A spectacle frame assembly comprises a primary spectacle frame (100) and an auxiliary spectacle frame (200). The primary and secondary spectacle frames (100, 200) each have a pair of rims (113, 213) for receiving a pair of lenses, a bridge (114, 214) separating the rims (113, 213) and arms (112, 212) secured to laterally outer portions of each of the rims (113, 213). A primary frame lug (130) is secured to each of the primary frame arms (120) and an auxiliary frame lug (230) is secured to each of the auxiliary frame arms (212). The auxiliary frame lugs (230) are each engageable with a corresponding primary frame lug (130) with the auxiliary frame lug (230) disposed on top of the primary frame lug (130) so as to secure the auxiliary spectacle frame (200) to the primary spectacle frame (100). The primary frame lugs (230) are each provided with a magnetic member (131) receivable in an open cavity (231) provided in the respective auxiliary frame lug (230). An alternate assembly utilises rimless primary and auxiliary spectacle frames (300, 400).
|
1. A spectacle frame assembly comprising:
a primary spectacle frame having a primary frame front, a pair of temples pivotally coupled to respective laterally outer ends of said primary frame front and a pair of primary frame lugs secured to said primary frame front adjacent respective said primary frame front laterally outer ends, and
an auxiliary spectacle frame having a pair of auxiliary frame lugs disposed at respective laterally outer ends thereof, each said auxiliary frame lug being engageable with a corresponding said primary frame lug with said auxiliary frame lug disposed on top of said corresponding primary frame lug for securing said auxiliary spectacle frame to said primary spectacle frame,
wherein, for each pair of corresponding primary and auxiliary frame lugs, one of said primary and auxiliary frame lugs is provided with a magnetic member receivable in an open cavity provided in the other one of said primary and auxiliary frame lugs, said open cavity having a peripheral wall for engaging a peripheral wall of said magnetic member, said other one of said primary and auxiliary frame lugs being formed at least partially of a ferrous material.
19. A spectacle frame assembly comprising:
a primary spectacle frame having a pair of primary frame rims for receiving a pair of primary lenses, a primary frame bridge separating said primary frame rims, a primary frame arm secured to laterally outer portions of each of said primary frame rims, a temple pivotally coupled to each said primary frame arm and a primary frame lug secured to each of said primary frame arms, and
an auxiliary spectacle having a pair of auxiliary frame rims for receiving a pair of auxiliary lenses, an auxiliary frame bridge separating said auxiliary frame rims, an auxiliary frame arm secured to laterally outer portions of each of said auxiliary frame rims and an auxiliary frame lug secured to each of said auxiliary frame arms, said auxiliary frame lugs each being engageable with a corresponding said primary frame lug with said auxiliary frame lug disposed on top of said primary frame lug so as to secure said auxiliary spectacle frame to said primary spectacle frame,
wherein, for each pair of corresponding primary and auxiliary frame lugs, one of said primary and auxiliary frame lugs is provided with a magnetic member receivable in an open cavity provided in the other one of said primary and auxiliary frame lugs, said open cavity having a peripheral wall for engaging a peripheral wall of said magnetic member, said other one of said primary and auxiliary frame lugs being formed at least partially of a ferrous material.
2. The spectacle frame assembly of
3. The spectacle frame assembly of
4. The spectacle frame assembly of
5. The spectacle frame assembly of
6. The spectacle frame assembly of
7. The spectacle frame assembly of
8. The spectacle frame assembly of
9. The spectacle frame assembly of
10. The spectacle frame assembly of
11. The spectacle frame assembly of
12. The spectacle frame assembly of
13. The spectacle frame assembly of
14. The spectacle frame assembly of claim 1 2 wherein said primary frame front includes a pair of primary frame rims for receiving a pair of primary lenses and a primary frame bridge secured to and separating said primary frame rims, said primary frame arms being secured to laterally outer portions of each of said primary frame rims.
15. The spectacle frame assembly of claim 1 2 wherein said primary frame front includes a pair of primary lenses and an auxiliary a primary frame bridge secured to and separating said primary lenses, said primary frame arms being secured to laterally outer portions of each of said primary lenses.
16. The spectacle frame assembly of claim 1 3 wherein said auxiliary spectacle frame includes a pair of auxiliary frame rims for receiving a pair of auxiliary lenses and an auxiliary frame bridge secured to and separating said auxiliary frame rims, said auxiliary frame arms being secured to laterally outer portions of each of said auxiliary frame rims.
17. The spectacle frame assembly of
18. The spectacle frame assembly of claim 1 3 wherein said auxiliary spectacle frame includes a pair of auxiliary lenses and an auxiliary frame bridge secured to and separating said auxiliary lenses, said auxiliary frame arms being secured to laterally outer portions of each of said auxiliary lenses.
0. 20. The spectacle frame assembly of
0. 21. The spectacle frame assembly of
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
This is a continuation application of International Application PCT/AU99/00339, with an international filing date of May 7, 1999.
The present invention relates to spectacle frames, and in particular relates to spectacle frame assemblies having a primary spectacle frame and a detachable auxiliary spectacle frame.
To enable the use of sunglass lenses with spectacles having prescription lenses, various forms of “clip-on” detachable auxiliary spectacle frames have been proposed which allow the auxiliary frame housing sunglass lenses to be clipped onto the frame front of the primary spectacle frame housing the prescription lenses via various forms of clips. The success of the various forms of clips varies in terms of security of attachment, non-intrusive appearance and ease of attachment/detachment.
Replacement of the clip type attachment means with cooperating magnetic attachments on both the primary and auxiliary spectacle frames has also been proposed. The security of attachment of currently available spectacle frame assemblies of this type is quite poor, however, with the auxiliary spectacle frame typically being free to rattle, vibrate or flicker and possibly disengage with any jarring movements of the wearer, such as during various forms of exercise. Rattling, vibrating or flickering of the auxiliary spectacle frame can be uncomfortable and possibly harmful to the human eye by causing optical distortion as well as rapid vibrations in light levels if light is able to pass around the tinted lenses of the auxiliary spectacle frames when displaced.
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the above disadvantages.
There is disclosed herein a spectacle frame assembly comprising:
Typically said primary spectacle frame front is provided with a pair of primary frame arms toward respective said laterally outer ends thereof, said temples being pivotally coupled to respective said primary frame arms and said primary frame lugs being secured to respective said primary frame arms.
Typically, said auxiliary spectacle frame is provided with a pair of auxiliary frame arms toward respective said opposing laterally outer ends thereof, said auxiliary frame lugs being secured to respective said auxiliary frame arms.
Typically said primary frame lugs are disposed rearwardly of said primary frame arms, said auxiliary frame arms being adapted to extend over said primary frame arms to enable engagement of said primary and auxiliary frame lugs.
Typically, each of said primary frame lugs is provided with a said magnetic member and each of said auxiliary frame lugs is provided with a said open cavity.
Typically each said primary frame lug comprises a ring secured to the respective said primary frame arm and a said magnetic member secured in said ring such that said magnetic member peripheral wall protrudes above said ring.
Typically each of said auxiliary frame lugs comprises a hollow cylinder secured to the respective said auxiliary frame arm, said open cavity being defined by the hollow of said hollow cylinder.
Preferably said open cavity of each said auxiliary frame lug is open at a lower end only for receiving said magnetic member, an upper end of said cavity being closed by a wall of ferrous material for engaging an upper surface of said magnetic member.
Alternatively said open cavity of each said auxiliary frame lug is open at both upper and lower ends thereof.
Preferably each said auxiliary frame lug is made substantially entirely of ferrous material.
Preferably a lower surface of each said primary frame lug is substantially flush with a lower surface of the respective said primary frame arm. It is also preferred that an upper surface of each said primary frame lug is substantially flush with an upper surface of the respective said primary frame arm.
Alternatively, each of said auxiliary frame lugs is provided with a said magnetic member and each of said primary frame lugs is provided with a said open cavity.
Typically said primary frame front includes a pair of primary frame rims for receiving a pair of primary lenses and a primary frame bridge secured to and separating said primary frame rims, said primary frame arms being secured to laterally outer portions of each of said primary frame rims.
Alternatively said primary frame front includes a pair of primary lenses and 232 231 of the auxiliary frame lug 230. The magnetic member 131 of the depicted embodiment is a high strength cylindrical magnet with a diameter of approximately 4 mm and a height of approximately 2 mm. The ring 134 should have a minimal thickness to allow the maximum exposure of the magnetic member peripheral wall 132 above the top of the ring 134, yet still thick enough to ensure the magnetic member can be effectively secured thereto. Here the ring 134 is approximately 1 mm thick, leaving 1 mm of the magnetic member peripheral wall 134 exposed for engaging the open cavity peripheral wall 232 of the auxiliary frame lug 230.
Each of the auxiliary frame lugs 230 here comprises a hollow cylindrical 230 secured to the auxiliary frame arm 212, by soldering or other suitable means. For added strength the auxiliary frame lug 230 could be cast integrally with the auxiliary frame arm 212 rather than mounted separately on the arm. Casting a solid auxiliary frame arm 212 rather than a thin wire also helps prevent bending of the arms which would require readjustment to enable the auxiliary frame lugs 230 to engage the primary frame lugs 130. The open cavity 231 of the auxiliary frame lug 230 is defined by the hollow of the hollow cylinder. Here the open cavity 231 of each auxiliary frame lug 230 is open at the lower end only, with the upper end of the open cavity being closed by an upper wall 233 of ferrous material for engaging an upper surface 133 of the magnetic member 131 of the primary frame lug 130, thereby increasing the size of the surface of the auxiliary frame lug 230 on which the magnetic member 131 acts. The lower surface of the hollows cylinder 230 is seated on the upper surface of the ring 134 of the primary frame lug 130.
Alternatively, both the upper and lower ends of the open cavity 231 of the auxiliary frame lug could be open such that the auxiliary frame lug hollow cylinder 230 is in the general form of a ring which engages the exposed peripheral wall 132 of the magnetic member 131, and leaving the upper wall 133 of the magnetic member 131 exposed. This alternative can reduce the total height of the auxiliary frame lug 230 by removing the upper wall.
Rather than providing the primary frame lugs 130 with the magnetic members 131 and the auxiliary frame lugs 230 with the open cavities 231, the primary frame lugs could be provided with open cavities for receiving magnetic members provided on the auxiliary frame lugs in much the same manner. In such an embodiment, the primary frame lugs would need to be formed at least partially of ferrous material for cooperating with the magnetic members.
To enhance the aesthetic of the spectacle frame assembly and to reduce the possibility of damage, the primary frame lugs 130 are typically disposed rearwardly of the primary frame arms 112. The auxiliary frame arms 212 extend over the primary frame arms 112 so as to position the auxiliary frame lugs 230 for engagement with the primary frame lugs 130.
In the preferred embodiment, to further enhance aesthetic, particularly of the primary spectacle frame 100 when used without the auxiliary frame 200, the lower surface 135 of each primary frame lug is substantially flush with the lower surface 112a of the primary frame arm 112, and the upper surface 133 of each primary frame lug 130 is substantially flush with the upper surface 112b of the primary frame arm 112. This configuration provides the maximum thickness of primary frame lug 130 which is hid 130 behind the primary frame arms 112 so that the primary frame lugs 130 will generally not be seen when the primary spectacle frame 100 is worn by itself (as is evident from FIG. 1).
The current invention is equally applicable to rimmed primary and auxiliary spectacle frames 100, 200 as depicted in
The rimmed auxiliary spectacle frame 200 of
To assist with providing a rigid attachment of the auxiliary spectacle frame 200 to the primary spectacle frame 100, the auxiliary frame bridge 214 is designed to extend over and engage the primary frame bridge 114. The auxiliary frame bridge 214 is comprised of end portions 214a which are secured to the auxiliary frame rims 213 and each extend rearwardly over the primary frame bridge to an intermediate portion 214b extending downwardly to a central portion 214c extending between the intermediate portions 214b. The end portions 214a rest on the top surface of the primary frame bridge 114, preventing the auxiliary spectacle frame 200 from moving downwards relative to the primary spectacle frame 100. The central portion 214c is hooked behind the primary frame bridge 114 preventing the top of the auxiliary spectacle frame 200 from tilting forward.
As discussed above, the current invention can be applied to rimless primary and/or auxiliary spectacle frames.
| Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
| 9341865, | Jul 23 2014 | Brent, Sheldon; SHELDON, BRENT | Eyewear having magnetic clip-on lenses |
| 9395561, | Jul 23 2014 | Brent, Sheldon; SHELDON, BRENT | Eyeglasses having flip-up lenses |
| Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
| 5416537, | Mar 22 1994 | ASPEX EYEWEAR, INC | Magnetic means for securing auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses |
| 5568207, | Nov 07 1995 | ASPEX EYEWEAR, INC | Auxiliary lenses for eyeglasses |
| 5696571, | Jan 24 1996 | GALLES CORP , THE | Clip-on type sunglasses with bridge mounting |
| 5737054, | Dec 13 1996 | CONTOUR OPTIK, INC | Auxiliary lenses for eyeglasses |
| 5786880, | May 29 1997 | CONTOUR OPTIK, INC | Method for forming a spectacle frame having a magnet member |
| 5877838, | Apr 28 1997 | Contour Optik Inc. | Eyeglass appliance having clamping members |
| 5882101, | Apr 28 1997 | Contour Optik Inc. | Auxiliary frames with ears and lateral projections |
| 5940162, | Jun 11 1998 | ASPEX EYEYWEAR, INC ; ASPEX EYEWEAR, INC | Assembling structure for assembling a fit-on spectacle frame with an original spectacle frame |
| 6109747, | Apr 28 1997 | Contour Optik, Inc. | Eyeglass frames with magnets in flanges |
| CA2235798, | |||
| CA2372382, | |||
| DE19649694, | |||
| EP743545, |
| Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
| Nov 21 2002 | Frank R., Mauch | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
| Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
| Jun 27 2008 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
| Aug 20 2012 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
| Jan 04 2013 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
| Date | Maintenance Schedule |
| Apr 18 2009 | 4 years fee payment window open |
| Oct 18 2009 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
| Apr 18 2010 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
| Apr 18 2012 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
| Apr 18 2013 | 8 years fee payment window open |
| Oct 18 2013 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
| Apr 18 2014 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
| Apr 18 2016 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
| Apr 18 2017 | 12 years fee payment window open |
| Oct 18 2017 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
| Apr 18 2018 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
| Apr 18 2020 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |