Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – With antiglare or shading
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-31
2004-08-10
Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
With antiglare or shading
C351S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06773105
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to clip-on sunglasses and more particularly to specially designed eyeglasses adapted to receive clip-on sunglasses and to the clip-on sunglasses therefor.
Clip-on sunglasses consist of a metal or plastic frame that carries a pair of light attenuating plastic or glass lenses. A mechanism is provided to removably mount the clip-on sunglasses.
In order to be commercially acceptable, the clip-on sunglasses must be light in weight, reasonably rugged and relatively inexpensive. They must also be easy to mount on and remove from eyeglasses. Further, the clip-on sunglasses must mount without damaging the eyeglasses, particularly the lenses.
One common type of mounting mechanism is a clamp that is attached to the bridge of the sunglasses. The clamp includes pairs of opposing prongs which are spring-loaded toward each other so as to retain the lenses of the eyeglasses between the prongs. Examples of this clamp-type mechanism are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,497 issued Apr. 20, 1971 to Leblanc, U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,749 issued Nov. 17, 1992 to Shelton and U.S. Pat. No. Des 350,359 issued Sep. 6, 1994 to Friedman.
However, clamp-type mechanisms have their disadvantages. The prongs must clamp tightly to the lenses, potentially scratching the lenses. The mechanism may obstruct the view partially. Moreover, the clamp-type mechanisms have several inter-engaging parts which must be fabricated precisely and assembled, making the mechanism relatively expensive and sometimes unreliable.
In order to overcome the drawbacks of the clamp-type mechanisms, a mechanism was developed for mounting clip-on sunglasses that does not contact or clamp the lenses of the eyeglasses and therefore cannot scratch them. This type of mechanism utilizes one or more sets of exposed spring-loaded prongs. The prongs arc movably or flexibly mounted such that they can be moved against a spring force, for insertion between spaced portions of the eyeglasses frame. The spring force causes the prongs to frictionally engage the eyeglasses frame. Because the prongs only engage the frame, the lenses of the eyeglasses cannot be scratched. An example of such a mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,096 entitled “Universal Center Bridge Mounting Mechanism for Clip-On Sunglasses” issued to me on Sep. 14, 1999.
Another type of clip-on sunglasses, such as is disclosed in Lockwood U.S. Pat. No. 2,926,563, consists of mirror image frame sections, each of which retains a lens. The frame sections are connected together by a bridge mechanism which includes an exposed metal coil spring. The mechanism permits the frame sections to move away from each other. Each frame section, at its outer extremity, is provided with a set (typically two or three) of eyeglasses frame engaging prongs protruding from the plane of the lens sections. When the frame sections are moved away from each other, against the force of the spring, the eyeglasses frame can be inserted between the prongs. Releasing the frame sections permits the spring to move frame sections back toward each other, such that the eyeglasses frame is securely retained between the prongs.
One problem inherent in that type of spring bridge mechanism is that the coil spring is exposed. Aside from being unsightly, this is undesirable because bits of solid debris and other particulate foreign matter can lodge between the coils and jam the mechanism or distort the spring. Liquid, such as rain or sweat, can enter the mechanism resulting in rusting or deterioration of the parts. Further, the skin, hair and eyebrows of the user are not protected from the exposed spring.
I therefore developed an improved spring bridge mechanism that overcomes that problem by enclosing the coil spring within a slender tubular enclosure. The enclosure isolates the spring from the skin and hair of the wearer and prevents debris and liquids from reaching the spring.
The enclosure serves the additional purpose of cooperating with the bridge elements of the frame sections to keep the frame sections in the proper plane. This is achieved by one or more slots in the enclosure which cooperate with protrusions on the bridge elements to maintain the frame sections in the same plane. The interior wall of the enclosure also provides an end surface for the spring to abut.
Aside from isolating the spring from the environment, the enclosure enhances the appearance of the clip-on sunglasses by hiding the unsightly spring. Preferably, the enclosure is made of the same material and finish as the bridge elements and frame, resulting in a mechanism which is much less conspicuous than an exposed spring.
I received U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,234,628 and 6,302,538, issued May 22, 2001 and Oct. 16, 2001, respectively, for my enclosed spring bridge mechanism. The mechanisms disclosed in those patents, as well as the mechanism disclosed in Lockwood, require sets of protruding prongs mounted on opposite sides of the lens sections of the sunglasses to receive the eyeglasses frame. However, the prongs on the lens sections are unsightly. Further, because the prongs must protrude out of the plane of the sunglasses, they tend to catch on other objects and to make it difficult to store the sunglasses.
In the present invention, I avoid the need for protruding prongs on the sunglasses. This is accomplished by providing spaced engaging parts on the eyeglasses frame and mounting the sunglasses by inserting the lens retaining frame sections of the sunglasses between the engaging parts.
I am aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,804, issued Sept. 1, 1998 to Robert Pennise, entitled “Linearly Adjustable Sunglasses” that discloses clip-on sunglasses that do not require protruding prongs. However, Pennise's clip-on sunglasses are designed to mount between the temple pieces of the eyeglasses frame, and hence behind the lenses of the eyeglasses, making the sunglasses uncomfortable to wear and hence impractical. Moreover, Pennise's sunglasses require a second bridge part, spaced from the spring bridge, to maintain the lenses in the same plane.
It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to provide eyeglasses and clip-on sunglasses therefor in which the clip-on sunglasses have no protruding prongs on the lens sections.
It is another object of the present invention to provide eyeglasses and clip-on sunglasses therefor in which the eyeglasses frame is modified in a simple and inexpensive manner to accept the clip-on sunglasses.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a combination of eyeglasses and clip-on sunglasses adapted to be removably mounted on the eyeglasses is provided. The eyeglasses includes a frame. The frame has spaced engaging means on the frame. The clip-on sunglasses includes first and second lens sections. Means are provided for connecting the lens sections for movement between a remote position and a proximate position. Spring means are provided for urging the lens sections toward the remote position. The lens sections are inserted and retained between the spaced engaging means to retain the clip-on sunglasses on the eyeglasses frame.
The engaging means includes first and second engaging parts. The engaging parts extend from spaced locations on the eyeglasses frame.
Each of the engaging means defines a channel adapted to receive a portion of one of the lens sections. The channel has a shape which corresponds to the shape of the portion of the lens section adapted to be received therein.
The connecting means includes a first tubular member, associated with one of the lens sections, and a second tubular member, associated with the other of the lens sections. The spring means is operably connected between the tubular members.
The first tubular member is at least partially received within the second tubular member. The spring means is at least partially received within the first tubular member.
Means are provided for preventing relative rotation between the tubular members. Those means include a protrusion extending from the surface of one of the tubular members and a protrusion receiving slot on
Epstein Robert L.
Epstein Drangel Bazerman & James LLP
Mai Huy
LandOfFree
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