Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to a provisional application Serial No. 60/394,837 filed on Jul. 10, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an optometric device, and more particularly, to a customized sunglasses clip unit specially sized to coordinate with a person&#39;s regular eyeglasses. The invention also relates to a specially designed eye-glass frame. 
     As is well known, millions of individuals wear sunglasses in order to improve their vision and comfort on bright sunny days. Sunglasses, of course, reduce glare and shade the eyes of the wearer. Sunglasses on the market have various designs and styles, which oftentimes can create a certain “look.” 
     For those individuals who do not require corrective eyeglass lenses, a variety of low cost sunglasses may be purchased from various stores and retail chains. However, for those many individuals who are nearsighted, farsighted, or otherwise have poor vision, and therefore wear corrective eyeglasses on a routine basis, a separate pair of prescription sunglasses is required, which can be very expensive. This is especially so for those individuals whose prescriptions change on a frequent basis; those individuals not only must purchase a regular pair of eyeglasses each time, but must also purchase a separate pair of sunglasses each time. 
     Clip-on sunglasses are a low cost option to prescription sunglasses. In general, clip-on sunglasses are attached or otherwise “clipped” onto conventional prescription eyewear in order to convert the eyewear into sunglasses. Nonetheless, although clip-on sunglasses are much more cost effective than purchasing prescription sunglasses, clip-on sunglasses are less than desirable, in part because they are normally manufactured in a limited number of designs, sizes and shapes which may or may not conform to the lens design of the eyeglasses worn by the individual. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide clip-on sunglasses which are customized in design in order to coordinate with a person&#39;s regular eyeglasses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a customized sunglass clip assembly is provided. The assembly includes a clip element comprising a central tension bar having first and second opposite ends, as well as a pair of flexible wires each having a first end attached to one of the ends of the tension bar and a second free end selectively feedable through and lockable by a corresponding screw locking unit fixed to the tension bar. Each wire is designed for wrapping around a sunglass lens that is cut out to a desired shape and size. Preferably, the wire is a multi-filament cable wire. 
     In use, the optician first prepares or cuts a pair of sunglass lenses that are identical in size and shape to the lenses of the wearer&#39;s regular prescription eyeglasses. Each wire of the clip unit is wrapped around one of the cutout lenses. Then, the free end of the wire is fed through a corresponding locking assembly where it is grabbed or pinched by a screw. In assembly, excess wire is cut off after engagement with the lock assembly. 
     Also in accordance with the invention, a specially designed eyewear frame is provided. The frame utilizes multi-filament cable in order to define the lens openings of the frame. Such cable is both flexible and strong so that it can easily wrap around the lens elements when assembling the glasses. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved customized sunglass clip assembly. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved eyewear frame assembly. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sunglass clip assembly which conforms to the size, shape and design of the wearer&#39;s prescription eyeglasses. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a sunglass clip assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture and purchase, as well as user friendly. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved eyeglass frame design that utilizes multi-filament wire. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sunglass clip assembly which is fabricated using conventional tooling. 
     A further object of the invention is to simply provide an improved sunglass clip assembly which can be produced by an optician in a relatively short period of time. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious, and in part be apparent from the following description. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the system and assembly possessing the features, properties and relation of elements which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an unfinished clip unit of the inventive sunglass clip assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the finished sunglass clip assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the wire that is used in the inventive sunglass clip assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the screw locking unit of the inventive sunglass clip assembly; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the bottom hook unit of the inventive sunglass clip assembly; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the sunglass clip assembly; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative version of the hook unit as depicted in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a portion of an unfinished clip unit of the inventive sunglass clip assembly; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG.  9  and showing assembly of the second embodiment of the inventive sunglass clip assembly; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the second embodiment of is the finished sunglass clip assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  14 — 14  of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame made in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  16 — 16  of FIG. 15; and 
     FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  17 — 17  of FIG.  15 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, a clip element or unit generally indicated at  11  and used in making the customized sunglass clip assembly of the invention is shown. Clip element  11  includes a tension bar  13  made from a metal, metal alloy or metal composite composition and a pair of flexible and bendable wires  15  arcuately extending from either end of tension bar  13 . Each of wires  15  is made from a metal, metal alloy or metal composite and is constructed to be extremely pliable so that it can easily wrap around a sunglass lens, as described below. Each wire has a free end  16  which, during assembly, is fed through a corresponding screw locking unit  17  located at either end of tension bar  13 , as further described later on. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, as well as to FIG. 4, each wire  15  is now better described. Wire  15  comprises a longitudinally extending main wall  10  and a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls  12 , which together are sized for wrapping about and otherwise grabbing the edge wall of a sunglass lens  19  (see FIG. 4) during production of the inventive sunglass clip assembly. Front wall  10  is formed with a plurality of running grooves  23  which are grabbed by the screw of locking unit  17  during final assembly of the inventive system (see FIG. 4 once again), as described later on. 
     Referring now in particular to FIG. 4, as well as FIG. 6, each of screw locking units  17  is now described in greater detail. Each of screw locking units  17  is fixed at one of the ends of tension bar  13  (see FIG. 1) and is defined by a tubular-shaped housing  30 . Housing  30  is made of stainless steel, carbide, titanium, or some other high performance metal and contains a metal screw member generally indicated at  33  having a body  34  formed with a plurality of outer annular threads  39 , and a head  35  at one end formed with single slot  37 . Slot  37  is sized for receiving the end of a conventional screwdriver in order to selectively turn screw member  33  so as to lock wire  15  therewith, as described hereinafter. 
     Housing  30  of locking unit  17  is formed with a passage  40  running therethrough that is sized for selectively receiving free end  16  of wire  15  as screw member  33  is turned. Housing  30  also includes an integrally formed stop  41  which prevents translational movement of screw unit  33  from sliding or otherwise moving in either lateral direction. 
     FIG. 5 describes in more detail a first embodiment of each of hook assemblies  21  which are used to maintain overlying engagement of the inventive sunglass clip assembly when placed or worn over a pair of conventional eyeglasses during use. Hook assembly  21  includes a first sunglass hook element generally indicated at  22  and a second eyeglass hook element generally indicated at  24 . Hook element  22  includes a slot  27  through which wire  15  runs (also see FIG. 2) and is sized for fitting underneath sunglass lens  19 . 
     Eyeglass hook element  24  of hook assembly  21  is formed with a cushion  25  disposed therearound on which an eyeglass frame  29  can sit, as shown in FIG.  5 . As can be appreciated from viewing FIG. 5, hook assembly  21  enables the inventive sunglass clip assembly to be aligned with the eyeglass frame of the prescription eyeglasses during use. 
     In assembly, an optician first prepares a pair of sunglass lenses  19  identical in size, shape and design to the lenses of a wearer&#39;s regular eye-glasses. Then, utilizing clip unit  11  depicted in FIG. 1, each wire  15  first fed through slot  27  of hook assembly  21 , and then wrapped around lens  19 . Then, free ends  16  of each wire  15  are fed into passage  40  of corresponding locking unit  17  (see FIG.  4 ). By turning screw member  33 , as described before, threads  39  engage or grab end  16  of wire  15  along running grooves  23  in order to lock end  16  into locking unit  17 . As a result, a custom sunglass clip assembly as depicted in FIG. 2 is produced. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 describe in more detail an alternative version of the hook assembly, generally indicated at  21 ′. Hook assembly  21 ′ comprises a first sunglass hook element  22 ′ and a second eyeglass hook element  24 ′. Hook element  22 ′ is formed integrally and continuous with wire  15 , as shown in FIG.  6 . Hook element  24 ′ is identical to hook element  24  depicted in FIG.  5  and has a cushion  25 ′ disposed thereabout. In this embodiment, a pair of hook assemblies  21 ′ are used. Assembly of the invention is as described above. 
     As can be appreciated with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, most often during assembly, there will be excess wire. Typically, the excess wire is first cut to a length that is sufficient for wrapping around the sunglass lens and locking at its end within its respective locking unit. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second embodiment of a clip element or unit generally indicated at  111  and used to make the customized sunglass clip assembly of the invention as shown. Clip element  111  includes a tension bar  113  made from a metal, metal alloy or metal composite composition and a pair of flexible and bendable wires  115  arcuately extending from either end of tension bar  113 . Each wire  115  is made from a multi-filament material such as a multi-filament cable wire, preferably made from a metal or metal alloy, but also from a nylon, polymer, resin, natural fiber or other naturally occurring or man-made material, as is well known. The preferred multi-filament material is a multi-filament cable wire comprising a plurality of filaments  118  (see FIG.  14 ), and retained in a casing  120 , which, by way of example only, can be selected from fishing leader wire. Such cable wire is extremely flexible and strong so that it can easily wrap around a sunglass lens in a secure fashion, as described below. Preferably, the multi-filament cable wire has a thickness of between 0.4 and 1.6 mm, and more preferably of between 0.4 and 0.6 mm. The multi-filament cable wire used in the inventive system has superior flexibility and strength as compared to conventional wires, making assembly easier, as described hereinafter. 
     Each wire  115  has free end  116  which, during assembly, is fed through a corresponding locking unit  117  located at and attached to the ends of tension bar  113  (see FIG.  9 ). Wire  115  is sized for wrapping about and otherwise grabbing outer edge  121  of sunglass lens  119  (see FIG. 10) during production of the inventive sunglass clip assembly. Significantly, outer edge  121  of sunglass lens  19  is formed with a groove  122  (see FIGS. 13 and 14) along which wire  115  is abutingly received. 
     As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, locking unit  117  is fixed at one of the ends of tension bar  113  and is defined by a housing  130 . Housing  130  includes a roof  138  and is made of stainless steel, carbide, titanium or some other high performance metal. Housing  130  is formed with an opening  132  leading into a passage  140  running therethrough that is sized for selectively receiving free end  116  of wire  115 . Passage  140  then leads to an opening  134  including an upper slot  136  located at the rear end of roof  138 . Importantly, a pivotally flexible membrane  142  depends from roof  138  adjacent opening  132  of housing  130  and is otherwise disposed inside passage  140 . 
     In assembly, an optician first prepares a pair of sunglass lenses  119  similar in size, shape and design to the lenses and/or frame of a wearer&#39;s regular eyeglasses. Then, utilizing clip unit  111  depicted in FIGS. 8-14, wire  115  is wrapped around lens  119  and its free end  116  is fed through opening  132  and into passage  140  of corresponding locking unit  117 . Then, end  116  of wire  115  is fed through opening  134  and up through slot  136 , as shown in FIG.  10 . 
     In order to lock wire end  116  inside locking unit  117 , a set screw  144  is used. Screw  144  is threadingly inserted through screw opening  146  at the rear of housing  130  and longitudinally through passage  140 , as best shown in FIG.  12 . Screw  144  has a tip or end which pinches against wire  115  in order to secure the same in position. In addition, because of this pinching of screw  144  against wire  115 , membrane  142  is flexed or pivoted upwardly, thereby also pinching end  116  of wire  115  along the opposite side thereof. As a result, wire  115  is maintained in a secure and fixed position within housing  130  of locking unit  117 . 
     As can be appreciated, with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 8-14, in order to remove excess wire, once screw  144  has been disposed inside passage  140  for pinching against end  116  of wire  115 , excess wire may be cut or removed so that wire  115  sits inside slot  136  and flush along roof  138 , as best shown in FIG.  12 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 15,  16  and  17 , a specially designed eyeglass frame made in accordance with the invention and generally indicated at  211  is shown. Eyeglass frame  211  comprises a frame assembly  213 , a pair of earpieces or temples  215 , a bridge or nosepiece  217  and lens openings  219  for receiving a pair of lenses  221 . Extending from each of lens openings  219  are a pair of hinge bars  223  having a pair of openings  225  through which screws  227  may be threaded. Each of earpiece or temples  215  is hingedly received between hinge bars  223  at either end of frame assembly  213 . Each of temples  215  includes an opening  229  which is aligned with the outer openings  225  of hinge bars  223 . Screw  227  is then past through all three openings so that temple  215  is hingedly engaged to the end of frame assembly  213 , as shown in FIG.  15 . 
     Significantly, each of lens openings  219  comprises a cable  222  made from a multi-filament material such as a multi-filament cable, preferably made from a metal or metal alloy, but also from a nylon, polymer, resin, natural fiber or other naturally occurring or man-made material, as is well known. The preferred multi-filament material is multi-filament cable comprising a plurality of filaments  233  (see FIG.  16 ), and retained in a casing  235 . The cable is extremely flexible and strong so that it can be easily wrapped around lens  221  in a secure fashion, as described below. Preferably, the multi filament cable  222  has a thickness of 0.4 and 1.6 mm, and more preferably of between 0.4 and 0.6 mm. The multi-filament cable used in this aspect of the invention has superior flexibility and strength as compared to conventional wires. 
     As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, each of lenses  221  received within lens openings  219  has an outer edge formed with a groove  231  in which multi-filament cable  222  defining lens openings  219  is abutingly and hiddenly received. It is noted that the ends of the multi-filament cable are welded to hinge bars  223 , as shown in FIG.  17 . 
     The eyeglass frame described in FIGS. 15-17 is advantageous since it is easier for the optician/technician to assemble—it gives the appearance of a rimless frame use—it is much stronger than a mono-filament cable or wire—it enables lens shapes of varying size and configuration—it has superior flexibility—it is much lighter than a conventional frame. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and, since certain changes may be made in the above system and product without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Technology Category: 3