Pantascopic adjustment mechanism for eyewear

• US 5,909,267 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation et al
• Inventors: Latour, Roger R., Hall, James, Desy, Raoul
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US08/770,920
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 351/111, 351/119, 351/120, 351/110, 351/121, 351/453
• US Class Current: 351/120
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/028 Ventilation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/029 Additional functions or features, e.g. protection for other parts of the face such as ears, nose or mouth; Screen wipers or cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 1/02 Bridge or browbar secured to lenses without the use of rims
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/04 Junctions between frame elements having a click function
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/08 Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/18 Adjustment ridges or notches
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/32 Oblong hole
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/10 Intermediate bars or bars between bridge and side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/20 adjustable, e.g. telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2263 Composite hinges, e.g. for varying the inclination of the lenses

Abstract

Eyewear having a temple that provides for adjustment of the temple length and adjustment of the pantoscopic angle of the eyewear. The eyewear lens includes a plurality of projections that define various pantoscopic angles. A temple endpiece includes a set of recesses that engage the projections formed on the lens. The temple endpiece is rotated relative to the lens to set the pantoscopic angle. A groove is formed in an endpiece head to allow distal ends of the head to flex away from the lens and reduce the pressure on the lens.

Claims

1. Eyewear comprising:

a lens having at least one projection formed on a surface thereof; and

a temple coupled to said lens, said temple including an end section movably connected to said lens, said end section having recesses formed on a surface thereof, wherein the pantoscopic angle of the eyewear is set by positioning said projection in at least one of said recesses.

2. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein:

said end section comprises a post including a head having a groove formed therein.

3. The eyewear of claim 2 wherein said groove is formed generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said head.

4. The eyewear of claim 2 wherein said post further comprises a neck and said groove is formed in a portion of said neck.

5. The eyewear of claim 2 wherein said groove has a v-shape.

6. The eyewear of claim 2, wherein said lens includes a slot and said post engages said slot to movably connect said lens to said end section.

7. The eyewear of claim 6 further including a retainer connected to said post for preventing the end piece from being removed from said lens.

8. The eyewear of claim 2 wherein said recesses comprise a plurality of pairs of recesses, each pair of recesses defining a respective pantoscopic angle.

9. The eyewear of claim 8 wherein said projection comprises a pair of projections that engage a pair of said recesses.

10. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein said lens includes a slot and said end section includes a post which engages said slot to movably connect said lens to said end section.

11. The eyewear of claim 10 further including a retainer connected to said post for preventing the end section from being removed from said lens.

12. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein said recesses comprise a plurality of pairs of recesses, each pair of recesses defining a respective pantoscopic angle.

13. The eyewear of claim 12 wherein said projection comprises a pair of projections that engage a pair of said recesses.

14. The eyewear of claim 1 wherein:

said temple includes an elongated section pivotably connected to an end piece, said end section being located on said end piece.

15. A temple endpiece for use with a lens having at least one projection formed on a surface of the lens, the temple endpiece comprising:

a body having recesses formed therein for engaging the projection on the lens; and

a post extending from said body, said post adapted to mate with an opening in the lens.

16. The temple endpiece of claim 15 wherein the lens includes a pair of projections and said body includes a plurality of pairs of recesses for engaging the pair of projections.

17. The eyewear of claim 15 wherein:

said post includes a head having a groove formed therein.

18. The temple endpiece of claim 17 wherein said groove is formed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said head.

19. The temple endpiece of claim 17 wherein said post further comprises a neck and said groove is formed in a portion of said neck.

20. The temple endpiece of claim 17 wherein said groove has a v-shape.

21. Eyewear comprising:

a lens having a plurality of intersecting recesses; and

a temple coupled to said lens, said temple including an end section movably connected to said lens, said end section including a projection, wherein the pantascopic angle of the eyewear is set by positioning said projection in at least one of said intersecting recesses.

22. The eyewear of claim 21 wherein said recesses are formed on a back surface of said lens.

23. The eyewear of claim 21 wherein said lens further includes a slot formed through the lens to provide access to said recesses.

24. The eyewear of claim of claim 23 wherein:

said intersecting recesses comprise elongated recesses radially spaced from one another.

25. The eyewear of claim 24 wherein:

said slot is radially aligned with said recesses.

26. The eyewear of claim 25 wherein:

said recesses are formed on a back surface of said lens.

27. The eyewear of claim 21 wherein a top edge of said recesses is rounded.

28. The eyewear of claim 21 wherein:

said end section includes a post, said post having a head and a groove formed in said head.

29. The eyewear of claim 28 wherein said groove is formed generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said head.

30. The eyewear of claim 28 wherein said post further comprises a neck and said groove is formed in a portion of said neck.

31. The eyewear of claim 28 wherein said groove has a v-shape.

32. The eyewear of claim 21 wherein:

said temple includes an elongated section pivotably connected to an end piece, said end section being located on said end piece.

33. The eyewear of claim of claim 21 wherein:

said intersecting recesses comprise elongated recesses radially spaced from one another.

34. Eyewear comprising:

a lens having a slot therein for receiving a temple member, said slot having a generally oval shape with a center circular area, said center circular area having a diameter which extends outwardly of said generally oval shape; and

a temple member having a projection which mates with said slot, said projection having a shape which is complimentary to said slot.

35. The eyewear of claim 34 wherein:

said temple member includes an elongated temple piece pivotably connected to an end piece, said projection being located on said end piece.

36. Eyewear comprising:

a lens having at least one projection formed on a surface thereof;

a slot through said lens, said slot being spaced inwardly from an edge of said lens such that said lens completely surrounds said slot; and

a temple coupled to said lens, said temple including an end section positioned in said slot and movably connected to said lens, said end section having recesses formed on a surface thereof, wherein the pantascopic angle of the eyewear is set by positioning said projection in at least one of said recesses while said temple is retained coupled to said lens as a result of being positioned in said slot.