Abstract:
A vision tester comprising a front wall and a top. The top has positioned thereon printed matter. The front wall has at least one opening through which the user of the vision tester looks. A plurality of magnifying lenses, of different diopter ratings, are selectively positionable behind the opening. Indicia appear to indicate the diopter rating of each lens. A mirror, at an obtuse angle, is positioned behind the opening and below the top of the vision tester. The user of the vision tester can determine the diopter rating of the appropriate lens needed for reading by determining which lens renders the printed matter clear and readable, and noting the appropriate rating.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a vision tester, in general, and, more particularly, to a device for use by a consumer in testing his near vision to determine the strength of non-prescription reading glasses the consumer requires. 
     It is now a common practice to sell non-prescription reading glasses directly to the consumer at pharmacies and other retail outlets. The non-prescription reading glasses are displayed in a retail establishment on free-standing displays. 
     Typically, a consumer selects a pair of non-prescription reading glasses from the display by trying on a number of pairs until he locates a pair that is suitable, from the standpoint of comfort, magnifying ability and appearance. In order to determine the appropriate magnifying ability for the reading glasses, charts are placed on the displays for the reading glasses. The charts have increasing sizes of print, and the purchaser of the reading glasses is instructed to stand approximately 14 inches (35.6 cm.) from the chart. When viewing the chart, the consumer will look at each line of print, and note the first line of print that appears to be out of focus. By reading across the chart, the consumer can then determine the amount of magnification needed for the reading glasses. The amount is expressed in diopters, an optical unit of measurement. 
     Once the consumer determines the appropriate amount of magnification needed, the consumer will then view all of the glasses on the display rack that have lenses at the appropriate diopter rating. The consumer can then select a pair of reading glasses which the consumer finds to be attractive and comfortable. 
     Although the use of the charts can effectively determine the proper amount of magnification needed for the reading glasses, it has been found that the use of the charts is imprecise. Quite often, the consumer will not stand an appropriate distance from the chart and, accordingly, consumers test the reading glasses by simply trying on a large number of reading glasses, of different magnifications, and testing them in connection with reading matter that is hand held by the consumer. The consumer will not always replace the reading glasses that have been tried on in the proper place on the display rack, and eventually, the reading glasses on the display rack are in total disarray. 
     A vision tester that has overcome the foregoing problems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,941, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Applicant is one of the co-inventors of the invention disclosed in that patent. 
     The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,941 precisely measures the magnification power necessary for the reading glasses of each consumer. By utilizing the device, the consumer can accurately determine the appropriate diopter rating for the reading glasses, and try on only those reading glasses having that diopter rating. Since the reading glasses will be removed from only one segment of the display holding reading glasses, there is a much greater probability that the reading glasses will be returned to that segment after they are tried on, if they are not purchased. 
     Another advantage of the prior invention is that it is formed as part of a display rack for non-prescription reading glasses. This permits the consumer to test her vision at the same location as the location of the non-prescription reading glasses. Since the vision tester is formed as part of the display rack, there is little likelihood of damage caused by dropping or mishandling the vision tester. 
     The device of the instant invention enjoys all of the advantages of the invention covered by the prior patent. However, it also enjoys certain advantages over the prior invention. 
     In the prior invention, the distance between the reading material and the lenses used to test the near vision of the consumer was approximately 14 inches (35.6 cm.). That distance could easily be accommodated on a large display rack, such as the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,941. However, in certain low-volume stores or in stores that do not have the floor space readily available to accommodate a large display rack, a smaller display rack that is placeable at the end of shelving is used. The smaller display rack can have a depth that is significantly less than 14 inches (35.6 cm.). The vision tester of the instant invention can be effectively used on display racks that have a depth that is significantly smaller than 14 inches (35.6 cm.). 
     Another advantage of the instant invention is that the light in the ceiling of a store projects directly on the printed material used for testing the vision. In the device covered by U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,941, ceiling light illuminated the printed material only indirectly, that is, the ceiling light projected downwardly and parallel to the printed material. Accordingly, in the instant invention, greater illumination of the printed material is obtained. 
     A third advantage of the instant invention is that the ceiling light, in passing through the printed material, strikes a mirror that is placed at an obtuse angle within the tester. The light from the ceiling strikes the mirror and passes through the eye holes containing the lenses for testing vision. The light projecting through the eye holes is visible to consumers walking by the display, and tends to attract consumers to the display. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A vision tester comprising a front wall and a top. The top has positioned thereon printed matter. The front wall has at least one opening through which the user of the vision tester looks. A plurality of magnifying lenses, of different diopter ratings, are selectively positionable behind the opening. Indicia appear to indicate the diopter rating of each lens. A mirror, at an obtuse angle, is positioned behind the opening and below the top of the vision tester. The user of the vision tester can determine the diopter rating of the appropriate lens needed for reading by determining which lens renders the printed matter clear and readable, and noting the appropriate rating. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an eyeglass display rack which incorporates the vision tester of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the top of the display rack of FIG. 1, showing the vision tester in greater detail; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a first form of printed matter usable in this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a second form of printed matter usable in this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a third form of printed matter usable in this invention; and, 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational view of one of the discs containing different lenses, usable in this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, a vision tester embodying the present invention is generally shown at  10  in FIG.  1 . The vision tester  10  is mounted on a non-prescription reading glass display rack  12 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the display rack  12  includes a pair of side walls  14  and  16 . Side walls  14  and  16  contain decorative or instructional materials relating to the display rack. Mounted within the side walls  14  and  16  are interior side walls  18  and  20 . 
     As seen in FIG. 3, display rack  12  includes a rear wall  22 . A pair of spaced vertically extending bars  24  are secured to the rear wall  22  by fasteners  26 . A plurality of eyeglass-supporting trays  28  are secured to bars  24 . Non-prescription eyeglasses  30  are placed on trays  28  for selection by a consumer. 
     The details of the supporting trays  28  and their function are described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/492,972, filed on Jan. 27, 2000 and entitled “Eyeglass Display Rack and Tray Therefor,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The display rack shown in the drawing and described in the aforementioned co-pending application is merely exemplary of the many display racks available for displaying and vending non-prescription reading glasses. The actual structure of the display rack does not form a part of this invention. Other racks and supports for the non-prescription reading -glasses can be used in carrying out this invention, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,976,32, 5,100,006 and 5,861,941. 
     The novelty of this invention resides in the vision tester  10 . The vision tester can be secured as an integral part of the display rack shown in the drawing, or as an integral part of any other display rack known to the art. It can also be placed on a support separate from a display rack. 
     The vision tester  10  comprises a housing  32  secured on rear wall  22  (FIG.  3 ). Housing  32  includes a front wall  34 , side walls  36  an  38  (FIG.  4 ), a bottom wall  40  and a top  42 . The side walls  36  and  38  are secured to the rear wall  22  of the display rack through flanges  44 , which can be glued or welded to the rear wall  22 . 
     The top  42  comprises a lower plate  46  (FIG. 3) and an upper plate  48 . The two plates are parallel and are spaced apart. The plates are made from a transparent or translucent material, which can be glass or plastic. 
     A removable sheet  50  is positioned between plates  46  and  48 . The sheet  50  has material printed thereon, which material is used in testing the near vision of the consumer. 
     A first embodiment of the printed material that can be used on sheet  50  appears at  52  in FIG.  5 . In this embodiment, the printed material appears as a conventional eye chart used by optometrists and ophthalmologists. 
     A second embodiment of the printed material is shown at  54  in FIG.  6 . In this embodiment, the printed material appears as spaced lines of numbers, with the numbers decreasing in size in going from top to bottom. 
     A third embodiment of the printed material is shown at  56  in FIG.  7 . In this embodiment, a segment of a map is used. 
     The printed material can take any form, and the exact form is not critical to this invention. The critical feature is that the printed material be capable of being viewed by the consumer, and that it be of sufficiently small print to enable the consumer to test his near vision. Instead of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 , the printed material can be English language words, and the size of the print for all of the words will be the same. In this way, the consumer will not have to test her vision with respect to different sizes of letters or numbers, when selecting the appropriate magnification for her reading glasses. 
     The sheet  50  can be removed and replaced simply by pulling on the forward end shown in FIG.  3 . If it is desired to change the form of printed material, the sheet can be removed and a new sheet can be inserted. The sheet can be a transparent or translucent plastic having the numbers, letters, map, etc. printed thereon or it can even be a sheet of paper having the material printed thereon. Sufficient light will pass through the plates  46  and  48  to be able to read the material, even if it is printed on paper. 
     The front of vision tester  10  includes a lens housing  58 . As seen in FIG. 4, lens housing  58  includes an outer plate  60 , an intermediate plate  62  and an inner plate  64 . Plates  60  and  62  are secured to plate  64  by pins  66 . Plate  64  has side extensions  68 , top extension  70  and bottom extension  72 . As seen in FIG. 3, a rear wall  74 , parallel to plate  64 , is secured on front wall  32 . As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a housing  76  is formed in the area bounded by plate  64 , side extension  68 , top extension  70 , bottom extension  72  and rear wall  74 . 
     Rotatably mounted within housing  76  are a pair of discs  78  (FIG.  2 ). As best seen in FIG. 8, each disc  78  contains a plurality of equally-spaced teeth  80  extending around its entire circumference. Teeth  80  are separated by equally-spaced openings  82 . A central opening  84  is formed in each disc  78 . Each disc  78  includes a plurality of equally-spaced radially-extending openings in which are secured lenses  86 . Each lens  86  is of a different magnification and, accordingly, has a different diopter rating. The diopter rating is a rating commonly used in optometry in describing the magnification power of a lens. The diopter ratings for the lenses are printed between the lenses, as shown at  88  in FIG.  3 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen that discs  78  are aligned within housing  76 . A tooth  80  of one disc is received in an opening  82  of the other disc. A portion  90  of each disc passes through a slot formed in an adjacent side extension  68 . Discs  78  are rotatably mounted within housing  76  around pins  92  (FIG. 4) which pass through openings  84  of each disc. 
     A pair of spaced openings  94  are formed in aligned walls  60 ,  62  and  64 . Positioned behind the openings  94  are lenses  86  of discs  78 . Positioned behind the lenses are aligned openings  96  in walls  34  and  74 . 
     As seen in FIG. 3, a plate  98  is secured on rear wall  22 . Plate  98  has an upper bend, with plate  100  projecting downwardly, at an angle of approximately 135°, measured from a horizontal plane. Plate  100  has a lower flange  102  projecting upwardly and perpendicularly therefrom. A mirror  104  is secured to plate  100  and rests against flange  102 . 
     An eye shield  106  is mounted on wall  60 , and includes an upper member  108  and side members  110  projecting downwardly therefrom. The eye shield is positioned above and beside openings  94  (FIG.  2 ). 
     As seen in FIG. 3, a bracket  112  is mounted on front wall  34 . A mirror  114  is secured to bracket  112 , and projects at an angle of approximately 60°. 
     A chamber  116  (FIG. 3) is formed in housing  32 . The chamber includes a side wall  118  (FIG.  4 ), a rear wall  120  and a top  122 . The chamber walls are secured to side wall  36  and front wall  34  of housing  32 . 
     Mounted within the chamber is a device (not shown) for playing a recorded message. As seen in FIG. 2, a pushbutton  124  projects through an opening in wall  34 . The pushbutton will actuate the prerecorded message contained in the playback device mounted within chamber  114 . A plurality of openings  126  are formed in wall  34  to permit the speaker of the playback device to project the sound from the playback device to the consumer. Printed instructional material  128  is placed above the speaker openings  126 . 
     The playback device can be an integrated circuit voice synthesizer or any other solid state voice playback device. It can also be a magnetic tape recorder. 
     As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, front wall  60  includes aligned openings  130 . Diopter ratings  88  (FIG. 8) are visible through the openings. The diopter ratings correspond to the lens  86  appearing behind opening  94  (FIG.  2 ). 
     Instructions for use of the vision tester  10  are shown schematically at  132  in FIG.  2 . The instructions can include photographs and descriptive words for determining the appropriate magnification for the nonprescription glasses, utilizing the device  10 . Instructions can also be obtained by depressing pushbutton  124  and listening to the prerecorded message describing the use of the device. 
     The vision tester  10  is used by the consumer&#39;s standing in front of the display rack  12  and placing his eyes adjacent openings  94 . The consumer&#39;s eyes are shielded from ambient light by eye shield  106 . 
     The consumer will then look through openings  94 , through a pair of aligned lenses  86  , and through openings  96 , to focus on mirror  104 . Light from above the vision tester will pass through the printed material  50  at the top of the vision tester, and the image of the printed material will appear on the mirror  104 . Accordingly, by focusing on the mirror, and through reflection from the mirror, the consumer will be able to view the printed material. 
     As previously pointed out, in testing non-prescription reading glasses, the object being viewed by the consumer should optimally be 14 inches (35.6 cm.) from the consumer&#39;s eyes. Assuming the center of the mirror, on which the consumer&#39;s eyes will be focused, is four inches (10.2 cm.) from the openings  94 , then the distance from the center of the mirror to the printed sheet  50  should be 10 inches (25.4 cm.). In this way, the effective distance from the eye to the printed material will be 14 inches (35.6 cm.), although the depth of the vision tester need be less than five inches (12.7 cm.). 
     Once the printed material is viewed by the consumer, he then rotates one of the discs  78 . This automatically rotates the other disc  78 , by the engagement of the teeth  80  in the openings  82  of the corresponding disc. Rotation is accomplished by moving the exposed portion of one of the discs  78  (FIG. 2) around pins  92 . The discs can be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise, and can be rotated with either the left hand or the right hand. 
     As the discs are rotated, new lenses  86  appear behind openings  94 . The magnification power, or diopter rating, of each lens  86  appearing behind openings  94  is identical. Non-prescription reading glasses have the same diopter rating for each lens. As the discs are rotated, the consumer will continue to look at the mirror, until the image appearing in the mirror is clear. At that point, the consumer will note the diopter rating of the lens  86 , which appears at the openings  130  (FIG.  2 ). The lenses and diopter ratings are positioned on the discs  78  to always have the diopter rating for the lens behind opening  94  appear in opening  130 . An arrow  134  (FIG. 2) is printed on the vision tester to indicate that the discs  78  are to be rotated, and arrows  136  are printed to point to the diopter ratings. The functions of the arrows are explained in the instructions. 
     After the consumer determines the appropriate diopter rating for the reading glasses, she will then view all of the glasses on the display rack that have lenses at the appropriate diopter rating. The consumer can then select a pair of reading glasses which the consumer finds to be attractive and comfortable. Mirror  114  is provided to permit the consumer to view the eyeglasses on her face, thereby determining suitability from an appearance standpoint. 
     As is standard in the art, the eyeglasses  30  on the display rack are segregated by the magnification power, or diopter rating, of the lenses. The consumer will view only that segment of the display rack that contains eyeglasses having the appropriate diopter rating. 
     The vision tester of this invention provides a convenient and easy-to-use device for permitting a consumer to determine the appropriate magnification for his nonprescription reading glasses. The vision tester can be made an integral part of a display rack for the reading glasses, or it can be placed on a separate support to be used in connection with a display rack for the reading glasses. 
     Although the vision tester has been shown and described with respect to the rotating discs  78  for varying the lenses, the invention can also be practiced using the other lens-varying devices shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,941. Any of these others lens-varying devices can be used in combination with the mirror and placement of the printed vision-testing material of this invention. 
     Having the printed material at the top of the vision tester permits the lighting in a store to pass directly through the printed material. This makes the printed material brighter and easier to read than would be the case wherein the printed material appears at the back of a vision tester, and light passes only indirectly through it. 
     Another advantage of the vision tester of this invention is that it is extremely compact. Having a large distance from the printed material to the mirror  104  permits having a short distance from the lenses to the mirror, and thus a shallow display rack, such as that shown at  12 . Substantial floor space and depth are required for the display rack and associated vision tester in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,941. However, it should be understood that the vision tester of this invention will work effectively with the display rack shown in that patent, or with any other display rack, no matter how deep or shallow. 
     Another advantage of the vision tester of this invention is that when light passes through the transparent or translucent plates and sheet at the top of the vision tester and reflects off the mirror  104 , it then passes through the openings  94  at the front of the vision tester. It has been found that this light attracts consumers to the display rack containing the vision tester. 
     Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate this invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.