Abstract:
The invention involves an eyeglass mountable auxiliary lens device. The present device attaches at least partially to the eyeglasses through magnetic interaction and provides among other things a close fitting and aesthetically pleasing union between the eyeglasses and the auxiliary frames.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates in general to eyeglasses and auxiliary lenses for attachment to eyeglasses.  
         [0002]     Various means to attach auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses have been proposed over the years. However, these means typically utilize clips that are permanently attached to the auxiliary lenses. The clips then attach to the eyeglass frames. Other means to attach auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses include magnets or magnetic material attached to both the auxiliary and eyeglass frames and which engage each other to hold the auxiliary frames in place. These conventional arrangements for attaching to auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses have several drawbacks in that they are unattractive, require heavy frames, and are not closely associated with the eyeglasses and thus have large gaps between the auxiliary lenses and eyeglass frames that allow light refraction to interfere with vision. In addition, the shape of the eyeglass frames and the auxiliary frames are quite different, changing considerably the look of the eyeglasses when the two are attached in combination. Furthermore the use of magnets on both the primary and the auxiliary frames often lead to a situation where during manufacture of the devices the poles of the magnets are mismatched and thus non-operative. The use of magnets on both the primary and the auxiliary frames also prevents the auxiliary frames from being used interchangeably on other frames.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Briefly stated, the present invention in a preferred form is generally directed toward the attachment of auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses. In particular, the present invention includes a device by which auxiliary lenses are associated with magnetic elements that attach to the eyeglasses.  
         [0004]     The present invention includes a primary eyeglass frame for supporting primary lenses therein. The primary eyeglass frame may have two primary side members each extending outwardly and rearwardly from the frame, and to which are pivotably attached arms.  
         [0005]     A secondary eyeglass frame for supporting secondary lenses therein, said secondary eyeglass frame including magnetic elements mounted rearwardly from said secondary frame for engaging said primary eyeglass frame so as to secure the secondary eyeglass frame to the primary eyeglass frame.  
         [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass device to secure auxiliary lenses to an eyeglass frame that overcomes at least some of the above mentioned problems or provides the public with a useful alternative. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description made with reference to accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A  through D shows top, front, and side views of an eyeglass device having magnetic elements in the nose pad arm area in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 2A  through D shows top, front, and side views of an eyeglass device having magnetic elements in the side area in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 3A  through D shows top, front, and side views of an eyeglass device having magnetic elements in the top area in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]     Briefly stated, the invention in a preferred form is an eyeglass accessory that is simple in structure and provides the advantageous association of secondary lenses with the primary lenses of eyeglasses. In particular and referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown an eyeglass device  10  in accordance with the invention having an eyeglass frame  12  for supporting primary lenses  14  thereon. The eyeglass frames  12  may include a nose or bridge  34  that generally curves upwardly and outwardly from the plane of the frame  12 . The area near the bridge  34  may be and attachment point for nose pad arms  80  which hold in place nose pads  82 . The eyeglass frame  12  may include two side portions or members  16  extending outwardly and rearwardly therefrom for pivotally coupling arms  18  thereto.  
         [0012]     An auxiliary frame  24  can be correspondingly shaped in general to the eyeglass frame  12 . The auxiliary frames  24  include a nose or bridge  36  that extends upwardly and rearwardly form the line of the frame. The auxiliary frames  24  may also include includes extension members  70  extending outwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The auxiliary frame  24  includes, in one embodiment of the invention, magnetic members  30  secured to, for example, the rearward part of extension members  70 . The magnetic members  30  engage with the eyeglass frame  12 , such that the auxiliary frames  24  are supported by the eyeglass frames, for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Generally, the magnetic members  30  may be fitted in cavities in the extension members  70 , or they may be manufactured integrally with the members. The bridge  36  of the auxiliary frame may be integral with extension members  70 , for example as in  FIG. 1D . The bridge  36  and extension member  70  assembly may support the auxiliary lenses  26  by screws  74  that penetrate into the lenses  26 .  
         [0013]     In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in, for example,  FIGS. 2A-2D , the magnetic elements  30  of the auxiliary frame  24  may be located on the side portion of the auxiliary frame  12 . The magnetic members  30  may be affixed, embedded, or other wise associated with extensions  70  that position the magnetic members to the rear of the auxiliary frame  24 . The magnetic members  30  may then magnetically interact with the eyeglass frame  12  having magnetic properties. The bridge  34  of the eyeglasses and the bridge  36  of the auxiliary frame may be configured with the auxiliary frame bridge  36  being positioned rearwardly along with the eyeglass frame bridge  34  as shown in, for example,  FIG. 2A . This configuration, among other things, ensures that the original design lines of the eyeglasses are not markedly changed when the auxiliary frame  24  is secured to the eyeglass frames  12 .  
         [0014]     In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in, for example,  FIGS. 3A-3D , the magnetic elements  30  of the auxiliary frame  24  may be located on the upper portion of the auxiliary frame  12 . The magnetic members  30  may be affixed, embedded, or other wise associated with extensions  70  that position the magnetic members to the rear of the auxiliary frame  24 . The extensions  70  may be attached directly to the secondary lenses  26 . The magnetic members  30  may then magnetically interact with the eyeglass frame  12  which has magnetic properties. This configuration, among other things, ensures that the original design lines of the eyeglasses are not markedly changed when the auxiliary frame  24  is secured to the eyeglass frames  12 .  
         [0015]     In still another embodiment of the invention, the magnetic elements  30  of the auxiliary frame  24  may be located below the bridge  36 , for example as in  FIG. 1D , of the auxiliary frame  24 . The magnetic members may be affixed, embedded, or other wise associated with extensions  70  that position the magnetic members  30  to the rear of the auxiliary frame  24 . The extensions  70  may be attached directly to the secondary lenses  26  such as with screws  74 . The magnetic members  30  may then magnetically interact with the eyeglass frame  12  having magnetic properties. This configuration, among other things, ensures that the original design lines of the eyeglasses are not markedly changed when the auxiliary frame  24  is secured to the eyeglass frames  12 .  
         [0016]     The close integration of auxiliary frames  24  and the eyeglass frames  12  has many advantages, for instance, it reduces the overall weight of the device, reduces light entering from the side between the primary lens  14  and the auxiliary lens  26 , and minimizes any change in the design look of the eyeglass frames.  
         [0017]     While the preferred embodiments have been shown to describe the invention, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.