Sealed Face Shield for Playing Musical Instruments

Abstract

The sealed face shield for playing musical instruments invention is a modified standard face shield that is closed off at the top and sides with one or more access ports through which musical instruments can be placed. The shield includes a flexible, clear, plastic film that covers the face from the forehead to past the chin and up to the front of the ears. The sides of the shield are pulled flush to the side of the head by a chin strap, ear loops, or a second head strap leaving only the bottom area of the face shield open. Openings are cut through the front or side of the shield for musical instruments to pass through. The holes are then replaced or covered with a material that allows the instrument to pass through the shield while still minimizing any aerosol from spraying outward during playing.

1 . The plastic face shield is sealed around most of the musician’s face. 
     
     
         2 . The top of the face shield in  claim 1  has no open gaps to minimize airflow containing aerosol from easily escaping or entering the wearer’s facial area. 
     
     
         3 . The top of the face shield in  claim 1  can be sealed by various methods including but not limited to contouring a crescent shaped visor, cutting relief notches in the brow seal foam, or adding tapered wedges to the top corners of the face shield that hug the musician’s head when worn. 
     
     
         4 . The sides of the plastic face shield of  claim 1  are drawn flush to the wearer’s face but ends anteriorly to the ears to avoid loud reverberation sounds from reaching the wearer’s ears. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic face shield of  claim 1  holds a natural electrostatic charge which is continuously refreshed when the plastic rubs against the user’s hair thus helping to attract charged virus/droplet/aerosol particles. 
     
     
         6 . The clear plastic material of  claim 1  can be made with an anti-fog coating to allow clear visualization of the musician’s face. 
     
     
         7 . The clear plastic material of  claim 1  can be made with an anti-glare coating to allow clear visualization of the musician’s face. 
     
     
         8 . The side edges of the plastic face shield of  claim 1  are guarded with protection against skin irritation. 
     
     
         9 . The musician’s face shield has ports and openings through which various woodwind and brass musical instruments can be easily inserted / removed during play. 
     
     
         10 . The front (e.g. saxophone) and side (flute, piccolo) instrument ports of  claim 9  are self-sealing and provide smooth passage through, such that instrument mouthpieces can easily slip in and out without getting caught on the shield or port coverings. 
     
     
         11 . The bottom (e.g. clarinet, oboe) opening of the musician’s face shield in  claim 9  is open downward to the ground and back toward the musician player so escaping air is directed where others in close proximity are not likely to inhale it and aerosol would essentially have to fight gravity in order to enter the wearer’s breathing space. 
     
     
         12 . The instrument ports of  claim 9  can also be fabricated with flaps that cover the open port when not playing. 
     
     
         13 . The musician’s face shield is held in place with strategically located straps. 
     
     
         14 . When outfitted with a chin strap in  claim 13 , the user is able to quickly and easily don the face shield using one hand by first planting the chin on top of the chin strap followed by pulling the top headband over the head with a single hand motion. 
     
     
         15 . When outfitted with a second head strap in  claim 13 , sides of the plastic sheet may be outfitted with gap filling foam, fabric, or other suitable material to close any side gaps. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable head strap, chin strap, and neck strap of  claim 13  can be loosened enough to allow the face shield to lie flat for storage or easy shipping. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable head strap, chin strap, and neck strap of  claim 13  can be made of flexible material which may include, but is not limited to material such as stretchy ties, elastic, Velcro, adjustable bands, and non-stretch ties.