Abstract:
The invention involves an eyeglass mountable auxiliary lens device. The present device attaches at least partially to the eyeglasses through magnetic interaction and provides among other things a close fitting and aesthetically pleasing union between the eyeglasses and the auxiliary frames.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates in general to eyeglasses and auxiliary lenses for attachment to eyeglasses.  
         [0002]     Various means to attach auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses have been proposed over the years. However, these means typically utilize clips that are permanently attached to the auxiliary lenses. The clips then attach to the eyeglass frames. Other means to attach auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses include magnets or magnetic material attached to both the auxiliary and eyeglass frames and which engage each other to hold the auxiliary frames in place. These conventional arrangements for attaching to auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses have several drawbacks in that they are unattractive, require heavy frames, and are not closely associated with the eyeglasses and thus have large gaps between the auxiliary lenses and eyeglass frames that allow light refraction to interfere with vision. In addition, the shape of the eyeglass frames and the auxiliary frames are quite different, changing considerably the look of the eyeglasses when the two are attached in combination. Furthermore, the conventional arrangements are not functionally durable with the result being that not only is the viewable area of the glasses obstructed, but the auxiliary lenses often disassociate unexpectedly due to either a poor connection, or due to snagging of the auxiliary lenses on the wearer&#39;s apparel or surroundings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Briefly stated, the present invention in a preferred form is generally directed toward the attachment of auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses. In particular, the present invention includes a device by which auxiliary lenses are associated with mechanical and magnetic elements that attach to the eyeglasses.  
         [0004]     The present invention includes a primary eyeglass frame with a primary bridge for supporting primary lenses therein. The primary eyeglass frame bridge may have magnetic and mechanical connecting elements.  
         [0005]     A secondary eyeglass frame has a secondary bridge for supporting secondary lenses therein. The secondary eyeglass frame includes magnetic elements and mechanical connector elements mounted at said secondary bridge for engaging said primary bridge magnetic and mechanical elements so as to secure the secondary eyeglass frame to the primary eyeglass frame.  
         [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass device to secure auxiliary lenses to an eyeglass frame that overcomes at least some of the above mentioned problems or provides the public with a useful alternative. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description made with reference to accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A through 1E  shows various views of an eyeglass device having magnetic and mechanical elements in portions of the bridge of the primary and secondary frames in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2A  through D shows top, front, side views and selected portions of the primary and secondary frames respectively of an eyeglass device in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0010]     Briefly stated, the invention in a preferred form is an eyeglass accessory that is simple in structure and provides the advantageous association of secondary lenses with the primary lenses of eyeglasses. In particular and referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown an eyeglass device  10  having an eyeglass frame  12  for supporting primary lenses  14  thereon. The eyeglass frame  12  includes a bridge  16  that generally curves upwardly and outwardly from the plane of the frame  12 . The area near the bridge  16  also may include attachment nose pad arms  80  which hold in place nose pads  82 . The eyeglass frame  12  may include two side portions or members  18  extending outwardly and rearwardly therefrom for pivotally coupling arms  20  thereto.  
         [0011]     An auxiliary frame  24  can be generally shaped to correspond to the eyeglass frame  12 . The auxiliary frame  24  includes a secondary bridge  22  that extends rearwardly from the line of the frame. The auxiliary frame  24  includes, in one embodiment of the invention, magnetic members  30 A secured to a forward facing portion of the bridge  22 . The magnetic members  30 A engage with the eyeglass frame bridge  16 , such that the auxiliary frame  24  is supported by the eyeglass frames, for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Generally, the magnetic members  30  may be fitted in cavities in the bridge  16 , or they may be manufactured integrally with the bridge. The bridge  22  of the primary frame, for example, as in  FIG. 1A  may have magnets or be made of a magnetic material. The bridge  22  may support the auxiliary frames  24  by interaction magnets  30  and magnets  30 A and may in addition have a mechanical pin  60  which penetrates into a socket  62  structure in the bridge  22 . The mechanical pin  60  and associated socket  62  may have numerous complementary shapes. For instance, the pin  60  may be geometrically shaped in the form of, for example, a rectangle, oval, square, triangle, star, or may be fanciful in shape such as in the form of a letter or animal form. The associated socket  62  is of a shape that allows association with the pin  60 .  
         [0012]     In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in, for example,  FIGS. 1A-1D , the magnetic elements  30 A of the auxiliary frame  24  are located on the bridge  22  of the auxiliary frame  24 . The magnetic members  30 A may be affixed, embedded, or other wise associated with bridge  22  that position the magnetic members to the rear of the auxiliary frame  24  facing forward. The magnetic members  30 A may then magnetically interact with the eyeglass frame bridge  16  having magnetic properties or embedded magnets  30 . The bridge  16  of the eyeglasses and the bridge  22  of the auxiliary frame may be configured with the auxiliary frame bridge  22  being positioned rearwardly as shown in, for example,  FIG. 2 . This configuration, among other things, ensures that the original design lines of the eyeglasses are not markedly changed when the auxiliary frame  24  is secured to the eyeglass frame  12 .  
         [0013]     The close integration of auxiliary frames  24  and the eyeglass frames  12  has many advantages, for instance, it reduces the overall weight of the device, reduces light entering from the side between the primary lens  14  and the auxiliary lens  26 , and minimizes any change in the design look of the eyeglass frame.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment of the invention, the pin  60  and socket  62  ensures that the primary frame is securely attached to the secondary frame to prevent shifting sideways or sliding between the two frames. The primary frame may be disengaged from the secondary frame by pressing the secondary frame rearward and then pushing upwards on the secondary frame.  
         [0015]     While the preferred embodiments have been shown to describe the invention, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.