Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     Description of the Prior Art 
       [0001]    Eyeglasses have been known for centuries, probably extending back to convex lenses known in about 1021. Early glasses in the 1400&#39;s incorporated convex lenses that could correct both hyperopia (far-sightedness) and the presbyopia (near-sightedness) that commonly develops as a symptom of aging. By the early 1800&#39;s lenses for correcting astigmatism were developed. Over time the construction of frames for construction of eyeglasses evolved. Early pieces were designed to be either held in place by hand or by exerting pressure on the nose (pince-nez). Modern style glasses, held by temple pieces passing over the ears, were developed some time after about 1727 and, while not immediately successful, eventually evolved into fanciful modern glasses known today, sometimes worn for fashion and style even by those not suffering from any type of presbyopia, hypermetropia or astigmatism. 
         [0002]    Jewelry probably goes back over 100,000 years and is known as decorative items for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Jewelry is made from a wide range of materials but gemstones and similar materials such as amber and coral, precious metals, beads and shells along with braiding and other decoration have been incorporated to enhance the appearance of the jewelry piece. The use of jewelry has been proposed for functional purposes such as to fix clothing in place or in the form of watches to tell the time of day, as a mark of social status and personal status, as a signifier of some form of affiliation and/or as an artistic display. As disclosed below, there have even been some efforts to incorporate corrective optical lenses in large link beads. 
         [0003]    A great portion of the public suffers from visual imperfection such as presbyopia and could benefit from corrective optical lenses. Many patients, and particularly younger women, are reluctant to be seen wearing traditional glasses so will seek to cope without correction. This, of course, detracts from enjoyment and performance, particularly for those whose work requires them to read text or, possibly view objects, slides and graphics spaced some distance away. The performance of many students studying in junior high school, high school, college or graduate school or the like would be enhanced by good vision, even if just for either close up or far-away objects. I have noted that, for instance, many high school women will refuse to put on corrective glasses in public out of concern that others may think less of them for wearing glasses; the proverbial “4 eyes”. This can then result in the student missing much of what is displayed on a display chart or video screen thereby negatively effecting performance. 
         [0004]    With the advent of contact lenses an option was made available to those having concern about wearing glasses. Contact lenses are, however, expensive and require considerable care for transporting and applying to the eyes, thus often discouraging use. Moreover, a certain portion of the population suffers discomfort with contact lenses thereby making those lenses an unattractive alternative. 
         [0005]    Much consideration has been given to the fact that eyeglasses may from time to time be lost or misplaced. Numerous different devices have been proposed to be worn around the neck for suspending eyeglasses when not in use. Examples include holders tethered to the wearer&#39;s neck disclosed in US Pat. App No. 2012/0255326 to Prestwidge and U.S. Pat. No. 8,752,743 to Nazarenko. While having utility for tethering glasses, these devices suffer the shortcoming that the glasses or holders are still suspended in view as telltale evidence of restricted eyesight. 
         [0006]    Other efforts have led to the proposal that a necklace be formed of oversized links, two of which links are to act as frames to mount lenses which may be brought up to the eyes much in the manor of monocles of times past. A necklace of this type is shown in US Pat. App. No. 2008/0231796 to Soulless. Such neckless have been proposed with little regard to aesthetics and have not gained popularity in the marketplace. 
         [0007]    Still further concern over the misplacement of eyeglasses has led to the proposal that the frame be constructed with one piece narrow U-shaped band configured in the front with lens windows, the band being upturned at the rear. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,544 to McLaughlin. Such devices, while serving their intended purpose, serve more to advertise the wearer&#39;s need for eyeglasses than to concealing it. 
         [0008]    It has long been known that a certain portion of the public has a certain phobia about being seen with eyeglasses. Awareness of this phobia has lead to a proposal that jewelry be constructed with over-sized rings so that prescription lenses may be mounted in one or more of the rings to be held up to the eye in monocle fashion. A device of this type is shown in U S Pat. App. No 2012/0038877 to Burns. While serving to always keep the lens at hand, such devices suffer the shortcoming that the lenses themselves are always exposed in a non-stylish manner and are subject to smudging, scratching and other optical deterioration of the lens surfaces when not in use. 
         [0009]    Consequently, heretofore, those with impaired vision and having an aversion to being seen with glasses were left with the dilemma; either resort to the relatively expensive and inconvenient, alternative of contact lenses, if tolerable, or suffer from the impaired vision. It is this dilemma to which the present invention is directed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A combination jewelry piece and camouflaged lens device including a resilient U-shaped decorative band configured with opposite legs to retain the device from the neck, wrist or the like of the wearer. The legs slidably mount decorative visors to be selectively slid from retracted positions to covering positions concealing the lenses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination jewelry and eyeglass device of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view thereof; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the combination jewelry and eyeglass device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with the visors retracted; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with the visors retracted; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a transverse sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a bracelet device incorporating the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The combination jewelry piece and eyeglass device of the present invention includes a resilient U-shaped band, generally designated  21 , formed with opposite legs  23  and  24  and mounting lenses  25  and  27  in the closed end section  29 . Mounting devices  31  and  33  carry the visors and are carried slidably from the legs to be slid from a covering position with respective visors  35  and  37  covering the lenses  25  and  27  ( FIG. 1 ) to retraced positions as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0021]    Many style conscious individuals in need of corrective vision have long suffered from the fact that it is perceived that a certain segment of society that eyeglasses denote a physical imperfection or certain aging deemed unattractive to the point where it may be perceived that social pressure discourages wearing of present day eyeglasses. 
         [0022]    The frame  21  of the present invention may take many different shapes and configurations, it only being important that the frame incorporate a construction whereby there is sufficient resilient so the free ends of the legs  23  and  24  will serve to retain the combination on the wearer&#39;s neck or possibly on his or her head raised over the forehead in the form typical of sunglasses raised away from the eyes and to also act as eyeglass temples when the device is utilized as eyeglasses. The frame may be constructed of various different types of materials, such as, a polymer commonly known as plastic, metal or other materials well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0023]    The frame may take various different configurations but is typically U-shaped with the legs curving in a convergent direction toward one another to form a throat somewhat narrower than the wearer&#39;s neck but sufficiently flexible so that the legs may be flexed laterally outwardly to embrace the opposite sides of the wearer&#39;s head and, typically, of a sufficient length to extend over the ears. 
         [0024]    In some configurations, the frame  21  is in the form of a wide band with a front section projecting across the closed end and arranged such that, when worn on the wearer&#39;s head, will place the front section in confronting relationship with the wearer&#39;s eyes. In some configurations, the front section is formed with windows receiving lenses. 
         [0025]    Conveniently, I have constructed my exemplary embodiment such that an eyeglass frame, generally designated  41  ( FIG. 5 ), is carried in the front section of such frame form windows  40  and  42  for receiving the respective lenses  25  and  27 . The lenses  25  and  27  may be of various different constructions and different opacities, particularly, transparent for prescription lenses, often used by students for reading medium or fine print text. 
         [0026]    Slider mounts  31  and  33  in the form of C-shaped channel clips are configured on their upper and lower extremities with respective hook members  43  and  45  which hook over the respective top and bottom edges of the necklace band  21  and configured to slide over the upper and lower extremities of the eyeglass frame  41  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) to carry the respective visors  35  and  37  into place. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 , the visors  35  and  37  may take numerous different configurations, it only being important that they be constructed to be carried from the band  21  in a sliding manner so as to be slid from the closed position shown in  FIGS. 1-3  to the open position shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  translated rearwardly on the respective legs  23  and  24  to un-shield the respective lenses  25  and  27 . 
         [0028]    In the exemplary embodiment, respective visors  35  and  37  are channel shaped in cross section and formed with a longitudinal arc complimenting the curvature of the frame  21  so as to accommodate sliding of the similarly curved slider mounts  33  along the curvature of the frame. In this embodiment, the slider mounts  31  and  33  are configured to form a siding frictional fit with the frame such that the visors will be held in place by friction, either in the open or closed position. In some configurations, the carrier mounts  31  and  33  are configured with tabs received releasably in respective detents formed along the length of the frame to releasably lock to visors in their respective closed positions. 
         [0029]    The frame  24  and visors  35  and  37  include decorative elements  51  and  53  formed in exterior layers  52  and  54  on the frame  21 . The decorative elements in the preferred embodiment, represented by cross hatching, is in the form of precious stones embedded therein and in a selected pattern and, the pattern in the exterior layer  53  of the visors being the same as the pattern in the surface of the frame  21 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the decorative elements  51  and  53  may take many different forms, typically selected to compliment the particular style of the combined jewelry and sunglass. That is, in different embodiments, the combination device of the present invention may be configured with the frame and visors being relatively wide, of somewhat plane decorative elements, or sculptured construction to form attractive high style decoration to be worn on the wearer&#39;s forehead or over the eyes and in other configurations, the overall style is more traditional or sporty for less formal wear. 
         [0030]    The decorative elements may be selected for continuity of design to thus effectively conceal or camouflage the fact that the device might incorporate eyeglasses and, in some instances, the decorative elements are selected to be complimentary or even somewhat contrasting with one another, it only being important that the designs are attractive and appealing to the viewer. 
         [0031]    The decorative elements may be of relatively plain construction or might be formed with various selected surface designs such as scrolls, zigzag shapes or other decorative configurations known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0032]    In practice, the device of the present invention may be constructed with the lenses  25  and  27  of darkened construction or even polarized to act as sunglasses, either with or without incorporating prescriptions. In other configurations, the lenses  25  and  27  are prescription and, depending on the needs of the particular wearer, and in many instances are similar to those employed in traditional “readers”. 
         [0033]    In practice, the wearer purchasing a combination jewelry and eyeglass device of the present invention will make the purchase and secure a prescription from his or her optometrist or ophthalmologist to determine the power to which these lenses should be made in order to correct any blurred vision due to refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism or presbyopia. 
         [0034]    The frames  41  of my invention are constructed so that the lenses  25  and  27  of the desired prescription may be snapped into place, thus allowing the wearer or optical professional to snap the lens of the desired prescription in place. 
         [0035]    It is envisioned that the combination jewelry and eyeglass device of the present invention will be stocked by retail outlets in many different styles and designs. A purchaser may thus select a particular style appealing to him or her. Some devices will incorporate translucent sunglass lenses  25  and  27  so that the wearer may immediately use the device as jewelry and sunglasses. In other instances, the frame  41  will be without lenses so the user may acquire his or her frames directly from his or her healthcare specialist and insert the lenses in the respective windows  40  and  42  as desired. The device will then be available to adorn the wearer in a normal manner. For many such devices, the style, design and decorative elements will be selected of a character that is appealing to youngsters of school age. It is known that, particularly female students, are resistant to wearing eyeglasses on the thought that there is some social stigma attached. With the advent of the present invention however, the student will have the opportunity to wear the present device as attractive, smart jewelry but, when in the study hall or classroom when glasses are needed, the student can convert what was recognized before as a piece of jewelry to eyeglasses for viewing the display board or screen or, possibly for reading his or her textbook or close inspection of experiments or work 
         [0036]    That is, when the wearer arises in the morning and dons the attire for the day, he or she might select from one of several different pieces of the combination jewelry and eyeglass devices to go with the outfit to be worn, i.e. sporty, casual or formal. The device may be easily suspended from the wearer&#39;s neck by merely spreading the free ends of the legs  23  and  24  apart to extend around the neck, releasing the legs to flex back together to hold the device suspended. In the alternative, of course, the device may be worn as a barrette with the legs embraced on the opposite sides of the head and the closed end elevated up over the forehead. 
         [0037]    In any event, when the wearer arrives in the classroom or his or her office, and desires to take advantage of the correction for his or her vision, the device may be removed from the neck or forehead and the visors  35  and  37  slid laterally away from one another as viewed in  FIGS. 1 and 2  thus sliding the slider mounts devices  31  and  33  laterally outwardly on the connective legs  23  and  24  to remove such visors from covering relationship over the respective lenses  24  and  25  thereby exposing the lenses for viewing. The device may then be fitted over the wearer&#39;s eyes with the legs embracing the opposite sides of the head, typically extending back over the ears so the legs act as temples. The frame  21  would be suspended from the bridge of the nose and the wearer can proceed about his or her work and once the task is completed, the wearer may again grasp the visors  35  and  37  to draw them back toward one another thereby causing the carriers  33  to carry such visors back into confronting relationship over the respective lenses  24  and  25 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the combination jewelry eyeglass device shown there is of construction similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1-8  except that the frame  21  is of a smaller radius of curvature to fit over the wearers wrist. The legs  23  and  24  converge toward one another in a somewhat linear fashion and include elongated , flexible tubular temple extenders  61  and  63  telescoped over the free ends thereof to be extended, when the device is to be placed on the face, to act as a pair of eyeglasses to thereby reach rearwardly on the wearer&#39;s head to the ear area. 
         [0039]    Thus, it will be appreciated that the means for carrying the visors  35  and  37  from the frame is in the form of the channel shaped carriers mounts  31  and  33  which embrace the frame on the top and bottom edges to hook thereover and form a sliding joint with the frame  21  and the eyeglass frames  41  so as to provide for the visors being shifted into their open or closed positions. 
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been described in detail with regard to the preferred embodiments and drawings thereof, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the detailed description and the accompanying drawings as set forth hereinabove are not intended to limit the breadth of the present invention.

Technology Category: g