Loupe Light-Compatible Attachable Face Shield

Abstract

A face shield adapted to protect the face from biohazards during medical procedures is disclosed. The central portion of the face shield includes a horizontally centered cut out that extends downwardly from a top edge. The cut out is sized and positioned to allow a loupe light to pass through. The central portion of the face shield may be hingedly connected to a pair of side portions. A pair of side portions extends outwardly from respective sides of the central portion. Each of the pair of side portions includes attachment structure, such as a clip, to attach the face shield to the temples of a pair of loupes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A face shield, comprising:
 a sheet of a transparent, flexible material that defines
 a central portion having
 a cut out essentially horizontally centered on the face shield portion and extending from a top edge thereof downwardly, the cut out having substantially vertical side walls, a width that is at most equal to its height, and a size such that a loupe light can pass through, and 
 a concavely-curved lower edge that rises from a low point at horizontal lower edges of the central portion to a high point essentially horizontally centered on the face shield portion; 
 
 a pair of side portions connected to the central portion; and 
 attachment structure connected to each of the pair of side portions along inner faces thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the cut out is wider toward the top edge of the face shield portion and narrows as it extends downwardly. 
     
     
         3 . The face shield of  claim 2 , wherein a bottom edge of the cut out is rounded. 
     
     
         4 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the face shield portion further comprises a frangible portion adapted to be broken away from the central portion to define the cut out. 
     
     
         5 . The face shield of  claim 1 , further comprising a score or fold line between the central portion and each of the pair of side portions. 
     
     
         6 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment structure comprises a clip. 
     
     
         7 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of side portions tapers down in height as it extends away from the central portion. 
     
     
         8 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the face shield is transparent. 
     
     
         9 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the central portion includes UV filtering characteristics. 
     
     
         10 . A face shield, comprising:
 a sheet of a transparent, flexible material that defines
 a central portion having
 an opening essentially horizontally centered on the face shield portion, centered a defined distance below a top edge of the central portion, the opening sized and adapted to admit a loupe light, and 
 a concavely-curved lower edge that rises from a low point at horizontal lower edges of the central portion to a high point essentially horizontally centered on the face shield portion; 
 
 a pair of side portions connected to the central portion; and 
 attachment structure connected to each of the pair of side portions along inner faces thereof. 
   
     
     
         11 . The face shield of  claim 10 , wherein the central portion of the face shield portion further comprises a frangible portion adapted to be broken away from the central portion to define the cut out. 
     
     
         12 . The face shield of  claim 10 , further comprising a score or fold line between the central portion and each of the pair of side portions. 
     
     
         13 . The face shield of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment structure comprises a clip. 
     
     
         14 . The face shield of  claim 10 , wherein each of the pair of side portions tapers down in height as it extends away from the central portion. 
     
     
         15 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the face shield is transparent. 
     
     
         16 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the central portion includes UV filtering characteristics.