HEADPIECE, FACE SHIELD AND METHOD OF USING A HEADPIECE

Abstract

A headpiece (1) worn by a user provides air to the user from which airborne disease particles have been removed. The headpiece includes an air guide (2) through which air flows due to fans (13, 14). Antibacterial and/or antiviral devices (3) such as filters and ultraviolet (UV) disinfecting lights operate as air purifiers to purify air that passes through the air guide. The purified air is delivered to an area between the inside surface of a visor (10) and a face (11) of the person wearing the headpiece.

Claims

1.-29. (canceled)

30. Apparatus comprising: a headpiece configured to be worn in supported relation with a head of a user of the apparatus, the wherein headpiece includes a U-shape headband, wherein the headband is configured to receive the head of the user within the headband, an air guide integral with the headband, wherein the air guide is configured to enable air flow through the air guide, at least one disinfecting device, wherein the at least one disinfecting device is housed within the air guide and is operative to kill airborne disease particles in air passing through the air guide, wherein the air guide is configured to deliver disinfected air through at least one air guide outlet to the user.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, and further comprising: a head cover, wherein the head cover is configured to extend over the top of the head of the user.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: a visor, wherein in operative position of the apparatus the visor extends in front of a face of the user, wherein the at least one air guide outlet is operative to deliver air into an area intermediate of the face of the user and the visor.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: a visor, wherein the visor includes a visor front, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor front extends in front of a face of the user, and a pair of visor sides, wherein in the operative position of the apparatus each respective visor side extends on a respective side of the face of the user, wherein the visor front extends at a visor front angle relative to a central plane of the headband, and each visor side extends at a visor side angle relative to the central plane of the headband, wherein the visor front angle is greater than the visor side angle.

34. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: a visor, wherein the visor includes a visor front, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor front extends in front of the face of the user, wherein the visor front extends at an angle of about 85° to a central plane of the headband.

35. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: a visor, wherein the visor includes a visor front, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor front extends in front of a face of the user, a pair of visor sides, wherein in the operative position of the apparatus each respective visor side extends on a respective side of the face of the user, wherein each visor side extends at an angle of about 75° to a central plane of the headband.

36. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: a visor, wherein in the operative position of the apparatus the visor extends in front of a face of the user, wherein the at least one air guide outlet is intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, and is positioned on at least one transverse side of the face of the user.

37. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: a visor, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor extends in front of a face of the user of the apparatus, wherein the at least one air guide outlet is positioned intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, an air exhaust opening, wherein the air exhaust opening extends intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, wherein the air exhaust opening is connected to open air.

38. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: a visor, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor extends in front of a face of the user of the apparatus, wherein the at least one air guide outlet is positioned to deliver air intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, an air exhaust opening, wherein the air exhaust opening is positioned intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, wherein the air exhaust opening is connected to the air guide through an exhaust passage, wherein air exhausted from the exhaust opening is passed through the air guide and is disinfected by the at least one disinfecting device prior to being delivered from the air guide to open air.

39. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the headpiece includes an air intake and an air outlet, wherein the air intake is disposed on the headpiece away from the air outlet, wherein air drawn in through the air intake is delivered into the air guide, and further comprising: a visor, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor extends in front of a face of the user of the apparatus, wherein the at least one air guide outlet is positioned to deliver air intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, an air exhaust opening, wherein the air exhaust opening is positioned intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, wherein the air exhaust opening is connected to the air guide through an exhaust passage, wherein air from the exhaust opening is passed through the air guide, is disinfected by the at least one disinfecting device and is then delivered from the air outlet.

40. The apparatus according to claim 30, and further comprising: a visor, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor extends in front of a face of the user, wherein the at least one air guide outlet is configured to deliver air intermediate of the face of the user and the visor, wherein the visor includes at least one edge, wherein in the operative position a flexible seal extends between the at least one edge of the visor and the face of the user.

41. The apparatus according to claim 30, and further comprising: at least one fan, wherein the at least one fan is operative to cause air to move through the air guide and to the at least one air guide outlet.

42. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the at least one disinfecting device includes at least one of a UV lamp, a UVC light source, a filter, and an electrostatic filter.

43. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: at least one of a light, a camera, a microphone and a visual aid in supported connection with the headband.

44. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: at least one source of fragrance or odor neutralizer material in operative supported connection with the headband.

45. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: at least one sensor in operative supported connection with the headband, circuitry including at least one data store in operative supported connection with the headband, and at least one communication device in operative supported connection with the headband.

46. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: at least one sensor in operative supported connection with the headband, wherein the at least one sensor is operative to sense at least one of air velocity, air temperature, an operational characteristic of the at least one disinfecting device, motion, distance, user temperature, and user heart rate, circuitry including at least one data store in operative supported connection with the headband, wherein the circuitry is operative to store in the at least one data store, data corresponding to data sensed by the at least one sensor, at least one communication device in operative supported connection with the headband, wherein the at least one communication device is operative to communicate data stored in the at least one data store from the apparatus.

47. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising: circuitry in operative supported connection with the headband, at least one of a thermoelectric generator and a thermal resonator in operative supported connection with the headband, wherein the thermoelectric generator is operative to supply electrical power to the circuitry.

48. Apparatus comprising: a headpiece configured to be worn in supported relation with the head of the user of the apparatus, including a headband, wherein the headband is configured to receive an upper portion of the head of the user within an opening thereof, a housing integral with the headband, wherein the housing bounds an interior area configured to enable air to pass therethrough, a fan in operative connection with the housing, wherein the fan is operative to cause air to move through the housing to at least one housing outlet, at least one disinfecting device in operative connection with the housing, wherein the at least one disinfecting device is operative to prevent live airborne disease particles from passing through the housing to the at least one housing outlet, a visor in operatively attached connection with the headband, wherein in an operative position of the apparatus the visor extends in outwardly overlying relation of a face of the user, wherein the at least one housing outlet is fluidly connected to a space intermediate of the face of the user and the visor.

49. Apparatus comprising: a headpiece configured to be worn in supported relation with the head of a user of the apparatus, wherein the headpiece includes a head opening, wherein the head opening is configured to receive an upper portion of the head of the user therein, an air intake configured to receive air, and an air outlet configured to exhaust air, a housing in operative supported connection with the headpiece, wherein the housing includes an interior area configured to enable air to flow therethrough, at least one fan, wherein the at least one fan is configured to cause air to be drawn into the air intake and to cause air to be exhausted from the air outlet, at least one air purifier, wherein the at least one air purifier, is operative to prevent live airborne disease particles from passing through the interior area in air that passes through in the interior area of the housing, a visor, wherein the visor is configured such that in the operative position of the apparatus the visor is positioned in overlying relation of a face of the user and bounds an area between the visor and the face of the user, wherein the fan is operative to cause the air drawn into the air intake to be passed through the housing interior area and acted on by the at least one air purifier to produce purified air, and the purified air to be delivered to the area between the visor and the face of the user, wherein air in the area between the visor and the face of the user is caused to be drawn out of the area between the visor and the face of the user, passed through the interior area and acted on by the at least one air purifier to produce further purified air, and the further purified air exhausted through the air outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary headpiece.

[0050] FIGS. 2 to 5 show an exemplary arrangement for use in a medical technology application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The exemplary headpiece 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a housing which serves as an air guide 2, and an antibacterial and/or antiviral device 3 which are alternatively referred to herein as disinfecting devices. The exemplary headpiece makes it possible to convey air from an inflow region 4 to an outflow region 5 with the air guide 2. The air passes through or adjacent to a plurality of disinfecting devices which may comprise UVC lamps 6, 7, by which the air is treated antibacterially and/or antivirally.

[0052] The exemplary headpiece 1 includes a head covering 8 with which it can be held on the head 9 of a person. A visor 10 on the exemplary headpiece 1 is positioned in front of the face 11 of the user's head 9 in such a way that air 12 exiting from the air guide through an outlet in the outflow region 5 adjacent the face 11 reaches the region of the mouth and nose of the user's face 11. One or a plurality of units generating a directed air flow are shown in the example arrangement as two fans 13, 14. These fans ensure that flowing air 12 passes adjacent the antibacterial and/or antiviral device 3 into the outflow area or region 5 between the user's head 9 and the inside surface visor 10. With the exemplary headpiece in place, air 12 thus flows from an inflow region 4 located above the outflow area of region 5, through the air guide adjacent the at least one antibacterial and/or antiviral device 3, through at least one outlet to the face 11.

[0053] In order to supply the UVC light sources 6, 7 with energy, the headpiece 1 has an energy source 15. This may be an energy source of the type previously discussed.

[0054] An exemplary headpiece thus essentially consists of the three main components: a mobile encapsulated UVC light source, a fan for directional forced ventilation, and, associated with these, at least one of a wide variety of head coverings that may be with and without face shields. A face shield is alternatively referred to herein as a visor.

[0055] The air 12, whether contaminated with or without viruses/bacteria, etc., is sucked in to the exemplary air guide via the fan 13, 14, led past the UVC light source 6, 7, and directed towards the user's face 11. As with an air shower, the face 11 and the inhaled air 12 are thus generally free of active viruses/bacteria, and other types of particles of airborne diseases.

[0056] In exemplary arrangements the air flow, the strength of the light source 6, 7, and the directed air flow are coordinated through control circuitry 19 in such a way that maximum purification is ensured with the lowest possible energy input.

[0057] These basic elements of the exemplary arrangement are completed with the energy source 15. Exemplary arrangements may include a variety of interchange and charging devices such as those which are used for other mobile devices, such as for charging mobile phones.

[0058] Optionally, in some arrangements a further outflow region or inflow region can be provided on one side. FIG. 1 shows an inflow region 16 with air exhaust openings 17 for drawing air from the space between the visor 10 and the face 11 via a passage 18, and also supplying it to the antibacterial and/or antiviral device 3, or another antibacterial and/or antiviral device.

[0059] The head coverings 8 that are integrated with the exemplary apparatus in some arrangements, may include a simple face shield, baseball caps, and hats, as well as head coverings for occupational safety such as helmets.

[0060] Exemplary arrangements may also include other components which have been previously discussed. Such components may include one or more lights, headlamps, cameras, microphones, filters, thermoelectric generators, thermal resonators, data recording devices, sensors for airflow rate, air velocity, air movement, air temperature and disinfectant light intensity. Such sensors may also include sensors for detecting motion, distance, the status of the power source, and/or may include sensors for detecting the temperature, heart rate or other conditions of the user wearing the apparatus. Exemplary arrangements may also include a repository or other sources of fragrance or odor neutralizer material. Exemplary arrangements may also include suitable circuitry that provide a wireless or wired communication device and/or data storage. Such components are represented individually and collectively in the exemplary arrangement schematically by component 30.

[0061] FIGS. 2 to 5 show an example arrangement of a two-sided utilization with supply and exhaust air. In this exemplary arrangement disinfected air can be supplied from above and below, but can also, for example, be supplied at the top and exhausted at the bottom. In exemplary arrangements combinations of the four edges may be utilized for air delivery or removal, together with a branch that directs disinfected air onto the surface of the face shield in front of the mouth/nose region. The constructional design of an exemplary arrangement is shown in the Figures.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a headpiece that includes an exemplary headband 20 which serves as a housing and is curved into a U-shape, one side of which has an intake opening 21 for ambient air, through which air is sucked in. The headband bounds an opening in which the upper portion of the user's head is received as shown. The antibacterial and/or antiviral device (not shown) is arranged in the headband, with which the sucked-in air is disinfected by means of UV light. At least one outlet 22 is provided on the underside of the exemplary headband 20, through which disinfected air flows downwards behind the visor 23 and in front of a user's face. FIG. 5 shows that this air reaches the nose region of a person wearing the headband.

[0063] At the lower end of the exemplary visor 23 is at least one suction exhaust opening 24, through which exhaled air of the user is sucked in and directed via a hose 25 to the interior area of the headband. The negative pressure that causes the air to be sucked in through the suction opening 24 is generated in the headband. The exhaled air thus passes through the headband again, this time being passed outward through an exhaust opening 26 on the other side of the headband 20 and into the open air surroundings. The exhaled air can also be disinfected on its way from the suction opening 24 through the hose 25 and the headband, preferably in the interior air guide area of the headband 20.

[0064] The exemplary visor 23 has a front face 27 which is arranged at an angle 28 of about 85° to a central plane 31 of the headband 20. The two side faces 29 lie closer to the face and are therefore arranged at an angle of about 75° to the central plane of the U-shaped headband. The side faces of the exemplary visor join the front face of the visor in a curved shape, and at their ends opposite the front face they can still be curved slightly inwards towards the face, or have an end section that deflects the air towards the face.

[0065] The extraction of air from the interior area at the bottom of the visor 23 may not be done in some exemplary arrangements. Such an air extraction approach may be useful for certain applications such as medical applications, and work in a clean room.

[0066] In order to supply the headband with enough energy that is used for purposes of disinfection, the headband can be connected to a power bank.

[0067] Thus the exemplary arrangements achieve improved operation, eliminate difficulties encountered in the use of prior devices and methods, and attain useful results described herein.

[0068] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples and the new and useful concepts are not limited to the exact features and relationships that have been shown and described.

[0069] It should be understood that the features and/or relationships associated with one exemplary arrangement can be combined with features and/or relationships from another exemplary arrangement. That is, various features and/or relationships from various arrangements can be combined in further arrangements. The new and useful scope of the disclosure is not limited only to the exact arrangements that have been shown and described herein.

[0070] Having described features, discoveries and principles of the exemplary arrangements, the manner in which they are constructed and operated, and the advantages and useful results attained, the new and useful features, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.