Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Temples
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-08
2001-02-06
Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Temples
C351S055000, C351S121000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183080
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to eyeglasses with vertically adjustable multifocal lenses and more particularly, to a mechanism for providing vertical angle adjustability between the lenses and temples of eyeglasses.
One such mechanism is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,048 issued to Negishi, the inventor of the present application. In the patent to Negishi, each temple is composed of a joint secured to a rim in which a bifocal lens is mounted, a bend for resting behind the ear of a wearer, and a leg having one end unitarily connected to the bend and the other end pivotally connected to the joint. When the lenses are in a normal position, the joints and the legs are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the temples, with the lenses oriented substantially perpendicular to the temples. To move the lenses to an elevated or reading position, the joints together with the rims are downwardly pivoted or bent relative to the legs. At this time, the legs are slightly upwardly pivoted about the ears of the wearer. Simultaneously, a pair of nose pads are upwardly pivoted to accommodate inclination of the legs. A problem with this arrangement is that when the lenses are moved to their elevated position, the eyeglass frame is subjected to downward displacement. As this occurs, the plane of the eyeglass lenses becomes to be at an improper angle with respect to a line of sight therethrough.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vertical plane adjusting mechanism adapted to be incorporated into an eyeglass frame and designed to permit two or more focal fields of lenses to be moved to the most comfortable and accurate position of use and also, firmly holding the eyeglass frame against the nose of a wearer when the eyeglass lenses are moved to an elevated position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vertical plane adjusting mechanism for an eyeglass frame with a pair of rims in which a pair of corresponding multifocal lenses are mounted. The adjusting mechanism includes a pair of temples, each of which is composed of a first piece having one end secured to a corresponding one of the rims, a second piece having one end connected to the other end of the first piece and the other end adapted to rest behind a wearer's ear, and means for enabling pivotal movement between the first and second pieces in a vertical plane so as to permit movement of the multifocal lenses between a normal position and an elevated position. As a feature, the means is so constructed as to decrease the distance between a first point at which the first piece is connected to the rim and a second point at which the first piece is connected to the second piece when the lenses are moved from their normal to elevated position. With this feature, the rims are firmly held against the face or nose of the wearer so that the plane of the eyeglass lenses are at a proper angle with respect to a line of sight therethrough.
In a preferred embodiment, the first piece includes a movable magnet, and the second piece includes a lower fixed magnet and an upper fixed magnet. The movable magnet of the first piece is magnetically attached to the lower magnet of the second piece when the lenses are held in their normal position. The movable magnet is magnetically attached to the upper magnet when the lenses are moved to their elevated position. Alternatively, the first piece may include upper and lower fixed magnets and the second piece may include a movable magnet.
In a preferred embodiment, the first piece of the temple has an elongated slot, and the second piece has a pin movable within the elongated slot when the lenses are moved between their normal and elevated positions. The first piece has a projection, and the second piece includes upper and lower recesses with the upper recess having a depth greater than that of the lower recess. The first piece further includes an extendable element inserted between the pin and one end of the elongated slot. The extendable element is so compressed as to hold the projection in the lower recess when the lenses are held in their normal position. The extendable element is so extended as to move the first piece toward the second piece when the lenses are moved from their normal to elevated position. The extendable element may be in the form of a coil spring or a bellows filled with gas or liquid.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an eyeglass frame for multifocal lenses, which includes a pair of rims adapted to mount the respective multifocal lenses therein, and a pair of temples connected to the respective rims. Each of the temples is composed of a first piece having one end secured to a corresponding one of the rims, a second piece having one end connected to the other end of the first piece and the other end adapted to rest behind a wearer's ear, and means for enabling pivotal movement between the first and second pieces in a vertical plane so as to permit movement of the multifocal lenses between a normal position and an elevated position. As a feature, the means is so constructed as to decrease the distance between a first point at which the first piece is connected to the rim and a second point at which the first piece is connected to the second piece when the lenses are moved from their normal to elevated position.
In one embodiment, the first element is a joint and the second element is a leg. In another embodiment, the first element is a leg, and the second element is a bend.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3947100 (1976-03-01), Vischer, Jr.
patent: 4280758 (1981-07-01), Flader
patent: 4506961 (1985-03-01), Palmieri
patent: 4547048 (1985-10-01), Negishi
patent: 4991952 (1991-02-01), Grau
patent: 0 772 065 A1 (1997-07-01), None
Browning Clifford W.
ELU Patent Optical Co., Ltd.
Mai Huy
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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