Patent Publication Number: US-2006017880-A1

Title: Safety shield for eyewear assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to eyewear, and in particular, to a safety shield for eyewear. More particularly, the present invention relates to safety shields for eyewear that are capable of accommodating auxiliary lense assemblies, such as clip-on sunglasses.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      It has long been desirable to have a removable auxiliary lens assembly attached to eyeglasses. Professional baseball players have used “flip-up” auxiliary lenses for more than four decades to protect their eyes from the sun, but to allow them unrestricted vision in the event the ball was hit in their vicinity.  
      Furthermore, eyewear has been provided with removable (and fixed) safety shields that convert conventional prescription eyewear into safety glasses. Removable safety shields permit the wearer to avoid the inconvenience of wearing safety glasses over prescription eyewear. Examples of removable safety shields for use with conventional eyewear are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,864, Aug. 6, 1996 to Hirschman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,351, Aug. 20, 1996 to Hirschman et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,278, May 5, 1998 to Simmons, Sr. All of these patents disclose variations on safety or side shields that can be removably attached to conventional eyewear, thus “con verting” the conventional eyewear into safety glasses.  
      None of these designs, however, permits the attachment of conventional auxiliary or “clip-O n” or “flip-up” lenses to the eyewear in addition to the safety shield. Thus, if sunglasses are worn, the eyewear with safety shields must be removed and conventional safety glasses worn over the conventional sunglasses. Alternatively, two sets of these safety shields (one for prescription eyewear, one for sunglasses) could be employed.  
      A need exists, therefore, for safety shields for conventional eyewear that also permit the use of auxiliary lenses.  
      A primary advantage of the present invention is that it provides an eyewear assembly with safety shields that is adapted to receive auxiliary lens assemblies.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the eyewear assembly comprises a primary lens assembly including a primary frame that secures a pair of primary lenses in position relative to one another. A pair of extensions is provided, each of the extensions positioned on an outer periphery of the primary frame. An arm is connected to each extension by a hinge. A safety shield is carried by the eyewear assembly and extends around a portion of the periphery of one of the primary lenses and extends longitudinally along one of the arms, wherein an open space between the primary lens, the arm, and an eye of the wearer is substantially enclosed. The safety shield has an aperture formed therein that extends from the primary lens rearward proximal the hinge, wherein the aperture is adapted to receive a portion of an auxiliary lens assembly.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the safety shield is formed of transparent, rigid polymeric material.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a safety shield is associated with each primary lens and arm of the eyewear assembly.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the aperture is a rectangular notch that is open at an end proximal the primary lens.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the safety shield is secured to the eyewear assembly by sliding fit between a longitudinal channel in the safety shield and the arm and a screw between the channel and the arm.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the safety shield may be regarded as a separate accessory or as part of an eyewear assembly.  
      Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. As referred to hereinabove, the “present invention” refers to one or more embodiments of the present invention which may or may not be claimed, and such references are not intended to limit the language of the claims, or to be used to construe the claims in a limiting manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a portion of the eyewear assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the eyewear assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is top plan view of the eyewear assembly according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the eyewear assembly according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged side view of a portion of the eyewear assembly according to the present invention depicting the attachment of an auxiliary lens assembly.  
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged side view of a portion of the eyewear assembly according to the present invention depicting the attachment of an auxiliary lens assembly in a configuration different from that illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring now to the FIGURES and particularly to  FIG. 1 , eyewear assembly  100  according to the present invention is shown. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , eyewear assembly  100  comprises a primary frame  102  that holds a pair of primary lenses, which may be protective lenses, corrective lenses, or colored lenses. A bridge  104  connects the right and left portions of primary frame  102 . At the outer periphery of each lens, frame  102  has an extension  106 .  
      An arm or temple  108  is connected by a hinge  110  to each extension. Each arm  108  terminates in an earpiece (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Primary frame  102 , bridge  104 , and arms  108  cooperate to locate eyewear assembly  100  on the face of the wearer and to locate the lenses relative to one another and to the wearer&#39;s eyes.  
      A safety shield  200  according to the present invention is associated with each lens and arm  108  and serves to substantially enclose the space between the eye and face of the user and frame  102  and lenses, thus helping to prevent foreign objects from entering the space and damaging the eye or eyes of the wearer. Safety shield  200  preferably is formed of an impact resistant transparent plastic or polymer such as polycarbonate, which is sold by General Electric Corporation as Lexan.® 
      As is best depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , safety shield has a forward edge  202  that is generally aligned with primary frame  102  and the lens and extends above and below extension  106 , hinge  110 , and arm  108  to enclose the outer periphery of frame  102 . Safety shield  200  also extends rearwardly from frame  102  and lens along a portion of the length of arm  108 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a pair of safety shields  200  are provide for each lens and arm  108  pair. Each shield is substantially similar in construction, but must be manufactured in opposite or “mirror image” configurations to accommodate the right and left portions of frame  102 .  
      Each shield  200  has a longitudinal channel  204  formed in it that receives arm  108  in a sliding relation. A screw  206  is provided to secure shield  200  from inadvertently sliding along arm  108 . An aperture or hole  208  is provided at the upper extent of shield  200  to ventilate the space between the face and frame  102 . Another aperture or hole  210  is provided near channel  204  to in a location to register with and permit access to the screw in hinge  110  of eyewear assembly  100  for tightening or repair as best shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      Eyewear assembly  100  according to the present invention, in addition to being provided with safety shields  200 , is also adapted to be used with auxiliary lens assemblies  300 . Such auxiliary lens assemblies  300  are designed to complement and extend the function of the primary lens assembly. For example, if the primary lenses are corrective, auxiliary lenses may be light-reducing (“sun glasses”) or vice-versa. The auxiliary assembly may take the form of “clip-on” or “flip-up” lenses.  
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate how safety shield  200  and primary frame  102  are adapted to use auxiliary lens assemblies  300 . Auxiliary lens assembly  300  also comprises a frame  302 , with each half associated with each lens being connected by a bridge  304 . A lug or extension  306  extends from the outer periphery of each lens and frame half  302  for securing auxiliary lens assembly to primary frame  102 .  
      As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each extension  306  on auxiliary assembly  300  terminates in a magnetic disc member  308 , which is arranged at a right angle to extension  306 . This magnet  308  is attracted to either the ferromagnetic material of frame extension  106  or to a magnetic member secured to the rear or lower surface (or both) of extension  106  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Thus, extension  306  and magnetic disk  308  secure auxiliary lens assembly  300  to primary frame  102  in either a conventional fashion as shown in  FIG. 5  or in the “flip-up” configuration shown in  FIG. 6 .  
      It is possible to secure an auxiliary lens assembly  300  to primary frame  102  because of aperture  212  formed in safety shield  200 . As depicted in all FIGURES, but particularly in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a rectangular notch or aperture  212  is open at forward edge  202  of safety shield  200 . It extends rearwardly proximal hinge extension  106  and hinge  110  to admit auxiliary extension  306  and magnetic member  308 . Thus, auxiliary lens assembly  300  can be attached, removed, and moved between the conventional and “flip-up” configurations while safety shields  200  remain fixed in place. While an open rectangular notch is shown for aperture  212 , any shape designed to accomplish the function of admitting structure past safety shield  200  and into engagement with a portion of primary frame  102  is within the contemplation of the present invention.  
      In operation, safety shields  200  are slid onto arms  108  from hinge or  106  backward toward the earpieces. They are secured to arms  108  by screws  212 . Once shields  200  are secured, primary frame  102  can be used in situations requiring safety glasses. If the situation is outdoors or otherwise involves glare, an auxiliary frame and lens assembly  300  can be attached to primary frame  102  through aperture  212  and moved between various useful configurations. Safety shields  200  may be sold separately from other portions of eyewear assembly  100  or the entire assembly, including auxiliary lens assembly  300  sold as a unit.  
      The eyewear assembly and safety shield according to the present invention has a number of advantages. The principal advantage is that otherwise conventional eyewear can be quickly converted to safety glasses and retain their extended functionality with auxiliary lens assemblies. This saves cost to the eyewear purchaser and wearer and reduces the number of pairs of eyewear the wearer must account for.  
      The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof. It is thus not limited, but is susceptible to variation and modification without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.