SCREWLESS MAGNETIC EYEWEAR

• US 20070132942A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phyzics Properties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eyenovate, Inc.
• Inventors: Zelazowski, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,794,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/47
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2209 Pivot bearings and hinge bolts other than screws

Abstract

The invention provides a magnetic connector for use between members to magnetically connect members such as members between eyewear. Magnetic connector has first and second magnets positioned in or on first and second eyewear members, respectively. Magnets are positioned substantially parallel to each other in a plane and rotate about an axis. A magnetic field of attraction is created between magnets when magnets are in sufficient proximity to each other thereby substantially connecting members. When magnets disengage or fall out of alignment due to force or pressure against members, magnets disengage and allow members to break away without damage.

Claims

1. A magnetic connector for pivotally joining two members, said connector comprising:

first and second magnets positioned in or on first and second members, respectively, of said eyewear substantially near a point of connection between said members, said magnets having substantially opposite polarities and being positioned substantially parallel to each other in a plane and rotating about an axis, said magnets being in sufficient proximity to each other to create a magnetic field of attraction thereby substantially connecting said members.

2. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second members each have an end, said point of connection being substantially near said ends.

3. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnets are in a horizontal plane.

4. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnets are in a vertical plane.

5. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein positioned on said member comprises one of the following:

a. adhering said magnet to an outer surface of said member;

b. compressing said member around said magnet;

c. heat treating said member;

d. inserting said member into a hole in said magnet;

e. mechanically attaching said member and said magnet;

f. or a combination thereof.

6. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein positioned in said member comprises embedding said magnet in a hole or cavity within said member.

7. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a means for limiting a range of rotation of said members about said axis.

8. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said magnets is a magnetically reactive surface.

9. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said magnets comprises at least two magnets.

10. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one flexible bar attached to or integral with at least one of said members, said flexible bar limiting rotation of said magnet about said axis to keep said members in substantial alignment.

11. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a protective layer to protect an opposing surface of said magnet from wear caused by frictional engagement of said opposing surfaces.

12. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one housing attached to at least one of said members, one of each said magnets being housed in each said at least one housing.

13. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said members is a frame front having first and second ends, and the other said member is a temple bar having first and second ends, one of said magnets being positioned in or on said frame front substantially near said first end and the other said magnet being positioned in or on said temple bar substantially near said first end, said magnets creating said magnetic field of attraction when said first ends are positioned in sufficient proximity to each other.

14. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said members is a nose pad and the other said member is a nose pad arm, one of said magnets being positioned in or on said nose pad and the other said magnet being positioned in or on said nose pad arm, said magnets creating said magnetic field of attraction when said nose pad and said nose pad arm are positioned in sufficient proximity to each other.

15. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said members is a first end of an eyewire and said other member is a second end of said eyewire, one of said magnets being positioned in or on said first end of said eyewire and the other said magnet being positioned in or on said second end of said eyewire, said magnets creating said magnetic field of attraction when said ends of said eyewire are positioned in sufficient proximity to each other.

16. A pair of eyeglasses comprising:

a. first and second members, said members being substantially opposed and aligned; and

b. a magnetic connector comprising two magnets, one of said magnets being positioned in or on one of said members and the other of said magnets being positioned in or on said other member, said magnets being positioned substantially near each other and being positioned substantially parallel to each other in a plane and rotating about an axis, said magnets creating a magnetic field when said magnets are in substantial proximity to each other.

17. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 16 wherein said magnets are of substantially opposite polarity.

18. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 16 wherein said magnetic field is a magnetic field of attraction that substantially connects said members.

19. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 16 wherein said magnets are of substantially the same polarity.

20. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 19 wherein said magnetic field is a magnetic field of repulsion that substantially pushes said members apart.

21. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 20, said magnetic connector further comprising a locking mechanism located on at least one of said members, said magnetic field of repulsion creating a tension in said locking mechanism when said locking mechanism is engaged, said tension connecting said members.

22. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 21 wherein said locking mechanism is a two-part mechanism, one of said parts each being located on one of said opposed members, said parts being configured to engage each other, said engagement being tensioned by said magnetic repulsion between said members.

23. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 22 wherein said locking mechanism is one of the following:

a. a lock and key mechanism wherein said lock is located on one of said opposed members and said key is located on the other of said opposed member;

b. a hook and latch mechanism wherein said hook is located on one of said opposed members and said latch is located on the other of said opposed member;

or

c. a T-bar and hook mechanism wherein said T-bar is located on one of said opposed members and said hook is located on the other said opposed member.

24. A pair of eyeglasses as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first and second members each have an end, said point of connection being substantially near said ends.

25. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein said magnets are in a horizontal plane.

26. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein said magnets are in a vertical plane.

27. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein positioned on said member comprises one of the following:

a. adhering said magnet to an outer surface of said member;

b. compressing said magnet around said member;

c. heat treating said member;

d. inserting said magnet into a hole in said member;

e. mechanically attaching said member and said magnet;

f. or a combination thereof.

28. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein positioned in said member comprises embedding said magnet in a hole or cavity within said member.

29. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a means for limiting a range of rotation of said members about said axis.

30. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein one of said magnets is a magnetically reactive surface.

31. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein at least one of said magnets comprises at least two magnets.

32. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 further comprising at least one flexible bar attached to or integral with at least one of said members, said flexible bar limiting rotation of at least one of said magnets about said axis to keep said magnets in substantial alignment.

33. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 16 further comprising at least one housing attached to at least one of said first and second members, one of each said magnets being housed in each said at least one housing.

34. A magnetic connector for pivotally joining two members, said connector comprising:

a. two substantially parallel magnets being positioned in a plane and rotating about an axis, said magnets having substantially the same polarity, one of said magnets being positioned in or on a first member of said eyewear and the other said magnet being positioned in or on a second member of said eyewear, said magnets being positioned in sufficient proximity to each other to create a magnetic field of repulsion that repels members away from each other; and

b. a locking mechanism comprising two parts, one of said parts being located on one of said members and the other said part being located on the other said member, said repulsion repelling said members from each other and creating a tension between said parts of said locking mechanism when said parts are substantially engaged, said tension connecting said members.

35. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 wherein said magnets are in a horizontal plane.

36. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 wherein said magnets are in a vertical plane.

37. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 wherein positioned on said member comprises one of the following:

a. adhering said magnet to an outer surface of said member;

b. compressing said magnet around said member;

c. heat treating said member;

d. inserting said magnet into a hole in said member;

e. mechanically attaching said member and said magnet;

f. or a combination thereof.

38. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 wherein positioned in said member comprises embedding said magnet in a hole or cavity within said member.

39. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 further comprising a means for limiting a range of rotation of said members about said axis.

40. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 wherein at least one of said magnets comprises at least two magnets.

41. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 further comprising at least one flexible bar attached to or integral with at least one of said members, said flexible bar limiting rotation of said members about said axis to keep said members in substantial alignment.

42. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 further comprising a protective layer to protect an opposing surface of said magnet from wear caused by frictional engagement of said opposing surfaces with an opposing surface of said other magnet.

43. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 34 further comprising at least one housing attached to at least one of said first and second members, one of each said magnets being housed in each said at least one housing.

44. A magnetic hinge adapter for use with eyewear to convert a screw hinge mounted to a member of said eyewear into a magnetic hinge, said magnetic hinge adapter comprising at least one adapter piece, said adapter piece comprising a magnetic surface and at least one platform having a hole therein, said at least one platform configured to integrate with said screw hinge to secure said adapter piece to said screw hinge.

45. A magnetic hinge adapter as set forth in claim 44 wherein said hole in said platform substantially aligns with a hole in said screw hinge, said holes being capable of receiving a securing means to secure said adapter piece to said screw hinge.

46. A magnetic hinge adapter as set forth in claim 44 further comprising a second adapter piece, said at least one platform of said second adapter piece being configured to integrate with a second screw hinge mounted to a second member of said eyewear, said magnetic surfaces of said adapter pieces having substantially opposite polarities that create a magnetic field of attraction when said magnetic surfaces are in sufficient proximity to each other, thereby substantially connecting said pieces at said magnetic surfaces.

47. A magnetic hinge adapter as set forth in claim 44 wherein one of said magnetic surfaces is a magnetically reactive surface that is magnetically attracted to said other magnetic surface when said surfaces are substantially aligned.

48. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 44 wherein said magnetic surface is created when a magnet is positioned on said adapter piece by one of the following:

a. adhering a magnet to an outer surface of said adapter piece;

b. compressing said adapter piece around said magnet;

c. heat treating said adapter piece;

d. mechanically attaching said magnet to said adapter piece;

e. or a combination thereof.

49. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 44 wherein said magnetic surface is created when a magnet is positioned in said adapter piece by embedding a magnet in a hole or cavity within said adapter piece.

50. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 44 further comprising a means for limiting a range of rotation of said adapter piece.

51. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 44 wherein one of said magnetic surface is a magnetically reactive surface.

52. A magnetic connector as set forth in claim 46 further comprising a protective layer to protect an opposing surface of said adapter piece from wear caused by frictional engagement of an opposing surface of said other adapter piece.