Prescription Screen Protector

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transparent prescription screen protector. The transparent prescription screen protector provides a prescribed corrected power range for a user with a presbyopia vision defect. The screen protector also protects a display screen on which the cover is applied from scratches, breakage and other damage and debris. The screen protector is a multi-layer device, wherein the top layer is touch sensitive and is configured to receive the user's touch input. The bottom layer has an adhesive backing to removably secure the screen protector to the display screen. The intermediate layer has embedded prescription lenses with a prescribed power range and configured to compensate for the farsightedness vision defect of the user, thereby allowing the user to view the content displayed on the display screen clearly.

Claims

1. A prescription screen protector comprising: a prescription lens sized and configured to be applied over a display screen for an electronic device, the prescription lens provided in an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer having a first side and a second side; a cover layer disposed over the intermediate layer on the first side; and a base layer provided over the intermediate layer on the second side.

2. The prescription screen protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the base layer further comprises an adhesive layer.

3. The prescription screen protector as recited in claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer is one of a removable adhesive or a repositional adhesive.

4. The prescription screen protector as recited in claim 3, wherein the adhesive layer is covered with a release liner.

5. The prescription screen protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises an anti-glare or anti-reflective coating.

6. The prescription screen protector as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the cover layer, the base layer and the intermediate layer is comprised of a plastic, a polycarbonate, a vinyl, an acrylic, a polystyrene or a durable glass.

7. The prescription screen protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is comprised of one or more lens areas.

8. The prescription cover lens as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover layer is sized and configured for one of a smartphone, a tablet, a computer or a display screen.

9. The prescription cover lens as recited in claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer is transparent.

10. The prescription cover lens as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover layer does not interfere with a touch screen functionality of the display screen.

11. An electronic display screen and a corrective lens cover combination comprising: an electronic device having a display screen; and a display screen cover, the display screen cover having a corrective lens layer positioned between a top layer and a bottom layer, wherein the top layer is comprised of an anti-glare or anti-reflective coating and the bottom layer is comprised of an adhesive layer.

12. The electronic display screen and a corrective lens cover combination as recited in claim 11, wherein the adhesive layer is one of a repositional adhesive or a removable adhesive, and further wherein the adhesive layer is covered by a release layer.

13. The electronic display screen and a corrective lens cover combination as recited in claim 11, wherein the top layer is comprised of a polycarbonate material.

14. The electronic display screen and a corrective lens cover combination as recited in claim 11, wherein the corrective lens layer is comprised of a first zone and a second zone.

15. The electronic display screen and a corrective lens cover combination as recited in claim 14, wherein the first and second zones are different from one another.

16. The electronic display screen and a corrective lens cover combination as recited in claim 12, wherein the adhesive layer is transparent.

17. A method of creating a corrective lens for a display screen, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a prescription for the corrective lens; manufacturing a prescription lens cover for a user to match the prescription; creating a cover for a display screen which incorporates the prescription lens cover and forming a laminate; and installing the laminate over the display screen.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising a step of applying an anti-glare or anti-reflective coating over a top layer of the laminate after the step of manufacturing the prescription lens cover.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising a step of creating at least two different lens zones in the prescription lens cover after the step of obtain a prescription.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the laminate includes a cover layer, an intermediate layer and a bottom layer, and further wherein the top layer has an anti-glare coating, the intermediate layer has the prescription lens cover and the lower layer has one of a removable or a repositional adhesive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a prescription screen protector device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0016] FIG. 2A provides a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device of the present invention about to be applied to an electronic device in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0017] FIG. 2B provides a perspective view of another potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device of the present invention about to be applied to an electronic device in accordance with the disclosed architecture, wherein the prescription screen protector device is bifurcated;

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the various layers of one potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0019] FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of content being displayed on a display screen of a handheld electronic device as viewed by a user having farsightedness;

[0020] FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the same content being displayed on the display screen of the handheld electronic device as in FIG. 4A, but having one potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device of the present invention applied thereto in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of another potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary method of making the prescription screen protector device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0023] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0024] As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that helps people suffering from farsightedness in viewing nearby objects. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a device that can be used with various electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet devices, laptops and other devices for clearly reading the screen. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that can be adhered to the screen of the electronic devices and does not require the user to carry the device separately, thereby eliminating the chances of forgetting the device while travelling. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that eliminates the use of prescription glasses for reading a screen of electronic devices by people suffering from a farsightedness vision condition. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that prevents the users from suffering from any headaches, eye irritation or other similar conditions in case the user does not wear prescription glasses while reading the screen of phones or other devices. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that is easy to use and allows the users to view the phone screen or other display screens without needing to wear corrective lenses.

[0025] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, a novel transparent touch screen protector for an electronic device is disclosed. The transparent touch screen protector includes a plurality of embedded lenses with prescribed power or corrective range to compensate for the vision defect of a viewer. Each lens is a tiny lens embedded within the cover and is configured to refract the light emitting from a display screen on which the screen protector is applied. Further, the transparent touch screen protector has a bottom adhesive layer having a transparent adhesive, covered with a removable liner, to removably secure the protector to the display screen once the adhesive is exposed by the liner. The transparent touch screen protector covers some or the complete display screen of an electronic device and protects the display screen from scratches, breakage, and debris. A top layer can receive user input and does not interfere with the touch sensitive characteristics so as to operate the touch sensitive display screen of the handheld device.

[0026] For the present invention and the disclosed embodiments, it is contemplated that the electronic device or handheld device on which the screen protector of the present invention is applied and used has a touch-sensitive screen which allows a user to operate the electronic device. The user may depress various electronic buttons, keys, etc. electronically displayed on the touch sensitive screen to operate the electronic device to view content, play video, navigate, start applications, etc. The display screen can also be touch-insensitive as in case of portable laptops and few other handheld devices and is used for only viewing the content displayed on the display screen.

[0027] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a prescription screen protector device 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the screen protector 100 of the present invention is configured and dimensioned to adhere to a display screen of an electronic device and cover all or a portion of the display screen. The screen protector 100 has a top touch-sensitive protective layer 102 and a bottom adhesive layer 104. The bottom layer 104 has a transparent adhesive layer to adhere to the display screen of the electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet or the like.

[0028] The screen protector 100 has a plurality of lenses between the top layer 102 and the bottom layer 104. In FIG. 1, the lenses are shown virtually as cross-section of the vertical lines and the horizontal lines. It should be appreciated that the cover 100 can have thousands or tens of thousands of lenses integrated in the cover 100. The lenses are integrated as per a prescribed corrective power. An exemplary lens 106 is shown that refracts the light rays coming from the display screen allowing a viewer to read the content shown on the display screen clearly. Integrated lenses of the screen protector 100 have corrective power as per a prescription allowing people with farsightedness (hyperopia or presbyopia) to easily read and view the content shown on the display screen. The screen protector 100 comes in different ranges of prescription allowing people to choose the screen protector 100 needed to reach a 20/20 vision level. In preferred embodiment, a single screen cover 100 can cover a range of prescriptions to address or include, for example, nearsightedness, blue screen, etc.

[0029] The lenses are integrated within the screen cover 100 and are nano in size. In one embodiment, the lens can be a Fresnel lens that acts as a convex lens for correcting farsightedness of a viewer. The person using an electronic device with screen cover 100 of the correct prescription can read the displayed content without wearing correcting glasses. The screen cover 100 does not cause eye strain and does not cause a headache to the viewer of the display screen. The lenses compensate for the vision defect i.e., farsightedness of a person and allow the person to read the content displayed on the touch-sensitive display screen without the need for glasses. It should be noted that a person can read the content easily while wearing the glasses as well.

[0030] The screen protector 100 is transparent and can be made up of plastic, polycarbonate, vinyl, acrylic, polystyrene or durable glass. The screen cover 100 is sufficiently hard or stiff so that it does not bend or collapse under its own weight, to contact the screen of a handheld device when the protector is applied horizontally onto the handheld device. The screen cover 100 is thin enough to allow the operation of the top layer 102. A user can seamlessly operate the touch-based display screen of the handheld device by performing touch operation using the cover 100.

[0031] The top layer 102 may be coated to have an anti-glare or anti-reflective coating. This reduces static effects and allows the fingers and thumb to move smoothly on the top layer 102 of the screen protector 100. The adhesive layer 104 of the cover 100 has sufficient adhesiveness or tackiness to mount the screen protector 100 onto display surface of the handheld device, but enables the removal without leaving any adhesive residue on the device. The adhesive layer is covered with a release layer or liner such as a silicone coated sheet which is peeled off, exposing the adhesive prior to application to the screen of the display device.

[0032] FIG. 2A provides a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device 100 of the present invention about to be applied to an electronic device 200 in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the screen protector 100 is designed and configured to adhere to and cover the touch display 202 of the handheld device 200. The bottom layer 104 of the screen protector 100 has an adhesive backing and is placed horizontally on the touchscreen 202 to cover the touchscreen 202. The cover 100 is transparent and does not impede or otherwise interfere with the display. A user can operate the touchscreen 202 by performing touch operations on the top layer 102 of the cover 100. The touch operations on the top layer 102 provide a smooth operation on the touchscreen 202. Lenses with a correct prescription embedded within the cover 100 allow the light emitting from the display screen or touchscreen 202 to be refracted in a manner which is similar to that of by farsightedness correcting glasses. Accordingly, the lenses allow a person with a farsightedness vision defect to clearly read the content displayed on the touchscreen 202 without wearing any correction/prescription glasses or lenses.

[0033] Based on the preference of a user, the cover 100 with embedded lenses of prescribed range of corrective power can be selected to be applied on the display screen or touchscreen 202 of the handheld device 200. The screen protector 100 protects the touchscreen 202 from any physical damage such as scratches while allowing the user to easily view the screen 202.

[0034] The protective cover 100 comes with embedded corrective lenses across the cover body and may come with a protective liner to protect the cover 100 from physical damage. Alternatively, the lenses may be applied only in select portions of the cover depending on the configuration required by the user. To apply, the protective liner can be removed and the cover 100 can be applied on the touchscreen of a handheld device and held in place by the adhesive. Alternatively, the screen can be held in position by a static cling vinyl sheet arrangment.

[0035] The top layer 102 is generally scratch-less and tamper-resistant. Further, the top layer 102 also protects the embedded lenses from any damage. However, during use of the electronic device 200, the top layer 102 may become dented, scratched, or otherwise damaged such that viewing through the cover 100 may be unacceptable, then the cover 100 can be easily replaced with a new cover of same or different prescription.

[0036] FIG. 2B provides a perspective view of another potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device 100 of the present invention about to be applied to an electronic device 200 in accordance with the disclosed architecture, wherein the prescription screen protector device 100 is bifurcated. More specifically, the top portion 110 has the corrective lens, and the lower portion 112 is clear or lens free. The sections are separated by line 111. Of course, the top portion 110 can be clear and the bottom portion 112 can have the corrective lens, depending on the particular set-up the individual has on his or her electronic device. Alternatively, lenses of different corrective powers can be used, with one portion of the cover having a first lens and the second portion of the cover having a second lens.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the various layers of one potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The prescription screen protector 100 is both relatively thin and lightweight. The protector 100 may have a thickness of between about 0.2 and 1 mm. The top layer 102 is a touch-sensitive layer and has an anti-glare or anti-reflective (A/R) coating. The top layer 102 receives a user touch to allow the user to operate the touchscreen of a handheld device. The top layer 102 may have a thickness of between about 0.05-0.3 mm. The top layer 102 makes sure that touch and sensitivity functions of the handheld device on which the cover 100 is applied are not compromised.

[0038] The bottom layer 104 has a transparent adhesive, removable or repositionable layer to adhere to the touchscreen of the electronic device. The adhesive layer 104 allows the cover 100 to be removably secured to the touchscreen or display screen. A user affixes or otherwise attaches the cover 100 to a display screen by aligning the cover 100 with the display screen of an electronic or handheld device and then gently pressing the cover 100 downward to make a secure attachment of the adhesive layer or form a static or frictional cling to the display screen.

[0039] Lenses 106 are embedded between the top layer 102 and the bottom layer 104. Alternatively, the lenses 106 can be embedded either in the top layer 102 or the bottom layer 104. The lens layer 302 corrects the view of the screen for a user with a vision defect such as farsightedness, allowing users to comfortably view text, images and video on the screen of the electronic device without the aid of external eyewear, contacts and other visual aids.

[0040] The screen protector minimizes unwanted internal reflection and haze, and maximizes transmissions of the display screen through the use of anti-glare or anti-reflective coatings. The layers 102, 104, 302 and the adhesive absorb impact shock caused when an electronic device on which the screen protector is applied is dropped or the touch-sensitive screen hits a solid object. Further, the flexibility of the layers maintains the tactile response for the touch-sensitive screen.

[0041] FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of the content being displayed on a display screen of a handheld electronic device 200 as viewed by a user having farsightedness. More specifically, when a user with farsightedness is not wearing correcting glasses and views the content on the display screen, the content appears to be unclear and is slightly blurry. As shown, the text 402a and an image 404a displayed on the display screen 202 appear to be blurry to the user having farsightedness. Also, the eyes of the user hurt and can cause headaches while viewing the blurred content on the display screen. The display screen may also have a pre-set or pre-established textual area 410 which may require a second lens type in the intermediate layer to view the textual information.

[0042] By comparison, FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the same content being displayed on the display screen of the handheld electronic device 200 as in FIG. 4A, but having one potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device 100 of the present invention applied thereto in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the embedded lenses of the transparent protector 100 compensate for the vision defect of the viewer of the handheld device 200. The embedded lenses refract the light emitting from the display screen 202, thus making the content displayed on the screen 202 clear. As shown, once the cover 100 is applied on the screen, the text 402a of FIG. 4a appears clear (denoted as 402b). Similarly, the image 404a of FIG. 4A appears clear (denoted as 404b) to the viewer.

[0043] The display screen may also have a textual area 412 which may require a second lens type or zone in the intermediate layer to view the textual information. Such a configuration creates a bifocal type of effect, with the cover having first and second lens zones. Alternatively, a trifocal arrangement of the lenses can be created in order to show different parts of the screen or to allow multiple users to view the screen. Further, the user or viewer does not need to wear prescription glasses or lenses. The screen protector 100 allows the viewer to clearly view the displayed content while protecting the screen from any physical damage.

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of another potential embodiment of the prescription screen protector device 500 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The prescription screen protectors 100, 500 of the present invention can be commercially available for a range of digital devices from smartphones, tablets, computers and e-readers to cash registers and car dashboards. In the present embodiment, the prescription screen protector 500 is designed and configured to be placed on the display screen of a tablet. The prescription screen protector 500 is transparent and has embedded prescription lenses to compensate for the vision defect of a viewer of the tablet.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary method of making the prescription screen protector device 100, 500 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. Initially, at step 600, a prescription for corrective lenses is obtained. Then, at step 610, the prescription is used to make a prescription lens for a user. At step 620, a laminate is created which incorporates the prescription lens. At step 630, the prescription laminate is installed over a display screen. Additional steps may include a step 640 of applying an anti-glare or anti-reflective coating and/or a step 650 of creating different lens zones, such as a first zone and a second zone on the prescription lens.

[0046] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “prescription screen protector device”, “transparent prescription screen protector”, “screen protector”, “protector”, and “cover” are interchangeable and refer to the prescription screen protector 100, 500 of the present invention.

[0047] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the prescription screen protector 100, 500 the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the prescription screen protector 100, 500 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the prescription screen protector 100, 500 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the prescription screen protector 100, 500 are important design parameters for user convenience, the prescription screen protector 100, 500 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0048] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0049] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.