Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02372382 2002-02-15
EYEWEAR
This is a division of commonly owned Canadian Patent Application No. 2,235,088
filed
April 17, 1998 entitled "Spectacles Uniblock"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to eyewear and more particularly to eyeglasses having a
novel
and highly effective structure of which a portion forms a housing for a magnet
or other
securing means adapted to secure an auxiliary lens (with or without a frame)
in place over or
behind a primary lens (with or without a frame).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Eyeglasses equipped with one or more magnets adapted to secure an auxiliary
lens in
superimposed relation to a primary lens are known and disclosed for example in
a U.S. patent
to Chao, U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,207. That patent discloses eyeglasses including
primary and
auxiliary frames each supporting lenses. The primary frame includes two "legs"
respectively
connected to two side extensions and includes two magnetic members secured in
the legs.
The auxiliary frame includes two legs each having a magnetic member engageable
with the
magnetic members of the primary frame to secure the frames together and to
prevent the
auxiliary frame from moving downward relative to the primary frame.
An earlier disclosure of eyeglasses having magnets for securing auxiliary
lenses to
primary lenses is found in a U.S. patent to Meeker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,103.
The Meeker
patent discloses an eyeglasses frame that includes a magnetic material secured
to a peripheral
portion thereof for facilitating attachment of an auxiliary lens rim cover to
the frame. The lens
rim cover also includes a magnetic strip engageable with the magnetic material
of the frame.
A U.S. patent to Sadler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,537, discloses first magnetic
members
respectively secured to temporal portions of a primary frame and second
magnetic members
secured to corresponding temporal portions of auxiliary lenses.
In eyeglasses constructed in accordance with the prior art, the piecemeal
assembly of
closing block, end piece, magnet housing and temple-piece hinge produces a
structure that
is unduly strung out or elongate, and the housing for the magnet is bulky and
unsightly.
Since conventional eyeglasses of this type require soldering, they are also
labor-intensive and
expensive to manufacture, and the resulting structure is weakened by the
cycles of heating
and cooling, so that the frames do not hold their shape and are more likely to
break. In
CA 02372382 2002-02-15
addition, the need to assemble so many large pieces in conventional eyeglasses
limits the
design possibilities.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY O(F THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to remedy the problems of the prior art noted
above and
in particular to provide an eyeglasses structure that is more attractive than
corresponding
structures in prior eyeglasses and less expensive than many of them.
Another object of the invention is to provide eyeglasses and clip-ons that
take
advantage of the new styling possibilities afforded by the invention.
Another object of the invention is to provide eyeglasses of improved quality
and
stability.
The foregoing and other objects of the invention according to the parent
application are
attained in accordance with a first embodiment thereof by providing an
eyeglasses uniblock
comprising a portion forming a housing for securing means adapted to secure an
auxiliary lens
in superimposed relation to (in front of or behind) a primary lens and a
portion forming a part
of a closing block for securing the uniblock to a frame for one of the lenses.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention according to the parent
application, structures forming (1) a housing for a magnet or other securing
means, (2) part
of a closing block, (3) an end piece, and (4) parts of a hinge are combined in
different ways,
as follows:
~ an eyeglasses uniblock comprising a portion forming a housing for a magnet
adapted
to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation to a primary lens and a
portion forming
an end piece adapted for connection to one of the tenses;
~ an eyeglasses uniblock comprising a portion forming a housing for a magnet
adapted
to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation to a primary lens and a
portion forming
a part of a hinge for supporting a temple piece;
~ an eyeglasses uniblock comprising a portion forming a housing for a magnet
adapted
to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation to a primary lens, a
portion forming a part
of a closing block for securing the uniblock to one of the lenses, and a
portion forming an end
piece adapted for connection to said one of the lenses;
~ an eyeglasses uniblock comprising a portion forming a housing for a magnet
adapted
to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation to a primary lens, a
portion forming an
end piece adapted for connection to the primary lens, and a portion forming a
part of a hinge
for supporting a temple piece;
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~ an eyeglasses uniblock comprising a portion forming a housing for a magnet
adapted
to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation to a primary lens, a
portion forming a part
of a closing block for securing the uniblock to the primary lens, a portion
forming an end piece
adapted for connection to a primary lens, and a portion forming a part of a
hinge for
supporting a temple piece.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention according to the parent
application, eyeglasses are provided comprising different combinations of
features, as follows:
~ first and second primary lenses and first and second uniblocks, the first
uniblock
comprising a portion forming a first housing for a first magnet adapted to
secure auxiliary
lenses in superimposed relation to primary lenses and a portion forming a part
of a first
closing block for securing the first uniblock to the first primary lens; and
the second uniblock
comprising a portion forming a second housing for a second magnet adapted to
secure
auxiliary lenses in superimposed relation to the primary lenses and a portion
forming a part
of a second closing block for securing the second uniblock to the second
primary lens;
~ first and second primary lenses, first and second uniblocks, third and
fourth auxiliary
lenses, and third and forth uniblocks, wherein: the first uniblock comprises a
portion forming
a first housing for a first magnet adapted to secure the auxiliary lenses in
superimposed
relation to the primary lenses and a portion forming a part of a first closing
block for securing
the first uniblock to the first primary lens; the second uniblock comprises a
portion forming
a second housing for a second magnet adapted to secure the auxiliary lenses in
superimposed
relation to the primary lenses and a portion forming a part of a second
closing block for
securing the second uniblock to the second primary lens; the third uniblock
comprises a
portion forming a third housing for a third magnet adapted to secure the
auxiliary lenses in
superimposed relation to the primary lenses and a portion forming a part of a
third closing
block for securing the third uniblock to the third auxiliary lens; and the
fourth uniblock
comprises a portion forming a fourth housing for a fourth magnet adapted to
secure the
auxiliary lenses in superimposed relation to the primary lenses and a portion
forming a part
of a fourth closing block for securing the fourth uniblock to the fourth
auxiliary lens.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention according to the
parent
application, there are provided, in combination, an upper eyeglasses uniblock
comprising a
portion forming a housing for a magnet adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in
superimposed
relation to a primary lens and a portion forming a part of a closing block;
and a lower
eyeglasses uniblock, the upper and lower uniblocks being joined together in
superimposed
relation to form a composite structure.
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On the other hand, the present invention may be considered to provide eyewear
which
comprises a primary frame and an auxiliary frame adapted to be superimposed
over a forward
portion of the primary frame. The primary frame comprises a first lens and a
second lens and
the auxiliary frame comprises a third lens and a fourth lens. A first
attachment housing
extends from the first lens while a second attachment housing extends from the
second lens.
A third attachment housing extends from the third lens while a fourth
attachment housing
extends from the fourth lens. The third attachment housing extends rearward to
abut a
portion of the first attachment housing and the fourth attachment housing
extends rearward
to abut a portion of the second attachment housing. A first securing member is
supported by
the first attachment housing and a second securing member is supported by the
second
attachment housing. The first and second securing members engages with at
least a portion
of the third attachment housing and at least a portion of the fourth
attachment housing,
respectively, such that the auxiliary frame is secured in position relative to
the primary frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A better understanding of the objects, features and advantages of the
invention can
be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of the
preferred
embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended figures of the
drawing,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a first embodiment of the invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the structure shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below of another embodiment of the invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view from above of the structure shown in
FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view from below of the structure illustrated
in FIG.
6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective from below of a portion of the structure
illustrated
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in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the
invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view from below of the structure shown in
FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the
invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the
invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view from above of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is an exploded top view of the structure shown in FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is an assembled perspective view from above of the structure of FIGS.
14 and
15;
FIG. 17 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view from above of another embodiment of
the
invention;
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view from above of another embodiment of
the
invention;
FIG. 20 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the
invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 22 is a bottom view, partly in section, of the structure shown in FIG.
21;
FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view from above of the structure of FIG.
21;
FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view from above of another embodiment of
the
invention according to the parent application;
FIG. 25 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of the
invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 26 is a top view of a left uniblock constructed in accordance with the
invention
according to the parent application;
FIG. 27 is a bottom view of a right uniblock constructed in accordance with
the
invention according to the parent application and forming a pair with the
uniblock of FIG. 26;
FIGS. 28 and 29 are views in axial section of two embodiments of a magnet
housing
constructed in accordance with the invention according to the parent
application;
FIG. 30 is a view in a direction at a right angle to the views of FIGS. 28 and
29, and,
showing the shape of a bar magnet and magnet housing as seen by an observer of
one
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embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 31-34 are views similar to FIG. 32 showing housing and magnet shapes in
other
embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 35 and 36 are respectively top and front views of one embodiment of
auxiliary
lenses constructed in accordance with the invention according to the parent
application; and
FIGS. 37 and 38 are respectively top and front views of the auxiliary lenses
of FIGS.
35 and 36 secured in superimposed relation to compatibly designed primary
eyeglasses
constructed in accordance with the invention according to the parent
application.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view from above of a first embodiment of
structure
including an eyeglasses uniblock 10 constructed in accordance with the
invention as set forth
and claimed in the parent application. The uniblock 10 is a cast structure and
comprises a
housing 12 for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens 16 over a
primary lens 18
(both illustrated for example in FIG. 13). Instead of the magnet 14, snaps,
slides, notches,
clips or other securing means (not illustrated) can be employed. Instead of
being cast, the
uniblock 10 can be extruded or stamped.
The uniblock 10 also comprises a portion 20 forming a part of a closing block
22 for
securing the uniblock 10 to one of the lenses, for example the primary lens
18. The closing
block 22 secures the uniblock 10 to a lens since the portion 20 is connected
to one end 24a
(FIG. 1) of a frame or rim 24 that surrounds the lens. The other end 24b of
the rim 24 has
a flange 26 that fits into a recess 28 (FIG. 2) on the part 20 and is secured
by a screw or pin
30.
The uniblock 10 of FIG. 1 incorporates, as part of the same one-piece cast
structure,
an end piece 32 providing a neat appearance.
The uniblock 10 also comprises a portion 34 forming a part of a hinge for
supporting
a temple piece 36. The temple piece 36 has an opening 38 that aligns with
openings 40, 42
(FIGS. 1 and 2) in the hinge part 34 and is inserted within a slot 44 formed
in the hinge part
34. A pin or screw 48 (FIG. 3) is inserted to hold the temple piece 36 in
position and allow
for its pivoting movement about the pin 48, so that the temple piece 36 and a
companion
temple piece on the other side of the eyeglasses can be folded for storage of
the eyeglasses
in a case, pocket, purse or drawer, etc., or opened for use. The invention is
also adapted to
be used with a hinge that does not employ a pin or screw.
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In FIGS. 1 and 2 the magnet 14, which is a bar magnet, is oriented with its
axis
vertical; in FIG. 3, it is oriented with its axis horizontal. It is also
within the scope of the
invention to employ horseshoe magnets and magnets of other designs. In FIGS. 1
and 2, the
pin or screw 30 is inserted from above, and in FIG. 3 it is inserted from
below. Other
orientations of the magnet, and the use of securing means other than pins and
screws are
within the scope of the invention.
In FIGS. 4 and 5, the same parts are shown as in FIGS. 1-3, but they are split
along
a horizontal plane 49 into an upper eyeglasses uniblock 50 comprising a
portion forming a
housing 12a for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in
superimposed relation to
a primary lens and a portion 22a forming a part of a closing block; and a
lower eyeglasses
uniblock 52, the upper and lower uniblocks 50, 52 being joined together in
superimposed
relation by a pin or screw 30 to form the composite structure shown in FIG. 4.
In FIGS. 4 and
5, the lower uniblock 52 includes a portion 12b forming a housing for the
magnet 14 and a
portion 22b forming a part of the closing block. The uniblock can be produced
by casting,
stamping or extruding depending on the shape used and degree cost savings
required.
In FIGS. 6 and 7, the eyeglasses uniblock 10 comprises a portion forming a
housing
12 for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed
relation to a primary
lens and a portion forming a part of a closing block 22 for securing the
uniblock 10 to one of
the lenses. A separate end piece 54 is provided for neatness and is soldered
in place. In
FIGS. 6 and 7, the uniblock is secured temporally to one of the lenses (since
it is attached
temporally to a rim that surrounds the lens).
In FIG. 8, the uniblock 10 is attached nasally to one of the lenses (since it
is attached
to a frame 24 that surrounds the lens). FIG. 8 also shows a second uniblock
10x similarly
attached to the other lens (since it is attached to a frame 24x that surrounds
the other lens).
A bridge 56 connects the uniblocks 10 and 10x.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view from below showing the manner in which
the
structure is assembled. A screw 30 is inserted from below to secure the
closing block.
FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a uniblock lOg applicable to an auxiliary lens
16. It
shows a portion forming a housing for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an
auxiliary lens in
superimposed relation to a primary lens and a portion forming a part of a
closing block 22 for
securing the uniblock 10g to one of the auxiliary lenses 16.
FIG. 1i is an exploded perspective view showing the structure from below,
including
a screw 30 that secures the closing block 22.
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FIG. 12 shows the combination of an upper eyeglasses uniblock 50 comprising a
portion
forming a housing for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens 16 in
superimposed
relation to a primary lens and a portion 22a forming a part of a closing block
22; and a lower
eyeglasses uniblock 52 comprising a portion forming a housing for the magnet
14 and a
portion 22b forming a part of the closing block 22, the upper and lower
uniblocks 50, 52 being
joined together in superimposed relation to form a composite structure. In
this case, the
structure is applied to an auxiliary lens.
FIG. 13 shows the cooperation of a primary lens 18, a uniblock associated
therewith,
a secondary lens 16, and a uniblock associated therewith. Each of the
uniblocks comprises
a portion forming a housing for a magnet adapted to secure an auxiliary lens
in superimposed
relation to a primary lens and a portion forming a part of a closing block for
securing the
uniblock to one of the lenses. The two magnets are opposed north pole to south
pole, so that
they attract. It is also within the scope of the invention to employ a magnet
in one of the
uniblocks opposed to a ferromagnetic material in the other uniblock. It forms
a more secure
attachment, however, if two magnets are employed and juxtaposed as indicated
above.
In practice, of course, in the preferred embodiments of the invention four
magnets are
employed altogether, two on either side of the eyeglasses.
FIGS. 14-17 show an eyeglasses uniblock 10 comprising a portion forming a
housing
12 for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed
relation to a primary
lens and a portion 34 forming a part of a hinge for supporting a temple piece
36. A clip-on
60 has a magnet 14' supported by an arm 58 forming part of a uniblock 10'
attached to the
auxiliary lens 16 (through its frame 24). The magnetic housings for the two
uniblocks 10, 10'
are shaped so that each magnet is oriented with its axis horizontal. The arm
58 passes over
the uniblock 10 for the primary lens and is connected from the rear. FIGS. 16
and 17 show
the structure in assembled relation.
FIG. 18 shows the portion forming a magnet housing 12 and a portion 34 forming
a
part of a hinge covered by a separate end piece 32 soldered in place. The
magnet axis is
vertical.
The structures of FIGS. 14-18 are illustrated with frames, but it is within
the scope of
the invention to attach the uniblocks shown in those figures to a separate end
piece which is
attached to the lens directly, not through a frame surrounding the lens.
FIGS. 19 and 20 show an eyeglasses uniblock 10 comprising a portion forming a
housing 12 for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed
relation to
a primary lens, a portion forming a part of a closing block 22 for securing
the uniblock to one
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of the lenses, and a portion 32 forming an end piece adapted for connection to
said one of the
lenses. The magnet 14 has its axis oriented horizontally. A separate hinge 62
is provided,
comprising a part 64 attached to the uniblock 10, a part 66 attached to the
temple piece 36,
and a pin or screw 48 passing through aligned apertures in the two parts. FIG.
20 shows the
assembled structure as it appears from the top.
FIG. 21 shows an eyeglasses uniblock 10 comprising a portion forming a housing
12
for a magnet 14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation
to a primary
lens, a portion forming an end piece 32 adapted for connection to the primary
lens, and a
portion 34 forming a part of a hinge for supporting a temple piece 36. The
uniblock is cast
and especially adapted for use with an acetate frame.
FIG. 22 is a view from the bottom, partly in section, showing a pin or screw
30 inserted
from the rear in a dead-end cylindrical hole 68 for securing the uniblock 10
to the frame 24.
FIG. 23 is an exploded view of the uniblock 10 showing how it is assembled
with the
frame 24 by a pin or screw 30 and with the temple piece 36 by a pin or screw
48.
FIG. 24 shows a uniblock 10 comprising a portion forming a housing 12 for a
magnet
14 adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation to a primary
lens, a portion
forming an end piece 32 adapted for connection to the primary lens, and a
portion 34 forming
a part of a hinge for supporting a temple piece 36. The uniblock of FIG. 24 is
especially
adapted for use with a metal frame.
FIG. 25 shows a uniblock 10 having the same three elements constructed as a
three-piece mount (mounted temporally without a frame). In this case, the
uniblock 10 is
attached to a post 70 that extends through the lens.
FIG. 26 is a top view of a left eyeglasses uniblock 10 comprising a portion
forming a
housing 12 for a magnet 14, a portion 32 forming an end piece, and a portion
34 forming a
part of a hinge. The uniblock 10 is attached to a rim 24.
FIG. 27 is a bottom view of a right eyeglasses uniblock 10 forming a pair with
the
uniblock of FIG. 26. FIG. 27 also shows a lens.
FIG. 28 shows a housing 12 for a magnet. The housing 12 has a portion 72 of a
diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the magnet. A shoulder 74
separates the
housing portion 72 from another housing portion 76 having a diameter slightly
smaller than
the diameter of the magnet. The magnet is inserted from one side in the
direction of the
arrow 78 and is forced into the portion 76 having the smaller diameter, so
that it is retained
securely.
FIG. 29 is a sectional view of a magnet housing 12 closed at one end 80 and
having
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a uniform diameter. The magnet can be seated at 80 with the aid of an adhesive
such as
epoxy, or forced in place.
FIGS. 30-34 respectively show housings shaped to accommodate magnets that are
respectively round, rectangular, square, elliptical and oval, as viewed in a
direction parallel
to the axes of the magnets.
FIGS. 35-38 show eyeglasses and auxiliary lenses mounted together in
accordance with
the present invention.
Thus there is provided in accordance with the invention eyeglasses having a
novel and
highly effective structure of which a portion forms a housing for a magnet or
other securing
means adapted to secure an auxiliary lens in superimposed relation to a
primary lens. Many
modifications of a preferred embodiments disclosed herein will readily occur
to those skilled
in the art. The invention includes all embodiments thereof that fall within
the scope of the
appended claims.
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