IES20080315A2 - A shield device - Google Patents

Abstract

Shield device (1) is for use by a user involved in outdoor pursuits. It comprises a clip (2) for attachment to an item worn on the userÆs head or face, e.g. a hat or spectacles and a shield element (3) is secured to the clip (2). It may pivot to shield the spectacle lenses or eyes from rain and the like coming from the side. In a second orientation, the shield element (3) may be pivoted away from the userÆs line of vision. The clip (2) is removably engageable with the rim of a hat or leg of a pair of spectacles. The shield element (3) is of a rigid transparent material to be of an optimum size to shield the spectacle lenses or eyes from the side. The clip (2) is manufactured from a resilient plastics material and the shield element (3) from a toughened transparent material. <Figure 2>

Description

OPEN Τϋ L!C INSPECTION The present invention relates to a shield device, in particular to a shield device that can be 5 attached to headgear, spectacles or sunglasses to protect eyes or spectacle lenses.

Shield devices have been designed for protecting user’s eyes from external materials such as rain, sand, dust, mud and water. These may include separate device types such as goggles or adaptations of same for attachment to headgear. The most relevant form generally comprises sunglasses that are removable and attachable to a cap peak and whose primary function may be to provide for filtering protection against sun light. The disadvantages associated with such prior art adaptations of conventional glasses are well known, particularly when playing various sporting activities such as golf; protection being generally extended only in the direction of the wearer’s frontal line of vision. No protection is provided in the direction of the wearer’s side line of vision as may be required for aiming and shot preparation. The gap between the inside of the shield and the user's face may allow rain and other material debris to enter in and around or upon the eye hampering a user’s sight.

Also a major problem for people wearing spectacles is rain falling on the actual lenses of the spectacles thus impairing the user's vision. This has a serious effect on people taking part in outdoor pursuits during rain or mist, such as golf, shooting, clay pigeon shooting and fishing. If the user cannot see properly they must periodically wipe away any water collected on the lenses before continuing with a golf stroke, firing a gun or casting off etc.

Prior art shield adaptations are not convenient for use during the playing of golf. Before, during and after swinging a golf club, rotational body and head movements in the vertical and horizontal planes can be very vigorous and sometimes abrupt. The rotational momentum and forces exercised can often cause prior art designs to dislodge and lose position, distracting from the user’s sporting performance and in effect undermining the functionality of such shield assemblies.

In many instances the usefulness of some of the prior art shields are outweighed by way of the fact that they are so heavy and complex in construction, that they hinder the user’s sporting performance. Their complexity multiplies the underlying number of potential 160 80 3 component breaking points or failure modes.

What is needed is a relatively inexpensive, simple, light weight shielding, easily attached as and when needed by the user without the need for expensive or complex components.

The present invention seeks to overcome the various attendant disadvantages of the known prior art which has prevented widespread acceptance and use. By providing a relatively simple and better improved means to protect spectacle lens and/or the eye from inclement conditions, the sight of the user during sporting play is improved.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shield device that alleviates the problems encountered in the conventional art.

It is a further object of the present invention not to dislodge and lose position and to ensure that the user’s sporting performance is not undermined by way of any such occurrence.

Furthermore it is an object of the present invention to provide protection from the elements by way of a lightweight and adjustable shielding which goes at least some way toward overcoming the above problems and/or which will provide the public with a useful alternative.

The present invention provides a shield device for a user's spectacle lenses or eyes involved in outdoor pursuits comprising a means for attachment to an item worn on the user's head or face, such as a hat or spectacles, a shield element pivotally secured to the attachment means in a first orientation to shield the user's spectacle lenses or eyes from rain and the like coming from the side and in a second orientation where the shield element is pivoted away from the user's line of vision.

Advantageously, the attachment means comprises a resilient clip removably engageable with the rim of a cap or the leg of a pair of spectacles.

Conveniently, the shield element is of a rigid transparent material shield to be of an optimum size to shield the spectacle lenses or eyes from the side without being cumbersome to the user. *o 8 0 3 /5 Optionally, the shield element may have a number of finishes. It may be wholly or partially tinted, anti-reflective (reducing distracting reflections that can bounce off the back of the shield into the eye), gradient (darker tint fading to a lighter tint, allowing for comfortable vision over a wide range of distance and lighting conditions), interchangeable (shields that can be changed for alternate looks and performance), mirrored (reflective coating that reduces the amount of light passing through onto the eye), photochromatic (darkens with UV exposure, adjusting to a variety of light conditions), and/or polarised (fighting glare and improving vision by blocking undesirable light). Alternatively the shield may be completely clear and transparent.

Preferably, the clip is manufactured from a resilient plastics material and the shield element is manufactured from a toughened transparent material.

Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the shield device in accordance with the invention, attached to a cap peak, wherein the shield is pivoted and extends outward substantially parallel with the peak.

Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of the shield device as shown in Figure 1 in which the shield is pivoted and extends downwards substantially at right angles to the cap peak.

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of a shield device attachable to a cap peak or spectacle legs in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a shield device 1 in accordance with the invention includes a mounting clip 2 and a shield member 3 which may be a curved or flat, plastic, glass or transparent material. The shield assembly 1 is illustrated as attached to the peak 4 of a cap 5 or headgear.

The mounting clip 2 is a continuous resilient material having a certain elastic force. Upper grip 6 and lower grip 7 extend from the clip arms 8 and 9 respectively and engage the upper and lower surfaces of the visor 4 when the shield device 1 is attached to the headgear 5 so as to prevent easy movement of the shield device 1 relative to the peak. The grips 6, 7 as illustrated, may be pointed so as to better engage the peak surfaces, or the grips 6, 7 may themselves have an undersurface roughness so as to better engage the brim upper and lower surfaces. Thus the shield device 1 can be frictionally and firmly clasped onto the peak 4 in accordance with the invention, when the device is mounted on the headgear as illustrated in figure 1.

The shield member 3 is attached to the pivoting arm 10 by way of a rivet 11.The pivoting arm 10 is connected to the mounting clip 2 by way of a hinge pin 12. Hinge pin 12 has a diameter permitting frictional rotation to an angle selected by the user. The friction of the hinge pin 12 pivot means the shield member 3 may be flipped substantially at a right angle to the cap peak 4 or may be pivoted on the hinge pin to a position that is substantially parallel to the peek. Other construction details not illustrated for limiting the angular position of the shield member 3 can also be provided. For example, the cross section or shape of the hinge pin 12 can be adapted to define the limitations placed on any angular motion.

In an alternative orientation (Figure 2), the shield device 1 is flipped downward.

As stated above the shield device 1 can be mounted to a cap peak, as illustrated, a peaked cap, or to the brim of a hat (not shown).

With reference to Fig. 3 a shield device 21 in accordance with the invention includes a mounting clip 22 and a shield member 23 which may be flat or curved, plastic, glass or transparent material. The shield assembly 21 may be attached to the peak of a cap or the arm of a pair of spectacles.

The mounting clip 22 is a continuous resilient material having a certain elastic force. Upper grip 26 and lower grip 27 extend from the clip arms 28 and 29 respectively and engage the upper and lower surfaces of the leg or legs of the pair of spectacles when the shield device 21 is attached to the spectacles so as to prevent easy movement of the shield device 21 relative to the spectacles. The grips 26, 27 as illustrated, may be pointed so as to better engage the spectacles surfaces, or the grips 26, 27 may themselves have an undersurface roughness so as to better engage the spectacles arm(s) upper and lower surfaces. Thus the shield device 21 can be frictionally and firmly clasped onto the spectacles in accordance with the invention, when the device is mounted on the spectacles.

The shield member 23 is supported by the mounting member 22 by way of passing lower mounting member arm 29 through a cut out section 25 of the shield member 23, as far as the extreme tip of the return bend 24. The shield member 23 will effectively hang downwardly from the mounting member 22 but also may be flipped upwardly.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying illustrations, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciate that additions and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A shield device for a user's spectacle lenses or eyes involved in outdoor pursuits 5 comprising a means for attachment to an item worn on the user's head or face, such as a hat or spectacles, a shield element pivotally secured to the attachment means in a first orientation to shield the user's spectacle lenses or eyes from rain and the like coming from the side and in a second orientation where the shield element is pivoted away from the user's line of vision.

2. A shield device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the attachment means comprises a resilient clip removably engageable with the rim of a cap or the leg of a pair of spectacles. 15

3. A shield device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the shield element is of a rigid transparent material shield to be of an optimum size to shield the spectacle lenses or eyes from the side without being cumbersome to the user.

4. A shield device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the clip is manufactured from a 20 resilient plastics material and the shield element is manufactured from a toughened transparent material.

5. A shield device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.