Safety eyewear including a prescription insert

Exemplary embodiments include a safety eyewear including a prescription insert, which inset may be useable between different safety eyewear. Such eyewear may also include: a frame; a removable lens carrier removably attached to the frame, the removable lens carrier including a permanently attached lens; and a prescription insert removably attached to the frame, wherein the removable lens carrier is capable of being removed and attached to the frame during the use of the safety eyewear.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to safety eyewear frames and lenses. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a safety eyewear assembly that includes a prescription insert.

2. Description of the Related Art

Safety eyewear is worn for a variety of safety reasons. As a result, a variety of safety eyewear types, each specifically designed and intended for a particular use or a particular environment, has been developed. For example, safety eyewear is often worn to protect a wearer's eyes from debris during metal machining operations, military operations, and the like. In such an environment, metal shards, sand or other debris may be propelled towards an operator's eyes. Safety eyewear is also worn in the chemical industries to protect employees from airborne chemicals resulting from splashes or spills. Still further safety eyewear is worn in industries utilizing lasers. Lasers can be damaging to the eye if exposed. Lasers are particularly dangerous because different wavelengths of laser light may require different lenses for filtering the damaging light.

Because of the proliferation of safety requirements now requiring greater numbers of employees to wear safety eyewear, cost, ease of replacement of the lenses, the ability to accommodate prescription lenses, and fashion have now become prime concerns for customers of these safety products.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments include a safety eyewear including: a frame; a removable lens carrier removably attached to the frame, the removable lens carrier including a permanently attached lens; and a prescription insert removably attached to the frame, wherein the removable lens carrier is capable of being removed and attached to the frame during the use of the safety eyewear.

Exemplary embodiments also include a cross platform eyewear system wherein a prescription insert may be used between different types of safety eyewear.

The detailed description explains exemplary embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Figures for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that standard components or features that are within the purview of an artisan of ordinary skill and do not contribute to the understanding of the various exemplary embodiments are omitted from the Figures to enhance clarity.

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary safety eyewear10that includes a removable lens carrier12, a lens14, a frame16, and a removable prescription insert18. The removable lens carrier12is removably attached to the frame16and the removable prescription insert18is also removably attached to the frame16. The safety eyewear10can also include a strap20is used to secure the safety eyewear10to the user.

In one embodiment, the frame16is made of a semi-flexible material, which provides a connection point for removable lens carrier12. The frame16and the removable lens carrier12may connect to one another using a variety of attachment mechanisms including, but not limited to, a tongue and groove junction, a male and female flange connection, a latch, or the like. In one embodiment, the frame16and the removable lens carrier12may form an airtight seal. The frame16may also include a face seal gasket22that provides a seal between the frame16and the users face. The removable prescription inset18may be attached to or detached from the frame16when the removable lens carrier12is not attached to the frame16.

The removable lens carrier12is removably attached to the frame16and permanently attached to the lens14. The lens14may be provided with a variety of tints and coatings. The removable lens carrier12and the lens14may have a variety of shapes and sizes that are each specifically designed and intended for a particular use or a particular environment. The removable lens carrier12is designed such that a user may detach it from the frame16while the user is wearing the frame16. For example, a user may be able to change the type of lens used without having to completely remove the safety eyewear10. The removable lens carrier12allows the user to use a single safety eyewear in a variety of different environments and for a variety of different uses.

In exemplary embodiments, the removable lens carrier12may completely encase the lens14or may only partially encase the lens14. In one embodiment, the removable lens carrier12may not cover, or attach to, a bottom portion of the lens14, which may increases the available viewing angle to the user. For example, traditional safety goggles include a thick frame on the bottom portion of the safety goggles that may obstruct the user's field of vision. The use of a removable lens carrier12that does not cover, or is attached to, the bottom portion of the lens14provides the user with an unobstructed field of vision. Additionally, the frame16may also have a reduced thickness on the bottom portion of the safety eyewear10to provide an increased field of vision to the user.

Referring now toFIG. 2, another exemplary safety eyewear100that includes a removable lens carrier112, a lens114, and a frame116is illustrated. The safety eyewear100is designed to provide an unobstructed field of vision to its user. Accordingly, the frame116extends from a lower portion of one side of the safety eyewear100across the top of the safety eyewear100to the lower portion of the opposite side of the safety eyewear100. In addition the removable lens carrier112only covers the sides and upper portion of the lens114thereby providing the user with an unobstructed filed of vision.

Referring now toFIG. 3, another exemplary safety eyewear200includes a removable lens carrier212, a frame216, and a removable prescription insert218is illustrated. In one embodiment, the removable prescription insert218and a frame216are designed to securely connect to each other such that the removable prescription insert218remain properly positioned and connected to the frame216during the use of the safety eyewear210. In one embodiment, the removable prescription insert218is attached to the frame218by pinching a nose portion of the frame216. The removable prescription insert218may include a single lens or two lenses connected by a wire224. The wire224may be used to attach the removable prescription218to the frame. For example, the wire224may pinch the nose portion of the frame218and/or may include an attachment portion, which may be inserted into a receptacle on the frame218. The frame216may be designed to accommodate a variety of different shaped removable prescription inserts218.

In one embodiment, the safety eyewear200may also include a strap220and a strap attachment device226. The strap220may be adjustable in length and may be made of an elastic material. The strap220may be permanently or removably attached to the frame216by the attachment device226. The attachment device226may include a variety of different devices. For example the attachment device226may be a loop extending from either side of the frame216and the strap may include a hook, Velcro, a buckle, or any other means for securing the strap220to the attachment device226. In another example, the attachment device226may be a button that attaches the strap220to the frame216.

In one embodiment, the attachment device226may be a flexible cable that is anchored in the frame216. In one embodiment, the flexible cable may extend the entire length of the frame216and may provide structural support to the frame216. The flexible cable provides a flexible attachment device226that allows the point of attachment between the frame216and the strap220to be adjusted to accommodate varying uses of the safety wear210. The flexible cable may be in the shape of loop and permit a wide range of attachment angles for the strap220. In one example, the safety eyewear200may be worn with a helmet and the flexible cable allows the user to selectively wear the strap220either above or below the surface of the helmet. In an alternative embodiment, the strap220may connect the frame216to a helmet worn by a user rather than connecting the two ends of the frame216.

Referring now toFIGS. 4a-b, an exemplary safety eyewear300including an actuating vent328is illustrated. The safety eyewear also includes a removable lens carrier312, a frame316, a strap324, and an attachment device326. The actuating vent328may be disposed on a top and/or bottom portion of the frame316. The actuating vent328includes a slide cover332that has a plurality of opening334. The plurality of opening334are disposed on the slide cover332such that they selectively line up with a plurality of openings330in the frame316. The slide cover332allows the user to open and close the actuating vent328to allow air to circulate inside of the safety eyewear300.

Referring now toFIG. 5, an exemplary safety eyewear400may also include mesh or similar venting402at least partially around the periphery of the eyewear frame404. This embodiment also has a flexible cable406that is slidably attached to removable strap clip408. This slidable connection, as well as the fact that the cable runs between both sides of the eyewear ensures that the eyewear will self compensate for position adjustments.

With reference toFIG. 6, an exemplary removable lens carrier410includes a top frame attachment point412(the top frame of the eyewear will overlie this point) and a bottom frame attachment point414(the bottom frame bridge portion includes a groove that engages the lens416of the lens carrier). The lens carrier414also includes side projections418that are configured to engage corresponding female attachment portions420on the safety eyewear frame422(seeFIG. 7).

With reference toFIG. 8, the exemplary removable lens carrier410may itself permit interchange or removal of the lens416. Lens grooves424may be seen around the lens carrier410.

Referring toFIG. 9, another exemplary prescription lens component is illustrated generally at426. In relevant part, the exemplary prescription lens component426includes an attachment428that will permit interchange of the removable lens carrier410without necessitating detachment of the prescription lens component426. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the attachment embodies wire hook portions that engage corresponding slots430in the safety eyewear frame404(seeFIG. 10).

In an exemplary embodiment, a second exemplary safety eyewear500(SeeFIG. 11) also includes corresponding slots430, such that the prescription lens component426may be interchanged between plural different safety eyewear. Such cross platform compatibility may be arranged such that there is no requirement for adjustment or compensation of the prescription insert when the insert is switched between different eyewear, that is, the prescription insert may be positioned in the same way relative to the eyes. In another embodiment, the safety eyewear may be configured with aspheric lens portions that maintain the effect of the prescription lens (e.g., the lens may be flat in the front and turn at the sides).