GB2472120A

GB2472120A - Releasable attachment of apparatus to spectacles

Info

Publication number: GB2472120A
Application number: GB0920349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Amanda Jane Rees
Original assignee: TECH SPECS Ltd
Current assignee: TECH SPECS Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-21
Filing date: 2009-11-20
Publication date: 2011-01-26
Also published as: GB0912608D0; GB0920349D0

Abstract

Apparatus 101, such as a light emitting element, audio device, MP3 player, speaker, clock, radio, whistle, or compass etc. for attaching to spectacles 103, has main body 104 and an attachment device 109 with bracket 301. Bracket 301 attaches to an arm 102 of a pair of spectacles and is configured to releasably attach to attachment device 109. Elastic band 108 and a latching mechanism composed of latching member 305 and slot (fig 5, 306) and hooking portion 304 and lower edge (fig 5, 402) may be used for attachment.

Description

Apparatus For Attaching To Spectacles

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 09 12 608.7, filed 21 July 2009, the whole contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for attaching to spectacles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for attaching to spectacles, comprising: a first main body having a first attachment portion; and an attachment device having an attachment mechanism for attaching to an arm of a pair of spectacles and a second attachment portion configured to releasably attach to said first attachment portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 and 2 show apparatus 101 embodying the present invention attached to an arm 102 of a pair of spectacles 103 in a front perspective view and partial top view respectively; Figure 3 shows the apparatus 101 attached to the spectacles 103 in a rear perspective view; Figure 4A shows a simplified cross-sectional view of the apparatus 101 with the main body 104 attached to the attachment device 109; Figure 4B shows a simplified cross-sectional view of the apparatus 101 with the main body 104 in the process of being detached from the attachment device 109; Figure 5 shows the individual components of the apparatus 101 comprising the main body 104, the bracket 301 and the elastic band 108; Figure 6 shows the attachment device 109, attached to the arm 102 of spectacles 103, but after detachment of the main body 104; Figure 7 shows the attachment device 109, still attached to the arm 102 of spectacles 103, but with a second main body 704 fitted in place of main body 104; Figure 8 shows the attachment device 109 with a third main body 804 fitted in ptace of main body 104; Figure 9 shows the attachment device 109 with a fourth main body 904 fitted in place of main body 104; Figure 10 shows components of an alternative apparatus 1001 for attaching to a pair of spectacles; Figure hA shows a simplified cross-sectional view of the assembled apparatus 1001 with the main body 1004 attached to the attachment device 109; and Figure 11 B shows a simplified cross-sectional view of the assembled apparatus 1001 with the main body 1004 in the process of being detached from the attachment device 109.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 and 2 Apparatus 101 embodying the present invention is shown attached to an arm 102 of a pair of spectacles 103 in the front perspective view of Figure 1 and the partial top view in Figure 2. The apparatus 101 comprises a main body 104 and an attachment mechanism 105 that releasably attaches the main body to the spectacles 103.

The main body 104 comprises an electric torch and has an on/off switch 106, a light emitting diode 107 and a battery of button cells (not shown) for providing electrical power to the light emitting diode.

The attachment mechanism 105 includes an elastic band 108, and the attachment mechanism will be further described below.

The attachment mechanism 105 forms part of an attachment device 109 to which the main body 104 is releasably connected. This connection will also be further described below.

Figure 3 The apparatus 101 attached to the spectacles 103 is shown in the rear perspective view of Figure 4. The attachment device 109 comprises a bracket 301 that extends up the outer-side and around the upper edge 302 of the arm 102. The bracket 301 has an elongated post 303 extending from an upper surface of the bracket and a groove (401, shown in Figure 4A) extending around a lower portion of the bracket.

The elastic band 108 i5 in the form of a continuous loop that extends around the post 303 and around the groove (401 in Figure 4A) such that it is slightly stretched. Two downwardly-extending portions 351A, 351B of the elastic band extend between the post 303 and the groove (401). Each of the two downwardly-extending portions 351A, 351B and the bracket 301 form an aperture (as shown in Figure 4A) through which the arm 102 of the spectacles 102 passes.

To locate the apparatus 101 on the arm 102 of the spectacles, the end of the arm is simply inserted through the apertures formed by the elastic band 108 portions 351A and 351B and the bracket 301, and then the apparatus is pushed along the arm to the required location. During this assembly process, the elastic band is further stretched as the arm 102 of the spectacles 103 presses against it. Consequently, the elastic band 108 presses against the arm 102 of the spectacles 103, and a resulting frictional force between the elastic band and the arm resists inadvertent movement of the apparatus 101 along the arm.

As mentioned above, the main body 104 is releasably attached to the attachment device 109. The main body has an attachment portion having a lower hooking element 304 that hooks around a lower edge of the bracket 301 of the attachment device 109, and a latching member 305 that engages a slot 306 formed in the upper surface of the bracket 301. This releasable attachment is illustrated further in Figures 4A and 4B.

Figures 4A and 4B The apparatus 101 is shown in a simplified cross-sectional view in Figures 4A and 4B. In Figure 4A the main body 104 is attached to the attachment device 109, whereas in Figure 4B the main body is shown in the process of being detached from the attachment device 109.

Figure 4A illustrates how the elastic band 108 extends around the post and down to the groove 401; the groove itself extending parallel to the lower edge 402 of the bracket 301. The downwardly extending portion 351A of the elastic band 108 and the bracket 301 define the aperture 404 through which the arm of a pair of spectacles may be located.

As illustrated in Figure 4A, the upper part of the bracket 301 has a downwardly extending edge 451, to provide a u-shaped channel configured to extend around the upper edge 302 of the arm 102 of the spectacles during use.

The lower edge 402 of the bracket 301 has a cylindrical shape, while the rear face 405 of the bracket is flat. The lower edge 402, the rear face 405 and the slot 306 in the upper surface of the bracket 301 provide an attachment portion (456) to which the attachment portion 406 of the main body 104 is configured to releasably attach. Thus, the attachment portion 406 of the main body 104 comprises: the hooking portion 304, which has a cylindlically shaped inner surface to co-operate with the cylindrically shaped lower edge of the bracket 301; a flat surface 407; and the latching member 305, which is configured to engage the slot 306.

The latching member 305 is formed of a springy plastics material and it has a form that allows it to flex under pressure applied by a finger, so that the end of the latching member may be freed from the slot 306. Thus to remove the main body from the attachment device 109, the latching member is firstly freed from the slot 306. After freeing the latching member, the main body 104 is rotated around the lower edge 402 of the bracket 301. The apparatus 101 is shown after such a rotation in Figure 4B. The hooking portion 304 is then unhooked from the lower edge 402 of the bracket 301, to complete the detachment of the main body.

The main body 104 may be refitted onto the attachment device 109 by a reverse process, in which the hooking portion 305 is hooked onto the lower edge 402 of the bracket 301, and the main body is rotated around until the latching member 305 latches into the slot 306.

Figure 5 The individual components of the apparatus 101 comprising the main body 104, the bracket 301 and the elastic band 108, are shown separated in Figure 5.

A shallow groove 502 extends around the left, right and rear sides of the post 303, which further assists with the retention of the elastic band 108 in its correct position during use.

The elastic band 108 has a substantially circular opening 503 when in its relaxed state, as shown in Figure 5. The size of the elastic band is chosen such that it is slightly stretched when located in its operating position as shown in the previous figures. Consequently, tension in the elastic band keeps it in place.

In the present embodiment, the attachment portion of the main body 104 comprises a plate having the flat surface 407. The latching member 305 is integrally formed with the plate extending from its upper edge 506.

Figure 6 The attachment device 109, attached to the arm 102 of spectacles 103, but after detachment of the main body 104 is shown in Figure 6. Features of the attachment device 109 have been labeled as previously described.

As will be described below, other main bodies, possibly containing other types of electrically powered device, may be fitted to the attachment device 109 in place of the first main body 104. These other main bodies are each provided with an attachment portion that is similarly configured to the attachment portion 406 of the main body 104. Thus, the wearer of the spectacles 103 may detach the main body as described with respect to Figure 4A and 4B, and then attach a different main body that comprises a different electrical device instead of a torch.

Figure 7 The attachment device 109 is shown in Figure 7, still attached to the arm 102 of spectacles 103, but with a second main body 704 fitted in place of main body 104. The main body 704 comprises a clock having an LCD 751 (liquid crystal display) for displaying the time. The clock has a button 752 to receive user inputs and so allow a user to set the time.

Figure 8 The attachment device 109 is shown in Figure 8 with a third main body 804 fitted in place of main body 104. The main body 804 comprises a walkie-talkie having a shortwave radio receiver/transmitter, a speaker component 851 and a microphone component 852.

Figure 9 The attachment device 109 is shown in Figure 9 with a fourth main body 904 fitted in place of main body 104. The main body 904 contains a pre-programmed sound module powered by a battery of button cells enclosed within the main body. The main body 904 also has an array of button switches 951 to allow a user to provide inputs to the pre-programmed sound module, and a speaker component 952 that is arranged to emit sounds in response to electrical signals received from the sound module. Thus, by pressing one of the buttons 951, a user can cause the speaker component 952 to emit a selected sound.

Other alternative embodiments are envisaged including an audio device for playing audio files, such as MP3.

The above described main bodies, each comprise an electrically powered device only, but in other alternative embodiments, the main body also comprises other functional devices such as a whistle, a compass for finding magnetic north, etc. Figure 10 Components of an alternative apparatus 1001 for attaching to a pair of spectacles are shown in Figure 10. The alternative apparatus 1001 comprises a main body 1004, as well as a bracket 301 and an elastic band 108. It should be noted that the bracket 301 and elastic band 108 are the same as those described for apparatus 102, and consequently they will not be further described here.

The main body 1004 is an electric torch similar to main body 104. Like main body 104, the main body 1004 has an on/off switch 1016 and an LED 1017 connected in series with button cells (not shown) located within the outer casing of the main body. The main body 1004 has an attachment portion 1006 comprising a hooking portion 1014, similarly configured to the hooking portion 304 of the main body 104. In addition, the attachment portion 1006 has a flat surface 1007, for butting up against the rear face 405 of the bracket 301, and a latching member 1005, which is configured to engage the slot 306 of the bracket 301. However, the main body 1004 differs from main body 104 in the structure of its latching member 1005. A plate 1010 forming a rear outer wall of the main body and the latching member 1005 are integrally formed, being moulded from a plastics material. The latching member 1005 has an end portion 1021 configured to latch within the slot 306 of bracket 301. The end portion 1021 extends at an acute angle from an upper end of a spring portion 1022. As shown in Figure 10, a lower part of the spring portion 1022 is co-planar with the plate 1010, it is separated on its left and right sides from the plate by slots 1023A and 1023B and is attached to the plate at its lower end.

Thus, the whole of the latching member 1005 is free to flex, apart from its lower end where it is attached to the plate 1010.

Figures hA and 118 The apparatus 1001 is shown assembled in a simplified cross-sectional view in Figures 1 1A and 11 B. The cross-section has been taken through the slot 1023B. In Figure hA the main body 1004 is attached to the attachment device 109, comprising the bracket 301 and elastic band 108. In Figure 11B the main body 1004 is shown in the process of being detached from the attachment device 109.

Figure hA illustrates how the hooking portion 1014 of the main body 1004 extends around the lower edge 402 of the bracket 301, and how the end portion 1021 of the latching member 1005 latches in the slot 306 of the bracket 301.

In order to detach the main body 1004 from the bracket 301, the spring portion 1022 of the latching member 1005 is flexed by applying pressure to its upper end, for example with a finger. As the spring portion 1022 of the latching member 1005 flexes, the end portion 1021 is lifted out of the slot 306 as illustrated in Figure 11B.

When compared with the latching member 305, the movement required to unlatch the latching member 1005 is achieved while generating a reduced amount of stress in the spring portion 1022. This is because the spring portion 1022 is relatively long, when compared to the corresponding part of the latching member 305.

Having unlatched the latching member 1005, the main body 1004 may be removed from the bracket 301, and replaced, in a similar manner to that described above for the main body 104.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus for attaching to spectacles, comprising: a first main body having a first attachment portion; and an attachment device having an attachment mechanism for attaching to an arm of a pair of spectacles and a second attachment portion configured to releasably attach to said first attachment portion.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a stretched elastic band that defines a side of an aperture for receiving an arm of a pair of spectacles.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said elastic band is in the form of a continuous loop.
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a bracket defining a U-shaped channel for receiving an arm of a pair of spectacles.
5. Apparatus according to any one of ctaims 1 to 4, wherein said first main body comprises an electrically powered device.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a light emitting element.
7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises an audio device.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said first attachment portion comprises a latching member and said second attachment portion comprises a slot configured to receive an end portion of said latching member.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said main body comprises an outer wall, and said latching member and said outer wall are moulded as a single item from a plastics material.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said latching member has a spring portion configured to flex when unlatching said latching member from said slot, and a lower part of the spring portion is co-planar with said outer wall, being separated from said outer wall by slots.
11. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 10, wherein said apparatus comprises a second main body having a third attachment portion configured to be releasably attached to said first attachment portion in place of said first main body.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first main body comprises an electrically powered device of a first type and said second main body comprises an electrically powered device of a different second type.
13. Apparatus for attaching to spectacles, comprising; a main body containing an electrically powered device; and an attachment mechanism for attaching said main body to an arm of a pair of spectacles.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a stretched elastic band that defines a side of an aperture for receiving an arm of a pair of spectacles.
15. Apparatus for attaching to spectacles as described herein with references to the accompanying Figures.