AU663002B2

AU663002B2 - Improved eyeglass unit

Info

Publication number: AU663002B2
Application number: AU47519/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tony Lei
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-29
Filing date: 1993-09-21
Publication date: 1995-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-21
Also published as: AU4751993A

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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S. S S. S :Name of Applicant: :Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: TONY LEI Tony LEI CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia Invention Title: IMPROVED EYEGLASS UNIT Details of Associated Provisional Application: PL5027 filed 29 September 1992 in the name of Tony Lei The following statement is a full dcscdption of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us -2- TITLE IMPROVED EYEGLASS UNIT INTRODUCTION TO INVENTION This invention relates to spectacles or eyeglasses and particularly to the wrap around type of spectacles employing a unitary lens piece being particularly adapted for active sports and enabling the lens piece to be instantly removed and replaced.

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6 BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The development of eyeglasses for protective functions rather than optical functions has seen the emergence of a wide range of glasses having appeal to active, outdoor activities such as skiing, cycling and skateboard riding.

The design of such glasses has developed from a conventional frame adapted to hold two separate lenses, usually of optical design and having a variable thickness, to a very streamline design where the lens does not have an optical function and can, accordingly, be of a lightweight material having a curved unitary shape adapted to wrap around the wearer's face. Such glasses have developed where a considerable portion of the units strength is derived from the shape of the lens itself, rather than the frame giving strength to the lens, the frame becoming an appendage to the lens and providing a mounting means for the side temple arms which rest on the wearer's ears.

To date, such glasses have adjoined the lens to the frame by insertion of the unitary lens into a slot formed in the underside edge of the frame. The lens is secured in the frame by screws or the like which operate transverse to the slot and anchor the lens in the slot.

S *a mwspe#11562 6 Juty 1995 -3- Such an aichorage means is time consuming to the assembly of such glasses and furthermore renders the lens difficult to replace without a suitable tool. In particular, it would be advantageous to have a lens and frame assembly that was readily interchangeable without the need for tools.

OBJECT STATEMENT OF INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide an eyeglass unit having a readily demountable lens element.

Accordingly, the invention provides an eyeglass unit comprising a frame having a main bridge element and two temple arms, and a unitary lens element adapted for engagement to said frame characterized in that the main bridge element is provided with an underside slot substantially along the whole length thereof or in a plurality of smaller lengths wherein the underside slot is provided S with at least one transverse internal protuberance adapted to engage a corresponding indentation in said lens element as the lens element is inserted into the main bridge element wherein said protuberance is adapted for compliant and resilient movement relative to the underside slot so as to provide a means ;or the ready fitting and removal of said lens from said frame.

The protuberance may be provided with a compliant attachment to the a. slot to facilitate insertion and removal of the lens from the bridge.

The compliant attachment may be in the form of an isolated portion of the slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: mwspe#11562 6 July 1995 -4- Figure 1 shows the assembled eyeglass unit.

Figure 2A shows an exploded view of the eyeglass unit..

Figure 2B shows a detail of the protuberance engagement means.

Figure 3 shows a side cross-section view of the eyeglass unit.

Figure 4 shows a rear view of the eyeglass unit with the two temple arms removed.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, the eyeglass unit can be seen to comprise a frame having a main bridge element 1 spanning the top of the unit and adopting a curved configuration for a wrap around fit to the wearer's head.

The main bridge element is provided with two temple arms 3 which may be hinged or otherwise attached to the main bridge member to form the eyeglass frame.

The eyeglass lens 2 is of a unitary construction having a curved configuration which conforms to the curve of the main bridge member and is adapted for fitting thereto. The fitting of the lens to the frame is effected through the main bridge element thereof by way of slots 12 formed in the underside of the main bridge element. The slots may be singular (see figure 4) or made up of a plurality of shorter lengths 12(a). The slots are provided with protuberances 21 in the form of hemispherical outcrops on the innerside of the slot.

The protuberances are specifically adapted to engage indentations 15 in .0 the lens. The indentations may be holes. In order to facilitate ease of assembly and 1dsassembly the protuberances may be positioner in isolated sections or islands 13 formed in the slot by removal of some of the slot material 14. The isolation of the protuberance provides the island 13 with a greater compliance than the integral slot and allows easier fitting and removal of the lens.

mwspe#11562 6 July 1995

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Figure 3 details the fitting method of the invention where a cross-section of the main bridge section of the main bridge member 1 shows the slot 12 fully engaging the lens 2 where the protuberance 21 is fitted into the indentation of the lens to effect a secure but readily removable fitting of the lens to the frame.

Figure 4 details the preferred use of a unitary slot 12 having islands 13 located therein to house the protuberance 21. and provide the lens with full length support whilst allowing the protuberance the required compliance to effect ready demounting of the lens.

In use the glasses unit provides a strong and durable assembly of the frame and lens components. However, if the lens is damaged or a difference type of lens is desired, it is a simple matter of pulling the unitary lens element out of the frame and pressing in a fresh lens element in its place. The unique fitting of the lens as provided in the instant invention allows a highly simplified assembly and demounting technique avoiding the need for tools and other forms of specialized equipment.

reailySince modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may be readily effected by persons skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described, by way of example, hereinabove.

mwspe#11562 6 July 199

Claims

1. An eyeglass unit comprising a frame having a main bridge element and two temple arms, and a unitary lens element adapted for engagement to said frame characterized in that the main bridge element i, provided with an underside slot substantially along the whole length thereof or in a plurality of smaller lengths wherein the underside slot is provided with at least one transverse internal protuberance adapted to engage a corresponding indentation in said lens element as the lens element is inserted into the main bridge element wherein said protuberance is adapted for compliant and resilient movement relative to the underside slot so as to provide a means for the ready fitting and •0 0: removal of said lens from said frame.

2. An eyeglass unit according to claim 1 wherein the protuberance is provided in an isolated section or island of said underside slot.

3. An eyeglass unit according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the main *0 bridge element is provided with a plurality of outcrops corresponding with a plurality of smaller length underside slots which are adapted to house said protuberances.

4. An eyeglass unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the example. o 00 DATED this 6 July 1995 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Fellows Institute of Paent Attorneys of Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: TONY LEI mwspe# 11562 6 July 1995 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sunglasses with instant replaceable lens includes a I) frame having at least three dowels at top inner portion, a plurality. of notches at respective sides of each dowel, and a recess dlong its length and in an arcuate shape in cross-section. A ]ns having at least of three dowel sockets adapted to receive the dowels therein while the top portion of the lens is inserted into the recess of the frame. A Vee notch locates at the center bottom portion of 11 the lens adapted to receive a nose bridge thereon, and has two lugs at bottom respective ends adapted to prevent the nose bridge from come off. To mount the lens to the frame, simply push the lens upwardly toward the frame, the dowels will b'e forced outwardly. Upon the dowels sockets are 16 aligned with the dowels, dowels will be inserted into the dowels, respectively and the lens is secured to the frame.