1 2
the lenses. Yet another object of the present invention is
SURGICAL EYE MASK to provide an eye mask which combines the above attributes in an eye mask with a stretchable or elastic frame
This application is a continuation of application Ser. assembly so that the mask readily conforms to the face
No. 08/052,800 entitled "SURGICAL EYE MASK" 5 ^ can ^ adjusted laterally for different width faces
f ^d, onl U u fat T Trademark °ffice on and eye spacing. These and other objects of the present
Apr. 23, 1993 now abandoned, which is a continuation .. , 4 v.
of application Ser. No. 07/708,597 bearing the same title mventlon /f b/^ome more aP?arent uP°n a furth<\r
and filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on revlew of followmg specification, drawmgs and
May 31,1991 now abandoned. 10 clauns
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an eye mask. More The present invention relates to a protective eye specifically the eye mask is a goggle-type design which mask particularly suitable for use in health care applicais very conformable to the face of the wearer and which 15 tions. The protective eye mask is composed of a flexible can be worn behind a wearer's glasses if so desired. The frame assembly including a first and second eye opening primary area of use for the present invention is in the separated by a bridge portion. Each of the eye openings health care area and in particular hospitals, dental of- includes a transparent lens which is sealingly engaged fices, doctor offices, clinics, labs and veterinary clinics. to the flexible frame assembly. To secure the protective The eye mask is contemplated, however, to be useable 20 eye mask about the face of the wearer, it is provided in a wide variety of applications and, therefore, should with securement means which are attached to opposite not be limited to the above utilizations. sides of the flexible frame ^ ... Eye protection is an important consideration in a ^ ^ Qr ... ^ fee madfi from number of areas not the least of which is the health care '. , it_ . . . , . , „ area. Physicians, dentists, nurses and hygienists are but 25 the same material as the frame assembly if so desired. To a small portion of the health care personnel which are mProve the flt of the Protective eye mask, the bridge exposed to splashing fluids and small particle debris. portion may be made from an expansible material, or Many times during surgical and dental procedures there the entire flexible frame assembly may be made elastic are large amounts of fluid generated. Some of these so that the distance between the eye openings of the eye fluids are body fluids while others are irrigation fluids. 30 mask may be tensionally adjusted to match the width of There are growing concerns that persons coming in the mask to the spacing of the wearer's face, contact with these fluids may have some degree of risk Generally, the frame assembly should be of a suffiof contracting bacterial and viral diseases as a result of cient size to completely cover the portion of the wearsuch contact. The eyes are considered one possible er's face surrounding the eyes, cheekbones and bridge entry point for these diseases. As a result, more and 35 of the nose. When the frame assembly is made elastic, it more people are beginning to wear some form of eye js preferred that the material for the frame assembly be protection. Some people simply wear glasses or large a nonwoven laminate of at least one elastic layer bonded plastic/rubber safety goggles. Other people wear face tQ at least Qne gatherable and non-elastic layer. To make shields much like a welder s mask or eye shields made ^ ^ mQre veisatae> the frame assembl ^
from flexible plastic sheets such as Shieldmate (Pat. 40 „ , ... , . , , „, , t.„u.-„ „ A
Pend.) (sold by AlphaProTech, Inc., Catalog/Model f°^ed TMth «dected "«f wh*h ^yd'°ph°bl° Nos. SM 2030, SM 2000, SM 2007, SM2015, SM 2035 other areas which are hydrophdic so that the mask can and SM 2040). Yet another form of protection is a gog- absorb Perspiration and/or repel fluids that are splashed gle/face mask combination as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. or sPrayed onto the mask- ^ mask may 0(5 made 4,796,621 which has a low profile goggle attached to a 45 breathable so that it will allow perspiration to evapoface mask. rateGlasses by themselves only provide protection from a In yet another embodiment, the lenses may be atfrontal point of view as the areas around the glasses tached to one another by a semi-rigid bridge portion provide avenues for contaminants and fluid to enter the which spans the bridge portion of the frame assembly, eyes. Goggles and safety glasses provide more protec- 50 Lastly, the bridge portion of the frame assembly may be tion, but are often cumbersome and uncomfortable to provided with a pleat to create a nose portion between wear. In addition, such items are often difficult to wear the first and second eye openings to create a better fit. in conjunction with prescription glasses. Full face
shields, akin to welders' masks, are often cumbersome, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS sometimes fog due to containment of the wearer's 55 pjG iis2L perspective view of an eye mask accordbreath and they still permit the entry of contaminants mg to the present invention.
and fluids from the bottom side of the face shield. Simi- FIG 2 fc a ^.sectional view taken along line 2-2 larly, partial face shields exhibit problems with unpro- q{ the mask q{ plG j tected paths to the eyes and difficulty in use with pre- 3 view of mafba scnption glasses. As a result, it is an object of the pres- 60 , ,. x * r ^ . , ent invention to provide an eye mask which exhibits f"* accordmS to the Present mventlon havmS eye both a good seal and a comfortable fit about the eye lenses attached to a common eye frame, region of the wearer. It is another object of the present mG- 4 18 a perspective view of an eye mask accordinvention to provide an eye mask which has a flexible ingto the present invention with separate ties attached frame which is very soft to add to the comfort level of 65 to either side of the eye mask.
the wearer. Still a further object of the present inven- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an eye mask accord
tion is to provide an eye mask which is breathable to ing to the present invention with a continuous loop allow evaporation of perspiration and reduce fogging of construction.
