Abstract:
Eyewear with interchangeable magnetically-held stems and strap connectors utilize overlapping magnets with aligned magnetic poles where the poles are orthogonal to the axes of insertion of the magnets. A hook or pawl can be added to one of the magnetics and an indentation added to the other to create a physical as well as magnetic connection.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/995,775, filed Mar. 19, 2014. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The invention relates to eyeglasses and in particular to removable temples for eyewear. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0008]    Not applicable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention encompasses eyewear with interchangeable magnetically-held stems and strap connectors. 
         [0010]    An object of the invention is to provide eyewear with stems that can be exchanged for differently styled stems or for a headband connector. A further object is to provide eyewear with a magnetic mechanism that is strong enough to hold the pieces of eyewear together during normal use. 
         [0011]    In accordance with the objects, a magnetic connector is provided. The magnetic connector calls for two magnets, one on each piece being connected to overlap each other laterally. The two magnets are aligned so that, in an inserted position, the two magnets overlap each other with the poles of the magnets aligned. For example, the magnetic north poles of both of the magnets can be aimed in the same lateral direction. 
         [0012]    A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical holder that can work in conjunction with the magnetic connector to strengthen the connection further. To accomplish this object, a hook or pawl can be added to one of the magnets and a complementary indentation can be formed in the other magnet so when the first magnet is inserted a physical as well as magnetic connection can work to hold the stem or connector to the temple. 
         [0013]    Other features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in eyewear with interchangeable magnetically-held stems and strap connectors, the invention is not limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the invention and the equivalents of the claims. However, the construction and method of operation of the invention together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]      FIG. 1A  is a front side view of eyewear according to the invention with interchangeable stems in a folded position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  is a left side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 1A  with the interchangeable stems in an unfolded position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1C  is a partial top side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 1A  with the temple separated from the stem. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1D  is a partial top side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 1C  with the temple connected to the stem. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1E  is a sectional view taken along line E-E in  FIG. 1B . 
           [0020]      FIG. 1F  is a sectional view taken along line F-F in  FIG. 1B . 
           [0021]      FIG. 1G  is a sectional view taken along line H-H in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 1H  is a sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 1I  is a sectional view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0024]      FIG. 1J  is a sectional view taken along line C-C in  FIG. 1B . 
           [0025]      FIG. 1K  is a sectional view taken along line D-D in  FIG. 1B . 
           [0026]      FIG. 1L  is a top side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 1A  with the interchangeable stems in the unfolded position and showing the interchangeable stems in phantom in the folded position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1M  is a side view of a nosepiece. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2A  is a front side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 1A  with an interchangeable headband connector inserted in the temples. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2B  is a left side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0030]      FIG. 2C  is a top side view of a temple and headband connecter in an uninserted position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2D  is a top side view of the temple and headband connector shown in  FIG. 2C  in an inserted position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2E  is a top side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 2F  is a top side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 2E . 
           [0034]      FIG. 2G  is left side view of the eyewear shown in  FIG. 2F . 
           [0035]      FIG. 2H  is a top side view of temple shown in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0036]      FIG. 2I  is a bottom side view of the temple shown in  FIG. 2H . 
           [0037]      FIG. 2J  is a side view of a temple. 
           [0038]      FIG. 2K  is a side view of the temple shown in  FIG. 2J . 
           [0039]      FIG. 2L  is a top side view of the headband connector shown in  FIG. 2J . 
           [0040]      FIG. 2M  is a bottom side view of the headband connector shown in  FIG. 2L . 
           [0041]      FIG. 2N  is a side view of a headband connector. 
           [0042]      FIG. 2O  is a side view of the headband connector shown in  FIG. 2J . 
           [0043]      FIG. 3A  is a left side view of a magnetic plug used with the headband connector. 
           [0044]      FIG. 3B  is a rear side view of the magnetic plug shown in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0045]      FIG. 3C  is a top side view of the magnetic plug shown in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0046]      FIG. 3D  is a left side view of a socket magnet. 
           [0047]      FIG. 3E  is a rear side view of the socket magnet shown in  FIG. 3D . 
           [0048]      FIG. 3F  is a top side view of the socket magnet shown in  FIG. 3D . 
           [0049]      FIG. 4A  is a left side view of a magnetic plug used with the stem. 
           [0050]      FIG. 4B  is a rear side view of the socket magnet shown in  FIG. 4A . 
           [0051]      FIG. 4C  is a top side view of the socket magnet shown in  FIG. 4A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0052]    Embodiments of the invention are described below and are shown in the figures of the drawing. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 1A-1L  show a preferred embodiment of the eyewear with removable stems  40  installed. 
         [0054]    The lenspiece  10  in one embodiment is a customary lenspiece  10 . The lenspiece  10  includes a lensframe  14 . The lensframe  14  surrounds and secures the lenses  11 . A bridge  12  interconnects the lensframes  14 . A lenspiece leaf  13  is connected to each lateral side of the lensframe  14 . 
         [0055]    A hinge  20  connects the lenspiece leaf  13  to a temple leaf  34 . A hinge pin  21  connects the lenspiece leaf  13  to the temple leaf  34 . 
         [0056]    The temple  30  includes a temple body  35 . The temple body  45  has a socket  31  formed at its distal (i.e. closer to the ear of a wearer) end. In the embodiment that is shown, the socket  31  has a rectangular cross section with a top  36 , a bottom  37 , a lateral side  38 , and a medial side  39 . A socket top rail  45  is formed on the top  36  of the socket  31  and runs along the axis of the temple  30 . A socket bottom rail  45  is formed on the bottom  37  of the socket  31  and runs along the axis of the temple  30 . 
         [0057]    A lateral magnet  46  is fixed to the lateral side  38  of the socket  31  and has a magnetic pole aligned laterally. That is, the magnetic north or south pole is directed outward. The lateral magnet fills only a portion of the socket  31  to leave a medial subsocket  47  beside the lateral magnet  46 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 3G-3L  show the lateral magnet  46 . The lateral magnet  46  has a body  55  with a top  56 , a bottom  57 , a lateral surface  58 , and a medial surface  59 . A top medial rail  51  is disposed on the top  56  of the body  55 . A top lateral rail  52  is disposed on the top  56  of the body  55 . A bottom medial rail  53  is disposed on the bottom of the body  55 . A bottom lateral rail  54  is disposed on the bottom  57  of the body  55 . The top lateral rail  52  and the top medial rail  51  sandwich the socket top rail  44 . The bottom lateral rail  54  and the bottom medial rail  53  sandwich the socket bottom rail  45 . The subsocket top rail  44  is formed on the top  36  of the subsocket  47  and a subsocket bottom rail  45  is formed on the bottom  37  of the subsocket  47 . The medial surface  59  of the lateral magnet  32  has an indentation  134  formed therein. 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIGS. 1C and 1D  particularly, an interchangeable stem  40  can be inserted into and secured to the temple  30 . The stem  40  has a distal end  48  and a proximal abutment  43 . The distal end  48  of the stem is configured to overlie a wearer&#39;s ear when worn. A prong  70  is disposed on said proximal abutment  43  of the stem  40 . The temple  30  is configured to fit within the medial subsocket  47 . The prong  70  has a magnetic pole. The magnetic pole is configured to align with the magnetic pole of the lateral magnet  46  when the prong  70  is inserted within the medial subsocket  47 . 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A-4F , the prong  70  has a body  71  with a top  72 , a bottom  73 , a medial surface  74 , and a lateral surface  75 . A top medial rail  76  is disposed on said top  72  of said body  71 . A top lateral rail  77  is disposed on the top  72  of the body  71 . A bottom medial rail  78  is disposed on the bottom  73  of the body  71 . A bottom lateral rail  79  is disposed on the bottom  73  of the body  71 . The top lateral rail  72  and the top medial rail  76  sandwich the socket top rail  44  when the prong  70  is inserted in the subsocket  47 . The bottom lateral rail  79  and the bottom medial rail  78  sandwich the socket bottom rail  45  when the prong  70  is inserted in the subsocket  47 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 2A-2O  show the eyewear with an interchangeable strap connector  140 . The interchangeable strap connector  140  has a distal end  148  and proximal end  143 . The distal end  148  of the interchangeable strap connector  140  has a connector  149  for connecting to a head strap  150 . A prong  170  is disposed on the proximal end  143  of the interchangeable strap connector  140 . The prong  170  is configured to fit within the medial subsocket  47 . The prong  170  has a magnetic pole. The magnetic pole is configured to align with the magnetic pole of the lateral magnet  46  when the prong  170  is inserted within the medial subsocket  47 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3F , the prong  170  has a body  171  with a top  172 , a bottom  173 , a lateral surface  175 , and a medial surface  174 . A top medial rail  176  is disposed on the top  172  of the body  171 . A top lateral rail  177  is disposed on the top  171  of the body  170 . A bottom medial rail  178  is disposed on the bottom  173  of the body  171 . A bottom lateral rail  179  is disposed on the bottom  173  of the body  171 . The top lateral rail  177  and the top medial rail  176  sandwich the socket top rail  44  when the prong  170  is inserted. The bottom lateral rail  179  and the bottom medial rail  178  sandwich the socket bottom rail  45 . The lateral surface  175  of the prong  170  has a pawl  180  formed thereon. The pawl  180  is configured to seat in the indentation  134  when the prong  170  is inserted in the subsocket  47 .