Flexible Nose Pad Assembly for Eyewear

There is provided an adjustable nose pad system for eyewear comprising a holding prong and a nose pad. The holding prong can be affixed to a nose bridge portion of an eyewear frame. A flexible nose pad can be mounted to the holding prong. The holding prong can be constructed from a rigid material and comprises a groove on a first surface and a protrusion on a second surface opposite the first surface. The groove and protrusion work together to provide the adjustability of the nose pad system. In this regard, the holding prong, together with the nose pad can be flexed from one side to another to provide a comfort fit to the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates to nose pads for eyewear, and methods of assembling eyewear having flexible nose pads.

BACKGROUND

Eyewear such as eyeglasses generally include a frame that supports one or more lenses. The frame typically includes a nose bridge or nose pieces that engage the user's nose to support the eyewear on the user's head. Eyeglasses also typically include a pair of arms attached to (or integral with) the frame, to further support the eyeglasses, e.g. by resting the arms on the user's ears or engaging their head in the temple region. The nose pieces which engage the user's nose typically include nose pads which provide friction to the eyewear to prevent it from slipping off the user's nose.

Eyeglasses have traditionally utilized frames or frame components made from substantially rigid materials such as plastics, metals, or composite materials. To ensure a proper fit, nose pads can typically be adjusted to conform around a user's nose. Nose pads generally comprise a flexible pad mounted on a rigid holder. A drawback of the rigid holder is that the nose pad can only typically withstand some flexure and can be prone to breakage or deformation.

Furthermore, various challenges can arise in construction, assembly, and use when incorporating flexible elements. For instance, the assembly associated with using multiple different materials can be complex and expensive. Components made of rigid material and components made of flexible material generally can find difficulties adhering to each other, and may require a joining mechanism that should be easy to assemble while also being durable and provide a strong joint. Joining the flexible pad to the holder can be difficult and the pad may unintentionally fall off the holder.

It is an object of the following to address at least one of the above-noted disadvantages.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, there is provided an adjustable nose pad system for eyewear comprising a holding prong and a nose pad. The holding prong can be affixed to a nose bridge portion of an eyewear frame. A flexible nose pad can be mounted to the holding prong. The holding prong can be constructed from a rigid material and comprises a groove on a first surface and a protrusion on a second surface opposite the first surface. The groove and protrusion work together to provide the adjustability of the nose pad system. In this regard, the holding prong, together with the nose pad can be flexed from one side to another to provide a comfort fit to the user.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of producing the adjustable nose pad system. In yet another aspect, there is provided a method of producing eyewear comprising the adjustable nose pad system described above. In an implementation, the nose pad is secured to the holding prong by the insertion of a fastener, such as cured resin. In another implementation, the flexible nose pad is overmolded over the holding prong.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A flexible nose pad assembly can be utilized to provide a comfort-fit in eyewear such as eyeglasses, sunglasses, safety eyewear and the like. Rigid holding prongs can be at least partially contained or embedded in a flexible nose pad body to provide attachment points to lens retainers in the eyewear, with the flexible nose pad body therebetween allowing flexibility of the nose pad at or about the user's nose.

Turning now to the figures,FIG. 1provides a rear perspective view of an assembled eyewear100, also referred to interchangeably herein as an eyewear assembly100or eyewear100for brevity. The eyewear100includes a frame106, arms108and a pair of lenses104. The eyewear100also includes a pair of nose pads102. The nose pads102engage the user's nose and provide friction so that the eyewear100stays on the user's nose without slipping. The nose pads102are generally made from a resilient rubber to provide comfort to the user at the same time as providing enough resistance to slipping. Adjustable nose pads are highly desirable to ensure the eyewear100fits snugly on the user's nose.

FIG. 2shows an enlarged perspective view of the eyewear100with the flexible nose pads102. In this embodiment, the nose pads102a,102bare a singular nose pad portion102attached to the eyewear frame106. The nose pad portion102can be overmoulded to a holding prong (FIG. 3) extending from the frame106.

FIG. 3shows a perspective view of the holding prongs110of the flexible nose pad system. The holding prongs110extend from the frame106. The holding prongs110can be formed from a rigid material such as plastic, wood, acetate, or another suitable rigid material. The holding prongs110can act as a substrate for the over moulding process.

The construction of the flexible nose pad assembly can be done using any suitable overmolding process. Overmolding, sometimes referred to as two times injection molding, is a process where a single part is created using two or more different materials in combination. Typically, the first material (or substrate) is partially or fully covered by overmolded material during the manufacturing process. In this case, the holding prongs110act as the substrate that is overmolded with the material used to create the nose pads102. The material that forms the overmolded nose pads102can be overmolded on the holding prongs110to create the flexible nose pad assembly that can then be joined to the frame106in constructing the eyewear10.

The overmolded material is generally an elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), rubber or thermoplastic rubber (TRP), soft plastic, or any other suitable material. As the nose pads102will bear against the user's nose, it is preferably to use a material which is softer to the touch. At the same time, it is also preferable that the overmoulded material be resilient and provide frictional resistance. It can be appreciated that the flexible material can be overmolded to the holding prongs110prior to attaching the holding prongs110to the frame106. That is, nose pad system (holding prong110and nose pad102) can be constructed as a separate component that is incorporated into the assembly process. It is also possible to first attach the holding prongs110to the frame106, and then overmould the flexible nose pad material to the frame assembly.

FIG. 4shows the details of the holding prongs110. The holding prongs110comprise details to provide adjustability to the nose pad assembly. The adjustability of the nose pad system is precise and controlled, and dependent on the details on the holding prongs110. The holding prongs110can generally comprise a long rectangular body. Each holding prong has2surfaces, a first surface118awhich faces the user's nose, and a second surface118bwhich faces away from the user's nose. The surfaces118bfacing away from the user's nose comprise a groove112which extends the width of the holding prong110. On the opposite surface118a,a protrusion114can be formed. The groove112and protrusion114work together to provide the adjustability of the nose pad system. In this regard, the holding prong110, together with the nose pad102can be flexed from one side to another to provide a comfort fit to the user. The groove112and protrusion114details added to the prong110create a defined location on the prong110from which location the nose pad102will be adjustable.

The groove112defines a weakness in the structure of the holding prong110to ensure that upon deformation, it will deform from that area. The protrusion114defines a strength in the structure of the holding prong110to ensure that the prong will not tear off after multiple adjustments of the nose pads. Furthermore, the holding prong110also comprises a curved portion116which increases the strength of the holding prong110to ensure it will not deform from that location by the user.

FIG. 5provides a rear view of the holding prongs shown inFIG. 4. From this angle it can be seen that each holding prong110comprises a first surface118awhich faces the user's nose, and a second surface118bwhich faces away from the user's nose. The surfaces118bfacing away from the user's nose comprise a groove112. On the opposite surface118a,a strengthening protrusion114can be formed.

FIG. 6shows a rear view of the holding prongs shown inFIG. 5, with transparency to illustrate flexibility. The groove112provides flexibility and adjustability to the nose pad system. As it can be seen fromFIG. 6, the holding prong110flexes and deforms at the location of the groove112and the protrusion114. The groove112defines a weakness in the structure of the holding prong110to ensure that upon deformation, it will deform from that area. The protrusion114defines a strength in the structure of the holding prong110to ensure that the prong will not tear off after multiple adjustments of the nose pads.

FIG. 7andFIG. 8show a rear view of the flexible nose pad system, with transparency to illustrate flexibility. The rigid holding prongs110enable the nose pads102to be flexed such that the nose pads102attached thereto can be bent or otherwise separated or twisted relative to each other. This allows, for example, a user to slightly flex the nose pads102towards each other, if they have a smaller nose, as shown inFIG. 7. In another instance, a user may slightly flex the nose pads102away from each other, if they have a larger nose, as shown inFIG. 8. The flexibility of the nose pads102allows the eyewear to be worn comfortably by the user, allowing for a snug fit.

The flexible nose pads102may be constructed from an elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), rubber or thermoplastic rubber (TRP), soft plastic, or any other suitable material. Holding prongs110may be made from plastic, wood, acetate, or another suitable rigid material. The flexible nose pad assembly and holding prongs110can be joined to each other using fasteners or an overmoulding process. The holding prongs110in this example are relatively thinner than the flexible nose pads102to allow them to be at least partially embedded or contained therein.

It can be appreciated that holding prongs110can be constructed with slots, notches or recesses to receive the overmoulding material. The holding prongs110can be shaped or contoured to increase adhesion during the overmoulding process.

It can be appreciated that the eyewear100can be assembled by overmoulding the nose pads102a,102bor the nose pad portion102to the holding prongs110. The frame106can be formed as a single injected part having holding prongs110attached thereto.

General fasteners may be used to attach the holding prongs110to the frame106. In an alternate embodiment, fasteners such as screws, dowels, adhesive, rivets or any suitable fastening device may be used as well.

The groove112can be formed by milling a groove on the surface of the holding prong. Any suitable method of forming a groove in a rigid material may be used. The protrusion114can be formed by welding or creating a single injected holding prong110having a protrusion114. Any suitable method of creating a protrusion on a rigid material may be used, including fastening.

The material that forms the overmolded nose pads102can be overmolded on the holding prongs110to create the flexible nose pad assembly that can then be joined to the frame106of the eyewear100. The overmolded material is generally an elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), rubber or thermoplastic rubber (TRP), soft plastic, or any other suitable material.