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  Children's sunglassesUSPTO Application #: 20080100794Title: Children's sunglasses Abstract: Sunglasses for infants and children includes an elongate integral member including a central portion having a central nose bridge, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge, and a temple extending rearwardly of the central portion at a bend in the elongate integral member on each side of the central portion. A lens-defining member is affixed to the central portion, and an elongate integral backing is affixed to the lens-defining member. The backing includes a central nose bridge opposing the central nose bridge of the central portion, and a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge opposing the lens opening on each side of the central portion. A nose bridge pad is affixed to the backing, and a temple pad is affixed to the backing at each side thereof and to the temples maintaining the bends in the elongate integral member. (end of abstract) Agent: Michael Winfield Goltry - Phoenix, AZ, US Inventors: Renee Resler, Gary W. Hall USPTO Applicaton #: 20080100794 - Class: 351156000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080100794. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to sunglasses and, more particularly, to children's sunglasses, such as for infants and small children. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Everyone is at risk for eye damage from the sun. The same harmful rays that damage skin can also increase the risk of developing eye problems. Some of the long-term effects of UV radiation happen slowly and painlessly. Research has found that UV and other sun rays are involved in many of the serious eye disorders people experience today. [0003] In the short-term, people who spend long hours on the beach or in the snow without adequate eye protection can develop photokeratitis, sunburn of the cornea, which can cause temporary loss of vision. The sunlight's reflection off of snow, sand or water, further increases a person's exposure to solar radiation. [0004] Most people are unfamiliar with the sensitive nature of their eyes. According to optometrists and ophthalmologists, there are three surfaces within the eye that can be adversely affected by sunlight--the cornea and conjunctiva (snowblindness and pterygium), the lens (cataracts), and the retina (eclipse blindness and macular degeneration). These surfaces perform different functions that work together as the backbone of the eye structure. In addition, the eyelids are at risk of developing skin cancer from UV exposure. [0005] To protect eyes from both short and long-term damage, people should wear sunglasses that block the sun's harmful rays. Pricey sunglasses or glasses with a dark tint don't always offer more protection. People should look for labels that specifically say the glasses offer 99 percent to 100 percent UV protection. Some eye-care professionals can also test the UV protection level of sunglasses for a customer. [0006] Tint of the sunglass lens does play a role in the amount of protection. Amber or brown lenses, for example, may distort colors. However, they will attenuate most or all of the shortest wavelengths in the visible spectrum, which may contribute to macular degeneration in the retina. [0007] The style or frame coverage of the sunglass also affects the amount of scattered or reflected harmful radiation, which can reach the eye without transmitting through the lens. Wrap-around sunglasses, which fit close to the face offer more solar protection than small frames. [0008] People who wear contact lenses that offer UV protection should still wear sunglasses for total eye protection. [0009] Children should also wear sunglasses that indicate a high UV-protection level, and not toy glasses without a label. Polycarbonate lenses are generally recommended for children because they are the most shatter-resistant. [0010] The prior art has provided numerous specific configurations of children's sunglasses. None, however, have proven to be entirely satisfactory. Some prior art children's sunglasses are difficult to construct, expensive, and so uncomfortable to wear that children refuse to wear them. Moreover, some children's sunglasses are not suitable for very small children or infants, as the frames and other parts are relatively rigid and subject to breaking, which products have relatively sharp edges that can injure an infant or small child, or small parts which may break free causing injury. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] It is an object of the invention to provide sunglasses that are specifically-adapted to be worn by infants and children which are low in cost, which are safe, which are disposable, which are comfortable, and that are easy to assemble and convenient to use. [0012] According to the invention, provided are sunglasses for infants and children including an elongate integral member that consists of a central portion having opposing outer and inner faces, a central nose bridge, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge, and a temple extending from each side of the central portion, in which each of the temples has an outer face that is congruent with the outer face of the central portion and an inner face that is congruent with the inner face of the central portion. A lens-defining member, made of a flexible, thin, sun-protective, light-transmitting material, has an outer face affixed to the inner face of the central portion and an opposing inner face. The lens-defining member is substantially coextensive relative to the central portion and has a side in juxtaposition to each of the sides of the central portion. An elongate integral backing has an outer face affixed to the inner face of the lens-defining member and an opposing inner face, in which the backing is substantially coextensive relative to, and a substantial mirror image of, the central portion including a central nose bridge opposing the central nose bridge of the central portion, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge opposing the lens opening on each side of the central portion, and a side in juxtaposition to each of the sides of the central portion. A nose bridge pad is affixed to the inner face of the backing at the nose bridge thereof. The temples each have a free end, and an engagement assembly is provided for releasably retaining the free end of one of the temples to the free end of the other of the temples. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement assembly includes a hook and loop fastener having an element thereof carried at the free end of one of the temples and a complemental element thereof carried at the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the elongate integral member is made of a foam material, the backing is made of a foam material, and the nose bridge pad is made of a foam material. In a particular embodiment, the nose bridge pad is adhesively affixed to the inner face of the backing. In another embodiment, the nose bridge pad is integrally affixed to the inner face of the backing. [0013] According to the invention, there is provided a method of fabricating sunglasses includes 1) providing an elongate integral member, the elongate integral member including a central portion having opposing outer and inner faces, a central nose bridge, and a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge; 2) providing a lens-defining member, made of a flexible, thin, sun-protective, light-transmitting material, having opposing outer and inner faces, opposing sides, and that is substantially coextensive relative to the central portion; 3) providing an elongate integral backing that is substantially coextensive relative to, and a substantial mirror image of, the central portion, the backing having opposing outer and inner faces, opposing sides, a central nose bridge, and a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge; and 4) affixing the outer face of the lens-defining member to the inner face of the central portion, and affixing the outer face of the backing to the inner face of the lens-defining member, wherein the sides of the lens-defining member juxtaposed relative to the sides of the backing, respectively. The instant method further includes affixing a nose bridge pad to the inner face of the backing at the nose bridge thereof. The temples each have a free end, and the method further includes providing an engagement assembly for releasably retaining the free end of one of the temples to the free end of the other of the temples. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement assembly includes a hook and loop fastener having an element thereof carried at the free end of one of the temples and a complemental element thereof carried at the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the elongate integral member is made of a foam material, the backing is made of a foam material, and the nose bridge pad is made of a foam material. In a particular embodiment, the step of affixing the nose bridge pad further includes adhesively affixing the nose bridge pad. In another embodiment, the step of affixing the nose bridge pad further includes integrally affixing the nose bridge pad. [0014] According to the invention, provided are sunglasses for infants and children including an elongate integral member that consists of a central portion having opposing outer and inner faces, a central nose bridge, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge, and a temple extending rearwardly of the inner face from a bend in the elongate integral member on each side of the central portion. Each of the temples has an outer face that is congruent with the outer face of the central portion, and an inner face that is congruent with the inner face of the central portion. A lens-defining member is made of a flexible, thin, sun-protective, light-transmitting material, which has an outer face affixed to the inner face of the central portion and an opposing inner face, wherein the lens-defining member is substantially coextensive relative to the central portion, and a side in juxtaposition to each of the bends of the central portion. An elongate integral backing has an outer face affixed to the inner face of the lens-defining member, and an opposing inner face. The backing is substantially coextensive relative to, and a substantial mirror image of, the central portion, and includes a central nose bridge opposing the central nose bridge of the central portion, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge opposing the lens opening on each side of the central portion, and a side in juxtaposition to each of the bends of the central portion. A nose bridge pad is affixed to the inner face of the backing at the nose bridge thereof. A temple pad is affixed to the inner face of the backing at each side thereof and to the inner face of each of the temples maintaining the bends in the elongate integral member. The temples each have a free end, and an engagement assembly is provided for releasably retaining the free end of one of the temples to the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the engagement assembly includes a hook and loop fastener having an element thereof carried at the free end of one of the temples and a complemental element thereof carried at the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the elongate integral member is made of a foam material, the backing is made of a foam material, and the nose bridge pad and the temple pads are each made of a foam material. In one embodiment, the nose bridge pad is adhesively affixed to the inner face of the backing. In another embodiment, the nose bridge pad is integrally affixed to the inner face of the backing. In one embodiment, the temple pads are adhesively affixed to the inner face of the backing. In one embodiment, the temple pads are adhesively affixed to the inner faces of the temples, respectively. In another embodiment, the temple pads are integrally affixed to the inner face of the backing. [0015] According to the invention, there is provided a method of fabricating sunglasses suitable for infants and children including steps of 1) providing an elongate integral member, the elongate integral member including a central portion having opposing outer and inner faces, a central nose bridge, and a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge; 2) providing a lens-defining member, made of a flexible, thin, sun-protective, light-transmitting material, having opposing outer and inner faces, opposing sides, and that is substantially coextensive relative to the central portion; 3) providing an elongate integral backing that is substantially coextensive relative to, and a substantial mirror image of, the central portion, the backing having opposing outer and inner faces, opposing sides, a central nose bridge, and a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge; 4) affixing the outer face of the lens-defining member to the inner face of the central portion, and affixing the outer face of the backing to the inner face of the lens-defining member, wherein the sides of the lens-defining member juxtaposed relative to the sides of the backing, respectively; 5) bending the elongate integral member rearwardly of the inner face thereof at the juxtaposed sides of the lens-defining member and the backing forming bends and temples in the elongate integral member; 6) the temples each having an outer face that is congruent to the outer face of the central portion and an inner face that is congruent with the inner face of the central portion; 7) affixing a nose bridge pad to the inner face of the backing at the nose bridge thereof; and 8) affixing a temple pad to the inner face of the backing at each side thereof and to the inner face of each of the temples maintaining the bends in the elongate integral member. The temples each have a free end, and the method further includes providing an engagement assembly for releasably retaining the free end of one of the temples to the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the engagement assembly includes a hook and loop fastener having an element thereof carried at the free end of one of the temples and a complemental element thereof carried at the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the elongate integral member is made of a foam material, the backing is made of a foam material, and the nose bridge pad and the temple pads are each made of a foam material. In one embodiment, the step of affixing the nose bridge pad further includes adhesively affixing the nose bridge pad. In another embodiment, the step of affixing the nose bridge pad further includes integrally affixing the nose bridge pad. In one embodiment, the step of affixing a temple pad to the inner face of the backing at each side thereof further includes adhesively affixing a temple pad to the inner face of the backing at each side thereof. In one embodiment, the step of affixing a temple pad to the inner face of each of the temples further includes adhesively affixing a temple pad to the inner face of each of the temples. In another embodiment, the step of affixing a temple pad to the inner face of the backing at each side thereof further includes integrally affixing a temple pad to the inner face of the backing at each side thereof. [0016] According to the invention, there is provided sunglasses for infants and children including an elongate integral member that consists of a central portion having opposing outer and inner faces, a central nose bridge, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge, and a temple extending rearwardly of the inner face from a bend in the elongate integral member on each side of the central portion, in which each of the temples having an outer face that is congruent with the outer face of the central portion and an inner face that is congruent with the inner face of the central portion. A lens-defining member, made of a flexible, thin, sun-protective, light-transmitting material, has an outer face affixed to the inner face of the central portion and an opposing inner face. The lens-defining member is substantially coextensive relative to the central portion and has a side in juxtaposition to each of the bends of the central portion. An elongate integral backing is affixed to the inner face of the lens-defining member including a central nose bridge opposing the central nose bridge of the central portion, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge opposing the lens opening on each side of the central portion, a side in juxtaposition to each of the bends of the central portion, a nose bridge pad at the nose bridge of the backing, and a temple pad at each side of the backing and affixed to the inner face of each of the temples maintaining the bends in the elongate integral member. The temples each have a free end, and an engagement assembly is provided for releasably retaining the free end of one of the temples to the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the engagement assembly includes a hook and loop fastener having an element thereof carried at the free end of one of the temples and a complemental element thereof carried at the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the elongate integral member is made of a foam material, and the backing is made of a foam material. [0017] According to the invention, there is provided a method of fabricating sunglasses suitable for infants and children including steps of 1) providing an elongate integral member, the elongate integral member including a central portion having opposing outer and inner faces, a central nose bridge, and a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge; 2) providing a lens-defining member, made of a flexible, thin, sun-protective, light-transmitting material, having opposing outer and inner faces, opposing sides, and that is substantially coextensive relative to the central portion; 3) providing an elongate integral backing that is substantially coextensive relative to the central portion, the backing having a central nose bridge, a lens opening on each side of the central nose bridge, opposing sides, a nose bridge pad at the nose bridge of the backing, and a temple pad at each side of the backing; 4) affixing the outer face of the lens-defining member to the inner face of the central portion, and affixing the backing to the inner face of the lens-defining member, wherein the sides of the lens-defining member juxtaposed relative to the sides of the backing, respectively; 5) bending the elongate integral member rearwardly of the inner face thereof at the juxtaposed sides of the lens-defining member and the backing forming bends and temples in the elongate integral member; 6) the temples each having an outer face that is congruent to the outer face of the central portion and an inner face that is congruent with the inner face of the central portion; and 7) affixing the temple pads to the inner faces of the temples, respectively, maintaining the bends in the elongate integral member. The temples each have a free end, and the method further includes providing an engagement assembly for releasably retaining the free end of one of the temples to the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the engagement assembly includes a hook and loop fastener having an element thereof carried at the free end of one of the temples and a complemental element thereof carried at the free end of the other of the temples. Preferably, the elongate integral member is made of a foam material, and the backing is made of a foam material. In one embodiment, the step of affixing the temple pads to the inner faces of the temples, respectively, further includes adhesively affixing the temple pads to the inner faces of the temples, respectively. [0018] Consistent with the foregoing summary of preferred embodiments of the invention, and the ensuing disclosure, which are to be taken together, the invention also contemplates associated apparatus and method embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] Referring to the drawings: [0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of sunglasses, constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention, as they would appear worn by a user; Continue reading... Full patent description for Children's sunglasses Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Children's sunglasses patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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