Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AUXILIARY LENS UNIT FOR GLASSES
Fpi~I~.D OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to eyeglasses and in particular to
an auxiliary lens unit that may be detachably mounted to a primary lens unit.
BAGKCiR~IND OF THE INVENTION
It Is commonplace for prescription eyeglasses to be fitted with a
detachable auxiliary lens unit that is tinted for protecting one's eyes
against the
sun. Colloquially known as "clip-ons", these auxiliary lens units have been
mechanically mounted, or clipped on to the primary lens unit. For example,
U.S. Patent Na. 3,876,295 to Loughner shows a typical "clip on" design. Over
the years, various styles of mechanical clipping have been devised, Such 2~s
shown in U.S. patent 6,088,708 to Ku which discloses a snap~fit, rotatable
connection at the bridge of the auxiliary lens unit. "Clip ons" have as a
common
element in their design a mechanical attachment which positively, releasably
clips the auxiliary frame unit to tha primary frames. These positive
mechanics)
connections, however, have the disadvantage of being difficult to snap into,
and
out of, place and can experience significant mechanical wear over time.
Another attachment means recently gaining.favQUr is the use of
magnetic connectors between the auxiliary and primary lenses. For example,
2D U_S. Patent No. 5,737,054 to Chao discloses an auxiliary lens unit having a
magnet on a middle bridge portion of the unit which mates with a magnet on
the primary frame. Similarly, U.S- Patant No. 6,053,691 to Ku shows a yoke
and magnet combination on the nose bridge. While these magnetic units
simplify use over previous mechan(cal "clip cns", there are also disadvantages-
For example, since a magnetic connection is weaker than a mechanical one,
magnets of significant size must be used. Referring to Figure 1 of Ku '611,
this
results in a rather unsightly and aesthetically unpleaslng lump on the bridge
of
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the primary frame. Considering that the auxiliary sunglass unit is perhaps
used by the wearer less than 10% of the tote! wearing time (i-e- it is used
onty
when the wearer is outside in a sunny condition), the thick and bulky bridge
of
Ku '611 on the primary frame is difficult to justify to the consumer. In a
highly
competitive industry, in which eyeglasses are as much a fashion item as a
useful article, the consequence of an aesthetically displeasing effect such as
this cannot be underestimated.
Magnets suffer from diminished strength over time such that they
became less useful after a year or two. Also, magnets provide, In essence, a
point-to-point type of connection which can affect the integrity of the
connection.
The use of magnets also tends to increase manufactur(ng complexity and
costs.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved eyeglass and
auxiliary lens unit system which is both easy to use and aestheticailly
pleasing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The pr~sent invention provides an eyeglass device Comprising a
primary fens unit for supporting a, pair of primary lenses therein, the
primary
Ipns unit Including a first bridge, the first bridge having smooth upper and
lower
surfaces, and an auxiliary lens unit for supporting a pair of secondary tenses
therein, the auxiliary lens unit including a second bridge, the second bridge
including a non-magnetic connection member for detachably connecting the
second bridge to the first bridge, the connection member having a pair of
smooth opposed inner surfaces spaced apart from one another, the opposed
surfaces adapted to slidably engage the upper and lower surfaces over a
region.
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BR i'~ DESCt~IPTION OF THE DRAW~~1G5
Far a better understanding of the present invention, and to show
more clearly haw it may be carr(ed out In practice, reference will now be
made,
by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a front view of the eyeglass device in accordance with
a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the auxiliary lens
unit
detached from (and beneath? the primary lens unit;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the eyeglass device of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a front view of the eyeglass device of Flg. 1, in an
assembled state;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the assembled eyeglass device of Fig.
3, as viewed along lines 4-4;
Fig. 5a is an enlarged view of the cvnr~eatiort means of Fig. 4.
shown in a disassembled state;
Fig. 5b is a sectional view similar to Flg. 5a showing an alternate
embodiment of the connection means of the present invention;
Figs. fia-6c are enlarged partial front views of alternate
embodiments of the bridge configuration of the connection means of the
present invention; and
Fig. 7 is a top view of an alternate 2mbodiment of the present
invention.
DEfAIi~D DESCi~IP N OF THE i~REFERRED lBhiIBOIDIMENTs
An eyeglass device in accordance with the present invention is
shown in the Figures generally at 20.
The description includes directional terms such as "upper",
'lower", "front" and "read' and variations thereof to refer to elements of
eyeglass
device 20. These terms should be understood to relate to the orientation of
the
eyeglass device when it is worn on the head of a user. Thus, "upper'' refers
to a
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surface that faces generally toward the sky and "lower refers to a surface
that
faces generally toward the ground. "Rear" refers to a surface that faces
generally toward the bade of the user's head and "front" refers to a surface
that
faces generally away from the user's face.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the eyeglass device 20 includes a
primary lens unlt 22 and an auxiliary lens unit 24. Primary lens unit 22
includes
a pair of lenses 26 supported by rims 28 arid Spanned by a bridge 3a. A Side
extension member 32 extends from each side of primary lens unit 22 and has
a laterally extending portion 34 and a rearwardly extending portion 36. A pair
of
temple arms 38 are pivotally mounted with a hinge 40 to the rearwardly
extending portion 36. Extending below bridge 30 are a pair of nose pads 42
supported by nose pad supports 44. Nose pad supports 44 are either
integrally formed with rims 28 (not shown] or mounted to rims 2$ by fasteners
46 (as shown) suoh as Solder, welds, glue or screw fasteners as known in the
art.
The auxiliary lens unit 24 includes a pair of lenses 60 that are
typically tinted to protect a person's eyes against the sun. The lenses 80 are
supported in rims 62 that pare spanned by a bridge 64. Bridge 64 includes a
connecting member fib extending rearwardly from bridge 30 and extending
substantially between rims 62.
Referring to Figure 5a, Car~nection member 66 is non-magnetic
and has a pair of spaced-apart and opposed smooth inner surtaces 68.
Surfaces 88 are adapted to slidably receive bridge 30 and slidingly contact
and
engage smooth upper and lower bridge surfaces 89 an bridge 30.
Surtaces 68 are preferably substantially parallel to one another in
a rearward direction (as shown in Figure ba) and are spaced apart sufficiently
to just receive bridge 30, so that a surface-to-surface contact connection is
made between surfaces 98 and 89 over a two-dimensional region when
connection member 66 engages bridge 30, as described below. In order to
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permit connection member 66 to co4perate with bridge 30, front edge 80 of
bridge 30 and inner surface 8d of bridge 64 should be more or less
complimentary in shap~ to facilitate connection between connecting member
66 and bridge 30.
In use, to attach auxiliary unit 24 to primary unit 22, connection
member 66 is slid in a rearward direction over bridge 30 so that surtaces fib
fully engage surtaces 69. To remove the auxiliary unit, the unit is slid
forward to
disengage connection member 66 from bridge 30.
The two-dimensional, surface-to-surface contact connection
'10 between surtaces 68 and 69, described above, permits a detachably secure
connection to be made without the need far mechanical or magnetic retaining
means. Friction between the close-fitting surfaces 88 and 69 causes the
auxiliary lens unit to be retained on the primary unit. As one skilled in the
art
will understand, the width (ie. the distance in the lens-to-lens direotlon) of
connection member 66 will determine the security and stablltty of the
connection, with the widest possible connection member (Figures 1-4) being
preferred. Referring to Figure 7, a narrower connection member 66 may also
be used.
The surtaoe-to-surface contact area provided, as compared to the
essentially point-to-point connection of the magnetic prior art such as U.S-
Patent No. 8,053,611 to Ku, results in a more secure connection and,
surprisingly, beneficially permits the bridge 30 thickness to be reduced
signlflcantiy and, in some cases, by more than half. Thus connection member
66 is adapted to avoid a large, bulky bridge 30 resulting in a primary lens
unit
22 that is aesthetically pleasing and, thus, much more marketable to the ever-
fashion conscious consumer.
The surfaces 68 on connection member 66 are substantially
parallel to one another in the rearward direction (see Figure 5a), although,
in
an alternate embodiment, surfaces 68 may be directed slightly toward one
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another In the rearward d(rection, as shown in Figure 5b. This embodiment
permits connection 66 to apply a slight pressure on bridge 30 to ensure
maximal contact between surfaces 68 and 69.
Ag shown in Figures Ba-6c, bridge 30 may have many shapes
(when viewed face-on), such as rectangular (Figure 6a), curved (Figures 1 end
8b) or mutually concave (Figure 6c), provided that the surfaces 68 an
connection member 66 correspond in shape to surtaces 69. Yet further
shapes for bridge SO available to the creative mind are under'St04d to be
within
the scope of the present invention.
Referring again to Figure 1, an additional securing system may
optionally be provided, such as a pair of side extension members or clips 70
extending rearwardly from an outer portion of rims 62 on auxiliary lens unit
24,
as depicted in Figure 1 and known in the prior art. Clips 70 engage an outer
portion of rims 28 on the primary lens unit 22 to provide additional stability
between the auxiliary lens unit 24 and the primary lens unit 22. Other clip
designs are equally available, such as that disclosed in the applicants' co-
pending Canadian Patent Application Na_ 2,291,918, incorporated herein by
reference.
Tha eyeglass device 20 according to the present invention is thus
improved over the prier art in that no Ivcking mechanical or magnetic
connection is required to achieve a secure connection of an auxiliary len$
unit
to a primary lens unit. The resulting sliding connection of the present
invention
is simple to operate, is not subject to wear or decay over time and permits a
sleek and attractive bridg~ on the primary lens to be utilized, thus not
sacrificing
the attractiveness of the primary lens for functionality with a lesser-used
accessory s~uoh as the auxiliary lens unit,
It should be understood that what has been described are
preferred embodiments of the invention. It should therefore ba apparent to
persons skilled in the art that various modifications and adaptations of the
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preferred ~mbadiments described herein are possible without departure from
the present invention, the scope of which Is defined in the appended claims.
Far instance, it should be unde~rstoad that lenses 26, 60 may be
supported without the provision of rims 2B, 62. In such cases, elements of the
lens units 22, 24 are directly secured to tha lenses 26, f0 In a known manner
using screw fastanars, glue, solder or welds. It is contemplated that the
present invention may be readily adapted to such rimless lens units by
connecting the Structural elements such as bridges 30 andlGr 64 and clips 70
dir~tly to the lenses as discussed above. Still other modifications will be
apparent to those skilled in the art.
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