Improvements in Spectacles and Eye-glasses to render them Self-adjusting.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spectacles and Eye-glasses to render them
Self-adjusting.
I, JULIUS NORDEN, of Aldenhoven, Rhineland, in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
-
It is a well-known objection to the use of spectacles or eyeglasses that short-
sighted people when looking at near and distant objects alternately, weaken their
eyes more and more by neglecting partly in order to save time but principally
in order to save trouble to take off their eyeglasses when looking at near objects.
This explains the great and continually increasing shortsightedness of school
children, particularly in the upper classes. School children are compelled to look
at writing on the blackboard or at maps hanging on the wall and in the mean-
time to take notes. There is thus a continual alternation of looking at long
and short distances and should spectacles or eyeglasses be used the sight rapidly
becomes still weaker.
The present invention relates to a new construction of spectacles or eyeglasses
which, without being taken off, automatically releases the glasses or other parts
(such for instance as the guards in guard spectacles) and enables such to be
dispensed with when the wearer's face is in such a position as to render the use
of such parts unnecessary. Such guard or protective spectacles are in use for
the workmen of steel-works, chemical manufacturies, quarries and the like the
glasses are replaced by gratings in these spectacles, which in other respects do
not at all essentially differ from common spectacles.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1. Front view of single lens or glass.
Fig. 2. Side view showing the position of the glasses when in use.
Fig. 3. Side view showing the position of the glasses when released.
Fig. 4. Shows the glass in use.
The glass
a is fixed in a rim b which is not made fast to the frame c but is
pivoted thereto at the top on a hinge d. For this purpose an arch e is made in
the frame on each side of the bridge for the nose, and the shape of this bend
or arch corresponds with that of the upper part of the rim containing the glass
and serves as a cover for the rim and glass when, as shown in Fig. 2, they come
underneath.
When the spectacles or eyeglasses are used for looking at distant objects the
glasses assume the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the level of the frame and
that of the rim are inclined in an upward direction, so that the rim 6 lies against
the arch e behind. In this position the eyeglass is used like any other, and its
construction does not interfere in any way with the comfort of the wearer.
If the wearer should now look at a near object, say, for instance, the writing
desk or drawing board before him, the face is inclined forward, the arch e
assumes an inclined position and the rim b with the glass falls by reason of its
weight into a vertical position as shown in Fig. 3. The person using the
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page_text: eyeglass consequently looks under it, so that in this position he does not look
through the glass at all.
In many cases it is advisable when the glass is in the position shown in Fig. 3
to prevent its swinging to and fro. For this purpose a lip f is fitted on the
hinged part of the arch e in such a way that when the glass is in the position
shown in Fig. 3, it stops the rotary motion of the rim b.
As already stated above, the same arrangement can also be applied to guard
or protective spectacles of various kinds. Moreover instead of the arch e a
complete second rim with another glass may be attached for those people whose
shortness of sight is so pronounced that they are compelled to use another eye-
glass although a weaker one for nearer objects.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Spectacles or eyeglasses so constructed that the glasses only come into
use when the face assumes such a position as to render it necessary, whilst on the
other hand when the position of the face is altered the glasses a with the rims b
which are pivoted to the arch (de) by means of a hinge d are automatically
released from their position substantially as described.
2. Spectacles or eyeglasses for the use of shortsighted people and other pur-
poses such as described in Claim 1 having the frame between the bridge and the
side shaped to correspond with the upper half of the rim containing the glass
and forming a cover therefor and connected thereto at the top by a hinge d
substantially as described.
3. In the arrangement described in Claim 2 the lip f on that part of the
frame e which serves as a cover for the rim containing the glass to prevent the
rotation of the latter.
4. Spectacles or eyeglasses constructed and arranged substantially as described
and shown.
Dated this 31st day of January 1898