Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-04-17
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C002S012000, C002SDIG001, C351S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216282
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a unique combination of a stretchable headband with a detachable sunglass arrangement mounted thereto, the combination providing a unique surround to the eyes of the wearer for secure protection from sunlight during active sports wear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sporting activities create differing problems in regard to the comfort and suitability of sunglasses as may be needed by a participant to protect the eyes from the effects of sunlight. In a typical physically active sport, occurring in sunlight which may negatively effect vision, the participant may be perspiring about the face and head, and the wearing of commonly available nose and ear supported sunglasses becomes problematic. Sunglasses slip from their common mounting places on sweaty noses and ears, requiring constant re-adjustment, complicated by perspiration forming along the participants brow and/or hands which may fog or otherwise be transferred onto the sunglasses lens, obscuring vision. Running, jumping and other jarring competitive activities only increase the problems and, particularly in situations wherein the participant is required to use his hands during the sporting activity, may disrupt the participant's ability to compete.
Various ways to solve such problems have been advanced. Sunlight intersecting lenses mounted in goggles are commercially available which generally provide an elastomeric and/or the like surround of the lens, the surround engaging the wearers face around the eye, with a tight band holding the device tightly to the wearers face. Goggles tend to form a dead air space in front of the eyes, which promote perspiration around the eyes and/or create an obscuring mist on the interior surface of the lens. Even though means have been advanced to enable some flow of air within goggles they are generally seen as being cumbersome, uncomfortable and vision obstructing, and thus have not enjoyed widespread acceptability as sunglass devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,087, discloses a device which comprises a combination visor and sunglass device. The device of this patent comprises a somewhat flexible plastic headband which comprises opposite ends which comprise buttons, buckles or the like for adjusting the headband size to a wearers head, the headband comprising a visor at the front position of the headband and a complex means for pivotally attaching a generally flat sunglass lens under the visor. The sunglass attachment means is arranged to enable pivoting the sunglass lens away from a position aligned opposite the eyes of the wearer during use to a position of non-use, aligned against the underside of the visor. Such device has been found acceptable for use in some sports related activities, but the pivoting nature of the lenses generally limits the design of the lens from intersecting sun rays from the side and the generally rigid nature of materials required for the pivot arrangement, sunvisor and the like, make the device cumbersome, uncomfortable and unsuitable for use in sports which may require running and jumping activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,475 discloses a device which is closely similar to U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,087, it too comprising a combination visor and sunglass. The device of this patent comprises a front headband area having spaced apart rigid walls for inserting an eyeshield therebetween and enabling a pivoting arrangement for the lens. As with U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,087, the pivoting arrangement of the device and the generally rigid nature of materials required for mounting the pivot arrangement, sunvisor and the like, the device is generally uncomfortable and unsuitable for use in many active sports.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient, comfortable and simple sunglass arrangement which is particularly suitable for active sports wear.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sunglass arrangement which surrounds the eyes of the wearer in such manner as to minimize entry of sunlight from the sides.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sunglass arrangement which resists the problem of vision interference by perspiration and/or fogging.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In its most general embodiment, the present invention comprises an elasticized headband, having perspiration absorbing, wear comfortable material on an inside surface thereof, together with an easily detachable somewhat rigid sun protecting lens. In its specific general embodiment, an elasticized headband comprises an outside surface containing a hook and/or loop configuration which is sized, arranged and/or spaced to engage a respective mating loop and/or hook configuration comprised on an inside surface of a somewhat flexible sun lens which enables a detachable mounting of the lens to the headband.
In one embodiment of the invention, the headband comprises a generally non-elasticized front portion having on its exterior surface the hook and/or loop configuration to which the mating hook and/or loop configuration of the inside surface of the lens engages. By the front portion of the headband is meant that portion of the headband which generally is arranged at about the forehead of the user. In a preferred embodiment, a generally non-elasticized front portion of the headband is padded, preferably with absorbing material, so that the exterior forward facing surface of the headband is spaced from the forehead. The padding provides additional comfort and perspiration protection to the user while positioning the sun lens spaced additionally outward from the forehead and thus further spaced from the eyes.
In still another embodiment, the headband comprises an elasticized band sheathed in a generally non-elasticized covering comprising the hook and/or loop surface. When not in use, the retraction of the elasticized band shirrs the non-elasticized sheath reducing the bulk of the device. When in use, the sheath de-shirrs sufficient to enable the user to mount the elasticized band around his head.
The sun lens generally comprises a tinted, polarized, darkened or the like, somewhat rigid material optically enabled to provide eye protection from the sun's rays. By somewhat rigid is meant that the lens is sufficiently rigid to retain its shape during use, but is also flexible enough to bend so as to generally conform to the shape of the attachment surface of the headband during use without breaking. In a preferred embodiment, the sun lens is comprised of a somewhat flexible material which can be curved, sized and dimensioned to have an upper inside surface which will matingly align with the front exterior surface of the headband, with the remaining portion of the lens extending downwardly opposite the eyes and arranged to intersect ambient sun rays before they enter the eyes. In one embodiment, the lens can be a generally flat panel with or without a notch for the nose. The panel can be curved to extend around the eyes to intersect ambient sun rays entering from about the side of the face. In a preferred embodiment, the panel is compound curved to extend inwardly toward the cheeks below the eyes and/or along the sides of the face to generally surround the eye. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a compound curved lens comprises a nose notch and the compound curves are arranged to such that the perimeter of the lens is closely spaced from engaging the face, being held in such closely spaced position by its attachment to the headband. In such arrangement, the lens intersects the suns ray's from engaging the eyes through almost all possible sight lines of the eye, without irritating contact with the skin of the user. In another such arrangement, the perimeter of the lens comprises a rounded bead to soften any contact with the skin and/or the nose notch comprises a padded and/or perspiration absorbing material to enable comfortable mounting of the lens on the nose.
The upper boundary of the sun lens comprises a border which is si
Calvert John J.
Moran Katherine
LandOfFree
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