Patent Publication Number: US-2004057229-A1

Title: Illuminated eye protection device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/397,867, filed on Jul. 22, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/403,118, filed on Aug. 13, 2002, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] Eye protection devices, such as safety glasses, have been used to protect a wearer&#39;s eyes from objects that may damage the eyes. For example, carpenters wear safety glasses to protect their eyes from objects that may become airborne while performing their daily work activities. Often, even with eye protection, the wearer is subject to other dangers caused by insufficient illumination. For instance, a carpenter may injure a hand while hammering because of an insufficient illumination condition. To address these conditions, the wearer typically uses an auxiliary light source to help illuminate a given work area. For example, an automobile mechanic typically hangs a light under the hood of an automobile to help illuminate the automobile&#39;s engine compartment. However, these auxiliary light sources cast shadows in the work area that can hide dangers such as spraying fluids, moving parts, or flying objects.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003] There is a need for an improved eye protection device, such as safety glasses or eye shields, that provides eye safety to a wearer while illuminating potential dangers before the occurrence of bodily harm or death. Further, the eye protection device should assist the wearer in the performance of a specific task.  
       [0004] Accordingly, an illuminated eye protection device includes a frame, a lens member attached to the frame, and at least three lights integrated with the frame above the lens. The frame has a first corner and a second corner. In an embodiment, a first light can be rotatably mounted to the first corner of the frame, a second light can be rotatably mounted to the second corner of the frame, and a third light can be mounted to the center of the frame above the lens.  
       [0005] In an embodiment, the eye protection device can include at least one power source integrated with the frame and electrically connected to the three lights. The power source can be a battery or a solar cell. A first power source can be located aside the center light and a second power source can be located opposite the first power source and aside the center light. A switch can be integrated with the frame and electrically connected to the three lights and the power source. The switch can be a rocker-type switch.  
       [0006] In an embodiment, a protruding member can be attached to each of the first and second lights to control the rotation of each of the first and second lights. The three lights can point slightly downward. The lights can be light emitting diodes (LEDs) or white light LEDs. The lens and the frame can be made from a polycarbonate material. The illuminated eye protection device can be illuminated safety glasses or an illuminated safety shield.  
       [0007] In an embodiment, the frame includes a pair of temples and a bridge member connecting the temples, the bridge member being positioned downward from the temples to provide a beam of light which intersects a wearer&#39;s line of sight.  
       [0008] A method for protecting the human eye includes wearing an eye protection device having lights, activating the lights, and directing the lights to form a beam of light on a work area.  
       [0009] The present invention provides many advantages. For example, the present invention provides eye protection for a wearer while assisting the wearer in performing specified tasks due to insufficient illumination. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION  
     [0010] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wearer using an embodiment of the invention to repair an automobile.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with three lights.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention with seven lights.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention with the lights positioned slightly downward. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0015] Generally, an illuminated eye protection device provides a wearer with safety and helps assist the wearer in performing a variety of tasks when there is insufficient illumination. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a wearer  120 , such as an automobile mechanic, can use the illuminated eye protection device  140  in a low light environment, such as moonlight  130 , to illuminate an automobile engine compartment  160  such that the wearer  140  can safely and effectively repair an automobile  110 . The illuminated eye protection device  140  provides a beam of light  150  that can be focused by the wearer  120  to a specific location to provide the wearer with a well lit view of the area to be illuminated.  
     [0016] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the illuminated eye protection device  200  has a frame  210 , a lens  205  attached to the frame, a center light  225 , and two rotatable periphery lights  220 . The frame  210  and the lens  205  can be made from a polycarbonate material that is well known in the art and is preferably compliant with American National Safety Institute Standards. The frame  210  includes a pair of temples  210   b  and a bridge member  210   a  connecting the temples  210   b.  The lens  205  can be one piece, as in an eye shield or multiple pieces as in eyeglasses. The lights  220 ,  225  are integrated with the frame such that the integrity of the illuminated eye protection device is not compromised. The periphery lights  220  are located at opposing corners  230   a ,  230   b  of the frame  210 . The lights  220 ,  225  can be light emitting diodes (LEDs) or any other suitable light source known in the art. However, white light LEDs provide greater illumination with less power consumption than typical incandescent lamps.  
     [0017] The periphery lights  220  are housed in light sockets  240  that allow for rotation about the center of axes  270  and  275  to provide a narrow beam or a wide beam of light on the work area. The light socket  240  can fit into a ball and socket type joint of the frame  210 . Rotating each periphery light  220  inward toward the center light  225  produces the narrow beam of light, while rotating each periphery light  220  outward away from the center light  225  produces the wide beam of light. However, in another embodiment the periphery lights  220  can be permanently fixed inward toward the center light  225  to provide a wearer with maximum illumination at arms length.  
     [0018] A knob  250  can separately rotate each periphery light  220 . The knob is attached to the light socket  240  such that the wearer can rotate each periphery light  220  by moving the knob in a direction about the axes  270 ,  275 . The knob can be a protrudable member that allows for rotation about the axes, such as a tab.  
     [0019] As shown in FIG. 2, a switch  260  is located above the center light  225  on top of the frame  210  and controls the lights  220 ,  225 . However, it should be understood that in other embodiments the switch can be located anywhere on the frame. Further, in other embodiments, separate switches  260  located on the frame can control a respective light  220 ,  225 . The switch  260  can be a rocker-type switch, a push button-type switch, a hinge-type switch, or a photovoltaic-type switch, or any other switch known in the art.  
     [0020] A power source  280  provides power to the lights  220 ,  225 . The power source  280  is integrated within the frame  210 . The power source  280  can be located on either side of the center light  225  above the lens  205  or two power sources  280  can be located one on each side of the center light  225  above the lens  205 . The power source  280  can be a battery, solar cell, or any other power source known in the art. Each light  220 ,  225  can be powered by a single power source  280 , multiple power sources  280 , or a separate dedicated power source  280  for each light  220 ,  225 .  
     [0021] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the illuminated eye protection device  300  has a frame  210 , a lens  205 , a center light  225 , two rotatable periphery lights  220 , and four additional lights  227  located symmetrically about the center light  225  to provide greater illumination. Although seven lights are shown, the present approach encompasses embodiments having any number of lights.  
     [0022] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the bridge member  210   a  housing the lights  220 ,  225  is positioned slightly downward from the temples  210   b  on the illuminated eye protection device  400  to provide a beam of light. The center of the beam of light  410  intersects with the wearer&#39;s line of sight  420 , thus providing greater illumination of an object being viewed  430 .  
     [0023] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.