Auxiliary and primary eyewear with easy release snap connection

Eyeglasses having a lens frame removably attached to a primary eyewear using easy release snap connection that provides effective resistance from the lens frame from becoming involuntarily detached from the primary eyewear. This arrangement allows the user to maximize the different kinds of eyewear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to eyewear and eyeglasses and a method of using said eyewear and eyeglasses, which provide a lens frame removably attached to a primary eyewear, such as an eyewear platform or conventional eyeglasses, with snap connections.

2. Background Information

Auxiliary eyewear attachments, which connect to primary or conventional eyeglasses with attachment devices, allow the user to convert a pair of conventional eyeglasses to sunglasses and to avoid the need for an additional pair of prescription sunglasses. This auxiliary eyewear can also be used to change the prescription of the lenses on the primary eyewear.

Another way to allow the user to maximize the different kinds of eyewear is for the user to attach a removable lens frame to an eyewear platform. By allowing removable attachment of the lens frame to an eyewear platform, the user only needs to wear one set of lenses at a time. By only using one set of lenses in this eyewear, there is reduced weight, no glare or reflection between lenses, and no distraction in the field of vision with the eyewear. In addition, since there is only one set of lenses, it is easier for the user to keep these lenses clean. Further, by using the same eyewear platform as a base to attach different lenses, the user is able to employ one eyewear apparatus that allows for multiple and different types of lenses and that can be changed easily and quickly. Finally, instead of having several different pairs of conventional glasses, the user may substantially save cost by having different sets of lenses for one eyewear platform.

A number of different designs are available for auxiliary eyewear using attachment devices such as magnets, clips, snaps, clasps, or hooks. A method of attaching auxiliary eyewear by snaps is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,679 B1 issued Mar. 6, 2001 to Edmund Wong. In the Wong patent, each of a pair of projections on the auxiliary frame engages and fits snugly in an opening on a corresponding projection on the primary spectacle frame. In order to allow the auxiliary projections to fit snugly in the openings, Wong uses an incomplete ring clip received and retained in an annular recess of the opening's inner surface.

A problem with the attachment device disclosed and described in Wong is that as a user repeatedly attaches and detaches the auxiliary eyewear, the incomplete ring clip can become loosened or worn out and lose its ability to secure locking engagement between the auxiliary projection and the primary projection. Further, manufacture of the eyeglasses with such incomplete ring clip inserted in the inner surface of the opening is relatively complex and requires separate pieces of material.

Moreover, the process of detachment of the auxiliary eyewear from the primary eyeglasses in Wong is inconvenient. In order to release the locking engagement between the auxiliary projection and the primary projection, a user has to forcibly pull the auxiliary projection from the primary projection. If the user tries to detach the auxiliary eyewear while wearing the assembly of the primary glasses and the auxiliary eyewear, pulling the auxiliary eyewear from the primary eyeglasses may cause severe dislocation of the primary eyeglasses, and may result in injury to the user's face.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a new and improved snap connection for attaching auxiliary eyeglasses to a primary eyewear, which is stable and durable in its structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus of easy release snap connection that allows a user to comfortably and conveniently detach an auxiliary eyewear from a primary eyewear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an eyewear apparatus and a method that provides a lens frame removably attached to a primary eyewear, such as conventional eyeglasses or an eyewear platform, by snap connection that effectively prevents the removable lens frame from becoming involuntarily detached from the primary eyewear and that is conveniently and comfortably releasable.

In the present invention, an apparatus for attaching a lens frame to a primary eyewear comprises a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a male portion, and the second connector has a female portion. The female portion can be located in each of temple extensions of a primary eyewear, and the male portion can be placed in proximity to each appendage of a lens frame for mating with the female portion. Alternatively, the male portion can be located in proximity to each temple extension of a primary eyewear, and the female portion can be placed in a corresponding location of a lens frame for receiving the male portion.

The first connector further comprises a button that is connected to each of appendages of the lens frame by a spring member. The male portion is attached to the button so that the male portion is movable with the button. The male portion comprises a body and a hook. The hook of the male portion protrudes from the body of the male portion.

Being configured to receive the male portion, the female portion is defined by an inner wall and a terminal edge of the second connector. The terminal edge protrudes from the inner wall of the second connector so that the part of the female portion defined by the terminal edge is narrower than the part of the female portion defined by the inner wall of the second connector.

In order to insert the male portion into the female portion, a user presses the button inward toward a lens of the lens frame. Upon pressing the button, the hook of the male portion passes the terminal edge, and, upon releasing the button, the male portion frictionally engages the terminal edge and/or the inner wall for securely locking the male portion in the female portion.

In order to release the male portion from the female portion, the user again presses the button to release the male portion from the engagement with the terminal edge and/or the inner wall.

The present invention introduces such refinement. In its preferred embodiments, the present invention has several aspects or facets that can be used independently, although they are preferably employed together to optimize their benefits. All of the foregoing operational principles and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated upon consideration of the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 16Bshow embodiments of easy release snap connection for attaching a lens frame to a primary eyewear, such as conventional eyeglasses or an eyewear platform.

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 11, the present invention for attaching a lens frame to a primary eyewear comprises a first snap connector900and a second snap connector910. The first snap connector900has a male portion640, and the second snap connector has a female portion630that is an opening for receiving the male portion640. The male portion640can be located in proximity to each temple extension40of a primary eyewear12or15, and the female portion630can be placed in a corresponding location of a lens frame10for receiving the male portion640. Alternatively, the female portion630can be located in proximity to each temple extension40of a primary eyewear12or15, and the male portion640can be placed in a corresponding location of a lens frame10for mating with the female portion630.

For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the female portion630can be located in a temple socket500that is attached to each temple extension40of a primary eyewear12, for receiving the male portion640located in an appendage socket502of the lens frame10. The female portion630is defined by an inner wall540that is surrounded by an outer wall550. The inner wall540has a first ridge610and a second ridge620protruding from its inner surface545. The first ridge610is located in proximity to an upper area of the inner wall540, and the second ridge620is located in proximity to a mid area of the inner wall540. The height of the inner wall540is greater than that of the outer wall550so that a first bottom surface600of the inner wall540is located lower than a second bottom surface602of the outer wall550.

The second snap connector910further comprises a button505for comfortably releasing the engagement between the first snap connector900and the second snap connector910. The button505comprises a cap510and a pillar520, and is seated in the temple socket500. The width of the pillar520is slightly smaller than that of an opening defined by the first ridge610so that the pillar520of the button505can slide in and out of the female portion630. The movement of the button505is limited by a button ridge530, which engages the first ridge610of the inner wall540so that the button505is not separated from the temple socket500. The movement of the button505is also limited by the cap510, which has a width greater than that of the opening defined by the first ridge610so that the cap510can sit on the top surface of the temple socket500.

The male portion640located in the appendage socket502of the lens frame10comprises a body650and a head670. Preferably, the male portion further comprises a recess680located between the body650and the head670. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the male portion640has at least one cut formed substantially along the length of the male portion640so that the head670is split into multiple segments. There is a space665between the segments, and the segments do not contact each other when the male portion640is not inserted into the female portion630. The first surface580and the second surface570of the appendage socket502are proportioned to receive and fully engage the first bottom surface600and the second bottom surface602respectively of the temple socket500.

As shown inFIG. 4, when the male portion640of the lens frame10is not inserted into the female portion630of the temple socket500, the pillar520of the button505can be located substantially within the female portion630, and the bottom surface of the cap510is substantially in contact with the top surface590of the temple socket500.

Depending on the specific design or need of the user, the head of the male portion and corresponding female portion can be in any shape, including but not limited to, round, cylinder, rectangle, oval, and flat. The head and the body of the male portion can each have a different shape, or can have the same shape. For example, the head can be in a substantially round shape, and the body can be in a substantially cylinder shape. In another example, the head can be in a rectangular shape, and the body can be in a cylinder shape. In still another example, the head and the body together can comprise one piece of a cylinder shape.

Referring toFIG. 3, in order to attach the lens frame10to a primary eyewear12, the male portion640of the lens frame10is inserted into the female portion630of the primary eyewear12. The width of the head670is slightly larger than that of an opening portion defined by the second ridge620so that a user has to exercise slight force in order to allow the head670to be compressed by and pass the second ridge620. The head670is compressible due to the space665made from the cut660. Upon passing the second ridge620, the head670returns to its approximate original width. In a preferred embodiment, the recess680of the male portion640is proportioned to engage the second ridge620, thereby locking the male portion640in the female portion630. In another embodiment, the male portion640does not have the recess, and the second ridge620can frictionally engage a part of the head670for locking the male portion640in the female portion630.

Upon insertion of the male portion640into the female portion630, a top surface area of the head670engages a bottom surface area of the button505. Also, the first bottom surface600and the second bottom surface602of the temple socket500engage the first surface580and the second surface570respectively of the appendage socket502. Such engagement and the structure of the depressed first surface580allow for greater resistance from horizontal or side-to-side displacement.

In order to release the snap connection, a user presses the button505, which then pushes out the male portion640. Except the opening portions defined by the first ridge610and the second ridge620, the female portion630has a width slightly greater than that of the head670, so that once the head670passes the second ridge620the male portion640can freely come out of the female portion630.

In another embodiment as shown inFIG. 5, the inner wall of the temple socket has a protruding area700, which is located in a substantially upper portion of the inner wall. Upon insertion of the male portion into the female portion, the head670of the male portion frictionally engages the protruding area700due to the pressure caused by the resilient property of the compressed head670on the surface of the protruding area700, thereby securely locking the male portion in the female portion.

The easy release snap connection can be used for attaching various eyewear frames. For example, a lens frame10can be attached by the easy release snap connection to conventional eyeglasses, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, or to an eyewear platform15as shown inFIGS. 8 through 11. Also, lenses20connected by a lens connector190can be attached to the eyewear platform15by the easy release snap connection as illustrated inFIG. 9.

The appendage socket502can be aligned and mounted in various positions on the lens frame10, including being mounted horizontally (e.g.,FIGS. 1-9) or vertically (e.g.,FIGS. 10-11). Alternatively, the male portion640can be directly connected to the appendage35without the appendage socket.

Similarly, the temple socket500can be aligned and mounted in various positions on the temple extension40, including being mounted horizontally (e.g.,FIGS. 1-5,8-9) or vertically (e.g.,FIGS. 10-11). In an alternative, the female portion and the button can be directly constructed in the temple extension40without using the temple socket.

FIGS. 12A through 16Bshow another embodiment of easy release snap connection for attaching a lens frame to a primary eyewear. InFIGS. 12A and 12B, a first connector932having a male portion930is located in a lens frame10, and a second connector922having a female portion920is placed in a primary eyewear12. The first connector932further comprises a button940. The button940is connected to each of appendages35of the lens frame10by a spring member950such that the button940is capable of being pressed inward toward a lens20of the lens frame10. When the button940is released, it returns to its approximate original position due to the resilient force of the spring member950. The male portion930is attached to the button940so that the male portion930is movable together with the button940.

The male portion930comprises a body980and a hook960as shown inFIG. 15. The hook960protrudes from the body980such that the hook960is substantially perpendicular to the body980.

Being configured for receiving the male portion930, the female portion920is located in each of temple extensions40of the primary eyewear12. The female portion920is defined by an inner wall975and a terminal edge970of the second connector922. The terminal edge970protrudes from the inner wall975of the second connector so that the part of the female portion defined by the terminal edge970is narrower than the part of the female portion defined by the inner wall975. However, the size of the part of the female portion defined by the terminal edge970is at greater than that of the hook960of the male portion930.

When the button940is not pressed, the distance between the two male portions connected to appendages of the lens frame10is slightly greater than the distance between the two female portions located in temple extensions of the primary eyewear12. Therefore, in order to insert the male portions into the female portions, a user should press the button940. Upon pressing the button940inward toward the lens20of the lens frame10, the male portion930accordingly moves to a position where the male portion930can be inserted into the female portion920. When the user inserts the male portion930while pressing the button940, the male portion930passes the terminal edge970. Upon releasing the button940, the male portion930returns to its original distance due to the resilient force of the spring member950. As a result, the body980of the male portion930frictionally engages the terminal edge970, thereby the male portion930being securely locked in the female portion920. Further, as shown inFIG. 16A, a bottom surface962of the hook960of the male portion930may engage a top surface972of the terminal edge970. Such structure gives additional stability, especially when the lens frame10is mounted from below onto the primary eyewear12as shown inFIG. 16A, because the hook960of the male portion930is supported by the terminal edge970against the gravity. In addition, the inner wall975can also be configured to engage at least a part of the hook960of the male portion930as shown inFIG. 16A.

In order to release the male portion930from the female portion920, the user presses the button940, as shown inFIG. 16B, to move the male portion930to a position where the male portion is released from the engagement with the terminal edge970.

The side-spring easy release snap connection shown inFIGS. 12A through 16Bcan be applied to various eyewear frames. For example, a lens frame10can be attached by the side-spring easy release snap connection to conventional eyeglasses or to an eyewear platform15. Also, lenses20connected by a lens connector190can be attached to the eyewear platform15by the side-spring easy release snap connection.

Although in an embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 12A through 16Bthe male portion930is located in the lens frame10and the female portion920located in the primary eyewear12, in another embodiment, the male portion of the side-spring easy release snap connection can be located in the primary eyewear and the female portion in the lens frame.

Finally, the primary eyewear and the lens frame including the first connector and the second connector can be made of a variety of materials including but not limited to metals, alloys, carbon fibers, plastics and other lightweight and strong composite materials. In addition, the primary eyewear and the lens frame can also be made of materials that allow a certain amount of resilience, elasticity, or “give” to enable the eyewear to be able to take the rigors of use. Both the primary eyewear and the lens frame can assume a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the specific design or need of the user. Also, both the primary eyewear and the lens frame can be each made of one piece.

While the invention as described in connection with its preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.