Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-20
2001-09-25
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C002S434000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292955
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an adaptor for fixing spectacle lenses according to the preamble of Claim 1.
This invention relates to a frameless joining of commercial safety glasses which have a continuous transparent shield or two separated, extremely curved transparent shields as an eye cover, in particular, sports glasses, sports sunglasses, diver's goggles and industrial safety glasses, to spectacle lenses of individual lens strengths according to the person wearing the safety glasses. People who must wear glasses have difficulty wearing current safety glasses which typically have transparent shield in the form of a continuous plate as an eye cover. These types of safety glasses, for example, are available under the trade names Oakley M-Frame Series, Bolle Edge Series and Breakaway Series, Alpina Gravity 0/Bel Air Series, Swiss Eye, etc.
Most producers offer exchangeable frame adapters that are inserted into the spectacle frame for the fitting of spectacle lenses. These systems, however, have some serious disadvantages. For example, with sports glasses, the largest distance between the safety glasses and the eyes increases considerably, which, as a rule, is about 15 mm. This reduces shielding capacity of the shield or the two shields, so that wind swirls may occur between the shield and the eye. Furthermore, in unfavorable weather conditions, the shields tend to fog up. In order to clean the shields, it is necessary to remove the adapter. Furthermore, conventional frame adapters are rather heavy.
In diver's goggles, silicate spectacle lenses have for some time been joined to the rear areas of the shield of the diver's goggles by means of hardened adhesives, such as an epoxy adhesive. This can result in a change of the chromatic dispersion. Moreover, there may be problems in which, when using the diver's goggles, the shield of the goggles has a considerably lower temperature, which is determined by the temperature of the surrounding water, than the spectacle lenses, which are heated by the warmth of the face of the goggles wearer. This difference in temperature causes the spectacle lenses to expand more than the shield. The spectacle lenses may loosen from the back due to this difference in temperature, but since the hardened adhesive is not elastic and unable to compensate for the stress caused by the varying expansion temperature, the lenses may crack.
Classical safety glasses normally consist of frames and hardened spectacle lenses provided with shielding sections. Hardened spectacle lenses, however, are very expensive and often must be replaced due to excessive wear. Other safety glasses have an inserted frame adapter, as explained above in connection with sports glasses. Safety glasses provided with this type of frame adapter have the same disadvantages as the sports glasses described above.
Another great problem, which reduces the suitability of the safety glasses provided with frame adapters, is the astigmatism of oblique bundles which occurs with curved shields as a result of the angular adjusting position of the correcting spectacle lenses. This can be avoided only if it is possible to fix the correcting spectacle lenses so that they are as vertical to the optical axis as possible, which is difficult to impossible for curved shields.
These disadvantages considerably restrict the usability and the application of these safety glasses for the wearers.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above described disadvantages found in conventional plug-on adapter systems and to fix the spectacle lens to the shields in a simpler, safer and more compatible manner, i.e., with increased benefit to the spectacle. Further, an excessive increase in weight, which occurs with conventional frame adapters, is to be avoided.
The solution is provided by an adapter with the features of claim
1
. According to the invention, the adapter is a shaped ring of a transparent or opaque permanently elastic material, in which the shaped ring has adhesive surfaces for joining the spectacle lens to the shield. The adapter according to the invention connects the rear of the shield of a pair of safety glasses to the front of the spectacle lens tightly and immovably, but reversibly, and thus also removably. The adapter according to the invention thus is able to finction completely without seats or frames for spectacle lenses. The system, which consists of a pair of safety glasses and spectacle lens, is protected against condensation due to the hermetic seal of the space between the shield and the spectacle lens. The weight of the adapter according to the invention is only a fraction of that of a conventional frame adapter. Since the adapter is fastened reversibly and thus can be removed from the shield of the safety glasses and spectacle lens, said adapter is reusable.
Advantageous further developments result from the subordinate claims. The shaped ring may have a flat cross section or it may have the shape of an adhesive strip, preferably with a thickness ranging between 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. Adapters of this type are suitable, for example, for flat shields such as diver's goggles. The shaped ring may have a wedge-shaped cross section. One possible structure comprises a core of transparent or opaque material that is provided with adhesive surfaces in the form of at least one layer with an adhesive material. These types of adapter are suitable for lining strong curves at the front of positive lenses. The deciding factor for the use of adapters always are the anatomical or optical requirements.
The core preferably is made of a plastic material, preferably polycarbonate or nylon. This material can be stressed mechanically and can withstand considerable temperature fluctuations without becoming porous.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3122962 (1964-03-01), De Angelis
patent: 3533686 (1970-10-01), O'Shea
patent: 4648394 (1987-03-01), Wise
patent: 4971431 (1990-11-01), Gerard
patent: 5137341 (1992-08-01), Gendol et al.
patent: 5412438 (1995-05-01), Bolle′
patent: 5657106 (1997-08-01), Herald, Jr. et al.
patent: 5819321 (1998-10-01), Wang
patent: 5890237 (1999-04-01), Herman
Calvert John J.
Kriegsman & Kriegsman
Moran Katherine
LandOfFree
Adapter for fixing spectacle lenses does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Adapter for fixing spectacle lenses, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adapter for fixing spectacle lenses will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2514581