Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – With antiglare or shading
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-31
2001-03-06
Dang, Hung Xuan (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
With antiglare or shading
C351S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196679
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to eye glasses and more particularly relates to improved arrangements for attachment of a second or auxiliary pair of lenses to such eye glasses. More particularly, the invention relates to the provision of mutually cooperating and interfitting projections on primary and auxiliary or secondary lenses enabling the releasable mechanical engagement between the primary and secondary lenses.
2. Description of Related Art
Wearers of eye glasses often choose to attach a second set of lenses to those eye glasses to provide sunshade and ultra violet eye protection. This prevents having to keep a separate pair of sun glasses and it also means the wearer can still derive the visual acuity from the prescription lenses whilst deriving the benefits of sun glasses. There are already in existence various clip on secondary lenses for detachable fixation to a primary pair of lenses such that the latter are instantly converted into sung glasses. Means of attachment of the secondary lenses has in the past taken various forms. One version employs clips which engage a bridge on the primary spectacles.
Another arrangement for detachably attaching a secondary pair of lenses to a pair of primary spectacles is described in Australian patent 684423. The patent discloses an eye glass comprising a spectacle frame support for supporting primary lenses including side portions each having an extension for pivotally coupling a leg means and two rear side portions each having a protection secured thereto. The primary spectacle frame also including an upper side portion and a pair of first magnetic members secured in the projections. The eye glasses further comprise an auxiliary spectacle frame for supporting auxiliary lenses including two side portions each having an arm extending therefrom for extending over and for engaging with the upper side portion of the primary spectacle frame such that the auxiliary lenses are held against the primary spectacle frame by means of the magnetic members.
Whilst the clip arrangements and magnetic interengagement works to secure the auxiliary lenses to the primary frame, these methods suffer from a number of disadvantages. The clip arrangement is cumbersome, heavy and unattractive and according to some versions can lead to scratching of the primary lenses when the auxiliary lenses is fitted to the primary spectacle frame. The magnetic arrangements described in Australian patent 684423 have also been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,537 to Sadler and U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,207 by Richard Chao. One of the problems with the magnetic arrangements is that in time the magnetism degrades, dramatically reducing the effectiveness of the interfitting. Even where the magnetism is at its strongest when the frames are first manufactured, the magnetic forces may not be enough made to withstand dynamic loading which may be placed on the auxiliary frames particularly where the user is engaged in sports such as jogging, jumping, tennis and other like activities. When a user is engaged in vigorous exercise the auxiliary spectacle frame can be instantly released from the primary spectacle frames leading to damage of the auxiliary spectacle frames and inconvenience to the user.
In addition, the magnetic surface in the projections on the primary frame may be prone to corrosion and rust, degrading magnetic effectiveness. A further problem is that where the auxiliary frames are not released from the primary spectacle frames, they can move on the primary frames as the magnetic surfaces allow a range of movement over the surface area of the magnet. This has the disadvantage of increasing the gap between the auxiliary frames and the primary spectacles allowing sun light to penetrate through the lenses in the primary spectacle frames reducing the overall effectiveness of the interengagement between the auxiliary lenses and the primary spectacle lenses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the above problems by providing an alternative means of engagement between auxiliary spectacles and a primary spectacle frame.
In accordance with this it is one object of the invention to provide a mechanism to allow positive but releasable fixation of auxiliary lenses to a primary spectacle frame. It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement which allows positive interfitting such that unwanted release of the auxiliary frames from the primary spectacle frames cannot occur.
According to the present invention, there are provided eyeglasses including a primary spectacle frame for supporting primary lenses therein, the primary spectacle frame including two side portions each having an extension extending therefrom for pivotally coupling a leg means thereto, the primary spectacle frame including two rear and side portions each having a projection secured thereto, the primary spectacle frame including an upper portion, a pair of rings secured in the projections respectively wherein the rings are each embedded with a spring wire circle inside, an auxiliary spectacle frame for supporting auxiliary lenses therein, the auxiliary spectacle frame including two side portions each having an arm extending therefrom for extending over and for engaging with the upper portion of the primary spectacle frames, and a pair of locking projections secured to the arms respectively for engaging with the rings of the primary spectacle frame so as to secure the auxiliary spectacle frame to the primary spectacle frame.
According to a preferred embodiment, the interfitting assembly between the auxiliary spectacle frames and the primary spectacle frames comprises annular projections on the primary frame at or near the extremity of the lenses each projection including an annular recess which receives a spring wire which provides locking once corresponding projections on the auxiliary lenses have penetrated the annular recess in a corresponding projection on the primary spectacle frame. The spring wire enables positive locking as it displaces momentarily when the projections on the auxiliary lens penetrate the recesses formed by the projections on the primary spectacle frame. This enables snap fitting between the primary and auxiliary lenses and prevents unwanted disengagement.
In its broadest form the present invention comprises;
a pair of primary spectacles which releasably engage an auxiliary spectacle frame such that auxiliary lenses in the auxiliary frame are, partially or completely, superimposed over primary lenses in the pair of primary spectacles when the auxiliary spectacle frame is fitted to the pair of primary spectacles;
said pair of primary spectacles including;
a primary frame having primary frame openings separated by a primary bridge to receive and retain said primary lenses;
primary extension members which pivotally engage arm members each having a free and which engages an ear of a wearer;
first and second primary projections, each having an opening;
said auxiliary spectacle frame including;
an auxiliary frame having auxiliary frame openings which hold auxiliary lenses and which are separated by an auxiliary bridge; and first and second auxiliary projections extending from the auxiliary frame, wherein the auxiliary spectacle frame may be detachably fixed to the pair of primary spectacles by mechanical engagement between the first and second auxiliary projections on the auxiliary spectacle frame and respective openings in the first and second primary projections extending from the primary frame.
According to a preferred embodiment one of the primary projections on the primary frame is located on each wing and each primary projection includes a substantially annular opening having retained therein a ring spring or clip which allows snap fit engagement with an auxiliary projection on the auxiliary frame.
In another broad form the invention comprises;
an assembly enabling detachable fitting of a pair of auxiliary lenses to a primary spectacle frame; the assembly including a pair of projection
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Dang Hung Xuan
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