Ultra-light, hingeless plastic eyeglass frame

• US 6,719,425 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wtw Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: Microvision Optical Inc.
• Inventors: Conner, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Huy
• Application Number:
  US10/099,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 351/111, 351/113, 351/114, 351/116-119, 351/121, 351/123, 351/124, 351/133, 351/134, 351/136-138, 351/153, 351/110, 162/28
• US Class Current: 351/111
• 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 5/00 Constructions of non-optical parts
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/126 exchangeable or otherwise fitted to the shape of the nose
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/143 having special ear pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2272 Hinges without well-defined pivot axis

Abstract

Herein disclosed is a multiple part eyeglass frame for rimless eyeglasses manufactured from plastic having properties which withstand the constant flexing associated with eyeglasses. The present invention is especially useful in situations where a conventional temple hinge is not used. The frame is highly effective for absorbing stresses on eyeglass lenses at attachment points of the temple members. Temples of the present invention are formed of two individual pieces allowing a temple length to be adjusted. The temple pieces are fabricated, such that when joined, the resulting temple follows the normal curvature of a wearer'"'"'s head. The present invention incorporates a plastic nose bridge with one or more posts as attachment means for a replaceable nose pad bridge unit. Additionally, means for adjusting the length of the temple members is provided.

Claims

1. An eyeglass temple fabricated of memory plastic requiring no temple hinge member including:

a first end of a temple member having means for directly attaching to an eyeglass lens at a location opposite a nose bridge member attachment to said lens, a second open end of said temple member containing a first end of an elongated anti-rotation member which extends therefrom; and

a temple earpiece having an orifice at a first end which receives said extended portion of said anti-rotation member thereby forming said eyeglass temple, said earpiece fabricated to angle inward to follow a curvature of a wearer'"'"'s head.

2. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said earpiece angle is within a range of five to twenty degrees.

3. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein a depth of said earpiece orifice is equal to or greater than a length of said anti-rotation member.

4. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said temples may be permanently shortened by removing a portion of the earpiece orifice depth.

5. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said temples may be permanently shortened by removing equal portions of the anti-rotation member and the earpiece orifice depth.

6. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said anti-rotation member has a rectangular cross-section.

7. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said anti-rotation member has a triangular cross-section.

8. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said anti-rotation member has a polygonal cross-section.

9. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said means for directly attaching said temple member to an eyeglass lens includes one or more apertures in said lens and one or more corresponding apertures in the first end of said temple member facilitating insertion of one or more screws through said one or more lens and temple apertures, said one or more screws secured by a nut.

10. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said means for directly attaching said temple member to an eyeglass lens includes one or more apertures in said lens and one or more corresponding apertures in the first end of said temple member facilitating insertion of one or more bushings through said one or more lens and temple apertures, said one or more bushings engage one or more received barbed pins.

11. The eyeglass temple according to claim 1 wherein said second end of the temple member has sufficiently the same dimensions as the first end of the temple earpiece for creating a smooth connection between the temple member and the earpiece.

12. An eyeglass frame including:

means for an elongated nose bridge member to attach and join two eyeglass lenses;

a first end of a temple member having means for directly attaching to an eyeglass lens at a location opposite the nose bridge member attachment to said lens, a second open end of said temple member containing a first end of an elongated anti-rotation member which extends therefrom; and

a temple earpiece having an orifice at a first end which receives said extended portion or said anti-rotation member thereby forming said eyeglass temple, said earpiece fabricated to angle inward to follow a curvature of a wearer'"'"'s head.

13. The rimless eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said nose bridge member includes means for receiving an interchangeable nose pad unit.

14. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said means for receiving a nose pad unit is one or more posts having enlarged heads extending rearward from said nose bridge member.

15. The eyeglass frame according to claim 14 wherein said nose pad unit is contoured to fit over a nose, said nose pad unit having two nose pads which rest on opposite sides or the nose and one or more openings near an upper area, said openings corresponding to, and engaging, said enlarged heads of the one or more posts.

16. The eyeglass frame according to claim 14 wherein said nose bridge member includes a contoured mid-section directed forward such that the posts are not parallel but each face inwardly defining an angle.

17. The eyeglass frame according to claim 15 wherein said openings in said nose pad unit face inwardly defining an angle, said angle defined by the nose pad openings being less than an angle defined by the mounting posts.

18. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said means for attaching said nose bridge member to eyeglass lenses includes one or more apertures in said lenses and one or more corresponding apertures in both ends of said elongated nose bridge member facilitating insertion of one or more screws through said one or more lens and nose bridge apertures, said one or more screws secured by a nut.

19. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said means for attaching said nose bridge member to eyeglass lenses includes one or more apertures in said lenses and one or more corresponding apertures in both ends of said elongated nose bridge member facilitating insertion of one or more bushings through said one or more lens and nose bridge apertures, said one or more bushings engage one or more received barbed pins.

20. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said second end of each temple member has sufficiently the same dimensions as the first end of the temple earpiece for creating a smooth connection between the temple member and the earpiece.

21. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said earpiece angle is within a range of five to twenty degrees.

22. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein a depth of said earpiece orifice is equal to or greater than a length of said anti-rotation member.

23. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said temples may be permanently shortened by removing a portion of the earpiece orifice depth.

24. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said temples may be permanently shortened by removing equal portions of the anti-rotation member and the earpiece orifice depth.

25. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said anti-rotation member has a rectangular cross-section.

26. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said anti-rotation member has a triangular cross-section.

27. The eyeglass frame according to claim 12 wherein said anti-rotation member has a polygonal cross-section.

28. A method for fabricating eyeglass temples of memory plastic comprising:

a) creating a left and right front temple member each having at a first end means for direct attachment to a distinct eyeglass lens, said second open ends of said front temple members containing a first end of an anti-rotation member extending therefrom;

b) creating a left and right temple earpiece having an orifice at a first end, said earpieces angled toward a wearer'"'"'s head; and

c) inserting said extended anti-rotation members into said orifice of said earpieces creating a left and right temple.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein said front temple members are formed to extend outwardly from said lenses and contour in the direction of a wearer'"'"'s head.

30. The method according to claim 28 wherein said means for directly attaching said temple member to an eyeglass lens includes one or more apertures in said lens and one or more corresponding apertures in the first end of said temple member facilitating insertion of one or more screws through said one or more lens and temple apertures, said one or mare screws secured by a nut.

31. The method according to claim 28 wherein said means for directly attaching said temple member to an eyeglass lens includes one or more apertures in said lens and one or more corresponding apertures in the first end of said temple member facilitating insertion or one or more bushings through said one or more lens and temple apertures, said one or more bushings engage one or more received barbed pins.