FACE OR EYE SHIELD

Abstract

 The object of the invention is a face or eye shield capable of being secured in place to the peak (7a) of a cap (7). The face or eye shield comprises a flexible transparent film (1') having a top edge, bottom edge and lateral edges. The film comprises flexures (4) intersecting with the top and bottom edge, located at a distance from the lateral edges, and dividing the film into a center section (6) and lateral sections (5) abutting the lateral edges. The face or eye shield (1) is secured to the peak (7a) of a cap (7) with securing means comprising a cut or gap (2) penetrating the film, which cut or gap is located at a distance from the top edge and the ends of which are located at a distance from the lateral edges. These distances are shorter than the length of the cut or gap (2), which is greater than the width of the peak (7a). The strip of film between the cut or gap (2) and the top edge forms a securing strip (3) above the peak and the part of film below the cut or gap (2) forms the face or eye shield (1) remaining below the peak.

Description

[0001] The object of the invention is a face or eye shield capable of being secured to the peak of a cap and that comprises:

a flexible transparent film with a top edge, bottom edge and lateral edges,

the film having flexures intersecting with the top and bottom edge, located at a distance from the lateral edges, and dividing the film into a center section and lateral sections abutting the lateral edges, and securing means for securing the film to the peak of a cap.

[0002] The object of the invention is also the above-mentioned face or eye shield adapted to stay in place secured to the peak of a cap. A cap herein refers to any headgear with a protruding peak. The invention can also be applied in connection with head protection gear fitted with a peak.

[0003] These types of face or eye shields are used for various purposes, for example to protect against airborne droplets and solid particles or UV radiation from the sun. A face or eye shield also protects against weather conditions such as blizzards or sandstorms or street dust. A face or eye shield also protects while working on machine tools, for example against showers of sparks. The use of a face or eye shield also reduces the occurrence infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria via aerial transmission.

[0004] These types of face or eye shields are previously known and securing the shield to the peak of a cap has therein been implemented with separate securing means such as snap fasteners or pivot hinges attached to the edges of the peak. These types of face or eye shields are known e.g. from publications EP 1344466A1, US 4850049, US 4852186, US 5544361, US 2016/0050990A1 and CN 204763599U. These known solutions are structurally complex and expensive or their securing arrangements are not generally suitable for use in connection with caps.

[0005] The purpose of the invention is to provide a general purpose, low cost face or eye shield that is easy to prepare and that can be secured to a peak of a cap without separate securing means owing to the shape of the flexible film itself.

[0006] This purpose is achieved with the invention by means of the characteristics presented in the accompanying claim 1. Claim 1 presents a face or eye shield capable of being secured to the peak of a cap without separate securing parts or glue. This purpose is further achieved with the characteristics presented in the accompanying claim 2. Claim 2 presents a combination of a face or eye shield and a cap, wherein the face or eye shield has been secured to the peak of a cap without separate securing parts or glue.

[0007] Next, the invention is described by way of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

figure 1

shows a film 1' from which the face or eye shield according to the invention can be prepared,

figure 1A

shows the film according to figure 1 viewed from a viewing direction W,

figure 2

shows the face and eye shield according to the invention viewed from the front,

figure 2A

shows the face and eye shield according to figure 2 viewed from a viewing direction W,

figure 3

shows the face and eye shield according to the invention viewed from the side and secured to the peak of a cap (in the position of use), and

figure 4

shows the face and eye shield according to figure 3 viewed from the front.

[0008] The planar film 1' as shown in figures 1 and 1A forms a preform from which the face or eye shield according to the invention is prepared by shaping. The film 1' is cut from a film web wound on a roll by die cutting in the same step in which shaping according to figures 2 and 2A is performed. The film 1' has a top edge and a bottom edge, the distance between which defines the height of the shield, and lateral edges, the distance between which defines the width of the shield. The film web can be pulled from the roll in the direction of the width of the film 1', whereby the slight curvature caused by the roll can be utilized as pre-curvature of the final shield. The film 1' consists of a flexible and transparent plastic film, for example a polycarbonate film, a polyethylene film (PET, PETG) or a cellulose-based film. The thickness of the film is in the range from 0.25 to 1 mm. The film can consist of a single layer or multiple layers. Figures 2 and 2A show the shaping performed on the film 1', rendering the film a face or eye shield. The film has flexures 4 intersecting with the top and bottom edge, located at a distance from the lateral edges. The flexures 4 divide the film into a center section 6 and lateral sections 5 abutting the lateral edges. There can be one or more flexures 4 between the center section 6 and the lateral section 5.

[0009] The novel aspect of the invention is the securing means for securing the shield to the peak 7a of a cap 7 (figures 3 and 4). The securing means comprise a cut or gap 2 located at a distance from the top edge and the edges of which cut or gap are located at a distance from the lateral edges. These distances are shorter than the length of the cut or gap 2. In other words, the cut or gap 2 must be longer than the width of the peak 7a in order for the peak 7a to be pushed through the cut or gap 2 in such a way that a strip of film between the cut or gap 2 and the top edge of the film is left above the peak 7a as a securing strip 3. Thus, the part of the film below the cut or gap 2 remains below the peak 7a, forming the face or eye shield 1.

[0010] In practice, the simplest way is to create only a through-cut 2 without a gap between the edges of the cut. However, the edges of the cut 2 can be slightly bent during die cutting so as to form a narrow gap. The direction of bending of the edges can be chosen so as to facilitate pushing the peak 7a into the gap.

[0011] The ends 2a of the cut or gap 2 are typically located at a distance of 1 to 20 mm from the flexures 4. The ends 2a of the cut or gap 2 have openings with round edges. This reduces the risk of the film tearing. The openings are e.g. teardrop-shaped. The cut or gap 2 can be straight or slightly curved so that the ends 2a of the cut or gap are at a lower level than the center area of the cut or gap. The edge of the securing strip 3 abutting the cut or gap may be fitted with serrations. Thus, the serrated edge of the securing strip 3 clings to the top surface of the peak 7a and is better secured in a desired position, which position can vary from the base of the peak to the middle of the peak depending on how far from the face the face or eye shield is to be positioned.

[0012] The stiffness and flexibility of the film 1' together with the securing strip 3 and the curved peak 7a automatically bend the center section 6 of the film to a curve, whereby the center section 6 together with the securing strip 3 forms a force of adhesion F (figure 3) clamping the peak 7a flexibly in order to secure the face or eye shield 1 to the peak 7a. Before the peak 7a is pushed through the cut or gap 2, the center section 6 of the shield can be bent backwards to a curve, whereby the cut or gap 2 opens up sufficiently for the peak 7a to be pushed therethrough to be positioned on top of the center section 6. When the cut or gap 2 is in a desired position on the peak 7a, the shield 1 is pulled down and at the same time, the center section is pushed forward to a curve. Thus, the top edge of the center section 6 abutting the cut or gap 2 is positioned against the bottom surface of the peak 7a typically slightly closer to the tip of the peak than the securing strip 3, whereby the shield 1 remains firmly in the upright position as shown in figure 3.

[0013] The top edge of the center section 6 of the film of the face or eye shield 1 secured to a peak 7a, which edge abuts the cut or gap 2, typically leans against the bottom surface of the peak 7a along the majority of its length or throughout its entire length.

[0014] In the exemplary embodiment presented, the flexures 4 approach each other when moving from the top edge of the face or eye shield 1 towards the bottom edge. If the lateral edges are vertical or parallel with one another, the angle α between the flexure 4 and the lateral edge can vary between 3 and 15 degrees. This allows for wider bottom sections of the lateral sections 5, which increases protectiveness. The downward narrowing of the center section 6 improves the appearance of the shield.

[0015] Further, the shield according to the invention is hygienic, as it does not contain any additional parts or materials in addition to the film. The shield can be manufactured using slanted die cutting blades cutting the edges and the cut softly without machining by impact cutting. The flexures can be pressed in the same working step. Creases weakening the flexure lines are not required so as to enable the flexure lines to keep their shape as well as possible.

[0016] The dimensions and shapes of the face or eye shield can vary in many ways. If only an eye shield is required, e.g. against UV radiation or excessive brightness or reflections, the height of the shield can be significantly shorter than that shown in the figures and a film of desired color can be selected as the film, filtering out harmful wavelengths.

Claims

1. A face or eye shield capable of being secured to the peak (7a) of a cap (7) and that comprises:
a flexible transparent film (1') with a top edge, a bottom edge and lateral edges, the film having flexures (4) intersecting with the top and bottom edge, located at a distance from the lateral edges, and dividing the film into a center section (6) and lateral sections (5) abutting the lateral edges, and securing means for securing the face or eye shield (1) to the peak (7a) of a cap (7), characterized in that the securing means comprise a cut or gap (2) penetrating the film, located at a distance from the top edge, the ends of which are located at a distance from the lateral edges, wherein the said distances are shorter than the length of the cut or gap (2), whereby the strip of film between the cut or gap (2) and the top edge forms a securing strip (3) and the part of the film below the cut or gap (2) forms the face or eye shield (1).

2. A face or eye shield adapted to stay in place secured to the peak (7a) of a cap (7) and that comprises:
a flexible transparent film (1') having a top edge, bottom edge and lateral edges, the film having flexures (4) intersecting with the top edge or bottom edge, located at a distance from the lateral edges, and dividing the film into a center section (6) and lateral sections (5) abutting the lateral edges, and securing means for securing the film to the peak (7a) of a cap (7), characterized in that the securing means include a cut or gap (2) penetrating the film, located at a distance from the top edge and the ends of which are located at a distance from the lateral edges, wherein the said distances are shorter than the length of the cut or gap (2), whereby the peak (7a) is adapted to be pushed through the cut or gap (2) in such a way that a strip of film between the cut or gap (2) and the top edge of the film remains above the peak (7a) as a securing strip (3) and the part of film below the cut or gap (2) remains below the peak (7a) and forms the face or eye shield (1).

3. The face or eye shield according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ends (2a) of the cut or gap (2) are at a distance of 1 to 20 mm from the flexures (4).

4. The face or eye shield according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the ends (2a) of the cut or gap (2) have openings with round edges.

5. The face or eye shield according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cut or gap (2) is curved in such a way that the ends of the cut or gap are at a lower level than the center section.

6. The face or eye shield according to claim 2, characterized in that the stiffness and flexibility of the film (1') together with the securing strip (3) and the curved peak (7a) have been adapted to bend the center section (6) of the film to a curve, whereby the center section (6) together with the securing strip (3) forms an adhesive force flexibly clamping the peak (7a) for securing the face or eye shield (1) to the peak (7a).

7. The face or eye shield according to claim 2 or 6, characterized in that the top edge of the center section (6) of the film of the face or eye shield (1) secured to a peak (7a), which top edge abuts the cut or gap (2), leans against the bottom surface of the peak (7a) along the majority of its length.

8. The face or eye shield according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge of the securing strip (3) abutting the cut or gap (2) is fitted with serrations.

9. The face or eye shield according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexures (4) approach each other when moving from the top edge of the face or eye shield (1) towards the bottom edge.

Drawing