GB2600115A

GB2600115A - A wearable article

Info

Publication number: GB2600115A
Application number: GB2016673.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Predescu Gheorghe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-10-21
Filing date: 2020-10-21
Publication date: 2022-04-27
Also published as: GB202016673D0

Abstract

A wearable article 1 worn on a participant’s head is suitable for archery or shooting. A support structure 2,4,5,6 is connected to a panel 18,64 which extends away from the participant’s face so that their non-dominant eye 52 is prevented from seeing a distal end 60 of a projectile launching device 58. The panel may, in use, extend far enough away from the participant’s face that their non-dominant eye is prevented from seeing any of the projectile launching device. The panel may be connected to the support structure by a fixed joint or a moveable joint 14. The moveable joint may allow movement about at least one axis such as a hinge or pivot or about a plurality of axes such as a ball and socket joint. A locking means may lock and unlock the moveable joint allowing the panel position to be varied and fixed. The panel may be connected to the support structure by a connecting member 16, which may have a fixed or adjustable length. The panel may extend away from the participant’s face by a fixed or adjustable length. The panel may be planar or curved. The wearable article may include eyewear 1 or headwear.

Description

A WEARABLE ARTICLE

The present disclosure relates to a wearable article, in particular an article of cycwear and an article of headwear, for use in a shooting activity or the like.

Some shooting activities involve aiming and propelling a projectile towards a static target. Such activities include, for example, archery and target shooting. During such activities, a participant may close his/her non-dominant eye, such that the target is only visible through his/her dominant eve. Where a static target is used, and therefore where the distance from the person to the target is constant, visual information from only a single eye may be effectively used as depth perception is not required.

Some shooting activities involve aiming and propelling a projectile towards a moving target. Such activities include clay pigeon shooting, and the like. In such shooting activities it is beneficial to have both eyes remain open throughout such that depth perception is maintained, as with a moving target the distance between the person and the target is not constant. Typically, a participant aims towards the target by looking along the top of the barrel of a gun using his/her dominant eye. In this application, the term dominant eye will refer to the eye the participant uses to look along the top of the barrel of the gun.

In shooting activities involving a moving target, such as clay pigeon shooting, it can be beneficial to obscure the barrel of the gun, but not obscure the target, from the field of vision of the participant's non-dominant eye. This can assist with sighting a target with the participant's dominant eye whilst maintaining depth perception.

It is known to affix an opaque portion onto a lens of a participant's safety glasses, in order to partially obscure the field of view of the participant's non-dominant eye. Affixing an opaque portion to a participant's safety glasses can be difficult to set up and adjust.

It would therefore be beneficial to mitigate or at least reduce one or more of the problems associated with the prior art.

A first aspect provides a wearable article for use in a shooting activity, the wearable article being adapted to be worn on a participant's head, comprising a support structure; and a panel connected directly or indirectly to the support structure, the panel being arranged or arrangable such that it extends, in use, in a direction away from the participant's face for a sufficient distance such that the participant's non-dominant eye is prevented from seeing a distal end of a projectile launching device.

Advantageously, a wearable article disclosed herein may provide a convenient and effective means for adjusting the field of view from the participant's eyes. This may be beneficial for participants in a shooting activity comprising aiming a projectile towards a target, and in particular, beneficial for participants in shooting activities comprising aiming a projectile towards a moving target.

The panel may be arranged or arrangable such that it extends, in use, in the direction away from the participant's face for a sufficient distance such that the participant's non-dominant eye is prevented from seeing any of the projectile launching device. The panel may be arranged or arrangable such that it extends, in use, in the direction away from the participant's face for a distance such that the participant's non-dominant eye is not prevented from seeing at least a portion of an object situated further from the user's non-dominant eye than the projectile launching device, in use.

The shooting activity may be a professional, competitive or recreational shooting activity. The recreational shooting activity may be clay pigeon shooting, for example.

The competitive shooting activity may be pistol shooting, for example.

The projectile launching device may be a shotgun. Accordingly, the panel may be arranged or arrangable such that the participant's non-dominant eye is prevented from seeing the distal end of the barrel of the shotgun.

The panel may be connected to the support structure by a fixed joint Hence, the orientation of the panel relative to the support structure may be fixed.

The panel may be connected to the support structure via a movable joint. The moveable joint may be arranged to allow movement (rotation) about at least one axis. Hence, the orientation of the panel relative to the support structure may be variable.

The wearable article may comprise any suitable joint. The joint may comprise a hinge or a pivot joint. The hinge or pivot joint may be operable to allow rotation through a single axis.

The wearable article may comprise a joint configured such that the panel is operable to rotate about two axes. The panel may be operable to rotate about two substantially perpendicular axes The joint may comprise a ball and socket joint. The joint may be configured such that the panel is operable to rotate about three axes of rotation.

Advantageously, the article may provide a means for adjusting a person's field of vision through at least a horizontal plane. Advantageously, the article may also provide a means for adjusting a person's field of vision through a vertical plane.

Advantageously, a movable joint may allow the panel to be orientated such that the user's field of vision is adjusted minimally, or not at all.

The movable joint may be operable to be temporarily locked or fixed in a set position.

At least a portion of the movable joint may be disposed at any suitable portion of the wearable article. The movable joint may be disposed between two imaginary planes, each plane extending through the centre of an eye of a user and being substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the user. The movable joint may be disposed closer to the plane extending though one eve of the user than the user's other eye. The movable joint may be operable to be affixed to the article at any suitable point between the two imaginary planes.

The movable joint may be operable to be attached to and detached from the article. The movable joint may comprise a sliding connection with the article operable to allow the joint to be repositioned upon the article without being entirely detached. The movable joint may be connected to the article by an adhesive, a clamping means, clips, pins or the like.

The panel may form a connection directly to the joint. The panel may be connected to the joint via a connecting member. The connecting member may extend from the joint. The connecting member may comprise one or more arms, rods, elongate members or the like. The connecting member may be of a fixed length, or may comprise an adjustable length.

Advantageously, the connecting member may provide a means for positioning the panel away from a person's face, in use such that the panel does not contact the person's nose or other facial features.

The panel may be connected to the joint or the connecting member by any suitable means. The panel may form a slidable connection with the connection means or the connecting member. The joint or the connecting member may comprise a slot, or the like, configured to receive at least a portion of the panel. The panel may be detachably connected.

Advantageously, the panel may be easily moved up or down in use. Advantageously the panel may be easily detached and reattached, or replaced by a different panel.

The panel may be connected to the joint or the connecting member by a permanent connection means. The panel may be connected by an adhesive, a clamping means, clips, pins or the like.

The panel may be operable to be moved in a linear direction relative to the joint. The panel may be operable to be moved in a substantially vertical direction. The panel may be operable to be moved in a substantially horizontal direction. The panel may be operable to be moved linearly along at least one axis of rotation The panel may have a fixed length in the direction it extends away from the participant's face or may have an adjustable length in the direction it extends away from the participant's face.

Advantageously, the panel may be easily adjusted depending on a user's requirements or preferences. Advantageously, the panel may be easily adjusted for different users.

The panel may comprise a substantially planar panel. The panel may comprise a curved portion. The panel may comprise a curved portion near to or at a top edge.

The panel may comprise any suitable shape. The panel may comprise a circle, a triangle, a square, or any other suitable regular shape. The panel may comprise an irregular shape.

The panel may comprise a translucent or opaque material. The panel may comprise a semi-transparent material. The panel may comprise a transparency gradient.

Advantageously, panels comprising different grades of opacity/transparency may be used as a training aid for users. A panel comprising, for example, a transmittance of 10% may have a greater effect of preventing the participant's non-dominant eye from seeing the distal end of the barrel of the shotgun than a panel comprising, for example, a transmittance of 90%. As such, panels comprising different transmittance may be used depending on a user's ability and/or personal preference.

The wearable article may comprise an article of eyewear. The support structure may comprise a pair of glasses. The glasses may comprise safety glasses suitable for shooting activities and the like.

The wearable article may comprise an article of headwear. The support structure may comprise a hat, cap or the like. The hat or cap may comprise a visor portion arranged to extend in front of the participant's face.

The person skilled in the art will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied mutatis mutandis to any other aspect. Furthermore except where mutually exclusive any feature described herein may be applied to any aspect and/or combined with any other feature described herein Example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an article of eyewear; Figure 2 shows a front view of the article of eyewear of Figure 1 when worn by a participant in a recreational shooting activity such as clay pigeon shooting; Figure 3 shows a top view of the article of eyewear as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a front view of an embodiment of an article of headwear; Figure 5 shows a top view of a participant's field of view; and Figure 6 shows a top view of a participant's field of view when partially obstructed.

Figures I. 2 and 3 show an article of eyewear I having the form of a pair of safety glasses for use in a recreational shooting activity such as clay pigeon shooting. The article of eyewear 1 comprises a frame 2 The frame 2 comprises a left arm 4 and a right arm 5. A central frame member 6 extends between and connects to both the left arm 4 and the right arm 5.

The article of eyewear 1 comprises a single, unitary lens 7 connected to and disposed below the central frame member 6. The lens 7 comprises a left lens portion 8 and a right lens portion 10. In some embodiments, the article of eyewear I may comprise two separate and discrete lenses.

A nose piece 12 is located substantially centrally upon the lens 7.

A rotatable means 14 is connected at a substantially central location between the left lens portion 8 and right lens portion 10. A connecting member 16 is connected to and extends away from the rotatable means 14. The connecting member 16 forms a connection with a panel 18 The left arm 4 and right arm 5 are pivotally connected to the central frame member 6 such that each of the left arm 4 and right arm 5 are operable to rotate between two end positions. In an open configuration, the left arm 4 and right arm 5 extend substantially perpendicularly from the central frame member 6. The left arm 4 and right arm 5 are operable to rotate from the open configuration into a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the left arm 4 and right arm 5 are rotated in towards the central frame member 6 In the open configuration, the article of eyewear 1 is configured such that the left arm 4 and right arm 5 may extend over and past a left ear and right ear respectively of a participant and as such the article of eyewear 1 may be worn securely by the participant The left lens portion 8 and right lens portion 10 are arranged such that when the participant wears the article of eyewear 1, the left lens portion 8 and right lens portion are positioned in front of the participant's left eye and right eye respectively. The lens portions 8, 10 comprise any suitable material, such as a plastics material or a glass material, which may be used for safety eyewear.

The nose piece 12 comprises a polymeric material and is arranged to contact the participant's nose when the article of eyewear 1 is worn.

The rotatable means 14 is connected substantially; centrally; between the left lens portion 8 and the right lens portion 10. The rotatable means 14 is connected to a front surface of the lens 7 and is located between the left lens portion 8 and the right lens portion 10. In some embodiments the rotatable means 14 is connected to the central frame member 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rotatable means 14 is operable to rotate about an 25 axis substantially perpendicular to an imaginary line extending between the participant's eyes. The axis may he in a plane that intersects, e.g. bisects the imaginary line between the participant's eyes In some embodiments, the rotatable means may comprise any suitable rotatable means suitable for allowing rotation about at least one axis. In other embodiments, the rotatable means may comprise a ball and socket joint. In some embodiments, the rotatable means may comprise a hinge or pivot joint.

The connection member 16 is connected to and extends from the rotatable means 14.

In some embodiments the rotatable means 14 and the connection member 16 comprise a single integral component. In some embodiments, the rotatable means 14 and the connection member 16 comprise discrete parts connected together by any suitable means.

The panel 18 comprises a substantially planar member and is connected to the connection member 16. The connection member 16 forms a secure connection with the panel 18. For instance, the connection member 16 may be integrally formed with the panel 18. in some embodiments, the article of eyewear 1 does not comprise a connection member 16, and in such embodiments the panel 18 is connected to the

rotatable means 14.

The rotatable means 14 allows the panel 18 to be manually rotated towards the left lens portion 8 and right lens portion 10. The panel 18 may be easily rotated in either direction. If required by the participant, the panel 18 may be positioned substantially centrally. The rotatable means 14 may be configured to provide a frictional resistance such that the panel 18 remains in a set position until being manually adjusted by the participant. In some embodiments, a locking means may be provided, the locking means being operable to act on the rotatable means 14 to lock and unlock the rotatable means 14, thereby allowing the position of the panel 18 to be fixed and varied.

In use, rotating the panel 18 to either side will adjust the effect on the participant's field of view from both eyes. For example, starting from an arrangement where the panel 18 is located midway between the left lens portion 8 and the right lens portion 10, rotating the panel 18 towards the left lens portion 8 will reduce the participant's field of vision from their left eye and increase the participant's field of vision from their right eye. The panel 18 may be rotated towards the left lens portion 8 or the right lens portion 10 about a vertical axis and/or a horizontal axis.

Figure 4 shows an article of headwear 31. The article of headwear 31 comprises a main body 32 and a visor 33. The main body 32 is arranged such that the article of headwear I can be securely located on a participant's head. The visor 33 extends away from the main body 32 A rotatable means 34 is connected to an underside of the visor 33, and a connecting member 35 is connected to the rotatable means 34. The rotatable means 34 is connected substantially centrally upon an underside of the visor 33. The rotatable means 34 is operable to rotate about a plurality of axes including an axis substantially perpendicular to an imaginary line extending between the participant's eyes. The axis may lie in a plane that intersects, e.g. bisects, the imaginary line between the participant's eyes.

The rotatable means 34 comprises a ball and socket joint. in other embodiments, the rotatable means may comprise any suitable rotatable means suitable for allowing rotation about at least one axis, e.g. a plurality of axes.

The connection member 35 is connected to and extends from the rotatable means 34. In some embodiments the rotatable means 34 and connection member 35 comprise a single integral component. In some embodiments, the rotatable means 34 and the connection member 35 comprise discrete parts connected together by any suitable means. The connection member 35 extends from the rotatable means 34 The panel 36 comprises a substantially planar member and is connected to the connection member 35. The connection member 35 is operable to form a secure connection with the panel 36, in some embodiments, the article of headwear 31 does not comprise a connection member 35, and in such embodiments the panel 36 is connected to the rotatable means 34.

The rotatable means 35 allows the panel 36 to be manually rotated about a substantially vertical axis such that the panel 36 can be rotated between a first side and a second side. If required by the participant, the panel 36 may be positioned substantially centrally. The rotatable means 35 may be configured to provide a frictional resistance such that the panel 36 remains in a set position until being manually adjusted by the participant. In some embodiments, a locking means may be provided, the locking means being operable to allow the position of the panel 36 to be fixed and varied.

In use, rotating the panel 36 to either side will adjust the effect on the participant's field of view from both eyes. For example, starting from an arrangement where the panel 36 is located substantially perpendicularly to a user's face, rotating the panel 36 towards the user's left eye will reduce the user's field of vision from their left eye and increase the user's field of vision from their right eye. The panel 36 may be rotated towards the user's left eye or right eye about a vertical axis and/or a horizontal axis.

Figure 5 shows an example field of view for a participant's eyes 50, 52. The field of view 54 from the right eye 50 is bounded by visual limits 54a, 54b. The field of view 56 from the left eye 52 is bounded by visual limits 56a, 56b. The region 57 where the field of view from the eyes 50, 52 overlap allows binocular vision, i.e. both eyes 50, 52 aim simultaneously at the same visual target and therefore the two eyes 50, 52 are able to perceive a three-dimensional image of the visual target.

The line 58 represents the barrel of a gum such as a shotgun suitable for clay pigeon shooting, and extends away from the participant's right eye, which in this example may therefore be considered to be the participant's dominant eye. The end 60 of the barrel of the gun is the point furthest from the participant's right eye.

A projectile 62, such as a clay pigeon, is shown a distance away from the participant.

As can be seen from Figure 5, a portion of the barrel 58 of the gun including the end 60 is positioned within the overlapping portion 57 of the participant's field of view.

As such, a portion of the barrel of the gun 58 and the end 60 of the barrel of the gun 58 is visible to both eyes 50, 52.

As the projectile 62 follows a trajectory relative to the participant, the participant will typically follow the trajectory of the projectile 62 such that the arrangement shown in Figure 5 is representative for a substantial portion of the trajectory of the projectile 62.

The projectile 62 is positioned within the portion 57 allowing binocular vision. Whilst binocular vision is advantageous for perceiving the distance to the projectile 62, it is not advantageous for sighting the projectile 62 relative to the longitudinal axis of the band 58 of the gun. Viewing along the barrel 58 of the gun from just a single eye 50 allows a user to more easily align the longitudinal axis of the barrel 58 of the gun towards the projectile 62. Using a single eye however would remove the advantageous binocular vision for perceiving the distance to the projectile 62.

Figure 6 shows a similar arrangement to that shown in Figure 5 except a panel 64 has been introduced between the person's eyes 50, 52. The panel 64 of Figure 6 is representative of a panel such as the panels I8, 36 shown in Figures I to 4. The panel 64 comprises a substantially planar shape. The panel 64 may be substantially opaque at least in part. The panel 64 may be translucent at least in part. The panel 64 extends in front of the participant's eyes 50, 52 and is angled such that it also extends towards the left side of the participant.

As the panel 64 extends towards the left side of the participant, the panel 64 extends into the field of view 56 from the participant's left eye 52. As such, the participant's field of view 56 from their left eye is partially impaired. Specifically, the visual limit 56a from the left eye 52 is impaired. in Figure 6, the participant's field of view from the right eye 50 is unaffected by the panel 64.

The band 58 including the end 60 is entirely within the field of view 54 of the right eye 50. The right side limit 56a of the field of view 56 from the left eye 52 is impeded by the panel 64 and as such, the barrel 58 including the end 60 of the gun is not within the field of view 56 of the left eye 52. In this way, the band 58 of the gun can be aligned accurately towards the projectile 62 using only the right eye 50, whilst both eyes 50, 52 may be used to sight the projectile 62 utilising binocular vision.

Adjusting the panel 64 such that it is rotated further towards either side of the participant adjusts the impairment of a field of vision 54, 56 from either the participant's right eye 50 or left eye 52. The impairment of the field of vision 54, 56 may also be adjusted by using a panel 64 comprising different dimensions. For example, extending the panel 64 in a direction away from the participant's face allows for a different range of adjustment of either field of view 54, 56. The panel 64 may be adjusted to account for any one or more of several factors including for example, length of the barrel of the gun 58 or field of vision 54, 56 from each eve It will be appreciated that the panel may be arranged or arrangable in any way such that the participant's non-dominant eye is prevented from seeing a distal end of the barrel of a shotgun, for example. In some embodiments, the panel may be arranged or arrangable such that the participant's non-dominant eye is prevented from seeing a majority of the length of the barrel of the shotgun, for example.

Typically, the panel may be arranged or arrangablc such that it lies in, is disposed in the vicinity of, or intersects a sagittal plane of the participant.

It will be appreciated that the panel may have any suitable shape and dimensions. The panel need not, for example, be rectangular as shown in the illustrated example embodiments.

It will be appreciated that the present disclosure may be applied to recreational shooting activities other than clay pigeon shooting.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain example embodiments, various modifications will be apparent to a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSA wearable article for use in a shooting activity, the wearable article being adapted to be worn on a participant's head, comprising: a support structure; and a panel connected directly or indirectly to the support structure, the panel being arranged or arrangable such that it extends, in use, in a direction away from the participant's face for a sufficient distance such that the participant's non-dominant eye is prevented from seeing a distal end of a projectile launching device.
2. A wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the panel is arranged or arrangable such that it extends, in use, in the direction away from the participant's face for a sufficient distancc such that the participant's non-dominant cyc is prevented from seeing any of the projectile launching device.
3. A wearable article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel is connected to the support structure by a fixed joint.
4. A wearable article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel is connected to the support structure via a movable joint.
A wearable article according to claim 4, wherein the moveable joint is arranged to allow movement about at least one axis.
6 A wearable article according to claim 5, wherein the moveable joint comprises a hinge or a pivot joint.
7. A wearable article according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the movable join is arranged to allow movement about a plurality of axes.
8. A wearable article according to claim 7, wherein the movable joint comprises a ball and socket joint.
9. A wearable article according to any one of claims 4 to 8 comprising a locking means operable to act on the movable joint to lock and unlock the movable joint, thereby allowing the position of the panel to be fixed and varied
10. A wearable article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is connected to the support structure via a connecting member.
11. A wearable article according to claim 10, wherein the connecting member has a fixed length or an adjustable length.
12. A wearable article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel has a fixed length in the direction it extends away from the participant's face or wherein the panel has an adjustable length in the direction it extends away from the participant's face.
13. A wearable article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is substantially planar or the panel comprises a curved portion.
14. A wearable article according to ally one of the preceding claims, wherein the wearable article comprises an article of eyewear or an article of headwear.