Face Shield Anchor and Strap Attachment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing face shields lack secure attachment methods and fail to account for visual and auditory distortions due to their design, leading to discomfort and reduced visibility during long use.
Innovation Solution
A face shield design featuring a transparent surface with anchor/barb structures and an elastic strap system that securely attaches to the face shield body, incorporating a spacer for comfort and anti-fog/anti-viral materials, and optional magnification regions and hearing slots for improved visibility and auditory clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cord or stretchable headband is used to secure the face shield, then the face shield can be attached to the user's head, but the attachment is insecure and uncomfortable for long use
Solution Approach 1:
The face shield is divided into multiple components: a rigid face shield body, a flexible spacer, and an elastic strap system with separate attachment elements (anchors/barbs and slots). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the rigid body provides structural integrity, the spacer provides comfort and spacing, and the strap system provides secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic strap system incorporates dynamic elements that adapt to the user's head shape and movement. The elastic material allows the strap to stretch and conform, while the detachable slot-and-anchor mechanism allows for adjustment and repositioning to maintain comfort and security during prolonged use
2Area of stationary object
If the face shield is constructed of a continuous sheet of material, then the face shield provides complete coverage, but visual distortion occurs due to curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The face shield incorporates a magnification region with different optical properties than the rest of the transparent surface. This local quality change allows the magnification area to compensate for the distortion caused by the overall curvature of the continuous sheet, providing accurate visual measurement in the critical viewing area while maintaining complete coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary element between the user's face and the curved transparent surface. By positioning the transparent surface at a distance from the face, the spacer reduces the apparent curvature and minimizes visual distortion, allowing the continuous sheet to provide complete coverage without compromising visual accuracy
3Reliability
If the face shield is pressed and wrapped around the user's ears, then the face shield secures to the head, but auditory distortion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The face shield design extracts the attachment function from the main transparent surface by incorporating separate anchor/barb elements on the frame. This allows the transparent surface to be positioned without being pressed against the ears, while the attachment elements secure the device independently, eliminating auditory distortion while maintaining secure attachment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides a secure, comfortable, and distortion-reduced solution for face shields, enhancing visibility and auditory experience while maintaining protection against respiratory hazards.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic strap with a first slot and a second slot receives the first and second anchor/barbs. When the user wears the face shield, the elastic strap is in a stretched configuration that pulls on the first and second anchor/barbs
Implementation Method 2
The transparent surface may include a magnification region. When the user wears the face shield, the transparent surface may be curved, and the magnification area may further include a plurality of magnification areas whose magnification is based on the transparent surface curvature
Implementation Method 3
The transparent surface may be made of an anti-fog material, and/or an anti-viral material
Implementation Method 4
The transparent surface may be made of an anti-fog material, and/or an anti-viral material. It may be tinted, UV-filtering and anti-static
Data Source
AI summary
A face shield for covering the eyes, nose and mouth of a user is disclosed. The face shield includes a face shield body that has a transparent surface having a first side edge, a second side edge, and a top edge. The first and second side edges include a first and a second anchor/barb, respectively, both of which define a line. A spacer is attached at or near the line, and the spacer extends away from the face shield body. An elastic strap with a first slot and a second slot receives the first and second anchor/barbs. When the user wears the face shield, the elastic strap is in a stretched configuration that pulls on the first and second anchor/barbs, and in this configuration the first slot is detachably affixed to the first anchor/barb, and the second slot is detachably affixed to the second anchor/barb.