Abstract:
The invention is directed to a reinforced nose bridge structure, eyeglasses employing the reinforced nose bridge structure, and methods of making reinforced nose bridge structures and eyeglasses. A reinforced nose bridge structure includes an elongated body and a wire extending along the body for most of its length. The ends of the wire project from the body to form a pair of spaced-apart nose pad supports. Respective nose pads are mounted at the ends of the wire forming the nose pad supports. The nose bridge may be attached directly to eyeglass lenses or to complete or partial frames for the lenses

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to eyeglasses having a reinforced nose bridge. More particularly, this invention relates to eyeglasses with a reinforced nose bridge having a support structure that reinforces the nose bridge and provides nose pad supports.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There are presently a wide variety of styles for eyeglasses available for a wearer to choose from. Some of the eyeglasses employ a frame that includes lens holders for supporting a pair of lenses joined together with a nose bridge. Other types of designs for eyeglasses use a rimless frame, and join the pair of lenses together with a nose bridge. Regardless of the particular type of frame, the nose bridge spans the space between the lenses, and, when the eyeglasses are positioned on the wearer&#39;s head, nose pads attached to the nose bridge or frame contact the sides of the wearer&#39;s nose to help support the eyeglasses in a desired position on the wearer&#39;s face.  
         [0003]     One conventional design for a pair of eyeglasses is shown in  FIG. 1 . Eyeglasses  100  includes a pair of lenses  102  that are interconnected with a nose bridge  104 . The nose bridge  104  has a pair of nose pad supports  105  that are molded inside of the nose bridge  104 . Each of the nose pad supports  105  extends inside of the nose bridge  104  along only a small portion of its length, and projects downwardly so that respective nose pads  106  mounted to each of the nose pad supports  105  will bear against the sides of a wearer&#39;s nose when the eyeglasses  100  are worn by the wearer. The eyeglasses  100  further includes a pair of temples  108  that are pivotally attached to the lateral sides of each of the lenses  102  using respective hinges  110 . The temples  108  extend rearwardly away from each of the lenses  102  and are configured to fit along the sides of a wearer&#39;s head so that the eyeglasses  100  are retained on the wearer&#39;s head.  
         [0004]     One problem associated with the eyeglasses  100  is that the nose bridge  104  may not be sufficiently sturdy, or, if it is sufficiently sturdy, the nose bridge  104  must be undesirably thick to impart the requisite strength. Another problem associated with the eyeglasses  100  is the strength of the attachment between the nose pad supports  105  and the nose bridge  104  may not be sufficient to prevent the nose pad supports  105  from separating from the nose bridge  104 . This problem may be exacerbated by making the nose bridge  104  relatively thin, which is often desired for styling reasons.  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  shows another conventional design for a pair of eyeglasses. Eyeglasses  110  includes a pair of lenses  112  that are mounted to a frame  113 . The frame  113  includes lens backing portions  114  that extend along the length of the upper portion of each of the lenses  112 . The frame  113  further includes a nose bridge  116  that is integrally formed with each of the lens backing portions  114 . The nose bridge  116  includes a pair of nose pads  118  that are mounted on a portion of the nose bridge  116 . A pair of temples  120  are hingedly attached to the frame  113 , and extend rearwardly away from each of the lenses  112 .  
         [0006]     One problem with the eyeglasses  110  is that the nose pads  118  are not adjustable to accommodate a variety of nose sizes. Therefore, the eyeglasses  110  use a nose bridge  116  that is designed to fit a specific nose size or a range of nose sizes, and will not properly fit certain nose sizes. Furthermore, the frame  113  including the nose bridge portion  116  may need to be undesirably bulky in order to provide sufficient structural support.  
         [0007]     Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a nose bridge for a pair of eyeglasses that is not undesirably bulky, while still providing a sufficient amount of strength. Furthermore, it would be desirable that the pair of eyeglasses include adjustable nose pads so that the eyeglasses can be adjusted to fit a range of nose sizes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The invention is directed to a reinforced nose bridge structure, eyeglasses employing the reinforced nose bridge structure, and methods of making reinforced nose bridge structures and eyeglasses. In one aspect of the invention, a reinforced nose bridge structure includes an elongated body extending generally in a longitudinal direction and a support structure. The support structure includes a reinforcement portion extending generally in the longitudinal direction and at least part of the reinforcement portion being positioned within the elongated body. The support structure further includes a pair of nose pad support portions attached to the reinforcement portion and spaced apart from each other along the length of the reinforcement portion. The pair of nose pad support portions project away from the reinforcement portion and the elongated body. Eyeglasses employing the reinforced nose bridge structures include eyeglasses that use rimless frames or eyeglasses that have a frame such as, for example, a lens backing portion that may be integrally formed with the reinforced nose bridge structure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a conventional pair of eyeglasses having a rimless frame with the pair of lenses being interconnected using a nose bridge.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of another conventional pair of eyeglasses having a rimless frame with lens backing portions integrally formed with the nose bridge.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a pair of eyeglasses having a reinforced nose bridge structure according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the pair of eyeglasses shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view of the eyeglasses of  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the frame of the eyeglass shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5   
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the support structure of the reinforced nose bridge structure shown in  FIGS. 3 through 6  according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a rimless pair of eyeglasses having a reinforced nose bridge structure according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The invention is directed to a reinforced nose bridge structure, eyeglasses employing the reinforced nose bridge structure, and methods of making reinforced nose bridge structures and eyeglasses. Many specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in  FIGS. 3 through 8  in order to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the invention may have additional embodiments, or that the invention may be practiced without several of the details described in the following description.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 3 through 5  show schematic views of a pair of eyeglasses  122  according to an embodiment of the invention. The eyeglasses  122  include a frame  124  having a reinforced nose bridge  128  and a pair of lens backing portions  126  and  127 , both of which extend from the reinforced nose bridge  128  to an attachment portion  134 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lens backing portions  126 ,  127 , the bridge  128 , and the attachment portions  134  are formed integrally as a unitary structure. In alternative embodiments, the lens backing portions  126  and  127 , and/or the attachment portions  134  may be separate components or the frame  124  may include sections that extend from the reinforced nose bridge  128  to surround the periphery of each of the lenses  132  to form rims. The reinforced nose bridge  128  includes a support structure having a reinforcement portion  130  and nose pad supports  138  extending therefrom that will be discussed in more detail in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0019]     As best shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 5 , lenses  132  (e.g., sunglass lenses or corrective lenses) are received by slots  140  of the frame  124 , and the lenses  132  may be secured to the frame  124  using fastening elements  146  inserted through holes  144  in the frame  124  and corresponding holes  141  in each of the lenses  132  or another suitable technique. For example, instead of using fastening elements  146  to secure the lenses  132  to the frame  124 , each of the lenses  132  may be suitably configured with tabs that are received by slots in the frame  122  to retain the lenses  132  on the frame  124 . The eyeglasses  122  further include a pair of temples  136 , configured to fit around the sides of a wearer&#39;s head, that are pivotally attached to the frame  124  at the attachment portions  134  in a conventional manner. However, other securing devices, such as straps extending between the attachment portions  134  behind the head of the wearer, may also be used. Nose pad supports  138  carrying nose pads  140  project downwardly from the reinforced nose bridge  128  to comfortably support the eyeglasses  122  on the nose of the wearer. The nose pad supports  138  are fabricated from a material, such as a metallic wire, that may be easily bent or cut into a desired length so that the manufacturer or wearer may alter the length thereof.  
         [0020]     The structure of the reinforced nose bridge  128  and its associated support structure  146 , which reinforces the reinforced nose bridge  128  and provides the nose pad supports  138 , will be better understood with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . A portion of the support structure  146  is embedded within a body  129  formed of a mass of cured polymeric material. The reinforcement portion  130  of the support structure  146  extends generally along the length of the reinforced nose bridge  128  to provide structural reinforcement thereof. Accordingly, the reinforced nose bridge  128  may be formed of less material and, thus, thinner and lighter than a conventional nose bridge because the reinforcement portion  130  stiffens the reinforced nose bridge  128 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the reinforcement portion  130  is completely enclosed by the body  129 . However, in some alternative embodiments, the reinforcement portion  130  may be partially enclosed by the body  129 . The nose pad supports  138  are connected to the reinforcement portion  130  by being integrally formed therewith, soldering, gluing, or another suitable technique. The nose pad supports  138  project downwardly through the body  129  that is formed around the reinforcement portion  130 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a small portion of each of the nose pad supports  138  is covered by the body  129 , and the nose pad supports  138  project through the body  129 . The ends of the nose pad supports  138  are curled to define openings suitably configured to receive the nose pads  140 . The nose pad supports  138  are fabricated from a material, such as a metallic wire, that may be cut or curled to adjust the length thereof so that the eyeglasses  122  may be adjusted to fit a variety of different nose sizes.  
         [0021]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the support structure  146  has holes  145  at respective ends that extend through its thickness, and these holes  145  are aligned with corresponding holes  144  of the frame  124  so that fastening elements  146  may be inserted through corresponding holes  145  and a corresponding one of the holes  144  of the frame  124  and the holes  141  of the lenses  132  to secure each of the lenses  132  to the frame  124 . However, a variety of other means may be used to secure the lenses  132  to the frame  124 , such as by using a suitable adhesive, by thermal welding, or by other means. Therefore, the holes  145  in the support structure  128  may not be necessary in some embodiments. In alternative embodiments, the frame  124  may include holes that extend through portions other than the reinforced nose bridge  128  or holes that extend through the reinforced nose bridge  128 , but not through any part of the support structure  146 . Other configurations will also be apparent.  
         [0022]     The frame  124  may be fabricated by insert molding or another suitable fabrication technique. In one embodiment, during insert molding, the holes  145  of the support structure  146  receive alignment pins to hold and position the support structure  146  in the mold in a desired position. A volume of polymeric material, such as a nylon or a polycarbonate polymeric material, is injected into the mold and cures around the reinforcement portion  130  and portions of the nose pad supports  138  to form the body  129  having a shape defined by the mold configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the support structure  146  is held in a desired position in the mold by an external fixture.  
         [0023]     For example, a fixture may hold onto the support structure  146  at one or both of the nose pad supports  138  to hold the support structure  146  in the desired position in the mold. In this embodiment, the holes  145  may be omitted from the reinforcement portion  130 , if desired.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment for a rimless pair of eyeglasses  148 . The eyeglasses  148  have many of the same components that are included in the eyeglasses  122  of  FIG. 3 . Therefore, in the interest of brevity, the components of the eyeglasses  122 ,  148  that correspond to each other have been provided with the same reference numerals, and an explanation of their structure and function will not be repeated. The eyeglasses  148  are identical to the eyeglasses  122  except that the lens backing portions  126  and  127  have been omitted and attachment portions  135  are separate components that are attached to respective lenses  132  in a conventional manner.  
         [0025]     Accordingly, the reinforced nose bridge  128  may be formed into a variety of nose bridge configurations that are thinner and, hence, utilize less material than ordinarily would be used if the support structure  146  is not present. Also, by attaching the nose pad supports  138  to the reinforcement portion  130 , which extends continuously through the nose bridge  128  for a substantial distance, the nose pad supports  138  are more securely attached to the nose bridge  128 . Additionally, the nose pad supports  138  of the support structure  146  enable the reinforced nose bridge  128  to be used on a variety of different nose sizes by bending or cutting the nose pad supports  138  to adjust their respective lengths.  
         [0026]     Although the invention has been described with reference to the disclosed embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the reinforced nose bridges with their associated adjustable nose pad supports may be used on any type of eyewear that uses a nose bridge. Such modifications are well within the skill of those ordinarily skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.