| Sports-specific shield -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Sports-specific shieldUSPTO Application #: 20080084533Title: Sports-specific shield Abstract: An eyeglass is provided for component weight without reducing the overall structural integrity of the eyeglass, and for allowing adjustability of the eyeglass to optimize optical and protective qualities during activities having differing head angles and primary lines of sight. The eyeglass can comprise a lens, a frame, and a nosepiece. The frame can have opposing terminals and an upper groove extending at least partially along the frame and a downwardly extending post. The nosepiece can have a mounting component extending upwardly to engage the post, and the lens can be cooperatively retained between the frame and the nosepiece. Sets of corresponding nose pieces and lenses are provided, to optimize the eyeglasses for different primary viewing axes in the vertical plane. (end of abstract) Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP - Irvine, CA, US Inventors: James Jannard, Peter Yee, David Ginther, Carlos Reyes USPTO Applicaton #: 20080084533 - Class: 351106 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080084533. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001]The present invention relates generally to eyeglasses, and more particularly to a uniquely configured eyeglass shield that permits a wearer to adjust a frame thereof to provide a variety of vertical viewing angles for specific sporting applications. As discussed in greater detail below, embodiments of the present invention provide a sports-specific shield which can be selectively adjusted by the wearer in order to customize the configuration and fit of the eyeglass shield for beneficial use in specific activities, without requiring the use of tools. The resulting eyeglass shield can therefore be utilized in demanding sporting situations that require either a heads-up or heads-down posture of the wearer, such as competitive running, driving, skiing, or bicycle racing. [0002]Eyeglasses, and sunglasses in particular, have long been designed with the general objective of blocking the sun or other sources of bright light from one's eyes. Over time, various features and advancements in this technology have been developed. The evolution of numerous designs of dual and unitary lens glasses initially differed essentially only in aesthetic features. However, eyeglass and lens designs have further developed in response to various optical considerations such as optical clarity, resolution, field of vision, refraction, and other such qualities. Typically, the optical qualities of the lens are best when the wearer's line of sight (LOS) extends in parallel to the optical center line (OCL) the lens. [0003]Although these advancements in eyeglass technology have provided substantial benefits for eyeglass wearers participating in a broad range of activities, several sporting activities often require the wearer to assume body postures that displace the wearer's LOS particularly in the vertical plane from consistently being aligned with the OCL of particular lens. In addition, unique facial structures and geometries can result in different fits that similarly prevent different wearers from commonly enjoying the superior optical characteristics of a given eyeglass. [0004]Many sporting activities may be characterized as requiring the user to assume either a heads-up or a heads-down posture. In the heads-up posture, which is illustrated in accompanying FIG. 6A, a wearer's head is in a generally upright vertical position directly above the shoulders. Thus, the OCL of the eyeglass lenses and the wearer's LOS tend to be aligned parallel and point more or less straight ahead. Activities such as running, driving, and the like, tend to encourage a heads-up posture of the wearer. [0005]In the heads-down posture, a wearer assumes a generally forward-leaning posture with the head extending forwardly of the torso, shown generally in FIG. 6B. In the heads-down posture, the head is tucked in an aerodynamic position with the OCL of the eyeglass lens typically being directed at the ground in front of the wearer; while the LOS is angularaly displaced upwardly with respect to the long. Thus, in order to optimize forward vision the wearer must lift their head upwardly from the racing posture, in order to bring their LOS into parallel with the OCL. The racing posture also brings the LOS high enough on conventional lenses that the upper frame can limit the field of view in the vertical plane. Activities such as bicycle racing and others commonly require the wearer to assume a heads-down posture for long periods of time. [0006]Finally, unique facial geometries can prevent some wearers from enjoying superior optical characteristics of a given frame and lens system. A given pair of eyeglasses often fits differently on different wearers due to differences in facial structure. As a result, some wearer's straight-ahead LOS may not pass through the lens in parallel with the OCL. For example, an eyeglass that has been designed to fit a majority of wearers may nevertheless sit too high or too low on certain wearers depending on the structure and geometry of their nose and face. Therefore, the facial structure, as well as the particular activity in which the wearer is engaged, can cause the eyeglass have a particular fit on the wearer that prevents optimal vertical alignment of the OCL of the lens with the desired LOS of the wearer. SUMMARY [0007]In light of the above-mentioned deficiencies of eyeglass design, there is a need in the art for an improved eyeglass that allows a wearer to adjust the fit and/or optical orientation of the eyeglass depending on the activity in which the wearer is involved. Further, there is a need in the art for an eyeglass that can be adjusted to provide superior optical qualities that in a variety of eyeglass configurations. There is a need in the art for an adjustable eyeglass that allows the wearer to align their desired LOS with respect to the OCL of the lens and that can be used in both heads-up and heads-down activities. Furthermore, there is a need in the art for an eyeglass that can be adjusted by the wearer without tools and provides superior frontal impact resistance. Finally, there is a need in the art for an adjustable eyeglass that can be easily modified by the wearer for specific activities that is lightweight, structurally durable, and that provides easy and quick assembly and disassembly, and sufficient protection of the eyes, even in a bicycle racing posture. [0008]Accordingly, in an embodiment, an eyeglass is provided for minimizing component structural integrity and component weight without reducing the overall structural integrity of the eyeglass. The eyeglass can comprise a unitary lens, a frame, and a nosepiece. The lens can have an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge can have lateral indents formed at opposing ends thereof, and the lower edge can have a nosepiece opening formed therein. [0009]The frame can have opposing terminals and an upper groove extending at least partially along the frame. The upper groove can be sized and configured to receive the upper edge of the lens with the lateral indents of the lens being receivable into the opposing terminals of the frame. Further, the upper groove can have a cross-sectional area defined by a depth and width of the upper groove. Additionally, the frame can further have a post extending downwardly from a central portion of the frame. [0010]The nosepiece can have a bridge and a mounting component extending upwardly from the bridge. The nosepiece can have a lower groove extending at least partially across the bridge, and the lower groove can be sized and configured such that the lower edge of the lens is receivable therein. The mounting component can be attachable to the post for attaching the nosepiece to the frame. In such an embodiment, the cooperative engagement of the frame to the nosepiece can retain the lens therebetween for minimizing the cross-section of the upper groove without compromising overall lens retention and the overall structural integrity of the eyeglass. For example, the transverse cross-sectional area of the upper groove can be less than approximately 0.05 square inches and in some embodiments no greater than about 0.02 square inches. Further, a maximum thickness of the frame can be less than 90% of a thickness of the lens along the upper edge thereof. Thus, eyeglass weight and structural integrity of individual components can decrease while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the eyeglass. [0011]In another embodiment, the post can comprises a connecting portion at a distal end thereof. Additionally, the mounting component can comprise a recess being sized and configured to receive at least the connecting portion of the post for attaching the nosepiece of the frame. The recess of the mounting component can be formed into a posterior side of the mounting component. The post can also be formed to connect to the frame posteriorly to the groove. In some embodiments, the post can be integrally formed with the frame. Further, the lens can be configured to be mounted anterior to the post and the mounting component of the nosepiece. Finally, an as-molded configuration of the lens can corresponds to the upper groove of the frame and the lower groove of the nosepiece. [0012]In accordance with yet another embodiment, the eyeglass can be configured to be adjustable in order to minimize a vertical deviation angle of a wearer in heads-down activities. The vertical deviation angle can be defined as the angular displacement between an optical centerline of the eyeglass and an intended line of sight of the wearer. The lens of the eyeglass can define the optical centerline. In such an embodiment, the mounting component can have a vertical height that is customizable for minimizing a desired vertical deviation angle of the wearer. [0013]In another embodiment, the eyeglass can be adjustable for optimizing the protective function of the eyeglass throughout a range of vertical viewing angles, while preserving optical quality. In such an embodiment, adjustment of the mounting component's vertical height from a first vertical height to a second vertical height can raise the height of the lens to provide protection while viewing out of the top of the eyeglass, while maintaining a desired relationship between the LOS and OCL. [0014]The nosepiece of the adjustable eyeglass can be selected from a plurality of nosepieces having different vertical heights. A corresponding plurality of lenses having matched vertical heights is also provided; each with an OCL in the vertical which is selected to correspond to the desired LOS for each lens-nose piece combination. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015]The abovementioned and other features of the inventions disclosed herein are described below with reference to the drawings of the preferred embodiments. The illustrated embodiments are intended to illustrate, but not to limit the inventions. The drawings contain the following figures: [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded front view of an adjustable eyeglass having a frame, lens, and a nose piece, according to an embodiment. [0017]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the frame and nose piece illustrated in FIG. 1. [0018]FIG. 3A is a rear view of the eyeglass wherein the frame, lens, and nose piece are in an assembled state. [0019]FIG. 3B is a front view of the eyeglass of FIG. 3A. [0020]FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate exemplary embodiments of nosepieces wherein a post of the nosepiece has a given vertical height. [0021]FIG. 5A is a front view of the eyeglass wherein the frame and nose piece are assembled prior to installation of the lens, according to another embodiment. Continue reading... Full patent description for Sports-specific shield Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sports-specific shield 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Sports-specific shield or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Variable focus spectacles Next Patent Application: Lens having an optically controlled peripheral portion and a method for designing and manufacturing the lens Industry Class: Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Sports-specific shield patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.30893 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , |
||
