Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-02
2002-11-05
Nerbun, Peter (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
active
06473909
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frame for swimming/diving goggles that provides improved wearing comfort, improved safety, and appearance diversity without sacrificing the strength.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 5 and 6
of the drawings illustrate a pair of conventional swimming goggles comprising two lenses
1
′, a frame
2
′, a two padding members
3
′, and a head strap
4
′. Each lens
1
is made of a rigid material and includes a flange (not shown) for engaging with an associated padding member
3
′. The frame
2
′ is made of a soft material and includes two frame portions connected by a bridge
21
′, each frame portion having a receiving hole
22
′ for receiving an associated lens
1
′. Each receiving hole
22
′ includes two protrusions
23
′ for engaging with two engaging slot
11
′ (only one is shown) in the associated lens
1
′. Each frame portion further includes an engaging portion
24
′ on an outer end thereof for engaging with the head strap
4
′. A central axis A (
FIG. 6
) of one of the lenses
1
′ and the associated frame portion is kept coincident with that of the other lens
1
′ and its associated frame portion by means of rigidity of the frame
2
. However, the rigidity of the frame
2
′ causes an uncomfortable wearing. In addition, the rigid frame
2
′, if impinged during swimming, might break and thus cause injury.
FIGS. 7 and 8
illustrate another pair of conventional swimming goggles comprising two lenses
5
′, a frame
6
′, two padding members
7
′, and a head strap
8
′. Each lens
5
′ is made of a rigid material and includes a flange
51
′ for engaging with the frame
6
′ and an associated padding member
7
′. The frame
6
′ is made of a soft, tensile material and includes two frame portions connected by a bridge
61
′. Each frame portion includes a receiving hole
62
′ for receiving an associated lens
5
′ and an engaging portion
63
′ for engaging with the head strap
8
′. The soft, tensile frame
6
′ allows easy engagement of the flange
51
′ into the associated receiving hole
62
′ and provides improved wearing comfort. However, since the frame
6
′ is soft, a central axis B of the one of the lenses
5
′ and the associated frame portion cannot be kept coincident with that of the other lens
5
′ and its associated frame portion after assembly, as shown in FIG.
6
. Namely, the lens
5
′ tends to be disengaged from the soft, tensible frame
6
′ as a result of insufficient holding force provided by the frame
6
′ or fatigue of the frame
6
′.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a frame for swimming/diving goggles that provides improved wearing comfort, improved safety, and appearance diversity without sacrificing the strength.
In accordance with the present invention, a frame for a pair of swimming/diving goggles comprises an inner rigid frame and a covering that is made of a soft, tensile material and that covers at least a portion of the inner rigid frame. The frame comprises two lens-engaging portions and a bridge connecting the lens-engaging portions, the lens-engaging portions and the bridge being formed by the inner rigid frame and the covering. At least one lateral extension extends from the inner rigid frame, wherein at least a portion of the lateral extension is exposed in an area covered by the covering. The inner rigid frame has at least one disconnected section that is filled with the covering. The soft, tensile covering allows easy engagement with the lens and the lens is securely in the frame by the inner rigid frame. The soft, tensile covering provides improved wearing comfort and safety. In another embodiment of the invention, the frame comprises a lens-engaging portion defined by the inner rigid frame and the covering.
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: 3694814 (1972-10-01), DeBarbieri et al.
patent: 4087865 (1978-05-01), Garofalo
patent: 6098206 (2000-08-01), Chou
patent: 6317897 (2001-11-01), Chiang
Baxley Charles E.
Nerbun Peter
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