Protective eye mask for winter sports practice

Abstract

A protective eye mask (1) for winter sports, such as alpine skiing, is provided with at least one electrically driven LC lens (16) and includes at least one LC layer (16') made of GH liquid crystals.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective eye mask for practicing winter sports, in particular alpine skiing. [Background technology]

[0002] As is well known, alpine skiing is a winter sport in which skiers slide down a mountain slope on snow using a pair of skis.

[0003] To protect the eyes and improve visibility, skiers typically wear ski masks that provide eye protection as well as lenses that cover much of the upper part of the face. The lenses come in a variety of colors, with the darkest colors being used primarily on sunny days and the lighter colors being used on days with poor visibility.

[0004] However, during the descent, some parts of the slope may be sunny while others are in shade or one may cross a forest; moreover, the weather frequently changes from sunny to cloudy and vice versa during a ski run that can last several hours.

[0005] To meet the needs of skiers, ski masks have been designed with color-changing lenses that can independently change their color depending on the amount of light in the environment.

[0006] Some solutions are known, for example with photochromic lenses that can change color when exposed to sunlight, but the color change of such lenses is slow and they cannot be used effectively in alpine skiing, where the sun and shade alternate quickly depending on the speed of the skier going downhill.

[0007] Masks with electrochromic lenses that change color when a voltage is applied are also known. However, in such masks, a rather high power output is provided to the lenses, which leads to the use of batteries. However, such batteries are bulky and too heavy for comfortable use of the mask, and obviously require charging. Finally, due to the high power consumption, the color changes of the lenses, which are performed automatically or manually controlled by the skier, can only be performed a small number of times (around 20) before charging is required.

[0008] Certain masks are also known which have lenses with a liquid crystal layer (LC) powered by a battery. Such a solution is described, for example, in EP 298983. As mentioned above, such a solution leads to discomfort when using batteries.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a protective eye mask for practicing winter sports, in particular alpine skiing, which overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks and meets the needs in the field.

[0010] This object is achieved by a protective mask according to claim 1. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0011] The characteristics and advantages of the protective mask according to the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, and in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a protective eye mask according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a lens assembly of the protective mask of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] An exploded view of the lens assembly of Figure 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lens assembly of FIG. [Figure 5a]Diagram showing two ways in which a skier can use a mask [Figure 5b] Diagram showing two ways in which a skier can use a mask DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference number 1 indicates as a whole a protective face mask for winter sports, in particular for alpine skiing, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0014] The mask 1 comprises a support assembly 2 and a lens assembly 4 applied to the support assembly 2 .

[0015] The support assembly 2 comprises a support 6 typically made in a single piece of polymeric material, which is suitable for application of the lens assembly 4, for example by means of an interlocking system.

[0016] Furthermore, the support 6 preferably has ventilation windows 8 for admitting air into the mask. Typically, ventilation windows are available at the top and / or bottom.

[0017] The support assembly 2 further comprises an inner contact portion 10, usually made of sponge or other soft material, located at the periphery of the support 6 and against the lens assembly 4, which is intended to contact and adhere to the face to limit the infiltration of airflow towards the eyes.

[0018] Preferably, the mask 1 finally comprises elastic bands 12, usually applied to the sides of the support 6, for holding the mask on the face.

[0019] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, lens assembly 4 includes an outer lens 14, typically formed from polycarbonate, having an outer surface 14a and an inner surface 14b.

[0020] The lens assembly 4 further comprises a liquid crystal lens 16 (hereinafter referred to as LC lens) having an outer surface 16a facing the outer lens 14, and an inner surface 16b.

[0021] The LC lens 16 is applied to the outer lens 14, in particular to its inner surface 14b, preferably by lamination. According to a preferred embodiment, the shape of the LC lens 16 is included in the shape of the outer lens 14. Thus, an adhesion zone 14c is defined around the periphery of the inner surface 14b of the outer lens 14.

[0022] The lens assembly 4 further comprises a frame 20, typically integrally formed from a polymeric material, to which the outer lens 14 is applied at its front surface by means of double-sided tape 18, which is applied to an adhesive zone 14c of the inner surface 14b and to the periphery of the frame 20.

[0023] Finally, lens assembly 4 includes an inner lens 22, preferably integrally formed from a polymeric material, having an outer surface 22a and an inner surface 22b.

[0024] An inner lens 22 is applied to the frame 20 opposite the LC lens 16 using, for example, an inner double-sided tape 24 applied between an outer surface 22 a of the inner lens 22 and the frame 20 .

[0025] Finally, the mask 1 comprises a photovoltaic cell 26 and an electronic circuit 28 powered by the photovoltaic cell 26 and controlling the LC lens 16 .

[0026] Preferably, the solar cells 26 and the electronic circuitry 28 are disposed on the same support to form a single electronic board 30 .

[0027] The solar cell 26 simultaneously acts as a sensor of the amount of light in the environment and as a power source for the LC lens: in fact, the more light that falls on the solar cell, the higher the power generated by the solar cell, the higher the power supplied to the LC lens, and the darker such LC lens will be.

[0028] Preferably, the electronic board 30 is supported by the frame 20 , for example, under a central portion 32 of the frame 20 or by being fixed to one of the inner lens 14 or the outer lens 22 .

[0029] In particular, the solar cell 26 is preferably positioned within a sealed frame compartment 20a formed by the frame 20, the outer lens 14, and the inner lens 22, between the outer lens 14 and the inner lens 22, and facing the LC lens 16.

[0030] For this purpose, the LC lens 16 is provided with a notch 16d along its upper peripheral edge 16c, in which the solar cell 26 is placed, so that it is struck by light rays that have only passed through the outer lens 14, thereby maintaining the same transparency in different conditions of use. Thus, the darkening of the LC lens 16 does not affect the operation of the solar cell 26, despite the fact that such solar cell 26 is placed in the frame compartment 20a.

[0031] The LC lens 16 preferably comprises a layer 16' having liquid crystals (hereinafter referred to as LC layer 16') and a supporting layer 16'' made of a polymeric material, usually polycarbonate.

[0032] The LC layer 16' is made of an organic material with large, elongated molecules, and contains liquid crystals, a type of material that has the property of changing its optical properties in the presence or absence of an electric field. Dichroic particles are inserted into it using a packaging technique known as guest-host (GH technology).

[0033] Advantageously, the use of GH type liquid crystals makes it possible to overcome significant drawbacks pointed out by the applicant in the use of lenses with TN (Twisted Nematic) type liquid crystals used in currently known solutions.

[0034] During skiing practice, especially when skiing downhill, skiers usually take two positions. (A) At low speed (Fig. 5a), the torso posture is nearly vertical and the gaze is focused on the ground at a distance of a few meters. In this state, the lens axis (X), i.e. the direction perpendicular to the lens surface, and the visual axis (Z), i.e. the axis of the eye, are very similar and nearly coincident. (B) At high speed (Fig. 5b), the torso is nearly horizontal and in contact with the thighs, and the gaze is focused quite forward. In this state, the lens axis (X) is quite different from the visual axis (Z).

[0035] Applicants have found that using a mask with lenses having TN liquid crystals results in very unclear vision at high speeds, even in the presence of strong ambient light.

[0036] Finally, the mask according to the invention with LC lenses of the GH type is not only able to automatically adapt to different ambient light conditions but also to guarantee good visibility in all positions assumed by the skier.

[0037] It is obvious that a person skilled in the art can make modifications to all the above-mentioned masks to meet fortuitous needs, which fall within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A protective eye mask (1) for winter sports, comprising one motorized LC lens (16) including at least one LC layer (16') formed by GH type liquid crystal, an outer lens (14) having an outer surface (14a) and an inner surface (14b); a solar cell (26) for powering the LC lens (16); The solar cell (26) generates more power when exposed to higher light intensity, thereby providing more power to the LC lens (16); The LC lens (16) is applied to the inner surface (14b) of the outer lens (14); The LC lens (16) has an upper edge (16c) formed with a notch (16d) in which the solar cell (26) is disposed. Protective eye mask.

2. The GH type liquid crystal is made of an organic material that has a function of changing optical properties depending on the presence or absence of an electric field, and has dichroic particles inserted therein.

2. The protective eye mask of claim 1.

3. an electronic circuit (28) for powering the LC lens (16) using the solar cell (26) as a power source; 3. A protective eye mask according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The solar cells (26) and the electronic circuit (28) are arranged on the same support forming a single electronic board (30).

4. The protective eye mask of claim 3.

5. An inner lens (22), The LC lens is disposed in front of the inner lens (22).

5. A protective eye mask according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A frame (20) supporting the outer lens (14) at the front and the inner lens (22) at the rear.

6. The protective eye mask of claim 5.

7. The frame (20), the outer lens (14), and the inner lens (22) form a sealed inner compartment (20a) of the frame (20) within which the solar cell (26) is disposed.

7. The protective eye mask of claim 6.

8. A wearable support assembly (2), The LC lens (16) is supported by the support assembly (2).

8. A protective eye mask according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The support assembly (2) comprises a contact portion (10) adapted to adhere to the face to limit the ingress of airflow towards the eyes; 9. The protective eye mask of claim 8.

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