Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MBM Ref: 4280-103
FITTED EYEGLASS FRAMES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to the field of eyewear, and in
particular to fitted eyeglass
frames which fit snugly but comfortably against the user's face.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Eyeglasses normally are supported/held in place on a user's head with
the the bow or
frame body and sometimes nose pads sitting on the bridge of the nose and a
slight pressure of the
temples/sidebars curved ear engaging portions on the sidebars and/or by
curving the sidebars
inwardly to press firmly against the sides of the head of the user.
[0003] Not all heads and noses are the same size and therefore not all
eyeglass frames will fit a
user. Retailer therefore carry various sizes of eyeglass frames and in some
cases, the retailer may
still need to modify the temples and/or curved ear engaging portion by heating
and bending the
frame in order to provide an adequate fit to a user. This adds time and costs
to the retailer.
Moreover, if eyewear is bought online or at a location that personnel is not
trained to heat and
bend the frame, the user does not get a eyeglass frame that fits precisely to
his face.
[0004] Attempts have been made to design frames which fit to different head
sizes however
there is still a need for eyeglasses frames which comfortably retains the
frame on the face of user
with different shapes of heads that can be adjusted by the user himself or
alternatively with
minimal professional assistance.
[0005] This background information is provided to reveal information believed
by the applicant
to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is
necessarily intended, nor
should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior
art against the
present invention.
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SUMMARY
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide for a fitted eyeglass
fame which can fit
precisely to the particular ear and head configuration of the wearer and that
cannot slide or
accidentally be dislodged while being worn.
[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a fitted eyeglass
frame with a bow to be supported on the nose of the wearer and formed for
holding a pair of
lenses, a pair of temples extending rearwardly from the bow on opposite sides
of the bow, each
the temples are pivotally mounted for 180 movement between a closed and an
open and fully
extended position, each of the temples are formed of a first and second
elongated members, each
of the first side members are pivotally mounted at a proximal end to one of
the opposite sides of
the bow, each of the second side members are slidably mounted at a proximal
end of the second
side members to a distal end of the first members, means for adjusting the
length of the temples
in order to fit the frames to heads of different sizes, ear engaging members
pivotally mounted to
each of the second members of the temples at a distal end of the second
members, the ear
engaging members are curved downward and designed to engage around a portion
of the ear of a
wearer adjacent to the head, biasing means engaging between the distal end of
the second
members of the temples and the ear engaging members to bring the ear engaging
members
towards and away from the bow, and detaining means for releasably securing the
ear engaging
members in a desired position on the temples for preventing slipping and
dislodgement of the
eyeglass frame.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the normal length
of the temples is
made variable by interposing a telescoping connection between the first and
second elongated
members of the temples making it possible to adapt the same eyeglasses frame
to wearers having
heads of slightly different dimensions.
[0009] Embodiments have been described above in conjunctions with aspects of
the present
invention upon which they can be implemented. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that
embodiments may be implemented in conjunction with the aspect with which they
are described
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but may also be implemented with other embodiments of that aspect. When
embodiments are
mutually exclusive, or are otherwise incompatible with each other, it will be
apparent to those
skilled in the art. Some embodiments may be described in relation to one
aspect, but may also be
applicable to other aspects, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent in
the following
detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings.
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fitted eyeglass frame
showing the hinged
movement of the right temple between a 90 degree position to a fully open 180
degree position
and showing the range of movement of the hinged end piece of the left temple,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the fitted eyeglass frame of FIG. 1
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a left side view of the fitted eyeglass frame of
FIG. 1, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial perspective view of the of the fitted
eyeglass frame showing
the right hinged temple in a open and fully extended 180 degree position,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5A illustrates an enlarged side views of an inside surface of the
temple showing the
temple in an extended position, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 5B illustrates an enlarged side views of an outside surface of the
temple showing
the temple in an extended position, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
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[0017] FIG. 6A to 6D illustrates enlarged side views of a distal end of temple
with an adjustable
end piece in a straight position (FIG. 6A) and the adjustable end piece in
varying angles to
engage a portion of an ear of a user (FIG. 6B, 6C, 6D), according to an
embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0018] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features
are identified by like
reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring to Figures 1 to 7, the fitted eyeglass frame 1 of the present
invention provides a
bow 2 supportable on the bridge of the nose of the wearer (not shown) for
holding a pair of
lenses (not shown) before the eyes of the wearer, a pair of temples 4
extending rearwardly from
the bow 2 on opposite sides of the head of the wearer, ear engaging members or
earpieces 7 on
the end of each of the temples 4, curved to conform to the shape of the rear
portion of the ear of
the wearer adjacent to the head, with the normal length of the temples 4 being
such as to press
said ear engaging members 7 against the complementarily curved portions of the
ears, and
detaining means for moving the ear engaging members 7 away from the
complementarily curved
portions of the ears for facilitating removal of the eyeglasses from the head
of the wearer.
[0020] The bow 2, temples 4 and ear engaging members 7 may be made of any
suitably strong
and preferably lightweight material such as plastics or a strong light metal
such as aluminum or
titanium.
[0021] It will be understood that the two temples 4 are symmetrical and
identical and only one
temples 4 will be described in the following, it being understood that the
other temple 4 is
identical.
[0022] The right temple 4 is pivotally mounted to the right side of the bow 2
through a hinge 8.
The hinge 8 has an axis of rotation X¨X that extends substantially
perpendicularly from the
bow 2 where the hinge 8 is mounted, and which when the eyeglass frame 1 is
being worn by a
user will lie in a substantially horizontal plane. As can be seen from FIGS.
1, 2 and 3, the temple
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is capable of pivoting about the hinge axis X¨X between the operative position
shown in FIG. 1
where the spectacles are ready for wear, and the non-operative position (not
shown) where the
spectacles may be stored away in a spectacles case.
[0023] The structure the temple 4 is capable of rotating about the hinge axis
through 180 with
the outer limit of the rotation corresponding to the position shown in FIGS.
1, 2 and 3 and the
inner limit of rotation corresponding to a typical non-operative/closed
position. When both
temples 4 are in a non-operative/closed position, this corresponds to a folded
position occupying
a minimum amount of space when not in use and can, for example, be placed in a
small case.
[0024] Each of the temples 4 are formed of a first side member 5 and a second
elongated
member 6. The first and second side members (5,6) are arranged along a common
axis. Each of
the first side members 5 is pivotally mounted at its proximal end to one of
the opposite sides of
the bow 2. Each of the second side members 6 is slidably mounted at its
proximal end to the
distal end of the first members 5 so as to be adjustable in length and is
fixable in various
positions.
[0025] The first and second side members (5,6) of the temples 4 include
adjusting means 9 for
adjusting the overall length of the temples 4 in order to fit the frame 1 to
heads of different sizes.
The distal end of the first elongated member 5 has an aperture / open-end
portion. The proximal
end of the second elongated member 6 has an elongated sliding end portion for
telescopically
engaging the aperture. In a fully retracted temple position, the sliding end
portion is fully
contained with the open-end option of first elongated member 5. By pulling the
second member
6 away from the first member 5, the sliding member retracts out of the
aperture of the first
elongated member, lengthening the temple. In one embodiment, the sliding
member comprises a
mechanism to lock in the desired temple length. In an embodiment, the extended
sliding member
increases the temple length by 1 millimetre to 10 millimetres. In a preferred
embodiment, the
extended sliding member increases the temple length by 5 millimetres. In an
embodiment, the
sliding member and aperture includes means to holding the desire length in
place.
[0026] The ear engaging members 7 are pivotally mounted to each of the second
members 6 of
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the temples 4 at the distal end of the second members 6. The ear engaging
members 7 are curved
downward and designed to engage a portion of the ear of a wearer adjacent to
the head.
[0027] The pivoting means 10 provides a pivotal mounting of the ear engaging
members 7 on
the rear ends of the second members 6 of the temples 4 for swinging movement
of the ear
engaging members 7 toward and away from the ear of the wearer and detaining
means (not
shown) is provided on the second members 6 and their ear engaging pieces 7 for
releasably
securing the ear engaging members 7 in a desired position with the
complementarily curved
portions of the ear engaging members 7 in light but uniform contact with the
complementarily
curved back portions of the ears for preventing slipping and dislodgment of
the frame 1.
The ear engaging members (7) are positionable at different angles relative to
distal end of the
second members (6) of the temples (4) so as to snugly fit the eyeglasses 1 to
the wearer. While
the ear engaging members (7) touch a small area of the user's ear, it does not
wrap-around the ear
which can be uncomfortable. The pivotable positioning of the ear engaging
members (7) about
the distal end of the second members (6) of the temples (4) is generally shown
in FIGS. 1, 3 and
6 wherein ear engaging member is shown at a maximum angular displacement to
second
members (6) at position A, and at an intermediate angular displacement from
the second
members (6) and at a straight position with no angular displacement.
[0028] Detaining means (not shown) are provided on the pivot member and the
second member
6 for releasably holding the ear engaging member 7 at a desired rotational
position against the
ear of the wearer.
[0029] In another embodiment, the detaining means is a biasing means housed
within or at the
distal end of the second members (6) and positioned therein or thereon to be
capable of
ratchetably engaging a notched edge of the ear engaging members (7), and
thereby provide the
ear engaging members (7) with a series of pivotable positions with respect to
the distal end of the
second members (6)of the temples (4).
[0030] In another embodiment, the proximal end of the ear engaging members (7)
have an
opening defined by a series of teeth, and a split-pin having a complimentary
series of teeth along
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an outer surface thereof is used to pivotably retain the ear engaging members
(7) at each distal
end of the elongated members (6). The toothed opening of the ear engaging
members (7) engages
the toothed outer surface of the split pin such that by the application of an
appropriate force the
ear engaging members of being pivotably and ratchetably positioned at any of
several
predetermined positions relative to the distal end of the elongated members
(6) of the temples
(4).
[0031] From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the fitted eyeglass frames
of the present
invention provide a novel and workable approach to the problem of retaining
glasses or
spectacles in place against slipping or accidental dislodgment without
discomfort to the wearer.
[0032] Positional and directional terms are used to reference to the
illustrated embodiments in
the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Moreover, all
representations
described herein are intended solely to be by way of example for purposes of
illustrating certain
embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure to any
embodiments that
may depart from such representation as may be described.
[0033] All statements herein reciting principles, aspects and embodiments of
the disclosure, as
well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural
and functional
equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents
include both currently
known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any
elements developed
that perform the same function, regardless of structure.
[0034] In particular, features from one or more of the above-described
embodiments may be
selected to create alternative embodiments comprised of a sub-combination of
features that may
not be explicitly described above. In addition, features from one or more of
the above-described
embodiments may be selected and combined to create alternative embodiments
comprised of a
combination of features that may not be explicitly described above. Features
suitable for such
combinations and sub-combinations would be readily apparent to persons skilled
in the art upon
review of the present application as a whole. The subject matter described
herein and in the
recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in
technology.
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[0035] Although the present invention has been described with reference to
specific features and
embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and combinations
can be made
thereto without departing from the invention. The specification and drawings
are, accordingly,
to be regarded simply as an illustration of the invention as defined by the
appended claims, and
are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations
or equivalents that
fall within the scope of the present invention.
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