Defogging eyeglasses

• US 5,319,397 A
• Filed: 09/21/1992
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William D. Ryden
• Original Assignee: William D. Ryden
• Inventors: Ryden, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basichas, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US07/947,740
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 351/62, 351/156, 351/157
• US Class Current: 351/62
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/08 Anti-misting means, e.g. ventilating, heating H05B3/84 takes precedence; Wipers

Abstract

Eyeglasses worn in winter weather conditions are subject to fogging due to condensation of water vapor. A method of removing condensation from eyeglasses is provided. The method involves heating the lenses of the eyeglasses, by making the lenses a part of an electrical circuit. Electric current is supplied to the electric circuit from a power source external to the eyeglasses. The size and weight of the power source may be minimized by utilizing a timer or a power regulator. A smaller power source is also made possible by selectively heating the lenses, applying more power in the area of the lenses most likely to experience fogging.

Claims

1. Eyeglasses with defogging means to be worn by a user, comprising:

(a.) frame member comprising a non-conductive lens holding segment and an attachment means by which said lens holding segment is secured in a position so that the user looks through said lens holding segment,

(b.) a left lens and a right lens held by said lens holding segment,

(c.) power source which is not in direct physical contact with said frame member,

(d.) power limitation means which is not in direct physical contact with said frame member and which is connected to said power source to automatically limit power usage,

(e.) left conductive path leading from said power source to a conductive outer left contact point in contact with said left lens,

(f.) bridge conductive path leading from a conductive inner left contact point in contact with said left lens to a conductive inner right contact point in contact with said right lens,

(g.) right conductive path leading from a conductive outer right contact point in contact with said right lens to said power source, and

(h.) lens conductive means for making said lenses capable of conducting an electric current,

(i.) wherein said left conductive path, bridge conductive path, right conductive path, and lens conductive means together comprise a conductive path means by which electrical current generated by said power source may be conducted to said lenses and back to said power source to form an electric circuit, thereby heating said lenses.

2. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, wherein said attachment means further comprises a left temple segment and a right temple segment attached to said lens holding segment and wherein said left conductive path further comprises:

(a.) left detached conductive wire leading from said power source to said left temple segment,

(b.) left temple conductive wire attached to said left temple segment, connected on one end to said left detached conductive wire, and connected on an opposite end to a conductive left hinge whereby said left temple segment is movably attached to said lens holding segment,

(c.) left frame conductive wire attached to said lens holding segment connected at one end to said left hinge and at the other end to said outer left contact point.

3. Eyeglasses as described in claim 2, wherein said attachment means further comprises a left temple segment and a right temple segment attached to said lens holding segment and wherein said right conductive path further comprises:

(a.) right detached conductive wire leading from said power source to said right temple segment,

(b.) right temple conductive wire attached to said right temple segment, connected on one end to said right detached conductive wire, and connected on an opposite end to a conductive right hinge whereby said right temple segment is movably attached to said lens holding segment,

(c.) right frame conductive wire attached to said lens holding segment connected at one end to said right hinge and at the other end to said outer right contact point.

4. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, in which said lens conductive means comprises a transparent conductive coating applied to said lenses.

5. Eyeglasses as described in claim 4, in which said transparent conductive coating comprises indium tin oxide.

6. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, in which said lens conductive means comprises lenses constructed of a plurality of layers, with conductor arrays held between said layers.

7. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, in which said lens conductive means comprises a thin metallic film applied to said lenses.

8. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, in which said lens conductive means comprises constructing said lenses from a conductive material.

9. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, in which:

(a.) said inner left contact point is connected to said left lens adjacent to an area most likely to be fogged by condensation,

(b.) said inner left contact point has a predetermined length, and

(c.) said outer left contact point has a length which is longer than said predetermined length of said inner left contact point.

10. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, in which:

(a.) said inner right contact point is connected to said right lens adjacent to an area most likely to be fogged by condensation,

(b.) said inner right contact point has a predetermined length, and

(c.) said outer right contact point has a length which is longer than said predetermined length of said inner right contact point.

11. Eyeglasses as described in claim 3, further comprising:

(a.) attachment means for attaching said power source to an article of clothing worn by the user, and

(b.) neck strap extending from said power source to said right temple segment and to said left temple segment, so that said right detached conductive wire may be attached to said neck strap.

12. Eyeglasses as described in claim 1, in which said attachment means further comprises a clipping mechanism for attaching said lens holding segment to frames of spectacles worn by the user.

13. Eyeglasses as described in claim 12, further comprising air blocking means connected to each of said lenses so that said air blocking means contacts the spectacles to prevent air from moving between said lenses and the spectacles.

14. Eyeglasses with defogging means to be worn by a user, comprising:

(a.) frame member comprising a lens holding segment and an attachment means by which said lens holding segment is secured in a position so that the user looks through said lens holding segment,

(b.) a left lens and a right lens held by said lens holding segment,

(c.) wherein said lens holding segment further comprises a conductive upper lens holding segment, a conductive lower lens holding segment, and a non-conductive holding segment securing means by which said upper lens holding segment is secured to said lower lens holding segment so that said right lens and said left lens are held between said upper lens holding segment and said lower lens holding segment, and

(d.) power source which is not in direct physical contact with said frame member,

(e.) power limitation means which is not in direct physical contact with said frame member and which is connected to said power source to automatically limit power usage,

(f.) upper conductive path leading from said power source to said upper lens holding segment and from said upper lens holding segment to said right lens and to said left lens,

(g.) lower conductive path leading from said right lens and said left lens to said lower lens holding segment and from said lower lens holding segment to said power source, and

(h.) lens conductive means for making said lenses capable of conducting an electric current,

(i.) wherein said upper conductive path, said lower conductive path, and said lens conductive means together comprise a conductive path means by which electrical current generated by said power source may be conducted to said lenses and back to said power source to form an electric circuit, thereby heating said lenses.