Temple adjustment device

Details Temple adjustment device Temple adjustment device

2000-11-10

2001-11-27

Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)

Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting

Spectacles and eyeglasses

Temples

Reexamination Certificate

active

06322211

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to eyewear. More specifically, this invention relates to a temple adjustment device for eyewear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional eyewear included fixed length temple bodies. Because such temple bodies were fixed in length, users were either forced to search for eyewear that included temple bodies of the proper length or order custom eyewear.
More recent advances in eyewear design have provided temple bodies manufactured to be adjustable to provide for a proper fit to each individual. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,320 to Specht et al. describes protective eyewear with temple bodies that may be adjusted in length. The temple bodies are adjusted by inserting a post (or temple tip) into a sleeve in which nubs, on the post, compress a slotted spring allowing guide tabs to enter the sleeve and move back and forth. The nubs may engage a series of ports to hold the temple body. Another is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,310 to Moetteli. This patent describes eyewear with a wrap-around temple portion and a temple portion adjustment mechanism. The temple portion adjustment mechanism is utilized by sliding a beam along an axis of the straight section of the wrap-around temple portion.
While these designs do allow for some temple adjustment, the temple tips are prone to slip from the desired position. Additionally, such adjustment mechanisms often become ineffective after short usage due to stripping of the temple tip.
There exists a need in the eyewear art to create a durable and adjustable temple body that is easily manipulated and securely locks into place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-discussed and other problems and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the temple adjustment device of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment, a temple body comprises a temple tip having at least one projection and a temple adjustment housing. The temple adjustment housing includes an interior cavity for receiving the temple tip, a longitudinal groove extending at least partially along the interior cavity, and at least one relief cut contiguous with the longitudinal groove. The longitudinal groove and relief cuts are sized to receive at least one projection located on the temple tip.
Another preferred embodiment is a pair of eyewear comprising a lens having an endpiece and a temple hinge movably connected to the endpiece. The eyewear also comprises a temple adjustment housing with an interior cavity having a longitudinal groove and at least one relief cutout contiguous with the longitudinal groove. The eyewear comprises a temple tip having at least one projection, such that the temple tip is received in the interior cavity and a projection is received in the longitudinal groove and a relief cut.
In the preferred method, a method of adjusting the eyewear comprises providing eyewear that is comprised of a temple adjustment housing and a temple tip. The temple adjustment housing has an interior cavity, a longitudinal groove, and at least one relief cut contiguous with the longitudinal groove. The temple tip has at least one projection, in which the temple tip is received in the interior cavity and a projection is received in the longitudinal groove and a relief cut. In one position, the projection(s) on the temple tip slide longitudinally along the groove, thereby adjusting the overall length of the temple body. In a second rotated position, the projection(s) on the temple tip engage the tangential relief cut(s), thereby fixing the overall length of the temple body.
The above-discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the ail from the following detailed description and drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4955708 (1990-09-01), Kahaney
patent: 5528320 (1996-06-01), Specht et al.
patent: 5668619 (1997-09-01), Bolle
patent: 5796461 (1998-08-01), Stepan
patent: 6036310 (2000-03-01), Moetteli

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