Helmet face shield

Abstract

A face shield for use with protective headgear can be shipped flat and easily assembled from a kit of parts without the use of tools or adhesives. The face shield protects against disease, aerosols and splatter that may contain pathogens; may include a curved lower perimeter to facilitate head movements, and can be taken on and off easily.

Claims

1. A kit for a face shield, comprising: a transparent face covering, the transparent face covering comprising: a curved perimeter along a bottom edge; a first plurality of slots located proximate a top edge and a left side outer perimeter; a second plurality of slots located proximate said top edge and a right side outer perimeter; and, a first and second set of headband slots; and, a headband having a plurality of notches sized to mate with said headband slots, the headband adapted to be coupled to an exterior surface of a helmet.

2. The kit of claim 1, further comprising: a compression strap sized to fit through said first and said second plurality of slots.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein said compression strap comprises elastic.

4. The kit of claim 2, wherein said compression strap comprises cord.

5. The kit of claim 2, wherein said compression strap comprises a shoelace.

6. The kit of claim 2, wherein the compression strap is adapted to wrap around the exterior surface of the helmet, the headband secured to the helmet via the compression of the compression strap wrapped around the exterior surface of the helmet.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein said transparent face covering comprises a transparent plastic.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein said transparent plastic comprises polycarbonate.

9. The kit of claim 1, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband comprises polyethylene terephthalate glycol.

10. The kit of claim 1, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband are formed by additive manufacturing.

11. The kit of claim 1, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband are formed by injection molding.

12. The kit of claim 1, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband are formed by laser cutting.

13. The kit of claim 1, wherein the helmet is selected from a group of helmets consisting of: military helmets, hard hats, speed boat helmets, climbing helmets, spelunking helmets, watercraft helmets, firefighting helmets, helicopter helmets, and hearing protection helmets.

14. The kit of claim 1, wherein the headband is further adapted to be coupled to the exterior surface of the helmet to include an air gap adapted to provide airflow and prevent fogging of the transparent face covering.

15. The kit of claim 1, wherein the transparent face covering comprises a flexible material.

16. A method for using a face shield, comprising the steps of: attaching a headband to a transparent sheet of material, wherein said step of attaching further includes the steps of: inserting a first headband tab between a first slot and a second slot on said transparent sheet; inserting a second headband tab between a third slot and a fourth slot on said transparent sheet; engaging a first headband notch with said first and second slot; and, engaging a second headband notch with said third and fourth slots; attaching a compression strap to said transparent sheet of material; and, attaching the compression strap to an exterior surface of a helmet.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of attaching a compression strap further comprises the steps of: threading a first end of said compression strap through a first plurality of slots located on said transparent material; and, threading a second end of said compression strap through a second plurality of slots located at a second location on said transparent material.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of attaching a compression strap further comprises the steps of: threading a first end of a first compression strap through a first plurality of slots located at a first location on said transparent material; and, threading a first end of a second compression strap through a second plurality of slots located at a second location on said transparent material.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of attaching the compression strap to the exterior surface of the helmet comprises the step of placing said compression strap around the exterior surface of the helmet.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the helmet is selected from a group of helmets consisting of: military helmets, hard hats, speed boat helmets, climbing helmets, spelunking helmets, watercraft helmets, firefighting helmets, helicopter helmets, and hearing protection helmets.

21. A face shield comprising: a transparent face covering comprising: a first plurality of compression strap slots located proximate a top edge and a left side outer perimeter; a second plurality of compression strap slots located proximate said top edge and a right side outer perimeter; and, a first plurality and a second plurality of headband slots; a headband adapted to be coupled to an exterior surface of a helmet, the headband comprising a first end threaded through said first plurality of headband slots; a second end threaded through said second plurality of headband slots; a first notch located proximate said first end and connected to at least one of said first headband slots; and, a second notch located proximate said second end and connected to at least one of said second headband slots; and, a compression strap threaded through said first and second plurality of compression strap slots.

22. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said transparent face covering further comprises a curved bottom perimeter.

23. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said compression strap comprises elastic.

24. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said compression strap comprises cord.

25. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said compression strap comprises a shoelace.

26. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said transparent face covering comprises a transparent plastic.

27. The face shield of claim 26, wherein said transparent plastic comprises polycarbonate.

28. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband comprises polyethylene terephthalate glycol.

29. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband are formed by additive manufacturing.

30. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband are formed by injection molding.

31. The face shield of claim 21, wherein said transparent face covering and said headband are formed by laser cutting.

32. The face shield of claim 21, wherein the helmet is selected from a group of helmets consisting of: military helmets, hard hats, speed boat helmets, climbing helmets, spelunking helmets, watercraft helmets, firefighting helmets, helicopter helmets, and hearing protection helmets.

33. The face shield of claim 21, wherein the transparent face covering comprises a flexible material.

34. The face shield of claim 21, further comprising: an air gap adapted to prevent fogging of the transparent face covering.

35. The face shield of claim 34, wherein the air gap is adapted to be located between the transparent face covering and the exterior surface of the helmet.

36. The face shield of claim 34, wherein the air gap is further adapted to prevent fogging of glasses or optical gear worn by a user of the shield.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view illustration of the unassembled component parts of a face shield according to an embodiment of the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a close up view of slot barbs according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of an MP face shield according to an embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a flow chart describing the assembly process for a face shield according to an embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 5. is a side view of a face shield in use according to an embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a face shield in use according to an embodiment of the invention; and

(7) FIG. 7 is a rear view of the invention in use according to an embodiment of the invention.

(8) Like reference numerals refer to similar elements or features throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(9) The current invention is a face shield that is lightweight, fits over a range of hard head coverings, is easy to don and doff, provides freedom of movement for the head without compromising protection, yet is of minimal complexity with only a few, readily assembled components.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a disassembled MP face shield 100. Face shield 100 comprises of a shield 105, a headband 110, headband notches 113, headband tabs 114, elastic 115, outside elastic hold slot 120, middle elastic hold slot 121, inner elastic hold slot 122, upper headband slot 130, and lower headband slot 131. FIG. 2 is a close up of outer elastic slot 120, middle elastic slot 121, and inner elastic slot 122, showing slot barbs 125. Slot barbs 125 hold elastic 115 in place when elastic 15 is woven through the elastic hold slots. Each of the component elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are substantially flat, thereby making it extremely easy to ship unassembled shields 100 to their ultimate location of use.

(11) FIG. 3 illustrates how MP face shield 100 is assembled and FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the assembly process 200. Headband 110 secures to shield 105 by inserting headband tab 114 into upper headband slot 130 and lower headband slot 131. Headband notch 113 (not visible in FIG. 3 but shown in FIG. 1) catches on upper headband slot 130 and lower headband slot 131, preventing headband 11o from separating from shield 105. Elastic 115 secures MP face shield 100 to the back of a hard hat by weaving through various slots. Elastic 115 is woven up through elastic hold slot 120, down through elastic hold slot 121, up through elastic hold slot 122, and then down through elastic hold slot 120. Friction and slot barbs 125 hold elastic 115 in place.

(12) The assembled face shield 100 is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. FIG. 5 shows a side view of assembled shield 100 coupled to a helmet 400; FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view, and FIG. 7 shows a rear view. As seen in FIGS. 5-7, elastic 15 wraps around helmet 400. The compression of elastic 115 around helmet 400 provides a secure hold along the back of helmet 400, while still allowing for MP face shield 100 to be quickly put on or taken off while in the field in a similar manner as a ball cap.

(13) FIGS. 5-7 also illustrate various additional features of the present invention that provide advantages not found in the prior art. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the curved lower shape of shield 105 protects the wearer's face while not impeding free movement of the head or interfering with equipment that may be attached or rested on the shoulders. Shield 105 extends past the nose and over the user's mouth down. Shield 105 can continue down near the vicinity of the user's chin. Unlike other helmet-attached face shields, shield 100 extends to protect areas such as the eyes, nose, and mouth where aerosols and airborne pathogens might otherwise be inhaled or splattered upon the user in a manner dangerous to the user's health.

(14) FIGS. 5 and 6 also show headband 110 resting on the exterior of helmet 400. The friction between headband 110 and helmet 400 helps to keep shield 100 in the proper place and orientation. As also seen in FIG. 5, the construction of headband 100 and shield 105 also creates an air gap 420 that enables airflow and prevents fogging of the shield or any glasses or optical gear worn by the user.

(15) FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating elastic 15 wrapped around the back of helmet 400 and tied off. Assembling an elastic 115 on each end of shield 105 and tying it off in the back is an alternative means of using elastic 115 in lieu of using a single loop of the material threaded into slots 120-122 on each end. This alternative method allows for excess length that may be tied off and to facilitate adjustments

(16) Although use of the invention is illustrated with helmet 400, MP face shield 100 is designed for used with a variety of head gear, including but not limited to: hard hats; speed boat, climbing, spelunking, and watercraft helmets; military helmets, firefighting helmets, helicopter helmets, and hearing protection. Face shield 100 thus permits safe operation in situations where it is necessary to both protect the head and protect the face from droplets that may contain pathogens or small flying debris; or to rapidly transit between the locations of such hazards without the need to don and doff different types of gear.

(17) According to one embodiment of the invention, MP face shield 100 is manufactured of a lightweight transparent optically clear plastic, such as polycarbonate, or polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) the complete technical specification for which is incorporated by reference. These materials can also withstand cleaning if needed. A variety of materials known to those of skill in the art may also be used to construct face shield 100.

(18) Face shield 100 may be produced by additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing; or manufactured using injection molding; or laser-cutting machinery. Three D printing face shield 100 allows the face shield of the present invention to be produced on demand wherever it is needed. MP face shield 100 is also comprised of just a few pieces that assemble with slots and tabs without the use of tools or adhesives or complex instructions. Each of these features of the invention, both separately and collectively, means that the face shield of the present invention is easily deployable and useable in the field including but not limited to, for example; disaster sites, military deployments, remote labs, hazmat construction areas, field hospitals, and disease infested areas.

(19) Elastic 115 may comprise any form of elastic band or compression strap material. Such materials are widely known to those of skill in the art. Elastic 115 may also comprise materials such as shoelaces, para cord, scrunchies, stretch bands or other material that may be threaded through slots 120-122 and tied off with sufficient friction to hold shield 100 in place. The ability to use such materials to secure shield 100 to the user's headgear means that assembly or field repairs—especially in remote locations—are easily made; and shield 100 can continue to be worn without stopping operations to retrieve or print a new device.

(20) The subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.