Eyewear retention system extending across the top of a wearer's head

• US 6,325,507 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Julian, Jeffrey J., Jannard, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US09/585,593
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 351/155, 351/156, 351/157, 351/158, 351/41, 245/2
• US Class Current: 351/156
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 3/003 Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use

Abstract

Disclosed is an eyewear retention system, which extends across the top of the wearer'"'"'s head for supporting at least one lens in the wearer'"'"'s field of view. The retention system includes at least a first and a second support component, which are spaced apart laterally from each other along at least a portion of the eyewear system. The system may include any of a variety of electronics, including telecommunications receivers, transmitters, electronic storage devices, and head-up display driving circuitry.

Claims

1. An eyewear support, comprising an elongate arcuate frame having a frontal end and an occipital end, dimensioned to extend across the top of the head of a wearer from the glabellar region to the vicinity of the external occipital protuberance, the support comprising a first component and a second component which extend from the frontal region to the occipital region, and are linked together in the frontal region and spaced apart in between the frontal region and the occipital region.

2. An eyewear support as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first and second components are separated laterally by a distance within the range of from about ½

inch and about 6 inches.

3. An eyewear support as in claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the first and second components are separated laterally by a distance within the range of from about 1.5 inches and about 3 inches.

4. An eyewear support as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first and second components are separated laterally by a distance within the range of from about 2 inches and about 3 inches.

5. An eyewear support as in claim 1, further comprising at least one lens at the frontal end of the frame.

6. An eyewear support as in claim 5, comprising two lenses at the frontal end of the frame.

7. An eyewear support as in claim 6, wherein frontal end of the support is directly connected to the lenses.

8. An eyewear support as in claim 6, further comprising a first orbital and a second orbital, wherein the frontal end of the support is connected to the first and second orbitals.

9. An eyewear support as in claim 6, further comprising a bridge in between the first and second lenses, wherein the frontal end of the support is connected to the bridge.

10. An eyewear support as in claim 5, wherein the frame has an arc length sufficient to extend from the lens to the external occipital protuberance of an average adult human wearer.

11. An eyewear support as in claim 1, wherein the frame has an arc length from the frontal end to the occipital end within the range of from about 8 inches to about 18 inches.

12. An eyewear support as in claim 11, wherein the frame has an arc length within the range of from about 14 inches to about 16 inches.

13. An eyewear support as in claim 1, wherein the first and second components are connected together at the occipital end.

14. An eyewear support as in claim 1, further comprising a nose pad for resting on the nose of a wearer.

15. An eyewear support as in claim 14, wherein the frame extends posteriorly through an arc of greater than 180 degrees.

16. An eyewear support as in claim 15, further comprising a reference point on the frame at the greatest linear distance from the nose piece to the occipital region of the frame, and the frame extends along an arc having a length of at least about 2 inches beyond the reference point.

17. An eyewear support as in claim 16, wherein the frame extends along an arc having a length within the range of from about 2 inches to about 6 inches beyond the reference point.

18. An eyewear support as in claim 17, wherein the frame extends along an arc having a length within the range of from about 3 inches to about 5 inches beyond the reference point.

19. An eyewear support as in claim 16, wherein the occipital end of the frame is positioned within the range of from about 1.5 inches to about 3.5 inches anteriorly of the reference point.

20. An eyewear support as in claim 19, wherein the occipital end of the frame is positioned within the range of from about 1.5 inches to about 4.5 inches inferiorly of the reference point.

21. An eyewear support as in claim 14, wherein the linear distance between a midpoint on the nose pad and the occipital end of the frame, when the frame is in an unstressed configuration, is at least about 3 inches.

22. An eyewear support as in claim 21, wherein the linear distance between a midpoint on the nose pad and the occipital end of the frame is within the range of from about 5 inches to about 8 inches.

23. An eyewear support as in claim 22, wherein the linear distance between a midpoint on the nose pad and the occipital end of the frame is within the range of from about 5.5 inches of about 7.5 inches.

24. A method of stabilizing at least one lens in the path of a wearer'"'"'s normal line of sight, comprising the steps of:

providing an eyeglass, having an arcuate frame for extending posteriorly across the head of a wearer;

placing the frame on the head of the wearer;

locating a posterior portion of the frame at a posterior aspect of the head; and

stabilizing the frame by placing a first and second supports spaced laterally apart along at least a portion of the top of the wearer'"'"'s head.

25. A method as in claim 24, wherein the first and second supports are separated laterally by a distance within the range of from about ½

inch to about 6 inches.