Counterpoised cranial support for eyewear

• US 6,142,623 A
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jones, Kenneth E.
• Original Assignee: Jones, Kenneth E.
• Inventors: Jones, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US09/193,158
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 351/156, 351/155, 351/158
• US Class Current: 351/156
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 3/003 Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use

Abstract

This highly balanced, nose-independent type of eyewear device keeps optical devices securely positioned before the eyes in previously unobtained, carefree comfort. It also allows micro-positioning of optical devices at definite placements. Select device of the method likewise stows glasses, handy on, both above and below line-of-sight. The head, including ears is used extensively, but not the nose or other face, except and unless by the margins. Typically tensile strap (70) or one or more rigid cranial-crown extensions (72) [dubbed pate-pieces] extend to the top of the head from somewhere along distally counterweighted, glasses earpieces. Alternately a counterweight-and-support line (34) is strung from a [whimsically chosen] counterbalancing mass (32) behind the head to support the front. Counterpoised cranial support inherently lends more latitude to eyewear design. This type of support promises to spawn an explosion of pleasing, exciting new eyewear. The disclosure espouses glasses which absolutely stay put, while remaining comfortably unnoticed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting one or more optical devices on a user'"'"'s head, comprising:

(a) an optical holding device for holding said one or more optical devices in fixed relation to a user'"'"'s eyes; and

(b) a predetermined amount of countermass; and

(c) a balancing means which in combination with said optical holding device is for keeping said one or more optical devices in statically balanced equilibrium with the predetermined countermass or for keeping optical device and devices gravitationally counterpoised with that countermass, whereby said one or more optical devices will remain fixed in place in relation to the user'"'"'s eyes, even when neither touching a user'"'"'s nose nor face.

2. Device of claim 1 wherein the balancing means comprises a lever-arm.

3. Device of claim 2 further comprising one or more optical devices.

4. Device of claim 1 wherein the balancing means comprises a tension-line.

5. Device of claim 4 further comprising one or more optical devices.

6. Device of claim 1 wherein the balancing means comprises a tension-line and a lever-arm.

7. Device of claim 6 further comprising one or more optical devices.

8. A support apparatus for keeping one or more optical devices before a user'"'"'s eyes, of the type having a fastening means for securing to the optical device or devices and having a stabilizing means which extends from the fastening means to a user'"'"'s head, wherein the improvement comprises a countermass of predetermined weight in combination with a balancing means for causing the user'"'"'s head to support the support apparatus, whereby the support apparatus will support the optical device or devices before the user'"'"'s eyes without touching a user'"'"'s face nor nose.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 which comprises no optical device.