Loupe Light-Compatible Attachable Face Shield

Abstract

A face shield adapted to protect the face from biohazards during medical procedures is disclosed. The central portion of the face shield includes a horizontally centered cut out that extends downwardly from a top edge. The cut out is sized and positioned to allow a loupe light to pass through. The central portion of the face shield may be hingedly connected to a pair of side portions. A pair of side portions extends outwardly from respective sides of the central portion. Each of the pair of side portions includes attachment structure, such as a clip, to attach the face shield to the temples of a pair of loupes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 062,801, filed Oct. 24, 2013, claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 718,058, filed Oct. 24, 2012. Both of those applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to disposable body substance isolation equipment, and in particular, to medical masks with eye shields that are compatible with loupe lights.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Over the last several decades, both medical professionals and the general public have become far more aware of the dangers of pathogens in bodily fluids. Some of the pathogens themselves have become increasingly virulent, and drug resistance has become an issue with strains of bacteria that were once easily eradicated using standard antibiotics.[0006]Products that are intended to prevent a medical practitione...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about a face mask that can be used with loupes and a loupe light. The mask has a filter mask portion with an attached face shield. The shield has a central portion that is connected to two side portions. The central portion has a cut out that allows the loupe light to pass through. The shield can be attached to the loupes with clips or other attachment structure. The mask can also have a fold or score line that separates the central portion from the side portions, allowing the side portions to fold relative to the central portion. The technical effects of this invention are that it provides a convenient and comfortable way to use loupes while wearing a face mask.

Problems solved by technology

Some of the pathogens themselves have become increasingly virulent, and drug resistance has become an issue with strains of bacteria that were once easily eradicated using standard antibiotics.

Although effective and able to offer full wrap-around protection of the head and face, this equipment is cumbersome, and can be hot and uncomfortable to wear.

While useful, and often more comfortable than a helmet-style shield, these disposable integrated face shields often do not have good wrap-around coverage of the face, i.e., they may offer poor protection for the side of the face and are not contoured to fit the face well.

Another problem with the standard disposable integrated face shield is that medical providers often wear glasses or other equipment on their faces.

Unfortunately, standard disposable face shields cannot accommodate this kind of equipment, which projects out from the face.

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