Patent Publication Number: US-2010107319-A1

Title: One-Sided Transparent Film For Ski Goggles

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/983,782, entitled “One-sided Transparent film For Ski Goggles and Other Eyewear” and filed on Oct. 30, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to ski goggles and, more particularly, to lenses for ski goggles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and aspects of the invention will be best understood with reference to the following description of certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ski goggle in accordance with the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a ski goggle comprising at least one lens having a one-sided transparent film as viewed from the exterior side of the lens in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a ski goggle comprising at least one lens having a one-sided transparent film as viewed from the exterior side of the lens in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the exterior side of a ski goggle as worn by a user in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a ski goggle comprising at least one lens having a one-sided transparent film as viewed from the interior side of the lens in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a ski goggle comprising at least one lens having a one-sided transparent film as viewed from the exterior side of the lens in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a ski goggle comprising at least one lens having a one-sided transparent film as viewed from the exterior side of the lens in accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ski goggle  100  in accordance with the prior art. FIG. I illustrates a prior art ski goggle  100  consisting a lens  110 , a frame  120  having an eyelet  125  on each side of the frame  120 , and a band  130  attached to the two eyelets  125 . The ski goggle  100  may also include a seal  140 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , surrounding the perimeter of the frame  120 . The seal  140  may include a spongy material that allows the ski goggle  100  to fit more comfortably on a user&#39;s head. The lens  110  is attached to the frame  120  according to known methods in the art. The lens  110  is clear and transparent when viewed from both the interior and exterior sides of the lens  110 . The lens  110  may be made of polycarbonate material or glass. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a ski goggle  200  comprising at least one lens  210  having a one-sided transparent film  250  as viewed from the exterior side of the lens  210  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 2  illustrates a ski goggle  200  comprising at least one lens  210 , a frame  220  having a connector  225  on each side of the frame  220 , a band  230  attached to the two connectors  225 , and at least one one-sided transparent film  250  coupled to the at least one lens  210 . The ski goggle  200  may also include a seal  240 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , surrounding the perimeter of the frame  220 . 
     The lens  210  may be coupled to the frame  220  using an adhesive on the interior side of the perimeter of the frame  220  so that the lens  210  may be coupled to the interior side of the frame&#39;s  220  perimeter. Alternatively, the lens  210  may be coupled to the frame  220  using an adhesive on the exterior side of the frame  220  so that the lens  210  may be coupled to the exterior side of the frame&#39;s  220  perimeter. Furthermore, the lens  210  may be coupled to the frame  220  using a groove (not shown) located within at least a portion of the interior edge of the frame  220  so that at least a portion of the perimeter of the lens  210  is coupled to the portion of the frame&#39;s  220  grooved edge. Although the coupling of the lens  210  to the frame  220  has been illustrated using an adhesive or a groove, other coupling methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
     The lens  210  may be either clear or tinted, but is transparent when viewed from either the interior or exterior sides of the lens  210 . The lens  210  may be made of polycarbonate material or glass. Although this embodiment uses a lens  210  made of polycarbonate material or glass, other materials that are transparent when viewed from either the interior or exterior sides of the lens  210  may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
     Although this embodiment shows a single lens  210  coupled to the frame  220 , the frame  220  may be designed such that there may be more than one lens  210  coupled to the frame  220  without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. For example, instead of a single lens covering both eyes of a user, two separate lenses may be used, wherein each lens covers only one eye of a user, without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
     The frame  220  comprises a connector  225  on each side of the frame  220 . The connector  225  may assist in coupling a band  230  to the frame  220 . The connector  225  may be an eyelet, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Although this embodiment uses an eyelet as the connector  225 , other types of connectors  225  may be used, including but not limited to a hook or a screw, without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. The frame  220  may be made of metal, plastic, polycarbonate material, glass, other polymers or any combination of these materials. Although this embodiment discloses the frame  220  as being made from metal, plastic, polycarbonate material, glass, other polymers or any combination of these materials, other suitable materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
     The band  230  may be attached to the two connectors  225  so that the ski goggle  200  is securely attached to the user&#39;s head. The band  230  may be made from a stretchable material, much like a rubber band, so that it securely couples the ski goggle  200  to the user&#39;s head. In an alternative embodiment, the band  230  may be made from a non-flexible material, but may include an adjuster  235  for adjusting the length of the band  230  according to the circumference of the user&#39;s head. In another embodiment, the band  230  may be made from a flexible material and may also include an adjuster  235  for adjusting the length of the band  230  according to the circumference of the user&#39;s head. In yet another embodiment, there may be no band  230  or connector  225  since the ski goggle  200  may be custom-made for the user&#39;s face. In this embodiment, the shape of the ski goggle  200  conforms to the user&#39;s face such that the shape provides a secure coupling of the ski goggle  200  to the user&#39;s face. 
     The one-sided transparent film  250  may be fabricated from a film or a plastic lens gel. This one-sided transparent film  250  may be transparent when viewed from one side of the one-sided transparent film  250 , but may not be transparent when viewed from the opposite side of the one-sided transparent film  250 . Additionally, the one-sided transparent film  250  comprises a design  255  which may be distinctly viewed from only the non-transparent side of the one-sided transparent film  250 . According to some embodiments, the design  255  may comprise a hologram, which may be distinctly seen only from the non-transparent side of the one-sided transparent film  250 . The one-sided transparent film  250  comprises an adhesive on one side so that it may be coupled to the lens  210 . Depending upon the side the adhesive is located, the one-sided transparent film  250  may be coupled to the interior side of the lens  210 ; or alternatively, the one-sided transparent film  250  may be coupled to the exterior side of the lens  210 . In one example, the adhesive may be coupled to the transparent side of the one-sided transparent film  250  so that the one-sided transparent film  250  may be coupled to the exterior side of the lens  210 . In another example, the adhesive may be coupled to the non-transparent side of the one-sided transparent film  250  so that the one-sided transparent film  250  may be coupled to the interior side of the lens  210 . Regardless, the non-transparent side of the one-sided transparent film  250  should be facing the exterior side of the lens  210  once the one-sided transparent film  250  is coupled to the lens  210  so that the user&#39;s vision is not impaired. In an exemplary embodiment, the design  255  may be a color which contrasts the color of the remaining lens  210 . For example, the design  255  may be gold in color, while the remaining lens  210  surrounding the design  255  is darker in color. Although an exemplary color has been illustrated for the design  255  and the remaining lens  210  surrounding the design  255 , alternative color combinations may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
     The design  255  on the one-sided transparent film  250  may be anything the user wishes to promote, such as an advertisement for marketing a service or product, or be associated with. The design  255  may include at least one logo, at least one word, or a combination of at least one logo and at least one word. Examples of designs  255  include, but are not limited to, logos, slogans, pictures, advertisements, characters, and statements. Some examples of logos include, but are not limited to, company logos, university logos, and team logos. Some examples of slogans include, but are not limited to, company slogans, university slogans, and team slogans. Some examples of advertisements include, but are not limited to, company advertisements, university advertisements, and team advertisements. Some examples of statements include, but are not limited to, personal statements and/or personal advertisements. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a company logo and slogan are used as the design  255 . 
     The seal  240  may include a spongy material that allows the ski goggle  200  to fit more comfortably on a user&#39;s face. Alternatively, the seal  240  may include a gel material. This seal  240  may be coupled to the perimeter of the ski goggle&#39;s  200  frame  220 . Although a spongy material or a gel material may be used for the seal  240 , any material may be used, including but not limited to foam, rubber or any other polymer, for providing a comfort fit without departing from the scope and spirit of an exemplary embodiment. 
     The ski goggle of the exemplary embodiment may be designed for males, females, children and adults. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a ski goggle  300  comprising at least one lens  310  having a one-sided transparent film  350  as viewed from the exterior side of the lens  310  in accordance with another exemplary embodiment. The ski goggle  300  has been described above in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, however, a university logo is used as the design  355 . Although this embodiment uses a university logo as the design  355 , any design may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the exterior side of a ski goggle  400  as worn by a user in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The ski goggle  400  of  FIG. 2  is securely coupled to the user&#39;s face, such that lens of the ski goggle is located substantially in front of the eyes of the user. It may be seen that the non-transparent side of the one-sided transparent film  450  is facing the exterior side of the lens  410  and does not impair the user&#39;s vision. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a ski goggle  500  comprising at least one lens  510  having a one-sided transparent film  550  as viewed from the interior side of the lens  510  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. It may be seen that the transparent side of the one-sided transparent film  550  is facing the interior side of the lens  510 . On the exterior side (not shown) of the lens  510  is a design (not shown) that may be viewed only from this exterior side. Once the ski goggle  500  is securely coupled to the user&#39;s head, the user may not be able to distinctly view the design (not shown) from the interior side of the ski goggle  500 . The user&#39;s vision may be substantially the same as if there were no one-sided transparent film  550  applied to the lens  510 ; or, the user may be able to vaguely see an outline of the design, but not enough to impair the user&#39;s vision. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a ski goggle  600  comprising at least one lens  610  having a one-sided transparent film  650  as viewed from the exterior side of the lens  610  in accordance with another exemplary embodiment. The ski goggle  600  has been described above in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, however, a cartoon logo is used as the design  655 . Although this embodiment uses a cartoon logo as the design  655 , any design may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a ski goggle  700  comprising at least one lens  710  having a one-sided transparent film  750  as viewed from the exterior side of the lens  710  in accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment. The ski goggle  700  has been described above in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, however, a cartoon character is used as the design  755 . Although this embodiment uses a cartoon character as the design  755 , any design may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is therefore, contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention.