Radio eyewear

• US 5,606,743 A
• Filed: 12/13/1993
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James D. Denney, Paul A. Vogt
• Original Assignee: James D. Denney, Paul A. Vogt
• Inventors: Vogt, Paul A., Denney, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/168,064
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68.1, 381/68.5, 455/344, 455/347, 455/348, 455/349, 455/350, 455/351, 455/269, 455/89, 455/90, 351/43, 351/112, 351/118, 351/158, 351/111, 351/116, 351/119, 351/121, 351/90-92, 351/98, 351/105-106, 351/103, 351/124, 351/129-130, 351/153, 345/7, 345/9, 343/718, 343/702, 16/228
• US Class Current: 455/347
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers

Abstract

Eyewear including a radio receiver, speakers, antenna and power supply which are variously coupled to or integrally formed with a lens supporting framework. In non-integral constructions the receiver, power supply and speaker assemblies detachably clip mount to bridge and bow pieces or are combined with the speakers and pivotally supported from the bows. In various integral constructions, the speakers removeably interlock with the bows in pivotal and slide adjustable relation. Other eyewear assemblies provide visor mounted solar panels and/or recharging means; laminated displays that are directly viewable by the user; integral antennas and/or contacts to couple the user to the radio recevier; electrified speaker sockets, hinges and plug connectors; and flexible hinge couplers.

Claims

1. Eyewear apparatus comprising:

a) a framework including a brow portion and first and second bow portions, wherein each of said brow and first and second bow portions includes a cavity exposed on one surface of said framework, which cavities extend about said framework without interruption and with the cavities of the first and second bow portions terminating at the cavity of the brow portion, and including a plurality of covers which mount to said cavities, and wherein first and second hinges secure said first and second bow portions to said brow portion, wherein each of said first and second hinges is constructed of a flexible tubular material having a bore and including a slit opening to said bore and wherethrough electrical conductors are fitted to extend between said cavities;

b) optical lens means coupled to said framework;

c) radio receiver means coupled to said framework and including a battery;

d) first and second speakers; and

e) wherein said battery, radio receiver means and conductors mount within said cavities and said conductors electrically couple said radio receiver, first and second speakers and battery to one another.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a lens clip, wherein said clip includes a tang which interlocks with said brow portion such that said clip detachably retains said lens to said brow portion.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including electrical contact means connected to said receiver means and projecting from said framework for contacting the skin of a wearer of said eyewear to electrically connect the wearer to said radio receiver means as an antenna.

4. Eyewear apparatus comprising:

a) a framework including a brow portion, lens means mounted to said brow portion, and first and second bow portions mounted to project from said brow portion;

b) radio receiver means mounted to said framework;

c) first and second speakers coupled to said radio receiver means and each having an extension arm; and

d) retainer means for pivotally securing said first and second speakers to said first and second bow portions and including means for spring biasing the rotation of each arm between a listening position and a storage position, where each of said first and second speakers engages one of the first and second bow portions.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said first and second bow portions includes an elongated slot and said first and second speaker means may be positionally varied therealong.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the extension arm of each of said first and second speakers comprises a plurality of telescoping arm portions.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said framework includes solar energy conversion means for recharging batteries contained within said framework.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second bow portions each include a slotted keyway and the extension arm of each of said first and second speakers includes a projection which mates with the keyway of one of said first and second bow portions.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second bow portions pivotally couple to said brow portion at hinge means and further including mating electrical coupler means integrally formed with said bridge and bow portions and cooperatively mounted relative to said hinge means for coupling and uncoupling a plurality of conductor segments contained within said brow and bow portions to one another as the bow portions are folded away from and into parallel alignment with the brow portion.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said framework includes antenna means contained within said framework and means for electrically coupling said radio receiver means thereto.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including means for recharging storage batteries contained within said framework.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including electronic display means laminated to said framework for viewing control indicia of said radio receiver means without removing the eyewear.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said retainer means comprises a pin member which mounts through the extension arm of each of said first and second speakers and said first and second bow portions, a compressible member and a backing washer thereto.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including retention means for securing said first and second speakers to said first and second bow portions at said storage position.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said retention means comprises first and second recesses formed in the framework to receive each speaker in nested relation thereto.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second bow portions each include an electrically conductive keyway and wherein said first and second speakers include first and second electrically conductive projections which mate with said keyways.

17. Eyewear apparatus comprising:

a) a framework including a brow portion, lens means mounted to said brow portion, and first and second bow portions mounted to project from said brow portion;

b) first and second speakers;

c) radio receiver means including a first housing supporting said first speaker and further including means for pivotally coupling said first housing to said first bow portion; and

d) power supply means coupled to said radio receiver means and including a second housing supporting said second speaker and further including means for pivotally coupling said second housing to said second bow portion.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said first and second bow portions pivotally couple to said brow portion at hinge means, wherein said brow portion and first and second bow portions each include a plurality of electrical couplers which couplers are mounted to mate with one another when the first and second bow portions are folded transverse to the brow portion.

19. Eyewear apparatus comprising:

a) a framework including a brow portion and first and second bow portions, wherein said brow portion includes a flexible tang, wherein said brow and first and second bow portions each include an exposed cavity on one surface of said framework, which cavities coextensively extend about said framework, and wherein the cavities of the first and second bow portions terminate at the cavity of the brow portion, and including a plurality of covers which mount to said cavities;

b) optical lens means including an aperture which receives said tang for detachably securing said lens means to said brow portion;

c) radio receiver means coupled to said framework;

d) first and second speakers;

e) electrical contact means connected to said receiver means and projecting from said framework for contacting the skin of a wearer of said eyewear to physically and electrically connect the wearer to said radio receiver means as an antenna; and

f) wherein said battery, radio receiver means and a plurality of conductors mount within said cavities and said conductors electrically couple said radio receiver, first and second speakers and battery to one another.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first and second bow portions pivotally couple to said brow portion at hinge means and including mating electrical coupler means integrally formed with said brow and bow portions and cooperatively mounted relative to said hinge means for coupling and uncoupling a plurality of conductor segments contained within said brow and bow portions to one another as the bow portions are folded away from and into a parallel alignment with the brow portion.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 including first and second jointless hinge means for securing said first and second bow portions to said brow portion, wherein said first and second hinge means each comprise first and second tubular members, wherein said tubular members include first and second portions which interlock with said brow and said first and second bow portions, wherein a longitudinal slit extends the length of and opens to a longitudinal bore of each tubular member and wherethrough electrical conductors extend between said brow and first and second bow portions.

22. Eyewear apparatus comprising:

a) a framework including a brow portion;

lens means mounted to said brow portion and including a lens clip, wherein said clip includes a tang which interlocks with said brow portion for detachably retaining said lens means to said brow portion;

first and second bow portions; and

first and second jointless hinge means for securing said first and second bow portions to said brow portion, wherein each of said first and second hinge means includes a bore wherethrough electrical conductors extend between said brow and first and second bow portions;

b) radio receiver means including a battery mounted to said framework;

c) first and second speakers; and

d) wherein said battery, radio receiver means and speakers are coupled to one another with said electrical conductors.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said brow and said first and second bow portions each include an exposed cavity on one surface of said framework, wherein said first and second hinge means comprise tubular elastomer members, wherein each tubular member has a longitudinal bore and wherein a longitudinal slit extends the length of and opens to each bore wherein said battery, radio receiver means, speakers and electrical conductors mount within said cavities and bore, and including a plurality of covers which mount to said cavities.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said tubular members include first and second portions which interlock with recesses at said brow and first and second bow pieces.

25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 including means connected to said receiver means and projecting from said framework for contacting the skin of a wearer of said eyewear to physically and electrically connect the wearer to said radio receiver means, whereby the wearer is electrically connected to said receiver as an antenna.

26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said lens clip includes first and second portions which interlock with first and second portions of said brow portion.