Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AUXILIARY LENSES FOR EYEGLASSES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to spectacles and auxiliary frames adapted for attaching
to spectacles.
More particularly, the present invention relates to the means in which
auxiliary lenses are
attached to spectacles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical spectacle frame having an attachable one-piece slide-on rim is
disclosed in U. S. Pat.
No. 4,070,103 to Meeker. In Meeker, a spectacle frame includes a magnetic
material secured
to the front face of the frame for facilitating attachment of an auxiliary
frame. The lens rim
cover also includes a magnetic strip for engaging with the magnetic material
of the spectacle
frame.
Another typical auxiliary eyeglass attachment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,416,537 to
Sadler, which teaches a first magnetic. members secured to the front face of
the frames and
second magnetic members secured to the corresponding portions of the auxiliary
lenses. The
auxiliary lenses are simply attached to the frames by magnetic materials and
have no
supporting members for preventing the auxiliary lenses from moving downward
relative to the
frames. Thus the auxiliary lenses thus can move downward relative to the
frames and may be
easily disengaged from the frames when the users conduct jogging or jumping
exercises. In
addition, the magnetic materials are embedded in the frames of the primary
lenses and of the
auxiliary lenses. This requires cavities in the frames for engaging with the
magnetic members
such that the strength of the frames is compromised.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,054 to Chao teaches a combined magnetic and hook
attachment located
at the top of the bridge of the spectacles. This apparatus may give rise to
"rattling" of the
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lateral ends of the auxiliary spectacles against the lateral ends of the
primary spectacles, during
activities such as jogging. Additionally, any accidental jostle or collision
against the spectacles
from an object, such as a hand, moving upwards or sideways in relation to the
spectacles, may
easily dislodge the auxiliary spectacles from the primary spectacles.
S
Canadian patent application No. 2,180,714 to Chao and Canadian patent
application No.
2,235,897 to Chao both teach auxiliary spectacles having fastening arms
extending rearward
from the lateral ends of the auxiliary frames. The fastening arms are
magnetized and fasten to
the upper sides of the lateral ends of the primary spectacle. Again, any
accidental jostle or
collision against the spectacles from an object such as a hand moving sideways
may easily
dislodge the auxiliary spectacles from the primary spectacles.
Canadian patent application No. 2,236,025 to Ku teaches auxiliary spectacles
having fastening
arms extending rearward from the lateral ends of the auxiliary frames. The
fastening arms are
1 S magnetized and are received into a recess in the rearward facing sides of
the lateral ends of the
primary spectacle. Still, this device lacks the desired security of
attachment, since accidentally
dislodging one end of the auxiliary spectacles will cause the attachment to
fail. The spectacle
attachment of Ku is also difficult to attach and remove from the primary
spectacles because of
the nesting engagement between the ends of the fastening arms and the recesses
in the primary
spectacle. Furthermore, the need for recesses in the frames weakens the
frames.
SLrMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a spectacle apparatus, having a front side, a
rear side and a top;
(a) a primary frame adapted for fitting on a wearer's head, the primary frame
having lateral
ends; securing portions located at positions proximal to the lateral ends and
on the rear side
of the primary frame; and a bridge portion medial in the primary frame; (b)
auxiliary lenses;
(c) an auxiliary frame having retaining means for retaining the auxiliary
lenses; a bridge
fastener for releasably engaging the bridge portion, the bridge fastener at a
position which
corresponds with the position of the bridge portion; lateral fasteners for
releasably engaging
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the securing portion, the lateral fasteners at positions which correspond the
position of the
securing portions; and (d) magnets at positions between each lateral fastener
and each securing
portion.
In a preferred embodiment, when assembled, the primary frame has lateral
portions which
project towards the front side and beyond the rear side of the auxiliary
frames.
In one embodiment, the primary magnets are axed to the securing portions and
auxiliary
magnets are axed to the lateral fasteners. In another embodiment, a magnet is
located
between the bridge portion and the bridge fastener. In a further embodiment, a
magnet is
located between the bridge portion and the bridge fastener.
In one embodiment, the invention provides primary lenses and retaining means
on the primary
frames for retaining the primary lenses.
In one embodiment, the lateral fasteners extend essentially immediately
rearward from the
auxiliary frames.
In another embodiment, when assembled, the bridge fastener forms a hook over
the bridge.
In a further embodiment, when assembled, the bridge fastener forms a hook over
and behind
the bridge. In a further embodiment, the lateral fasteners extend essentially
laterally from the
auxiliary frames subsequent to extending immediately rearward. In a further
preferred
embodiment, when assembled, the bridge fastener forms a horizontal
interference flt with the
primary frames.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become
more apparent from the following description and claims, with reference to the
attached
drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a disassembled spectacle apparatus
according to the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top front perspective view of a portion of a disassembled
spectacle apparatus
according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a top front perspective view of a portion of an assembled spectacle
apparatus
according to the present invention
FIG. 4 is a top rear perspective view of the medial engaging structure of an
assembled
spectacle apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the lateral engaging structure of the assembled
present invention.
FIG. 6 is a partially broken away side view of the lateral engaging structure
of the assembled
present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the lateral engaging structure of the
assembled present
invention
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail
with reference
to the appended drawings, in which like elements are denoted by like reference
numerals.
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As shown in FIG. 1, the spectacle apparatus of the present invention has
auxiliary spectacles
30 and primary spectacles 42, which are defined as having a front side 12, a
rear side 14, a top
side 40 and lateral ends 16. FIG. 1 shows the apparatus in a dissembled form.
5 Primary spectacles 42 are adapted to be worn on the head of the wearer by
means of the stems
44, which fit over a wearer ears to support the spectacles. The stems 44 are
attached to the
primary frame 10 at each of its lateral ends 16. On the rearward face of
lateral ends 16 is
located primary magnet holder 20. As is seen in cross-section FIG. 7, nested
within magnetic
holder 20 is provided a magnet 27.
Returning to FIG. 1, primary frame 10 includes a bridge portion 22 which is
medial within the
frame and which extends between primary lenses 18. Primary frame 10 further
includes nose
portions 46 which extend medially to provide further support for the
spectacles on the
wearer's head. The primary frame 10 provides retaining structure for primary
lenses 18.
Primary lenses 18 may be clear or slightly tinted glass or plastic material.
One or both primary
lenses 18 may be shaped to the wearer's visual deficiencies.
The auxiliary spectacle 30 is a one-piece unit. That is, the auxiliary lenses
36 cover both of the
primary lenses 18. The external shape of the auxiliary lenses 30 generally
correspond with the
external shape of the primary lenses 18. One use for the auxiliary lenses 30
is to provide
protection to the wearer from sunlight and other vision-damaging elements.
Therefore, the
auxiliary lenses 30 may be tinted with a tint which is darker than the tint of
the primary lenses
18, and may also include a material therein or a coating thereon to filter
ultraviolet light or
other specific wavelengths of light.
Auxiliary spectacles 30 comprise an auxiliary frame 32 which provides a
retaining means for
auxiliary lenses 36. As best seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, auxiliary spectacles
30 also have a
lateral fastener 24 which extends essentially rearward from the auxiliary
spectacles 30, and
subsequently downward, culminating in auxiliary magnetic holder 28. Auxiliary
magnet holder
28 corresponds in position to a securing magnet holder 20 on the rear side of
primary
spectacles 42. Nested within magnetic holder 28 is provided a magnet 27.
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Auxiliary frame 32 also has a bridge fastener 38 which connects between the
two portions of
the frame which hold the auxiliary lenses 36. Bridge fastener 38 corresponds
in position to
bridge portion 22. Bridge fastener 38 extends rearward from auxiliary
spectacles 30. In the
preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, bridge fastener 38 also subsequently
extends
S downwards to form a hook-like structure for releasably fastening to bridge
portion 22.
Also, as seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, bridge fastener 38 is constructed such
that there is physical
obstruction created by the shape of bridge fastener 38 in relation to primary
frame 10. This
obstruction is not only horizontal, i.e., the interference between bridge
fastener 38 and bridge
22 prevents the auxiliary spectacles from moving downward, but also vertical,
because, as
seen in FIG. 3, there is interference between bridge fastener 38 and corners
19 of primary
frame 10. Again, this ensures a more secure attachment between the auxiliary
spectacles 30
and the primary spectacles 42.
As best seen in FIG. 5, lateral fastener 24 is preferably shaped so as not to
protrude outwardly
in horizontal relation to the lateral ends 16 of primary spectacle 42 when the
apparatus is
assembled. Lateral fasteners 24 extend essentially immediately rearward from
auxiliary frame
32. Thus, the lateral fasteners are protected from damage which could
otherwise be caused by
a collision at the lateral ends 16. Also, the lateral fasteners 24 are thus
less noticeable,
increasing the aesthetic appearance of the apparatus. In the preferred
embodiment shown in
FIG. S and FIG. 6, lateral fasteners 24 extend essentially laterally along
auxiliary frame 32
subsequent to extending immediately rearward. Lateral fasteners 24 then extend
downwardly,
and terminate in auxiliary magnetic holder 28.
The lateral fastening apparatus of the invention is best shown in FIG. 5, FIG.
6 and FIG. 7, in
assembled views. Lateral fastener 24, after extending immediately downward,
terminates in
auxiliary magnetic holder 28. Auxiliary magnetic holder 28 is positioned to
correspond to
primary magnetic holder 20. The magnetic members may be made of ferromagnetic
material
or other magnetic material. When the fastening apparatus of the invention is
engaged,
auxiliary lenses 36 are located proximal to primary lenses 18, so that a
minimum amount of
light may enter the between the respect lenses.
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Because both magnetic holders 28 and 20 project outwardly from the respective
frames, no
recesses are required in the frames, which would weaken the frames.
Furthermore, by
avoiding the use of recesses in the fastening apparatus, one is provided with
an auxiliary
spectacle which can be easily removed and replaced on the primary spectacles,
without any for
flexing or bending and without engaging auxiliary spectacle 40 at difficult
angles in relation to
primary spectacle 42.
In the embodiment shown, the lateral fastening apparatus comprises two magnets
which are
designed to attract each other, namely auxiliary magnet 29 and primary magnet
27. However,
the invention also contemplates apparatus wherein either primary magnet 27 is
not used or
auxiliary magnet 29 is not used. In these embodiments, the portions
corresponding to the
magnets would be made of a metallic device suitable for attraction with the
magnet.
In view of the relation between lateral fastener 24 and primary frame 10,
auxiliary spectacles
30 are secured from lateral movement, and also secured from downward movement.
This
security of attachment arises not only from magnetic portions 29 and 27, but
also from the
physical obstruction created by the shape of lateral fastener 24 in relation
to primary frame 10.
This obstruction is not only horizontal, i.e. the interference between
fastener 24 and lateral end
16 prevents the auxiliary spectacles from moving downward, but also vertical,
because, as
seen in FIG. 3, there is interference between corner 1 S of auxiliary frame 32
and portion 17 of
primary frame 10. Again, this ensures a more secure attachment between the
auxiliary
spectacles 30 and the primary spectacles 42.
As can be seen in FIG. 4, further security of attachment is provided by the
engagement
between bridge fastener 38 of auxiliary spectacles 30 and bridge portion 22 of
primary
spectacles 42. In the embodiment shown, bridge fastener 38 extends rearwardly
from auxiliary
bridge 3 8, and downwardly on the rear side of bridge portion 22. This forms a
hook
engagement between bridge portion 22 and bridge fastener 3 8.
By using the three attachment portions of the present invention (i.e. two
lateral plus one
bridge fastener), auxiliary lenses 36 are less likely to collide with primary
lenses 18 during
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physical activity. This prevents an annoying rattling noise between the
auxiliary spectacles 30
and primary spectacles 42 and also reduces the risk of scratching or otherwise
damaging the
lenses by reducing contact between primary lenses 18 and auxiliary lenses 36.
The risk of
accidental detachment of the auxiliary spectacles is also greatly reduced. A
bump or collision
which dislodges a lateral fastener will not give rise to the auxiliary
spectacles detaching from
the primary spectacles, because the spectacles will remain fastened at two
other points, i.e. the
bridge fastener and the other lateral fastener.
The above-detailed description with reference to the illustrations is
considered to be
illustrative and not restrictive in character. Modifications and variations on
the embodiments
described may be made. For example, the auxiliary spectacles 30 may also be
used for
magnification of vision. In this case, the auxiliary spectacles 30 would be
fashioned in the
same manner as a magnifying glass and fit onto the primary lenses 18, which
may or may not
be prescription lenses. The auxiliary lenses 30 would then enlarge small or
intricate details to
make them more readily observable, so as to reduce the strain on the eyesight
of the wearer.
The auxiliary lenses 30 may also have decorations thereon to be viewed by
observers of the
wearer, to enhance the appearance of the lenses or for amusement purposes.
As another example, the present invention also contemplates primary spectacles
42 which
contain no primary tense 18. This embodiment would be useful in the
circumstances wherein
the user desires to remove and replace the auxiliary lenses 36, but does not
require the primary
lenses 18 for assisting vision. For example, this embodiment would be useful
in the context of
welding, wherein very dark lenses are required during the welding, but between
welding, it
may be desirable to have no lenses on. As another example, where an individual
suffers from a
visual defect which makes reading difficult, it may be desirable to have no
lenses except when
reading.
It is to be understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown,
and that
modifications thereof would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.
Therefore, the true
scope and spirit of the invention resides in the appended claims and their
legal equivalents,
rather than by the given examples.
