Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SAFETY EYEWEAR INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE CABLE ATTACHMENT
BACKGROUND
1: Field
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to safety eyewear frames and
lenses.
More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a safety eyewear assembly
that includes a
flexible cable strap adapter.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Safety eyewear is worn for a variety of safety reasons. As a result, a
variety of
safety eyewear types, each specifically designed and intended for a particular
use or a
particular environment, has been developed. For example, safety eyewear is
often worn to
protect a wearer's eyes from debris during metal machining operations,
military operations,
and the like. In such an environment, metal shards, sand or other debris may
be propelled
towards an operator's eyes. Safety eyewear is also worn in the chemical
industries to protect
employees from airborne chemicals resulting from splashes or spills. Still
further safety
eyewear is worn in industries utilizing lasers. Lasers can be damaging to the
eye if exposed.
Lasers are particularly dangerous because different wavelengths of laser light
may require
different lenses for filtering the damaging light.
[0003] Because of the proliferation of safety requirements now requiring
greater
numbers of employees to wear safety eyewear, cost, ease of replacement of the
lenses, the
ability to accommodate prescription lenses, and fashion have now become prime
concerns for
customers of these safety products.
SUMMARY
[0004] Exemplary embodiments include a safety eyewear including: a frame; a
flexible cable attached to the frame; and a strap attached to the flexible
cable operable at an
attachment point for securing the safety eyewear to a user, wherein the
flexible cable permits
the attachment point to be moved to accommodate a variety of strap
configurations.
[0005] Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques
of the
present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are
described in detail
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herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better
understanding of the
invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA.WINGS
[0006] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly
pointed out
and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification.
The foregoing and
other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the
exemplary
embodiments in . the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
the
accompanying exemplary drawings in which:
[0007] Figure 1 illustrates exemplary safety eyewear including removable lens
carrier
with a prescription insert in accordance with exemplary embodiments;
[0008] Figure 2 illustrates another exemplary safety eyewear including a
removable
lens carrier in accordance with exemplary embodiments;
[0009] Figure 3 illustrates exemplary safety eyewear including a removable
lens
carrier with a prescription insert in accordance with other exemplary
embodiments;
[0010] Figures 4(a)-(b) illustrates exemplary safety eyewear including an
actuating
vent in accordance with exemplary embodiment;
[0011] Figure 5 is a top elevation view of an exemplary safety eyewear;
[0012] Figure 6 is a a rear elevation view of an exemplary removable lens
carrier;
[0013] Figure 7 is a front elevation view of an exemplary safety eyewear;
[0014] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary removable lens carrier
frame;
[0015] Figure 9 is a side elevation view of an exemplary prescription insert;
[0016] Figure 10 is a rear elevation view of an exemplary safety eyewear; and
[0017] Figure 11 is a top elevation view of an exemplary second safety eyewear
including prescription insert attachment points.
[0018] The detailed description explains exemplary embodiments of the
invention,
together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the
drawings.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring now to the Figures for the purpose of illustration, it is to
be
understood that standard components or features that are within the purview of
an artisan of
ordinary skill and do not contribute to the understanding of the various
exemplary
embodiments are omitted from the Figures to enhance clarity_
[0020] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary safety eyewear 10 that includes a
removable
lens carrier 12, a lens 14, a frame 16, and a removable prescription insert
18. The removable
lens carrier 12 is removably attached to the frame 16 and the removable
prescription insert 18
is also removably attached to the frame 16. The safety eyewear 10 can also
include a strap 20
is used to secure the safety eyewear 10 to the user.
[0021] In one embodiment, the frame 16 is made of a semi-flexible material,
which
provides a connection point for removable lens carrier 12. The frame 16 and
the removable
lens carrier 12 may connect to one another using a variety of attachment
mechanisms
including, but not limited to, a tongue and groove junction, a male and female
flange
connection, a latch, or the like. In one embodiment, the frame 16 and the
removable lens
carrier 12 may form an airtight seal. The frame 16 may also include a face
seal gasket 22 that
provides=a seal between the frame 16 and the users face. The removable
prescription inset 18
may be attached to or detached from the frame 16 when the removable lens
carrier 12 is not
attached to the frame 16.
[0022] The removable lens carrier 12 is removably attached to the frame 16 and
permanently attached to the lens 14. The lens 14 may be provided with a
variety of tints and
coatings. The removable lens carrier 12 and the lens 14 may have a variety of
shapes and
sizes that are each specifically designed and intended for a particular use or
a particular
environment. The removable lens carrier 12 is designed such that a user may
detach it from
the frame 16 while the user is wearing the frame 16. For example, a user may
be able to
change the type of lens used without having to completely remove the safety
eyewear 10.
The removable lens* carrier 12 allows the user to use a single safety eyewear
in a variety of
different environments and for a variety of different uses.
[0023] In exemplary embodiments, the removable lens carrier 12 may completely
encase the lens 14 or may only partially encase the lens 14. In one
embodiment, the
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removable lens carrier 12 may not cover, or attach to, a bottom portion of the
lens 14, which
may increases the available viewing angle to the user. For example,
traditional safety
goggles include a thick frame on the bottom portion of the safety goggles that
may obstruct
the user's field of vision. The use of a removable lens carrier 12 that does
not cover, or is
attached to, the bottom portion of the lens 14 provides the user with an
unobstructed field of
vision. Additionally, the frame 16 may also have a reduced thickness on the
bottom portion
of the safety eyewear 10 to provide an increased field of vision to the user.
[0024] Referring now to Figure 2, another exemplary safety eyewear 100 that
includes a removable lens carrier 112, a lens 114, and a frame 116 is
illustrated. The safety
eyewear 100 is designed to provide an unobstructed field of vision to its
user. Accordingly,
the frame 116 extends from a lower portion of one side of the safety eyewear
100 across the
top of the safety eyewear 100 to the lower portion of the opposite side of the
safety eyewear
100. In addition the removable lens carrier 112 only covers the sides and
upper portion of the
lens 114 thereby providing the user with an unobstructed filed of vision.
[0025] Referring now to Figure 3, another exemplary safety eyewear 200
includes a
removable lens carrier 212, a frame 216, and a removable prescription insert
218 is
illustrated. Tn one embodiment, the removable prescription insert 218 and a
frame 216 are
designed to securely connect to each other such that the removable
prescription insert.218
remain properly positioned and connected to the frame 216 during the use of
the safety
eyewear 210. In one embodiment, the removable prescription insert 218 is
attached to the
frame 218 by pinching a nose portion of the frame 216. The removable
prescription insert
218 may include a single lens or two lenses connected by a wire 224. The wire
224 may be
used to attach the removable prescription 218 to the frame. For example, the
wire 224 may
pinch the nose portion of the frame 218 and/or may include an attachment
portion, which
may be inserted into a receptacle on the frame 218. The frame 216 may be
designed to
accommodate a variety of different shaped removable prescription inserts 218.
[0026] Tn one embodiment, the safety eyewear 200 may also include a strap 220
and a
strap attachment device 226. The strap 220 may be adjustable in length and may
be made of
an elastic material. The strap 220 may be permanently or removably attached to
the frame
216 by the attachment device 226. The attachment device 226 may include a
variety of
different devices. For example the attachment device 226 may be a loop
extending from
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either, side of the frame 216 and the strap may include a hook, Velcro, a
buckle, or any other
means for securing the strap 220 to the attachment device 226. In another
example, the
attachment device 226 may be a button that attaches the strap 220 to the frame
216.
[0027] In one embodiment, the attachment device 226 may be a flexible cable
that is
anchored in the frame 216. In one embodiment, the flexible cable may extend
the entire
length of the frame 216 and may provide structural support to the frame 216.
The flexible
cable provides a flexible attachment device 226 that allows the point of
attachment between
the frame 216 and the strap 220 to be adjusted to accommodate varying uses of
the safety
wear 210. The flexible cable may be in the shape of loop and permit a wide
range of
attachment angles for the strap 220. In one example, the safety eyewear 200
may be worn
with a helmet and the flexible cable allows the user to selectively wear the
strap 220 either
above or below the surface of the hehnet. In an alternative embodiment, the
strap 220 may
connect the frame 216 to a helmet worn by a user rather than connecting the
two ends of the
frame 216.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible cable is attached at a lower
first side
frame portion, extends as a loop to the upper first side frame portion, is
routed through an
aperture in an upper frame portion between said first and said second sides,
extends as a loop
from the upper second side frame portion and is attached at a lower second
side frame
portion. The term loop is intended to encompass any geometry configuration of
the cable, as
long as the cable extends away from a lower side frame portion and an upper
side frame
portion to a strap attached thereto. The term loop is also intended to cover a
scenario wherein
the cable is fixedly attached to, e.g., a strap adapter.
[0029] Referring now to Figures 4a-b, an exemplary safety eyewear 300
including an
actuating vent 328 is illustrated. The safety eyewear also includes a
removable lens carrier
312, a frame 316, a strap 324, and an attachment device 326. The actuating
vent 328 may be
disposed on a top and/or bottom portion of the frame 316. The actuating vent
328 includes a
slide cover 332 that has a plurality of opening 334. The plurality of opening
334 are disposed
on the slide cover 332 such that they selectively line up with a plurality of
openings330 in the
frame 316. The slide cover 332 allows the user to open and close the actuating
vent 328 to
allow air to circulate inside of the safety eyewear 300.
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[0030] Referring now to Figure 5, an exemplary safety eyewear 400 may also
include
mesh or similar venting 402 at least partially around the periphery of the
eyewear frame 404.
This embodiment also has a flexible cable 406 that is slidably attached to
removable strap
clip 408. This slidable connection, as well as the fact that the cable runs
between both sides
of the eyewear ensures that the eyewear will self compensate for position
adjustments.
[0031] With reference to Figure 6, an exemplary removable lens carrier 410
includes
a top frame attachment point 412 (the top frame of the eyewear will overlie
this point) and a
bottom frame attachment point 414 (the bottom frame bridge portion includes a
groove that
engages the lens 416 of the lens carrier). The lens carrier 414 also includes
side projections
418 that are configured to engage corresponding female attachment portions 420
on the
safety eyewear frame 422 (see Figure 7).
[0032] With reference to Figure 8, the exemplary removable lens carrier 410
may
itself permit interchange or removal of the lens 416. Lens grooves 424 may be
seen around
the lens carrier 410.
[0033] Referring to Figure 9, another exemplary prescription lens component is
illustrated generally at 426. In relevant part, the exemplary prescription
lens component 426
includes an,attachment 428 that will permit interchange of the removable lens
carrier 410
without necessitating detachment of the prescription lens component 426. In
the illustrated
exemplary embodiment, the attachment embodies wire hook portions that engage
corresponding slots 430 in the safety eyewear frame 404 (see Figure 10).
[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, a second exemplary safety eyewear 500 (See
Figure 11) also includes corresponding slots 430, such that the prescription
lens component,
426 may be interchanged between plural different safety eyewear. Such cross
platform
compatibility may be arranged such that there is no requirement for adjustment
or
compensation of the prescription insert when the insert is switched between
different
eyewear, that is, the prescription insert may be positioned in the same way
relative to the
eyes. In another embodiment, the safety eyewear may be configured with
aspheric lens
portions that maintain the effect of the prescription lens (e.g., the lens may
be flat in the front
and turn at the sides).
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[0035] While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
changes may be
made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing
from the
scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt
a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing
from the essential
scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to
the particular
embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this
disclosure, but that
the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
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