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US 10,369,041 B2Granted
Eye mask for amelioration or prevention of dry eye and the like
AssigneeJohn Devine
InventorJohn Devine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one form, an eye mask includes an eye mask core assembly, a band, and first and second insulated wires. The eye mask core assembly has first and second heat producing areas separated by a distance corresponding to a separation of human eyes and having first and second ends. The eye mask core assembly produces heat in response to the application of a voltage thereto. The covering surrounds the eye mask core assembly. The band is attached to the first and second ends of said eye mask core assembly. The first and second insulated wires have first ends connected to the eye mask core assembly, and second ends for connection to a power supply.
Claims20
An eye mask, comprising:
- an eye mask core assembly having first and second eye-shaped portions separated by a distance corresponding to a separation of human eyes and having first and second ends, said eye mask core assembly producing heat in response to an application of a voltage thereto;
- a band attached to the first and second ends of said eye mask core assembly having first and second ends;
- and
- first and second insulated wires having first ends connected to said eye mask core assembly, and second ends for connection to a power supply,
- wherein said eye mask core assembly is constructed such that when the eye mask is attached to a user's head using said band, said eye mask core assembly disposes said first and second eye-shaped portions in direct contact with surfaces of, and without substantial pressure on, corresponding first and second eyelids of the user to conform to surfaces of corresponding eyeballs of the user,
- wherein said eye mask core assembly comprises:
- a support member attached to said first and second ends of said band;
- and
- a heating element attached to said support member and coupled to said first and second insulated wires and formed of a flexible substrate, said heating element comprising said first eye-shaped portion and said second eye-shaped portion which are separated by a center portion and a conductor, wherein said conductor in said center portion is configured to electrically connect said first and second eye-shaped portions but is not designed to produce heat, and has a serpentine pattern in said first and second eye-shaped portions producing heat in response to an application of power from said power supply.
6 more elements
An eye mask system, comprising:
- a regulated power supply for outputting a first voltage having approximately a predetermined value;
- and
- an eye mask core assembly coupled to said regulated power supply, comprising:
- a heating element coupled to and receiving power from said regulated power supply and formed of a flexible substrate, and having first and second heat producing areas which are separated by a center portion at a distance corresponding to a separation of human eyes and having first and second ends, said first and second heat producing areas producing heat in response to an application of power from said regulated power supply, and a conductor, wherein said conductor in said center portion is configured to electrically connect said first and second eye-shaped portions but is not designed to produce heat, and has a serpentine pattern in said first and second heat producing areas producing heat in response to an application of said first voltage;
- and
- an attachment system connected to said heating element for causing said heating element to conformally fit over human eyes, said attachment system constructed such that when the eye mask core assembly is attached to a user's head, said eye mask core assembly disposes said first and second heat producing areas in direct contact with surfaces of, and without substantial pressure on, corresponding first and second eyelids of the user to conform to surfaces of corresponding eyeballs of the user,
- wherein the eye mask system is characterized as being a feed-forward system without feedback.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.