Lighted Reading Glasses

• US 20100182563A1
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Waters
• Original Assignee: Michael Waters
• Inventors: Waters, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,152,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/084 Head fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means

Abstract

Lighted reading glasses are provided to enable clear reading of normal sized text to occur when the reading material is held at usual distances from the reader in poorly lit locations. The lighted glasses have high intensity lights, such as in the form of LEDs that generate narrow light beam cones and which are oriented in light modules to inwardly cant the light beam cones to meet and overlap so high brightness light is generated in a conical overlap area of light which is maximized in size in the range of normal reading distances. In another form, a clip-on light apparatus is provided that includes a spacer frame having opposite end portions each mounting lights, preferably constructed as described above. In one form, retainers at the end portions are adapted to releasably engage outer sides of the eyeglass lenses. The frame preferably incorporates a draw spring assembly to allow adjustments for different size glasses. In another form, the light spacing is fixed and a clipping mechanism is provided for clipping to the eyeglasses in the area generally between the eyeglasses lenses.

Claims

1. A compactly sized, self-contained lighting module comprising:

a light source for generating a light beam therewith and having first and second terminals;

a power source for providing electrical power to the light source;

a housing for the light source and power source with the first terminal extending between the light source and power source in engagement with the power source in the housing;

a switch device for activating the light source having an actuator portion for being shifted by a user between on and off positions; and

an inclined surface portion of the switch device which is shifted by shifting of the actuator portion to electrically connect the second terminal with the power source with the actuator portion shifted to the on position.

2. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the actuator portion is shifted in an actuating direction for activating the light source, and the inclined portion extends obliquely to the actuating direction.

3. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the light source terminals are resilient elongate rods extending outwardly from the light source and generally positioned on opposite sides of the power source.

4. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the first light source terminal is positioned in the housing to contact the power source and the second light source terminal is positioned in the housing to contact the inclined surface portion of the switch device.

5. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the housing has an opening through which the actuator extends to allow the user to operate the switch actuator for shifting in the opening.

6. The lighting module of claim 5, wherein the actuator is a plastic material.

7. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the light source is a single light emitting diode.

8. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the power source is at least two coin sized batteries.

9. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the light source terminals are conductive leads from a single light emitting diode.

10. A lighted eyewear comprising:

a pair of temple portions and a cross member extending between forward portions of the temple portions;

at least one light module mounted to one of the temple portions or the cross-member;

at least one light source mounted in the module for generating a light beam therewith;

a power source for providing electrical power to the light source;

a first electrically conductive terminal of the light source in electrical communication with the power source;

a second electrically conductive terminal of the light source spaced from the power source so that the second terminal is not in electrical communication with the power source;

a switch device for being shifted to an on position so that the second terminal is in electrical communication with the power source to energize the light source; and

a securing mechanism of the switch device that is operable when the switch device is shifted to an on position to keep the switch device in the on position by securely maintaining the electrical connection between the second terminal and the power source.

11. The lighted eyewear of claim 10, wherein the switch device comprises a switch assembly including an actuator portion for being engaged and shifted by a user and an inclined portion connected to the actuator portion for being shifted thereby and being configured to engage and selectively electrically connect the second terminal to the power source to energize the light source.

12. The lighted eyewear of claim 10, wherein the at least one light module includes a compact housing that contains the light source and the power source.

13. The lighted eyewear of claim 12, wherein the compact housing includes an elongate opening and the switch device has an actuator that extends through the elongate opening to allow the user to operate the switch device for shifting in the opening.

14. The lighted eyewear of claim 10, wherein the light source is a single light emitting diode.

15. The lighted eyewear of claim 10, wherein the power source comprises two disc batteries.

16. The lighted eyewear of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a single light emitting diode and the first and second terminals are resilient conductive leads that project from the single light emitting diode, with the first terminal always in contact with the power source and the second terminal spaced from the power source when the switch device is an off position and in electrical communication with the power source when the switch device is in the on position.