Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – With antiglare or shading
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-09
2001-06-05
Dang, Hung Xuan (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
With antiglare or shading
C351S046000, C351S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241352
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to eyewear. More particularly, this invention relates to lens overlays for use with eyewear in safety and recreational (e.g., sports) applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of protective eyewear is common in many safety and recreational (e.g., sports) applications. Such eyewear protects the eyes from unwanted foreign objects. Unfortunately, in some applications, the lens of the eyewear is subjected to potentially adverse conditions which reduce the life and functionality of the eyewear. For example, in painting applications, eyewear is commonly used to protect the wearer's eyes from paint droplets and the like. As is known, during the painting of a surface which extends above the head of the painter, it is necessary to continuously look upward towards the surface above in order to paint this surface. Even if the painter is careful, it is likely that some paint may drip from the ceiling or run off the tip of a brush during the upward movement of the brush toward the surface resulting in the paint falling toward the painter's head and eyes.
Because of the position of the painter's head and more particularly the eyes during the this motion, the eyes are exposed to falling paint droplets. While eyewear greatly increases the chance that the eyes of the painter will be protected from the falling paint droplets, the paint droplets will instead make contact with and soil the lens of the eyewear.
By being exposed to foreign matter, such as paint droplets, the life and functionality of the lens is reduced and in some instances may be permanently damaged. In another example, if the eyewear is used in an environment where small abrasive material is continuously being released into the air surrounding the wearer, the lens will be exposed to this same abrasive material which likely will tarnish the lens as it continuously makes contact therewith and accumulates on the lens surface.
In another aspect, the lenses of conventional eyewear commonly come in a single predetermined color. Typically, the lens will be a clear color. This creates some difficulties when the wearer wishes to move from one setting to another which varies in some way. For example, the common clear lens eyewear does not offer sunblock protection or complete comfort in high light environments. In other words, the wearing of a clear lens in a bright setting results in eye discomfort because the wearer often needs to squint to avoid the direct, bright light, e.g., sunlight.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide conventional eyewear with added versatility and added lens protection from unwanted foreign material which may cause damage to the lens by making impact thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-discussed and other problems and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the lens overlays of the present invention. In general terms, the lens overlays comprise thin, formed plastic overlays that can easily be attached to the inside, or outside of the primary protective lenses by the user. In one embodiment, the lens overlay comprises a first overlay to be disposed on the left side lens and a second overlay to be disposed on the right side lens. In another embodiment, the lens overlay comprises a one piece conforming overlay lens that is attached to the front face of the primary lens by removing the frame bridge, slipping the frame temples through a left and right hole in the endpieces of the overlay and snapping the bridge back onto the frame to secure the overlays to the front face of the primary lens. In yet another embodiment directed to lens overlays for eyewear having a frame browbar with the primary lens, the formed overlay of this embodiment is secured primarily to the browbar itself.
The lens overlay of the present invention permits conventional protective eyewear to be multifunctional and have additional uses beyond the normal protective features of the protective eyewear. Furthermore, the lens overlays of the present invention are especially well suited for use with eyewear frames that have a severe lens curvature or lenses with integral sideshields that wrap in a different plane than the main lens. Some of the multifunctional uses in accordance with the present invention are various shades of sunglass lenses, polarized vision, yellow shooters glasses and clear, protective disposable lenses for spray painting operations.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2901752 (1959-09-01), Granger
patent: 5410763 (1995-05-01), Bolle
patent: 1 190 758 (1959-10-01), None
patent: 2 673 299 (1992-08-01), None
patent: WO98/34150 (1998-08-01), None
Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation
Cantor & Colburn LLP
Dang Hung Xuan
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