US1186943A - Eye-protector. - Google Patents

Description

F. H. REXTREW.

EYE PROTECTOR.

ArfPLlcATloN FILED 1AN.23. 1915.

l l 86,943 Patented June 13, 1916.

FRANK HOWARD REXTREW, 0F

HAMMOND, INDIANA, AssIeNoR rro ROY n. GREEN, or

WHITING, INDIANA.

EYE-PROTECTOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916/.

Application filed January 423, 1915. Serial No. 4,040'.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HOWARD REX- Tnew, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Hammond, county of Lake,

and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eye-Pro-4 tectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to eye shields orpro` tectors adapted to be worn upon the face to protect the eyes, as from sunlight, wind and dust.

In one aspectof the present invention, its object is tov improve the construction set forth in my Letters Patent of January 5, 1915, No. 1,123,376, with a View to providing a lighter device, one having end walls free from an outstanding fold somewhat objectionable from the standpoint of finish and under which dust may find its way and prove, objectionable, one'in which there is onlyv a single piece in the upper portion of the device in lts more simple formas distinguishedfrom two layers of the material and between which two piecesdust and dirt may accumulate, and one also in which the visual and shading properties of the upper portion of the device are improved invarious combinations of colors and arrangement. In other respects its objects are to provide improved means for Ventilating the device, both for comfort and to prevent foggino of the device-under certain conditions.

(eneral objects lare to provide an eye shield or protector which is light, strong and durable, of simple construct1on, and comfortable and eii'ective in use.

` Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying D drawings which forma partr of this specification, Figure '1 shows a rear view'of a preferred formof upper and lower sections secured together preparatory to turning in the ends; Fig. 2 shows the upper portion of Fig. 1 without the Ventilating provisions; Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the lower portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows the device as in use, the scalebeing reduced; Fig. 5 shows the device of Fig. 4 in side view; Fig. -6 is a sectional view of the device as on the line 6--6 ofFig.`

4 during the process of construction, the scale being enlarged; Fig. 7 1s an end view Aof the shield proper complete; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a fragment'of the rubber binding.

The shield or protector roper is formed preferably of thin and leXi le material suoli as. what is known as artiiicial ivory, celluloid, pyrolin, etc. The upper portion l0 preferably comprises a relatively long strip of the material mentioned of sui'licient width to rovide desired shade properties, and pre erably of the proportions shown with respect to thelower part or parts, the outer lends being rounded to provide a rounded edge at the end walls of the completed device. The lower part of this element 10 is preferably cut so as to provide a clearance, as at 11, to increase the scope of the vision when the parts are made in the relative proportions shown, and a central preferably pointed portion 12 is provided, hereinafter` referred to.

The lower portion 13, Fig. 1, or 13a, Fig. 3, is preferably somewhat shorter than the upper portion and preferably has provisions for accommodating the' nose of the wearer, as the notch 14. The ends of the element 13 are preferably cut off on an angle, as illustrated, to provide clearance for the folding operation, which cutting may be of greater or less angularity or may even be dispensed with in modifications of the preferred form.

I also prefer to provide the tips or projections 15 integral with the portion 13, and substantially on the angle shown, as when the edge 16 thereof is brought to the edge 17 in the folding .operation the end portions are in suitable position for being secured f together, such cutting thus providing a guide for the folding operation. The provision ofthe tips 15 also strengthens the device at its apices or corners 18. The projections 15 may be omitted, however, as at 19, Fig. 3. The lower portion of the device thus comprises substantially two wings A and B which are before the eyes of the wearer when the device is normally in use. Preferably I make the lower portion 13 in one piece, as shown in'Fig. 1, but the wings A- and B may bein two pieces, as in Fig. 3 for instance, in

which general form they may be made separately according to thessize of the material available for use or as may prove advantageous in modified forms of the invent-ion.

The portions A and B are secured to the upper portion' along contiguous edge p'or- .e tions thereof longitudinal or substantially fio longitudinal of the device and between its sides. vTo this end I preferably overlap the upper and lower portions slightly, and, by the use of preferably transparent cement,

vthe parts are caused to adhere together.

A joint is thus formed between the upper and lower portions, which joint the boundary between the clear lower portion through which the wearer may see freely and substantially unobstructedly and the upper or shade portion through which, in the preferred construction, the wearer can see also, but not so well owing to the darker color of such upper portion. But whether such upper portion have some visual properties or be opaque, the joint or line of connection between the portions shows the wearer what degree of tilting of the head is necessary to get the advantages of clear vision, partially restricted vision or partial or complete shading, and in practice this line or joint is maintained above or below the pupillary range as a particular Situation or occasion may render necessary or suggest. The cement preferably is applied throughout the overlapped portions as at 10a, Fig. 1.

The upper portion 10 is preferably of relatively dark material, or such as has light-obstructing properties, when the de- Vice is formed as a combined eye shade and.

protector, which is the preferred construction and use. The lower portion 13, 133,-or the equivalent, is of substantially .clearmaterial, or it may be described as transparent .1 or substantially transparent, which is intended to denote broadly the property of permitting objects to be viewed clearly therethrough. Material of the character Specified is made with various tints or colors, such as amber and green, black,

. orange, etc. and is also untinted.

In my constructions I use various combinations of colors or shades. For instance, a substantially opaque or dead white, dead black,

darker green, deep orange, etc., for thel upper portion 10, while for the lower portion or portions I employ either untinted material or the lighter shades of amber, orange, etc., the upper portion always being relatively darker or having greater light obstructing properties than the lower portion in the preferred form, in order to shade the eyes.

The upper. and lower elements having been secured together in any approved way, preferably by cementing, the end portions be folded or turned they come into overlapped relation. A coating of cement having been applied to one end portion, as at 10b, the edge 20 of the element 10 is drawn over the. edge 17 of the element 13 until the edge 20 1s substantially e end `or overlaps likely to accumulate dust and dirt. The lconstruction also provides notable security to the device when one end is folded inward and the other end brought around and folded over it, thus bringingthe device into small compass for carrying in the pocket. The relatively narrow lap joint connecting the upper and lower sections of the protector efi'ectually' prevents any breaking or splitting at the corners or angles 18 formed by the front wall and the end walls, especially when the tips 15 before mentioned, are provided. With protectors heretofore proposed, in which a single piece of Celluloid was notched at the end edges and the notched edges then cemented together to form the end walls of the protector, splitting atthe corners was a serious and unavoidable defect. An eyelet, as 27, may be employed to hold overlapped portions or for securing the holding means, as 21, if desired. formed as thus far described may be provided with means for securing the same upon the face, as for instance the iieXible and elastic ear loops 21, and thus be worn. I prefer, however, to provide accessories to the simple form of device thus built up, for instance the rubber binding 22, preferably circular in cross area and split longitudinally and toward the 'center in one wall, the edges of the device being inserted in the split of therubber and there secured, as by cement.

Another important-feature of the device is in my improved means for Ventilating the same. I may provide the usual holes 23 for ventilation; but the present improvement is in a plurality of openings, as ,24, in the upper portion l0, and, beyond these openings as viewed from the front, a deflecting element, suitably a strip of materialas 25, preferably of the same material and color as is the element 10, which may be cemented or otherwise secured of the element 10 and caused to stand away slightly from the openings, as'24, on the inside of the device, so as to deflect, preferably downward, the air entering the openings 24. I preferably make the strip 25, or the equivalent, of such proportions that air will be defiected over substantially the e11- tire front wall of the device, although one The protector lli) directly upon the back v relatively short deflector over each eye would give improved results over the older methods. This Ventilating provision is important not only from the standpoint of comfort, but in preventing the fogging of the shieldV due to the otherwise warm moisture of exhalation from the face contacting the colder surface of the shield.

A further important provision is in means for shading both eyes from` light coming from the side of the wearer, as well as in equally limiting the field-of vision of both eyes in the direction of the sides. This has reference to the portion 12, preferably in the form of a sharply pointed projection and substantially as illustrated, the preferred form, shape and location of this ele- Inent or provision having resulted from many experiments and modifications leading to the present result. Looking at Fig. .4 it will be apparent that light coming slantingly toward either side of the wearer will be obstructed for one eye by the shaded end wall of the device and that the depending point or projection 12 will perform the same function for the other eye. Also that when the wearer turns his eyes either to the right or left his eld of vision will be limited for one eye by the shaded end wall nearest to it, and for the other eye by the provision 12. In other wordsthe vision of the wearer to the sides is equalized so that he will not have his vision of a given object blocked for the near eye by an end wall. of the device while the other eye is in posltlon to see it, such partial vision resulting 1n confusion and annoyance .to the wearer.

In some instances of use, as by the operatorof a motion picture projector, it may be desirable to have the lower part of the device of relatively darker material so that the operator may clearly watchthe screen through the upper part While his eyes are shaded from the light of the apparatus, usually below his lines of vision toward the screen.

While I have illustrated preferred and a slightly modified construction of the shield in its simpler properties, and preferred forms of certain coperating features, the invention is not limited to what is specifically illustrated and described, as various changes may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of the improvements herein set forth.

I claim:

1. In a two-piece eye protector proper, the combination of an upper portion of thin and flexible material through which the wearer may see and having light-obstructing properties adapted to shade the wearers eyes, and a lower portion of thin, and flexible substantially j clear material through which the wearer may see more clearly than through said upper portion sevide a wall at each end of the device, one of said strips extending substantially beyond the other at one end of the device and being folded upon said shorter end and secured thereto in overlapped relation to provide a smooth and continuous end wall on the outside of the device.

3. An eye protector comprisingan upper strip of thin and ,flexible relatively dark material and a lower strip of thin and iexible relatively clear material, said strips belng'connected together at contiguous edge portlons thereof longitudinally `intermediate the sides of the device, said lower strip havlng ,a recess to accommodate the nose of a wearer, end portions of said strips being turnedl inward and connected together to form a wall at each'end of the device, and means for holding the device upon a wearers face.

4. In an eye protector adapted to extend substantially across the face ofthe wearer, andy having normally outwardly projecting concavo-convex portions at the ends thereof, the combination of a shade portion inl the upper part of the device and a clear kportions thereof respectively intermediate the sides of the device, there being only one thickness of the material inthe uppervpart of the device.

5. In an eye protector proper adapted to extend substantially across the `face of the wearer, the combination of an upper portion uof relatively dark thin and flexible material throuvgh which the wearer may see and adapted to shade an eye of the wearer and a lower portion of substantially clear thin and flexible material through which such shaded eye may view objects more clearly than through said upper portion when i the device is normally in use, Said upperportion and said lower portion being se-- cured together at contiguous edge portions thereof intermediate the sides of the device,

there being but one thickness of the material dinally between the sides of the device, up-

per portions of the device being relatively dark to shade the eyes, lower portions thereof being substantially clear for seeing clearly therethrough, the device having provisions to accommodate the nose of the wearer, and

means for securing 'the device upon the,

wearers face.

7. In an eye protector, the combination of an upper shade part of thin and flexible material adapted to extend substantially across the face of the wearer, and a pair of substantially clear lower portions connected to said upper part vat contiguous edge portions thereof intermediate the sides of the device, said clear portions having space provisions between them to accommodate the nose of the wearer, end portions of'said upper and lower elements respectively being formed to provide a wall at each end of the device, and means for holding the device upon the wearers face.

8. In an eye shield the combination of a front portion extending substantially from end to end of the device and having a ventilation opening therein, and an element positio-ned on what is normally the inner side of the device and adapted to deflect a current of air passing -through said opening from the normally outer side of the device.

9. In an eye shield, the combination of a frontportion of' thin and flexible material extending substantially from end to end of the device, and having end walls, said front portion having a `pluralityof ventilation openings in what is normally the upper portio-n thereof, and means on what is normally the inside of said protector substantially overlying said openings adapted to deflect in a downward direction currents of air passing through said openingsfrom the outside of said device when the device is normally in use.

`l0. An eye protector comprising in combination. a body portion of thin and flexible material extending substantially across the face of the wearer when 1n use, and havmg a plurality of ventilation openings in the normally upper portion thereof, and a strip of thin and flexible material secured to the inside of said body portion above said openings,said strip substantially overlying said openings, the lower portion of said strip being spaced slightly from said body portion to deflect in a downward direction currents of air passing through said openings from the front of the device when the same shade portion intermediate the ends of the device extending normally downward from said shade portion and substantially between the eyes of the wearer when the device isnormally in use, said downwardly extending portion being adapted to protect an eye of the wearer from light rays Apassing slant-ingly substantially over the other eye.

l2. A two-piece eye protector proper comprising an upper and a lower strip of thin and flexible material, said strips being connected together at contiguous edge portions thereof longitudinally intermediate the sides of the device, said lower strip having a recess intermediate the ends of the device to accommodatel the nose of the wearer, end portions of said strips being turned inward and secured together to form a wall at each end of the device, said'up'per strip being relatively dark to shade the wearers eyes and having a portion thereof intermediate the ends of the device projecting in the direction of said nose recess and substantially between the eyes of the wearer when the device is normally in use, said projecting portion constituting an intermediate shade for the eyes.

FRANK .HOWARD REX'IREW.v Witnesses T.-D. BUTLER,

M. KRIESAUD.

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