USE OF A PRIVACY SCREEN DEVICE FOR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

Abstract

Use of a visual shield (1) by persons or emergency personnel in action who are confronted with injured or maimed persons for the optical filtering out of red light from the visible spectrum, wherein the visual shield (1) has at least one lens designed to reflect and / or absorb light with wavelengths in a wavelength range whose lower wavelength value is 640 nm, 600 nm, 560 nm or 550 nm and whose upper wavelength value is 780 nm or 800 nm to a substantially total extent.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a use of visual protection devices for persons and in particular for emergency services, such as firefighters, police officers, rescue workers, civil protection forces, soldiers, as well as persons involved in accidents and witnesses to accidents. Technological background

[0002] Visual protection devices, such as safety goggles or face masks, such as face shields or breathing or oxygen masks with visors, are used by people or emergency personnel on duty, for example, to protect their eyes from harmful influences. These harmful influences can include dust or splinters, but in the case of breathing or oxygen masks, also smoke or harmful gases.

[0003] Those involved in accidents, witnesses, and emergency personnel on duty are often confronted with people who are sometimes seriously injured or even mutilated. Images of these injuries and mutilations are etched in the minds of emergency personnel and often trigger psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

[0004] DE 699 37 813 T2 discloses a spectacle lens for correcting color vision in cases of abnormal color vision, wherein the spectacle lens has a color vision correcting characteristic spectral curve capable of converting the proportion of the stimulation value of three types of optic cone cells in the retina of a color vision defect.

[0005] DE 10 2013 203 120 B3 describes an optical laser protection material whose filtering effect is particularly in the near infrared range at wavelengths between 750 nm and 1150 nm.

[0006] US 2008 / 186565 A1 concerns a polymer-based optical filter for glasses with an incorporated organic dye that filters a predetermined band of infrared wavelengths. Partially, the color red in the visible range of the spectrum is also filtered. The military use of such glasses in the infrared and near-infrared range is described.

[0007] US 2015 / 338 683 A1 discloses laser safety goggles with two edge filters. The red color is not completely eliminated. These laser safety goggles can be used to protect the eyes from infrared lasers.

[0008] US 2017 / 363 884 A1 describes a filter disc with partially reduced transmission, which does not show complete reflection or absorption of red light. Description of the invention

[0009] It is an object of the invention to reduce the negative psychological effects on the persons of situations in which persons, and in particular emergency services, are confronted with injured and / or mutilated persons.

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention by the use of a visual protection device by persons or by emergency personnel on duty who are confronted with injured or mutilated people, for optically filtering out red light from the visible spectrum, wherein the visual protection device has at least one viewing glass which is designed to substantially completely reflect and / or absorb light with wavelengths in a wavelength range whose lower wavelength value is 640 nm, 600 nm, 560 nm or 550 nm and whose upper wavelength value is 780 nm or 800 nm.

[0011] Because the privacy screen reflects and / or absorbs red light, thus filtering it out of the visible spectrum, the person perceives this color less or not at all. Red areas in the person's field of vision are then perceived as essentially dark or black.

[0012] Colors and associated experiences leave varying degrees of impact. This effect is particularly strong with the color red, if not the most pronounced of all colors. Thus, emergency situations in which seriously injured or even dead people have to be treated and / or rescued remain in the memory for a particularly long time and must be processed repeatedly. Injured or mutilated people often bleed heavily, and damaged flesh and visible internal organs of these injured or mutilated people also appear red or reddish due to, for example, blood flow.

[0013] Because the visual protection device filters out the color red, red areas in the person's field of vision, such as blood, injured flesh, internal organs, or severed limbs of injured or mutilated people, are less noticeable when used, so that such situations are less stressful for the person and such traumatizing experiences can be processed more quickly.

[0014] The use of the privacy screen does not pose a risk, for example, when recognizing hazard symbols and traffic signs, as these are clearly identifiable by their shape and corresponding pictograms. Furthermore, hazard symbols are often displayed in orange, which may not be filtered out by the privacy screen according to the invention.

[0015] The use of the screen is also advantageous for people who are accidentally confronted with injured or dead people. For example, a suitable screen can be installed in first-aid kits.

[0016] The solution can be further improved by various embodiments, each of which is advantageous in its own right and, unless otherwise stated, can be combined with one another in any desired way. These embodiments and their associated advantages are discussed below.

[0017] According to a first embodiment, the viewing glass is designed to substantially completely reflect and / or absorb, i.e., filter out, the red light. "Substantially" can mean that the light is filtered out, i.e., reflected or absorbed, by at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or even at least 95%, or possibly even so strongly that it can no longer be perceived at all by the person wearing the privacy screen.

[0018] An advantage of this embodiment may be that potentially traumatic impressions are even less memorable.

[0019] The viewing glass is designed to reflect and / or absorb red light with wavelengths greater than 640 nm, greater than 600 nm, greater than 560 nm, or greater than 550 nm more strongly than light of at least one other color, thus filtering it out. A filter range in which the light is reflected and / or absorbed by the viewing glass begins at one of the specified wavelengths, whereby this wavelength can then be referred to as a lower or first wavelength value. The filter range encompasses red light.

[0020] Because the viewing glass is designed to filter out light with wavelengths of at least 640 nm, at least 600 nm, at least 560 nm, or at least 550 nm, one advantage of this embodiment can be that not only red light is filtered out according to the color spectrum. While filtering out the red light according to the color spectrum already significantly reduces the imprinting of potentially traumatic impressions, red light in the human eye is perceived in particular by so-called L-cones, whose absorption maximum typically lies at a light wavelength of approximately 563 nm, which corresponds to the color yellow-green in the color spectrum.Stimulating the L-cones with light that has shorter wavelengths than red light can lead to associations with traumatic impressions despite the different color, because the same cones are stimulated by red light according to the color spectrum and light with a wavelength of approximately 563 nm. For the purposes of this disclosure, light of any wavelength that stimulates the L-cones of the human eye, or at least light whose wavelength is greater than and / or equal to the light with the wavelength at the absorption maximum of the L-cones, can be referred to as red light. In particular, light with wavelengths in the specified filter range can be referred to as red light.

[0021] The viewing glass is designed to reflect and / or absorb, i.e., filter out, light with wavelengths greater than 640 nm, greater than 600 nm, greater than 560 nm, or greater than 550 nm more strongly than light in the shorter wavelength range. A filter range in which the light is reflected and / or absorbed by the viewing glass can therefore begin at one of the aforementioned wavelengths, whereby this wavelength can then be referred to as a lower or first wavelength value. The filter range includes red light.

[0022] The viewing glass is designed to reflect and / or absorb light with wavelengths up to 780 nm or 800 nm more strongly than light of at least one other color and / or even than light with a longer wavelength. A filter region in which the light is reflected and / or absorbed by the viewing glass can therefore end at one of the aforementioned wavelengths, whereby this wavelength can then be referred to as an upper or second wavelength value.

[0023] Because the viewing glass is designed to filter out light with wavelengths of 780 nm or 800 nm, and especially if the viewing glass does not have any structures or elements, such as coatings, that reflect light above these wavelengths, infrared light can still reach the emergency responders, enabling them to perceive their surroundings in detail, for example, in the event of a fire. In particular, the thermal radiation from heat sources, such as a fire, can be felt.

[0024] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the viewing glass has a coating to provide the viewing glass with an edge filter. Preferably, the blocking is in the range of 640 to 780 nm.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, the visual protection device has a band-stop or notch filter for filtering the light, with which the light to be filtered out, i.e. light that should not reach the eyes of the emergency worker, is filtered out or blocked, i.e. reflected and / or absorbed.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the visual protection device has a bandpass filter for filtering, which only allows light that is intended to reach the eyes of the emergency worker to pass through.

[0027] An advantage of these embodiments can be that light can be specifically filtered out or passed through depending on the wavelength range.

[0028] Alternatively, according to a further embodiment, the viewing glass can also be designed to filter out infrared light and in particular to reflect it, whereby the emergency worker can be protected from thermal radiation.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the visor device is a face mask, wherein at least a portion of a visor of the face mask is formed by the visor. In particular, the portion can be a portion of the visor through which a person wearing the visor device looks. Alternatively, the visor can be fully covered with the visor or consist of the visor.

[0030] An advantage of this embodiment may be that, in addition to protection against stressful impressions, the emergency worker can also be protected from other harmful influences, such as smoke or gas, without having to wear the visual protection device in addition to the face mask.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the sight glass is cylindrical or spherical or curved at least in segments or completely.

[0032] An advantage of this embodiment, depending on the type of viewing glass used, may be that light is filtered particularly effectively, especially when it hits the viewing glass perpendicularly. Perpendicular can mean that the light hits the viewing glass at an angle of 90° to the surface of the viewing glass. The angle can deviate from the 90° angle by up to ± 5°, up to ± 10°, or up to ± 15° in order to still be considered perpendicularly incident light within the scope of this disclosure.

[0033] For example, the privacy protection device can have a predetermined viewing direction along which a person wearing the privacy protection device looks through it. The viewing glass can be shaped or curved in segments or completely cylindrical or spherical such that the viewing direction runs perpendicular to the outer side of the part of the viewing glass through which the person looks. The angle between the viewing direction and the outer side can deviate from the angle of 90° by up to ± 5°, up to ± 10°, up to ± 15°, or even up to 25° in order to still be considered perpendicular within the scope of this disclosure.

[0034] According to a further embodiment, the vision protection device is a pair of glasses and in particular protective glasses, with at least one spectacle lens and, for example, with two spectacle lenses, wherein the at least one spectacle lens is formed at least partially or completely by the sight glass or the two spectacle lenses are formed at least partially or completely by a sight glass each.

[0035] An advantage of this embodiment may be that the privacy screen is easy and flexible to handle.

[0036] According to a further embodiment, the safety goggles have a lens carrier, wherein the at least one lens or the lenses and the lens carrier are formed integrally and, for example, are made entirely of the same material. The at least one lens can be formed from a sight glass. The lenses can each be formed from a sight glass. The at least one lens and the lens carrier can be formed from the material of the sight glass. The lenses and the lens carrier can be formed from the material of the sight glass.

[0037] An advantage of this embodiment may be that the privacy screen is easier to manufacture.

[0038] According to a further embodiment, the viewing glass has a reflection and / or absorption coating for reflecting and / or absorbing the light.

[0039] An advantage of this embodiment may be that coatings with the desired properties can be produced easily and economically. In particular, the coatings can be applied to commercially available privacy screens, either during their manufacture or even afterward, thereby reducing the costs of developing and manufacturing the privacy screens.

[0040] Alternatively or additionally, the material of the viewing glass itself can be designed to reflect and / or absorb the light of the wavelengths mentioned.

[0041] An advantage of this embodiment may be that the sight glass with the desired properties can be manufactured easily and economically, for example by injection molding.

[0042] According to a further embodiment, the viewing glass is made essentially of optical glass, for example mineral glass, or of transparent plastic, for example polycarbonate, and is optionally provided with a reflection and / or absorption coating for reflecting and / or absorbing the light in the predetermined wavelength range.

[0043] The red light can contain light of wavelengths reflected by arterial and venous blood. The red light can correspond to or contain the color blood red. The color blood red can be RAL 3020 or 3003.

[0044] The reflected and / or absorbed wavelength range can include the typical colors of arterial and venous blood or the color blood red and optionally other wavelengths that belong to the color red according to the color spectrum or that are significantly absorbed by L-cones.

[0045] For the purposes of this disclosure, a color may be a color of the visible light spectrum. Short description of the drawings

[0046] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following drawings. These show only exemplary embodiments of the privacy screen. Features of these exemplary embodiments can be combined independently of one another.

[0047] In the figures and the associated description, identical or equivalent parts are provided with the same reference symbols. Fig. 1 shows a transmission curve of an embodiment of the sight glass of the sight protection device, Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the privacy screen, Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the privacy screen, Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the privacy screen, Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the privacy screen, Fig. 6 shows a transmission curve of a preferred embodiment of the sight glass with edge filter with a blocking in the range of 640 - 780 nm, and Fig. 7 shows different transmission curves of the sight glass according to Fig. 6 to show the angle dependence. Ways to implement the invention

[0048] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a transmission curve of an embodiment of the viewing glass of the privacy protection device, with the transmissivity T of the viewing glass plotted against the wavelength λ of the light. For example, values ​​of the transmissivity T from 0% to 100% are plotted on the vertical axis. A wavelength range can be plotted on the horizontal axis of the wavelength λ, which can at least partially encompass the visible spectrum and optionally extend into the infrared range.

[0049] Light with wavelengths below a predetermined first wavelength value λ1 is transmitted through the sight glass essentially unhindered, so that, for example, more than 70%, more than 80% or even more than 90% of this light is transmitted.

[0050] From and above the first wavelength value λ1, the transmission of light is significantly lower, so that light with wavelengths that are longer than or equal to the first wavelength value λ1 is essentially reflected and / or absorbed by the viewing glass by up to 100%.

[0051] The first wavelength value λ1 may be a wavelength corresponding to the shortest wavelength of light considered to be red light according to the color spectrum or according to this disclosure.

[0052] For example, the first wavelength value λ1 can be a wavelength of 550 nm, 560 nm, 600 nm, or 640 nm. Light with a wavelength above one of these wavelengths can be referred to as red light in the context of this disclosure. Alternatively, this light can also be referred to as long-wavelength light, which is highly penetrating and / or excites L-cones of the human eye more strongly than light of other wavelengths.

[0053] The filtered-out light can contain or consist of the red component of the light reflected by arterial and venous blood. The filtered-out light can contain blood-red light. The blood-red color can be RAL 3020 or 3003.

[0054] The reflected and / or absorbed wavelength range may include the colors of arterial and venous blood or the color blood red and optionally other wavelengths that belong to the color red according to the color spectrum or according to this disclosure.

[0055] The viewing glass is designed to filter out light only up to a second predetermined wavelength value λ2. The second wavelength value λ2 is greater than the first wavelength value λ1. For example, the second wavelength value λ2 can correspond to the upper end of the wavelength range of light that belongs to the color red according to the color spectrum or forms the transition to infrared. For example, the second wavelength value λ2 is a wavelength of 780 nm or 800 nm.

[0056] Light with wavelengths above the second wavelength value λ2 can pass through the viewing glass essentially unhindered, so that, for example, more than 70%, more than 80%, or even more than 90% of this light is transmitted by the viewing glass. Alternatively, the viewing glass can reflect light with wavelengths above the second wavelength value λ2, so that more than 70%, more than 80%, or even more than 90% of this light is reflected.

[0057] Fig. Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the vision protection device 1 in a schematic front view. The vision protection device 1 is illustrated by way of example as a pair of spectacles with two lenses 2, 3, wherein the spectacles further comprise a lens carrier 4 to which the lenses 2, 3 are captively attached. For example, the lenses 2, 3 are attached to the lens carrier 4 in a form-fitting, force-fitting, or material-fitting manner. Alternatively, the lenses 2, 3 and the lens carrier 4 can be made in one piece, i.e., continuous and from the same material, for example, from the material of the vision lens.

[0058] Both spectacle lenses 2, 3 can each consist at least partially or completely of a viewing lens.

[0059] The sight glass may be cylindrical or spherical as a whole. Alternatively, the sight glass may comprise multiple segments that may be adjacent to or spaced from one another, with selected or all of the segments being cylindrical or spherical.

[0060] Fig. Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the privacy screen 1 in a schematic perspective view. The same reference numerals are used for elements that correspond in form or function to those of the previous embodiment. For the sake of brevity, only the differences from the previous embodiment are discussed below.

[0061] The privacy screen 1 of the embodiment of the Fig. 3 is designed, for example, as a pair of spectacles and, in particular, as safety goggles. The safety goggles have only one lens 5, which is dimensioned such that a person wearing this vision protection device 1 can look through the lens 5 with both eyes simultaneously. For example, the lens 5 is attached to the lens carrier 4 in a form-fitting, force-fitting, or material-fitting manner. Alternatively, and as shown in the Fig. 3, the spectacle lens 5 and the spectacle lens carrier 4 can be made in one piece, i.e. continuously and from the same material and, for example, from the material of the viewing lens and, for example, injection-molded.

[0062] The spectacle lens 5 can consist at least partially or completely of a viewing lens.

[0063] The sight glass may be cylindrical or spherical as a whole. Alternatively, the sight glass may comprise multiple segments that may be adjacent to or spaced from one another, with selected or all of the segments being cylindrical or spherical.

[0064] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of another embodiment of the privacy screen 1. The same reference numerals are used for elements that correspond in form or function to those of the previous embodiments. For the sake of brevity, only the differences from the previous embodiments are discussed below.

[0065] The privacy screen 1 of the embodiment of the Fig. 4 is a face mask that can be configured as a breathing mask or an oxygen mask. The face mask has a viewing panel 6, which can consist at least partially or entirely of the viewing glass. For example, only the section of the viewing panel 6 through which a person wearing the face mask can see when wearing the vision protection device 1 can be provided with the inventive filter properties of the viewing glass. Alternatively, the viewing panel 6 can have the inventive filter properties of the viewing glass over its entire surface.

[0066] The privacy screen 1 of the embodiment of the Fig. 4 further comprises a support 7 for the visor 6, wherein the visor support 7 can be designed to fit tightly against the face of a person.

[0067] The viewing glass or viewing panel 6 can be cylindrical as a whole. The viewing glass or viewing panel 6 can have a longitudinal axis around which the viewing glass or viewing panel 6 curves cylindrically. For example, the longitudinal axis of the cylindrically curved viewing glass or the cylindrically curved viewing panel 6 can be arranged such that it runs essentially through a plane of vision of a person wearing the visual protection device 1. The person's eyes can be arranged in the plane of vision. The longitudinal axis can be aligned vertically when a person wears the visual protection device 1. For example, the longitudinal axis can run parallel to the bridge of the nose of the person wearing the visual protection device 1. The longitudinal axis can run parallel to or in a plane of symmetry of the visual protection device 1.The longitudinal axis can run essentially perpendicular to a viewing direction in which a person wearing the privacy screen 1 can look through it.

[0068] Alternatively, the viewing glass or viewing panel 6 may comprise a plurality of segments which may be arranged adjacent to one another or spaced apart from one another, wherein selected or all of the segments may be cylindrical or spherical in shape.

[0069] Fig. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the privacy screen 1 in a schematic perspective view. The same reference numerals are used for elements that correspond in form or function to those of the previous embodiments. For the sake of brevity, only the differences from the previous embodiments are discussed below.

[0070] Also Fig. Figure 5 shows the privacy protection device 1 as a face mask and with the viewing panel 6. However, the face mask of the embodiment 5 is designed without the viewing panel support 7. Rather, the privacy protection device 1 of the embodiment of the Fig. 5 the visor 6 and a visor holder 8 to which the visor 6 is attached. The visor holder 8 can be designed to be easily and possibly repeatedly detachably attached to a helmet or to a possibly elastic headband 9. The visor device 1 of the embodiment of the Fig. 5 can be called a face shield.

[0071] The viewing glass or viewing panel 6 can be cylindrical as a whole. The viewing glass or viewing panel 6 can have a longitudinal axis around which the viewing glass or viewing panel 6 curves cylindrically. For example, the longitudinal axis of the cylindrically curved viewing glass or the cylindrically curved viewing panel 6 can be arranged such that it runs essentially through a plane of vision of a person wearing the visual protection device 1. The person's eyes can be arranged in the plane of vision. The longitudinal axis can be aligned vertically when a person wears the visual protection device 1. For example, the longitudinal axis can run parallel to the bridge of the nose of the person wearing the visual protection device 1. The longitudinal axis can run parallel to or in a plane of symmetry of the visual protection device 1.The longitudinal axis can run essentially perpendicular to a viewing direction in which a person wearing the privacy screen 1 can look through it.

[0072] Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show transmission curves of a preferred embodiment of the privacy glass with edge filter, wherein in Fig. 7 shows the angle dependence of the edge filter in the range from 0° (perpendicular incidence) to 25° (deviation from perpendicular) of the incident light. The transmissivity T from 0.0 to 1.0 of the viewing glass is plotted against the wavelength λ of the light. Fig. Figure 7 shows that in the desired range of 640–780 nm, almost complete blocking of the viewing glass is achieved, which is not affected by variations in the angle of incidence. Reference symbols A–F represent curves with 0° to 25° deviation from right angles in 5° increments.

Claims

[1] Use of a visual protection device (1) by persons or by emergency services on duty who are confronted with injured or mutilated people, for optically filtering out red light from the visible spectrum, wherein the visual protection device (1) has at least one viewing glass which is designed to substantially completely reflect and / or absorb light with wavelengths in a wavelength range whose lower wavelength value is 640 nm, 600 nm, 560 nm or 550 nm and whose upper wavelength value is 780 nm or 800 nm. [2] Use according to claim 1, characterized by that the viewing glass is designed to transmit more than 70% of light with wavelengths below and above the wavelength range. [3] Use according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the visual protection device (1) is a face mask, wherein at least a portion of a viewing window (6) of the face mask is formed by the viewing glass. [4] Use according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the vision protection device is a pair of protective goggles with at least one spectacle lens (2, 3, 5), wherein the spectacle lens (2, 3, 5) is formed at least in sections by a sight glass. [5] Use according to claim 4, characterized by that the protective goggles have a spectacle lens carrier (4), wherein the at least one spectacle lens (2, 3, 5) and the spectacle lens carrier (4) are formed in one piece, and wherein only the at least one spectacle lens (2, 3, 5) or the at least one spectacle lens (2, 3, 5) and the spectacle lens carrier (4) are formed as a viewing glass. [6] Use according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the sight glass has a reflective and / or absorbent coating for reflecting and / or absorbing the light. [7] Use according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the sight glass is at least partially or completely cylindrical or spherical in shape.

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