Eyewear with ventilation

Details Eyewear with ventilation Eyewear with ventilation

2002-05-20

2004-02-17

Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)

Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting

Spectacles and eyeglasses

With moisture prevention or absorption

C002S435000, C002S436000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06692124

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to eyewear, and more particularly relates to eyewear with ventilation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Protective eyewear is available in the market place for both safety and recreational applications. The lenses of eyewear are often in direct contact with or are disposed in closely spaced relationship to certain areas of the face of the user, such as the cheeks and the super-orbital arches. In such cases when the face perspires and the lenses are relatively cool, or when the lenses are worn from a cold atmosphere into a warm moist atmosphere, moisture condenses on the surfaces of the lenses next to the face, and especially on areas thereof at or adjacent to the point of contact between the lenses and the face. Thus, the lenses of the eyewear become clouded with condensation so as to seriously interfere with vision therethrough.
It is well know that providing a free circulation of air over the surface of the lens between the lens and the face of the user can substantially reduce or inhibit such condensation of moisture.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,027,037, issued to Gottlieb on Jan. 7, 1936 describes VENTILATED SPECTACLES OR EYEGLASSES which have ventilation slots disposed between the outer peripheries of the lenses and the outer peripheries of the lens-receiving rims, or which have an air passage formed by the spaces between the lens-receiving rims and the guides that partially surround the lenses and are disposed at the sides of the rims next to the face of the user while the spectacles are worn. However, Gottlieb's ventilated spectacles or eyeglasses are generally not proper for use as protective eyewear, and do not provide seals between the lenses and the face of the user while Gottlieb's spectacles or eyeglasses are worn.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,268, issued to Hall et al. on Nov. 21, 2000 describes PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR WITH AT LEAST ONE VENTILATION CHANNEL which is provided with particulate sealing around a frame containing a lens and having temples. A plurality of ventilation channels are disposed on the frame to provide indirect ventilation. The ventilation channels are formed in the frame on the side thereof contacting the lens.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,863, issued to McNeal on Nov. 24, 1987 describes ANTI-FOG GOGGLE WITH FOAM FRAME which also includes slotted rims on the goggle for providing ventilation channels. McNeal's slots are disposed on the outside of the cushion rim, adjacent to the plastic shield of the goggle.
In order to prevent sweat drippings from entering the top ventilation slots or channels and flowing down along the interior surface of the lens or shield of Hall et al's protective eyewear or McNeal's anti-fog goggle, an elongate lip, as described by Hall et al., or an upper bead as described by McNeal, must be provided along portions of the frame above the top ventilation slots or channels, which makes the entire structure of the Hall et al's eyewear and McNeal's goggle relatively complicated. Therefore, a simpler configuration for eyewear with ventilation is desirable
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide eyewear with ventilation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple configuration for protective eyewear with ventilation.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, eyewear comprises at least one lens, a frame securing the at least one lens and means for attaching the eyewear to the head of a user. The frame includes a seal member having a surface for contacting the face of the user. The seal member forms a substantial enclosure between the at least one lens and the face of the user when the surface of the seal member contacts the face of the user. At least one ventilation channel is formed in the seal member on the surface for contacting the face of the user. The ventilation channel extends into the seal member towards the lens to a depth not reaching the lens and ensuring free passage of air from the enclosure to the atmosphere when the user wears the eyewear.
The ventilation channel is preferably one of a plurality of ventilation channels in the seal member. At least one of the ventilation channels is preferably located in a bottom section of the seal member. It is also preferable that at least one of the ventilation channels is located in a top section of the seal member. The means for attaching the eyewear to the head of the user in accordance with one embodiment comprise a pair of temples pivotally attached to opposite sides of the frame, and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention comprise a retention strap attached to opposite sides of the frame.
The present invention provides a simple configuration for eyewear with ventilation. The seal member with ventilation channels provides means for regulating air flow around the user's eyes in order to reduce moisture condensation on the lenses of eyewear and provides protection of eyes from relatively large particles. The seal member further provides a cushion for the user of the eyewear against impact which may occur to the eyewear.
Other features and advantages can be better understood with reference to preferred embodiments described hereinafter.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2027037 (1936-01-01), Gottlieb
patent: 3708224 (1973-01-01), Lindblom
patent: 4405212 (1983-09-01), Cooper
patent: 4707863 (1987-11-01), McNeal
patent: 5245709 (1993-09-01), Shipcott
patent: 6149268 (2000-11-01), Hall et al.
patent: 6257719 (2001-07-01), Pavlak
patent: 6276795 (2001-08-01), Hall et al.
patent: 6450639 (2002-09-01), Abraham
patent: 4-75019 (1992-03-01), None

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