Abstract:
A reconfigurable eyewear assembly includes a frame member having left and right socket portions each having a generally circular rim defining an interior void, respectively, and being connected by a bridge portion, the left and the right socket portions having a temple connector extending rearwardly from a respective rim. The eyewear assembly includes a pair of temple members having proximal and distal ends, respectively, each proximal end being selectively coupled to a respective temple connector. A coating material is applied to at least a portion of one of the frame member or the temple members, the coating material including one of a whiteboard and a chalkboard.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 62/057,234 filed on Sep. 30, 2014 titled “Eyewear Design Kit Including Eyewear With Customizeable, Erasable Area For Unlimited Self-Expression”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to eyewear and, more particularly, to an eyewear device that may be customized so as to render a different aesthetic appearance, a desired expression of the wearer&#39;s personality, or to satisfy a whim or cultural trend. 
         [0003]    Sunshades and other eyewear are very popular with children and adults and, after an initial purchase, they provide significant enjoyment as well as protection from harsh sunlight. However, after a period of time, the enjoyment level declines for many users who are always eager from something new. Unfortunately, the current eyewear industry limits the creative voice of the eyewear and sunglass consumer by producing pre-designed eyewear and not providing an option to change the appearance without purchasing new eyeglasses altogether. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have an eyewear design kit having an eyewear device having customizable and erasable areas. Further, it would be desirable to have an eyewear design kit having one or more chalk devices adapted to apply a chalk coating to a chalkboard or whiteboard surface on the eyewear device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A reconfigurable eyewear assembly according to the present invention includes a frame member having left and right socket portions each having a generally circular rim defining an interior void, respectively, and being connected by a bridge portion, the left and the right socket portions having a temple connector extending rearwardly from a respective rim. The eyewear assembly includes a pair of temple members having proximal and distal ends, respectively, each proximal end being selectively coupled to a respective temple connector. A coating material is applied to at least a portion of one of the frame member or the temple members, the coating material including one of a whiteboard and a chalkboard. The coating material is configured and adapted to receive a chalk material thereon so as to display user imparted indicia as an artistic expression for personal enjoyment. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide reconfigurable eyewear assembly having a frame member and temple members that include a coating material on which a chalk material may be applied. 
         [0007]    Another object of this invention is to provide a reconfigurable eyewear assembly, as aforesaid, having customizable and erasable areas. 
         [0008]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a reconfigurable eyewear assembly, as aforesaid, in which the coating material is one of a chalkboard surface and a whiteboard surface. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a reconfigurable eyewear assembly, as aforesaid, in a kit arrangement having a towelette configured to clean chalk marker material off of the eyewear device. 
         [0010]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a reconfigurable eyewear assembly, as aforesaid, in a kit arrangement including one or more chalk devices. 
         [0011]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an eyewear device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the eyewear device as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2   b  is a front perspective view of the eyewear device as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2   c  is a rear perspective view of the eyewear device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a temple member of a frame portion of the eyewear device as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   b  is a side view of the temple member as in  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a package of a plurality of liquid chalk markers; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of a liquid chalk marker, illustrated with a lid in a closed configuration; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   b  is another perspective view of a liquid chalk marker illustrated with a lid exploded from the eyewear device; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a moist towelette illustrated in a fully rolled up configuration; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the moist towelette as in  FIG. 6  illustrated in a partially rolled up configuration. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    An eyewear design kit with customizable, erasable area according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7  of the accompanying drawings. The eyewear design kit includes an eyewear device  10  having a frame member and temple members  20  with customizable, erasable areas. 
         [0024]    The eyewear design kit has a primary element of an eyewear device  10 . The eyewear design kit may in some embodiments be referred to as a reconfigurable eyewear assembly. In both embodiments, an eyewear device  10  includes a coating material  12  applied and attached to a portion of the eyewear device  10 . Preferably, the coating material is a chalkboard surface material configured to receive, maintain, and display a chalkboard marker material later selectively imparted thereon, such as by a chalk dust device as will be described in more detail later. In an embodiment, the coating material is a whiteboard surface material configured to receive, maintain, and display a chalkboard marker material selectively applied thereto, such as by a liquid chalk marker as will be described in more detail later. 
         [0025]    The eyewear device  10  may include a frame member having a left socket portion  14  and a right socket portion  16  adjacent thereto ( FIG. 1 ). It is understood that the socket portions are configured to receive generally transparent plastic, glass, or plexiglass lenses or, in some embodiments, no lenses at all. The socket portions may include a bridge portion  18  connecting the socket portions to one another. A temple connector  19  may extend rearwardly from a side edge of each respective socket portion  14 ,  16 . In addition, the eyewear device  10  may include a pair of temple members  20 , each temple member  20  having a proximal end  24  coupled to a respective temple member  20 . In an embodiment, each temple member  20  may be removably coupled to a respective temple connector  19  so as to be interchangeable with a temple member  20  having a different shape, appearance, color, or design configuration. Each temple member  20  includes a distal end  26  opposite an associated proximal end  24 , the distal end  26  being a free or terminal end. The distal end  26  represents that part of the temple member  20  that engages or rests upon the ear of a user wearing the eyewear device  10  on his head. 
         [0026]    One or both of the socket portions  14 ,  16  of the frame member include an outer surface having the coating material  12  adhered thereto or impregnated into its constructed material. Similarly, the temple members  20  include respective outer surfaces having the coating material  12  adhered thereto or impregnated into its constructed material. In an embodiment, only the socket portions  14 ,  16  or only the temple members  20  include the coating material while in another embodiment, all outer surfaces of the eyewear device  10  are covered, completely or partially, with the coating material  12 . 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, each temple member  20  includes an enlarged area  22  covered by the coating material  12 . In other words, the temple members  20  have an area particularly suited to receive markings by a chalk device  30  upon the coating material  12 , such as indicia created by a user, e.g. text, graphics, color applications, lines, symbols, or the like. 
         [0028]    As the coating material  12  may be a chalkboard surface or a whiteboard surface, the eyewear design kit or eyewear assembly may include chalk devices  30  specifically adapted to apply a material upon the coating material  12 . For instance, a chalk device  30  in the nature of chalkboard chalk, sidewalk chalk, a liquid chalk marker  32 , or the like may be packaged and marketed in combination with the eyewear device  10  and then applied to the coating material as desired by a consumer once purchased and unpackaged. 
         [0029]    In addition, the eyewear design kit may include one or a plurality of liquid chalk markers  32 . The plurality of chalk markers  32  may be included in its own marker container  33  or packaging ( FIG. 4 ). In addition, the eyewear design kit may include a moist towelette  34  that includes a surface material and a chemical that is configured to remove chalk material (dust) or marker residue (erasable ink) from the coating material  12 . In other words, the chalk-imparted designs applied by a consumer may be removed and erased easily by the consumer so that new ones may be applied. In an embodiment, the towelette  34  may be a cloth or sponge that can be moistened by water as needed by the consumer. In an embodiment, the eyewear design kit may include a container of chalk dust (not shown) for conditioning or decorating the coating material before applying other chalk markings, say, liquid chalk marker ink. The eyewear design kit may also include a set of printed instructions (not shown) regarding how to use items in the kit, showing example designs, or the like. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, at least one liquid chalk marker  32  may include a coated phosphorescent pigment that is configured to glow in the dark once applied upon the coating material. In some formulations, the pigment may respond best and be most vivid when exposed to black light. Therefore, this form of liquid chalk marker might only be used in special circumstances when the eyewear device  10  is to be worn at night or, for example, at a Halloween party where black lighting is in use. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the material coating described above may be a magnetic coating. The eyewear design kit, then, may include a plurality of ferromagnetic charms (not shown) selectively mounted to the magnetic coating. This is just another means by which the eyewear device may be reconfigured or customized by a consumer. 
         [0032]    In another aspect of the invention, a website may be included for ordering and purchasing customized and customizable eyewear design kits in the nature of the above descriptions. Preferably, the website includes a graphical user interface (“GUI”) for configuring and purchasing an eyewear kit. The GUI may include a first display region for display on a display device (e.g. a consumer&#39;s computer monitor), the first display region configured to display at least one representation of an eyewear device. The interface also includes a first selection feature configured to display on the display device concurrently with and adjacent to the first display region and configured to allow user selection of an aspect of the representation of the displayed eyewear. Further, a second display region is configured to display concurrently with and adjacent to the first display region at least one representation of a set of one or more markers configured for marking on a surface of the eyewear. A second selection feature is configured to display on the display device concurrently with and adjacent to the second display region and configured to allow user selection of an aspect of the representation of the set of markers. Finally, the interface may include a user-selectable ecommerce feature for invoking display of a first ecommerce display region configured in response to the first and second selection features to display a first representation of the selected aspect of the displayed eyewear and a second representation of the selected aspect of the displayed marker, with the first and second representations displayed adjacent to a price. 
         [0033]    More specifically, the first ecommerce display region is configured to display a user selectable checkout or purchase button configured to invoke upon selection the display of a second ecommerce display region configured to allow input of shipping and/or credit card information and to enable user selection of an option to complete purchase of an assembly or kit including a physical embodiment of the eyewear and a physical embodiment of the set of markers. 
         [0034]    In an embodiment, the user-selectable ecommerce feature allows one-click purchase of a kit including the eyewear configured according to the first selection feature and the set of markers configured according to the second selection feature. In addition, the interface may include a combination icon element configured to be displayed concurrently with and between the first and second display regions to indicate combination of the eyewear and the set of one or more markers. 
         [0035]    In use, an eyewear device  10  comes with respective outer surfaces coated with the coating material. In some embodiments (e.g. a kit), one or more marker devices  32  may include a chalk material—such as ink or chalk dust or the like—that adheres to the coating material  12 . For instance, a user may impart alphanumeric or graphic indicia onto the temple members as an expression of one&#39;s personality, loyalty to a team or organization, or the like. If desired, the chalk marker material may be erased from the frame elements, such as with a towel and water or chemical, and new creative markings may be posted, such as with or in association with an organization, team, or school. 
         [0036]    It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.