Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02623461 2008-02-28
EYEWEAR WITH ADJUSTABLE TEMPLES
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to eyewear having temples that can be adjusted
to fit different
shapes of wearer head.
Background of the invention
Eyewear such as corrective glasses, safety glasses and sun glasses are
generally mass
produced for sale to a large market base. However, physical characteristics
vary greatly
from person to person, particularly those of the head and face. As a result,
eyewear
currently available are never suited for use by everybody and not all
available eyewear
will fit a potential wearer. For the wearer this translates to frustration and
risk as it is
necessary to try on many eyewear in order to find one that fits and even then
there is a
chance that with time an eyewear will be found uncomfortable. For the
manufacturer and
seller, this means lost profits as individual eyewear cannot be sold but to a
limited
segrnent of a purchasing population.
In particular eyewear temple pose problems since they should desirably contour
the head
of the wearer but there exists many different cranial shapes in the public at
large. If the
temples of an eyewear do not properly fit the wearer the eyewear can be
uncomfortable to
wear or improperly secured in wear. Eyewear suffering from such a drawback may
not be
used to its full value or may be dropped and broken or lost. If the eyewear is
protective
eyewear, dropping the eyewear from a wearer's head can expose the wearer to
the
dangers he sought to protect himself from.
Among the solutions that have been attempted in the past is the one described
in U.S.
Patent 6,059,411 to Paul E. Moody. This patent discloses a temple that can be
extended
with the extending portion so biased as to wrap around a person's head.
However, this
eyewear suffers the drawback that it cannot be adjusted to adopt a specific
shape or to
apply more or less pressure on the side of a wearer's head. Thus the eyewear
displaces in
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
this document can prove very uncomfortable or unfitting for a wearer.
In the context of the above, it can be appreciated that there is a need in the
industry for an
eyewear with adjustable temples that can be made to fit a variety of different
wearer's
heads.
Summary of the invention
In accordance with a first broad aspect, the present invention provides an
eyewear
comprising a frame with lens and temples mounted to the frame. Each of the
temples
comprises a branch having a proximal end, a distal end and an internal wall
defining an
aperture extending longitudinally along the branch. The internal wall has a
first curved
portion with a first curvature, the first curved portion being made of a
flexible material.
Each of the temples further comprises a member slidably moveable in the
aperture, the
member having a second curved portion with a second curvature, the second
curved
portion registering with the first curved portion, the second curvature being
greater than
the first curvature such that movement of the member along the aperture and
towards the
distal end of the branch displaces the branch from a first position in which a
first pressure
is applied to a side of a wearer's head to a second position in which a second
pressure is
applied to the side of the wearer's head, the second pressure being greater
than the first
pressure.
In accordance with a second broad aspect, the present invention provides an
eyewear
comprising a frame with lens and temples mounted to the frame. Each of the
temples
comprises a branch having proximal and distal ends and a first curved portion
with a first
curvature. The first curved portion is made of a flexible material. Each of
the temples
further comprises a member slidably mounted to the branch, the member having a
second
curved portion with a second curvature, the second curved portion registering
with the
first curved portion, wherein the second curvature is different than the first
curvature such
that movement of the member along the branch displaces the branch from a first
position
in which a first pressure is applied to a side of a wearer's head to a second
position in
which a second pressure is applied to the side of the wearer's head, the
second pressure
being greater than the first pressure.
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
These and other aspects and features of the present invention will now become
apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description
of specific
embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
A detailed description of examples of implementation of the present invention
is provided
hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an eyewear constructed in accordance with
an
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows the eyewear of Figure 1 from a different perspective, also in
an exploded
view;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the eyewear;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the temple of the eyewear of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the temple of Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the temple of Figure 4;
Figure 7 shows a perspective broken-away view of the temple of Figure 4;
Figure 8 shows another broken-away view of the temple of Figure 4;
Figure 9 shows the temple of Figure 4 with the sliding member in two different
positions;
Figure 10A shows the temple of Figure 4 with the sliding member in a first
position; and
Figure l OB shows the temple of Figure 4 with the sliding member in a second
position.
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
example. It is to
be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for
purposes of
illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended to be a
definition of the
limits of the invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments
It should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to
identify the
same structural elements, parts, portions or surfaces consistently throughout
the several
drawing figures, as such elements, parts, portions or surfaces may be further
described or
explained by the entire written specifications, of which this detailed
description is an
integral part. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology is resorted
to for the
sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be limited to the
specific terms so
selected, and it is understood that each specific term comprises all
equivalents.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with
the
specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written
description of this
invention. As used in the following description, the terms "horizontal",
"vertical", "left",
"right", "up", "down" and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial
derivatives thereof
(e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly", "radially", etc.), simply
refer to the
orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure
faces the reader.
Figure 1 illustrates an eyewear 101 in an exploded view in accordance with a
non-limiting
embodiment. In this example, the eyewear 101 is a pair of safety glasses
having a frame
102, lenses 103, a nosepiece 106 featuring two nose pads 107 and a pair of
temples 105.
In use, eyewear 101 rests comfortably on a user's head such that lenses 103
substantially
cover the user's field of vision or substantially block the user's eyes from
external
elements. Eyewear 101 should be held securely such that eyewear 101 does not
shift or
fall off during regular use.
The nose piece 106 provides a point of support for the eyewear and may be
fastened to
the frame 102. In a non-limiting embodiment, nosepiece 106 is an adjustable
nosepiece,
displaceable along a generally vertical axis for adjusting to various facial
constructions.
In this example, the nosepiece 106 comprises a releasable clamping mechanism
that holds
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
nosepiece 106 at a given position in a generally vertical channel. In order to
adjust the
height of the nosepiece with respect to the frame 102 and/or lenses 103, the
clamping
mechanism is released and nosepiece 106 is displaced vertically to a desired
position
whereupon the clamping mechanism is reengaged. Nosepiece 106 also comprises
nose
pads 107 at the end of nose pad branches 108. In a non-limiting embodiment,
the position
of nose pads 107 with respect to the rest of the nosepiece 106 is also
adjustable, for
example by having deformable nose pad branches 108. In wear, the nosepiece 106
provides a point of support for the eyewear 101 and prevents movement of the
eyewear
relative to the face in certain directions, notably in the downwards (towards
the chin)
direction but also in the rearwards (towards the back of the head) direction.
It is to be
understood that although the nosepiece 106 here has been described as an
adjustable
nosepiece any other arrangement may be used. For example, the nosepiece 106
may take
the form of any nose-supporting structure and may be embedded in or integral
with the
lenses 103 or frame 102 or may even be completely absent.
In the non-limiting embodiment of figure 1, the frame 102 is a semi-rimless
frame made
up primarily of a frame component 104 arranged along the top of the lenses 103
generally
in a horizontal plane. Lenses 103 are fastened to frame component 104. The
frame 102
holds the lenses 103 in place and may optionally rest, in wear, against the
wearer's face
thus anchoring the eyewear against certain movements, such as rearward
movement. The
frame 102 does not need to be a semi-rimless frame as illustrated in figure 1
but can take
many shapes. For example, the frame can be a full frame (fully surrounding a
unitary or a
pair of lenses 103) or three-piece rimless (made up of three pieces anchored
in the lenses
103). The frame 102 may be distinct from the lenses 103 as shown here or may
be
integral with the lenses 103.
Lenses 103 may be protective lenses, shaded lenses, optical-correction lenses
or any other
lenses. In the non-limiting embodiment shown here, lenses 103 is a unitary
protective lens
covering a substantial portion of the field of vision of both eyes. However it
is to be
understood that lenses 103 may be a pair of disjoint lenses or any other
arrangement of
lenses 103.
In the non-limiting embodiment shown in figure 1, eyewear 101 features a pair
of temples
105 having a connection with frame 102 that includes a connection member 305
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
dW
connected with the frame 102 by a hinge assembly 310. Hinge assembly 310
permits the
pivotal motion of temples 105 about a first axis between an open and a closed
position.
Temples 105 each include a branch 109 that extends along a second axis from a
proximal
end 111, near the frame 102 to a distal end 112, which in wear is near the
back of the
wearer's head. In this non-limiting example, the branches 109 extend at an
angle
approximately normal to the frame component 104 when in the open position and
can
pivot to a closed position where they are angled approximately parallel to
frame
component 104. The eyewear 101 can thus be folded to a more compact form when
not in
use. It should be noted, however, that temples 105 can be connected to the
frame 102 by
any suitable means, with or without connection member 305. Furthermore, it is
not
necessary for temples 105 to be hinged to the frame 102, but temples 105 may
be rigidly
connected to the frame 102. Also, while temples 105 are drawn here as two
separate
branch-like component, it should be understood that any of a number of temple
arrangement, forms and shapes are possible. For example, temples 105 may loop
around a
wearer's ear or head.
When the eyewear is worn, the temples 105 lie along the side of the wearers
head and
preferably contact both the side of the wearer's head and the upper auricular
sulcus. The
point of contact of the temple 105 with the upper auricular sulcus provides a
point of
anchoring against downward motion and thus helps hold the eyewear in place
despite the
pull of gravity. At the area of contact with the side of the wearer's head,
the temples 105
may exert pressure against the side of the wearer's head with the resulting
friction helping
secure the eyewear in a given position on the wearer's head. Furthermore,
although the
branches 109 are said to extend along the second axis, it should be noted that
the branches
109 do not necessarily have a perfectly straight form but are preferably
curved to embrace
a wearer's physical features. Thus branches 109 may preferably curve around
the
wearer's head, and optionally around the auricular sulcus and thus anchor the
eyewear
101 against movement in multiple directions. It is to be understood that a
branch 109 so
curved is still said to extend along the second axis insofar as it
approximates the second
axis.
Thus the shape of branch 109 has an impact on the performance of eyewear 101.
If the
shape of branch 109 is not suited for the wearers head, eyewear 101 will be
improperly
secured or uncomfortable to wear. In order to adjust the shape of branch 109
to fit
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
different heads, a novel adjusting mechanism 200 is provided in branch 109.
Adjusting
mechanism 200 comprises a section of branch 109 and a sliding member 205.
Sliding the
sliding member 205 within the adjusting mechanism causes the branch 109 to
change its
form, for example by changing its curvature, such that it becomes better
suited for a
different shape of wearer head.
The adjusting mechanism will now be described in accordance to a non-limiting
embodiment. Figure 4 shows a close-up of a temple 105 in accordance with a non-
limiting embodiment. Branch 109 comprises an aperture 210 in which is lodged a
sliding
1o member 205.
As shown in an exploded view on figure 5, aperture 210 is defined by an
internal wa11215
that has a top side 211 and a bottom side 212 that are opposed to one another.
The two
opposed sides of internal wall 215 each comprise a projection 220 that extend
inwardly
(downwardly from the top side and upwardly from the bottom side). In the non-
limiting
example shown, projection 220 takes the form of an elongated rail-like
protrusion in the
internal wall 215 generally following the longitudinal direction of the
aperture. It should
be noted that it is not necessary for projection 220 to be present on both
opposed sides
and that it may only be present on the top side 211 or the bottom side 212.
Sliding member 205 is slidably mounted within aperture 210. Sliding member 205
is
shaped to fit into the aperture 210 and comprises a surrounding wall 225
having a top
wall 226 and a bottom wall 227 that are opposed to each other and that
register
respectively with the top side 211 and the bottom side 212 of the internal
wall 215. In the
non-limiting embodiment shown, the top and bottom walls comprise an elongated
groove
230 in which fits projection 220. Sliding member 205 is longitudinally shorter
than
aperture 210 and can slide in the longitudinal direction within aperture 210.
Figure 6
shows a cross-section of branch 109 (on its side) with sliding member 205
inserted, the
complementary relationship of groove 230 and projection 220 being clearly
visible.
In addition to the above, sliding member comprises an external side 255,
accessible to a
wearer, that preferably follows generally the curvature of the top external
side 256 of the
branch. A wearer can apply force to external side 255 to slide slidable member
205 in
aperture 210.
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
The branch 109 in at least a portion of the area of the adjusting mechanism
200 is made of
flexible material, such that it can be deformed by appropriate forces.
Preferably branch
109 returns to its original shape when the forces are removed. Sliding member
205 is
preferably made of a different material than the branch 109, which material is
less flexible
than that of the branch 109 in the area of the adjusting mechanism 200 and is
therefore
not as easily deformed. Sliding member 205 is thus made of a rigid material
In a non-limiting example, the portion of branch 109 around the adjusting
mechanism 200
is made of polycarbonate or of a combination of polycarbonate and polyester
while the
sliding member 205 is made of either NylonTM 6 with fiber glass (for examp~e,
with 30%
fiber glass), NylonTM 66 or aluminum. In another non-limiting example, the
portion
branch 109 around the adjusting mechanism 200 is made of a material selected
from the
group consisting of XylexTM X7203 by GE, XylexTM X8300 by GE, DurolonTM VR-
2210
by Policarbonatos do Brasil and LexanTM EXL 1483C by GE. In a non-limiting
example,
the sliding member 205 is made of either UltramidTM B3ZG6 by BASF or aluminum
380.
Within the curve-adjusting section 200, branch 109 comprises a curved portion
which in
this non-limiting example is the projection 220. Projection 220 has a first
curvature in the
longitudinal direction in a horizontal. plane. The first curvature is not
necessarily constant
but may be a function and even a discontinuous function. The first curvature
may thus
include a plurality of different radii of curvature and a plurality of
different centers of
curvature. In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated here, projection 220 has
two
sections 240, 245 each with a different constant curvature. In figure 5,
sedtion 240 is
shown to be of similar size to section 245 but slightly bigger. It should be
noted that the
two sections can have any size relative to one another and that section 240
can be bigger,
equal or smaller than section 245. It is to be understood that the curved
portion of branch
109 may actually be partially or entirely straight, the curvature being of
zero (infinite
radius of curvature) where the projection 220 is straight.
Sliding member 205 include a curved portion which, in this non-limiting
example is
groove 230. Groove 230 has a second curvature which is different from the
first curvature
and which may be constant. In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated groove
230 has
the same curvature as projection 220 has in section 240.
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
A curvature can be defined here by a radius of curvature and optionally by
center of
curvature. A tighter curve, having a shorter radius of curvature is said to
have a higher
curvature than a more elongated curve having a longer radius of curvature. The
tighter
curve has the greater curvature. The radius of curvature is defined here in
the traditional
mathematical sense, that is, it is the radius of an osculating circle at a
point on a curve.
While the radius of curvature is a constant at any given point on a curve, it
can vary from
point to point. Thus the radius of curvature, and likewise the curvature
itself can be
defined as a function along a path, such as along the path of a curve.
It is to be understood that for two curvatures to be the same, they must have
the same
radius of curvature along their entire length. Therefore, if the projection
220 in section
240 has the same curvature as the groove 230, the entire length of the groove
230 will
register naturally with the projection 220 in section 240. However, the above
withstanding, projection 220 is still considered to have a different curvature
than groove
230 because beyond section 240, projection 220 does not have the same (in this
example,
constant) curvature as groove 230.
Figures 7 and 8 show a broken-away view of temple 105 with the branch 109
being cut
away on one side of the aperture to better show the placement of the sliding
member 205
within aperture 210. Here, sliding member 205 is confined within the aperture
210 but
can slide longitudinally within it. Sliding member 205 is mated with section
240 of the
projection 220, which is in a part of aperture 210 that is adjacent to the
proximal end of
branch 109. When sliding member 205 registers with section 240 of projection
220,
sliding member is said to be in the neutral position. Since section 240 of
projection 220
has the same (here, constant) curvature as groove 230 (an osculating circle is
shown here
in dotted line), the curved projection 220 fits naturally within the curved
groove 230 and
no force is applied by the rigid sliding member 205 onto the elastic branch
109.
Advantageously it is not necessary for the projection 220 to follow exactly
the curvature
of branch 109 and branch 109 is therefore not required to have the curvature
of groove
230 around section 240. Instead here the projection 220 deviates from the
center of
branch 109 such that internally to branch 109 the projection 220 can have the
same
curvature as groove 230 in section 240 while the branch itself has a lower
curvature even
around section 240 of projection 220.
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
Section 245 is adjacent to section 240 and has a lower curvature than groove
230. The
projection 220 in section 245 nevertheless has dimensions (e.g. width, depth)
allowing it
to fit into groove 230 as does the projection 220 in section 240. As sliding
member 205 is
manually slid towards section 240, the portions of projection 220 entering
groove 230 are
forced to conform to the curvature of groove 230 and bend accordingly.
Preferably,
sliding member 205 does not get significantly deformed by the projection 220
pressing
against the groove 230 but rather causes the projection itself to acquire the
curvature of
the groove 230 where it lies in the groove. The projection 220 being integral
with the rest
of branch 109, as projection 220 is bent to a certain curvature the portion of
branch 109
that is adjacent to projection 220 follows, causing branch 109 to acquire a
different
curved shape. Figure' 9 shows the deformation of branch 109 as sliding member
205 is
moved over the projection from section 240 to section 245. In this example,
the tip 250 of
the distal end of temple 105 is displace a distance of 0.125 to 0.5 inches as
the sliding
member 205 is moved from one longitudinal end of aperture 210 to the other
longitudinal
end of aperture 210. Branch 109 does not bend in the area surrounding section
240 but
deforms around the area surrounding section 245 where the projection 220 has
been bent
in groove 230. Since in this non-limiting embodiment, the projection 220 is
not deformed
in section 240 whether the sliding member 205 is present there or not, it is
not necessary
for the projection 220 in section 240 or for the branch 109 surrounding this
section to be
made of elastic material that can be bent by sliding member 205. However in
the present
non-limiting embodiment, most of the branch 109 including all of the region
of/surrounding adjustment mechanism 200 is made of the same material.
Figures I OA and I OB offer another view of the effect on temple 105 of
sliding the sliding
member 205. Figure l0A shows temple 105 with sliding member 205 in its neutral
position. Figure IOB shows temple 105 with the sliding member 205 moved to the
opposite end of aperture 210. As shown, the tip 240 of distal end of temple
105 is at an
angle from an axis drawn between the proximal end of temple 105 and the point
where
temple 105 begins to deform when sliding member 205 is moved out of its
neutral
position. As the sliding member is moved away from its neutral position, the
angle
increases until the tip of the distal end has been displaced to a maximum
distance from its
starting position of between 0.125 and 0.5 inches.
CA 02623461 2008-02-28
In a non-limiting embodiment, the radius of curvature of groove 230 and
projection 220
are between 1.5 and 10 inches. In another non-limiting embodiment, the groove
230 of
the sliding member 205 has a constant radius of curvature of between 2.5 and 3
inches
while the projection 220 has a varying radius of curvature of between 2.5 and
7 inches. It
is possible, but not necessary, for the radius of curvature of the projection
220 in section
245 to be constant. In a specific non-limiting embodiment, groove 230 has a
constant
radius of curvature 2.5 inches while projection 220 includes a section 240
complementary
to groove 230, having the same radius of curvature of 2.5 inches and another
section 245
having a radius of curvature of 7 inches. In another non-limiting embodiment,
the radius
of curvature of the projection 220 in section 245 has a radius of curvature
varying from
2.5 inches, at a point adjacent to section 240, to 7 inches.
The above example has been provided to illustrate and not limit the invention.
It is to be
understood that many other embodiments are possible.
Although the branch 109 has been shown here as having a projection 220 and the
sliding
member 205 as having a groove 230 to accommodate the projection 220, it will
be
appreciated that this can easily be reversed. In other words, the branch 109
could have the
groove, and the sliding member the projection without departing from the
intended scope
of the invention. In this case opposed walls 226 and 227 would have a
projection
extending outwardly (upwardly from 226 and downwardly from 227) into grooves
in
opposed sides 211 and 212.
It is also not necessary for the sliding member to be nested within an
aperture in the
branch 105. Instead, sliding member may envelope, surround or partially
surround branch
109 or otherwise define a channel extending longitudinally along said member
in which
branch 109 is received. For example, sliding member 205 may have a tubular
construction, a C-shaped cross-section or any other suitable shape. Also,
while the
projection 220 has been shown here on both sides of aperture 210, it is to be
understood
that the shape and position of projection 220 shown here is only one of many
possible
arrangements and that there may be only one projection, or more than two, and
that they
may be positioned anywhere suitable including on an outer wall of branch 109.
Furthermore, it is not necessary for the curved portion that engages sliding
member 205
to be a projection, to be inside an aperture or to be part of an internal
wall, but can be any
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CA 02623461 2008-02-28
suitable curved surface such as an outer wall of branch 109. Likewise, it is
not necessary
for the curved portion of sliding member 205 to be a groove or a projection
but it can be
any suitable portion of sliding member 205 such as the internal wall of a
channel defined
by sliding member 205.
In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the branch 109 has a first curved
portion having a
first curvature that is a discontinuous function featuring two constant
curvatures. It will be
appreciated, however that a wide variety of different curvatures are possible
and may be
suited for different applications. For example, the first curvature could be a
function
having a range of smoothly varying curvature (in other words curvature could
be a
function that is non-constant and continuous over a part of, or over the
entire, first curved
portion). Also, although the projection 220 has been shown here as including a
section
240 having the same curvature as the sliding member 205, there may be more
than one
such sections or none at all and such a section can be positioned anywhere in
adjustment
mechanism 200 deemed suitable. For example, the neutral position mentioned
above may
be located in a part of adjustment mechanism adjacent to the distal end of
temple 105.
It is to be understood that although the sliding member 205 has been
illustrated here as
having a curved portion with a greater curvature than the curved portion of
branch 109,
sliding member 205 may have a different or a smaller curvature than the curved
portion
of branch 109. In another non-limiting embodiment, section 240 of projection
220 still
has the same curvature as groove 230 of sliding member 205 but section 245 has
a higher
curvature (a smaller radius of curvature) than sliding member 205. In this
embodiment,
moving the sliding member 205 out of its neutral position causes the branch
109 to
deform such as to adopt a less curved shape. It is also possible for sliding
member 205's
curved portion to be more curved than a certain section of the curved portion
of branch
109 but less curved than another section.
It should further be understood that even though adjusting mechanism has been
shown
here to cause a change in curvature in branch 109 in a generally horizontal
plane,
adjusting mechanism 200 could be used to adjust the shape of branch 109 in any
other
manner, for example by causing a change in curvature in a generally vertical
plane.
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