Seat-Retained Eye Mask With Malleable Nose Bridge for Light Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye masks fail to effectively block ambient light and maintain a sleeper's head against a seat, as they are not form-fitting, often causing discomfort and allowing light to seep in due to inadequate nose bridge adaptation and lack of lateral support.
Innovation Solution
An eye mask with a malleable nose bridge and adjustable straps, including a seat retention strap with length adjustment buckles, to securely fit various facial shapes and retain the head against a seat, while also providing ear plug pockets for noise attenuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed shape nose bridge is used in the eye mask, then the manufacturing is simplified, but light penetration occurs due to inability to adapt to different facial features
Solution Approach 1:
The nose bridge is made malleable rather than fixed, allowing it to be dynamically shaped to match different facial contours. The user can mold the nose bridge material to conform to their specific nose shape, ensuring complete light blocking while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a standardized malleable component design.
2Reliability
If elastic straps are used to hold the mask onto the face, then the mask can be secured, but discomfort and claustrophobic feeling occur due to pressure against the face
Solution Approach 1:
The mask incorporates a flexible, form-fitting shell that conforms to the facial contours, providing retention through shape memory and friction rather than elastic pressure. This flexible construction maintains secure fit while eliminating the need for tight elastic straps that cause discomfort and claustrophobia.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a large size eye mask is used to cover the eyes and nose area, then light blocking is improved, but the device becomes heavy and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The eye mask is designed with local coverage, concentrating the light-blocking material only where needed (eye area and nose bridge) rather than covering the entire head. This localized approach provides effective light blocking while minimizing material usage, reducing weight and improving comfort.
4Ease of operation
If a U-shaped neck pillow is used to maintain head position, then lateral support is provided, but the head drops down suddenly when sleeping upright, causing cyclic waking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the eye mask with an integrated head support structure that attaches to the neck pillow. This merged system provides both lateral support from the pillow and continuous head position stability through the connecting support structure, preventing sudden head drops while maintaining comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
An eye mask for a person includes a forward portion adapted to cover the person's eyes and having a malleable nose bridge, and two side straps each fixed with the forward portion and terminating at strap ends each having at least one part of a first two-part mechanical fastener. At least one of the side straps may include a first part of a second two-part mechanical fastener for attachment to a seat retention strap adapted to encircle a portion of a seat. Other adjustable attachment means that include a plurality of different straps for encircling the seat or headrest of a seat are included for retaining the person's head against the seat. Each side strap may include a pocket formed therein for holding an ear plug.