Adjustable nose bridge for swimming goggles

The invention is for swimming goggles 400 with a nose-bridge 420 which can be simply adjusted to lengthen or shorten the space between lenses of the goggles and which is safe for the user even when the swimming goggles are stripped inadvertently. The novel nose-bridge 420 comprises a flexible connecting band 422 having first through-holes 422a towards lateral ends and second through-holes 422b spaced towards the midline from the first through-holes 422a, and supporting members 421 on each of the lenses to connect the two lenses with the flexible connecting band 422. The supporting members 421 on each lens are adapted to have a knob 421a extending towards the midline and each have a supporting hook member 421b having a blunt end 421b′ and a hook end 421b″. This arrangement in combination with the flexible nature, allows for easy adjustment of the nose bridge 420 and avoids injury to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to swimming goggles, and particularly to swimming goggles with a nose-bridge which can be simply adjusted to adjust the space between lenses of the goggles and which is safe to the user even when the swimming goggles are stripped inadvertently.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional swimming goggles have a pair of lens parts disposed within a predetermined distance right and left, and a nose-bridge interconnecting the midline ends of the lenses. Such nose-bridge function to maintain a given distance between interconnecting, midline ends of the pair of lenses, and for adjusting the appropriate space between the pair of lenses.

Referring toFIG. 1wherein a prior art swimming goggles100having a conventional nose-bridge to adjust the space between a pair of lenses are illustrated, nose-bridge120connects a pair of lenses110by passing both ends of a connecting-band122, in which widthwise projections122a,122bspaced at a predetermined distance are formed on an inner surface thereof, through respective connecting band inserting holes121formed on inner ends of the lenses110. Connecting band inserting holes121formed on inner ends of the lenses each have a size that allows the portion of the connecting band, on which projections122a,122bare formed, to pass in a biased manner. Thus, when the portion122cbetween the projections of the connecting band is positioned in the inserting hole, connecting band122is fixed in a state maintaining the given space between lenses110. If the space between lenses110is to be narrowed, a user needs to pass inner projection122bof the connecting band through connecting band inserting hole121formed on the midline ends of lenses110. This is good enough if connecting band122of nose-bridge120has to perform only the function of maintaining the space between lenses110. And connecting band122does not need flexibility since projections122a,122bformed on inner surface of connecting band122should not be easily passed through inserting holes121. Therefore, the connecting bands of such nose-bridge types are generally required to be made of a rigid-plastic without elasticity.

The ends of connecting band122of the swimming goggles are stretched over the top of the bridge of the nose of a user when connecting band122is adjusted to narrow the space between lenses110. As such, the sharp, curved portion of the rigid connecting band122may injure the user's skin at the ridge of the nose, especially softened by exposure to water when the swimming goggles100are inadvertently (or intentionally) stripped from the user's head.

In addition, as inserting hole121has a size that does not allow the portion of connecting band, on which projections122a,122bare formed, to pass easily, it is not easy to adjust the space between the lenses.

FIG. 2depicts another prior art swimming goggles200having a nose-bridge220with another configuration as illustrated. Nose-bridge220has connecting band222on which a plurality of through-holes222a,222bare spaced at predetermined distances, with pass-holes221formed on respective inner (midline) ends of each lens so as to be aligned with any one of said through-holes222a,222b,when connecting band222is disposed between lenses210, and fixing pins223inserted in any one of through-holes222a,222band pass-holes221to affix them thereto, when a respective one of through-holes222a,222band pass-holes221are aligned. It is inconvenient and troublesome to adjust the space between lenses210through removal of such fixing pins223, align them with a pass-hole221with a desired through-hole, and re-inserting a fixing pin223. Also such fixing pins223are easily misplaced or lost in the process.

FIG. 3shows another conventional swimming goggles300having another prior art example nose-bridge320.FIG. 3illustrates nose-bridge320as being made up of a flexible connecting band322with through-holes322a/322brespectively, at either ends thereof, and a connecting band support portion321formed on inner ends of each lens portions310which are linked by the connecting band. Connecting band supporting portions321having extending parts321aextended inwardly from the inner ends of each lens310, hooks321bprotrude and extend from inner surfaces of extending parts321a,and protrusions321cprotrude outwardly from outer surfaces of the extending parts321a.Hooks321band protrusions321care integrally molded with extending parts321aof the inner ends of the lenses. Hooks321band protrusions321cof connecting band supporting portion321are adapted to be supported on protrusions321cafter hooks321bare passed into through-holes322aformed at either end of connecting band322. Such connecting band322has a tendency to inadvertently disengage from connecting band supporting portion321, and also causes injury to the nose skin of the user weakened by water when the swimming goggles are inadvertently stripped as hooks321bof connecting band supporting portion321confront the wearer's face when such swimming goggles are worn.

The present disclosure describes solutions to the problems in the prior art as identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide swimming goggles with a connecting band that is easily detachable to facilitate adjustment of the space between the lenses of the swimming goggles, which overcomes the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide swimming goggles having a connecting band with a support member which reliably supports the connecting band to prevent the connecting band from becoming detached from the connecting band-supporting member while in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide swimming goggles in which the connecting band supporting member is of a conformation and compositional make-up which are safe in preventing injury to a user's face even when the swimming goggles are stripped inadvertently.

Essentially, the swimming goggles or visual protective apparatus for swimming, of the present invention has the requisite pair of lenses connected with a nose-bridge at the midline ends of each lens. As the term is used herein, the “midline” is that portion of the claimed apparatus corresponding to the human midline that runs vertically from head to toe and parallel to the vertical, central surface of the nose. The longitudinal displacement of each lens and nose bridge should be considered perpendicular to this vertical midline. Thus, if a lens has two longitudinal ends, the “midline end” of a particular lens is the end towards the anatomical midline of the user and the “lateral end” is the end away from and opposite to the midline end.

In one aspect, the nose-bridge of the present invention is comprised of an independent flexible connecting band and two support members, each on respective lenses. The flexible connecting band can be made of such pliable materials of relatively soft texture as polyurethane.

The connecting band should have at least a first pair of through-holes each situated on the two lateral longitudinal ends of the band and at least a second pair of through-holes spaced towards the midline and away from the first through-holes. As already mentioned, a “lateral” disposition refers to a spatial relationship away from the vertical midline in a perpendicular, horizontal direction.

The supporting members are formed at the midline side end of each of said pair of lenses, and are adapted to connect the lenses with the flexible connecting band therebetween. Each supporting member further comprises a knob, a supporting hook member and a bar member connecting the knob to the hook member. Each knob extends from the midline side end of each lens, and each knob has a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. As used herein, the terms “front” or “outer” or “outside” refers to the surface facing away from the user when the present goggles are worn, and the terms “rear” or “inner” or “inside” refers to the surface facing towards the user's face when the present goggles are worn.

Each supporting member also has a hook member, which has an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, a blunt end and a hook end. The hook end is disposed opposite to the blunt end and extends laterally and a bar member connects the rear surface of the knob to the outer surface of the hook member. The hook end is integrally formed so that it is inclined towards the outer surface and away from the user's nose when the swimming goggles are worn. The remainder of the knob and hook member which are also integral to the lens taper follow the hook end and taper away from the user's nose.

Each of the two lateral longitudinal ends of the flexible connecting band are supported by corresponding supporting members on respective lenses by passing each blunt end of each supporting hook members through the first through-holes of the flexible connecting band, and then pushing each hook end of the supporting hook members through the second through-holes of the flexible connecting band by stretching a portion of the flexible connecting band between each first and second through-holes such that each first through-hole comes to rest around a respective bar member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 4shows the swimming goggles400comprising a pair of lenses410, and the nose-bridge420adapted to connect midline ends of the lenses. As used herein the term “midline end of a lens” means the end of the lens proximate to wearer's nose when the swimming goggles are worn.

Nose-bridge420according to the present invention comprises first through-hole422aformed adjacent either lateral ends of flexible connecting band422which also has second through-hole422bformed and spaced apart from the first through-hole422a, and connecting band supporting members421formed on midline ends of lenses410, which are connected by the flexible connecting band422.

Referring toFIG. 5, supporting member421is specifically illustrated without flexible connecting band422. Each supporting member421is formed on a respective midline end of lens410and comprises an extending knob421a,a supporting hook member421band a connecting bar member421cconnecting extending knob421ato supporting hook member421b.As illustrated, extending knob421a,supporting hook member421band connecting bar member421care all integrally formed (such as by molding) with lens410.

Extending knob421aextends towards the midline from the midline end of lens410, and has a rear surface which faces the surface of the user's face when swimming goggles400are worn, and a front surface opposite to the rear surface. Supporting hook member421bhas an inside surface which faces the user's face when wearing the swimming goggles, and an outside surface opposite to the inside surface, a blunt end421b′, and a hook end421b″. Connecting bar member421cconnects the outside surface of hook member421bwith the rear surface of extending knob421a.

The hook end421b″ is integrally formed so that it is inclined towards the outer surface and away from the user's nose when the swimming goggles are worn. The remainder of the hook member421band the knob421a, which are all also integral with the lens, and are adapted to taper away from the user's nose as illustrated in FIG.5. Thus, extending knob421ainclines away from the center line of the nose of the user in order to provide more space away from the user's face. In this way, there is little danger of connecting with the nose of a person with a high nose ridge or otherwise. Also, there is little probability that the nose-bridge will contact the user's face if the swimming goggles fall off inadvertently. Therefore, there is little risk that the user will suffer injury.

FIG. 6shows the positioning of the flexible connecting band422on supporting hook member421band connecting bar member421cwhich are integral with extending knob421aof the supporting member421. The blunt end421b′of supporting hook member421bare adapted to be passed through first through hole422aof flexible connecting band422(cross referenceFIG. 6with FIG.4). The hook end421b″(FIG. 6) are adapted to be inserted into second through hole422bof flexible connecting band422(FIG. 4) by stretching flexible connecting band422so that when the ends of flexible connecting band422are supported by corresponding supporting means421, first through hole422ais positioned around connecting bar member421c.

Through use of components which make up the nose bridge420of the present invention, connecting band422can be easily installed onto supporting member421. Once installed, connecting band422is not easily dislodged from the supporting member as the hook end421b″holds it in place with second through hole422bheld firmly around bar member421c.

The elements of the supporting member421are designed such that compact integral manufacture in relatively smaller dimensions compared to the prior art, are possible and thus occupy only a small space in the overall swimming goggles configuration. Thus, the overall design of the swimming goggles is varied to provide a safe structure that avoids injury to the user's face when the swimming goggles is inadvertently displaced or intentionally removed.

In order for easy installation of connecting band422onto swimming goggles400, the connecting band should have some resilience. However, to conduct the function of adjusting the space between the lenses, the resilience should not be excessively high. Thus, the connecting band according to present invention is preferably made of polyurethane. Other materials which can provide such requirements as ease of installation, but not excessive resilience for adjustment, and provide safe texture, can also be substituted by one skilled in the art. All such substitutions, which will become apparent after having the benefit of this disclosure, are considered to be within the scope of this patent.

The illustrative embodiment has been shown with four through-holes in connecting band422(FIG.4). First and second through holes422a,422bare formed towards the lateral longitudinal ends of the connecting band in the illustrated embodiment.FIG. 4shows three different lengths wherein the space between the second through holes422bcan be varied. It will become apparent after having the benefit of this disclosure that a plurality of through holes beyond four are possible. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 7, third through holes422ccan be spaced toward the midline from the second through-holes422bof the flexible connecting band422. Thus, the space between lenses410can be narrowed by adjusting the second through-holes422band third through-holes422cbetween the hook and connection bar member421cof hook end421b″on the outside surface of supporting hook member421b,when the end of flexible connecting band422is supported on respective supporting member421by stretching the flexible connecting band422and passing hook end421b″of supporting hook member421bthrough third through-holes422cof flexible connecting band422, after passing blunt end421b′through second through-holes422b.In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 8, a connecting band on which a plurality of through holes is formed in sequence throughout its entire length can also be used. In such a case, the number of through holes formed on the connecting band should be more than five.

The length of the flexible connecting band422which connects the gap between lenses410can be properly adjusted by preparing a set of flexible connecting band422whose lengths are varied such as long, medium or short, and marketing a choice for fit depending on the variable space between the user's eyes.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, and it will be understood that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.