Multipurpose eyeglass device

A pair of spectacles includes a main frame having a magnetic bridge piece. An auxiliary inner frame is secured by a magnetic member to the bridge piece and an outer auxiliary lens is similarly secured by a magnet to the bridge piece and at lateral locations onto edges of the main frame. The auxiliary outer lens is secured by a magnetic button which is inserted through an aperture in the outer lens and has a magnetic member an a head which is sized to overly the aperture. The magnetic member embedded in the button attracts the magnetic bridge piece thereby attaching the button to the main frame, the head overlies the aperture and secures the outer frame to the main frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to spectacles and more specifically to interchangeable auxiliary lens assemblies for use with such spectacles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The use of spectacles to improve vision and correct deficiencies is well known. Similarly, the use of auxiliary lenses with spectacles to accommodate varying conditions is also well known. These conditions may include for instance the varying presence of extreme sunlight or the need for different prescriptive lenses dependent upon where the focus for vision is directed.

Auxiliary lenses are known to be secured to spectacles by magnets incorporated into both the spectacle and auxiliary frame. This is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,207 to Chao wherein a support situated at the joint of the temple and the lens frame contains a horizontally placed magnet that attaches to a mating magnet on the auxiliary frame, Such an arrangement has made the placement or removal of such an auxiliary frames more convenient. However this arrangement allows only a single auxiliary frame to be conveniently mounted and any additional frames would render a bulky assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,763 to Bollé shows a pair of ski goggles in which a main frame is utilized to support a tinted lens within the periphery of the frame and a pair of prescription lenses can be attached to the interior of the main frame. The design is intended for protective eyewear, particularly for skiing and the assembly is intentionally bulky to allow adequate spacing between the lenses to reduce fogging effects.

DGbm 85 07 761 shows an eyeglass in which a lens is secured to a main frame by a magnet located at the bridge. This allows different lenses to be utilized but requires the complete removal of a lens to change the overall characteristics of the eyeglasses.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable lens assembly and eyeglasses incorporating such an assembly which obviates or mitigates the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides an interchangeable lens assembly comprising a main frame having first and second portions interconnected to one another by a first bridge portion. The first bridge portion has a forward facing magnetic surface and each of the first and second portions has at least one connector thereon laterally spaced from the first bridge portion. An outer auxiliary lens is also provided with a centrally located aperture for aligning with the forward magnetic surface and a plurality of connectors thereon laterally spaced from the aperture and positioned for alignment with the at least one connector on each of the first and second portions for attachment thereto. A retaining button is provided having a magnetic member for magnetic attraction with the forward facing magnetic surface and sized to pass through the aperture to allow interchangeable attachment of the outer auxiliary lens to the main frame.

In another aspect, the present invention further provides an inner auxiliary lens having a second bridge portion and a second magnetic member on the second bridge portion for magnetic attraction with a rearward facing magnetic surface on the first bridge portion to allow interchangeable attachment of the inner auxiliary lens to the main frame.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides an interchangeable lens assembly comprising a main frame having a bridge portion, a first auxiliary frame disposed to one side of the bridge portion and a second auxiliary frame disposed to an opposite side of the bridge portion, wherein the first and second auxiliary frames are secured to oppositely directing faces of the bridge portion by magnetic attraction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring therefore to the first embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 through 4, spectacles10include a main frame12that supports an inner auxiliary frame14and an outer auxiliary lens16. The main frame12is formed with upper and lower bars18,20respectively which are interconnected by a bridge piece22centrally located. The lower bar20is connected centrally to the bridge piece22with nose portions24,26extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides. The nose portions24,26merge smoothly with lower runs28,30respectively that extend latterly to the temple region. The main frame12is formed from a magnetic material or has a magnetic insert23(e.g. as shown inFIG. 2) incorporated into the bridge piece22. Nose pads are32are secured to the bridge piece22to support the spectacles10on the user.

The upper and lower bars18,20have retaining clips34formed at their distal end, The clips34have an opening36directed towards the bridge piece22which cooperate with complementary notches38formed on the outer auxiliary lens16. Each of the bars18,20terminates in a hinge40that connects the bars18,20to the side pieces42. As can most easily be seen inFIG. 4, the side pieces42converge in a rearward direction and are secured in an earpiece44.

The outer auxiliary lens16has an outer shape conforming generally to the shape of the main frame12with the notches38disposed on opposite sides for engagement in the openings36of the main frame12. An aperture46is provided coincident with the bridge piece22and receives a magnetic button48. As can be seen inFIG. 9, the button48has an enlarged head50that overlies the aperture46and a body52dimensioned to pass through the aperture46. A magnet54is located in the body52and has an exposed end face56that engages with the bridge piece22. The central portion of the outer auxiliary lens is thus retained by magnetic attraction between the button48and the bridge piece22and the outer edges secured to the bars18,20through the interaction of notches38within openings36.

The inner auxiliary frame14includes a pair of lens openings60in which prescription lenses may be secured. The lens openings60are interconnected by a bridge62with a magnet64embedded centrally in the bridge62. The magnet64is positioned to be engageable with the rear surface of bridge piece22and thereby secure the inner auxiliary frame14to the main frame12.

In use, the inner auxiliary frame14is preferably fitted with prescription lenses to suit a particular user and may be secured to the bridge piece22of the main frame by the magnet64. The magnet64has sufficient strength to firmly secure the auxiliary frame14to the main frame12by magnetic attraction.

The auxiliary outer lens16is similarly secured to the main frame by engagement of the notches38in the openings36and the insertion of the button48. The auxiliary outer lens16thus overlies the prescription lens opening60whilst the main frame12allows unobstructed view through the lens openings62and auxiliary lens16, Of course the auxiliary lens16may be tinted such as for sunglass use or may have different colours or treatment to complement particular applications. The outer auxiliary lens16is interchangeable so that different configurations and characteristics of the lens may be utilized.

In the event that the outer auxiliary lens16is not required, it may simply be removed leaving the inner auxiliary frame14in situ. The inner auxiliary frame14may also be changed to suit particular circumstances and conditions or may not be required in particular circumstances. It will be noted that the main frame12is used to support the spectacles on the user so that undue loads are not placed on the magnetic connection between the bridge piece22and the outer auxiliary lens16or inner auxiliary frame14. It will also be noted that the aperture46is preferably rectangular in shape and the housing52will be of complimentary shape to enhance location of the outer auxiliary lens16on the main frame12.

A further embodiment is shown inFIGS. 5 through 8in which like reference will be utilized with like components with a suffix “a” added for clarity. As may be seen inFIGS. 5 and 6, the main frame12aof spectacles10ais formed with a single bar18a. A centrally located bridge piece22adepends from the bar11ato support the inner auxiliary frame14a. A nose piece32adepends from the bridge piece22ato support the main frame12aupon the nose of a user. As above, the bridge piece22amay be made of a magnetic material or may have a magnetic member23ainserted therein. An auxiliary lens16ais secured by a magnetic button48to the bridge piece22aby inserting the button48through an aperture46a. The auxiliary lens16acarries a pair of magnetic members70that cooperate with magnetic pads72formed on the upper bar18a. The magnetic attraction between the magnetic members70and pads72secure the outer edges of the auxiliary lens16ato the frame12aand allow interchangeability of different configurations of lens. It will be appreciated that in an alternative configuration, the magnetic members70may be carried by the main frame12aand the magnetic pads72carried by the auxiliary lens16aas desired.

An arm42aextends rearwardly from the main frame12avia a hinge40aterminating at an ear piece44aas described above. An inner auxiliary frame14ahas like components to the frame14described above (i.e. lens openings60aand a bridge portion62a) and is attached to the main frame12ain a similar manner to that described above.

Another configuration of the embodiment ofFIG. 7is shown inFIG. 13where like numerals are given the suffix “c” for clarity.FIG. 13shows an enlarged view of the interface between a magnetic member70ccarried by the auxiliary lens16aand a magnetic pad72cformed on the upper bar18a. The magnetic member70cprotrudes from the auxiliary lens16aand is sized to fit within a recess100formed in the bar16a. The magnetic pad72cin this example is embedded in the recess100. The auxiliary frame16ais secured to the bar18athrough magnetic attraction between the protruding magnetic member70cand the magnetic pad72c. When connected, the protruding portion of the member70clies within the recess100thereby inhibiting lateral movements of the auxiliary frame16arelative to the bar18a. It will be appreciated that the magnetic member70cmay be carried by the bar18aand the recess100and magnetic pad72cformed in the auxiliary lens16aas desired. It will also be appreciated that the recess100may alternatively be made of a magnetic material itself whereby the magnetic pad72cwould embody the innermost surface of the recess100.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 10–12in which like reference will be utilized with like components with a suffix “b” added for clarity. As may be seen most clearly inFIG. 11, the main frame12bof the spectacles10bis formed from a single bar18b. A bridge piece22bdepending from the bar18bhas a nose piece32bdepending therefrom to support the spectacles10bupon the nose of a user and has a magnetic insert23b. A pair of magnetic pivot mounts82,84are located on temple regions of the bar18b. The temple regions extend rearwardly in a direction generally transverse to the bar18b. The mounts82,84therefore define an axis of rotation along a line therebetween which is rearwardly offset from the bar18band substantially parallel thereto, A hinge40badjacent the mounts82,84pivotally connects an arm42bthat terminates at an ear piece44bas described above.

An inner auxiliary frame14bhas a magnetic insert64bat its bridge portion62b, carries a pair of lenses60b, and is attached to the bridge piece22bthrough magnetic attraction therebetween similar to that described above.

An outer auxiliary lens16bgenerally conforms to the shape of the bar18band extends at each end around to the respective temple region wherein the mounts82,84are located. A pair of pivotal caps80,86are sized to receive the mounts82,84respectively. The outer auxiliary lens16bhas a centrally located aperture46bsized to allow the body52of the magnetic button48to pass therethrough. The outer auxiliary lens16bis pivotally mounted upon the main frame12bby slightly pulling the ends of the lens16bapart allowing the caps80,86to slide over the mounts82,84and couple therewith. The caps80,86are retained on respective ones of the mounts by magnetic attraction between them. Both the caps80,86and mounts82,84may be magnets or only one may be a magnet with the other a magnetic material, as appropriate. In use this mounting arrangement allows a user to rotate the outer auxiliary lens16brelative to the main frame12bto “flip-up” the lens16bout of view of the user. When it is desired to have the lens16bin place, the user may secure the lens16bto the main frame12bby inserting the button48through the aperture46bwherein by magnetic attraction, the button48will engage the magnetic material (or the magnetic insert23bas shown inFIG. 12) of the bridge piece22bas described above.

It will be seen therefore that a versatile structure is provided permitting a main frame to support a combination of auxiliary frames and lenses to optimize the utility of the spectacle. It will be noted that the main frame itself may also comprise a pair of lenses and that the main frame may support any combination of auxiliary frames described above and shall not be limited to any specific arrangement described.

It will be appreciated that the magnetic members described herein may embody individual magnets, may constitute part of the composition of the member to which it is employed, or may be of any suitable form which facilitates magnetic attraction as exemplified above.