Abstract:
The present invention relates to a frame for holding a sheet of material. A frame arranged to removably locate a sheet of material in a vision area, the frame having binocular lenses focused away from the vision area. A benefit of the invention is that a user is provided with binocular lenses at the point of need. The user is thus saved from the embarrassment of having to admit to requiring reading glasses they had omitted to bring.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from UK Patent Application Serial No. GB 0820191.5, entitled IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO A HOLDER FOR A SHEET OF MATERIAL and filed Nov. 5, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, to the extent that they are not conflicting with the present application. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Frames arranged to provide a location so as to hold one or more sheets of material are known, a particular example being a menu holder for placing on the table of a restaurant or the counter of a take-out diner. Another example is a holder for promotional material that is placed on a counter frequented by potential customers. 
     A problem exists for a significant proportion of the population, in that when going out of their house they only need to be able to see relatively distant objects, however, on arriving at, say, a restaurant, they are then presented with a menu to read which for many people is impossible without reading glasses. In the case of a restaurant menu, the problem is frequently compounded as the menu may be printed in relatively small type on a colored background, and often the level of illumination provided by the restaurant lighting is low. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, a frame for holding a sheet of material and at least one lens is disclosed. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame for providing a vision aid to a user, the frame arranged to removeably locate a sheet of material in a vision area of the user, the frame having at least one lens directed away from the vision area and wherein the frame is formed from a blank. A benefit of the invention is that a user is provided with a lens at the point of need. The user is thus saved from the embarrassment of having to admit to requiring reading glasses they had omitted to bring. 
     Preferably the frame is provided with binocular lenses directed away from the vision area. A benefit of binocular lenses is that it is easier to read when using both eyes. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vision aid to a user, the device including a frame bent to form a front facing portion, a rear facing portion, and at least two bottom facing surface contact points such that the frame is arranged to rest on a surface, and further arranged to form a holding portion for removably securing at least a sheet of material; and a pair of reading glasses secured to the frame on the front facing portion. A benefit of the frame including a pair of reading glasses is that a user is provided with two lenses arranged to give binocular vision when using the vision aid. A benefit of the frame resting standing up on a surface is that a user may easily pick the frame up from the surface. 
     Preferably the at least one lens is directed toward a center of the frame. A benefit of the lens being directed away from the vision area and toward a center of the frame is that the user can look through the lens without it being obstructed by the frame or a part of the frame. 
     Preferably the frame has a cross-sectional shape including at least an inverted V shape. A benefit of the inverted V shape is that an edge of the frame will rest on a surface with a surface of the lens portion is away from the surface. A further benefit of the inverted V shape, is that the lens portion is positioned facing outwardly and upwardly so that it is highly visible to a potential user, who will then be likely to pick it up to use it. 
     Preferably the inverted V shape extends to at least an end of the frame. A benefit of the inverted V shape extending to an end of the frame is that a user may easily grasp the frame without obstructing a view through either of the lenses. 
     Preferably the frame has a cross-sectional shape further including at least a U shape. A benefit of the U shape is that the frame may be easily arranged to removably hold a sheet of material. A further benefit of the U shape is that it is easier for a user to grasp than the sloping sides of the inverted V shape, and hence a user&#39;s fingers are kept away from the surfaces of the lenses. 
     In an embodiment of the invention preferably the frame has a cross-sectional shape including an M shape. A benefit of the frame including an M shape is that manufacture of the holder is simplified. A further benefit is that the holder is stable when stood on an uneven surface. 
     Preferably an inverted U shaped gap is provided between the lenses. A benefit of the inverted U shaped gap is that a central location is provided for a user to easily position the lenses either side of the user&#39;s nose so that each of the lenses is positioned in front of an eye. 
     Preferably the frame is arranged to rest on a surface, the sheet of material being located such that the vision area is above the surface and extends away from the surface. A benefit of the sheet of material being held above the surface and extending away from the surface is that it is highly visible to a user from a distance. 
     Preferably the frame is arranged to rest on a surface, the sheet of material being located such that the vision area is substantially perpendicular to the surface and extends away from the surface. A benefit of the sheet of material being held substantially perpendicular to the surface and extending away from the surface is that the sheet of material in the vision area is highly visible to a user from either side of the sheet of material. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the sheet of material when located in the vision area, is supported at an acute angle to the vertical. A benefit of the sheet of material being supported at an acute angle in the vision area is that the sheet is held up from the surface so that it is highly visible to an approaching person. In a particular embodiment a suitable value for such an acute angle has been found to be no more than 75 degrees to the vertical. 
     Preferably the lenses are directed to a plane beyond a furthest extent of the frame. A benefit of the lenses being directed to a plane beyond a furthest extent of the frame is that a size of a sheet of material that may be viewed is not limited by the magnified viewing area, or the actual size of the frame itself, as the sheet of material may be moved around in the said plane so as to view the whole extent of the sheet. 
     Preferably the lenses are directed below the surface. A benefit of the lenses being directed below a surface on which the frame is resting, is that the lenses do not prevent the viewing by a person with good vision of the sheet of material when supported in the vision area by the frame. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for providing a vision aid to a user, the device including: 
     a frame having an M-shaped cross section, a front facing portion, a rear facing portion, a holding portion disposed between the front facing portion and the rear facing portion, and at least two outer edges such that the frame is arranged to rest standing on a surface; and a pair of reading glasses secured to the frame on the front facing portion; 
     wherein the holding portion extends in a direction of the surface and forms a slot for removably locating at least a sheet of material, and an outside surface of the holding portion is arranged as a gripping location such that a user can hold the pair of reading glasses up to the user&#39;s eyes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1  viewed from one end; 
         FIG. 4  is a view from below of the frame shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1 , with a sheet of material mounted to the frame; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic end view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1  being used by a user; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a frame according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a frame according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9A  is an end view of the fourth embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a frame according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10A  is an end view of the fifth embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a frame according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11A  is an end view of the sixth embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an end view of a frame according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of a molded plastics blank suitable for forming or shaping into an embodiment of the invention as shown in any of the preceding figures. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This Detailed Description of the Invention merely describes embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as described is broader than and unlimited by the preferred embodiments, and the terms used have their full ordinary meaning. 
     The  FIGS. 1 to 6  inclusive, show a first embodiment  1  of the invention including a frame  2  that is arranged to removably locate a sheet of material  3  in a vision area  4 , the frame having a pair of binocular lenses  5 ,  6  each of the lenses focused away from the vision area. From  FIG. 2  it can be seen that the vision area  4  is a planar surface extending away in the direction of arrows  1 A,  1 B and  1 C from each of three open edges  71 ,  72  and  73  respectively of a holding portion  7 . The holding portion  7  has a closed side  74  forming a base to the holding portion. In the first embodiment the holding portion  7  is a channel  75 . The holding portion is arranged to locate or hold the sheet of material in the vision area  4 . 
     Holding portion  7  lies substantially at a center of the frame  2 . Each of the lenses  5 ,  6  is directed in a direction towards the center of the frame, to a plane of the magnified field of view  6 V which is beyond a furthest extent of the frame at side  74  and bottom facing surface contact point, being edge  79 . 
     The binocular lenses are separated by a substantially inverted U shaped gap  55 , which is bounded at a top concave curved edge by bridge  56 , and at the sides by convex curved surfaces  57  and  58 . The bridge  56  and side surfaces  57  and  58  form a bridge and nose pads to assist a user  60  to position the lenses in a convenient plane  6 P resting on the bridge  62  of their nose  63  in front of their eyes  61 . The bridge  56  and the curved surfaces  57  and  58  are preferably formed with large radii along their edges  12 ,  13  and  14  respectively. Hence, the lenses are arranged as a pair of reading glasses  59  which are comfortable for a user to hold against their nose. 
     When a frame  2  is held in a hand  64  as shown in  FIG. 6  by a user in front of their eyes  61 , the user is provided with a magnified field of view  6 V bounded by an upper limit  6 U and a lower limit  6 L. The magnified field of view is also bounded by sideways limits  6 P and  6 Q. The limits, by reason of the optical properties of the lenses, are curved, and form a continuous bound to the magnified field of view  6 V. A size of the magnified field of view expressed in terms of the angle  6 A will vary according to how the user holds the frame  2 . The focus of the binocular lenses is directed away from the vision area  4 . 
     For a particular user, the boundaries of a magnified field of view as seen from one eye may differ slightly from the boundaries as seen from the other eye, and hence only a common portion of the magnified field will be viewed by both eyes. Both lenses are directed towards the magnified field of view  6 V. Hence a user with binocular vision is enabled to use both eyes to focus on a portion of the sheet of material  3  held in the magnified field of view  6 V. A focal plane of the magnified field of view  6 V is at a suitable distance from the users eyes so that it is convenient for the user to hold the sheet in the focal plane. The focal plane is remote from the frame, so that a large sheet may be moved around without being obstructed by the frame. 
     The focal plane preferably lies beyond a furthest extent of the frame as shown in  FIG. 6 . Hence, a sheet of material, such as a piece of paper or a card being held and viewed in the focal plane by a user can be freely moved in all directions relative to the frame by the user. 
     In use, the user  60  first removes the sheet of material from where it is held or located in the holding portion  7 , and holds it in their hand  65 . The user then grasps the frame  2  with the other hand, holding it so that the gap  55  may be positioned conveniently over their nose. The user may then adjust the relative positions of the frame and the sheet of material so that they are enabled to read small print on the sheet of material. If the lenses  5  and  6  are held close to the eyes, then the field of view  6 V will be greater, but a degree of magnification of the sheet of material  3  will be lower. When the user has finished, then the frame  2  may be replaced on a supporting surface  3 S, for example a table or reception desk counter, and the sheet of material replaced in the holding portion  7  ready for another user. A user with good close-up vision will be able to read the sheet of material without the assistance of the optical lenses  5  and  6 , and hence does not need to remove the material from the frame where it is held in the vision area  4  so as to be readily seen. 
     Hence in an embodiment such as that shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6  inclusive, there is provided a vision aid  1  to a user  60 , the device including a frame  2  bent to foam a front facing portion, leg  8 , a rear facing portion, leg  9 , and at least two bottom facing surface contact points, one surface contact point being lower edges  5 L,  6 L and the other a corresponding bottom facing edge of leg  9 , such that the frame is arranged to rest standing on a surface  3 S, and further arranged to form a holding portion  4 U for removably securing at least a sheet of material  4 ; and a of pair lenses  5  and  6  being reading glasses secured to the frame on the front facing portion that is wall  60 . 
     When the frame  2  is at rest standing on the surface  3 S, the lenses  5 ,  6  of the reading glasses are facing towards the surface. The lenses  5 ,  6  of the reading glasses are arranged at an acute angle to the vertical and in a side by side orientation. This orientation being that in which a user would hold the lens or lenses or reading glasses in use. Hence, when user  60  holds the frame  2  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the frame extends away from the user. The lenses  5 ,  6  are thus directed in a direction towards a center of the frame. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the material is preferably releasably held in the holding portion  7  by a resilience of the closed side  74  and the walls  76  and  77 , which are urged together so as to hold a top edge of the walls together to maintain a minimum gap  78 . From  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the embodiment  1  includes a substantially M shaped cross section  3 M, with the walls  76  and  77  forming the center portion of the M shape, and with external legs  8  and  9 , angled at angles  3 A and  3 B respectively to the substantially vertical walls  76  and  77 , forming the outer portions of the M shape. 
     Alternatively, the cross section  3 M of embodiment  1  could be considered to comprise an inverted V shape  4 V connected by a U shape  4 U to a further inverted V shape  4 X. From  FIG. 4 , it can be see that the inverted V shape  4 V formed by lens wall  8  and the adjacent wall  76  continues as an open V to each end  4 E and  4 F. Likewise inverted V shape  4 X continues as an open V to each end  4 E and  4 F. Hence as can be seen from  FIG. 6 , the user  60  is able to hold the frame  2  in hand  64  with the hand substantially to one side and above the magnified field of view. Hence the user&#39;s hand  64  does not obstruct the magnified field of view in use. While the  FIG. 6  shows the frame held in the left hand, since the frame is symmetrical about a center line  4 Q of the U shaped gap  55 , corresponding to the user&#39;s nose, a user may equally well hold the frame in their right hand. The center line  4 Q lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane  4 L of the lenses. A plane of the magnified field of view  6 V is substantially parallel to the plane  4 L and substantially perpendicular to a center line of sight  6 C. It should be noted however, that in use a user may be still able to focus adequately on the whole of the magnified field of view  6 V when the sheet of material is held such that it is not aligned parallel with the plane  4 L or perpendicular to the center line of sight  6 C. Although in  FIG. 6 , only one line  6 C is shown between a users right eye and the plane of the magnified field of view, for a user with binocular vision there will be two center lines of sight, one from each eye, which will converge at the focal plane of the magnified field of view  6 V. 
     From  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the lenses  5  and  6  are arranged with a surrounding frame  5 F and  6 F respectively around each of the lenses. The visual appearance of the surrounding frame  5 F and  6 F and the bridge  56  assists in identifying the purpose of the lenses to a new user. The surrounding frame  5 F and  6 F is preferably molded as a portion of the frame  2 , so that a risk of fracture or separation of the surrounding frame from the rest of the frame  2  is avoided. The lenses  5  and  6  may be molded within the surrounding frames  5 F and  6 F, with the molding of the frame itself if the lenses are made of the same material as the frame. Alternatively the lenses may be molded in a subsequent operation if it is preferred that they are made of a material with different optical properties to the frame. Lower edges  5 L and  6 L of the frames  5 F and  6 F respectively are arranged to rest on the supporting surface  3 S. The lower edges  5 L and  6 L are at an extremity of an externally facing side of the inverted V shape  4 V. 
     In the first embodiment, the closed side  74  is spaced a distance  3 H from a plane of the support surface  3 S. A benefit of this is that a limiting effect of the wall  76  on the magnified field of view  6 V is reduced. From  FIG. 3  it can be seen that the upper bound  6 U is defined at least in part by the closed side  74 , which forms an edge to the wall  76 . Hence the field of view  6 V extends below and away from the furthest extents of the frame. A further benefit is that the stability of the holder  1  when placed on an uneven surface is improved, as otherwise a rocking motion about the center would be occasioned if the closed side  74  abutted the surface. From  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that increasing the angle  3 A the magnified field of view will be increased, by effectively moving the closed side  74  further out. In a menu holder made as embodiment it has been found that a suitable value for the angle  3 A is 45 degrees. 
     In another embodiment, it has been found advantageous to have a larger angle  3 A, of 60 degrees, as this allows the leg  8  to be significantly longer, and hence a printable surface  10  above the optical lenses is larger. The printable surfaces  10  and  11  may be used for promotional advertising, where the print and colors used are such that even a person with limited visual acuity would be able to recognize the brand being promoted. 
     In a further alternative embodiment, where it is desired to minimize the space taken by the frame when placed on a surface, the angle  3 A has been reduced to a minimum value of 30 degrees. 
     In the first embodiment, the walls  76  and  77  smoothly blend with the legs  8  and  9 , such that a top radius  8 R and  9 R of each wall and leg respectively is at the same relative height from the supporting surface. 
     In an alternative embodiment not shown herein, the walls and legs are of different lengths, and hence the top radii corresponding to top radii  8 R and  9 R are at different heights from the supporting surface. 
       FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment of the invention  80 , having a frame  81  arranged to removably locate a sheet of material  83  (shown as being transparent in this figure) in a vision area  84 . The frame  81  has binocular lenses  85  and  86  focused away from the vision area  84 . The frame  81  of the second embodiment is provided with a wide slot  87 , formed by closed base  82  and two opposed upstanding sidewalls  88  and  89 . The base  82  is arranged to rest on a surface  8 S. The vision area  84  extends upwardly in the direction of arrow  8 A, and sideways in the direction of arrows  8 B and  8 C from the wide slot  87 . The wide slot  87  is arranged to locate or hold a plurality of sheets of material. Such a plurality of sheets of material could comprise a folded leaflet, or a bound booklet. 
     The embodiment  80  is used in a similar manner to the first embodiment. A user will remove the sheet or sheets of material from the wide slot  97  and hold it in one hand, while picking up and holding the frame  81  in front of their eyes so as to enable the optical binocular lenses to be used to facilitate viewing of the sheet or sheets of material. The embodiment  80  includes a substantially inverted V shaped cross section  80 V connected to a substantially U shaped section  80 U. The inverted V shaped portion is formed by wall  108  and wall  88 , and the substantially U shaped section is formed by wall  88  and closed base  82  and wall  89 . The wall  108  has the two lenses  85  and  86  arranged for binocular usage. The frame  81  may be made of an injection molded plastics material, in which case the lenses  85  and  86  are preferably molded with the frame. 
     Alternatively, the frame  81  may be formed from a sheet of plastics material, in which case the lenses  85  and  86  may be mounted to the frame by being inserted into suitable apertures within the frame. In a further alternative arrangement, where the frame  81  is formed from a sheet of plastics material, the lenses may be mounted with a transparent adhesive to one side of the sheet of material. 
     The magnification strength of the lenses may be chosen so as to be most suitable for a majority of the anticipated users in a particular application. Typically, a magnification of between one to three diopters is likely to be useful to an average user. A diopter is well-known in the art as a unit of measurement of the refractive power of a lens which is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length measured in meters. Preferably, both lenses have the same magnification strength. A magnification much higher than three diopters is likely to cause users to hold the sheet of material being viewed close to the frame, and hence there is a risk of a shadow being cast by the frame on the sheet of material within the field of view. 
     In the sixth embodiment  600 , shown in  FIGS. 11 and 11A , which is closely similar to the second embodiment  80 , frame  601  is provided with a rear wall  602 , similar to wall  89 , but extending upwardly in the direction of arrow  11 U, away from base  603 , such that a top edge  604  of the wall, corresponding to top edge  89 T is at a different height to the top edge  605  of the front wall  606 , that is the top edge corresponding to top edge  88 T. A benefit of having the rear wall higher than the front wall is that it is easier to insert sheets of material into the slot, and encourages them to be inserted facing a desired direction. A tall rear wall provides additional printing area  607  and a rear printing area  608  for promotional material. A tall rear wall enhances the support given to a sheet of material located or held in the vision area  609 . The lenses  614  and  615  are directed in the direction of arrow  6 D beyond base  603  which is a furthest extent of the frame  601 . The base  603  is a bottom facing surface contact point. The lenses  614  and  615  are a pair of reading glasses  615  secured to the frame  601  on the front wall  606  which is a front facing portion of the frame. The lenses are fixedly mounted to the frame  601  at or adjacent to edge  616 ,  616 ′. The edge  616 ,  616 ′ is a bottom facing surface contact point arranged to rest on a surface. When standing on a surface the frame  601  rests on edge  616 ,  616 ′ and base  603 . 
     The frame  601  is a vision aid for a user having a pair of lenses  613 ,  614  arranged as a pair of binocular lenses  617 , each of the lenses of the pair being directed in the direction of arrow  6 D away from the vision area  609 . 
     Hence, each of the lenses  613  and  614  is a magnifying lens and is directed away from the vision area. 
     In a particular embodiment of the invention similar to that shown in  FIGS. 11 and 11A , where the tall rear wall  602  is taller in the direction of arrow  11 U than that shown in  FIGS. 11 and 11A , it has been found more convenient for a user to have the lenses arranged so that they are directed in the direction of arrow  6 U ( FIG. 11A ), away from the surface in an upward direction. Hence, in this particular embodiment the lenses face away from a center of the frame, and are directed away from, the vision area. 
       FIG. 8  shows a third embodiment of the invention  90 , having a frame  91  arranged to removably hold a sheet of material  93  (shown as being transparent in this figure) in a vision area  94 . The frame  91  has binocular lenses  95  and  96  focused away from the vision area  94 . The frame  91  of the second embodiment is provided with an open pocket  97 , formed by closed base  92  and two opposed upstanding sidewalls  98  and  99  and two end walls  101  and  102 . The base  92  is arranged to rest on a surface  9 S. The vision area  94  extends upwardly in the direction of arrow  9 A from the pocket. Hence a sheet of material such as sheet  93  is in the vision area when it is located in the pocket  97 . The pocket  97  is arranged to hold a plurality of sheets of material. Such a plurality of sheets of material could comprise a folded leaflet, or a bound booklet. For example, in a restaurant, the pocket could be used to hold a menu and a wine list. Another example would be on a customer service counter, such as in a pharmacy or drugstore where the sheet material could be advertising material and or advisory leaflets. 
     The embodiment  90  is used in a similar manner to the first embodiment. A user will remove the sheet or sheets of material from the pocket  97  and hold it in one hand, while picking up and holding the frame  91  in front of their eyes so as to enable the optical binocular lenses to be used to facilitate viewing of the sheet or sheets of material. The embodiment  90  includes a substantially inverted V shaped cross section  90 V connected to a substantially U shaped section  90 U. The inverted V shaped portion is formed by wall  108  and wall  98 , and the substantially U shaped section is formed by wall  98  and closed base  92  and wall  99 . In the embodiment  90 , the U shaped section is closed by end walls  101  and  102 , however the inverted V shaped portion  90 V is open at each end. Hence a user may easily grasp the frame  90  by holding the outside surfaces of walls  98  and  99 , outside of the magnified field of view. 
     Although the frame is preferably made of a thermo-plastic plastics material having a degree of resilience so that the frame is better able to withstand knocks and rough treatment in service, it is preferably sufficiently rigid that it is not easily deformed by a user when being held. 
     To protect the optical surfaces of the lenses  5 ,  6  and  85 ,  86  and  95 ,  96 , preferably the optical surfaces lenses are each recessed below the surrounding frame portions  5 F and  6 F,  85 F and  86 F, and  95 F and  96 F respectively. Hence after manufacture, during transport, and later when in use, the lenses will be protected against accidental abrasion. 
     It should be noted that in  FIGS. 9 to 12  inclusive the frame has been shown for convenience having a thin thickness, which for example would be the case if it were to be made of sheet metal with the lenses inserted into the frame. However, if the frame were made of a shaped plastics material, it is likely to have a significant thickness. 
       FIGS. 9 and 9A  show a frame  400  of a fourth embodiment of the invention having lenses  401  and  402  directed in the direction of arrow  9 D to a magnified viewing plane below the frame. A rear wall  404  extends from a top radiused corner  403  to a closed base edge  405 . Extending upwardly from the base edge  405  is an inner wall  407 , having a top edge  406  within the radiused corner  403 . A location  408  is formed by walls  404 ,  407  and closed edge  405  so that a sheet of material (not shown in these figures) may be inserted by moving in a direction of lateral arrow  9 L so as to be located in a vision area  9 V. Likewise the sheet of material may be removed by sliding it out of the location  408  in the lateral direction of arrow  9 L. A cut-out (not shown in this embodiment) may be provided in edge  410  of the inner wall to facilitate removal of the sheet of material. When inserted in the location  408 , a vision area  9 V may be viewed from a rear of the frame in a direction of arrow  9 W. 
       FIGS. 10 and 10A  shown a frame  500  according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, having a frame  501  with a front wall  502  having lenses  503  and  504  substantially co-planar with the front wall, and an intermediate wall  505  substantially parallel with the front wall, but displaced downwards from the top wall by interconnecting vertical wall  506 . Vertical wall  506  and front wall  502  meet at top edge  507  and vertical wall  506  and intermediate wall  505  meet at a lower edge  508 . The frame  501  rests on surface  10 S at a front edge  511  and a rear edge  512 , the rear edge being a lower edge of rear wall  510 . The rear wall  510  meets and supports the intermediate wall  505  at a second top edge  509 . A sheet of material  520  to be supported by the frame  501  is placed on the intermediate wall  505 , so that a bottom edge  521  of the sheet of material abuts the vertical wall  506  at or adjacent to the edge  508  where the vertical wall joins the intermediate wall. Hence the sheet of material is located in a substantially upwardly facing vision area  530  which as indicated by the arrows  530  may extend beyond a support face  513  of the intermediate wall  505 . 
       FIG. 12  is an end view of a frame  700  according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, having a front wall  702  with at least a lens  704 . The front wall has an upper radiused edge  705  joining the front wall to a substantially vertical wall  707 , which extends to a lower radiused edge  708 . Lower radiused edge  708  has a large radius so as to permit a rear wall  712  to be resiliently deflected away from the vertical wall  707  so as to open a narrow gap  12 G between abutting portions  706  and  709  of the vertical wall and rear wall respectively. Hence a sheet of material  720  (only a short section shown in  FIG. 12 ) may be inserted between the abutting portions and lightly gripped between the abutting portions so as to removably retain the sheet of material in the frame. The rear wall  712  extends to a roll top  711  at its upper edge. Roll top  711  forms a hook shape  711  under the roll top. A benefit of hook shape  711  is that a user may easily hold the frame for use of the lens or lenses  704 . A further benefit of the hook shape is that the frame may be arranged to be supported by being hooked onto an upwardly facing horizontal edge instead of being rested on a horizontal surface. As shown in  FIG. 12 , when inserted between the abutting portions  706  and  709 , a sheet of material  12 G will tend to lean forwards over the lens of the front wall. It will be apparent that by providing a different dimension for the front wall  702  and or a length of an arc of the radius  705 , the position adopted by a sheet of material inserted between the abutting portions may be adjusted to suit a particular application. 
     It should be noted that in selecting different dimensions for the front wall  702  and the radius  705 , an intrusion of the lower edge  708  into a magnified viewing area seen though lens  704  should be preferably minimized. The intrusion may be reduced by reducing a vertical length of the wall  707 , or by substantially increasing a radial dimension of the radius  705 . 
     From  FIG. 13 , a plan view of a molded plastics blank  800  includes a substantially planar sheet  802  having two molded lenses  804  and  805  within upstanding rims  806  and  807 . The upstanding rims visually define the extents of the lenses, and also provide protection against abrasion of the surface of the lenses should they be placed on a flat surface. Between the lenses curved edges  810 ,  811  and  813  form a bridge  814  to provide a location on a user&#39;s nose. The substantially planar sheet  802  has a shaped first portion  820 , having shaped sides  821  and  822  and a boundary  824  enclosing a surface  823 . In the embodiment shown surface  823  is substantially flat, but in an alternative embodiments may be profiled. For example, the surface  823  may be curved about center line  824  and shaped so as to form conically curved surfaces leading towards the edges  821  and  822 . 
     The substantially planar sheet has a substantially rectangular second portion  840 , which if necessary to suit a particular application, may be cropped to shorten a length  13 L of the second portion, for example at crop lines  841  or  842 . It will be noted that  841  and  842  show by way of example, possible alternative profiles for a cropped end. A further alternative profile would be a rectangular end as the original end  843  of the blank. 
     To make a frame such as one of the frames shown and described herein with reference to the  FIGS. 1 to 12 , once cropped if necessary, the blank is formed by folding or bending as required about fold lines  845  and  846 . The molded plastics blank is preferably made from a thermoplastic material, and hence folding may be facilitated by the use of a heated tool softening the plastic in the region to be bent. It will be apparent that the use of a molded blank that is subsequently formed to make a frame according to the present invention facilitates the production of a large range of frames, so that a short production run of a particular frame may be easily produced to meet the particular requirements of a specific application. 
     While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.