Eyeglass temple attachment mechanism

• US 6,582,075 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: QR Spex
• Original Assignee: QR Spex
• Inventors: Greaves, Mikal Barry, Swab, Gregg T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US09/846,028
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/119, 351/121, 351/111, 351/153, 381/327
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end

Abstract

An eyeglass assembly having a lens frame; a temple piece; an electrical insert projecting from either the lens frame or the temple piece; and a receiver provided in or on the other of the lens frame or temple piece. The electrical insert is removably insertable into the receiver for both releasably attaching the temple piece to the lens frame and for establishing an electrical connection therebetween.

Claims

1. Eyeglasses comprising:

a lens frame;

a temple piece; and

an electrical insert projecting from one of said lens frame and said temple piece with the other of said lens frame and said temple piece having a receiver,

wherein said electrical insert is removably insertable into said receiver and securable within said receiver without a hinge pin, such that the insertion of said electrical insert into said receiver will both releasably attach said temple piece to said lens frame and will establish an electrical connection between said lens frame and said temple piece.

2. The eyeglasses of claim 1 wherein said one of said lens frame and said temple piece includes a hinge and said electrical insert projects from said hinge.

3. The eyeglasses of claim 1 wherein said electrical insert is a phone plug.

4. The eyeglasses of claim 3 wherein said receiver is a phone jack.

5. The eyeglasses of claim 1 wherein said temple piece has a forward end and said receiver is provided at said forward end.

6. The eyeglasses of claim 5 wherein, when said electrical insert is received in said receiver and said eyeglasses are positioned on a user'"'"'s head, said electrical insert and said receiver will be at least substantially hidden from outside view.

7. The eyeglasses of claim 1 further comprising:

a second temple piece, and

a second electrical insert project from one of said lens frame and said second temple piece with the other of said lens frame and said second temple piece having a second receiver,

wherein said second electrical insert is removably insertable into said second receiver and securable within said second receiver without a hinge pin, such that the insertion of said second electrical insert into said second receiver will both releasably attach said second temple piece to said lens frame and will establish an electrical connection between said lens frame and said second temple piece.

8. The eyeglasses of claim 7 wherein, when said electrical inserts are received in said receivers, an electrical circuit extending through said lens frame and into each of said temple pieces will be formed.

9. Eyeglasses comprising:

a lens frame;

a temple piece;

a hinge pivotably connecting said temple piece to said lens frame; and

an electrical insert projecting from said hinge;

one of said lens frame and said temple piece having a receiver wherein said electrical insert is secured within said receiver without a hinge pin and is received by said receiver such that an electrical connection is formed between said lens frame and said temple piece.

10. The eyeglasses of claim 9 wherein said electrical insert is removably received in said receiver such that said electrical insert releasably attaches said temple piece to said lens frame.

11. The eyeglasses of claim 9 wherein said electrical insert is a phone plug.

12. The eyeglasses of claim 11 wherein said receiver is a phone jack.

13. The eyeglasses of claim 9 wherein said temple piece has a forward end and said receiver is provided at said forward end.

14. The eyeglasses of claim 13 wherein, when said electrical insert is received in said receiver and said eyeglasses are positioned on a user'"'"'s head, said electrical insert and said receiver are at least substantially hidden from outside view.

15. The eyeglasses of claim 9 wherein said electrical insert attaches said temple piece to said lens frame.

16. The eyeglasses of claim 9 further comprising:

a second temple piece;

a second hinge pivotally connecting said second temple piece to said lens frame; and

a second electrical insert projecting from said second hinge,

one of said lens frame and said second temple piece having a second receiver wherein said second electrical insert is secured within said second receiver without a hinge pin and is received by said second receiver such that an electrical connection is formed between said lens frame and said second temple piece.

17. The eyeglasses of claim 16 wherein, when said electrical inserts are received in said receivers, an electrical circuit extending through said lens frame and into each of said temple pieces is provided.

18. Eyeglasses comprising:

a lens frame;

a temple piece; and

a phone plug projecting from one of said lens frame and said temple piece with the other of said lens frame and said temple piece having a receiver,

wherein said phone plug is removably insertable into said receiver such that the insertion of said phone plug into said receiver will releasably attach said temple piece to said lens frame.

19. The eyeglasses of claim 18 wherein said one of said lens frame and said temple piece includes a hinge and said phone plug projects from said hinge.

20. The eyeglasses of claim 18 wherein said receiver is a phone jack.

21. The eyeglasses of claim 18 wherein said temple piece has a forward end and said receiver is provided at said forward end.

22. The eyeglasses of claim 21 wherein, when said phone plug is received in said receiver and said eyeglasses are positioned on a user'"'"'s head, said phone plug and said receiver will be at least substantially hidden from outside view.