Abstract:
The present invention relates to a wide-angle view binocular device to enable persons sitting in an area requiring wide viewing angles, such as in a movie theater or in a sports arena, to see images at the peripheral edges as clearly as those images viewed straight ahead, with minimal barrel distortion of the viewer&#39;s field of view.

Description:
This Application claims the benefit of Provisional No. 60/148,820 filed Aug. 13, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a wide-angle view eyeglasses to enable persons sitting in an area requiring wide viewing angles, such as in a movie theater or in a sports arena, to see images at the peripheral edges more clearly and with less eye motion than without an optical system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various attempts have been made to increase the viewing comfort of moviegoers. Among these patents include U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,837 of Gray which describes a modified interior design of a movie theater where the film is projected onto a high screen, so that the viewers view the movie in a reclining position. 
     In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 2,537,047 of Gatten discloses a wide-angle pair of glasses that increases a user&#39;s field of vision by providing a pair of wrap around lenses that are both in front of and at the side of the viewer&#39;s eyes. The lens curves around the viewer&#39;s face. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,626 of Grech describes a therapeutic viewing device with two pairs of lens with discontinuous surfaces. The lenses therein have curved surfaces interrupted by flat medial portions. The lenses only affect vision at the peripheral, non-medial portions. Grech &#39;626 is primarily designed for persons with pathological tunnel vision, and it is not specifically for use by persons with normal vision in-seats close to the screen in movie theaters. 
     Grech &#39;626 does not modify the normal mid viewing portions of the lenses for persons with pathological tunnel vision. Grech &#39;626 only modifies and expands upon the peripheral vision portions, which are deficient in persons with pathological tunnel vision. 
     In contrast, for the general movie viewing public in close proximity (i.e. 30 feet or less) to a movie screen, producing discontinuous lenses which do not modify the mid viewing portion of the lenses is counterproductive in an overall method of uniformly minifying the wide screen view to a movie viewer with normal vision. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a wide-angle view eyeglasses for wide-angle viewing. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an optical means for conveying a wider-than-normal view into a user&#39;s field of vision, with minimal barrel distortion of the user&#39;s field of vision. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a means for blocking a user&#39;s peripheral vision. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide better viewing images for the general movie-viewing public in close proximity to a movie screen. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide ergonomically designed multi-user wide-angle eyeglasses. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide wide-angle view eyeglasses, which are optionally adjustable for the viewer. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to improve over the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, the present invention is a wide-angle pair of eyeglasses that increase a user&#39;s field of vision with minimal barrel distortion by providing a double set of lenses that are in front of the viewer&#39;s eyes, for use by persons with normal vision in seats close to the screen in movie theaters. 
     The present invention minifies the wide screen view to a movie viewer with wide-angle view eyeglasses, including a face-fitting optical frame for transverse deployment across the face of a user. 
     A pair of rearwardly projecting temple pieces has vertically disposed light-excluding surfaces respectively attached to the ends of the optical frame. These temple pieces comfortably grasp the ears of a user. 
     The optical frame includes an optical means that conveys a wider-than-normal view into a user&#39;s field of vision. 
     To achieve the wide-angle viewing, the optical means of the wide-angle view eyeglasses includes a lens system having at least two optically aligned and longitudinally spaced-apart lenses with continuous surfaces, for each of the user&#39;s eyes. 
     Preferably the lenses are made of glass or plastic, such as but not limited to, styrene or acrylic plastics. 
     An optical bridge includes an inner bridge disposed transversely across the face of a user, and the inner bridge includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart inner lens mounting receptacles that support a pair of inner lenses. This inner bridge has a mounting member projecting outwardly therefrom. 
     The inner bridge is connected to and spaced longitudinally apart from an outer bridge that is parallel to the inner bridge and is farther away from the face of the user. The outer bridge includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart outer lens mounting receptacles for receiving a pair of outer lenses. 
     These inner lenses and outer lenses are optically aligned with the eyes of a user. 
     The design of the lenses may vary, but one particular design calls for a slightly convex inner lens surface of the inner lens (such as, for example, with about a −854.81 mm radius), an outward convex surface (such as, for example, with about a 20.9728 mm radius) on the same lens, an outer lens with an aspheric inner contour and with an outward surface which is convex. The aspheric surface reduces barrel distortion. The other lens surfaces may be spherical. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the aspheric surfaces are derived from conic sections and are ellipsoidal, although in certain circumstances other aspheric surfaces, such as paraboloids and hyperboloids may be used. 
     Preferably the aspheric curvature as defined by its sag surface “z” is measured along the optical axis of rotation, extending through the center of the lenses, according to the following formula:         z   =         (   cv   )          (     y   2     )         1   +       1   -         (   cv   )     2          (     K   +   1     )                     y   2                 ,                          
     where curvature cv=1/R=1/7.823, 
     where y=distance of the surface measured perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens and, 
     where K=conic constant=−0.7509. 
     where R=radius of curvature. 
     While in this preferred embodiment, the inner surface of each outer lens is aspheric, another modification may include both inner and outer surfaces on the outer lenses being aspheric, while the inner and outer surfaces of the inner lenses are spherical. In other embodiments, one or more of the lens surfaces may be aspheric, or in another optional embodiment all of the lens surfaces may be spherical. 
     A simple first embodiment is a pair of non-adjustable custom designed wide-angle glasses for an individual. In this embodiment, the lenses are not movable. 
     A second embodiment is an adjustable pair of multi-user glasses with adjustments to accommodate interpupilary spacing or distance variations, pupil size variations, and mild focus deficiencies. In this embodiment, the pairs of lenses focused on each eye are movable in unison in positional register with each other, but are movable nonetheless, either transversally laterally for persons with widely spaced eyes, or, movable in unison in positional register back and forth to minor focusing adjustments. However, in a preferred embodiment the inner lenses are movable in unison. In any case, both lenses for each eye are aligned. 
     Therefore, the respective inner and outer lens pairs are aligned in unison for each respective eye. Consequently, one can only move the inner lenses laterally if the outer lenses are also moved a corresponding distance laterally in positional register with the inner lenses, to keep the light beam of the passing within the eyes of the user. 
     In addition, the temple pieces have optional wide front or side portions for blocking a user&#39;s peripheral vision, such as vertically disposed light-excluding surfaces of a completely opaque material having a vertically disposed light-excluding surface. 
     Moreover, with the aforesaid optical minification system, the viewer&#39;s angular field of view is wide, lying between about 85 and 90 degrees of arc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention can best be described in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wide-angle view eyeglasses of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wide-angle view eyeglasses as in FIG. 1, shown in position upon a user; 
     FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the lens portion thereof; 
     FIG. 3B is an exploded diagrammatic top view of the lens portions thereof; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are front elevational views of the respective inner and outer surfaces of an inner lens of the lens portion of the wide-angle view eyeglasses as in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B are front elevational views of the respective inner and outer surfaces of an outer lens of the wide-angle view eyeglasses as in FIG. 1, wherein the surfaces are viewed from the direction of the eye of the user; 
     FIG. 6 is a table describing the design parameters of a particular design of lenses for the wide-angle view eyeglasses of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment for an optional multi-user adjustable wide-angle glasses of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the optionally adjustable wide-angle glasses of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a top elevational view of the optionally adjustable wide-angle glasses of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the back frame of the optionally adjustable wide-angle glasses of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the frame supporting the rear lenses of the optionally adjustable wide-angle glasses of FIG. 7; and, 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the frame supporting the front lenses of the optionally adjustable wide-angle glasses of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-12, wide-angle view eyeglasses  100  for wide-angle viewing of images, such as sports games or films from close up at a movie theater, include a face-fitting optical frame  10  for transverse deployment across the face of a user, and a pair of rearwardly projecting temple pieces  14  having optional vertically disposed light-excluding surfaces  15  respectively attached to the ends of optical frame  10 . Temple pieces  14  comfortably grasp the ears of a user. 
     Optical frame  10  has an optical means for conveying a wider-than-normal view into a user&#39;s field of vision. 
     This optical means includes a lens system, having at least two optically aligned and longitudinally spaced-apart lenses with continuous surfaces for each of the user&#39;s eyes, such as inner lenses  24  and outer lenses  44 . Each pair of inner lenses  24  and outer lenses  44  are optically aligned, respectively, with each respective eye of a user. 
     An optical bridge includes an inner bridge  20  disposed transversely across the face of a user. Inner bridge  20  has a pair of transversely spaced-apart inner lens mounting receptacles  22  for receiving the pair of inner lenses  24 . Likewise, outer bridge  40  includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart outer lens mounting receptacles  42  for receiving the pair of outer lenses  44 . 
     Inner bridge  20  includes mounting means  30  projecting outwardly therefrom, and inner bridge  20  is connected to, and is spaced longitudinally apart from, an outer bridge  40  disposed parallel to inner bridge  20 . Inner bridge  20  has a nose channel  28  for contacting the nose of a user and for stabilizing face-fitting optical frame  10  on the face of a user. 
     Although mounting means  30  may be non-movable, in a preferable optional embodiment, both inner bridge  20  and outer bridge  40  may be connected by user-adjustable longitudinal spacing means  60  within mounting means  30 , such as a ratchet or the like. 
     FIGS. 3A,  4  and  5  show an example of a preferable optical configuration of the two lens pairs  24  and  44 . 
     The table of FIG. 6 summarizes the preferable configuration parameters. The unused portions of the lenses are shown as crosshatched sections. These portions of lenses  24  and  44  may be actually cut away. The position of the lenses as well as their size and curvature are about 4 mm with perfect vision. Inner lens  24 &#39;s inner surface  1  is preferably slightly convex, and its outer surface  2  is preferably convex. Outer lens  44 &#39;s inner surface  3  is preferably aspheric, while its outer surface  4  is preferably slightly convex. This particular lens configuration, with an aspheric inner surface  3  of outer lens  44 , minimizes barrel distortion. The other lens surfaces  1 ,  2  or  4  may be spherical. 
     As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, inner lenses  24  closest to the eyes of the users have a transverse diameter of about 21.08 mm, and outer lenses  44  farthest away from the eyes of the users have a transverse diameter of about 32.23 mm. However, optionally at least 2.0 mm is added to each lens (1.0 mm on each side) during optical molding, to insure that the respective lens&#39; surfaces are usable out to the edge of the preferred clear apertures of each lens. 
     The slightly convex lens surface  1  disposed facing inwardly toward the eye of a user of inner lenses  24  closest to the eyes of the users preferably has a curvature radius of about −854.81 mm. 
     The lens surface  2  disposed facing outwardly away from the eye of a user of inner lenses  24  closest to the eyes of the users has a curvature radius of about 20.97 mm. 
     Outer lenses  44  farthest away from the eyes of the users preferably has a concave inner surface  3  having a curvature radius of about 7.823 mm and a conic constant of −0.7509. 
     While aspheric surface  3  is preferably an ellipsoid with a conic section of between 0 and −1, preferably −0.75, it may be a paraboloid with a positive conic section greater than 0 or a hyberoloid with a conic section of −1.1 or greater. 
     Outer surface  4  of outer lens  44  has a curvature radius of about 181.5 mm. 
     Another important measurement of the outer lens  44  is that the ratio of its focal length F A , as shown in FIG. 3B, divided by the space AB between lenses  24  and  44  (as measured along the optical axis) is preferably between −0.64 and −0.68. 
     Furthermore, the focal length F A  of outer lens  44  is preferably about −16.63 mm and the focal length F B  of inner lens  24  is 41.64 mm. Therefore, the ratio value of F B /F A  is greater than −2.3 or less than −2.7, when the ratio of F A  divided by space S AB  is between −0.64 and −0.68. 
     In addition, the curvature radius of inner lens  24  is between infinity and −426.72 mm, preferably about −854.81 mm, where the minus sign designates the center of curvature away from the eye of the user. 
     While it is possible to construct an embodiment with lens having surfaces, which are only spherical in nature, preferably at least inner surface  3  of outer lenses  44  farthest away from the eyes of the user is an aspheric surface so as to minimize barrel distortion of the field of view of the viewer. In other optional embodiments, however, it is possible that one or more of the respective lens surfaces  1 ,  2  and/or  3  may be aspheric, as long as at least one of the surfaces  1 ,  2  or  3  is aspheric. The other surfaces be aspheric or spherical. 
     The wide-angle view eyeglasses may also have a means for blocking a user&#39;s peripheral vision. 
     This optional means for blocking a user&#39;s peripheral vision through the pair of rearwardly projecting temple pieces  14  includes optionally constituting vertically disposed light-excluding surfaces  15  of a completely opaque material having a vertically disposed light-excluding surface of about 50.8 mm in width. The light excluding surfaces  15  are also preferably provided around the outer lenses  44  in outer lens receptacle  42 . Light-excluding surfaces  15  each have a respective hole therein for exposing a portion of each said respective outer lenses therethrough. This means for blocking a user&#39;s peripheral vision of the pair of rearwardly projecting temple pieces  14  may also constitutes vertically disposed light-excluding surfaces  15  of black plastic of about 50.8 mm in width, with open spaces for outer lenses  44 . 
     Optionally, peripheral vision may be also blocked by cutting of selected portions of the edges of the respective lenses  24  or  44 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an optional ergonomically designed adjustable multi-user wide-angle glasses  69 . this is one embodiment. It is understood that other embodiments for adjustable wide-angle view eyeglasses may be made. 
     In this embodiment of FIG. 7, housing  70 , which blocks light from the sides and top, has a wide nose channel  71 . Lateral adjustment wheel  74  adjusts the optical axes of outer lenses  44  as well as inner lenses  24  (not shown) to match the user&#39;s interpupillary distance. Portions of a movable subframe  75  holding outer lenses  44  are visible. Adjustment wheel  72  varies the distance from the pupil to the back lenses  24 . This should be adjusted to minimize vignetting, which is blocking or shading of a portion of view. 
     FIGS. 8 through 12 illustrate the various details of this embodiment, which is only one of various adjustable embodiments. 
     In the side view of FIG. 8, the housing  70  has been moved away to show the inner parts. 
     The top view of FIG. 9 shows some of the elements, which are obscured in FIG.  8 . Hinges  81  attach sidepieces  14  to back frame  82 . 
     The rearmost subframe  82  (closest to the eyes) is shown in FIG. 10 with adjustable nosepiece  80 . A molded miniature timing belt  97  couples two timing belt pulleys which move in a synchronous fashion when knurled adjustment wheel  72  is turned. 
     In a preferred embodiment, only outer lenses  42  are movable toward or away from the eyes of the user, and inner lenses  24  are fixed relative to their position within eyeglasses  69 . 
     In the alternate version, inner lenses are  24  and also movable forwards and backwards. 
     Threaded studs  96  move in and out of threaded holes within pulleys  95  as desired to adjust the middle subframe  83  which carries lenses  24 , as in FIG. 11, closer or farther away from the eyes. This is variable dimension “x” in FIG.  9 . Timing belt  100  on pulleys  98  moves threaded studs  99  in and out of threaded holes in pulleys  98  in a synchronous fashion when adjustment wheel  73  is turned. Belt  100  is only partially shown in FIG. 9 for clarity. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, this spaces subframe  85  which holds outer lenses  42  from subframe  83  which holds lenses  24 ; this is variable distance “y” shown in FIG.  9 . Adjustment wheel  74  is pivotally attached to frame  83 ; it drives two telescoping hexagonal cross sectional tubing segments  101  and  102  which transmit the rotary motion to inner pinion gear  88  and outer pinion gear  89  regardless of the positional adjustment of outer frame  85  relative to middle frame  83 . 
     As seen in FIG. 11, pinion  88  moves lens subframes  87  closer or farther apart laterally through engagement with attached rack arms  111  and  112 . 
     Simultaneously, and in positional synchronism, pinion  89  moves lens subframes  75  closer or farther apart laterally through attached rack arms  115  and  116 , as in FIG.  12 . This is variable dimension “z” in FIG.  9 . Guidance rails  84  guide lens subframes  87  while guidance rails  86  guide lens subframes  75 . Through the use of timing belts and dual threaded studs, frames  83  and  85  can be moved and supported in such a manner that they remain parallel to each other and to frame  82 . The rack and pinion mechanism for lateral lens adjustment keeps the inner and outer lenses laterally aligned throughout their range of adjustment. 
     Other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims.