JP7503840B2 - Splash protection shield - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a splash shield used as an infection prevention measure.

As seen in the global spread of the novel coronavirus in 2020, during large-scale infectious disease outbreaks, there is a social expectation that people wear masks when going out, and going out without a mask may give others the negative impression that you are unconcerned and uncooperative with infection prevention measures.

However, conventional masks are generally made up of a mask body made of gauze or nonwoven fabric with ear loops attached to both sides, and directly cover the wearer's mouth and nose. This has the drawback of making speech muffled and difficult to hear, and also making it difficult to communicate because facial expressions and mouth movements cannot be seen. This is particularly noticeable in terms of communication for people with hearing impairments.

As an alternative to masks as an infection prevention measure, a splash shield a as shown in Figure 8 has been proposed. In this type of splash shield a, a transparent sheet c is bent and assembled onto a frame b formed in an arc shape, temples d for hanging on the ears are pivotally attached to both ends of the frame b so that they can be tilted freely, and a chin rest e is installed inside the center of the frame b. This means that the wearer can wear the shield by placing the temples d over the ears while placing the chin against the chin rest e, and the wearer's mouth and nose can be indirectly shielded by the transparent sheet c with a space between them.

In other words, if the wearer's mouth and nose can be indirectly shielded by transparent sheet c, with a space between them, speech will not be muffled and it will be easier to see facial expressions and mouth movements through transparent sheet c, making communication easier than when wearing a mask. Moreover, transparent sheet c can block droplets emitted from the wearer's mouth and protect the wearer's mouth and nose from droplets from the person they are speaking to.

Incidentally, examples of prior art documents related to this type of splash shield include the following Patent Document 1.

Utility Model Registration No. 3182684

However, such conventional splash shields a require multiple molded parts with special shapes, such as the frame b, temples d, and chin rest e, and the work of assembling each molded part and assembling the transparent sheet c while bending it is time-consuming, resulting in high manufacturing costs.

In other words, splash shields a, which are used as an infection prevention measure, should preferably be disposable if there is sufficient stock available, and their production must be made easy so that they can be used quickly in the event of a sudden increase in demand, while the cost per shield must be kept as low as possible to reduce the economic burden.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a splash shield that is easy to manufacture, can quickly respond to sudden increases in demand, and can be manufactured at low cost, reducing the economic burden.

The present invention relates to a splash shield that is characterized by comprising a transparent sheet body that is large enough to shield at least the area from under the nose to under the chin forward and has tongue sections formed on both upper sides in the width direction that protrude upward; a chin strap that connects the lower sides of the transparent sheet body in the width direction to each other and holds the transparent sheet body in an arc-shaped bent state to fit the shape of the lower part of the face and is hooked onto the lower chin when worn; a transparent sheet band that is pivotally attached at both ends to the outside of the left and right tongue sections of the transparent sheet body so as to be able to tilt freely and is formed into a horizontally long band that closes the gap between the tongue sections and has a recess formed at the upper end of the middle part to accommodate the bridge of the nose; and ear straps attached to both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet body.

When using a splash shield constructed in this way, the wearer hooks the chin strap under the chin, hooks the ear straps around the ears, and adjusts the tilt position of the transparent sheet band to accommodate the bridge of the nose in the recessed portion. This means that the wearer's mouth and nose are indirectly shielded by the transparent sheet body and transparent sheet band through a space, so that speaking voices are not muffled and facial expressions and mouth movements are easier to see, making it easier to communicate than when wearing a mask, and it is also possible to block splashes coming from the wearer's mouth and protect the wearer's mouth and nose from splashes from the person they are speaking to.

Moreover, with the splash shield of the present invention, the transparent sheet body is held in an arc-shaped bent state simply by connecting the lower two widthwise sides of the transparent sheet body with a chin strap, and the shield can be easily manufactured with just a few steps, such as connecting the chin strap to the transparent sheet body, pivoting the transparent sheet band, and attaching the ear straps, eliminating the need for any specially shaped molded parts as in conventional splash shields.

In addition, with conventional splash shields, the upper part is open, so the shielding effect against splashes leaking from above when sneezing or splashes falling from the person you are talking to is low. However, with the splash shield of the present invention, the transparent sheet band can be tilted appropriately to block the gap that forms on the upper side of the transparent sheet body, providing a better splash prevention effect than conventional splash shields. Furthermore, if the gap on the upper side of the transparent sheet body can be blocked, it will also be possible to prevent glasses from fogging up due to breath leaking out through this gap.

In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that one end of the ear strap is attached to the connection point of the chin strap to the lower side of both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet main body, and the other end of the ear strap is attached to the pivot point of the transparent sheet band to each of the tongue pieces at the upper side of both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet main body. In this way, most of the area is kept transparent except for four points, the connection points of the chin strap to the transparent sheet main body and the pivot points of the transparent sheet band, making it extremely easy to check the wearer's facial expression and mouth movements, and the splash shield looks natural with little discomfort, and can be manufactured efficiently with even fewer labor hours.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that a U-shaped notch is formed at an appropriate position in the width direction of the transparent sheet strip, and the area surrounded by the notch is cut inward to form a hook piece that can be hooked to the upper end of the transparent sheet main body. In this way, it is possible to fix the transparent sheet strip in an appropriate tilted position by cutting the hook piece inward and hooking it to the upper end of the transparent sheet main body.

In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that the chin strap is made of an elastic, stretchable resin strap, which prevents the chin strap from digging into or loosening under the chin, and allows the chin strap to be securely fastened under the chin while still providing a soft feel when it touches the chin.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the ear straps are made of elastic, stretchable rubber straps. In this way, the elasticity of the ear straps makes it possible to maintain a stable fit of the splash shield, and it is possible to prevent the splash shield from slipping off due to differences in face size.

The splash shield of the present invention described above can provide a variety of excellent effects, including the following:

(I) According to the invention described in claim 1, the transparent sheet body can be held in an arc-shaped bent state simply by connecting the lower two sides of the transparent sheet body in the width direction with a chin strap, and the splash shield can be easily manufactured with just a few steps, such as connecting the chin strap to the transparent sheet body, pivoting the transparent sheet band, and attaching the ear straps. This makes it possible to eliminate all the specially shaped molded parts required for conventional splash shields, making it possible to quickly respond to sudden increases in demand during large-scale epidemics of infectious diseases, and also allows for production at low cost, significantly reducing the economic burden.

(II) According to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, the transparent sheet strip can be tilted appropriately to close any gaps that may form on the upper side of the transparent sheet body, providing a better splash prevention effect than conventional splash shields that are open at the top, and preventing exhaled air from leaking out of the gaps at the top to prevent fogging of glasses, etc.

(III) According to the invention described in claim 2, most of the area can be kept transparent, except for four points: the connection point of the chin strap to the transparent sheet body and the pivot point of the transparent sheet band. This makes it extremely easy to check the wearer's facial expressions and mouth movements, and also gives the splash shield a natural appearance with little discomfort, further reducing the number of steps required.

(IV) According to the invention described in claim 3, the transparent sheet band can be fixed at an appropriate tilted position by cutting and raising the hook piece of the transparent sheet band inward and hooking it onto the upper end of the transparent sheet body, thereby preventing the transparent sheet band from being raised too far and creating a gap between it and the upper end of the transparent sheet body.

(V) According to the invention described in claim 4 of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the chin strap from digging into or coming loose under the chin, and it is possible to ensure that the chin strap is securely fastened under the chin while still providing a soft feel under the chin, making it possible to avoid discomfort even when worn for long periods of time.

(VI) According to the invention described in claim 5 of the present invention, the elasticity of the ear straps allows the splash shield to be kept securely attached, and prevents the splash shield from slipping off due to differences in face size.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the splash prevention shield of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the transparent sheet body of the splash shield of FIG. 1 alone. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the transparent sheet strip of the splash shield of FIG. 1 alone. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the structural details of the chin strap connection point in FIG. 1 . 2 is an enlarged view showing the details of the structure at the pivotal attachment point of the transparent sheet strip in FIG. 1 . FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the splash shield of FIG. 1 in a worn state. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional splash prevention shield.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

1 to 7 show an example of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the reference numeral 1 in the figures indicates a splash shield used as an infection prevention measure, and this splash shield 1 is made up of a transparent sheet main body 3 (see FIG. 3) that is large enough to shield at least the area from under the nose to under the chin forward, has tongue pieces 2 formed on both upper sides in the width direction that protrude upward, and has both lower sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet main body 3 connected to each other, so that it is kept in an arc-shaped bent state that fits the shape of the lower part of the face, and is hooked onto the lower chin when worn. The structure includes a chin strap 4 as described above, a transparent sheet strip 6 (see FIG. 4) that is pivotally attached at both ends to the outside of the left and right tongue pieces 2 of the transparent sheet main body 3 so that both ends can be tilted freely, forming a horizontally long strip that closes the gap between the tongue pieces 2 and has a recessed portion 5 formed at the upper end of the middle part to accommodate the bridge of the nose, and ear straps 7 attached to both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet main body 3. In the example shown here, the chin strap 4 is made of an elastically stretchable resin strap, and the ear straps 7 are made of an elastically stretchable rubber cord.

Here, one end of the ear strap 7 is attached to the connection point of the chin strap 4 at the lower side of both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet main body 3, and the other end of the ear strap 7 is attached to the pivot point of the transparent sheet strip 6 at each of the tongue pieces 2 at the upper side of both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet main body 3, and these are attached to each other via a rotating snap 8 as described below.

In other words, taking the pivot snap 8 used at the connection point of the chin strap 4 in FIG. 5 as an example, this pivot snap 8 has a structure in which an outer cap 9, a fixed plate 10, a movable plate 11, and an inner cap 12 are connected in a line, and the transparent sheet main body 3 and one end of the chin strap 4 are sandwiched together between the outer cap 9 and the fixed plate 10 to connect the chin strap 4 to the transparent sheet main body 3, while the movable plate 11 is connected to the fixed plate 10 so as to be freely rotatable, and one end of the ear strap 7 is attached to the transparent sheet main body 3 by sandwiching one end of the ear strap 7 between the movable plate 11 and the inner cap 12.

The pivot snap 8 used at the pivot point of the transparent sheet band 6 as shown in Figure 6 has a structure in which an outer cap 9, a fixed plate 10, a movable plate 11, and an inner cap 12 are connected in a line, as described above. The transparent sheet body 3 and the transparent sheet band 6 are sandwiched together between the outer cap 9 and the fixed plate 10, so that the transparent sheet band 6 is pivotally attached to the transparent sheet body 3. On the other hand, the movable plate 11 is connected to the fixed plate 10 so that the other end of the ear string 7 is attached to the transparent sheet body 3 by sandwiching the other end of the ear string 7 between the movable plate 11 and the inner cap 12.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, U-shaped notches 13 are formed in two places on the left and right sides of the transparent sheet band 6 in the width direction, and the area surrounded by the notches 13 is cut inward to form a hook piece 14 that can be hooked to the upper end of the transparent sheet main body 3. By cutting the hook piece 14 of the transparent sheet band 6 inward and hooking it to the upper end of the transparent sheet main body 3, the transparent sheet band 6 can be fixed in an appropriate tilted position.

When using the splash shield 1 configured in this way, the wearer hooks the chin strap 4 under the chin while hooking the ear straps 7 around the ears, and adjusts the tilt position of the transparent sheet band 6 to accommodate the bridge of the nose in the recessed portion 5 and hook it. This means that the wearer's mouth and nose are indirectly shielded by the transparent sheet body 3 and the transparent sheet band 6 through a space between them, so that the voice is not muffled and it is easier to see facial expressions and mouth movements, making it easier to communicate than when wearing a mask, and it is also possible to block splashes coming from the wearer's mouth and protect the wearer's mouth and nose from splashes from the person he or she is talking to.

Moreover, in the splash shield 1 of this embodiment, the transparent sheet body 3 is held in an arc-shaped bent state simply by connecting the lower two widthwise sides of the transparent sheet body 3 with the chin strap 4, and the shield can be easily manufactured with just a few steps, such as connecting the chin strap 4 to the transparent sheet body 3, pivoting the transparent sheet belt 6, and attaching the ear straps 7, eliminating the need for any specially shaped molded parts as in conventional splash shields 1.

In addition, the upper part of the conventional splash shield 1 is open, so it has a low shielding effect against splashes leaking from above when sneezing or splashes falling from the person you are talking to. However, with the splash shield 1 of the present invention, the transparent sheet band 6 can be appropriately tilted to block the gap that forms on the upper side of the transparent sheet main body 3, providing a better splash prevention effect than the conventional splash shield 1. Furthermore, if the gap on the upper side of the transparent sheet main body 3 can be blocked, it will also be possible to prevent glasses from fogging up due to breath leaking out through this gap.

In particular, in this embodiment, one end of the ear strap 7 is attached to the connection point of the chin strap 4 to the lower sides of the transparent sheet main body 3 in the width direction, and the other end of the ear strap 7 is attached to the pivot point of the transparent sheet band 6 to each tongue portion at the upper sides of the transparent sheet main body 3 in the width direction. As a result, most of the area is kept transparent except for four points: the connection point of the chin strap 4 to the transparent sheet main body 3 and the pivot point of the transparent sheet band 6. As a result, it is extremely easy to check the wearer's facial expression and mouth movement, and the splash shield 1 looks natural and less uncomfortable to wear, and it can be manufactured efficiently with even fewer man-hours.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a U-shaped notch 13 is formed at an appropriate position in the width direction of the transparent sheet band 6, and the area surrounded by the notch 13 is cut inward to form a hook piece 14 that can be hooked to the upper end of the transparent sheet main body 3. By cutting the hook piece 14 inward and hooking it to the upper end of the transparent sheet main body 3, it is possible to fix the transparent sheet band 6 in an appropriate tilted position.

In addition, because the chin strap 4 is made of an elastic, stretchable resin strap, it is possible to prevent the chin strap 4 from digging into or loosening the area under the chin, and it is possible to ensure that the strap fits securely under the chin while still providing a soft feel. In addition, because the ear straps 7 are made of elastic, stretchable rubber cords, the elasticity of the ear straps 7 allows the splash shield 1 to be worn securely and prevents the splash shield 1 from slipping off due to differences in face size.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the transparent sheet body 3 can be held in an arc-shaped bent state simply by connecting the lower two widthwise sides of the transparent sheet body 3 with the chin strap 4, and the splash shield 1 can be easily manufactured with just a few steps, such as connecting the chin strap 4 to the transparent sheet body 3, pivoting the transparent sheet belt 6, and attaching the ear straps 7. This makes it possible to eliminate all the specially shaped molded parts required for the conventional splash shield 1, making it possible to quickly respond to sudden increases in demand during large-scale epidemics of infectious diseases, and it can be manufactured at low cost, significantly reducing the economic burden.

In addition, the transparent sheet strip 6 can be tilted appropriately to close any gaps that may form on the upper side of the transparent sheet body 3, providing a better splash prevention effect than the conventional splash shield 1, which is open at the top, and preventing exhaled air from leaking out through the gaps at the top, which can prevent fogging of glasses, etc.

Furthermore, most of the area can be kept transparent except for four points: the connection point of the chin strap 4 to the transparent sheet main body 3 and the pivot point of the transparent sheet belt 6. This makes it extremely easy to check the wearer's facial expressions and mouth movements, and also gives the splash shield 1 a natural appearance with little discomfort, further reducing the amount of work required.

In particular, in this embodiment, the transparent sheet band 6 can be fixed at an appropriate tilted position by cutting the hook piece 14 of the transparent sheet band 6 inward and hooking it to the upper end of the transparent sheet main body 3, thereby preventing the transparent sheet band 6 from being raised too far and creating a gap between it and the upper end of the transparent sheet main body 3.

Moreover, it is possible to prevent the chin strap 4 from digging into or coming loose under the chin, and it is possible to ensure that it is firmly attached under the chin while still softly touching the chin, making it possible to wear it for long periods of time without feeling uncomfortable, and the elasticity of the ear straps 7 allows the splash shield 1 to be worn securely, preventing the splash shield 1 from slipping off due to differences in face size.

The splash shield of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 splash prevention shield 2 tongue portion 3 transparent sheet main body 4 chin strap 5 recessed portion 6 transparent sheet strip 7 ear strap 13 slit 14 hook piece

Claims (5)

A splash shield characterized by comprising a transparent sheet body having a size sufficient to shield at least the area from under the nose to under the chin forward and having tongue sections formed on both upper sides in the width direction that protrude upward, a chin strap that connects the lower sides of the transparent sheet body in the width direction to each other and holds the transparent sheet body in an arc-shaped bend that conforms to the shape of the lower part of the face and is hooked onto the lower chin when worn, a transparent sheet band pivotally attached to the outside of the left and right tongue sections of the transparent sheet body at both ends so as to be able to tilt freely, formed into a horizontally long band that closes the gap between the tongue sections and has a recess formed at the upper end of the middle part to accommodate the bridge of the nose, and ear straps attached to both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet body. The splash shield according to claim 1, characterized in that one end of the ear strap is attached to the connection point of the chin strap to the lower side of both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet body, and the other end of the ear strap is attached to the pivot point of the transparent sheet band to each of the tongue pieces at the upper side of both sides in the width direction of the transparent sheet body. The splash shield according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a U-shaped slit is formed at an appropriate position in the width direction of the transparent sheet strip, and the area surrounded by the slit is cut inward to form a hook piece that can be hooked to the upper end of the transparent sheet body. The splash shield according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the chin strap is made of an elastically stretchable resin strap. The splash shield according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the ear straps are made of elastically stretchable rubber straps.

Images