Eyewear frames with magnetic lens attachments

• US 8,092,007 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Switch Vision LLC
• Original Assignee: Switch Vision LLC
• Inventors: DiChiara, Carmine
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US12/772,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20110007263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351 83- 86, 351103-109, 351/154
• US Class Current: 351/106
• 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 at least partially 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

the lens magnetic member having first portion with a first magnet member dimension sized to closely fit within the first cavity portion and a second lens magnet member sized to closely fit within the second cavity portion such that the lens 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 according to claim 1 wherein the cavity is generally trapezoidal in shape.

3. 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 a lens cavity extending at least partially through the circumferential edge thickness,

the 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;

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

the lens magnetic member having a first portion with a first magnet member dimension sized to closely fit within the first lens cavity portion and a second lens magnet member sized to closely fit within the second cavity portion such that the lens 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.

4. The eyeglass assembly according to claim 3 wherein the lens cavity is generally trapezoidal in shape.