ES1249450U - FACIAL PROTECTION SCREEN (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Face protection screen (1) to protect a user against biological secretions between said user (100) and a third party comprising: (a) a head support (2) to hold said screen (1) on the head of said user (100), (b) a transparent sheet (4) to cover the face of said user (100) which is connected to said head support (2) by an upper part (6) of said sheet (4) and which, in use position of said screen (1), extends from top to bottom between said upper part (6) and a lower part (8) protruding below the lower jaw (102) of said user (100), characterized in that it also includes: (c) a lower support (10), connected to said transparent sheet (4) by said lower part (8) which, in the position of use of said screen (1), extends from front to back, below the lower jaw (102) of said user (100), between a front part (12) and a back part (14), and (d) a filter (16) associated with said lower support (10) so that, in the position of use of said screen (1), it covers, at least partially, the lower jaw (102) of said user (100). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

FACIAL PROTECTION SCREEN

Field of the invention

The invention refers to a face protection screen to protect a user against biological secretions between said user and a third party, comprising: a head support to hold said screen on the head of said user, a transparent sheet to cover the face of said user that is connected to said head support by an upper part of said sheet and that, in the position of use of said screen, extends from top to bottom between said upper part and a lower part that protrudes below the lower jaw of said user.

In the invention, the concept of biological secretions refers, on the one hand, to the exhaled from the respiratory tract of the user or of any third party, but it can also include splashes of all kinds of biological fluids or secretions.

State of the art

Facial protection systems, either total or partial, to protect a user against biological secretions between a user and a third party are known in environments such as healthcare.

A first type of facial protection is that provided by masks. The masks are intended to cover the user's mouth, nose and chin.

Different types of masks are known, depending on their degree of protection.

The most basic are the hygienic masks that consist of a central textile band with one or more layers and elastic or non-elastic side bands to fix it to the ears or the head. These masks are not a medical device and their main objective is to prevent the user from contaminating third parties, rather than their own protection.

The second type of masks are surgical masks. These, with a construction similar to the previous ones, but with a better quality textile band, avoid contact with splashes of third-party fluids. However, again, even though they are better than hygienic masks, they serve more to protect third parties than the user who wears them.

A third known type are filter masks, often known by the acronym PPE for Personal Protective Equipment. This type of mask is intended to protect the wearer from the droplets of saliva projected by a third party on the wearer when speaking, coughing or exhaling air. These droplets are known in the art as aerosols. Again, this type of mask is classified into three levels known as FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3. Additionally, they may or may not have a valve. In case they have a valve, the masks do not protect third parties from the aerosols exhaled by the wearer of the mask.

During the last quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, the use of masks has intensified and extended enormously due to the expansion of the Covid 19 pandemic, also known as Coronavirus.

Due to its high level of contagiousness, it has been proven that, in environments with high viral load in the environment or with surfaces that can be contacted with the hands by highly contaminated users, such as in hospitals, day centers, residences for the elderly or similar, the masks described above do not offer enough protection. This is because COVID-19 in particular can be spread not only through the respiratory tract, but also through the mucous membranes, such as those of the eyes.

Therefore, it is important to avoid the user touching any part of the face with their hands. A very widespread way to avoid this accidental contact of the hands with the face goes through using a protective screen that covers the entire face. Document US 20150128323 A1 shows an example of this type of screens.

However, the problem with these screens is that they do not replace the functionality of the mask, since, if the user does not wear a mask, aerosols escape from the wearer at the bottom of the screen.

The solution to this problem is to combine the use of a mask and a screen that covers the entire face. In healthcare environments this combined equipment has become essential.

The problem of this combined use arises from the humidity generated by the wearer when breathing that ends up passing through the mask. This moisture accumulates directly on the inside of the screen, and can even cause mist on the screen itself.

There have been attempts to solve this problem as, for example, through the mask of document US 5406944 A. This mask incorporates a transparent screen that protrudes superiorly from the mask, that is to say that the screen does not cover the user's mouth. Since the mask is not covered by the screen, mist cannot accumulate on it. However, this mask offers a reduced level of protection, since it dispenses with the additional protection of the screen facing the oral cavity.

The problem of the discomfort of wearing a mask when wearing a screen has also been raised. Document US 6996846 B1 proposes a solution to this problem consisting of a screen in which the lower part extends below the lower jaw of the user and forms an internally concave cavity. This screen offers high protection against germs and presumably avoids the need to use a conventional mask. However, the ventilation of this mask is poor and the humidity generated by the aerosols of the wearer, ends up accumulating in the lower cavity.

Finally, document CN 208096081 A discloses a screen that incorporates a filter in the part of the screen facing the user's mouth. However, this screen is complicated, difficult to manufacture and does not prevent excess moisture, caused by the exhalation of the user, from dripping down the bottom of the screen.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the invention is to provide a protection screen of the type indicated at the beginning which has a simple and inexpensive design but which provides good protection against the exchange of germs between the user and any third party. In addition, the screen must be well ventilated to provide a high level of comfort to the user and also to avoid internal fogging. Finally, it is also an objective of the invention that the user is not obliged to put on a mask that covers the airways in order to be properly protected.

This purpose is achieved by means of a protection screen of the type indicated at the beginning, characterized in that it also comprises: a lower support, connected to said transparent sheet by said lower part which, in the use position of said screen, extends from front to back, below the lower jaw of said user, between an anterior part and a posterior part, and a filter associated with said lower support so that, in the position of use of said screen, it covers, at least partially, the lower jaw of said user.

Indeed, the screen according to the invention combines the benefits of the mask and the screen, but avoiding their disadvantages, and all this, with a simple and economical design.

First of all, all parts are easily manufacturable and easy to assemble.

Also, since the lower part of the screen extends below the lower jaw of the user, good protection is obtained against the exit of aerosols from the wearer. In turn, thanks to the screen, the wearer is very well protected against the air exhaled by a third party, making it difficult for it to become contaminated.

The screen also ensures that the user does not touch their face with their hands, which greatly improves the shortcomings of the mask.

On the other hand, the user does not need to wear a mask that covers their mouth, nose and chin, since this function is guaranteed by the filter that extends below their lower jaw. This increases the comfort of using the screen, compared to the combination of screen and mask that blocks the user's airways.

Also, since the screen is not watertight and has the lower filter, a very good interior ventilation of the screen is guaranteed. This good ventilation makes it difficult for the screen to fog up internally. In addition, this also improves the feeling of freshness when wearing the mask.

Finally, and in the event that the screen becomes foggy, when condensing, the moisture from the mist goes down the inside surface of the screen. Thus, unlike the lower closed screens of the state of the art, in which moisture accumulated in their concavity, in the screen according to the invention the moisture is absorbed by the filter.

Furthermore, the invention encompasses a series of preferred characteristics which are the subject of the dependent claims and the usefulness of which will be highlighted later in the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention.

In order that the screen can be transported disassembled in large quantities, preferably, the screen also comprises: first coupling means for coupling said head support and said transparent sheet to each other by said upper part, second coupling means for coupling said lower support and said transparent sheet together by said lower part, and third coupling means for coupling said filter with said screen.

In another embodiment, which aims to find a balance between comfort of use and safety, in the position of use of said screen, the inner face of said screen facing the lower jaw of said user is separated by a distance between 0 and 5 cm from the lower jaw of that user.

The head and bottom supports are particularly preferably made of a polymeric plastic material, such as polyamide (PA) with or without filler, polypropylene (PP) or the like.

Also to minimize manufacturing costs, according to another embodiment of the invention the transparent sheet is a flat sheet of elastically deformable polymeric material. Suitable materials for this type of film are, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate or other similar transparent polymers.

Particularly preferably, the transparent sheet has a thickness of between 20 µm and 1 mm, which provides a flat sheet, easily transportable flat, but which, when mounted on the head support, is easily deformable.

Another problem with the invention is being able to use elements that are already commercially available to simplify the use of the screen. Thus, in a particularly preferred manner said filter is a mask comprising a central filter band and hooking strips respectively on each of the lateral ends of said mask, and said third coupling means are provided respectively on each of the sides. of said head support, said mask being mounted below covering said lower support and said hooking strips being clamped on said third coupling means. Indeed, any conventional mask mentioned in the introduction can be assembled in a simple way thanks to the lower support that confers rigidity to the screen. As for the third coupling means, in this case for simplicity it is preferable that it be a projection of the hook, lug or similar type, in which the hooking strips can be easily hooked. However, other solutions such as clasps, brackets or others are not ruled out.

To further simplify the design of the screen and minimize its manufacturing costs, in another embodiment said lower support is at least one transverse rib connecting two facing ends of said lower part of said sheet.

In an alternative embodiment, said lower support comprises: an outer frame and an inner frame, configured to fit into said outer frame, and said filter is a sheet of fabric or non-woven fabric, mounted between said outer frame and said inner frame .

In another embodiment that has the object that the screen can be easily adapted to any head shape, said head support is an open ring in the ends of which comprise fourth coupling means configured to receive an elastic tensioning element. Again, the coupling means are preferably hooks formed as one piece with the ring. However, other shapes are conceivable, such as lugs, a Velcro® system or others.

In another embodiment that aims to facilitate the evacuation of heat from the user's sweat, said head support comprises a plurality of through ventilation openings provided in the area that, in the position of use of said screen, is above the forehead of said user.

Likewise, the invention also encompasses other features of detail illustrated in the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention and in the accompanying figures.

Description of the drawings

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention can be seen from the following description, in which, without any limitation, some preferred embodiments of the invention are related, making mention of the accompanying drawings. The figures show:

Fig. 1, a perspective view of a first embodiment of the protective screen according to the invention.

Fig. 2, a front view of the protective screen of figure 1.

Fig. 3, a top plan view of the protective screen of figure 1, with the filter mounted.

Fig. 4 a side view of the protective screen of figure 1, in the position of use, when the user has the head upright.

Fig. 5 a side view of the protective screen of figure 1, in the position of use, when the user tilts his head frontally.

Fig. 6, a perspective view of a second embodiment of the protective screen according to the invention.

Fig. 7, a front view of the protective screen of figure 6.

Fig. 8, a top plan view of the protective screen of figure 6, with the filter mounted.

Fig. 9 an exploded perspective view of the filter element assembly in the lower support of the mask.

Fig. 10 a perspective view of the lower support of the mask, after mounting the filter element.

Fig. 11 a side view of the protective screen of figure 6, in the position of use, when the user has the head upright.

FIG. 12 a side view of the protective screen of FIG. 6, in the position of use, when the user tilts his head frontally.

Fig. 13, a perspective view of a first embodiment of the protective screen according to the invention.

Fig. 14, a top plan view of the protective screen of figure 13, with the filter mounted.

Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

Figures 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the screen 1 according to the invention.

The screen 1 according to the invention is a face protection screen to protect a user against biological secretions between said user 100 and a third party.

As main elements, the screen 1 comprises: a head support 2, a transparent sheet 4 to cover the user's face, a lower support 10 and a filter 16.

The head support allows to hold the screen 1 on the head of said user 100. In this embodiment, the head support 2 is an open ring at the ends of which it comprises fourth coupling means 30 configured to receive an elastic tensioning element 32. , such as a rubber band or elastic band. The fourth coupling means 30 are hooks, but they could be replaced by other systems such as snaps, velcro, through holes or others. Thus, it is sufficient that the elastic element can be properly held and tensioned.

Also, despite the fact that in this embodiment the head support is a ring, it is not ruled out that in another embodiment it may have additional bands that extend from front to back to close the ring superiorly and form a harness shape. for the head.

Finally, regarding the head support 2 of this embodiment, it should be mentioned that it comprises a plurality of through ventilation openings 34 provided in the area that, in the position of use of said screen 1, is above the forehead of said user 100.

As for the sheet 4, it is transparent, at least in the area that, in the position of use of the screen, faces the user's eyes. The sheet 4 is designed to cover the face of the user 100 and is connected to the head support 2 by an upper part 6 of the sheet 4. For this, first coupling means 18 are provided to couple the head support to each other. 2 and transparent sheet 4 at the top 6. The transparent sheet 4 is a flat sheet of elastically deformable polymeric material such as, for example, PET polyethylene terephthalate, PVC polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate or other similar transparent polymers. The thickness of the sheet shown in the figures is 0.6 mm, which gives it a remarkable rigidity, in compression without losing the deformability desired for mounting the sheet 4 on the head support 2.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, in the use position of the screen 1, the sheet 4 extends from top to bottom between the upper part 6 and a lower part 8 that protrudes below the lower jaw 102 of the user 100.

The lower support 10 is also connected to the transparent sheet 4 by the lower part 8. For this, second coupling means 20 are provided to couple the lower support 10 and the transparent sheet 4 together by said lower part 8.

In this embodiment, both the first and the second coupling means 18, 20 have opted for a tongue and groove lug system that projects respectively from the head support 2 and the lower support 10 and some holes in the sheet 4. However, these two parts could be joined by other systems such as gluing, Velcro®, rivets, screws or other systems.

In the position of use of the screen 1, the lower support 10 extends from front to back, below the lower jaw 102 of the user 100, between a front part 12 adjacent to the sheet 4 and a rear part 14, which in the position of use is very adjusted to the user's double chin. The lower support 10 can be a closed or open ring with a shape similar to a horseshoe, to facilitate the adaptability of the physiognomy of the wearer 100. In any case, the lower support 2 provides rigidity to the base of the screen 1.

Finally, the filter 16 is associated with the lower support 10 through third coupling means 22 to couple the filter 16 with the screen 1. Thus, in the position of use of the screen 1 it covers, the filter covers at least partially, the lower jaw 102 of the user 100.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5 in the position of use of the screen 1, the inner face 28 of the screen facing the lower jaw of the user 100 is separated by a distance A of between 0 and 5 cm from the lower jaw of the user 100 This means that the filter is very close to the user's lower jaw and the protection is similar to that which it would have if it were to wear a mask internally. It has been found that these dimensions are optimal to provide adequate health security, comfort and portability of the screen 1. As seen in figure 5, thanks to these dimensions, when the user tilts his head frontally at no time does he contact the screen 2 on the chest, which provides great comfort. Furthermore, the collision with the chest can cause deformation of the sheet 4, which is very undesirable, since then this causes reflections that disturb the user to see correctly through the sheet 4.

Finally, this first particularly preferred embodiment has the objective that the screen can be used in healthcare environments in a simple way and using materials that are already available and inexpensive. Therefore, in this case, the filter 16 is a mask comprising a central filter band and hooking strips 24 respectively at each of the lateral ends of said mask. On the other hand, said third coupling means 22 are respectively provided on each of the sides of said head support 2, said mask being mounted below covering said lower support 10 and said hooking strips being fastened on said third coupling means 22 This greatly simplifies the use of this screen 1, since surgical masks are often readily available in healthcare settings.

Next, other embodiments of the protection screen 1 according to the invention are shown that share a large part of the characteristics described in the previous paragraphs. Accordingly, only the differentiating elements will be described hereinafter, while for the common elements reference is made to the description of the first embodiment.

Thus, in the protection screen 1 of Figures 6 to 12, the lower support 10 comprises an outer frame and an inner frame, configured to fit into the outer frame. As can also be seen in this case, the filter 16 is a sheet of fabric or non-woven fabric, mounted between the outer frame and the inner frame. Optionally, the filter could be obtained from a disassembled mask.

In the screen 1 of Figures 13 and 14 the lower support is formed by two transverse ribs 36 that connect two opposite ends of the lower part 8 of the sheet 4. In this case, the ribs 36 are simply two tubular conduits in which the clasps corresponding to the third coupling means 22 can be inserted, which greatly simplifies their manufacture.

Claims (9)

1. - Face protection screen (1) to protect a user against biological secretions between said user (100) and a third party comprising: [a] a head support (2) to hold said screen (1) on the head of said user (100), [b] a transparent sheet (4) to cover the face of said user (100) that is connected to said head support (2) by an upper part (6) of said sheet (4) and that, in the position of use of said screen (1), extends from top to bottom between said upper part (6) and a lower part (8) that protrudes below the lower jaw (102) of said user (100), characterized in that it also includes: [c] a lower support (10), connected with said transparent sheet (4) by said lower part (8) which, in the position of use of said screen (1), extends from front to back, below the lower jaw (102) of said user (100), between a front part (12) and a rear part (14), and [d] a filter (16) associated with said lower support (10) such that, in the position of use of said screen (1), it covers, at least partially, the lower jaw (102) of said user (100). 2. - Protection screen (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises: [a] first coupling means (18) for coupling said head support (2) and said transparent sheet (4) together by said upper part (6), [b] second coupling means (20) for coupling said lower support and said transparent sheet (4) through said lower part (8), and [c] a third coupling means (22) for coupling said filter (16) with said screen (1). 3. - Protective screen (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that in the use position of said screen (1) the inner face (28) of said screen facing the lower jaw of said user (100) is separated a distance (A) comprised between 0 and 5 cm from the lower jaw of said user (100). 4. - Screen (1) protection according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transparent sheet (4) is a flat sheet of polymeric material, elastically deformable. 5. - Protection screen (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said filter (16) is a mask comprising a central filter band and hooking strips (24) respectively on each of the lateral ends of said mask, and because said third coupling means (22) are respectively provided on each of the sides of said head support (2), said mask being mounted below covering said lower support (10) and said hooking strips secured on said third coupling means (22). 6. - Protection screen (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said lower support (10) is at least one transverse rib (36) connecting two opposite ends of said lower part (8) of said sheet (4). 7. - Screen (1) protection according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said lower support (10) comprises [a] an outer frame and [b] an inner frame, configured to fit into said outer frame, and because [c] said filter (16) is a sheet of fabric or non-woven fabric, mounted between said outer frame and said inner frame. 8. - Protection screen (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said head support (2) is an open ring at the ends of which comprises fourth coupling means (30) configured to receive an elastic element (32) tensioner. 9.- Protection screen (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said head support (2) comprises a plurality of through ventilation openings (34) provided in the area that, in the position of use of said screen (1), is above the forehead of said user (100).