Abstract:
An eyewear system comprising [1] at least one lens and [2] a plurality of interchangeable frames for support of the lenses, wherein each of the frames is adapted for removable connection to said at least one lens; and a system for storing/displaying the frames and lenses.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to eyewear, and more particularly relates to eyewear having interchangeable decorative frames which can be easily removed and exchanged. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are a variety of eyewear now made with attractive frames. Many who wear this eyewear are often very fashion conscious and would find different designs desirable for different purposes, and a wide variety of circumstances. However, owning and carrying a number of pairs of this eyewear is not practical. Therefore, it would be advantageous if a single eyewear lens system could be attractively decorated to provide a wide variety of designs. 
         [0003]    There are sunglasses known that have a frame and nosepiece construction that permits them to be removed and replaced as well as allowing pane replacement. These glasses are disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,851, issued Jun. 23, 1987. In these glasses, however, the frame and temples remain the same but the pane, lens and nosepiece can be removed and replaced. They do not permit or describe any type of interchangeable decorative frame. 
         [0004]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide eyewear that can be changed to provide a wide variety of designs. 
         [0005]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide eyewear that can be selectively changed to provide a different appearing frame. 
         [0006]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide eyewear having interchangeable decorative frames that can be easily removed and exchanged. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One embodiment of the invention relates to an eyewear system comprising [1] at least one lens and [2] a plurality of interchangeable frames for supporting said at least one lens, wherein each of the frames is adapted for removable connection to said at least one lens. 
         [0008]    An additional embodiment of the invention concerns a system for storing and/or displaying the above-described eyeglass lenses and plural interchangeable frames therefore. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the inventive eyeglasses. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3-6  are schematic views showing various techniques for installing lenses in frames of the eyeglasses shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame and lens holder display/storage system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    One embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The spectacles are embodied in eyeglasses  10  having lenses  12 ,  14  mounted in a frame, generally indicated at  20 . The frame  20  includes an attachment area  16 . A pair of temples  18  is pivotally secured to frame  20  in a conventional manner. However, other securing devices, such as straps extending behind the head of the wearer, may be used. 
         [0014]    The lens  12  is shown installed in the right frame section  22 , and the lens  14  is shown removed from the left frame section  24 . As is most apparent in the drawing of the left frame section  24  without the lens  14 , the frame section  24  includes an inner lens attachment clip  40  and an outer lens attachment clip  42 . 
         [0015]    With reference also to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 , the clips  40 ,  42  are spaced from the forward surface of the frame  20 . The spacing between the clips  40 ,  42  and the frame  20  is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the lens  14 . Since the frame  20  is preferably formed from a resilient material, such as resilient plastic, the lens resiliently deforms the clips  40 ,  42  and/or frame  20  to securely hold the lens  14  in position. 
         [0016]    A variety of techniques can be used to remove the lenses  12 ,  14  from the frame  20 , with the optimum technique depending upon the specific frame and lens structures and the preference of the user. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the lens  14  can be installed from the top  30  of the frame  20  by placing the outer edge of the lens  14  beneath the outer lens attachment clip  42  and the lower inner edge of the lens  14  beneath the inner lens attachment clip  40 . The user then exerts a force on the upper edge of the lens  14  in a downward direction (i.e., toward the lower part  32  of frame  20 ), thereby forcing the remainder of the inner edge of the lens  14  beneath the inner lens attachment clip  40 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the force is preferably applied to the edge of the lens  14  at a location that is closer to the inner lens attachment clip  40  than it is to the outer lens attachment clip  42 . 
         [0017]    The lens  14  can be removed from the frame  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The user applies a force to the lower edge of the lens  14  adjacent the inner lens attachment clip  40 . Because of the resilient nature of the frame  20  and/or lens  14 , the lens  14  slides out from underneath the lens attachment clip  40 , thereby removing the lens  14  from the frame  20 . After removal of the lens  14 , another frame having a different appearance may have the lenses  12  and  14  installed therein as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0018]    It should be reemphasized that the installation and removal techniques shown in  FIGS. 3-4  are illustrative only and other techniques may therefore be used depending upon the specific lens and frame structure of the eyeglasses. Also, although specific eyewear styles are shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , it will be understood that other eyewear styles may be devised without departing from the invention. 
         [0019]    Moreover, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and the claims contained herein, other variations for affixing the lenses in the interchangeable frames may be employed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , interchangeable frames  20  may be provided with a slot  50  in the top of the frame, into which the lens  14  may be dropped. 
         [0020]    As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the lens  14  may be fitted with magnetic strips  60  which function to attach to metal strip(s) (not shown) on the back side of frame  20 . Alternatively, the strips  60  may be metallic and attach to the strip(s) on the back of the frame  20 , which is magnetized. 
         [0021]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to any specific type of eyeglass lens or interchangeable frame therefore; nor is the invention limited to a specific color or decorative pattern on either the lenses or frames. Finally, the invention is not limited to any convenient means for securing the lenses in the frames when interchanging the latter. 
         [0022]    Typically, at least one of the lenses comprises an oculus sinister lens and the other, an oculus dexter lens. In addition, at least one of the lenses is corrective. The lenses may be tinted, polarized or otherwise structured so as to achieve a particular optical effect. The lenses may be constructed of any suitable optical material such as, for example, glass or polycarbonate. The lenses may be bi- or tri-focal; i.e., each lens includes first and second, and optionally, third lens portions wherein each portion is separately corrective. 
         [0023]    The interchangeable frames may be constructed of any convenient material suitable for the purpose, such as, e.g., plastic or metal. 
         [0024]    Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 7  which is an eyeglass frame and lens holder display system. The eyeglass frame and lens holder  100  comprises two vertical posts  115  mounted on a cabinet  122  so as to form a display. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the eyeglass frame holder  100  could comprise only one post or more than two posts. As a matter of fact, it could comprise an unlimited number of posts. In all cases, the posts are preferably rigidly attached to a pair of support members  123  and  124 . The eyeglass frame and lens holder  100  also comprises a plurality of supporting members  131  for supporting a corresponding number of eyeglass frames  132 . Each supporting member  131  is connected to the adjacent vertical post  115  so as to project horizontally from it. Each supporting member  131  is also shaped and sized to fit into and support an eyeglass frame  132 . Cabinet  122  is preferably provided with an upper portion  140 , in which one or more pair of lenses  12 , 14  may be displayed or stored; for example on racks  142  and  144 . Each such pair of lenses is, of course, susceptible of attachment to anyone of the interchangeable frames  132 . 
         [0025]    Other variations will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0026]    From the foregoing, it will therefore be evident that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and the claims contained herein.