Golf bifocals

The present invention includes a pair of glasses to be worn by a golfer where only one of the lenses contains a reconfigured bifocal lens, i.e. bifocal element. The placement of the bifocal element may be determined by the writing hand of the wearer or may be determined by whether the wearer has a right-handed golf swing or a left-handed golf swing, depending upon the preference of the wearer. In an alternative embodiment, the bifocal element may be placed in both lenses provided that the near vision segment is positioned in the upper outermost temporal portion of the lenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is directed to an ophthalmic apparatus and in 
particular to a vision correcting device used while playing sports such as 
golf and other activities where distance viewing is required for most of 
the viewing and near viewing is required for a only small percentage of 
the time. The invention seeks to alleviate the existing difficulties 
experienced by wearers of bifocals or reading glasses while playing sports 
such as golf, bowling, billiards, etc. 
2. Background and Material Information 
It has been found that the wearer of bifocals, trifocals or progressive 
lenses experiences discomfort when playing various sporting activities, 
especially golf. Conventionally, the bifocal segment is located at the 
nasal or lower portion of the lenses. As such, the bifocal is placed in a 
position that interferes with a golfer's line of vision during body and 
head positioning prior to commencing a stroke to contact the ball. 
Progressive lenses, a multi focal lens with no discernable line of 
demarcation, also create the same discomfort for the golfer. Additionally, 
golfers who require glasses only for reading must continually apply and 
remove their reading glasses, for instance, during the playing and scoring 
phases of their game. The present invention seeks to alleviate these 
problems experienced by golfers. 
Specialized vocational bifocals and trifocals are known in the prior art. 
For instance, trifocals are employed in the meat cutting industry. In 
practice, the lenses are divided into upper, middle, and lower focal 
points, the upper focal segment being used for intermediate distance 
viewing, the middle segment being used for distance viewing, and the lower 
segment being used for near viewing. Similarly, upper bifocals are known 
for pilots, where the upper segment is for near viewing and the lower 
segment is for distance viewing. However, none of the prior art suggests a 
specialized bifocal that alleviates the problems facing golfers wearing 
bifocals or reading glasses. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention preferably includes a pair of glasses to be worn by a 
golfer where only one of the lenses contains a reconfigured bifocal lens, 
i.e. bifocal element. Alternatively, both of the lenses may contain the 
reconfigured bifocal lens. The placement of the bifocal element may be 
determined by the writing hand of the wearer or may be determined by 
whether the wearer has a right-handed golf swing or a left-handed golf 
swing, depending upon the preference of the wearer. In the former case, 
preferably, but not absolutely necessarily, the bifocal element is placed 
in the frame opposite the hand that the golfer uses to write. This 
positioning is utilized so that the hand of the writer does not interfere 
with near viewing as accomplished through the bifocal segment. For 
instance, for wearers who write with their left hand, the bifocal element 
is most preferably placed in the right side of the frame. Conversely, for 
wearers who write with their right hand, the bifocal element is placed in 
the left side of the frame. Besides those who normally wear bifocals, this 
invention may also be used for golfers who require only reading glasses. 
As indicated previously, the placement of the bifocal element may be 
determined by whether the golfer employs a right-handed or left-handed 
golf swing. In this case, preferably, but not absolutely necessarily, the 
bifocal element is placed in the right side of the frame if the wearer has 
a right-handed golf swing. Conversely, the bifocal element is placed in 
the left side of the frame if the wearer has a left-handed golf swing. For 
example, during the backswing of a right-handed golf swing, golfers 
usually transfer their vision to the left eye. By placing the bifocal 
segment in the right side of the frame, the golfer would be able to 
utilize the entire left lens on the ball, i.e. distance viewing. As a 
result, the golfer suffers no bifocal distortion or interference. 
Conversely, for golfers with a left-handed swing, the bifocal element is 
placed in the left side of the frame. 
According to a first aspect of the invention, an ophthalmic apparatus 
comprises a frame having first and second lens supporting structures. The 
first lens is supported by the first lens supporting structure of the 
frame and comprises a lens for distance viewing. The second lens is 
supported by the second lens supporting structure of the frame and 
comprises a lens segment for distance viewing and a lens segment having a 
corrective power for near viewing. The near viewing lens segment is 
provided in only one of said first and second lenses. Preferably, the near 
viewing segment is provided in an upper outermost temporal portion of the 
second lens. Further, the near viewing segment is no less than 9 mm in 
diameter with a maximum of 22 mm in diameter, and is substantially 
semi-circular in shape. Further, the near viewing segment is provided at a 
position 5 mm above an optical center of the second lens. The second lens 
may be mounted in a dexter side of the frame for wearers who write with 
their left hand. The second lens may be mounted in a sinister side of the 
frame for wearers who write with their right hand. In the alternative, and 
depending upon the preference of the wearer, the second lens may be placed 
in the dexter side of the frame for golfers with a right-handed swing, or 
in the sinister side of the frame for golfers with a left-handed swing. 
According to another aspect of the invention, an ophthalmic apparatus 
comprises a frame having first and second lens supporting structures, 
wherein a first lens is supported by the first lens supporting structure 
of the frame and comprises a lens segment for distance viewing. A second 
lens is supported by the second lens supporting structure of the frame and 
comprises a lens segment for distance viewing. 
At least one of the first and second lenses comprise a lens segment for 
near viewing, which is provided in an upper outermost temporal portion of 
the lens or lenses. Preferably the near viewing segments of the lens or 
lenses is not less than 9 mm in diameter with a maximum of 22 mm in 
diameter. Further preferably, the near viewing segments of the lens or 
lenses is substantially semi-circular in shape and is provided at a 
position 5 mm above an optical center of the lens or lenses. 
More broadly, the invention is directed to a method of assembling an 
ophthalmic apparatus comprising the steps of fixedly mounting first and 
second lenses in a frame having first and second lens supporting 
structures. The first lens is supported by the first lens supporting 
structure and comprises a lens for distance viewing. The second lens is 
supported by the second lens supporting structure and comprises a lens 
segment for distance viewing and a lens segment having a corrective power 
for near viewing. The near viewing lens segment is provided in only one of 
said first and second lenses. Preferably, the near viewing segment is 
provided in an upper outermost temporal portion of the second lens. 
Further, the near viewing segment is no less than 9 mm in diameter with a 
maximum of 22 mm in diameter, and is substantially semi-circular in shape. 
Further, the near viewing segment is provided at a position 5 mm above an 
optical center of the second lens. The second lens is preferably mounted 
in a dexter side of the frame for wearers who write with their left hand. 
The second lens is preferably mounted in a sinister side of the frame for 
wearers who write with their right hand. In the alternative, and depending 
upon the preference of the wearer, the second lens may be placed in the 
dexter side of the frame for golfers with a right-handed swing, or in the 
sinister side of the frame for golfers with a left-handed swing. 
More broadly, the invention is directed to a method of assembling an 
ophthalmic apparatus comprising the steps of fixedly mounting first and 
second lenses in a frame having first and second lens supporting 
structures. At least one of the first and second lenses comprises a lens 
segment for distance viewing and a lens segment having a corrective power 
for near viewing. The near viewing segment is provided in an uppermost 
temporal portion of said at least one of said first and second lenses. 
Preferably the near viewing segments of the lens or lenses is not less 
than 9 mm with a maximum of 22 mm in diameter. Further preferably, the 
near viewing segments of the lens or lenses is substantially semi-circular 
in shape and is provided at a position 5 mm above an optical center of the 
lens or lenses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The lens frames for the present invention may be of the conventional type 
already in existence, or any other possible variation. The frame may be 
constructed of any conventional materials including but not limited to 
plastics, metals or any other materials out of which such frames are made. 
Likewise, the lenses may be made of any conventional materials, preferably 
CR-39 or polycarbonate; although, a high index material may be used. 
Depending upon the preference of the wearer, the lenses can be clear, 
tinted or anti-reflective. Furthermore, the lenses may be scratch 
protected by any of the means conventionally available. 
As previously discussed, the present invention attempts to alleviate the 
discomfort experienced by wearers of bifocals or reading glasses when 
undertaking sporting activities such as golf, bowling, billiards, etc. The 
present invention is not strictly limited to sporting activities and may 
be employed during any undertaking. Conventionally, a bifocal segment is 
placed in a position that interferes with the golfer's vision as he 
attempts to line up his body and head prior to contacting the ball. By 
modifying the position of the bifocal, a golfer may utilize approximately 
90% of his lenses for distance vision (DV) and the remaining portion of 
his lenses for near vision (NV), DV being the vision employed in any other 
instance than when NV is employed. The near vision segment may be used 
during scoring, reading the rule book, examining the time or whenever near 
vision viewing is required. According to the present invention, any 
corrective power may be employed in the DV or NV segments. It should be 
noted that the DV segment does not necessarily have to be corrective in 
nature, as will be discussed later. Preferably, the corrective power of 
the NV segment includes about +1.00 to +4.00, increasing in 0.25 
increments. Also preferably, the corrective power of the DV segment 
includes about -20.00 to +11.00, also increasing in 0.25 increments. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of eyeglasses 1 includes, a frame 2, lens 
supporting structures 3 in which lenses 5 and 6 are fixedly mounted, a 
nose pad 7 attached to the frame 2, and a pair of left and right temples 8 
connected by hinges 9 to the left and right sides of the frame 2 and 
extend away from the frame towards the ears. The lens on the ocular 
sinister (O.S.) side of the frame contains a bifocal element. As can be 
seen by FIG. 1, near vision segment 10 is located in the uppermost 
temporal section of the frame. The remainder of the lens 6, as well as the 
entire lens 5 in the ocular dexter side of the frame is for distance 
viewing. 
The reverse configuration is illustrated in FIG. 2. As can been seen, all 
of the elements in FIG. 2 have identical numerals as FIG. 1. The lens on 
the ocular dexter (O.D.) side of the frame contains a bifocal element. As 
can be seen, near vision segment 10 is located in the uppermost temporal 
section of the frame. The remainder of the lens 6, as well as the entire 
lens 5 in the ocular sinister side of the frame is for distance viewing. 
With this reconfigured bifocal, the golfer is able to utilize approximately 
90% of lenses 5 and 6 for distance vision and the near vision segment 10 
for reading, scoring, etc. The location of the near vision segment 10 
allows the golfer to play without the conventional bifocal interference. 
The bifocal element employed is a 1-22 millimeter TK type lens of any 
shape. Preferably, the bifocal element is a 9-15 millimeter TK type lens 
with a generally circular configuration. Further preferably, its length 
(through the diameter) after being cut to fit the frame is no shorter than 
10 millimeters with an optimum length of 14-17 millimeters. The NV segment 
is positioned approximately 5 millimeters above the optical center (O.C.) 
of the lens, and as far temporal as practical. 
During manufacture, the bifocal element may be made from a DV blank, 
whereupon the NV segment is ground thereupon. 
Another practical embodiment of the invention is configured for a golfer 
who wears glasses only for near vision, i.e. reading glasses. In this 
instance, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the segments used for DV are Plano, 
non-corrective in nature, whereas the temporal segment used for near 
vision is the only corrective portion of the eyeglasses. In this fashion, 
the golfer may use the Plano lenses for DV and the near vision segment for 
NV. Accordingly, the golfer no longer has to apply and remove his reading 
glasses. 
Referring to FIG. 4, another practical embodiment of the invention is 
configured such that near vision segments 10 and 11 are provided in the 
upper outermost temporal sections of both lenses, while the remainder of 
each lens is configured for distance vision, or may be non-corrective as 
discussed above. 
The nature and shape of the lenses and frames is not intended to be limited 
to the depictions in the drawings. For instance, the lens supporting 
structures 3 need not encircle the entire lens, but may be provided only 
at the top of the lens, or in any other suitable fashion. Further, the 
lenses and/or segments may be of any particular shape such as square, 
rectangular, oval, etc. and are not limited to the depictions in the 
drawings. 
The method of the present invention involves assembling the ophthalmic 
apparatus by fixedly mounting lenses 5 and 6 into lens supporting 
structures 3. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lens containing the bifocal 
element is positioned in the ocular sinister side of the frame for a 
person who writes with their right hand. Conversely, the lens containing 
the bifocal element is positioned in the ocular dexter side of the frame 
for a person who writes with their left hand. In the alternative, and 
depending upon the preference of the wearer, the second lens may be placed 
in the dexter side of the frame for golfers with a right-handed swing, or 
in the sinister side of the frame for golfers with a left-handed swing. In 
another alternative embodiment, the method of the present invention 
involves a configuration such that at least one of the lenses 5 and 6 
contains a near vision segment provided in the upper outermost temporal 
section of the lens or lenses, while the remainder of the lens or lenses 
is configured for distance vision, or may be non-corrective as discussed 
above. 
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and 
described herein, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to 
the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to 
cover all modifications, alternatives, embodiments, usages and equivalents 
as fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, 
specification, and appended claims.