JP7508107B2 - Face shield - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies Fukuoka University Educational Corporation "Monozukuri Center Website" http://www.tec.fukuoka-u.ac.jp/mono/library/library.html (Website publication date: May 11, 2020) Published in the Mainichi Shimbun, published by the Mainichi Shimbun Western Headquarters (Newspaper publication date: Page 19 of the Mainichi Shimbun morning edition dated May 13, 2020) Distributed to schools and medical institutions (May 15, 2020 - August 7, 2020)

The present invention relates to a face shield that is worn on the head and covers the face for the purpose of preventing droplet infection of infectious diseases.

Face shields with various shapes and functions have been proposed to prevent droplet infection of infectious diseases, and examples of face shields related to the present invention include the "face shields" described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3.

The "face shield" described in Patent Document 1 includes a belt that is wrapped around the wearer's head and a shield that is attached to the belt, and the belt and the shield are formed by cutting a flexible resin plate.
The shield has an attachment edge, an open edge located opposite the attachment edge, and a pair of side edges extending between the attachment edge and the open edge, and the attachment edge is formed with a pair of belt insertion holes extending along the side edges and into which belts are inserted;
The belt is characterized by comprising a first belt portion and a second belt portion, a key portion provided at an end of the first belt portion, a plurality of keyhole portions provided on the second belt portion with which the key portion engages, and shield engaging claws provided on the first belt portion and the second belt portion, respectively, for engaging with the side edges of the shield.

The "face shield" described in Patent Document 2 comprises a shield body made of transparent plastic, a cushioning material arranged on the inner side of the shield body and contacting the forehead of the wearer, and a belt member for fixing the cushioning material in contact with the forehead of the wearer to the head, and a mounting part comprising the cushioning material.
The shield body is made of a flexible material that can be bent to fit the curves of a person's face, and has slits at an angle on both the left and right ends of the upper part.
The belt member is characterized in that both end portions can be connected to each other, and that after each end passes through a slit and emerges on the outer surface of the shield body, the end portions are connected to each other behind the wearer's head, and the distance between the cushioning material and the shield body can be adjusted by changing the portion that passes through the slit.

The "face shield" described in Patent Document 3 includes a wearing band for wearing around the head of a wearer, and a transparent or semi-transparent face protection surface attached over a portion of the length of the wearing band so as to cover the entire face of the wearer when the wearing band is worn around the head.
A decorative part consisting of a facial pattern imitating a person, animal or character is provided on one side of the face protection mask, and a transparent or semi-transparent light-transmitting part is formed in a part of the decorative part so that the wearer wearing the attachment band can see ahead.

Registered Utility Model No. 3228622 Registered Utility Model No. 3227932 Registered Utility Model No. 3228167

In the face shield described in Patent Document 1 (2, 3), the shield (shield body, face protection surface) for covering the face is fixed to the head of the human body only by a belt (belt member, wearing band). Therefore, when the head is moved during use, the shield (shield body, face protection surface) may swing or the fixed state may change, making it unstable.

In addition, when the face shield described in Patent Document 1 (2, 3) is worn on the head for a long period of time, the engagement position of the shield (shield body, face protection surface) with respect to the belt (belt member, wearing band) gradually changes, causing the curvature of the shield (shield body, face protection surface) located in front of the face to change, which can have a negative effect on visibility. In such cases, the engagement position must be corrected during use, which is troublesome and can interfere with the user's normal work.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a face shield that can maintain a stable state without the shielding film covering the face shaking or shifting, even when the head is moved during use or when the face is used for a long period of time.

The face shield of the present invention is characterized by comprising a headband that can be worn and maintained on the human head, a light-transmitting shielding film that can cover the front of the face, and a supporter that engages with the headband and the shielding film to hold the shielding film in a curved shape.

In the face shield, the headband can have a tongue-shaped locking portion formed at one end in the longitudinal direction and a number of headband slits opened at the other end in the longitudinal direction for inserting the locking portion through.

In the face shield, the supporter can be one that includes a supporter main body that can be bent along the shielding film, engagement parts formed on both ends of the supporter main body, a plurality of supporter slits opened in each of the engagement parts for inserting the headband, and engagement means provided on the engagement parts and the shielding film for engaging the supporter with the shielding film.

In the face shield, the longitudinal direction of the multiple supporter slits opened in the engagement portion of the supporter can be configured to intersect with the longitudinal direction of the supporter, and the length of the supporter slit located closer to the center of the supporter main body (or away from the center of the supporter main body) among the multiple supporter slits can be made longer than the length of the other supporter slits.

In the face shield, the engagement means can be a protrusion provided on the engagement portion (or the shielding film) and a through hole opened in the shielding film (or the engagement portion) for detachably inserting the protrusion.

The present invention provides a face shield that can maintain a stable condition without the shielding film covering the face shaking or shifting, even when the head is moved during use or when the face is used for a long period of time.

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a face shield according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view, with a portion thereof omitted, of a headband which is a component of the face shield shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a partially omitted front view of a shielding film that is a component of the face shield shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view, with a portion thereof omitted, of a supporter which is a component of the face shield shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially omitted front view showing an assembly process of the face shield shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a front view, with some parts omitted, of a face shield after it has been assembled through the assembly process shown in FIG. 5 and before it is worn on the head. FIG. 7 is a partially omitted front view showing the face shield shown in FIG. 6 in a state where it is worn on the head. FIG. 7 is a side view, with some parts omitted, showing the face shield shown in FIG. 6 in a state where it is worn on the head. FIG. 7 is a partially omitted plan view showing the face shield shown in FIG. 6 in a state where it is worn on the head. FIG. 9 is a partially omitted side view showing a tilted state of the face shield shown in FIG. 8 .

The face shield 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the face shield 100 according to this embodiment includes a headband 10 that can be kept wrapped around a human head H (see FIG. 9), a shielding film 30 that can cover the front of the face F (see FIG. 8), and a supporter 50 that engages with the headband 10 and the shielding film 30 to hold the shielding film 30 in a curved shape. The headband 10, the shielding film 30, and the supporter 50 are all made of a transparent synthetic resin sheet material.

As shown in FIG. 2, the headband 10 has a tongue-shaped locking portion 11 formed on one end 10a side in the longitudinal direction 10L, and a plurality of headband slits 12 through which the locking portion 11 can be inserted are formed on the other end 10b side in the longitudinal direction 10L. The plurality of headband slits 12 are formed at a predetermined distance apart along the longitudinal direction 10L of the headband 10, and are arranged so that the longitudinal direction 12L of each opening is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 10L of the headband 10.

The width 11w of the locking portion 11 is set smaller than the width 13w of the main body 13 of the headband 10. The length 12a of the headband slit 12 in the longitudinal direction 12L is smaller than the width 13w of the main body 13 and larger than the width 11w of the locking portion 11. The number of headband slits 12 and their arrangement intervals can be set arbitrarily depending on the conditions of use. The headband 10 can be formed from a transparent synthetic resin material, such as PC (polycarbonate), but is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shielding film 30 is made of a transparent synthetic resin material, and the upper edge 30a, the left and right side edges 30b, 30c, and the center portion of the lower edge 30d are straight lines. The boundaries between the upper edge 30a and the left and right side edges 30b, 30c, and the boundaries between the left and right side edges 30b, 30c and the lower edge 30d are each convexly curved. A plurality of through holes 31, 32 are provided in the portions close to the left and right side edges 30b, 30c and the upper edge 30a. The plurality of through holes 31, 32 are provided at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal directions 30bL, 30cL of the side edges 30b, 30c, respectively.

There are no limitations on the shape or size (area) of the shielding film 30, so long as it is large enough to cover the necessary area in front of the user's face. The material of the shielding film 30 is not limited as long as it is translucent, but PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is preferable. In the face shield 100, the headband 10 is 0.5 mm thick, the shielding film 30 is 0.125 mm thick, and the supporter 50 is 1.0 mm thick, and the relationship in thickness between these three components is set so that the thickness of the shielding film 30 < the thickness of the headband 10 < the thickness of the supporter, but this is not limiting.

The supporter 50 shown in FIG. 4 includes a strip-shaped main body 51 that can be bent along the shielding film 30, as shown in FIG. 9 described later, engagement parts 52a, 52b formed on both the left and right ends of the main body 51, and a number of supporter slits 53, 54 opened in the engagement parts 52a, 52b for inserting the headband 10 (see FIG. 2). The width 52w of the engagement parts 52a, 52b is larger than the width 51w of the main body 51.

As an engagement means for detachably engaging the supporter 50 and the shielding film 30, a plurality of protrusions 55, 56 are provided on the engagement portions 52a, 52b, respectively, and circular through holes 31, 32 (see FIG. 3) are provided in the shielding film 30. The protrusions 55, 56 protrude in directions away from the engagement portions 52a, 52b, respectively, along the longitudinal direction 50L of the supporter 50. The spacing between the protrusions 55, 55 (56, 56) is the same as the spacing between the through holes 31, 31 (32, 32), respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, the shape of protrusion 55 in front view is the tip of an arrow cut in a straight line in the transverse direction of the arrow, and its maximum width 55w is slightly larger than the inner diameter of through holes 31, 32 (see FIG. 3) of shielding film 30. Although not shown, protrusion 56 has the same shape in front view and maximum width as protrusion 55. Since shielding film 30 is flexible, when the areas around through holes 31, 32 are bent, protrusions 55, 56 can be inserted into and removed from through holes 31, 21, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal direction of the multiple supporter slits 53, 54 opened in the engagement parts 52a, 52b of the supporter 50 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 50L of the supporter 50. The lengths 53L, 54L of the supporter slits 53, 54 are greater than the width 13w of the main body 13 of the headband 10 shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the length 54L of the supporter slit 54 located closer to the center 51c (the center in the longitudinal direction 50L) of the main body 51 among the multiple supporter slits 53, 54 is greater than the length 53L of the other supporter slit 53. The length 54L of the supporter slit 54 and the length 53L of the supporter slit 53 can be greater than the length 54L of the supporter slit 53.

Next, the assembly process of the face shield 100 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. As shown in Figure 5, the supporter 50 is engaged with the headband 10 to form an integrated unit, and then the supporter 50 is engaged with the shielding film 30 to form the face shield 100.

First, insert the end 10a of the headband 10 on the locking portion 11 side into the supporter slit 53 from the rear side of one of the engagement portions 52a of the supporter 50, and insert the end 10a protruding from the front side of the engagement portion 52a into the supporter slit 54, causing the end 10a to protrude to the rear side of the engagement portion 52a.

Next, the end 10a protruding from the rear side of the engagement portion 52a is pulled along the longitudinal direction 50L of the supporter 50 toward the other engagement portion 52b, thereby moving the supporter 50 toward the end 10b of the headband 10.

When the end 10a of the headband 10 reaches the vicinity of the engagement part 52b, insert the end 10a into the supporter slit 54 from the rear side of the engagement part 52b, and insert the end 10a protruding from the front side of the engagement part 52b into the supporter slit 53, protruding to the rear side of the engagement part 52b.

Next, while supporting the end 10a of the headband 10 protruding from the rear side of the engagement portion 52b, move the entire supporter 50 toward the opposite end 10b, and position the supporter 50 on the main body portion 13 near the center of the headband 10's overall length.

Then, the front side of the supporter 50 integrated with the headband 10 is abutted against the portion of the back side of the shielding film 30 near the upper edge 30a, and the protrusions 55, 55 on the engagement portion 52a side are inserted into the through holes 31, 31 from the back side of the shielding film 30 to engage them, and similarly, the protrusions 56, 56 on the engagement portion 52b side are inserted into the through holes 32, 32 from the back side of the shielding film 30 to engage them, completing the face shield 100 in which the headband 10, supporter 50, and shielding film 30 are integrated, as shown in FIG. 6.

After that, as shown in FIG. 1, the engagement position of the engagement parts 52a, 52b of the supporter 50 relative to the main body part 13 of the headband 10 is changed to narrow the engagement interval of the engagement parts 52a, 52b, thereby bending the supporter 50 into a bow shape so that it protrudes forward of the headband 10, and the shielding film 30 also curves to bulge toward the front of the headband 10. Because frictional force is generated between the main body part 13 of the headband 10 and the engagement parts 52a, 52b of the supporter 50, the shielding film 30 and the headband 10 are maintained in a curved shape bulging forward.

The curved shape of the shielding film 30 can be adjusted by changing the engagement position of the engagement parts 52a, 52b of the supporter 50 relative to the main body part 13 of the headband 10 and changing the engagement spacing of the engagement parts 52a, 52b.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 1, by inserting the end 10a of the engaging portion 11 of the headband 10 into one of the multiple headband slits 12 on the end 10b side, the headband 10 becomes ring-shaped. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the shielding film 30 is positioned in front of the person's face F, and the head H is wrapped around the headband 10, completing the wearing of the face shield 100.

As shown in Figures 7 to 9, when the face shield 100 is worn, the entire front of the face F is covered with the shielding film 30, which prevents the user's droplets from spreading or from being inhaled by others, and is effective in preventing droplet infection of infectious diseases. In the face shield 100, the shielding film 30 is maintained in a curved shape by the supporter 50, which is a separate member from the headband 10. Therefore, even if the head H is moved during use or the face is used for a long period of time, the shielding film 30 covering the face F does not shake or shift, and can remain stable.

As shown in FIG. 4, the length 54L of the supporter slit 54 opened in the engagement parts 52a, 52b of the supporter 50 is greater than the length 53L of the supporter slit 53, so that the supporter 50 and the shielding film 30 can rise and fall around the supporter slit 53 relative to the headband 10, as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, the inclination angle of the shielding film 30 with respect to the face F can be set arbitrarily from a state in which the lower edge 30d of the shielding film 30 is separated from the jaw T as shown in FIG. 10(a), through a state in which the shielding film 30 is upright as shown in FIG. 10(b), to a state in which the lower edge 30d of the shielding film 30 is close to the jaw T as shown in FIG. 10(c).

Furthermore, in the face shield 100, the left and right through holes 31, 32 of the shielding film 30 can be engaged with and detached from the protrusions 55, 56 of the supporter 50, so if the shielding film 30 becomes soiled or damaged, only the shielding film 30 can be replaced.

In addition, the face shield 100 has the following advantages:
(1) The three-dimensional face shield 100 can be formed by assembling three pieces cut out from a flat sheet material, and therefore can be manufactured relatively easily.
(2) In the face shield 100, the headband 10 and the supporter 50 are made of polycarbonate, and the shield film 30 is made of polyethylene terephthalate. Therefore, the face shield 100 is lightweight, durable, and sufficiently resistant to alcohol and detergent. It can be used hygienically for a long period of time by washing with soap or disinfecting with alcohol, and is safe, hygienic, and easy to maintain.
(3) After being assembled into a three-dimensional shape, the face shield 100 maintains its shape due to the necessary and sufficient frictional force generated at the contact points between the headband 10, the supporter 50, and the shielding film 30, and therefore no other fixing method such as adhesive is required.
(4) All of the components constituting the face shield 100 (the headband 10, the supporter 50, and the shielding film 30) are highly transparent and inconspicuous, so that they do not intimidate patients when used in a medical setting.
(5) The headband 10 and the supporter 50 form an integral structure having high rigidity and therefore good strength.
(6) Since the shielding film 30 is fixed in a curved state in close contact with the supporter 50, the shielding film 30 is less likely to shake even when the user's head moves, and symptoms such as nausea caused by the shaking of the face shield member can be prevented.
(7) The length (inner diameter) of the headband 10 can be adjusted to suit the size of the user's head, and the engagement portion between the locking portion 11 of the headband 10 and the headband slit 12 is fixed by frictional force, so the tightness to the head can be adjusted continuously. Although the feeling of tightness is small, the headband can be stably fixed to the head.
(8) The amount of protrusion of the supporter 50 can be changed by adjusting the engagement spacing of the engagement portions 52a, 52b of the supporter 50 relative to the headband 10, so that the distance between the face and the shielding film 30 and the flatness (curvature) of the shielding film 30 can be finely adjusted.
(9) Since the angle of the shield film 30 with respect to the user's face can be changed, by increasing the distance between the mouth and nose and the shield film 30, a medical N95 mask can be used in combination with the face shield 100.
(10) The headband 10, the supporter 50, and the shielding film 30 that make up the face shield 100 can be easily manufactured by simply cutting flat sheet material with a laser processing machine, and once a mold is made, they can be mass-produced by punching them with a press machine.

Note that the face shield 100 described with reference to Figures 1 to 10 is an example of a face shield according to the present invention, and the face shield according to the present invention is not limited to the face shield 100 described above.

The face shield of the present invention can be widely used in a variety of industrial fields, including by medical professionals such as doctors and nurses working in clinics and hospitals, as well as by employees in the food and beverage and hospitality industries.

10 Headband 10L, 12L, 30bL, 30cL, 50L Longitudinal direction 10a, 10b End 11 Engagement portion 11w, 13w, 51w, 52w Width 12 Headband slit 12a, 53L, 54L Length 13 Headband body 30 Shielding film 30a Upper edge 30b, 30c Side edge 30d Lower edge 31, 32 Through hole 50 Supporter 51 Supporter body 51c Center 52a, 52b Engagement portion 53, 54 Supporter slit 55, 56 Projection piece 100 Face shield

Claims (4)

A face shield comprising a headband that can be maintained in a state where it is worn on a human head, a light-transmitting shielding film that can cover the front of the face, and a supporter that engages with the headband and the shielding film to hold the shielding film in a curved shape,
The supporter is a face shield comprising a supporter main body portion that can be bent along the shielding film, engagement portions formed on both ends of the supporter main body portion, a plurality of supporter slits opened in each of the engagement portions for inserting the headband therethrough, and engagement means provided on the engagement portions and the shielding film for engaging the supporter with the shielding film . The face shield according to claim 1, wherein the headband has a tongue-shaped locking portion formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a plurality of headband slits opened on the other end side in the longitudinal direction for inserting the locking portion therethrough. 3. A face shield as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinal direction of the multiple supporter slits opened in the engagement portion of the supporter intersects with the longitudinal direction of the supporter, and the length of the supporter slit located toward the center of the supporter main body (or away from the center of the supporter main body) among the multiple supporter slits is longer than the length of the other supporter slits. 3. A face shield as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the engagement means is a protrusion provided on the engagement portion (or the shielding film), and a through hole opened in the shielding film ( or the engagement portion) for detachably inserting the protrusion.

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