Patent Publication Number: US-2006005304-A1

Title: Goggle frame with bendable bridge

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a goggle frame. In particular, the present invention relates to a goggle frame with a bendable bridge.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
       FIGS. 12 and 13  of the drawings illustrate a pair of conventional swimming goggles comprising two rigid lenses  10 ′, a slightly flexible bridge  11 ′, two soft padding members  12 ′, and a head strap  13 ′. Each rigid lens  10 ′ includes an annular portion  101 ′ and a perimeter portion  104 ′. Each rigid lens  10 ′ further includes an engaging hole  102 ′ in an inner end thereof and an engaging hole  103 ′ in an outer end thereof for respectively engaging with the bridge  11 ′ and an associated end of the head strap  13 ′. The bridge  11 ′ is substantially U-shaped and includes a plurality of teeth  111 ′ in an inner surface thereof, with two limbs (not labeled) of the bridge  11 ′ being engaged with the engaging holes  102 ′ of the lenses  10 ′. Each soft padding member  12 ′ is made of soft material and engaged with the annular portion  101 ′ and the perimeter portion  104 ′ of an associated lens  10 ′, with the soft padding member  12 ′ being in contact with an associated eye socket of a user, providing wearing comfort.  
      The bridge  11 ′ may have a color different from that of the lenses  10 ′ to provide various color combination. However, since the bridge  11 ′ is separate from the lenses  10 ′, the lenses  10 ′ could not be reliably fixed in a horizontal position, failing to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Further, the bridge  11 ′ may fall when the head strap  13 ′ exerts a relatively large rearward pulling force to the lenses  10 ′.  
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate another pair of conventional swimming goggles comprising two rigid lenses  20 ′, a frame with two ring portions  21 ′, a bridge  22 ′, two padding members  23 ′, and a head strap  24 ′. Each lens  20 ′ is mounted in a front portion of an associated ring portion  21 ′. The frame, the bridge  22 ′, and the padding members  23 ′ are formed with the same material, with each ring portion  21 ′ having an annular portion  211 ′ for contacting with an associated eye socket of a user and with each ring portion  21 ′ having an annular groove  212 ′ for receiving a perimeter edge of an associated lens  20 ′. A flexible plate  221 ′ is embedded into the bridge  22 ′ to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.  
      However, since each padding member  23 ′ must be made of a soft material so as to be in intimate contact with the associated eye socket of the user, the frame has to be manufactured with the same soft material and is thus apt to deform when the head strap  24 ′ is pulled, as shown in  FIG. 15 . The annular portion  211 ′ deforms largely, twisting the annular groove  212 ′. As a result, water leakage may occur in the area between each lens  20 ′ and the associated ring portion  21 ′. Further, the bridge  22 ′ and the frame have the same color and thus fail to provide various colorful combinations. Further, a flexible plate  221 ′ is required in the bridge  22 ′ to avoid exerting a pressure to the nose of the user due to over deformation of the bridge  22 ′. Additional cost for the flexible plate  221 ′ is required.  
       FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate a further pair of conventional swimming goggles comprising two lenses  30 ′, a frame with two ring portions  31 ′, a bridge  32 ′, two padding members  33 ′, and a head strap  34 ′. Each lens  30 ′ is made of a rigid material and includes an annular portion  301 ′ having two engaging holes  302 ′ (only one is shown). The ring portions  31 ′ and the bridge  32 ′ are integrally formed with a rigid material, with each ring portion  31 ′ including two engaging members  311 ′. Each rigid lens  30 ′ is forcibly inserted into an associated ring portion  31 ′, with the engaging members  311 ′ being engaged with the engaging holes  302 ′. Each padding member  33 ′ is made of a soft material and mounted to a rear side of an associated lens  30 ′ for intimate contact with an associated eye socket of a user. Two ends of the head strap  34 ′ are respectively engaged with two sides of the frame.  
      Since each ring portion  31 ′ is rigid and thus has excellent stretching resistance, undesired disengagement of the associated lens  30 ′ resulting from deformation of the ring portion  31 ′ can be avoided. However, since the curvature of the rigid bridge  32 ′ is fixed, the distance between the lenses  30 ′ could not be adjusted for different users. Further, the bridge  32 ′ and the frame have the same color and thus fail to provide various colorful combinations. Further, it is difficult to stretch the rigid ring portions  31 ′ with a low stretching flexibility when mounting the lenses  30 ′. The assembling is not convenient and the engaging members  311 ′ break easily.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a goggle frame comprises two ring portions made of a rigid material with stretching resistance and a bridge integrally formed between the ring portions as a one-piece member. The ring portions hold two lenses, respectively. The bridge is stretchable and bendable, allowing adjustment of a length of the bridge to meet the distance between the eye sockets of the user.  
      The bridge has a color the same as or different from that of the ring portions.  
      Each ring portion may include at least one engaging member, and each lens may include at least one engaging groove for engaging with the engaging member.  
      In an embodiment of the invention, each ring portion includes an inner side having a notch to allow easy insertion of the associated lenses.  
      In another embodiment of the invention, each ring portion includes an inner side enveloped by the bridge.  
      In a further embodiment of the invention, each ring portion includes an inner side having a through-hole through which the bridge extends.  
      In still another embodiment of the invention, each ring portion includes an inner side having a protrusion enveloped by the bridge.  
      In yet another embodiment of the invention, each ring portion includes a head strap engaging portion.  
      Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a goggle frame in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a top sectional view of the goggle frame in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a pair of swimming goggles with the goggle frame in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the pair of swimming goggles in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the pair of swimming goggles in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , illustrating a modified embodiment of the goggle frame in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a front view of another modified embodiment of the goggle frame in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a view illustrating assembling of the goggle frame in  FIG. 7 .  
       FIG. 9  is a top view illustrating a further modified embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a top sectional view illustrating still another modified embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a top sectional view illustrating yet another modified embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of a pair of conventional swimming goggles.  
       FIG. 13  is a front view of the pair of conventional swimming goggles in  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 14  is a top sectional view of another pair of conventional swimming goggles.  
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of a portion of the pair of conventional swimming goggles in  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of a further pair of conventional swimming goggles.  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the pair of conventional swimming goggles in  FIG. 16 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a pair of swimming goggles with a goggle frame in accordance with the present invention comprises two ring portions  1 , a bridge  2 , two lenses  3 , two padding members  4 , and a head strap  5 . Each ring portion  1  is made of a rigid material with excellent stretching resistance and annular for receiving an associated lens  3 . Further, each ring portion  1  includes at least one engaging portion  11  (two in this embodiment) with an engaging member  111 .  
      The bridge  2  is made of stretchable and bendable material with a desired color. In manufacture, an inner side of each rigid ring portions  1  is placed in a mold (not shown), and molten plastic material for the bridge  2  is poured into the mold forming the bridge  2 , with two ends of the bridge  2  being integrally formed with the inner sides of the rigid ring portions  1  to form a goggle frame in accordance with the present invention.  
      Each lens  3  is made of a rigid material with excellent stretching resistance and includes an annular portion  31 . Further, each lens  3  includes at least one engaging portion  32  (two in this embodiment) with an engaging groove  321  for engaging with the engaging member  111  of an associated ring portion  1 .  
      Each padding member  4  is mounted to a rear side of an associated lens  3  and made of a soft material for providing comfortable intimate contact with the associated eye socket of the user. The head strap  5  is stretchable and has two ends respectively engaged with outer sides of the ring portions  1 .  
      Since the ring portions  1  and the bridge  2  are integrally formed as a one-piece member, a goggle frame with a reliable integral structure is provided. Further, the bridge  2  may have a color different from that of the ring portions  1 , various color combination can be obtained.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , when in use, the bendable goggle frame  2  may be bent to adjust its overall length in response to the distance between the eye sockets of the user. Further, the ring portions  1  and lenses  3  with excellent stretching resistance prevent excessive deformation of the goggle frame, allowing reliable intimate contact between the padding members  4  and the eye sockets of the user and thus providing improved waterproof effect.  
      In a modified embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 6 , the bridge (now designated by  62 ) is annular and envelopes the inner sides of the ring portions  61 , providing improved bonding relationship between the ring portions  6  and the bridge  62 .  
      In another modified embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each ring portion (now designated by  71 ) includes a notch  711  in the inner side thereof. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when mounting the rigid lenses  3  into the rigid ring portions  71 , each rigid ring portion  71  may be stretched outward at the notch  711  to allow easy insertion of the associated rigid lens  3  into the rigid ring portion  71 .  
      In a further modified embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 9 , each lens (now designated by  81 ) includes a head strap engaging portion  811  for engaging with an associated end of the head strap  5 .  
      In still another modified embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 10 , each ring portion (now designated by  90 ) includes a through-hole  901  in the inner side thereof. When placed in the mold (not shown) for forming the goggle frame, the molten plastic material fills the through-hole  901  in each ring portion  90 . Thus, the bridge (now designated by  91 ) extends through the through-holes  901  of the ring portions  90  after formation, providing reliable bonding between the bridge  91  and the ring portions  90 .  
      In yet another modified embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 11 , each ring portion (now designated by  92 ) includes a protrusion  921  on the inner side thereof. When placed in the mold (not shown) for forming the goggle frame, the molten plastic material envelopes the protrusions  921 , providing reliable bonding between the bridge (now designated by  93 ) and the ring portions  90 .  
      Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.