Patent Description:
Particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the appended claims.

The description will be more fully understood with reference to the following figures in which components may not be drawn to scale, which are presented as various embodiments of the eyewear and eyewear components described herein and should not be construed as a complete depiction of the scope of the present disclosure.

Examples of eyewear with removable lenses are described. In some examples, the eyewear may include an attachment assembly for coupling the lens to a frame and/or to individual temples. The claimed attachment assembly includes one or more magnets for coupling a frame to individual temples, and is referred to as magnetic attachment assembly.

As shown in <FIG>, an example eyewear <NUM> includes a lens assembly <NUM> and an attachment assembly <NUM> for removably coupling the lens assembly to a temple <NUM>. The lens assembly <NUM> may include a lens <NUM> and at least one carrier <NUM>. The attachment assembly <NUM> may include an attachment mechanism <NUM> and a carrier <NUM> which is attached to the lens <NUM>. The attachment mechanism <NUM> is attached to a temple <NUM>, which is individually removable from the lens, or incorporated within a frame <NUM>. In the case of removable temples, a pair of attachment mechanisms <NUM> may be attached to a medial portion of each temple. The attachment mechanism <NUM> may include at least one pivotable component to allow the attachment mechanism <NUM> to be removably attached to the carrier <NUM> and thus to the lens <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> may include at least one seat <NUM> which may function to locate the attachment mechanism <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> and thus the lens assembly <NUM>. The seat <NUM> may thus be configured to position the attachment mechanism <NUM> in a predetermined location with respect to the carrier <NUM>. In some embodiments, the seat <NUM> may align the attachment mechanism <NUM> in a predetermined orientation with respect to the carrier <NUM>. In some embodiments, the seat <NUM> may be configured to receive a portion of the attachment mechanism <NUM>, such as a portion of the pivotable component, therein. In some embodiments, the seat <NUM> may be defined by one or more walls, passages, the contours of the surfaces of the one or more walls, passages, or any combinations thereof. When the attachment mechanism <NUM> is engaged with the carrier <NUM>, such as to secure the lens <NUM> to a temple <NUM> or to the frame <NUM>, the attachment mechanism <NUM> may be biased toward the engaged or closed positon, for example using magnetic force acting between a pair of magnetic materials positioned on opposing faces of the attachment mechanism <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> may be configured to resist separation of the attachment mechanism <NUM> when engaged with the carrier <NUM>, such as by restricting movement of one or more components of the attachment mechanism <NUM> in a direction opposite the direction of magnetic attraction, as will be further described below.

The eyewear <NUM> may be of a single lens (or shield-type) design or a dual lens design. A single lens eyewear may include a single or unitary lens (also referred to as a lens shield), which may include left and right lens portions configured to extend in the field of view of the left and right eyes of the user when worn. The unitary lens may be formed from a single lens blank and may thus be devoid of any seams or other discontinuities in the lens. This may provide a larger unobstructed field of view through the lens. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a unitary lens may include first and second end portions, which may be located at opposite ends of the lens. A carrier <NUM> may be attached to each of the first and second end portions. Each carrier <NUM> may be a separate component, which may be made from a different material than the lens. For example, the lens may be made from polycarbonate (PC), acrylic, or other materials which can provide suitable optical qualities (e.g., optical clarity) to the optical portion of the eyewear. The carrier <NUM> may be formed from an injection moldable plastic, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), an ABS/PC blend, High Density Polyethylene (HDPA), Thermoplastic Polyester Resin (PET), nylon, and others. Generally, any plastic material which provides good dimensional stability or stiffness may be suitable for forming an injection molded carrier. In other examples, the carriers may be manufactured using other techniques, such as additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) or machining, using materials known in the art to be suitable for such forming techniques. After forming, the carriers <NUM> may be attached to the lens <NUM>. In some examples, the carrier(s) may be attached to the lens while forming the carrier(s) such as through an over-molding process. Generally, to minimize distortion of the optical portion of the eyewear, the carriers are separately formed and are then attached to the optical element (i.e., the lens). In some embodiments, the carrier(s) may be fixedly attached to the lens, which generally implies that the carrier(s) are not be intended to be removed during normal use of the eyewear. For example, the carrier(s) may be bonded to the lens. In some examples, the carrier(s) may additionally or alternatively be mechanically coupled to the lens. For example, the lens <NUM> may include features for mechanically interlocking with corresponding features of the carrier <NUM>. In some examples, the lens <NUM> may include retention features (e.g., protrusion, hooks, or other surface or edge features) which may be configured to interlock with the carrier such as to resist separation of the carrier from the lens. In some examples the carriers may be attached to the lens with fastening hardware such as screws, rivets, pins.

In some embodiments, a separate carrier is attached to each of the opposite sides of the lens (e.g., to the first and second end portions). In the illustrated embodiments, the carriers may generally extend along a small portion of the periphery of the lens, although it is envisioned that in some embodiments, the carriers may be connected, such as by extending substantially along the top, the bottom portion of the lens, or along the entire or substantially the entire periphery of the lens. In the case of a dual lens design, the eyewear may include two lenses (i.e., left and right lens) and a single carrier may be attached to each lens, for example to one side of each of the two lenses, as will be further described for example with reference to <FIG>.

The eyewear <NUM> includes a pair of temples <NUM>. In some examples, the temples <NUM> may be removably attachable to the lens <NUM> via the attachment assembly <NUM>. In some examples, each temple <NUM> may be individually removably attachable to a respective one of the first and second end portions of a unitary lens. In some examples, the temples <NUM> may be part of a frame <NUM>. When forming part of a frame, the temples may be individually coupled to the frame <NUM>, such as to a rim portion of the frame which is configured to at least partially enclose the lens <NUM>. In some examples (e.g., in a single lens or dual lens eyewear), the temples may be pivotally coupled to the one or more lenses. For example, in the case of a rimmed design, the temples may be rigidly or pivotally coupled to the rim portion of the frame. The temples may have any shape (e.g., generally rounded or otherwise curved such as to conform to the user's head). The temples and/or other portions of the frame may be formed of a variety of materials as is known in the art, for example metal, plastic (e.g., injection molded or laminated plastic materials), composite materials, or combinations thereof. The temples may include soft polymeric materials, such as an elastomeric material, (e.g., for comfort) typically along a distal portion of the temple which is designed to rest against the user's head and/or ears.

An attachment mechanism <NUM> is coupled to each of the temples <NUM>. One or more components of the attachment mechanism <NUM> is pivotally coupled to the temple <NUM>, the frame <NUM>, or both. The attachment mechanism includes a first portion (e.g., a lever portion), which is movably (e.g., pivotally) coupled to a second (e.g., tab or backing) portion (e.g., tab or backing portion) of the attachment mechanism <NUM>. The attachment mechanism <NUM> is configured to be provided between an open and closed configuration such as by moving (e.g., pivoting) the first portion relative to the second portion from a closed position, in which the attachment mechanism <NUM> is configured to retain the lens assembly <NUM> and thus lens <NUM> in engagement with the temple <NUM>, to an open position, in which the lens assembly <NUM> and thus lens <NUM> may be attached or detached from the temple <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first and/or the second portion of the attachment mechanism may be pivotally coupled to the temple in addition to being pivotable to one another. In some embodiments, the first and/or the second portion of the attachment mechanism may be pivotally coupled to the temple at the temple pivot axis (also referred to as temple hinge axis or hinge line). While using a common pivot axis for the temple hinge and the pivotal components of the attachment mechanism may provide a more compact design, in other embodiments it is envisioned that the attachment mechanism and temple hinge pivot at different axes, for example the temple hinge axis may be located distally from the pivot axis of the attachment mechanism.

In some embodiments, the attachment assembly <NUM> may be configured to allow the first and second portions of the attachment mechanism <NUM> to be in contact with one another in the closed configuration. For example, the carrier <NUM> may include a passage that connects the opposite sides of the carrier and which may enable at least part of the attachment mechanism <NUM> to pass through the carrier <NUM> when the attachment mechanism <NUM> is engaged therewith. The passage may be generally circular, rectangular, triangular or otherwise-shaped. The attachment assembly <NUM> may be configured to cause the first (e.g., lever) portion to temporarily move (e.g., pivot) away from the second portion during attachment or removal of the lens <NUM>. For example, the carrier <NUM> and/or the attachment mechanism <NUM> may include ramp features which may cooperate to cause the first and second portions of the attachment mechanism <NUM> to separate as the attachment mechanism <NUM> is advanced toward the carrier <NUM>, e.g., without the application of user force to cause the separation other than the force applied to advance the attachment mechanism <NUM> toward the carrier <NUM>.

The attachment mechanism <NUM> is a magnetic attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism <NUM> includes a pair of magnetic materials attached to respective ones of the first and second portions of the attachment mechanism <NUM>. In embodiments herein, the magnetic materials may be recessed into a cavity and have one or more surfaces exposed (e.g., the facing surfaces of the magnets) or they may be substantially enclosed in pockets or slots formed within the first and/or second portions. In some embodiments, either one of the first and second portions may be formed substantially entirely of a magnetic material. For example, the second portion, which may be a generally plate like structure in some embodiments, may be formed substantially entirely of magnetic material (e.g., a permanent magnet or ferromagnetic material, which may be shaped to slidably engage the carrier as described herein). In some embodiments, the pivotable portion may additionally or alternatively be formed substantially entirely out of a magnetic material which includes features of the first portion as described herein. In yet further embodiments, either of the first and second portions need not be plate-like structures and may be implemented using any suitable structure that is configured to engage the carrier as described herein. The attachment mechanism <NUM> may include at least one magnet (e.g., a permanent magnet such as a rare earth magnet) and a magnetic material (e.g., ferromagnetic metal such as iron or steel). In some examples, the attachment mechanism <NUM> may include a pair of magnets (e.g., neodymium magnets) attached to the opposing (i.e. facing) sides of the first and second portions of the attachment mechanism <NUM>. The magnetic materials (e.g., magnet and ferromagnetic material or pair of magnets) may be arranged on opposing sides of the first and second portions to urge the first portion in a first direction towards the second portion, thus allowing the first (e.g., lever) portion to return to the closed position. The use of two magnets in some embodiments may provide additional centering function (e.g., resulting from the magnets' natural tendency to axially align their respective fields to one another), which may enhance the alignment and reduce free play between the separable components of the eyewear <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the attachment assembly <NUM> may be configured to enable the first portion to return to the closed position after the lens <NUM> has been attached or detached from the temple <NUM>. For example, the attachment assembly <NUM> may include one or more stop features, which may limit the separation of the first and second portions to a predetermined amount, for example limiting the angle between the first and second portions to up to <NUM> degrees. In some embodiments, the separation angle may be limited to up to <NUM> degrees or greater depending on the force of magnetic attraction between the pivotal portions of the attachment mechanism. The stop features may be configured to limit the separation (e.g., separation angle) to a sufficient amount to allow the attachment mechanism to separate from the carrier while maintaining the pivotal portions of the attachment mechanism within the effective range of the magnetic attraction force to enable the pivotal portions to automatically return the attachment mechanism <NUM> to the closed position.

While described primarily in the context of eyeglasses with single or double lenses, the magnetic attachment assembly may be used with other types of eyewear, for example goggles or other types of protective eyewear. For example, the magnetic attachment assembly <NUM> in <FIG> may be configured for removably attaching a lens <NUM> of an eyewear (e.g., a goggle lens) to the eyewear frame <NUM> (e.g., a goggle frame). As described, the attachment assembly may include an attachment mechanism <NUM> which is coupled to or forms part of the eyewear frame <NUM>, and a carrier which is coupled to the lens <NUM>. The attachment mechanism <NUM> may include a first member pivotally coupled to a second member, and the second member may be configured to enable placement of the eyewear <NUM> in the wearer's field of view. For example, the second member may be coupled to or form part of an eyewear frame <NUM>, which enables the placement of the eyewear <NUM> in a desired location with respect to the wearer's face. In the case of goggles, the eyewear frame <NUM> may be shaped as a face mask as is generally known in the art of goggles and may include a compliant (e.g., soft rubber) portion configured to be positioned against the wearer's face. The face mask may define an opening generally corresponding to the shape of the lens <NUM> or a sub-frame to which the lens <NUM> may be attached in some cases. The second member or portion of the attachment mechanism <NUM> may be either rigidly or movably coupled to the frame or form part thereof and the first member or portion may be pivotable to the first member or portion and thus to the frame. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism <NUM>, for example the second member, may be coupled to a strap connector or directly to a strap of the goggle to enable placement of the goggle in a desired location with respect to the wearer's face. Each of the first and second members of the attachment mechanism <NUM> may include a magnetic material. The magnetic materials may be arranged on the respective first and second members in a manner to attract the first and second members or portions toward one another (e.g., along a direction of magnetic attraction).

One or more carriers <NUM> may be attached to the lens <NUM>, for example to opposite (e.g., left and right) ends of a goggle lens. In some embodiments, a single carrier may be used. In other embodiments a plurality (e.g., two or more) carriers may be used. The one or more carriers may be positioned anywhere around the perimeter of the lens (e.g., at the sides, top, bottom, etc.). As described herein, the carrier <NUM> may be configured to position first and second portions or members of an attachment mechanism <NUM> on opposite sides of the carrier <NUM>. As described, the carrier may be attached to a removable lens of the eyewear and configured such that the first and second members are positionable on opposite sides of the carrier <NUM>, for example by providing two opposite sides each configured to engage respective one of the first and second members or portions of the attachment mechanism <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> may define a seat <NUM> configured to receive one of the members (e.g., the first member) at least partially therein. For example, the seat <NUM> may be defined by contouring and/or surface features (e.g., one or more walls, channels, and/or through passages) of the carrier, which are designed to position and/or enclose at least part of the first member. The carrier <NUM> may be configured to prevent movement of another portion of the attachment mechanism (e.g., the second member) in a direction opposite the first direction when the first member is positioned in the seat. For example, the carrier <NUM> may include contouring and/or surface features (e.g., one or more walls, channels, and/or through passages) on the opposite side of the carrier <NUM> to prevent movement of the second member away from the first member (e.g., in a direction opposite the direction of magnetic attraction), thus preventing separation of the first and second members when engaged with the carrier.

<FIG> show views of eyewear or components thereof in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The eyewear <NUM> or any components thereof may include one or more of the features of the eyewear or components described with reference to <FIG>. Also, eyewear in accordance with the present invention may omit one or more of the features or components illustrated in <FIG> or may include additional components or features discussed with reference to illustrated in other figures herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The illustrated example of eyewear <NUM> in <FIG> is a single lens design and includes a lens assembly <NUM> and an attachment mechanism <NUM> for coupling the lens assembly <NUM> to the temples <NUM>. The lens assembly <NUM> includes a lens <NUM> and a carrier <NUM>, the carrier <NUM> forming part of an attachment assembly <NUM> of the eyewear <NUM>. The attachment assembly <NUM> also includes the attachment mechanism <NUM>. As described herein, the attachment mechanism <NUM> may include a first portion <NUM>, which is pivotally coupled to a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> may thus be interchangeably referred to as a lever portion <NUM> or simply lever <NUM>. Each of the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, may include or be formed at least in part of a magnetic material and may be shaped in any suitable manner to enable engagement with the carrier <NUM> as described herein. For example, and as further described below, the first and/or second portions <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, may be implemented using any suitable structures, each of which is positionable on opposite side of the lens. For example, as in the embodiment in <FIG>, the second portion <NUM> may be implemented as a plate-like structure that houses or contains magnetic material (e.g., magnet or ferromagnetic metal) and which is configure to be at least partially inserted into the carrier <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> may thus be interchangeably referred to as a backing or tab portion <NUM> or simply backing or tab. A tab may be generally rectangular in shape as in the illustrated embodiment in <FIG>. In other embodiments, the plate-like structure or tab may be rounded for example at its forward end (e.g., a tab having a generally semi-circular or semi-ovular shape). Although the tab is described generally as plate like, this does not imply that the tab is necessarily of constant thickness. While the tab may have a constant thickness in some embodiments, in other embodiments, shaping of the tab's rearward side for example may result in a plate-like structure with varying thickness along its span. Also, it will be understood that the tab need not have a perimeter that defines a regular shape. The perimeter of the tab may define any irregular shape as may be suitable for a particular application. The first and second portions <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, may be differently shaped in other embodiments than the examples specifically illustrated or described.

In the illustrated embodiment in <FIG>, each of the temples <NUM> is individually removably coupled to a unitary lens <NUM>. In other embodiments, the temples may instead be part of a frame to which one or more lenses may be removably attachable, for example, as described further below with reference to <FIG>. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, each of the temples <NUM> is pivotally coupled to the attachment mechanism <NUM> and thus to the lens assembly <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, one or more components of the attachment mechanism <NUM> is pivotally coupled to a medial portion <NUM>-<NUM> of each temple <NUM>. In other embodiments, one or more components of the attachment mechanism <NUM> may be pivotable with respect to the temple and/or frame but the temples may not be pivotable with respect to frame and/or lens assembly. As described, the temples <NUM> may be formed of any suitable material such as metal, a composite material (e.g., fiber-reinforced or laminated materials), or plastics (e.g., injection moldable plastics) and/or may include portions (e.g., distal portions <NUM>-<NUM> of the temples) that may be coated, wrapped with, or otherwise comprising relatively soft materials (e.g., rubber or other elastomer), for example for user comfort.

The lens assembly <NUM> may include a lens <NUM> having first and second opposite end portions <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. The lens <NUM> may include one or more of the features of lens <NUM> and may be used to implement lens <NUM>. The lens <NUM> may have a generally arcuate shape with an arc length direction, e.g., as shown by arrows <NUM>, extending generally along the curvature of the lens (see e.g., <FIG>). The lens <NUM> may be a prescription lens or a non-prescription lens (i.e., a plano lens) and may comprise one or more compounds and/or coatings configured to impart light transmittance characteristics as may be desired or suitable for a particular application. For example, the lens <NUM> may include one or more compounds or coatings which configure the lens into a tinted lens, a polarized lens, a scratch resistant lens, or combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the lens <NUM> may be formed from a projectile- or shatter-resistant material selected to meet one or more ballistic safety standards. The lens <NUM> may have a front or forward-facing side <NUM> (i.e. the side of the lens which is farthest away from the user's face when the eyewear is worn) and a rear or inward-facing side <NUM> (i.e. the side of the lens which is closest to the user's face when the eyewear is worn). Compounds and/or coatings, such as for tinting the lens, may be laminated in the body of the lens and/or applied to either of the rear of front sides of the lens <NUM>.

The lens assembly <NUM> may include first and second carriers <NUM>, each of which is coupled to a respective one of the end portions <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. Each of the carriers <NUM> may be an injection molded plastic component, which may be attached (e.g., bonded and/or mechanically secured) to the lens <NUM>. In some examples, the carrier(s) may be attached to the lens while forming the carrier(s) such as through an over-molding process. The carriers <NUM> may have one or more of the features of the carrier <NUM> and may be used to implement the carrier <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the lens assembly <NUM> includes two separate carriers <NUM> attached to the opposite ends (e.g., distal ends) of the lens <NUM>. The illustrated embodiment of eyewear <NUM> is generally rimless or frameless in that a perimeter of the lens is not substantially enclosed by a frame. That is, each of the carriers <NUM> may enclose only a portion of a perimeter of the lens <NUM>, for example, less than <NUM>%, or less than <NUM>% of the perimeter of the lens. By having relatively smaller carriers, a larger unobstructed view of the eyewear may be achieved, although in other embodiments, the carriers <NUM> may extend over a larger portion of the perimeter than <NUM>%. It is envisioned also that in in some embodiments, a unitary lens may be enclosed, at least partially, by a rim, which connects or incorporates the carriers. The carriers of such a rimmed design may function in a similar manner as described herein to individually engage respective left and right temples or for coupling a rimmed lens to an eyewear frame that includes the temples.

The shape of the lens <NUM> and/or one or more other components or features of the eyewear may serve utilitarian functions, aesthetic functions, or both. In some examples, the upper periphery of the lens may be contoured upward (e.g., as shown in <FIG>) to increase the surface area of the lens, which may increase the protective (e.g., optical and/or ballistic) function of the lens. For example, by increasing the surface area of the lens, the amount of light penetration, such as in the case of a tinted lens, may be reduced. Alternatively, the contour of the periphery of the lens may be primarily or purely aesthetic. In some examples, the upper periphery may be generally flat across the upper edge or contoured downward (e.g., towards the nose recess) which may provide in a more slender appearance of the lens and/or reduce the weight of the eyewear by reducing the usage of lens material. Other contours or shapes of the lens may be utilized in other examples.

In some embodiments, the lens may define a nose recess <NUM> (e.g., along a bottom periphery of the lens <NUM>), which may be configured to accommodate the nose of the wearer when the eyewear <NUM> is worn. In some embodiments, a nose piece assembly <NUM> may be provided at the nose recess <NUM>. The nose piece assembly <NUM> may include a nose pad <NUM>-<NUM> and in some cases an optional nose piece <NUM>-<NUM>. The nose piece <NUM>-<NUM> may be a generally rigid plastic component (e.g., injection molded plastic) corresponding in shape to the recess <NUM> and fixedly attached thereto. The nose pad <NUM>-<NUM> may be formed from a soft or flexible polymeric material (e.g., Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)) which may conform to the user's nose for a comfortable fit and may optionally include one or more bendable portions for improved adjustability. The nose pad <NUM>-<NUM> may be attached to the nose piece <NUM>-<NUM> or directly to the lens <NUM> at the recess <NUM>. In some examples, the nose pad <NUM> -<NUM> may be removably attached to the lens <NUM>, such as to enable replacement of the nose pad. In other embodiments, the nose pad <NUM>-<NUM> may not be removable from the lens <NUM>. In some embodiments, the nose piece <NUM>-<NUM> may include one or more retention members <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., protrusions, clips, hooks, or the like) for coupling the nose pad <NUM>-<NUM> thereto. In some embodiments, the retention members <NUM>-<NUM> may be removably attached to the nose piece or recess and/or may be incorporated in an assembly with the nose pad <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, a nose pad assembly may include one or more projections or posts configured to snap into engagement with the nose piece <NUM>-<NUM> or recess <NUM>. In some embodiments, the retention members <NUM>-<NUM> may be adjustable, such as to vary a distance between the retention members <NUM>-<NUM> and thus enable adjustment of the fit of the nose pad <NUM>-<NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, each retention member may be implemented using a projection or post, one end of which is pivotally coupled to the nose piece <NUM>-<NUM> such that distance between the second opposite ends of the retention members may be varied. The nose pad <NUM>-<NUM> may be made from a resilient material (e.g., a material that returns to its original shape in the absence of applied force), and the adjustability of the nose pad <NUM>-<NUM> may be achieved by adjustability of the nose piece <NUM>-<NUM>, for example specifically by the adjustability of the retention members <NUM>-<NUM> between one or more positions (e.g., a narrow position in which the second ends of the retention members are closer to one other or a wide position in which the second ends are farther apart from one another). Other combinations may be used for the nose piece assembly <NUM>.

The carriers <NUM> may be arranged generally along the arc length direction <NUM> of the lens <NUM>, which may serve aesthetic and/or utilitarian functions. In the embodiment in <FIG>, each carrier <NUM> extends from one of two opposite ends of the lens in a direction generally following the curvature of the lens. Carriers arranged as an extension to the lens shape (e.g., as compared to structures that may protrude from surfaces of the lens, for example perpendicularly to the lens) may provide a slimmer form factor, which may be more appealing to the user. In some cases, the lens assembly may be manufactured and/or sold separately from the temples, and this slimmer form factor may enable a more compact packaging of the lens assembly. In the embodiment in <FIG>, each carrier <NUM> extends from one of two opposite ends of the lens in a direction generally following the curvature of the lens.

Each carrier <NUM> may wrap, at least partially, around a front and a rear side of the respective end portion of the lens <NUM>. Each carrier <NUM> includes a front or forward-facing side <NUM>-<NUM>, which is proximate the front or forward-facing side <NUM> of the lens <NUM>, and a rear or inward-facing side <NUM>-<NUM>, which is proximate the rear or inward-facing side <NUM> of the lens <NUM>. By enclosing part of the front <NUM> and rear <NUM> sides of the lens <NUM>, a more secure attachment between the carrier <NUM> and the lens <NUM> may be achieved, which may reduce free play and provide a better user experience. As described, e.g., with reference to <FIG>, the carriers <NUM> may be formed separately from the lens <NUM> and may be fixedly assembled thereto, for example by mechanically coupling the carrier <NUM> to the lens <NUM>, to form the lens assembly <NUM>. The lens <NUM> may include retention features <NUM> (see e.g., <FIG>), which may interlock with cooperating features of the carrier <NUM>. During assembly, the carrier <NUM> may temporarily elastically deform to allow the retention features <NUM> to snap into engagement to secure the carrier <NUM> to the lens <NUM>. In some embodiments, the carrier <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be glued or otherwise mechanically fastened to the lens <NUM>, e.g., to the respective end portion <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>.

Each of the carriers <NUM> may be configured to engage a respective attachment mechanism <NUM> coupled to respective one of the temples <NUM> thereby forming the attachment assembly <NUM>. Each carrier <NUM> may be configured to position one or more portions of the respective attachment mechanism <NUM> on one side of the lens and one or more portions of the attachment mechanism <NUM> on the opposite side of the lens, as well as align these portions relative to the carrier <NUM> and thus the lens assembly <NUM>. For example, each carrier <NUM> may include engagement features, which may be arranged on the front and/or rear sides of the carrier, as will be further described. For example, the front side <NUM>-<NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may include features configured to engage with a first portion (e.g., a lever portion) of the attachment mechanism <NUM> and the rear side <NUM>-<NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may include features configured to engage with a second portion (e.g., a tab portion) of the attachment mechanism <NUM> thereby positioning the first and second portions of the attachment mechanism <NUM> on opposite sides of the lens when the temple <NUM> is attached thereto. The engagement features may include one or more seats, channels, ramps, apertures, posts, protrusions, walls and/or contouring of surfaces on one or more sides of the carrier. By arranging the carriers <NUM> as an extension to the curvature of the lens <NUM> and configuring the attachment mechanisms <NUM> to engage both the front and rear sides of the lens assembly, an improved connection between the lens and temples may be achieved. The combination of features described herein may allow tighter tolerances to be maintained between the mating components of the eyewear (e.g., between the attachment mechanism and carrier), for example as compared to tolerances that may be achievable by mating features (i.e., holes or notches) cut into the lens itself. The ability to maintain tighter tolerances in accordance with the examples herein may provide a better user experience.

In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment in <FIG>, a first side (e.g., front side <NUM>-<NUM>) of the carrier <NUM> may define a first channel <NUM>, also referred to as front channel <NUM>. The front channel <NUM>, and in some examples in cooperation with surfaces of the passage <NUM>, may define a seat <NUM> which may be configured to position and/or align the lever portion <NUM> with respect to the carrier <NUM>. The seat <NUM> may be configured to receive the lever portion <NUM> at least partially therein. The seat <NUM> may be configured to accommodate the received portion in a close fit therein, with some or all surfaces of the received portion being design to abut the surfaces of the seat <NUM>. It will be understood however, that in some embodiments, one or more surfaces of the received portion may not contact the seat <NUM>. By increasing the amount of surfaces that contact one another, more precise tolerances may need to be maintained during manufacture; however, a greater amount of contacting surfaces may improve overall fit between the temple and lens assembly thus providing a better user experience. It will be further appreciated that although certain advantages or benefits are discussed with reference to some of the embodiments herein, some embodiments of the present disclosure may not provide all or any of these advantages or benefits.

As illustrated, the channel <NUM> may be generally aligned with the arc length direction (e.g., the direction of curvature) of the lens and may thus function to align the temples with the direction of curvature of the lens. The direction of curvature in the context herein generally refers to the curvature of the lens in the horizontal plane, although it will be appreciated that in some examples, the lens <NUM> may also be curved in the vertical plane. Additionally or optionally, the shape of the passage may provide the positioning and/or alignment function. For example, the passage may be rectangular, triangular or otherwise shaped to force the lever portion <NUM> in a particular positon or orientation for proper coupling with the carrier.

The front channel <NUM> may include one or more walls that restrict movement of the lever portion <NUM> in one or more directions. For example, the channel <NUM> may be configured to restrict lateral movement of the lever portion (e.g., in a direction generally perpendicular to the directions <NUM> and <NUM>), forward movement of the lever portion (e.g., generally towards the medial portion of the lens along direction <NUM>), or combinations thereof. The one or more walls may include an upper wall <NUM>-<NUM>, which may restrict upward movement of the lever portion <NUM> (e.g., movement toward the upper peripheral edge of the lens <NUM>). The one or more walls may include a lower wall <NUM>-<NUM>, which may restrict downward movement of the lever portion (e.g., movement toward the lower peripheral edge of the lens <NUM>). As such, the upper and lower walls of the channel <NUM> may restrict movement of the lever portion <NUM> generally laterally to the arc length direction <NUM> of the lens <NUM>. In some embodiments, the one or more walls may include a forward wall <NUM>-<NUM>, which may restrict forward movement of the lever portion (e.g., movement toward a medial or central portion of the lens <NUM>). In some embodiments, forward and/or lateral movement of the attachment mechanism may alternatively or additionally be restricted by other engagement features of the carrier such as the post <NUM> and/or features provided on the opposite side of the carrier (i.e., walls <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>), as described further below. The channel walls (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>) may be contoured outwardly towards the perimeter of the carrier as may be desired, for example to provide an aesthetically pleasing look to the eyewear.

In some embodiments, the front side <NUM>-<NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may not include a channel. In such embodiments, positioning and/or alignment of the lever portion <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> may be achieved substantially by the shape and/or contours of the seat <NUM>, which in the illustrated embodiment is defined in part by the shape and wall contours of the passage <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, positioning and/or alignment of the lever portion <NUM> may be aided by the automatic centering of the magnets in embodiments in which a pair of magnets is used at each of the attachment mechanism <NUM>. In other embodiments, the front side <NUM>-<NUM> may include a channel <NUM> but walls of the channel <NUM> may serve primarily an aesthetic function and positioning and/or alignment may be provided by other features of the attachment assembly <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the second side (e.g., rear side <NUM>-<NUM>) of the carrier <NUM> defines a second channel <NUM>, also referred to as rear channel <NUM>. The rear channel <NUM> may be may be configured to position and/or align the tab portion <NUM> with respect to the carrier <NUM>. Similar to the front channel <NUM>, the rear channel <NUM> may be generally aligned with the arc length direction <NUM> (i.e., direction of horizontal curvature) of the lens <NUM>, thus also facilitating the alignment of the temples <NUM> with the direction of curvature of the lens <NUM>. The rear channel <NUM> may include one or more walls that restrict movement of the tab portion <NUM> in one or more directions. For example, the rear channel <NUM> may include an upper wall <NUM>-<NUM>, which may restrict upward movement of the tab portion <NUM>, a lower wall <NUM>-<NUM>, which may restrict downward movement of the tab portion <NUM>, and a forward wall <NUM>-<NUM>, which may restrict forward movement of the tab portion <NUM>. Like the front channel, the walls of the rear channel <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>) may be contoured outwardly towards the perimeter of the carrier, as may be desired, which may provide utilitarian functions (e.g., ease of manufacture) and/or aesthetic functions. In preferred embodiments, the rear channel <NUM> may be configured to restrict movement of the tab portion <NUM> in a direction <NUM> opposite the direction of magnetic attraction. The direction <NUM> may be generally perpendicular to and away from the rear side of the carrier <NUM>, when the temple <NUM> is coupled thereto. For example, the rear channel <NUM> may be configured to at least partially enclose the tab portion <NUM>. One or more of the walls (e.g., the upper, lower, and/or forward walls <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>) may have portions (e.g., flanges <NUM>-1a, <NUM>-2a, <NUM>-3a) that extend over the rearward facing side of the tab portion <NUM> thereby restricting movement of the tab portion <NUM> along the direction <NUM>. The flanges <NUM>-1a, <NUM>-2a, <NUM>-3a may cooperate with ledges (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>) formed in the rearward facing side of the tab portion <NUM> to restrict the rearward movement of the tab portion, while still providing an aesthetically pleasing (e.g., smoothly contoured) look of the assembled eyewear. In some examples, interior sides of the one or more of the walls may be shaped (e.g., angled) in a manner to retain the tab portion therein, for example by forming a dove-tail slidable joint with the tab portion. By restricting movement (e.g., forward and/or lateral movement) of the tab and/or lever portions, and thus movement of the attachment mechanism in relation to the lens assembly, the attachment assembly may be configured to resist certain forces. For example, if a stretching force is applied at the distal portion of the temples, e.g., along the direction <NUM>, which may occur for example if a user attempts to spread the temples wider than the nominal distance between the temple in the as-worn configuration (e.g., when placing the eyewear on a helmet for example or about any other circumference that is greater than the nominal circumference), the attachment mechanism may experience a reaction force acting against the magnetic force of attraction between the tab and lever portions, this reaction force tending to push the tab portions away from the lever portions. In the absence of engagement features as described herein (e.g., channel <NUM>), the magnetic force may be insufficient to maintain the tab and lever portions in the closed position and the temples may pop off or disengage, which would be undesirable. Using magnets that provide a sufficiently strong magnetic field to resist this reaction force may not be a practical solution because this would make coupling or decoupling of the temples by the user more arduous (e.g., the user would have to apply significantly more force to open the lever portions), thus detracting from the user experience. Thus the novel combination of using mechanical and magnetic retention to maintain the attachment mechanism in engagement with the carrier provides a more elegant solution.

As described, the attachment mechanism <NUM> may include a lever portion <NUM> and a tab portion <NUM> pivotally coupled to the lever portion <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the lever portion <NUM> is pivotally coupled to other parts of the attachment mechanism <NUM> (e.g., to the tab portion <NUM>) to allow the lever portion to pivot away from the tab portion <NUM> while sliding the tab portion into and out of the channel <NUM> during coupling and decoupling of the temple to the lens. In other embodiments, position of the two may be reversed, for example the rear portion may pivot away from the lens while the front portion is slid into and out of a retaining channel. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism <NUM> may be pivotally coupled to the respective temple, such that when the lens is installed into eyewear <NUM>, the temples are pivotable between a folded configuration and an as-worn configuration (e.g., as shown in <FIG>). In the as-worn configuration (see <FIG>), the temples may be unfolded to the position shown in <FIG> and in the folded configuration the temples may be folded towards one another, e.g., in a direction opposite direction <NUM> in <FIG>. In the as-worn configuration, the temples may prevent separation of the lens from the eyewear. For example, a lever end of the portion <NUM> may engage (e.g., abut) a surface of the temple to prevent pivoting of the lever portion to its open position. Thus, by mechanically locking out the lever, this arrangement may advantageously ensure that the lens cannot accidentally be detached from the eyewear when the eyewear is being worn. In other embodiments, it is envisioned that the temples may not lock out the lever in this manner. For example, the lever may be pivoted to the temple through a slot cut into the temple. This may allow the lever to open even with the temples in the as-worn configuration. This type of arrangement may be advantageous for embodiments in which the temples are not pivotally attached to the lens assembly. In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the lever and tab portions are pivotally attached to one another at the temple hinge <NUM>, thus sharing a common pivot axis <NUM> (also referred to as hinge axis) with the temple <NUM>. The lever and tab portions <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, may each include a hinge part <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, which together with the hinge part <NUM> of the temple <NUM> may form the temple hinge <NUM>. In yet further embodiments, the tab and lever portions need not share a pivot axis with the temple hinge and may for example be medially located from the temple hinge.

The hinge parts <NUM> of the lever portion may incorporate a stop feature <NUM>. Typically, a hinge part of a conventional hinge is rounded on all free sides (e.g., as shown by dashed line 245c in <FIG>) in to allow the hinge to rotate freely about the hinge axis. In the illustrated embodiment, one or more of the hinge parts <NUM> may be shaped to include a flattened projection 245a, which may act as a hard stop of the hinge part <NUM> to limit the amount of rotation of the hinge part <NUM>. When the lever portion <NUM> is pivoted toward the open position, a surface of the flattened projection 245a abuts a distal surface of the tab portion <NUM> to limit the separation between the lever portion <NUM> and the tab portion <NUM>. In some embodiments, the pivotal angle is thus limited to up to <NUM> degrees, up to <NUM> degrees, or up to <NUM> degrees as may be dictated by the design of the mating components. For example, the pivotal angle may be limited to an amount sufficient to allow the lever portion <NUM> to pass over the distal end of the carrier (e.g., during separation of the temple from the lens) while still remaining close enough to the tab portion <NUM> to be within the field of magnetic attraction created by the magnetic materials <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. By maintaining the lever portion <NUM> within the range of the field during separation, the lever portion <NUM> is able to automatically snap back to the closed position without the application of user force. In other embodiments the stop feature may be implemented in a different manner, for example by spring loading the lever portion or using a different combination of structural elements to limit the pivotal movement of the lever portion.

A magnetic material is affixed to each of the lever portion <NUM> and the tab portion <NUM>. In some embodiments, the magnetic material on each of the lever portion and the tab portion may be a magnet (e.g., a neodymium or other type of permanent magnet). In other embodiments, the magnetic material on one of the lever and tab portions may be a magnet and the other may be a ferromagnetic material. The magnetic materials (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) are arranged on opposing sides of the lever and tab portions (e.g., engagement sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the tab and lever portions, respectively) to urge the lever and tab portions in a first direction towards one another, which direction may also referred to as the direction of magnetic attraction.

Each of the lever portion <NUM> and the tab portion <NUM> may include a housing to secure the magnetic material thereto. For example, a magnet housing <NUM> (see e.g., exploded views <NUM> and <NUM>, in which the magnetic materials have been removed to illustrate features of the magnet housings) may be provided on the engagement side <NUM> of the lever portion <NUM>. The magnet housing <NUM> may protrude from a surface of the engagement side <NUM> and may at least partially enclose the first magnetic material <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, by surrounding all but one side of the first magnetic material. Similarly, a magnet housing <NUM> may be provided on the engagement side <NUM> of the tab portion <NUM>. The magnet housing <NUM> may be provided by a recess defined in a surface of the engagement side <NUM>. The recess may at least partially enclose the second magnetic material <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, by surrounding all but one side of the second magnetic material. The second magnetic material <NUM>-<NUM> may be seated in the magnet housing <NUM> such that it does not protrude above the surface of the engagement side <NUM>, thus allowing the tab portion <NUM> to slide unobstructed within the rear channel <NUM>. The engagement side <NUM> may be substantially flat and the magnetic material may be substantially flush or slightly below the surface of the engagement side, such as to allow the tab portion <NUM> to slide into and out of the channel <NUM>. The magnetic materials <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, which in some cases may be a pair of magnets or a magnet and a piece ferromagnetic material, may be attached to the respective lever or tab portion, for example by being press fit into the respective magnetic housing. Additionally or alternatively, the magnetic materials may be bonded to the housing and/or one or more retaining features, such as a lip at the opening of the housing or surface features on the inside of the magnet housing, may be used to secure the magnetic materials thereto. In other embodiments, the magnetic materials may be attached to their respective housing during the molding of the respective component of the attachment mechanism <NUM>. In some embodiments, the facing sides of the magnets may be partially or fully enclosed by a surface which may enhance the mechanical retention of the magnets to the respective one of the tab and lever portions. That is, one or both of the magnets may be inserted into a slot defined by the respective tab or lever portion, such as by being inserted in a direction not in line with the magnetic force. In such examples, the magnets may attract through the material of the tab and/or lever portions (e.g., a thin wall on the engagement side of the magnet housing where the magnetic force may act through these thin walls). This arrangement may provide a robust mechanical assembly between the magnets and the respective tab or lever portion,.

As described, the carrier <NUM> may include a seat <NUM> configured to position the lever portion <NUM>. The seat <NUM> may be defined at least partially by surface contours at the base of the channel <NUM>. The seat may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the magnet housing <NUM> such as to enable a close fit with the magnet housing <NUM> when pulled towards the tab portion under the magnetic attraction force of the magnetic materials <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In some embodiments, the seat <NUM> may be defined, at least partially by walls of a passage <NUM>, which connects the front and rear sides of the carrier <NUM>. In embodiments which include a passage <NUM>, the lever portion <NUM> may be configured such that at least part of the lever portion <NUM>, for example the magnet housing <NUM> or a portion thereof, is received in the passage <NUM> and thus passes through a portion of the carrier <NUM>, e.g., as shown in <FIG>.

In some embodiments which include a passage <NUM>, the attachment assembly <NUM> may be configured to allow the magnetic materials to contact when the attachment mechanism <NUM> and thus temple <NUM> is coupled to the carrier <NUM> and thus to the lens assembly <NUM>. In other embodiments, the attachment assembly <NUM> may be configured such that the magnetic materials do not contact one another when the temple <NUM> is coupled to the lens assembly <NUM>. For example, in embodiments, which include a passage <NUM>, the depth of the passage <NUM> may be slightly greater than the height of the magnet housing <NUM> thus providing the first magnetic material <NUM>-<NUM> a slight distance away from the second magnetic material <NUM>-<NUM> when the attachment mechanism is engaged to the carrier. In other embodiments, one or more of the magnetic materials may be seated slightly below the upper most edge of the respective magnet housing thus the magnetic materials may not come into contact with one another even if the attachment assembly <NUM> is arranged to allow the lever and tab portions to contact one another when engaged through the carrier. In yet further embodiments, the carrier may not include a through passage <NUM> and the seat may bottom out at a thinned out portion of the carrier with the magnetic attraction between the materials <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> acting through the thinned out portion of the carrier to secure the attachment mechanism to the carrier. In some embodiments, the seat may be defined solely by the walls of the channel without additional contouring or shaping of the surface(s) at the base of the channel. In such embodiments, the magnetic materials <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may be separated by a small gap in the engaged or closed position of the attachment mechanism.

As described, the seat <NUM>, which may be defined in part by a channel <NUM> and/or a passage <NUM>, may function to align the lever portion <NUM> with respect to the carrier <NUM> and thus with respect to the lens <NUM>. Similarly, the channel <NUM> may facilitate alignment of the tab portion <NUM> with respect to the carrier <NUM> while also preventing separation of the tab portion <NUM> from the carrier <NUM> in a direction opposite the force of magnetic attraction. In some embodiments, the forward wall of the magnet housing may taper downward towards a forward end of the lever portion defining a ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. The ramp <NUM>-<NUM> may be inclined such that the thickness of the lever portion <NUM> increased from the forward end of the door toward the magnetic material. The ramp <NUM>-<NUM> may cooperate with a ramp on the carrier <NUM> to facilitate the automatic opening of the attachment mechanism <NUM>, as further described. The ramps may bear against each other as the attachment mechanism <NUM> is advanced in the insertion direction <NUM>, which may be generally aligned with the direction of horizontal curvature <NUM>, to cause the movable portion(s) of the attachment mechanism <NUM> to separate against the attractive force of the magnetic materials that bias the movable portion(s) toward one another.

The carrier may include a post <NUM> which connects the upper and lower portions of the carrier <NUM>. The post <NUM> may define a distal side of the seat <NUM>, and in the illustrated embodiment in <FIG>, the distal end side of the passage <NUM>. The post <NUM> may include a ramp <NUM> on the side opposite the seat or passage wall. In other words, the ramp <NUM> may be defined on a side of the carrier which faces the ramp <NUM>-<NUM> when the attachment mechanism <NUM> is positioned for coupling to the carrier. The ramp <NUM> may guide the ramp <NUM>-<NUM> on the lever portion as the temple, and thus the attachment mechanism, is moved in the insertion direction to temporarily urge the lever portion away from the tab portion. The ramp <NUM> may be inclined such that the thickness of the post <NUM> decreased from the passage <NUM> the distal end of the carrier <NUM>. When the temple is attached to the lens, the post <NUM> is positioned between the magnetic material <NUM>-<NUM> and the temple hinge. As such, the post <NUM> may act to restrict movement of the lever portion and thus the attachment mechanism in the direction <NUM> when the attachment mechanism is engaged to the carrier (e.g., the lever portion is in the closed position).

With reference now also to <FIG>, sequences for coupling and decoupling a lens to a temple in accordance with some examples are described in further detail below. <FIG> show a sequence for attaching the temple <NUM> to a lens assembly <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the temple is moved in the direction of insertion <NUM>. As the attachment mechanism <NUM> advances toward the carrier <NUM>, the tab portion <NUM> may engage the rear channel <NUM>, for example by sliding into the channel <NUM>. As descried, the tab portion <NUM> and carrier <NUM> may be configured to allow the tab portion to slide freely into the channel <NUM>. As the attachment mechanism <NUM> advances further toward the carrier <NUM>, e.g., as shown in <FIG>, the lever portion <NUM> may be automatically guided away from the tab portion <NUM>, e.g., in a direction generally away from the carrier, as shown by arrow <NUM> in <FIG>. By automatically, it is generally implied that the separation of the lever portion <NUM> from the tab portion <NUM> occurs without the application of user force to open the attachment mechanism but rather as the result of the cooperation of components of the attachment mechanism <NUM> (e.g., the cooperation of the ramps <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

As the user continues to move the temple in the direction of insertion, the channel <NUM> guides the movement of the attachment mechanism <NUM> along the direction <NUM>, until the lever portion <NUM>, and specifically the housing <NUM> passes over the post <NUM>, and the lever portion <NUM> engages the tab portion <NUM>. Once the protruding part of the lever portion <NUM> has cleared the post <NUM>, the lever portion <NUM> automatically pivots in the direction <NUM> snapping into the engagement (e.g., locked) position, as shown in <FIG>. The return of the lever portion <NUM> from the open position (as shown in <FIG>) to the closed position (as shown in <FIG>) is automatic (i.e. responsive to the magnetic attraction force, which acts along the direction <NUM>) and without further application of user force. In this manner, a magnetic latching mechanism as described herein may enable the near effortless coupling of a temple to a lens, e.g., without requiring the user to perform a complex sequence of opening and closing the latch. All the user may be required to do is slide the temple into the carrier and the carrier and attachment mechanism <NUM> cooperate with one another to open and close the latch to secure the temple to the lens assembly. As the lever portion <NUM> returns to the closed position, the seat <NUM> facilitates the proper alignment and positioning of the lever portion <NUM> thus providing further alignment and a fit between the attachment mechanism <NUM> to the carrier <NUM>, which may be substantially free of slop or play.

To separate the temple <NUM> from the lens assembly <NUM>, the user may fold the temple <NUM> back towards the folded or stowage configuration of the eyewear, as shown by arrow <NUM> in a step numbered <NUM> in <FIG>. Pivoting the temple back in the direction <NUM> exposes a lever end <NUM>-<NUM> of the lever portion <NUM>. The user applies a force on the lever end <NUM>-<NUM> as shown by arrow <NUM> to pivot the lever portion <NUM> about the pivot axis <NUM> (see e.g., <FIG> away from the tab portion <NUM>, allowing the tab portion to slide out of the channel in the direction <NUM>, which may be generally opposite the direction of insertion, to remove the temple <NUM> from the lens <NUM>. As previously described, the stop feature <NUM> may limit the separation of the tab and lever portions and thus enable the automatic return of the lever portion to the closed position once the lever portion has cleared the distal end of the carrier. In some examples, the ramps on the lever portion and carrier may also be configured (e.g., by selecting a suitable angle) to limit the separation between the lever portion and tab portion during insertion, while allowing the lever portion to clear the distal end of the carrier, which may similarly facilitate automatic return of the lever portion to the closed position.

As described, the front seat <NUM> and/or channel <NUM> may be configured to allow the lever portion <NUM> to pivot outward in a direction away from the lens (e.g., direction <NUM>), while the rear seat (e.g., channel <NUM>) may be configured to prevent the tab portion <NUM> from pivoting outwards in a direction away from the lens (e.g., direction <NUM> in <FIG>). In other embodiments, this functionality may be reversed, with the rear portion of the attachment mechanism <NUM> being freely pivotable outward while the front portion is pivotally restricted by the carrier <NUM> when coupled thereto. As will be appreciated, the combination of components described herein may facilitate a virtually effortless attachment and detachment of a temple to a carrier, which may provide a better user experience. The near effortless slidable engagement of the temple to lens assembly in accordance with the present disclosure may enable the user to install and remove a lens assembly without touching the lens surface (that is by only handling the lens assembly by the lens edges), which may address such shortcomings of existing interchangeable eyewear designs.

<FIG> illustrate eyewear in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. The eyewear <NUM> is a dual-lens eyewear, which includes a frame <NUM> and a pair of lenses <NUM> attached to the frame <NUM>. Each of the lenses <NUM> may form part of a lens assembly, as will be further described. The frame <NUM> includes a front portion <NUM> (also referred to as rim), which extends at least along the upper periphery of the lenses <NUM>. In some embodiments, the front portion <NUM> may also extend along the lower periphery of the lenses <NUM> thereby fully or substantially fully surrounding the lenses. The front portion <NUM> may include features for retaining the lenses in attachment therewith. For example, the front portion may include a groove and part of the periphery of each lens may be received therein. In some examples, the front portion may include one or more notches or slots configured to receiver one or more engagement features of the lens assembly. The front portion may include a bridge which is configured to rest against the user's nose. The bridge may include one or more of the components of the nose piece assembly <NUM>, such as a removable and/or adjustable nose pad. Each of the temples <NUM> in the illustrated embodiment is pivotally connected to the front portion <NUM>, although it is envisioned that in some embodiments, the temples may not be pivotal relative to the front portion and thus the lenses.

The eyewear <NUM> includes a magnetic attachment assembly <NUM> for removably attaching each of the lenses <NUM> to the frame <NUM>. The magnetic attachment assembly <NUM> includes a magnetic attachment mechanism <NUM> coupled to or proximate each of the temples <NUM>, and a carrier <NUM> attached to one end of each lens <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> may be fixedly attached to a respective lens <NUM>, for example by being bonded or mechanically joined to the lens, and the lens <NUM> and carrier <NUM> may form a lens assembly <NUM> which is removable from the frame <NUM>. In the case of a dual-lens design, each lens assembly <NUM> is individually removably attachable to the frame <NUM>. It is also envisioned that in some embodiments, a rimmed eyewear design may include two individual lenses or a single lens in a single sub-frame that incorporates the carriers and the sub-frame would be removably attachable to the frame in a similar manner as described herein.

As shown for example in <FIG>, each lens <NUM> includes a carrier <NUM> attached to one end (e.g., a distal end 414a) of the lens <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> includes an extension <NUM>. Additionally, each lens <NUM> includes another extension <NUM> at the opposite (e.g., medial end 414b) of the lens. The carrier <NUM> is configured to engage a magnetic attachment mechanism, which may be arranged proximate the temple hinge, and the extension <NUM> is configured to engage the medial portion of the frame, as will be further described. <FIG> shows one of the pair of lenses <NUM> that are configured to couple to frame <NUM> and it will be understood that the other of the pair of lenses would be a mirror image of the illustrated lens having the same components and functionality described with reference to the lens in <FIG>. In the partial view of eyewear <NUM> in <FIG> certain components have been removed (e.g., a front portion of the attachment mechanism <NUM>) to illustrate features of the eyewear. Similarly, in the partial view in <FIG>, certain components have been removed and certain features which are otherwise enclosed in the assembled configuration are shown in dashed line to ease the reader's understanding of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism <NUM> includes a door <NUM> (also referred to as lever) and a backing portion <NUM>. The door <NUM> may be pivotally coupled to the backing portion <NUM>. The backing portion <NUM> may be part of the front portion <NUM> or the temple <NUM> and may thus be rigidly connected to or integrally formed therewith. The door <NUM> is pivotally coupled to the backing portion <NUM> to allow the attachment mechanism <NUM> to be provided in an open position for example for removing the lens <NUM>. The door <NUM> may be pivotally coupled to the backing portion <NUM> and thus to the frame at the temple hinge <NUM> and may therefore share a common pivot axis <NUM> with the temple hinge <NUM>. Using a common axis for the pivot of the attachment mechanism <NUM> and the hinge may provide a more compact design; however, it is envisioned that the door <NUM> may be pivotable about an axis different from the hinge axis, in cases in which the temple is hinged.

As previously described, the attachment mechanism <NUM> may include a pair of magnetic materials (e.g., a pair of magnets, or a magnet and a piece of ferromagnetic material), which for the purposes of illustration have been removed from the views in <FIG> and <FIG>. The pair of magnetic materials is arranged on opposing faces of the door <NUM> and the backing portion <NUM> to urge the door <NUM> toward the backing portion <NUM>. When the door is in the closed position (e.g., as shown in <FIG>), a portion of the carrier <NUM> may be secured between the door <NUM> and backing portion <NUM> thus retaining the lens in attachment to the frame. A first magnetic material may be attached to the door <NUM> via a magnet housing <NUM>, for example by being press fit or otherwise secured to the magnet housing <NUM>. The magnet housing <NUM> may be configured to at least partially enclose a first magnetic material, such as by surrounding one or more walls of the magnetic material. The magnet housing <NUM> may protrude from a surface of the engagement side <NUM> of the door <NUM>. As such the door <NUM> and backing portion <NUM> may define a cavity <NUM> therebetween. The cavity <NUM> may be generally defined by one or more surfaces of the magnet housing <NUM>, the engagement side <NUM>, and the rim <NUM>.

A second magnetic material may be attached to the backing portion <NUM> via another magnet housing <NUM>. The magnet housing <NUM> may be defined by a recess in a surface of the engagement side <NUM>. The second magnetic material may similarly be press fit or otherwise secured to the magnet housing <NUM>. The magnet housing <NUM> may be configured to at least partially enclose a second magnetic material, such as by surrounding one or more walls of the magnetic material. The second magnetic material may be arranged with respect to the magnet housing <NUM> such that the magnetic material does not protrude above the engagement side <NUM>. In this manner, the carrier <NUM> can slide unobstructed into the cavity <NUM> when coupling the lens assembly <NUM> to the frame <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic materials (not shown) and correspondingly the magnet housings <NUM> and <NUM> are cylindrically shaped, although in other embodiments, they may be shaped in the form of triangular, square or rectangular prisms or have any other regular or irregular shape as may be desired. Depending on the shape of the housing <NUM>, the extension <NUM> may be shaped for a cooperating fit therewith. For example, in the illustrated embodiment in which the housing is cylindrical, the lower end of the extension <NUM> is curved to allow the extension <NUM> to at least partially wrap around and abut the housing <NUM> when positioned in the cavity <NUM>. This arrangement can provide a tighter fit between the removable lens and the frame.

The eyewear <NUM> may include one or more of the features of eyewear described with reference to other embodiments herein. For example the eyewear <NUM> may include one or more stop feature(s), which may limit the pivot angle of the door and thus enable automatic closure of the door after attaching or detaching the lens. In some embodiments, the eyewear <NUM> may include one or more ramps, which may cooperate to enable automatic opening of the door when attaching the lens. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the carrier may include a ramp <NUM>, which may be provided near the upper edge of the extension <NUM>. The magnet housing <NUM> may define another ramp <NUM>-<NUM> extending from a lower end of the door <NUM> toward the magnetic material seated in the housing <NUM>. The ramp <NUM>-<NUM> may be inclined such that the thickness of the door <NUM> increased from the lower end of the door toward the magnetic material. Correspondingly, the ramp <NUM> may be inclined such that the thickness of the extension <NUM> decreased from the magnetic material toward the edge of the extension.

The ramp <NUM> may cooperate with a ramp <NUM>-<NUM> on the door <NUM> to force the door toward the open position against the force of magnetic attraction. Thus, when coupling the lens to the frame, the user need not specifically manipulate the eyewear to open the attachment mechanism but may instead simply slide the lens into place, as will be further described.

One or more features of the carrier, attachment mechanism and other components of the eyewear <NUM> may serve utilitarian and/or aesthetic functions. For example, and referring further to <FIG>, the carrier <NUM> may be attached to both the front and rear side of the lens, which may provide for a firmer connection between the lens and frame. In some embodiments, the extension <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may define a ledge <NUM>, which may provide a more aesthetically pleasing look of the eyewear when the lens is attached. For example, the ledge <NUM> may be thinner in profile than the overall thickness of the carrier <NUM> such that it can be accommodated in a relatively thinner cavity than the overall thickness of the carrier. A portion of the carrier that remains exposed when the extension is inserted in the cavity may be shaped to follow a contour of adjacent components of the frame which may provide an aesthetically pleasing look. In some embodiments, the carrier may be offset (e.g., by a distance 461a or 461b) from the upper edge of the frame and/or include shaping to allow the upper periphery of the lens <NUM> to be received in the frame (e.g., in a slot formed in the rim <NUM>). In some embodiments, the offset distances in the front and rear side (e.g., front offset distance 461a and 461b) may differ, for example the rear offset distance may be greater which may provide a larger surface for the lens to rest against at the rear part of the frame. In other embodiments different arrangements may be used.

Referring now also to <FIG> and <FIG>, sequences for coupling and decoupling a lens to and from a frame are described in further detail below. <FIG> show a sequence for attaching a lens <NUM> to a frame <NUM>. To attach the lens, the lens assembly <NUM> is advanced in a direction <NUM> to engage the extension <NUM> with the rim <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The extension <NUM> may be toed into a slot or notch in the rim <NUM>, which may function as a pivot location. The lens assembly <NUM> is then pivoted toward the frame <NUM>, e.g., in the direction <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. This pivotal action advances the carrier <NUM> toward the attachment mechanism <NUM>. The ramp <NUM> on the carrier <NUM> and the ramp <NUM>-<NUM> on the door <NUM> cooperate to automatically open the door <NUM> (e.g., in a direction <NUM> away from the backing portion) thus allowing the extension <NUM> to slide into the cavity <NUM> between the door <NUM> and the rim <NUM>. Once the extension <NUM> has cleared the protruding magnet housing on the door, the door <NUM> automatically returns to the closed position under the force of magnetic attraction, as shown in <FIG>. As described, the ramps are configured to allow the door <NUM> to open enough to allow the extension <NUM> to pass therebetween while remaining within the magnetic force field. The user need not manually open or close the attachment mechanism, which is configured to open and close automatically by the cooperation of components described herein. The user simply places one end of the lens into the frame and slides the other end into engagement with the attachment mechanism.

<FIG> show a sequence for removing the lens assembly <NUM> from the frame <NUM>. To remove the lens, the temple <NUM> is pivoted back towards the folded configuration, e.g., along the direction <NUM> shown in <FIG>. As further shown in <FIG>, this pivotal action exposes the lever end <NUM>-<NUM> of the door <NUM>. The user may then apply a force on the lever end <NUM>-<NUM> along the direction <NUM> to pivot the door <NUM> into the open position. As shown in <FIG>, the user then pivots the lens <NUM> about the medial end of the lens, e.g., along the direction <NUM>, to slide the carrier <NUM> out of engagement with the attachment mechanism <NUM> (e.g., out of the cavity <NUM>). Once the carrier <NUM> has cleared the attachment mechanism <NUM>, the extension <NUM> may be disengaged from the rim <NUM> and the lens separated from the frame <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. As previously described, stop features may be implemented to limit the amount to which the door <NUM> may be pivoted such that the door <NUM> and backing portion <NUM> may remain within the magnetic field and thus automatically close upon removal of the lens. As also described, in some embodiments, the temples may not be pivotally attached to the attachment mechanism and/or the rim. In such cases, an aperture may be formed in the temple to allow the pivotal component of the attachment mechanism (e.g., the door <NUM> or lever portion <NUM> of eyewear <NUM>) to pivot to the open position without pivoting the temple from the as-worn configuration.

All relative and directional references (including: upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, side, above, below, front, middle, back, vertical, horizontal, and so forth) are given by way of example to aid the reader's understanding of the particular embodiments described herein. They should not be read to be requirements or limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use unless specifically set forth in the claims. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, joined, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other, unless specifically set forth in the claims.

Claim 1:
An eyewear (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a lens (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising first and second end portions (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>); and
first and second temples (<NUM>, <NUM>), each individually removably attachable to a respective one of the first and second end portions via a respective attachment assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>), each comprising:
an attachment mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to the respective temple and including:
a first portion (<NUM>) pivotally coupled to a second portion (<NUM>), which is coupled to the temple;
a magnet (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) attached to one of the first and second portions, and a magnetic material (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) attached to the other one of the first and second portions, wherein the magnet and the magnetic material are arranged on opposing sides of the first and second portions to urge the first and second portions in a direction of magnetic attraction towards one another; and
a carrier (<NUM>, <NUM>) attached to the respective end portion (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) of the lens, wherein the carrier is configured to position the first and second portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the attachment mechanism on opposite sides of the lens (<NUM>, <NUM>) when the respective temple is coupled to the lens and the carrier defines a rear channel (<NUM>) configured to at least partially enclose the second portion of the attachment mechanism, and wherein the carrier is configured to restrict movement of at least one of the first and second portions of the attachment mechanism in a second direction (<NUM>) opposite the direction of magnetic attraction.