Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses
Utility Patent
1997-06-23
2001-01-02
Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
C351S178000
Utility Patent
active
06168271
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to lenses used in eyewear, and more particularly to a decentered, noncorrective lens to reduce optical distortion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of improvements have been made in recent years in the eyewear field, particularly with respect to eyewear intended for use in active sports or as fashion sunglasses. These improvements have been incorporated into eyewear having a unitary lens, such as the “Blades®” design (Oakley, Inc.) the “M Frame®” line (Oakley, Inc.), and the “Zero®” line also produced by Oakley, Inc. These eyewear designs accomplish a variety of functional advantages, such as maximizing interception of peripheral light, reducing optical distortion and increasing the wearer's comfort level, compared to previous active sport eyewear.
The unitary lens of the “Blades®” eyewear incorporates the cylindrical geometry disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,048, issued to Jannard. This geometry allows the lens to closely conform to the wearer's face and intercept light, wind, dust, etc. from directly in front of the wearer (anterior direction) and peripherally (lateral direction). See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,550 to Jannard (toroidal lens geometry).
Although the early unitary lens systems provided a full side-to-side range of vision and good lateral eye protection, the potential for optical distortion still exists. In a unitary lens system, for example, the angle of incidence from the wearer's eye to the posterior lens surface changes as the wearer's sight line turns in the lateral direction. This results in disparate refraction between light entering closer to the front of the lens and peripheral light entering at the lateral ends. To address this source of prismatic distortion, U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,048 discloses tapering the thickness the lens from the medial portion toward the lateral edge.
Prior art eyewear has also employed dual lens systems in which two separate lenses are mounted along a front frame. In the early dual lens eyeglass systems, each of the right and left lenses were roughly co-planar in the as-worn configuration. Thus, the sight line of the wearer, when looking straight ahead, generally crossed the posterior surface of the lens at a normal to the lens surface in the optical zone. One of the disadvantages of this lens configuration was that the eyeglasses provided essentially no lateral eye protection without the use of special modifications, such as vertically elongated earstems or side attachments.
Dual lens systems were thereafter developed in which the lateral edge of each lens curved rearwardly from the frontal plane, and around the side of the wearer's head to provide a lateral wrap similar to that achieved by the high wrap unitary lens systems. Although the dual lens eyeglasses with significant wrap provided lateral eye protection, the lens curvature generally introduced measurable prismatic distortion through the wearer's angular range of vision. This was particularly pronounced in lenses comprising low index of refraction materials. In addition, although high base curvatures (e.g. base 6 or higher) are sometimes desirable to optimize wrap while maintaining a low profile, such lenses have not been practical in the past due to the relatively high level of prismatic distortion.
Thus, there remains a need for a high base nonprescription lens for use in dual lens eyewear which can intercept light over essentially the full angular range of vision while at the same time minimize optical distortion throughout that range.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an eyeglass lens for use in noncorrective dual lens eyewear. The eyeglass lens is utilized in combination with a frame to support the lens in the path of the wearer's normal line of sight.
The lens comprises a lens body, having a front surface, a rear surface, and a thickness therebetween.
The front surface of the lens conforms to a portion of the surface of a solid geometric shape. Preferably, the front surface of the lens conforms substantially to a portion of the surface of a first sphere having a first center. The rear surface of the lens conforms substantially to a portion of the surface of a solid geometric shape, which may be the same or different than that conforming to the front surface. Preferably, the rear surface conforms substantially to a portion of the surface of a second sphere having a second center.
The first and second centers are offset from one another to taper the lens thickness. The lens is mounted in the frame such that a line drawn through the first and second centers is maintained substantially parallel with the wearer's normal line of sight.
The lens may be cut from a lens blank, or formed directly into its final configuration such as by injection molding or other techniques known in the art. Preferably, the lens is oriented on the head of a wearer by the eyeglass frame such that the normal sight line of the wearer crosses the anterior surface of the lens at an angle of greater than about 95°, and preferably within the range of from about 100° to about 120°, while maintaining the optical centerline of the lens in a substantially parallel relationship with the normal sight line of the wearer. The optical centerline of the lens may or may not pass through the lens.
Methods of making the lens of the present invention are also disclosed.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments which follows, when considered together with the attached claims and drawings.
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Declaration of Alan W. Reichow with Exhibits 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 6, Dated Sep. 30, 1997.
Declaration of William D. Noonan (including exhibits).
Declaration of James H. Jannard (including exhibits).
Declaration of James H. Jannard.
Exhibit A -Computer generated drawing dated Jul. 13, 1995.
Exhibit B -Fax Message from Gentex Optics dated Jul. 14, 1995 to Oakley, C. Reyes in 2 pages.
Exhibit C -Letter to Neil Houston, Oakley, Inc. from Gentex Optics dated Jan. 2
Houston Malcolm Neal
Jannard James H.
Reyes Carlos D.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Mai Huy
Oakley Inc.
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