US3068863A - Protective devices - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 c, BOWMAN 3,068,863

PROTECTIVE DEVICES Filed Nov. 19, 1959 Fig.6

INVENTOR Fig 5 Charles L. Bowman.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,068,863 PROTECTIVE DEVICES Charles L. Bowman, 4520 Cherokee Trail, Dallas, Tex. Filed Nov. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 854,081 2 Claims. (Cl. 128132) This invention relates to protective devices and more particularly to a patch attachable to the face and eyelid of the wearer to protect the eye.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved protective device for the human eye.

Another object is to provide an eye patch which prevents the access of light to the eye of the wearer.

Still another object is to provide an eye patch detachably securable to the eyelid and surrounding portions of the face of the wearer to keep the eyelid in closed position and prevent access of light to the eye.

A further object is to provide an eye patch having a configuration conforming to the contours of the human face about the eye and having an adhesive substance along at least its peripheral edges whereby the peripheral edge portions of the eye patch are continuously attachable to the face to prevent passage of light to the eye.

A still further object is to provide an eye patch conforming to the configuration of the face of the wearer about the eye and having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer for attaching the eye patch to the eye and preventing access of light thereto.

Another object is to provide an eye patch having an upper convex peripheral edge, a convex peripheral outer edge extending from one end of the upper peripheral edge of the eye patch and to a bottom convex peripheral edge and a concave peripheral inner edge extending from the other end of the upper convex peripheral edge and merging with the convex bottom edge to form a nose tab securable to the side of the bridge of the nose adjacent the eye whereby the eye patch is securable to the face of the wearer in a continuous manner about its peripheral edge portions to prevent access of light to the eye.

Another object is to provide an eye patch having an adhesive layer on one side thereof and having a protective strip preventing contact of the eyelashes of the wearer with the adhesive substance.

A still further object is to provide an eye patch having an adhesive layer for securing peripheral edge portions of the patch to the face of the wearer adjacent the eye, a portion of the eye patch being free of said adhesive substance whereby the eyelashes of the wearer will not .contact the adhesive substance.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a person wearing the eye patch embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an eye patch assembly showing protective cover strips of the eye patch in partly open position;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the eye patch assembly embodying the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of an eye patch adapted to be secured to the face to protect the left eye of a wearer; and,

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing a modified form of the eye patch for protecting the right eye of the wearer.

Referring now to the drawings, the eye patch 10 assembly includes a protective patch 11, which may be of a fabric or plastic flesh colored substance, whose inner side has a layer 12 of pressure sensitive adhesive or glue which will adhere to the human skin. The protective patch 11 is irregularly shaped having an upper peripheral convex edge 15 which is substantially an arc of a circle. An outer peripheral edge 16 is also convex in configuration describing an arc of larger radius than the radius of the are describing the upper edge. The bottom peripheral convex edge 17 describes an arc of smaller radius than the radii of the arcs described by the upper, and outer edges and extends from the outer edge to the concave inner peripheral edge 18 which extends to the inner end of the upper edge 15 to form a nose tab 20.

The patch 11 having this particular configuration is adapted to engage the face of the wearer in a continuous smooth manner all around the eye with the nose tab bending angularly outwardly at the point of its engagement with the side of the bridge of the nose of the wearer.

An eyelash strip 22 is secured to the patch 11, due to its contact with the adhesive layer 12, and is so positioned that when the piece 11 is secured to the face of the wearer, the eyelash strip 22 covers the eyelashes of the wearer whereby the eyelashes are protected from contact with the adhesive layer. It will be apparent that the eyelash strip 22 extends between the convex and concave side edges 16 and 18 of the piece -11 and is disposed between the upper and lower edges 15 and 17, respectively.

The eye patch 11 may be provided with protective strips 25 and 26. The protective strip 26 has an outwardly turned tab portion 27 which is overlain by the inner edge or tab portion 28 of the protective strip 26 when the strips are in their closed relationship as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 whereby eye patches may be easily stored in plastic envelopes, receptacles orthe like for storage and sale.

The eye patch 11a shown in FIGURE 6 is exactly similar to the eye patch 11 except that in order to protect the eyelashes, the adhesive layer 12a is provided, instead of with the eyelash strip 22, with a slot or opening 40 therein so that the eyelashes of the person wearing the eye patch 11a will be in alignment with the slot 40 and will contact the inner surface of the eye patch 11a instead of the adhesive layer. The eye patch 11a of course is the mirror image of th eye piece 10 so that it is usable with the right eye whereas the eye patch 10 is usable on the left eye. It will of course be apparent that either the left eye or right eye patch may be provided alternatively either with the eyelash strip 22 or with the slot 49 in the adhesive layer of the eye patch.

It will now be seen that the eye patch assembly 10 may be prepared for use by grasping the two tab portions 27 and 28 of the protective strips 25 and 26 and pulling them in opposite directions to expose the eyelash protector strip 22 and the adhesive layer 12 of the eye patch 11. The eye patch is then placed over the eye in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the upper edge portions thereof overlie the eyelid of the wearer and the portions of the face of the wearer immediately below the eyebrow. The nose tab 20 is then bent outwardly to contact the side of the bridge of the nose of the wearer while the side and bottom edge portions contact the face of the wearer on opposite sides of and below the eye. Since the adhesive layer extends continuously about the eyelash protective strip 22, peripheral edge portions of the adhesive layer 12 continuously contact the face of the wearer about the eye while the portions thereof immediately above the eyelash strip 22 contact the upper portion of the eyelid of the wearer. In this manner, the eyelid is kept in closed position and the adhesive layer prevents access of light .to the eye along all peripheral edges of the patch 11 which may be substantially opaque, if desired. As a result, no light can reach the eye. The eyelash strip 22 overlies the eyelashes and prevents the eyelashes from coming into contact with the adhesive strip whereby when the piece 11 is removed from the eye, there is no pain or loss of eyelashes.

It will now be seen that the eye patch is made of a somewhat opaquesubstance, such as a fabric or a plastic substance which may be suitably colored, having one side provided with a layer of adhesive whereby the patch may be secured to the face of the wearer with peripheral continuous edge portions of the adhesive layerbeingin contact with the face of the wearer whereby no gaps or openings will exist between the face of the wearer and the patch through which alight might reach the eye.

It will further be seen that the adhesive layer overlies the eyelid and holds it in closed position even though, due to irritation or nervousness, the eyelid would otherwise tend'to move to open position and permit light to enter the eye. It will thus be seen that the eye patch not only itself prevents access of light to the eye but also. holds the eyelid in closed position whereby the eyelid also combines with the eye patch to doubly insure the prevention of access of light to the eye. The access'of light in certain cases of injury or disease of the eye may prove very harmful thereto and for this reason the eye patch must prevent any access. of light thereto. In addition, the holding of the eyelid in closed position by the eye patch results in greater comfort of the wearer since he does not have to be under the continuous strain of consciously holding the eyelid in the 'closed position.

It will further be seen that the eye patch is light in weight and conforms to. the contours or configuration of the face of the wearer whereby it is comfortable to wear.

It will beapparent thatif desired the eyelash strip 22 may be omitted if a resultant discomfort to the wearer dueto the adhesion of the eyelashes to the adhesive layer 12 is of no importance.

It will also be apparent that if desired, the eyelash strip 22 may be omitted if the adhesive layer is provided with a slot of corresponding size and location whereby the eyelashes would contact the eye patch but not the adhesive layer since such slot in the adhesive layer would be positioned in alignment with the eyelashes of the wearer.

It will now be seen that the eye patch is of such configuration that it will contact the face of the wearer in a continuous manner about the eye.

It will further be seen "that instead of two protective strips 25 and 26 provided with the tab portions 27 and 28, a single protective layer might be employed to. protect the adhesive layer and the eyelash strip prior to the use of the eye patch.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: V a

l. A protective device including: a protective patch having a convex upper edge, a convex outer edge extending downwardly and inwardly from one end of said; upper edge, a lower convex edge of shorter radius thanf said upper edge and said outer edge, and an inner concave edge extending from the lower edge to the other end of said upper edge to forma tab portion; an adhesive layer on one side of said patch; and a protective strip disposed on said adhesive layer intermediate the edges of the patch 2. A protective device including: a protective patch having a convex upper edge, a.convex outer edge extending downwardly and inwardly from one end of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS- 1,642,661 Robinson Sept. I3, 1927 2,572,638 LOOS Oct. 23, 1951 2,734,503 Doyle Feb; 14, 1956 2,807,262 Lew Sept; 23,

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