Abstract:
This invention relates to eyewear capable of retaining its shape after being manipulated into a new position. This invention also relates to eyewear that is capable of being reshaped to the proper position after manipulation into an undesired position. The invention has independently adaptive components that may be manipulated into multiple positions without undue effort, and will remain in the new position until further manipulation.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/295,754 filed Jan. 17, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to eyewear capable of retaining its shape after being manipulated into a new position. This invention also relates to eyewear that is capable of being reshaped to the desired specification of the user after use that results in an undesired position. The invention further relates to eyewear having independently adaptive components that may be manipulated into multiple positions without undue effort, to remain in the new position until further manipulated. 
         [0003]    The human head may exist in countless sizes and shapes, making the number of potential configurations that may be desired by the population of eyewear users far greater than those currently provided in the present art of eyewear. Many users of eyewear desire the eyewear to be adaptable to different positions depending on the situation, environment and activities engaged in by the user. Positional adaptability in eyewear has historically concentrated upon the moving pieces of the eyewear: the pads on the bridge of the lens frame and the hinges that connect the lens frame and temple arms. By limiting adaptability to these areas, vast aspects of the human head are left with static positioning that limit the functionality, safety and fashion of eyewear. Unfortunately, past attempts in the arts have failed to develop techniques and devices to craft eyewear that may be shaped into a configuration that is functional, stylish and comfortable. 
         [0004]    A common problem with any eyewear is its inherent tension against shaping or re-shaping. Typically eyewear is produced with a plastic-like material that is the most economical for mass manufacturing. However, introducing external stresses to the shape manufactured or molded into the eyewear transfers such stresses to the base structures of eyewear, such as the lens frame, hinges, or temple arms. 
         [0005]    Another problem with eyewear that uses hard plastic construction is the inevitable instances of crushing and other traumatic events, resulting in at least two undesirable effects. First, hard plastic pieces may permanently bend or break, rendering the eyewear useless. Second, can also cause the shaping pieces of the eyewear to fatigue, breakdown and otherwise fail. 
         [0006]    Some eyewear in the art provides for “return form” flexibility that reduces breakage but only provides for a single position. Such a single position solution may be less desirable to wear due to the creeping fatigue of its working parts. This is especially true with eyewear having shapeable nosepieces and “return form” hinging. In some cases, such eyewear may slip off the face of the user, breaking down eyewear to the point of having to seek professional readjustment to the eyewear or worse, abandonment altogether. In any respect, this approach does not achieve the goal of well-fitting eyewear with little maintenance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides adaptive eyewear with a frame having a lens frame portion, a pliable element, and a flexible portion, the flexible portion adapted to cooperate with the pliable element and retain the eyewear in a desired position, the pliable element communicating with and retaining the flexible portion in a desired position, whereby a user of the eyewear may shape the flexible portion of the frame according to specification. The pliable element may be at least partially located in the flexible portion and have a first end and a second end that may be secured, respectively, in a first lens frame portion and a second lens frame portion. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides an adaptive eyewear with shapeable properties comprising a first lens frame portion and a second lens frame portion to retain a first lens and a second lens about the eyewear, the first and second lens frame portions having a distance between the first and second lens frame portions. The eyewear may further comprise a titanium wire disposed within the flexible portion, the wire having a first end and a second end, the first end being secured in the first lens frame portion and the second end of the wire being secured in the second lens frame portion. The eyewear may further comprise a flexible portion covering at least part of the titanium wire and at least part of the first and second lens frame portions, whereby the titanium wire communicates a selected positional change to the flexible portion and holds lens frame portions in a configuration selected by user of eyewear. 
         [0009]    Numerous objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with the drawings which illustrate such embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a side raised perspective view of the shapeable eyewear. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts a top plan view of the eyewear. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a front view of the eyewear. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts a back view of the flexible portion and pliable element, revealing the interior of an inventive aspect of the eyewear. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts a front view of the eyewear, depicting an axis of movement. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the eyewear, depicting an embodiment of eyewear. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts a top plan view of the eyewear, depicting axes of movement of the shapeable eyewear. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The present invention achieves a number of objects and presents advantages over the prior art. Eyewear is provided that retains its shape when manipulated into a new position. Additionally, the inventive eyewear is pliable without relying on external or exposed moving parts to gain positioning advantage for the eyewear. The present invention further provides a solution may be implemented that reduce the stresses of upon the other structures of the eyewear. 
         [0018]    The present invention resolves the problem of one-size-fits-all eyewear that inevitably fails to fit much of the population of users. It presents the advantage of versatility in use, so that those utilizing the present invention may select different configurations of the eyewear depending on the activity engaged by the user. The present invention provides for shapeable eyewear that is functionally and comfortable to the face of a user, who may select the degree of space between the eyewear and his or her head. The present invention avoids problematic breakage of eyewear and fatigue due to worn moving parts. It furthermore reduces the instances of abandonment due to eyewear that no longer fits due to fatigue due to worn moving parts. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1-7  depict embodiments of shapeable eyewear. While other types of eyewear may be used with the present invention, the selected illustrations depict an application as performance eyewear or sunglasses. 
         [0020]    Adaptive eyewear  10  may have a frame  50  to generally carry the various structures of eyewear known in the art, in addition to those embodied in the present invention. Seen in  FIG. 3 , frame  50  may comprise a lens frame portion  100 , the lens frame portion  100  being associated with a first lens  115  and a second lens  120  of adaptive eyewear  10 . Lens frame portion  100  may have a first lens portion  102 , center area  105  and a second lens portion  103 . In an embodiment seen in  FIG. 4 , lens frame portion in not an integral piece but may have a gap at the center area  105 . Lens frame portion is constructed of a hard plastic, metal and/or textile material. A best mode of the invention uses the material known in the arts as TR-90. First lens  115  and second lens  120  may have bridge boundaries  125 , the boundaries  125  being associated with a central area  105  of lens frame portion  100  that is sometimes referred to in the eyewear arts as a bridge. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment seen in  FIG. 1 , lens frame portion  100  may have a bridge structure  110 . Bridge structure  110  may at least partially include the lens frame portion  100  of frame  50  that bridges or spans between the first lens  115  and second lens  120 , though structure  110  may not necessarily be confined to the central area  125  of the lens frame portion  100 . In a preferred embodiment, the lens frame portion may have a first bridge ridge  112  and a second bridge ridge  113  located on either side of the central area  105  of the lens frame portion  100 . Bridge structure may further include a flexible material  200  and a pliable element  150 , as described below. 
         [0022]    Frame  50  may have first  130  and second  135  temple portions. Temple portions may be considered as the portions of the inventive frame  50  that a user of adaptive eyewear  10  may position in relation to the temple and side of the user&#39;s head. In some cases, temple portions  130 ,  135  rest upon ears of the user. 
         [0023]    Eyewear  10  may include the flexible portion  200 . In one embodiment, flexible portion  200  is constructed as a layer that at least partially overlays the lens frame portion  100 . In another variation, flexible portion  200  is preferably a highly resilient material which permits multiple flexures without breaking. Preferably, flexible portion  200  comprises a silicone rubber. Preferably, flexible portion  200  is comprised of the aforementioned silicone rubber or other materials generally known in the arts to provide similar function. 
         [0024]    Eyewear  10  may further comprise a pliable element  150 . Pliable element  150  may be formed out of a material that provides for manipulation into a desired position, and retain that desired position for an indefinite period of time. In a preferred embodiment, pliable element  150  may be a titanium wire and may be formed in a variety of shapes or sizes, includes a closed loop, a straight line, and a linear segment having at least one arcuate aspect. In a preferred embodiment, pliable element  150  is located at least partially within flexible portion  200 . Pliable element  150  may have a first end  155  and a second end  160 . In preferred embodiments, the first end  155  of pliable element  150  may be secured to a first bridge ridge  112  and the second end  160  may be secured to a second bridge ridge  113  of the lens frame portion  100 . 
         [0025]    In preferred embodiments pliable element  150  communicates with the flexible portion  200 . Pliable element  150  may do so in a number of ways. In one embodiment, Pliable element  150  is disposed within a channel  180  of the flexible portion  200  and has some movement within channel  180 . Channel  180  may be located either side of flexible portion  200  or enclosed therein. Alternatively, pliable element  150  may be molded into, or sandwiched within flexible portion  200 . In yet another embodiment, pliable element  150  need not directly abut flexible portion  200  to communicate and to influence its position. In practice, flexible element  200  provides benefits to users of adaptive eyewear  10  by providing shapeable flexibility when communicating with pliable element  150  to provide an increased ease of selecting a position, comfort to the user and stability of the frame  50  upon the user&#39;s head. 
         [0026]    Flexible portion  200  may be formed using many different methods. For example, one suitable method utilizes an injection mold process to form flexible portion  200 . Pliable element  150  may be placed in the mold prior to the molding process. Alternatively, channel  180  may be molded into flexible frame, and pliable element  150  may be inserted after the fact. Together, the flexible portion  200  and the pliable element  150  may be alternatively referred to as shapeable flexibility. 
         [0027]    In preferred embodiments where pliable element  150  is secured within the frame  50  of eyewear  10 , pliable element  150  may be manufactured into the molding of frame  50 . 
         [0028]    According to other embodiments of the invention as seen in  FIG. 5 , flexible portion  200  and pliable element  150  may be provided in locations of eyewear  10  outside of bridge structure  110 . In one embodiment, areas of shapeable flexibility that include flexible portion  200  and pliable element  150  may be located at an intersection  140  of first and second temple portions  130 ,  135  and the lens frame portion  100 . In another, shapeable flexibility may be added at a point further towards an end of the temple portions  130 ,  135 , to engage the area behind a user&#39;s ear. 
         [0029]    Other embodiments of the current invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thus, the foregoing specification is considered merely exemplary of the current invention with the true scope thereof being defined by the following claims.