Abstract:
Multifunctional protective eyewear that includes two or more lens assemblies that are quickly interchangeable to suit various environmental and situational conditions. The eyewear has particular applicability for tactical and ballistic use as well as motor sports, active sports and uses involving helmets. The strap system of a preferred embodiment can be quickly changed for either over the helmet use or under the helmet use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides multifunctional protective eyewear, particularly for ballistic and tactical use as well as other types of use. Protective eyewear is often necessary in many environments in order to protect and/or enhance the eyesight of individuals. These environments can include wind, dust, glare, weather, radiation, particles and many other types of conditions and environments. Often, an individual may need multiple lenses to accommodate differing and harsh environments. For example, it may be necessary to use a first lens for changing light conditions and a second lens for protection from debris. Also, many individuals require a first prescription lens and a second protective lens. 
     Another problem is with moisture and vapor buildup on the lens of goggles. This can impair the vision of the individual wearing the goggles. This often occurs from non-ventilated lens acquiring vapor from the individual and the environment. 
     These goggle and other eyewear systems can be expensive. Also, it may be cumbersome to transport different protective eyewear systems depending on the conditions to be encountered. Also, time may be critical in changing over protective eyewear systems. 
     Protective eyewear is often used with helmets for activities ranging from tactical use, by military, police, emergency workers, to sports such as motorcycles, sport shooting, skiing, snowboarding and many other uses. A common problem arises with the use of protective eyewear in a comfortable and effective manner with helmets. Sometimes the protective eyewear is worn with the strap beneath the helmet while other times the strap is worn over the helmet. If the strap is worn beneath the helmet, it may be bulky and compress uncomfortably against the sides of the wearer&#39;s head. If the strap is worn over the helmet, it may pull away from the wearer&#39;s face and break the sealing engagement between the eyewear and the wearer&#39;s face. 
     Another problem arises with the use of other eyewear, such as prescriptive eyewear. There are special goggles intended for use over prescription eyewear, but these goggles tend to be expensive and have an increased profile. Also, sometimes the wearer may choose not to wear the prescription eyewear. 
     A serious drawback with existing protective eyewear is that such eyewear is intended for a single type of use. At most, such eyewear may allow interchangeability of lens for different light conditions. There presently is no protective eyewear that is truly suitable for use in many different environments. This can be a detriment in critical uses and at the very least can be an annoyance. For example, there are situations that require a sealed engagement for eye protection, whereas other times, an unsealed engagement may be preferable for comfort and ventilation. Also, there are times where the strap of the protective eyewear may be worn beneath a helmet, whereas other times, the strap may be worn over the helmet. There are also times when different lenses may need to be quickly changed. Additionally, there may be times when a single lens is sufficient while other times may require an additional lens for protection or other uses. 
     Thus, there presently is a need for a multi-functional protective eyewear system that enables users to easily and quickly change lens to accommodate the existing conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a multifunctional protective eyewear system. In a preferred embodiment, the protective eyewear can be easily and quickly changed to various configurations to enable use in a multitude of uses and environments. This enables the wearer to be effective regardless of the encountered environment and/or situation. The protective eyewear is suitable for use in tactical situations, ballistic situations, around hazardous materials, sports, motorcycles, or any other situation requiring protective eyewear. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the protective eyewear includes one or more lens assemblies that are quickly interchangeable. The lens assemblies engage in detents in the side clips of the lens frame. This enables the lens assemblies to be quickly removed and reinserted. Thus, the lens assemblies can be interchanged as required. Different lens having different tints, protective layers or other characteristics can be used as desired. 
     In a preferred embodiment, two lens assemblies can be used by layering over one another. This allows a first lens assembly having particular characteristics such as tinting and a second lens assembly for protective against shrapnel or other ballistic environments, or in harsh environments. The outer lens assembly can be removed if not needed. 
     Another preferred embodiment allows each of the lens assemblies to be moved between a ventilated position and a thermal position. This is important in many environments where fogging, moisture condensation or other considerations may occur. This embodiment may also include a second lens assembly that is also movable between two or more positions. 
     The present invention also includes a preferred embodiment that uses the clips on the eyewear retaining strap to lock the lens assemblies in place. The clips engage detents or notches on the side tabs of the lens assemblies to lock the lens assemblies in position. The clips are easily disengaged to allow for quick reposition or removal of the lens assemblies. 
     The present invention also provides a unique locking system for the lens assemblies that is adjustable to compensate for over the helmet or under the helmet usage of the protective eyewear. This unique locking system enables quick change of the strap position to ensure comfort and protection of the wearer of the proactive eyewear. 
     These features and others of the present invention are provided individually as well in different combinations of one another. For example, in one preferred embodiment, the protective eyewear includes side tabs on each of the lens assemblies. The side tabs include one or more inner notches and outer detents. The frame of the protective eyewear includes side clips having notches and detents facing outward. The side tabs of the first lens assembly are inserted into the side clips until the inner notches engage in one of the detents of each of the side clips. The use of a plurality of notches or detents enable securing the first lens assembly in one or more positions. The side tabs of the second lens assembly is then inserted in the side clips over the side tabs of the first lens assembly. The inner notches of the side tabs of the second lens assembly engage the detents on the side tabs of the first lens assembly. 
     The securing clips of the strap include an offset aperture for engagement of the strap. Resilient tabs on the securing clips are then inserted in the side clips of the lens frame. These tabs exert pressure against the side tabs of the lens assemblies to lock the lens assemblies in place on the lens frame. 
     The offset strap aperture enables the protective eyewear to be worn under a helmet or over a helmet. Inserting the resilient tabs of the securing clips in the front of the lens frame causes the strap to extend outwardly from the lens frame so the strap goes around the exterior of the helmet. Inserting the resilient tabs of the securing clips of the rear of the lens frame causes the strap to extend inwardly from the lens frame so that it is away from the interior of the helmet for under the helmet usage. 
     The ease of removal and remounting of the lens assemblies as well as the ability to change the position of the strap mounting provides a multitude of the differing combinations for various environment and situational usages. These and other features will be evident from the ensuring detailed description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the locking clip. 
     FIG. 7 is a table listing the various configurations of the goggles of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides a multi-functional protective eyewear that is suitable for use in tactical, military, ballistic, sport and other uses. The protective eyewear of the present invention includes a low-profile, high-quality and quickly interchangeable system that is usable in many different environments, including differing light conditions, weather conditions, as well as protective environments ranging from wind, dust, shrapnel, glare, low light, etc., and in differing uses including with or without helmets, and over or under helmets. Also, the protective eyewear may be used in thermal environments to prevent fogging or to sealed from the environment. These and other features may be included in preferred embodiments of the present invention either in combination with one another or taken alone. Preferred embodiments are discussed below and are intended for explanatory purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protective eyewear of this preferred embodiment includes a frame  10 , a first lens assembly  30 , a second lens assembly  50  and a strap  60 . The frame  10  has an inner portion  12  contoured to fit snugly about a user&#39;s face. In one preferred embodiment, the inner portion includes a flexible gasket (not shown) to ensure a sealed engagement with the face of a user. A nose portion  14  is shaped to comfortably fit over a user&#39;s nose, The outer portion  16  of the frame  10  includes a recessed portion  18  for receiving the first lens assembly  30 . 
     The frame  10  also includes side clips  20 ,  22 . These side clips, shown in detail in FIG. 6, include side notches  24 ,  26  (respectively on each clip) and inner detent  28  (there can also be addition inner detents as well). 
     The first lens assembly  30  includes a lens portion  32  and side tabs  34 ,  36 . Each of the side tabs  34 ,  36  include outer detents  38 ,  40  and inner notches  42 ,  44 , respectively. The lens portion  32  can be clear for protection against particles, wind and other airborne contaminates, colored for use in different environments or any other type of protective lens. The side tabs  34 ,  36  are sized to fit within the side clips  20 ,  22  of the frame  10 . The outer edges of the lens assembly fit snugly within the recessed portion  18  of the frame. The lens assembly  30  is secured to the frame assembly by inserting the tabs  34 ,  36  into the clips  20 ,  22  of the frame assembly until at least one of the notches  42 ,  44  of the side tabs engage on detent  28  of the side clips  20 ,  22 . 
     The use of two notches  42 ,  44  enable the first assembly to be engaged in one of two positions relative to the frame  10 . The first position with notch  42  engaging the detent  28  provides the lens assembly spaced from the frame in a ventilated position. The second position with notch  44  engaging detent  28  secures the lens against the frame for thermal protection as well as other types of protection. 
     The second lens assembly  50  also includes a lens portion  52  and side tabs  54 ,  56 . Each of the side tabs includes at least one detent  58  and inner notch  60 . The lens portion  52  can be tinted to a suitable color in accordance with the available light or other environmental concerns. The second lens assembly  50  is secured to the frame  10  over the first lens assembly  30 . The side tabs  54 ,  56  are inserted into the side clips  20 ,  22  over the side tabs  34 ,  36  of the first lens assembly. The inner notch  60  engages one of the outer detents  38 ,  40  of the side tabs  34 ,  36 . This allows the second lens to be secured in one of two or more positions depending on how many detents and/or notches are provided. For example, the lens  50  can be locked in a first position with inner notches  60  engaging over detents  38  of tabs  34 ,  36 . This provides a ventilated position. The lens  50  may also be pushed inward so that notches  60  engage detents  40  on tabs  34 ,  36 . This provides a sealed position to minimize fogging and/or for thermal protection. 
     The first lens assembly  30  and second lens assembly  50  are locked to the frame assembly by the locking clips  64 ,  66  of the strap  60 . Strap  60  includes a strap portion  62  and locking clips  64 ,  66 . The locking clips  64 ,  66  each include an aperture  68  formed in side member  70  through which the strap portion  62  is inserted. Resilient tab members  72  and  78  are formed substantially parallel to clip members  74 ,  76  extending perpendicularly from the side member  70 . The locking clips  64 ,  66  are inserted into side clips  20 ,  22  of the frame assembly  10  over either the slide tabs  34 ,  36  of the first lens assembly  30  if only one lens is used or over the side tabs  54 ,  56  of the second lens assembly  50  if both lens are used. The resilient tab members  72 ,  78  are engaged in the notches  24 ,  26  of the side clips  20 ,  22  to lock the locking clips into engagement with the frame assembly. 
     The locking clips can engage the side clips of the frame assembly  10  from the rear as shown in FIG. 1 or if the strap is required to go over a helmet or other protective head gear, the ends of the strap can be reversed and inserted from the front of the frame assembly as shown in FIG.  2 . This provides a more versatile protective eyewear assembly. This is critical in many applications. For example, in many tactical situations the strap must go over the helmet. The ability of the strap to fasten to the front of the lens assembly and offset on the outer side of the frame  10  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 minimizes pulling from the strap over the helmet. This assists in the sealing of the protective eyewear against the face of the wearer. Alternatively, if the strap is to be worn under the helmet, the strap is fastened to the inner surface of the locking clips as shown in FIG.  1 . The offset of the strap is to the interior of the frame of the protective eyewear and minimizes crushing of the strap against the wearer from the helmet. 
     The lens assemblies can be removed or adjusted to the ventilated or non-ventilated position by simply pressing down on the resilient tab members  72 ,  78  through the notches  24 ,  26  and removing the locking clips from the side clips. This allows the lens to be changed or adjusted very quickly and without the need for special tools. 
     This preferred embodiment provides a multi-functional protective eyewear that can be quickly and easily adjusted to a number of various configurations. For example, the protective eyewear could be adjusted at a minimum to the following configurations as set forth in FIG.  7 . 
     Many other configurations are available as well, for instance, by have a plurality of interchangeable lens for use in differing light or environmental conditions. Different tints are available for different light conditions, as well as different compositions for use with different wavelengths, such as laser, infrared, night vision, radiation and other environments. Also, different lenses may be desired for other conditions and functions, such as ballistic lens for use around shrapnel or high dust storms, thermal lenses for use in extreme conditions, anti-fog lens, and other lens for other conditions. 
     In another preferred embodiment, a separate clip (not shown) having a side tab similar to the side tabs of the lens assemblies can be utilized. The separate clip can have tools, such as nighttime vision eyepieces, telescopic sights or other useful fixtures mounted to it. This enables the goggles of the present invention utilize other lens and/or tools easily interchangeable as needed. The separate side clip can also be hinged so it can be swiveled out of the way when not in use. This side clip, in another preferred embodiment, is integrated with the strap locking clip to provide additional support. 
     In another preferred embodiment, a tear-away lens portion (not shown) is used with either the first lens assembly, second lens assembly or both. The tear-away lens portion enables the outer surface of the lens portion to be quickly removed and an underneath lens portion exposed for continued use. This is particularly useful in an abrasive and/or quick-fire environment. 
     In another preferred embodiment (not shown) a prescription lens is used as the first or second lens assembly. This enables either a single person to use multiple goggle systems, a single goggle to be used with multiple users, or a user to use prescription lens only as needed. 
     These and other features are provided by the present invention. It is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not meant to be limited to the descriptive embodiments that are provided for explanatory purposes only.