comprised of a row of a plurality of spaced apart holes (80) and a corresponding row of a plurality of spaced apart posts (90) with posts (90) conformingly fitting into holes (80) with a friction fit whereby the distance that the temple arm (40) extends between the rearward boundary of the cheek shield (30) and the back of a user's ear can be adjusted by selecting which posts (90) are fitted into which holes (80).

(25) Not illustrated, alternative versions of the protective skin shields (10) have compatible capabilities to smart phones, skin cell moistening systems, cooling systems, heat defusing systems, a measuring system that would advise a user of an extreme heat condition and/or a system that provides feedback of how much sun radiation has been repelled. An alternative version of the invention has the morphing capability of retractable shields that can be controlled by the user.

(26) The invention is used to shield and shade from sun light and other harmful ultraviolet radiation the face of a user. A user is providing a protective skin shields (10). The user dons the protective skin shields (10).

(27) An alternative embodiment of the present invention is a method for shading the face of an user from solar and/or other ultraviolet radiation. The method is comprised of the following steps: a. providing a protective skin shields (10) as disclosed above; b. donning the protective skin shields (10).

(28) The previously described versions of the present invention have many advantages. One advantage of the protective skin shields (10) is protecting from solar radiation and/or other harmful ultraviolet radiation areas of the face that are susceptible to developing melasma, age spots, moles and/or premature wrinkles. The protective skin shields (10) is a practical device to shade against lateral and frontal sun exposure.

(29) Another advantage of the protective skin shields (10) is that it is a solar radiation and/or other harmful ultraviolet radiation blocker without adding a heat build-up element and/or an unfashionable element by contemporary standards.

(30) Another advantage is that a protective skin shields (10) can be readily fabricated using commonly available materials and equipment based upon that which is available in the contemporary economy.

(31) Another advantage is that a protective skin shields (10) can be inexpensive based upon that which is commonly available in the contemporary economy.

(32) Another advantage arises from ozone layer depletion. As the ozone layer is depleted, ultraviolet radiation increases. A pair of sunglasses offers limited protection. The protective skin shields (10) provides a sun protection to a younger generation being exposed to greater ultraviolet radiation, as well as bring benefits to mature users.

(33) Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible with substituted, varied and/or modified materials and/or substituted, varied and/or modified steps are employed. These other versions do not depart from the invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.