Eyewear frames with magnetic lens attachements

• US 7,850,301 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Switch Vision LLC
• Original Assignee: Liberty Sport Incorporated
• Inventors: DiChiara, Carmine S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/658,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351 83- 86, 351103-109, 351/154
• US Class Current: 351/106
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 1/02 Bridge or browbar secured to lenses without the use of rims
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 1/04 Bridge or browbar secured to or integral with partial rims, e.g. with partially-flexible rim for holding lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 1/10 Special mounting grooves in the rim or on the lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses

Abstract

The present invention illustrates various methods of attaching a pair of eyeglass lenses or a lens shield to an eyeglass frame using magnets or magnetically attractive material. The magnetic attachment methods are beneficial because they allow the user to have interchangeable lenses or shields for indoor and outdoor use, enhancing their visual acuity during work or play. The lenses may be tinted, prescription, protective eyewear, or plano. The magnetic lenses are convenient and user friendly, allowing intuitive, tool-less interchangeability with no need to twist or stress the frame. These methods of attachment require no specific instructions or tools when the user replaces lenses.

Claims

1. A lens apparatus for removably mounting a primary lens to an eyeglass frame comprising a lens and at least one lens magnetic member, the lens comprising:

a lens front surface having a front circumferential edge;

a lens rear surface having a rear circumferential edge spaced a distance from said front circumferential edge;

a lens thickness spaced between the front lens surface and the rear lens surface;

a lens edge surface spaced between the front circumferential edge and the rear circumferential edge; and

a cavity extending through the lens thickness, the cavity having a proximal cavity portion proximal to the circumferential edge and having a first cavity dimension; and

the cavity having a distal cavity portion distal from the circumferential edge and having a second cavity dimension, wherein the second cavity dimension is larger than the first cavity dimension;

wherein the at least one lens magnetic member comprises;

a magnetic member front surface;

a magnetic member rear surface;

a magnetic member edge surface;

wherein

a first portion is sized to fit within the first cavity portion; and

a second portion is sized to fit within the second cavity portion

wherein the magnetic member front surface is substantially flush with the lens front surface, the magnetic member rear surface is substantially flush with the lens rear surface and the magnetic member edge surface is substantially flush with the lens edge surface.

2. The lens apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary lens is a prescription lens.

3. The lens apparatus of claim 2 wherein the primary lens is clear.

4. The lens of claim 2 wherein the primary lens is tinted.

5. The lens apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary lens is a plano lens.

6. The lens apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lens is clear.

7. The lens apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lens is tinted.

8. An eyeglass assembly comprising a primary eyeglass frame adapted for removable mounting of a primary lens thereto, the assembly further comprising:

at least one primary lens having a front surface, a rear surface, a circumferential edge thickness, an edge surface, and at least one lens cavity extending through the circumferential edge thickness, the at least one lens cavity having a proximal cavity portion proximal to the circumferential edge and having a first lens cavity dimension, and a distal cavity portion distal to the circumferential edge and having a second lens cavity dimension larger than the first lens cavity dimension;

a primary eyeglass frame comprising at least one partial lens rim portion comprising;

a front frame portion having a front frame surface,

a rear frame portion separated a distance from and opposing the front frame surface,

a connecting frame portion connecting the front frame portion and the rear frame portion, the connecting portion comprising;

a mounting surface; and

at least one frame cavity extending through the connecting frame portion, the at least one frame cavity having a first frame cavity portion proximal to the mounting surface having a first frame cavity dimension, and

a second frame cavity portion distal from the mounting surface having a second frame cavity dimension larger than the first frame cavity dimension;

at least one lens magnetic member configured to closely engage the at least one lens cavity such that a lens magnet front surface is substantially flush with the lens front surface, a lens magnet rear surface is substantially flush with the lens rear surface and a lens magnet edge surface is substantially flush with the lens edge surface; and

at least one frame magnetic member configured to closely engage the at least one frame cavity such that at least a portion of a frame magnetic member edge surface is substantially flush with the mounting surface.