Face Shield Visor Fan and Louvers for Fog Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Face shields often fog up due to lack of air circulation, especially when worn with eyewear and face masks, causing discomfort and reduced visibility for healthcare professionals.
Innovation Solution
A face shield with integrated fan units and directional louvers that direct filtered air to prevent fogging, providing ventilation and comfort by blowing air from above the visor to under the shield, and allowing adjustable airflow directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a face shield is worn to provide protective barrier, then protection against material transmission is improved, but fogging on eyewear and shield increases due to lack of air circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful warm humid air from the enclosed space between the face shield and eyewear using a fan unit, removing the source of condensation and fogging while maintaining the protective barrier function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a fan unit to create forced air circulation, drawing cool air from below the chin and expelling it through channels between the shield and face, thereby preventing fogging through active pneumatic ventilation
2Ease of operation
If air circulation is added to prevent fogging, then visibility and comfort are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The face shield integrates multiple functions into a single device: protection, active ventilation through fan units, and adjustable airflow direction via louvers, allowing one device to address both protection and comfort needs simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates adjustable louvers that can be rotated to different positions to control airflow direction dynamically, allowing the user to adapt the ventilation pattern to their specific comfort needs and environmental conditions
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
Effectively prevents fogging on eyewear and the face shield, improving visibility and comfort for wearers, especially in healthcare settings where face masks and eyewear are commonly used.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fan unit disposed in the bill that is operable to move air from above the bill to under the bill and past an inside of the shield portion
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of directional louvers disposed under the at least one fan unit on a bottom of the visor portion that are configured to direct air from the at least one fan unit
Data Source
AI summary
A visor face shield device is configured to be worn on a user's head to provide a transparent barrier in front the user's face. The visor face shield device has a bill that extends forward from a portion that contacts the wearer's forehead, and the transparent barrier extends down from the outer periphery of the bill. On the bill are one or more fan units, including multi-stage air filter elements, that blow air through the bill into the space between the wearer's face and the transparent barrier. Under the fan unit(s) are louvers or equivalent air directing structures that direct air. The louvers can be configured to blow air both in the direct of the wearer's face and in the direction of the transparent barrier. The device can include controls to move louvers, or independently control multiple fan units. As configured, the visor device allows a wearer who is wearing a face mask and eyewear under the visor device to control air flow to prevent fogging of the transparent barrier and the wearer's eyewear, as well as provide comfort for the wearer.