Abstract:
An animal goggle is described that centers and rests upon the maxilla and forehead of the animal. The goggles include a frame, strap system, and a unified interchangeable lens that provides an active animal a full vie and range of motion. The straps are non-obtrusive, also allowing the animal unrestricted movement of the jaw while securely holding the frame against the maxilla and forehead of the animal. The frame includes filtration media and ventilation to reduce condensation and fogging on the lens. The lens allows a full field of view for an active animal while blocking foreign objects such as dust, debris, and ultra violet rays.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the filing benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/985,287 filed Apr. 28, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
     Not Applicable 
     JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention pertains generally to animal eye wear that may be functional protection or a fashionable attire. More particularly, the invention pertains to eye protection or goggles suitable for use by animals that remain secured to the animals head during movement or intense activity. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Over the years working animals have been utilized by the military and police to assist the animal&#39;s handler with various duties. For example, working dogs have been utilized by K-9 police units to identify contraband, track suspects, and apprehend criminals. Mounted police have employed horses to mobilize their officers over a variety of terrains. Likewise, military personnel have integrated animals as an intricate part of their team. The animals may be required to work in extreme conditions that put the animal&#39;s eyes at risk. Some examples of extreme conditions include harsh sunlight, sandstorms, blizzards, and smoke, to name just a few. Eye protection reduces the risk of injury to the animal&#39;s eyes, however, these animals often work under extreme conditions and intense activity requiring eyewear that doesn&#39;t shift on the animals head during the intense activity. Also, it is desirable to provide the animal with eye protection that may not be incidentally removed by the animal. Further the working animals require eye protection that does not interfere or inhibit the animal&#39;s full range of activities including, for example, open mouth breathing, drinking, barking, biting, and panting. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments according to aspects of the invention are capable of providing animal goggles that shield the animal&#39;s eyes from rain, wind, sun, debris, airborne particles or other undesirable elements. The animal goggles according to the invention provide eye protection without restricting a range of motion thereby allowing the animal to run, breathe, and pant, for example, without inhibition. The multi-directional adjustable strap of the goggles provides a constant tension or force which holds the goggles securely against the animal&#39;s maxilla and forehead without inhibiting jaw movement. Further, the contoured frame and unitary lens of the goggles of the present invention secure to the animals face without encroaching upon the eyes, eyebrows or field of vision. The unitary lens may, for example without limitation intended, be translucent, tinted, colored, or a prescription lens. 
     An embodiment of the animal goggle according to aspects of the invention includes a frame, unified lens and strap assembly. The frame has a lower portion and inner and outer frame portions extending from the lower portion. The inner and outer frames are interconnected with cross-pieces that space apart the inner and outer frame, creating vents between the inner and outer frame. The lower portion of the frame is shaped to rest on the snout or maxilla of the animal and extends over the sides of the snout. A desired shape or contour of the lower frame allows a user to snugly position the lower frame about the snout of the animal. The lower portion may be custom fit or alternatively different sizes and shapes may be constructed to fit various animals. A pad extends around an edge of the inner frame and lower portion of the frame which may contribute to a snug fit on the snout of the animal. The unified lens and frame are further profiled to partially wrap around the animals face in a manner that the vision of the animal remains unobstructed. The frame further includes four connectors to which straps may be coupled. The connectors extend from the frame and form a loop through which a strap may be joined. The connectors are spaced along the frame to further facilitate a snug fit against the animal&#39;s face and to limit movement of the goggles on the face while the animal is active. 
     The strap assembly includes first, second, third and fourth strap segments. A first end of each segment is attached to the frame connectors in a particular arrangement to further enhance the firm positioning of the goggles on the animal. The first strap segment has a first end coupled to the first strap connector of the frame and the other end has a coupling or fastener formed or attached thereto. By way of example, the fastener may be in the form of a buckle or a mating clasp. Similarly, second strap segment has a first end coupled to the third strap connector and the other end includes a fastener that couples or mates with the fastener of the first strap segment. The third strap segment has a first end coupled to the second strap connector of the frame and a second end coupled to the second strap segment. The coupling may be fixed or may allow the first strap segment to slide there through. The fourth strap segment likewise includes a first end coupled to the fourth strap connector of the frame and the other end couples to the first strap segment. The strap segments may include fasteners and buckles that allow for adjusting the length of the strap segments to firmly fit the goggles against the animal&#39;s maxilla and forehead. One or more of the strap segments may be further segmented into a stretchable or elastic portion and a rigid or static portion to provide a resilient tension of the goggles against the animal&#39;s maxilla and forehead as the animal&#39;s jawbone position changes during activity. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a portion of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to further explain the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred; however, it should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the various figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the animal goggles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the animal goggles of the present invention having the interchangeable unified lens removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the unified interchangeable lens of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the unified interchangeable lens of the type shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the unified interchangeable lens of the type shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a unified interchangeable lens shown pre-cut from a sheet of lens material; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the pre-cut lens of the type shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the strap assembly of the type shown in  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 9  is a front right perspective view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front left perspective view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom left back perspective view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a right back perspective view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a back view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a left side view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a right side view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 18  is a bottom view of the frame of the type shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description provides detail of various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each of these embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not intended to be a limitation of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention also cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     The apparatus of the present invention is particularly well suited for providing eye protection or fashionable eyewear for animals such as equestrian or canine eyewear. The animal goggles  10  generally includes a frame  14 , unified lens  16  and strap assembly  18 . The strap assembly  18  has a four point attachment to the frame  14  which thereby applies a holding force of the goggles against both the snout of the animal and the forehead of the animal. The goggle frame  14  further has a stylish or fashionable appearance best seen in  FIGS. 10-18 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  the animal goggles  10  are shown assembled. The goggles  10  includes frame  14 , lens  16  and strap assembly  18 . A lower portion  30  of the frame  14  is shaped to receive a maxilla or snout of the animal. An inner frame portion  32  and outer frame portion  34  extend upward from the lower frame portion  30 . A profile curve  58  of a rim portion  66  of the frame extends about an inside perimeter of the frame. The lower portion of the frame  30  includes profile curves  60  and  62  profiled to fit the facial profile of the animal in a way that the lower portion of the frame  30  fits snuggly on the animal&#39;s snout and the remaining portion of the frame fits snug against the sides and forehead of the animal. Padding  46  attached to the inner rim or flange further promotes a snug fit of the goggles  10  on the animal. A filter media, foam, or fabric covers cross-pieces  36  that separate the inner frame  32  and outer frame  34 . Ventilation holes  50  are formed between cross-pieces  36  allowing facial heat to escape through the vent holes rather than being trapped between the animal&#39;s face and the interior of the goggles. Lens receiving slots  52 ,  54 , and  56  extend about the lower portion and outer portion of the frame. The slots are adapted to receive and retain the unified lens  16  against the frame  14 . The lens  16  may be interchangeable and provided with various tints or magnification depending upon the particular intended use of the goggles. 
       FIGS. 3-7  illustrates the matching profile curve  70  of the lens  16  that snaps into the perimeter slot of the frame  14 . The lens includes a first profile angle  72  that is angled from a vertical axis angling from the snout towards the forehead of the animal. Second profile angle  74  angles down and outward from a horizontal axis to wrap about the snout of the animal. Stated otherwise, the lens includes a curved profile both from side to side and from top to bottom. Without limitation intended, the lens  16  may be stamped, die cut, or otherwise formed from a UV tinted polycarbonate sheet material  76 , for example, that is both curved radially  78  and curved vertically  80  from top to bottom. Curved indents or slots  82  engage tabs extending from within the slot portion  54  of slot  52  to secure a lower portion of the lens to the frame  14 . Similarly, curved indents or slots  84  are formed in an upper portion of the lens and engage tabs extending from within upper slot portion  56  of slot  52 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the slots  84  may be formed larger than the corresponding tabs to reduce effects of convection on the lens. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 8  the strap assembly  18  includes first strap segment  100 , second strap segment  120 , third strap segment  140 , and fourth strap segment  160 . The straps may be constructed of a webbing, leather strapping or other suitable known material. First strap segment  100  includes first strap end  102  and opposing second end  104 . The first strap end includes a stretchable portion  106  coupled to a static portion  108  of the strap  100 . Stretchable portion  106  and static portion  108  may be coupled together with stitching  110 . When the goggles are fitted on the animal a slight stretch to the stretchable portion  106  pulls the goggles towards the animals face. A first fastener half  182  of fastener  180  is attached to the second end  104  of the strap  100 . The first end  102  of the strap is coupled about a first strap connector  38  extending from the frame  14 . The strap may be coupled about the connector  38  by overlapping the strap about the connector and sewing the end to the strap with stitching  112 . Similarly, the second end  104  of the strap segment  100  may be coupled to fastener half  182  by overlapping and sewing the end of the strap to itself with stitching  114 . Of course other suitable couplings may be used to affix the ends of the strap to corresponding fastener  182  and connector  38 . 
     Second strap segment  120  includes a first strap end  122  and opposing second end  124 . The first strap end includes a stretchable portion  126  coupled to a static portion  128  of the strap  120 . Stretchable portion  126  and static portion  128  may be coupled together with stitching  130 . When the goggles are fitted on the animal a slight stretch to the stretchable portion  126  pulls the goggles towards the animals face. A second fastener half  184  of fastener  180  is attached to the second end  124  of the strap  120 . The first end  122  of the strap is coupled about a third strap connector  42  extending from the frame  14 . The strap may be coupled about the connector  42  by overlapping the strap about the connector and sewing the end to the strap with stitching  132 . The second end  124  may slip through the fastener and the length may be adjustable with the use of a weblock coupled to or integrated with the fastener  184 . The second end  124  of the strap may be overlapped and sewn to itself with stitching  134 . In this manner the overlap may restrict the end  124  from slipping back through the weblock of the fastener  184 . Of course other suitable couplings may be used to affix the ends of the strap to corresponding fastener  184  and connector  42 . The fastener  180  and its corresponding first and second halves  182  and  184  may comprise, for example without limitation intended, a side release buckle that allows for adjusting the length of the strap coupled to the fastener. Straps  100  and  120  extend through a weblock or tri-glide  190  to thereby interconnect the first and second straps under the chin portion of the animal. 
     Third strap segment  140  includes first strap end  142  and opposing second end  144 . The first strap end may loop about frame connector  40  and couple to itself with a tri-glide  192 . Stitching  150  may be utilized to keep the tri-glide  192  from slipping off the strap. The opposing end  144  may be looped and coupled to itself with stitching  148  to form loop  146  through which second strap  120  may slide. When the goggles are fitted on the animal, the second strap slips within loop  146  and the first end  142  may be pulled to adjust the length of strap  140  and further engage the goggle to the face of the animal. 
     Similarly, fourth strap segment  160  includes a first strap end  162  and opposing second end  164 . The first strap end may loop about fourth strap frame connector  44  and couple to itself with a tri-glide  194 . Stitching  170  may be utilized to keep the tri-glide  194  from slipping off the strap. The opposing end  164  may be looped and coupled to itself with stitching  168  to form loop  166  through which first strap  100  may slide. When the goggles are fitted on the animal, the first strap slips within loop  166  and the first end  162  may be pulled to adjust the length of strap  160  and further engage the goggle to the face of the animal. 
     In use, a user positions the snout of the animal between the lower portion of the frame  30  and the tri-glide  190  interconnecting first and second straps  100  and  120 . The goggle frame and straps are then slid over the snout and positioned against the face of the animal. First strap segment  100 , third strap segment  140  and fourth strap segment  160  may be pulled or lengthened to provide a snug fit of the goggles against the animal&#39;s face. 
     These and various other aspects and features of the invention are described with the intent to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This invention has been described herein with detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, in the appended claims, the transitional terms comprising and including are used in the open ended sense in that elements in addition to those enumerated may also be present. Other examples will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing this document.