Patent Publication Number: US-6711754-B2

Title: Swimming/diving goggles

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a pair of swimming/diving goggles with improved assembling reliability, waterproof effect, and safety. In addition, the pair of swimming/diving goggles has improved strength and diversified ornamentation. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 9 of the drawings illustrates a pair of conventional swimming goggles comprised of two lenses  1 ′, two padding members  2 ′, a bridge  3 ′, and a head strap  4 ′. Each lens  1 ′ is made of rigid transparent material and includes a flange  11 ′ for engaging with an associated one of the padding members  2 ′. Each lens  1 ′ further includes an inner connecting portion  12 ′ for engaging with the bridge  3 ′ and an outer connecting portion  13 ′ for engaging with an associated end of the head strap  4 ′. Each padding member  2 ′ is made of soft material and includes a deformable receiving groove  21 ′ for receiving an associated lens  1 ′. Each padding member  2 ′ further includes a padding portion  22 ′ for intimate contact with a user&#39;s eye socket. The bridge  3 ′ is made of slightly flexible material and is more rigid than the padding members  2 ′. Thus, the bridge  3 ′ may deform in response to different contours of the user&#39;s face, allowing the padding members  2 ′ to be in intimate contact with the user&#39;s eye sockets. However, the assembly of the simple engagement between the lenses  1 ′ and the padding members  2 ′ of the pair of swimming goggles is not reliable. In use, leakage tends to occur in the area of the padding members  2 ′ when the pair of swimming goggles is impinged. In some cases, the padding members  2 ′ could be disengaged from the lenses  1 ′, and the user&#39;s eye sockets could feel pain or even be injured by the rigid lenses  1 ′. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another pair of conventional swimming goggles comprised of two lenses  5 ′, two frames  6 ′, a bridge  7 ′, and a head strap  8 ′. Each lens  5 ′ is made of rigid transparent material and includes a peripheral edge  51 ′ for engaging with an associated frame  6 ′. The frames  6 ′ and the bridge  7 ′ are made of identical soft material. The lenses  5 ′ are placed in a mold, and the soft material is injected into the mold and thus formed with the lenses  5 ′. Each frame  6 ′ includes a padding portion  61 ′ for intimate contact with a user&#39;s eye socket and a connecting portion  62 ′ for engaging with an end of the head strap  8 ′. Each frame  6 ′ includes an annular receiving groove  63 ′ for receiving the peripheral edge  51 ′ of the associated lens  5 ′. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 12, when a relatively large force is applied to the head strap  8 ′ during wearing of the pair of swimming goggles, the connecting portion  62 ′ of the respective frame  6 ′ could expand and thus disengage from the respective lens  5 ′. As a result, the user&#39;s eye socket could be injured by the sharp edge of the lens  5 ′. In order to provide a comfort, intimate contact with the user&#39;s eye socket, each padding portion  61 ′ of the respective frame  6 ′ must be made by softer material. The bridge  7 ′ and the frames  6 ′ are highly deformable when they are integrally formed by the same material as the padding portions  61 ′. As a result, the frames  6 ′ are apt to deform when applying a force to the head strap  8 ′ for wearing purpose. In addition, the bridge  7 ′ will deform to a large extent and thus press the nose of the user. Thus, the user will feel pain in the nose area. The above problems can be solved by means of making the frames  6 ′ and the nose  7 ′ with less soft material. But this results in discomfort to the user&#39;s eye sockets, as the padding portions  61 ′ must be formed with the same material as the frames  6 ′ and the nose  7 ′. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A pair of swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention comprises two lenses, a protective frame, and a main frame. Each lens is made of rigid transparent material and includes a peripheral edge. The protective frame is made of a material that is slightly flexible and pull-resistant. The protective frame includes two rings each having a receiving groove for engaging with the peripheral edge of an associated one of the lenses. The main frame is made of soft material and securely engaged with the protective frame by means of molding injection. The main frame includes two padding portions for intimate contact with a user&#39;s eye sockets. The protective frame prevents disengagement of the lenses from the protective frame and the main frame when a pulling force is applied for wearing the pair of swimming/diving goggles. 
    
    
     Other objects, 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 an exploded perspective view of two lenses and a protective frame of a pair of swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the lenses and the protective frame of the pair of swimming/diving goggles in FIG. 1 
     FIG. 3 is a top view, partly sectioned, of a portion of the pair of swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view, partly sectioned, of the pair of swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a modified embodiment of the pair of swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the modified embodiment in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating another modified embodiment of the pair of swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the modified embodiment in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a pair of conventional swimming goggles. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another pair of conventional swimming goggles. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view, partly sectioned, of a portion of the pair of conventional swimming goggles in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a top view, partly sectioned, of the pair of conventional swimming goggles in FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a pair of swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention generally comprises two lenses  1 , a protective frame  2 , and a main frame  3 . Each lens  1  is made of rigid transparent material and includes a peripheral edge  11  for engaging with the protective frame  2 . 
     The protective frame  2  is made of a material that is slightly flexible and pull-resistant. The protective frame  2  includes two rings  20  each having a receiving groove  21  in an inner periphery thereof for engaging with the peripheral edge  11  of the respective lens  1  by means of using the flexibility of the rings  20 . The protecting frame  2  further includes a bridge  22  for connecting the rings  20 . 
     The main frame  3  is made of soft material and securely engaged with the protective frame  2  by molding injection. In manufacture, the protective frame  2  is placed in a mold (not shown) so as to be integrally connected to the main frame  3  after hardening of liquid material for the main frame  3  in the mold. Thus, a front portion of the main frame  3  is securely engaged with the protective frame  2  after formation. In addition, the main frame  3  includes two padding portions  31  in a rear end thereof for intimate contact with the user&#39;s eye sockets. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, the lenses  1  are enclosed by the protective frame  2  and thus have improved assembly reliability and waterproof effect. Since the protective frame  2  is more pull-resistant than the main frame  3 , the protective frame  2  prevents disengagement of the peripheral edge  11  of the respective lens  1  from the protective frame  2 . Thus, injury to the user&#39;s eye socket by the rigid sharp edge of the respective lens  1  is avoided. 
     The main frame  3  and the padding portions  31  made of soft material provide soft, comfort intimate contact with the user&#39;s eye sockets. Further, the bridge  22  of the protective frame  2  is formed by pull-resistant material and is thus less likely to deform. The bridge  22  thus does not press the user&#39;s nose even if a large force is applied to the head strap. The support reliability and wearing comfort are improved. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention, wherein each ring  20  of the protective frame  2  includes a plurality of through-holes  23 . During formation of the main frame  3 , the liquid material for the main frame  3  flows into the through-holes  23  of the protective frame  2 . After hardening of the main frame  3 , the assembly reliability and pull-resistance between the protective frame  2  and the main frame  3  are improved. In addition, the colors of the protective frame  2  and the main frame  3  can be selected to provide diversified ornamentation. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another modified embodiment of the invention, wherein each ring  20  of the protective frame  2  includes a plurality of protrusions  24 , and the protective frame  2  includes two connecting portions  25  for connecting with two ends of the head strap. After hardening of the liquid material for the main frame  3 , each protrusion  24  is embedded in the main frame  3  and includes an end face viewable from outside. When a pulling force is applied to the head strap, the protrusions  24  resist the pulling force and thus assure reliable engagement between the protective frame  2  and the main frame. In addition, the colors of the protective frame  2  and the main frame  3  can be selected to provide diversified ornamentation. The assembly reliability between the main frame  3  and the lenses  1  is improved by the connecting portions  25  of the protective frame  2 . 
     According to the above descriptions, it is appreciated that the swimming/diving goggles in accordance with the present invention provides improved assembly reliability and waterproof effect. In addition, disengagement of the lenses during the wearing through pulling of the head strap is prevented. The padding portions  31  are made of soft material and the bridge  22  is made of pull-resistant material to provide wearing comfort and to prevent excessive deformation of the bridge  22 . The through-holes  23  or the protrusions  24  improve the assembly reliability and pull-resistance between the protective frame  2  and the main frame  3 . The colors of the protective frame  2  and the main frame  3  can be selected to provide diversified ornamentation. The assembly reliability between the main frame  2  and the lenses  1  is improved by the connecting portions  25  of the protective frame  2 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.