Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-03-06
Nerbun, Peter (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C351S043000, C359S665000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195807
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a curved lens combination for swimming/diving goggles that has no refraction power change when used in water, provides improved safety, and reduces water resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
A swimmer or diver often wears a pair of goggles to obtain a good view in addition to protection to his/her eyes.
FIG. 11
of the drawings illustrates a pair of conventional swimming goggles
2
′ that provides close contact with the user's eye sockets to keep the eyes
1
′ away from water. The lens
3
′ is substantially planar at both sides thereof without causing refraction of light passing therethrough. An outer surface of the lens
3
′ contacts with water and an inner surface of the lens
3
′ contacts with air. The light from an object in water passes through air inside the swimming goggles
2
′ into the user's eye such that clear image may be properly formed on the user's retina
11
′. Namely, the lens
3
′ does not incur any refraction power change when placed in air or in water such that the image of object can be clearly formed on the user's retina.
Curved lens is used to replace planar lens, as the latter fails to provide aesthetically pleasing effect and increases water resistance.
FIG. 12
illustrates a typical curved lens
6
′ including a spherical outer surface
61
′ with a refraction power of, e.g., +3 diopters, and a spherical inner surface
62
′ with a corresponding refraction power of, e.g., −3 diopters. Thus, when in air, the overall optical effect for the light passing through the outer surface
61
′ and the inner surface
62
′ is zero. Namely, no refraction power change is incurred. Nevertheless, when in water, the outer surface
61
′ of the lens
6
′ contact with water
4
′ that has a refraction rate of 1.33 and the inner surface
62
′ of the lens
6
′ contacts with air
5
′ that has a refraction rate of 1. In addition. the curved outer surface
61
′ and the water
4
′ between the object and the lens
6
′ together form a concave lens (see the dashed lines). This results in a change in the light-curving rate (i.e., the light-curving rate is not equal to three), yet the light-curving rate from the inner surface
62
′ to the air
5
′ still remains unchanged (equal to three). As a result, the image of the object in water formed on the user's retina
11
′ is smaller than the object. Namely, the so-called refraction power change occurs. This problem is aggravated if the outer surface
61
′ of the lens
6
′ has a larger curvature.
The present invention is intended to provide a curved lens combination for swimming/diving that mitigates and/or obviate the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a curved lens combination for swimming/diving goggles that has no refraction power change when used in water, provides improved safety, and reduces water resistance.
In accordance with the present invention, a lens combination is provided for a pair of swimming/diving goggles having a goggle frame. The lens combination comprises a planar lens mounted to the goggle frame and a curved lens mounted in front of the planar lens, thereby defining a space between the planar lens and the curved lens for receiving water. The curved lens includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The planar lens includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The space is filled with water. When the lens combination is used in water such that the outer surface of the curved lens, the inner surface of the curved lens, and the outer surface of the planar lens contact with water, the lens combination allows formation of clear image when viewing an object in water.
At least one aperture is defined between the planar lens and the curved lens and communicated the space with ambient. Water is filled into the space via the aperture when the curved lens combination is used in water such that the outer surface of the curved lens, the inner surface of the curved lens, and the outer surface of the planar lens contact with water, thereby allowing formation of clear image when viewing an object in water. The water in the space is drained via the aperture when the curved lens combination is in air such that both the inner surface and the outer surface of the curved lens contact with air, thereby allowing formation of clear image when viewing an object in air. A sealing means may be mounted in said at least one aperture for keeping water in the space.
In an embodiment of the invention, the space is an isolated space filled with water. In another embodiment of the invention, the curved lens is directly and securely attached to the outer surface of the planar lens. In a further embodiment of the invention, the curved lens is adhered to the outer surface of the planar lens. In still another embodiment of the invention, the planar lens is a portion of the goggle frame, and the curved lens is secured in front of the planar lens.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2437642 (1948-03-01), Henroteau
patent: 2490873 (1949-12-01), Johnson
patent: 2525921 (1950-10-01), Madan et al.
patent: 3040616 (1962-06-01), Simpson
patent: 4341204 (1982-07-01), Bloxsom
patent: 4373788 (1983-02-01), Herbert
Baxley Charles E.
Nerbun Peter
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