Abstract:
A combination headgear and eyewear system including eyewear that magnetically attaches to the headgear. A magnetic ball and disc joint allows the eyewear to pivot on the headgear and into a position wherein the eyewear rests upon a user&#39;s face. Adjustable temples allow the eyewear to be configured so to accommodate a large range of head sizes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Continuation-in-Part application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/217,035 filed on Aug. 24, 2011 entitled “Combination Headgear and Eye Protection System,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention is directed to a combination headgear and eye protection system. More specifically, the technology relates to adjustable eye protection that attaches to headgear using magnetic means, a kit for user assembly of an eye protection system that attaches to headgear using magnetic means, and related methods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In certain industrial professions and sporting activities, it is desirable to wear headgear to protect the participant&#39;s hearing from noise having a potentially dangerous sound pressure level. Examples in the professional setting include, without limitation, construction workers, craftsman, airport ground support, and military personnel. Sportsmen who often encounter loud noises include hunters and any individuals who recreationally use firearms. These individuals must don earplugs, ear muffs, or similar headgear in order to prevent hearing loss or injury to the user&#39;s hearing. 
         [0004]    In addition, these users often opt to use some form of protective eyewear in conjunction with headgear. For example, there is often a risk of eye damage in the event of eye contact with an errantly ejected shell from a firearm. Likewise, there is often a risk of eye contact with debris when the user is engaged in a professional activity such as construction, woodworking, or use of heavy machinery. 
         [0005]    Numerous difficulties are encountered when a user opts to wear both eyewear and headgear simultaneously. First, it is often cumbersome and uncomfortable to fit eyewear in combination with the headgear. Second, it remains difficult for the user to remove and later reposition the eyewear when the user must insert a portion of the eyewear within the headgear. Lastly, eyewear worn underneath hearing protection may compromise the seal between ear protection and the user&#39;s ears, rendering the protection less efficacious. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for headgear and safety gear that allows eyewear to be quickly and easily secured to headgear, when the headgear is already worn by the user. Moreover, there is a further need for a system that allows the eyewear to be quickly removed and stowed when the user does not need the eyewear during a professional or recreational sporting event. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This invention solves some of the current limitations in the art of headgear assemblies and eyewear systems. In particular, the present invention allows a user to rapidly and magnetically attach and remove eyewear to headgear (such as safety ear cups that reduce noise heard by the user). The present invention contemplates a system comprising headgear for a user to don that ultimately attaches to a lens for protecting the user&#39;s eyes. Two temples communicate with the lens, each temple having a distal terminus that attaches to a first attachment means on each temple. A second attachment means is on the headgear, being for magnetically attaching to the first attachment means for removably attaching the headgear to the temples. The first attachment means is shaped to be at least one of a ball, ball socket, and disc, while the second attachment means is also shaped to be at least one of a ball, ball socket, and disc. The first attachment means is made from at least one of a magnetic material and a ferrous material, and the second attachment means is also made from at least one of a magnetic material and a ferrous material. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a magnetic ball-and-disc joint is situated between each terminus of the two temples and the headgear, the joint forming a magnetically attachable and articulable junction between the two temples and the headgear. 
         [0009]    The ear cups comprise a headband for positioning the headgear on the user&#39;s head, the headband having a first end and a second end. A first ear cup is attached to the first end of the headband and a second ear cup is attached to the second end of the headband. A first yoke attaches the first ear cup to the first end of the headband, and a second yoke attaches the second ear cup to the second end of the headband. 
         [0010]    The headgear is at least one of a stereo headphone, radio earphone, 2-way communication headphone, and a hardhat/ear cup combination unit. The second attachment means is positioned on the cup of the safety earmuff, the inside the cup of the safety earmuff, or the yoke of the safety earmuff. 
         [0011]    The lens of the eyewear is at least one a safety lens, sunglass lens, prescription lens, prescription sunglass lens, prescription safety lens, and sunglass safety lens. 
         [0012]    Additionally, the invention contemplates an eyewear assembly kit comprising safety goggles having adjustable temples, a first attachment portion attached to each of the temples, a second attachment portion for magnetic attachment to the first attachment portion, adhesive for adhering the second attachment portion to headgear, and instructions for assembling the safety goggles, the second attachment portion, and the adhesive into a eyewear assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating headgear to which eyewear is magnetically attached; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the system illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the system illustrated in  FIG. 1-3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the system illustrated in  FIG. 1-4 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another alternate embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating yet another alternate embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  illustrates a magnetic eyewear attachment kit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate, by way of example, the overall components of the system  100 . As shown, there are three primary components of the system  100 : the headgear  200 , the eyewear  300 , and the magnetic attachment means  400  (that connects to the headgear  200  to the eyewear  300 ). 
       Headgear 
       [0025]    As shown in both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the headgear  200  includes three main parts: a first ear cup  202 , a second ear cup  204 , and an adjustable headrest  206 . As shown in FIG.  1 , the adjustable headrest  206  connects to both the first ear cup  202  and second ear cup  204 . Preferably, the ear cups  202 ,  204  are made out of a lightweight, resilient, and sound reducing material such as a plastic, composite, polymer, or metal. Moreover, the inner portion of both ear cups  202 ,  204  may be lined with sound reducing material  208 . 
         [0026]    In alternate embodiments, the headgear  200  headgear is at least one of stereo headphones, radio earphones, 2-way communication headphones, and hardhat/ear cup combination units. 
         [0027]    Both ear cups  202 ,  204  are circular or elliptical in cross section, having a sufficient size and dimension to cover a user&#39;s ears. The ear cups  202 ,  204  each include a soft and pliant cushion  210 ,  212 . The cushions  210 ,  212  allow the headgear  200  to comfortably sit about the user&#39;s head without excessive pressure and also provide a seal to reduce the sound pressure level the user experiences when wearing the headgear  200 . While numerous materials are contemplated for the cushions  210 ,  212 , they are preferably made of rubber, neoprene, plastic, textile or like material. However, other similarly lightweight and resilient materials, known to those skilled in the art, may be used. 
         [0028]    With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , by way of example, the salient components of the adjustable headrest  206  are illustrated. As shown, the adjustable headrest  206  includes a head cushion  214 , first yokes  216  and corresponding second yokes  218 . The first yokes  216  connect to the first ear cup  202 , and the second yokes  218  connect to the second ear cup  204 . In one embodiment, the yokes  216 ,  218  each slidingly engage respective yoke housings  220 ,  222  that are attached to the first and second ear cups  202 ,  204 , respectively. 
         [0029]    The first yoke housings  220  are rotatably attached to a first outer wall  224  of the first ear cup  202 , preferably through the use of first pivot pins  228 . Correspondingly, the second yoke housings  222  are rotatably attached to a second outer wall  226  of the second ear cup  204 , preferably through the use of second pivot pins  230 . The pivot pins  228 ,  230  create a joint to which the adjustable headrest  206  and yokes  216 ,  218  attach to the ear cups  202 ,  204  so as to allow a comfortable, adjustable, and custom fit about the user&#39;s head. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , it is illustrated that the yokes  216 ,  218  slidingly engage hollow cavities  232  of their respective yoke housings  220 ,  222 , thus allowing a user to adjust the height between the ear cups  204 ,  204  and the headrest  206 . In another embodiment, the yokes  216 ,  218  communicate directly with the ear cups  202 ,  204  and are pivotally attached with pivot pins  228 ,  230 . 
       Protective Eyewear 
       [0031]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate, by way of example, the components of representative eyewear  300 . The eyewear  300  comprises a lens  302  made from a hard glass or polymer that functions as a shield. In a preferred embodiment, the lens  302  is constructed from high impact polycarbonate. The lens  302  depicted in the illustrations is a single lens  302  with an integral nose pad  304 , but a conventional dual lens eyeglass construction held within an eyeglass frame is also contemplated. The lens  302  (or lenses) comprises at least one of an anti-fog coating, UV resistant material, prescription corrective lenses, bifocal lenses, magnifying lenses, shaded lenses, polarized lenses, safety lenses, and combinations thereof. 
         [0032]    The lens  302  is engaged by at least one frame member  306 , the primary purpose of which is to provide a hinged attachment means  308  for temples  310 . Each temple  310  comprises a hollow passageway  322  that travels through the length of the temple  310  that serves to maintain a projection  312  that extends from the temples  310  so to communicate with the headgear  200  using the magnetic attachment means  400 . The projections  312  are telescoping members that provide a means to adjust the distance the lens  302  and nose pad  304  are from the headgear  200  to effectuate a proper fit for the user. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 2 , the projection  312  comprises a plurality of detents  314 . A detent  314  engages at least one cavity  316  in the temples  310  for the purpose of arresting the projection  312  at a desired point. This allows a user to adjust the distance the projection  312  protrudes from the temple  310  passageway  322 . The angle between the lens  302  and the temples  310  (and therefore the projection  312  also) is adjustable since the temples  310  are hingedly attached to the hinged attachment means  308  by a hinge pin  318  that engages both the frame&#39;s  306  hinged attachment means  308  and a temple hinge portion  320 . 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the projection  312  telescopes through the entire length of the temple passageway  322  and protrudes outward through the entirety of the temple  310 . This allows the projection to have a greater number of points where detents  314  can engage cavities  316  so that a greater adjustment range of the projections  312  is possible. This additional range, allows protrusion of the projections  312  forward of the hinge pin  318 , and due to the size of the ear cups  202 ,  204  there is limited available space between the cups  202 ,  204  and the lens  302  area of the eyewear. This is especially true of persons with relatively short “ear-to-front-of-face” dimensions. For persons with such dimensions, the excess length of the projections  312  can be trimmed off once the person determines the excess length of the projection  312  is not needed. This feature allows for longer projections  312  which in turn will provide greater adjustability of the eyewear  300  to enable fitting a broader range of users. 
       Magnetic Connectors 
       [0035]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate, by way of example, the components of the magnetic connectors  400 . First turning to  FIG. 2 , a first magnetic connector  402  is affixed to a projection  312 . Likewise, a second magnetic connector  404  is affixed to the headpiece  200 . As shown, it is preferable that the first magnetic connector  402  is a ball and the second magnetic connector  404  is a disc. If the first connector  402  is a magnet, the second connector  404  is either a magnet or made from a ferrous material. If the second connector  404  is a magnet, the first connector  402  is either a magnet or made from a ferrous material. In a preferred embodiment, the ferrous material is steel. The first connector  402  is press-fit into or adhered to the projection  312 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are alternate views of  FIGS. 1 and 3 , and are included for clarity. 
       Alternate Embodiments 
       [0037]    As further shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , connectors  402 ,  404  are arranged as a magnetic ball-and-disc device. Here, each disc  404  is permanently affixed to an ear cup  202 ,  204 . In another embodiment as illustrated by  FIG. 6 , each second connector  404  is affixed to a yoke housing  220 ,  222 . In another embodiment as illustrated by  FIG. 7 , each second connector  404  is affixed to a pivot pin  228 ,  230 . In yet another alternate embodiment, as illustrated by  FIG. 8 , each second connector  404  is affixed to a yoke  216 ,  218 . In these embodiments of  FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  7 , and  8 , the eyewear  300  can be easily affixed to the headgear  200  through the magnetic connectors  400 . Likewise, the eyewear  300  can be quickly removed when not in use via the magnetic connectors  400 . The second connectors  404  may, in another embodiment, be installed inside each ear cup  202 ,  204 . In this embodiment, the magnetic forces involved are strong enough to penetrate the ear cup  202 ,  204  material and effectuate a strong connection between the ear cups  202 ,  204  and the first connectors  402 . 
       Magnetic Eyewear Attachment Kit 
       [0038]    The invention contemplates, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a kit  600  having eyewear  300  as described herein having a first connector  402  attached to each projection  312 . Additionally, the kit  600  comprises adhesive  602 , second connectors  404 , and instructions  604  indicating how to use the kit  600 . The kit  600  provides that a user attaches second connectors  404  to a user&#39;s existing headgear  200 . The instructions  604  instruct the user to apply adhesive  602  to attach the second connectors  404  to headgear  200 . The adhesive  602  is liquid or a film. This allows the user to adapt headgear  200  of the user&#39;s choice to be magnetically attachable to the eyewear  300  in the kit. For example, the user&#39;s headgear  200  can be earmuffs, stereo headphones, radio earphones, 2-way communication headphones, or hardhat/ear cup combination units. The instructions  604  are provided on paper or using electronic media. 
         [0039]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.