Abstract:
One aspect of the disclosure relates to One aspect of the disclosure relates to eyewear, comprising a frame including a front portion and a pair of temples, each of the temples attached on opposite lateral sides of the front portion; a pair of primary lenses mounted to the front portion; and a pair of auxiliary lenses, each lens of the pair of auxiliary lenses mounted to a lens support slidably connected to a track comprising a groove within one of the temples and extending to the front portion. The auxiliary lenses can be positioned near the temples when not in use or moved to the front of the frame to overlap with the primary lens. The auxiliary lens can include various types of lenses including rigid lens. The auxiliary lenses can be corrective to augment the primary lens or tinted, for example.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to eyewear, and, more particularly, to eyewear with slidable auxiliary lenses. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Common vision conditions correctable by eyewear include nearsightedness (myopia) in which close objects are seen clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred; farsightedness (hyperopia) in which distant objects are seen clearly, but close objects are not; astigmatism in which blurred vision is caused by an irregular shape of the cornea; and presbyopia in which the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making focusing on close objects more difficult. 
         [0005]    For the vast majority of adults in their 40&#39;s and beyond, some degree of presbyopia is present. Frequently, multiple vision conditions are diagnosed, and it is not uncommon to need vision correction for presbyopia as well as hyperopia, and/or astigmatism. Because corrective lens are different for each of these conditions, many people resort to having more than one pair of eyeglasses, such as a pair of eyeglasses for reading and another for driving (to see long distances). Indeed, many people also require eyeglasses to optimize viewing of a computer screen. Additionally, many people find sunglasses useful for driving or outdoor usage. While prescription lens can be tinted, these “prescription sunglasses” will have the same limitations as above, i.e., the user will have to switch to another pair of eyeglasses when a different vision correction is required. 
         [0006]    For some, having to own and use several pairs of eyeglasses is inconvenient. If one owns more than a single pair of glasses, it will be necessary to carry all of them around. It will be necessary to find the proper pair of glasses and change to it when needed. 
         [0007]    An early innovation in the art was the bifocal lens, which is credited to Benjamin Franklin. A bifocal lens divides a lens into an upper portion and a lower portion, each having a different corrective lens. Accordingly, a user need not have to use separate eyeglasses. Usually, the bottom lens will be for close up viewing (such as reading). Additionally, trifocal lens have been developed that divide the lens into three segments, each having a different corrective lens. Although bifocals/trifocals are used, there is a feeling among some that these eyeglasses are not stylish. 
         [0008]    To remedy the problem of style, so-called progressive lens were developed. Progressive lens eliminate the conspicuous line (or lines) that separates the lenses. However, as with bifocals/trifocals, some users report headaches and dizziness. Still others report that it is difficult to adjust their eyes to the proper area of the lenses to use. 
         [0009]    Another approach has been to provide auxiliary lenses for placement over the primary lenses. An example is to provide clip-on lenses for reading or tinted clip-on lenses to transform the eyewear to sunglasses. In addition to clipping-on, other ways of attaching the auxiliary lens have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,342 to Huang discloses an auxiliary eyewear frame magnetically attachable to the primary frame. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,337 to Zelman discloses eyewear having both a primary lens frame and an auxiliary lens frame separately coupled to an eyewear platform. Although useful, both devices are relatively complex and require the user to assemble the device. 
         [0010]    Another approach is to structure the temples of the eyewear to store auxiliary lenses, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,266 to Morrison. Although storage of the auxiliary lens along the side of the eyeglasses (temple) is useful, the auxiliary lens of Morrison must be bent around the hinge portion of the frame through a continuous “channel” when deployed; therefore, they can only be made of a thin, flexible material. As such, the auxiliary lenses will have limited corrective ability, optical quality and practical value. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    One aspect of the disclosure relates to eyewear, comprising a frame including a front portion and a pair of temples, each of the temples attached on opposite lateral sides of the front portion; a pair of primary lenses mounted to the front portion; and a pair of auxiliary lenses, each lens of the pair of auxiliary lenses mounted to a lens support slidably connected to a track comprising a groove within one of the temples and extending to the front portion. The auxiliary lenses can be positioned near the temples when not in use or moved to the front of the frame to overlap with the primary lens. The auxiliary lens can include various types of lenses including rigid lens. The auxiliary lenses can be corrective to augment the primary lens or tinted, for example. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, the track is a dual-groove track having an upper groove and a lower groove. The lower groove is more sharply curved and shorter in length than the upper groove allowing the auxiliary lens to negotiate a sharper turn around the hinge portion of the frame. 
         [0013]    According to still another aspect of the disclosure, the eyewear includes the upper dual-groove track and a lower track. The lens supports are suspended from the upper dual-groove track and ride on the lower track. The bottom groove of the upper dual-groove track may include a curved portion allowing the auxiliary lens to take a path ending with the auxiliary lenses behind the primary lenses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of exemplary eyewear; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a view the eyewear showing a mechanism for auxiliary lenses to slide about a single-groove track, according to a first embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the single-groove track; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a top plan view of the single-groove track with the track cover removed; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a side view of a lens support useable to support one of the auxiliary lens on the single-groove track; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3D  illustrates a top plan view of the lens support; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates an optional eyewear temple capable of storing an auxiliary lens; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a dual-groove track showing upper and lower grooves, according to a second embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of an auxiliary lens support useable with the dual-groove track; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5C  illustrates a view of the lens support navigating around a turn, the upper groove of the dual-groove track removed for illustrative purposes; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  illustrates a top plan view of the dual-groove track with an auxiliary lens navigating a turn around the hinge-portion of the frame; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  illustrates a top plan view of the lower track of the dual-groove track; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the upper dual-groove track and lower single-groove track, according to a third embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7B  illustrates a side view of a lens support useable to support one of the auxiliary lens on the the upper dual-groove track and lower single-groove track; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7C  illustrates eyewear with slidable auxiliary lenses, according to the third embodiment, showing a perspective view of a corner of the eyewear; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7D  illustrates a top plan view of the upper dual-groove track; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7E  illustrates a top plan view of the lower groove of the upper dual-groove track; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 7F  illustrates a top plan view of the upper groove of the upper dual-groove track. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of eyewear, according to a first embodiment, is illustrated. The eyewear comprises a frame including a front portion  101  and a pair of temples  108  attached on opposite lateral sides thereof, preferably by hinges (not shown). A pair of primary lenses  105  is mounted on rims  104 . Although the primary lenses  105  are shown mounted to full rims, it is to be understood that the primary lenses  105  could instead be mounted to half rims or the eyewear could incorporate a rimless design. Additionally, the eyewear includes a pair of auxiliary lenses  106 . Each auxiliary lens  106  is mounted to a respective lens support  102  having an enclosing border  107  that holds the auxiliary lens  106 . The auxiliary lenses  106  can include various types of rigid lenses such as glass, plastic, polycarbonate, and any other rigid material. The rigid lenses could incorporate any desired qualities including polarization, filters, prisms, and prescription or non-prescription lenses. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a view of the eyewear exposing tracks  111  is illustrated. As shown, the track covers are removed for illustrative purposes. As will be described in greater detail, each of the lens supports  102  is suspended from one of the tracks  111 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lens supports  102  (with the auxiliary lenses  106 ) are positioned below the temples  108 . This is the position of the auxiliary lenses  106  when not in use.  FIG. 2  shows the lens supports  102  positioned in front of the primary lens  105 . In this case, the user is able to benefit from the combination of the primary lenses  105  and the auxiliary lenses  106 . For example, the auxiliary lenses  106  could be magnifying lenses, such that when combined with the primary lenses  105  allows the user to read without the need to switch to a pair of reading eyeglasses. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 3A , a cross-sectional side view of the track  111  is illustrated. As can be seen, the track  111  includes a groove  111 A, a groove entrance  111 B and track cover  111 C. The groove  111 A is substantially wider than the groove entrance  111 A.  FIG. 3B  illustrates a top plan view of the track  111  with the track cover  111 C removed. The track  111  can be formed in the temple  108 . The track  111  extends from the temple  108 , around a hinge-portion  109 , and terminates adjacent the front portion  101 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , a side view of a lens support  102  useable to support one of the auxiliary lens  106  is illustrated.  FIG. 3D  illustrates a top plan view of the lens support  102 . As shown, the lens support  102  includes the enclosing border  107  that surrounds the periphery of the auxiliary lens  106 . Although the lens support  107  is a full rim, it is to be understood that the lens support  107  could employ a half rim or other suitable design depending on such factors as cost, weight, and desired style. The lens support  102  also includes a pair of protruding members  112  extending from a top side of the enclosing border  107 , each of the protruding members  112  including an end piece  110 . The lens support  102  can be a single-piece of molded plastic including the enclosing border  107 , the protruding members  112  and the end pieces  110 . Alternatively, the enclosing border  107  could be a single piece with the protruding members  112  and/or the end pieces  110  made separately and then attached. The end pieces  110  can be made of a reduced friction material such as nylon or a metal, for example. Although the protruding members  112  and the end pieces  110  are shown as cylindrical, it is to be understood that they could assume another suitable shape. Whatever the shape, it is important that the end pieces fit into the groove  111 A and the protruding members  112  fit the groove entrance  111 B. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an eyewear temple  114  capable of storing an auxiliary lens  105 , is illustrated. The eyewear temple  144  includes a hollow enclosure  113  that allows a lens support  102  with the auxiliary lens  105  to be stored therein when the auxiliary lenses  106  are not being used. The hollow enclosure  113  includes an opening (not shown) to allow the lens support  102  with the auxiliary lens  105  to travel into, and out from, the hollow enclosure  113 . Additionally, the eyewear temple  114  may include a channel to incorporate a bendable push rod that can push/the auxillary lenses  106  into position for use or pull the auxillary lenses  106  into storage within the hollow enclosure  113 . The eyewear temple  114  is an optional feature, and may be incorporated into other embodiments of the present invention as well. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 5A , a cross-sectional side view of a dual-groove track  211 , according to a second embodiment of the eyewear is illustrated. The dual-groove track  211  includes an upper groove  211 A, a lower groove  211 B, a groove entrance  211 C and a groove cover  211 D.  FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of an auxiliary lens support  202  useable with the dual-groove track  211 . As with the lens support  102 , the lens support  202  includes the enclosing border  107  and the auxiliary lens  106  mounted thereto. However, a difference between the lens support  202  and the lens support  102  is that the protruding members  212 A,  212 B are at different heights, so as to be able to reach the upper groove  211 A and the lower groove  210 B, respectively. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5C  illustrates a view of one of the lens supports  202  navigating around a turn, the upper groove  211 A of the dual-groove track removed for illustrative purposes. An advantage of the dual-groove track  211  is that the lens support  202  can negotiate a sharper turn around the hinge portion of the frame.  FIG. 6A  illustrates a top plan view of the dual-groove track  212  with a lens support  202  (and auxiliary lens attached thereto) navigating a turn around the hinge-portion of the frame. As can be seen, the lower groove  211 B is more sharply curved than the upper groove  211 A. In general, the turning radius of the end piece  110 B and the distance between the end piece  110 A and the end piece  110 B will determine the shape of the pathway of the upper groove  211 A. Advantageously, the dual-groove track  211  allows an eyewear design whereby the lens support can come very close to the user&#39;s forehead when turning around the hinge portion.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a top plan view of the lower track  211 B. As can be seen, the lower track includes not only the pathway for the end piece  110 B but also must allow grooves  213  to accommodate the protruding member  112 A which follows the pathway of the upper groove  211 A. 
         [0040]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a combined upper dual-groove track and lower single-groove track structure  312 , according to a third embodiment. The structure  312  includes walls  314  disposed between the dual-groove track and lower single-groove track. The dual groove track in the third embodiment includes an upper groove  311 A, a lower groove  311 B and a groove entrance  311 C. The single groove track includes a groove  311 D and a groove entrance  311 E. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7B  illustrates a side view of a lens support  302  useable to support one of the auxiliary lens  106 . On the top side of the enclosing border  107 , protruding members  312 A,  312 B extend and include end pieces  310 A and  310 B, respectively. Additionally, the bottom side of the enclosing border  107  includes a protruding member  312 C with an end piece  310 C. The protruding members  312 A,  312 B fit into the groove entrance  311 C; thus, the protruding member  312 A extends to a greater length to allow the end piece  310 A to fit into upper groove  311 A. The protruding member  312 B fits into lower groove  311 B. Furthermore, the protruding member  312 C fits into the groove entrance  311 E and the end piece  310 C fits into groove  311 D. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7C  illustrates eyewear with slidable auxiliary lenses, according to the third embodiment, showing a perspective view of a corner of the eyewear. The upper dual groove track including the upper groove  311 A and lower groove  311 B extend continuously around the corner while the lower single groove track including the groove  311 D is discontinuous, as shown. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7D  illustrates a view of the upper dual-groove track  311  assembled together. It is to be understood that the upper groove  311 A is a continuous groove, similar to the upper groove  211 A of the second embodiment (see  FIG. 6A ). In the present embodiment, an objective is to provide a pathway such that the auxiliary lenses  106  end up behind the primary lenses  105  instead of in front of them as was the case in the previous embodiments. To accomplish this, the lower groove  311 B extends behind the primary lenses  105  and includes a turn segment  320  to facilitate the necessary sharp turn. When the auxiliary lenses  106  is placed behind the primary lens, the the end piece  310 B will be at end point  311 B-T and the end piece  310 A at end point  311 A-T.  FIG. 7E  illustrates separate views of the lower groove  311 B and the upper groove  311 A, respectively. Note that the lower groove  311 B includes not only the pathway for the end piece  310 B but also pathway  313  to accommodate the protruding member  312 A which follows a wider pathway as it travels along the turn segment  320 . 
         [0044]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.