Kit providing independent right and left eyeglass lenses with side frames and method for assembly thereof

• US 6,183,081 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Washi Kosan Co., Ltd. (Maeda Kosen Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Washi Kosan Co., Ltd. (Maeda Kosen Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ono, Kotaro, Sumida, Kenji, Kagei, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US08/667,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 351/204, 351/124, 351/126, 351/128, 351/130, 351/131, 351/133, 351/110, 351/140
• US Class Current: 351/124
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 1/02 Bridge or browbar secured to lenses without the use of rims
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/045 for varying the horizontal distance of the lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2272 Hinges without well-defined pivot axis

Abstract

Lenses are provided in an assortment of frequently used prescriptions and are preground to a desired final contour. The lenses are optionally provided with a lug, temple and modern and with a split bridge member attached thereto to provided a half eyeglass assembly. Alternately, the parts may be provided unassembled. Proper lenses are selected on the basis of a prescription by a consumer and are assembled by the consumer to form a completed pair of eyeglasses. A bridge assembled from the split bridge members is adjustable to set a desired interpupillary distance. The positions of holes for attaching the bridge and lug to the lenses are line-symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis of each lens so as to allow the lens to be used as either a right or left lens.

Claims

1. An eyeglass apparatus assembleable with another one of said eyeglass apparatus, the eyeglass apparatus comprising:

a spectacle lens for one of a right and left eye of a user;

said spectacle lens having attached thereto a side assembly including a lug, a temple and a modern, wherein the lug, the temple and the modern are integrally molded with a flexible member between said lug and said temple; and

said spectacle lens having a half bridge connecting member engageable with another half bridge connecting member of said another one of said eyeglass apparatus, wherein said eyeglass apparatus is prepared as a single commodity unit and is assembleable together by engaging said half bridge connecting member with said another half bridge connecting member of said another one of said eyeglass apparatus corresponding to another one of said right and left eye to form a bridge and thereby a complete pair of glasses.

2. The eyeglass apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said half bridge connecting member has a pad foot and a pad.

3. The eyeglass apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said half bridge connecting member includes a means for forming a bridge which is variable in length when connected to said another half bridge connecting member.

4. The eyeglass apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an edge surface of the spectacle lens has an astigmatic axis mark which is erasable.

5. A kit for constructing a pair of glasses comprising:

first and second lenses each having a common shape symmetrical about a center vertical optical axis thereof;

left and right frame members each configured to accept either one of said first and second lenses by virtue of said common shape being symmetrical;

said left and right frame members having left and right lugs attached thereto respectively;

said left and right frame members having left and right bridge portions respectively; and

means for adjustably connecting said left and right bridge portions to set an interpupillary distance between said first and second lenses.

6. A kit for permitting consumer assembly of eyeglasses, comprising:

at least two spectacle lenses;

an adjustable bridge member having pads and pad feet and means for connecting together two spectacle lenses selected from said at least two spectacle lenses by said consumer, said at least two spectacle lenses being configured to be connected by said adjustable bridge member and said adjustable bridge member including adjustment means for adjusting an interpupillary distance of said two spectacle lenses;

left and right lug and temple assemblies having means for connecting to said spectacle lenses, said spectacle lenses being configured for connection with said left and right temple assemblies; and

an adjustment template with gradations corresponding to a plurality of interpupillary distances for setting said interpupillary distance to a predetermined distance by adjusting said adjustable bridge member when said two spectacle lenses with said adjustable bridge member connected therebetween are laid on said adjustment template with vertical optical axes thereof appropriately aligned with said gradation of said adjustment template.

7. The kit of claim 6 wherein:

said adjustable bridge and said left and right lug and temple assemblies have means for attaching to said two spectacle lenses;

said at least two spectacle lenses include holes for attaching said adjustable bridge and any one of the right and left lug and temple assemblies that are symmetrically disposed with respect to vertical optical axes of said at least two spectacle lenses to correspond with said means for attaching of said adjustable bridge and said right and left lug and temple assemblies; and

said at least two spectacle lenses being symmetrical about said vertical optical axes such that each of said at least two spectacle lenses is assembleable in any one of a left and a right lens position.

8. The kit of claim of claim 6 wherein said at least two spectacle lenses is a plurality of lens provided in a plurality of different prescriptions.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein said plurality of lenses is provided in a first group having said left lug and temple assemblies pre-attached thereto and a second group having said right lug and temple assemblies attached thereto.