AU729328B2

AU729328B2 - Swimming goggles

Info

Publication number: AU729328B2
Application number: AU48812/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Herman Chiang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-28
Filing date: 1999-09-20
Publication date: 2001-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-28
Also published as: AU712805B2; AU5034496A; AU4881299A

Description

r/Vuu/ I I 28/591 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 0 *0 .000 0* 0 .00 a a *0 a a *0 4 Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: SWIMMING GOGGLES The following statement Is a full description of this Invention, Including the best method of performing It known to us SWIMMING GOGGLES The invention relates to a pair of swimming goggles, more particularly to a pair of swimming goggles which has lens frames, gasket units and a nose bridge that are formed integrally and which can effectively guard against deformation of the lens frames when the swimming goggles are in use.

A known pair of swimming goggles includes two lens frames, two lens units, a nose bridge, two gasket units and a head strap unit. The lens frames, the nose bridge .i and the gasket units are formed integrally. Each of the lens frames is generally annular in shape and has an inner periphery that defines a lens retaining space, an outer periphery that has a bridge connecting portion 15 and a strap connecting portion opposite to the bridge connecting portion, and front and rear parts. Each of the lens frames is formed with an inclined stop member which extends outwardly and rearwardly from the strap connecting portion thereof. Each of the stop members and the strap connecting portion of a corresponding one of the lens frames cooperatively define an engaging hole therebetween. The two lens units are mounted respectively on the front parts of the lens frames in the lens retaining spaces of the latter. The nose bridge, which interconnects the bridge connecting portions of the lens frames, is generally U-shaped in cross-section and has a concave rear surface, a convex front surface and two terminal end portions that extend integrally and respectively to the bridge connecting portions of the lens frames. The nose bridge further has an upper end portion, a lower end portion and an intermediate portion which extends between the terminal end portions and which is located between the upper and lower end portions. The intermediate portion is thicker than the upper and lower end portions. The gasket units are provided respectively on the rear parts of the lens frames. The head strap unit interconnects the strap .i connecting portions of the lens frames and includes an o:oeo: o elongated strap member and two engaging members 0:0*.oprovided at opposite end portions of the strap member.

0 The lens frames, the nose bridge and the gasket 15 units are made from a semi-rigid material with an appropriate flexibility, thereby permitting integral fabrication of the same so as to reduce the .0 manufacturing time and the cost of manufacture and so o• o as to increase the production rate. In addition, the ooo* o 20 stop members on the lens frames and the engaging members on the head strap unit help prevent deformation of the lens frames when the swimming goggles are in use, thereby preventing the formation of a gap between each of the lens frames and the corresponding one of the lens units to prevent correspondingly the seepage of water.

One of the drawbacks of the aforementioned swimming goggles resides in that the stop members on the lens frames and the engaging members on the head strap unit reduce the space allocated for the lens units, thereby resulting in smaller lens units which, in turn, leads to a smaller viewing angle of about 1500 when the swimming goggles are in use. The smaller viewing angle does not comply with standards currently employed in most countries, which require a viewing angle of about 180"0.

Another drawback of the aforementioned swimming goggles resides in that deformation of the lens frames .may still occur since the pulling forces that are exerted on the lens frames by the head strap unit when 15 the goggles are in use are transmitted directly onto g the nose bridge. Moreover, the nose bridge cannot easily adapt to the size of the head of the user.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a pair of swimming goggles that can overcome 20 drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art.

More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a pair of swimming goggles, the nose bridge of which can easily adapt to the size of the head of the user without resulting in deformation of the lens frames.

It is particularly preferred that a pair of swimming goggles according to the present invention also embody the invention claimed in Australian Patent Application No.

50344/96, of which the present application is a divisional application.

9* According to the present invention, a pair of swimming goggles includes two lens frames, two lens units, a nose bridge, two gasket units and a head strap. Each of the lens frames has an inner periphery that defines a lens retaining space, and an outer periphery that has bridge and strap connecting portions. Each of the lens units is mounted on a front part of a respective one of the lens frames in the lens **retaining space of the latter. The nose bridge has two terminal end portions connected to the bridge connecting portion of the respective lens frame. The e**e gasket units are provided on a rear part of the 15 respective lens frame. The head strap has two ends connected respectively to the lens frames. The lens frames, the nose bridge and the gasket units are formed integrally. Each of the terminal end portions of the nose bridge is formed with a number of slits that are transverse to a lengthwise direction of the nose bridge, thereby enhancing stretchability of the nose bridge to enable the latter to adapt easily to the size of the head of the user.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a pair of swimming goggles according to the invention disclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 50344/96; Figure 2 is a schematic exploded view of the goggles shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a section of an elongated extension on a lens frame of the goggles shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a first connector unit of the goggles shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the first connector unit, taken along line V-V in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic view of a second connector unit of the goggles shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a sectional view of the second connector unit, taken along line VII-VII in Figure 6; Figure 8 illustrates the goggles shown in Figure 1 when in use; Figure 9 is a schematic view which illustrates the preferred embodiment of a pair of swimming goggles according to the present invention; Figure 10 is a schematic top view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a nose bridge of the preferred embodiment; Figure 12 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment, taken along line XII-XII in Figure Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating a strap connector and an elongated extension on a lens frame of the preferred embodiment; and Figure 14 is a sectional view which illustrates the connection between the strap connector and the elongated extension showing in Figure 13.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a pair of swimming goggles according to the invention disclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 50344/96 is shown to include two lens frames 30, two lens units 31, a nose bridge 50, two gasket units and a head strap 70. The lens frames 30, the nose bridge and the gasket units 40 are formed integrally.

15 Each of the lens frames 30 is generally oval-shaped go and has an inner periphery that defines a lens retaining space, an outer periphery that has a bridge oooo connecting portion and a strap connecting portion opposite to the bridge connecting portion, and front and rear parts. The inner periphery of each of the lens frames 30 has a pair of spaced annular flanges 32 which extend inwardly therefrom and which cooperatively define an annular retaining groove therebetween.

To conform with the lens frames 30, each of the lens units 31 is generally oval-shaped and has a peripheral portion that is mounted on the front part of a corresponding one of the lens frames 30 in the lens retaining space of the latter by inserting the peripheral portion in the retaining groove. As best shown in Figure 2, the peripheral portion of each of the lens units 31 is formed with a plurality of through-holes 310. Each of the lens frames 30 further has a plurality of engaging pins 36 which are formed integrally between the annular flanges 32 and which extend through the through-holes 310 of the corresponding one of the lens units 31, thereby S1: 10 mounting securely the latter thereto.

:"The strap connecting portion of each of the lens frames 30 has an integrally formed elongated extension.

The extension has one side formed with depressions to *e enhance stretchability thereof, thereby reducing the amount of pulling force that is transmitted to the lens frame 30 by the head strap 70 when the swimming goggles are in use. Preferably, the extension has a first section which extends from the corresponding one of the lens frames 30, an intermediate second section which extends from the first section, and a third section which extends from the second section. The depressions in the extension include a number of grooves 33 that are formed in the first section, and a number of cavities 34 that are formed in the second section. In this embodiment, two grooves 33 extend in a direction transverse to the length of the first section, while three oval-shaped cavities 34 have major axes that lie in a direction transverse to the length of the second section. Each of the cavities 34 has a rounded bottom As shown in Figure 3, the third section of the extension has first and second serrated segments 37, 38 and a pair of through-holes 39 (only one is shown in Figure 3) between the serrated segments 37, 38.

Referring to Figures 2 to 7, two strap connectors are employed to connect two ends of the head strap to the third section of the extensions. In this 1 0 embodiment, each of the strap connectors 60 includes complementary first and second connector units 61, 62.

The first connector unit 61 is a plate-like member e having a clamping portion 610 and a strap engaging portion 611. The clamping portion 610 of the first connector unit 61 has an inner face formed with two sets of teeth 612, 613 which engage the serrated segments 37, 38 of the third section of the corresponding extension. The clamping portion 610 of the first connector unit 61 is further formed with a pair of retaining holes 614 which are aligned with the through-holes 39 in the third section of the corresponding extension. The strap engaging portion 611 of the first connector unit 61 is generally C-shaped and is formed with a T-shaped opening that includes an elongate slot 615 which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first connector unit 61 and a notch 616 which lies on the longitudinal axis of the first connector unit 61 and which serves as an access into the slot 615. The strap engaging portion 611 of the first connector unit 61 is further formed with a pair of pin holes 617 on two sides of the notch 616.

The second connector unit 62 is also a plate-like member having clamping and strap engaging portions 620, 621. The clamping portion 620 has an inner face formed with two sets of teeth 622, 623 which engage the .i serrated segments 37, 38 of the third section of the corresponding extension. The clamping portion 620 is further formed with a pair of retaining projections 624 which extend through the through-holes 39 in the third section of the corresponding extension, and which engage the retaining holes 614 in the first connector unit 61. The strap engaging portion 621 of the second ~connector unit 62 is also generally C-shaped and is formed with a T-shaped opening that includes an o elongate slot 625 which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the second connector unit 62 and a notch 626 which lies on the longitudinal axis of the second connector unit 62 and which serves as an access into the slot 625. The strap engaging portion 621 is further formed with a pair of mounting pins 627 which engage the pin holes 617 in the first connector unit 61.

Referring once more to Figures 1 and 2, the nose bridge 50. interconnects the bridge connecting portions of the lens frames 30. The nose bridge 50 is generally U-shaped in cross-section and has a concave rear surface, a convex front surface and two terminal end portions that extend integrally and respectively to the bridge connecting portions of the lens frames 30. The nose bridge 50 further has an upper end portion, a lower end portion and an intermediate portion which extends between the terminal end portions and which is located between the upper and lower end portions. The intermediate portion is thicker than the upper and lower end portions.

The gasket units 40 are provided respectively on the rear parts of the lens frames 30. Each of the gasket units 40 is generally J-shaped in cross-section and has a longer end portion and a shorter end portion which extends integrally from the rear part of the respective one of the lens frames 30 such that the longer end portion extends around the respective one of the lens .i frames 30. The longer and shorter end portions of each of the gasket units 40 cooperatively define an annular groove 41 therebetween.

The head strap 70 is a length-adjustable elastic strap with two looped ends 71 which are inserted into the T-shaped opening in the strap engaging portions 611, 621 of the first and second connector units 61, 62 via the notches 616, 626 so as to be hooked thereon.

During assembly, the strap connectors 60 are simply installed on the extensions of the lens frames 30 in the aforementioned manner, and the looped ends 71 of the head strap 70 are hooked onto the strap connectors The swimming goggles are ready for use at this time.

Referring now to Figure 8, in use, each of the lens frames 30 is disposed around a corresponding one of the user's eyes such that the face contacting surface of each of the gasket units 40 is in contact with the User's face. Then, the lens frames 30 are pressed 1 0 toward the user's face so as to expel the excess air in *"the grooves 41 of the gasket units 40. The gasket units thus act as suction caps which prevent the formation of a gap between the user's face and the face contacting surfaces of the gasket units 40. Afterwards, the head strap 70 is worn around the user's head so as to retain the swimming goggles properly thereon. The retaining forces which are produced by the head strap 70 for retaining the swimming goggles on the user's head can be varied by adjusting the length of the head strap 70 between the extensions of the lens frames The lens frames 30, the nose bridge 50 and the gasket units 40 are made from a semi-rigid material with an appropriate flexibility, thereby permitting integral fabrication of the same so as to reduce the, manufacturing time and the cost of manufacture and'so as to increase the production rate. In addition, the construction of the extensions of the lens frames reduce the amount of pulling force that is transmitted to the lens frames 30, thereby minimizing the risk of deformation of the: lens frames 30 when the swimming goggles are in use to prevent the formation of a gap between each of the lens frames 30 and the corresponding one of the lens units 31 to prevent consequently the seepage of water. Moreover, unlike the aforementioned known swimming goggles, no stop members and engaging members are in use, thus maximizing the io space allocated for the lens units 31 to result in a larger viewing angle which conforms with international standards.

Figures 9 to 14 illustrate a pair of swimming goggles according to the present invention. These goggles are generally similar to the goggles shown in Figures 1 to 8, the main differences residing in the constructions of the nose bridge 50a, the extensions on the lens frames 30a, and the strap connectors As shown in Figures 9 to 12, each of the terminal end portions of the nose bridge 50a is formed with a number of slits 51 that are transverse to a lengthwise direction of the nose bridge 50a. The slits 51 enhance stretchability of the nose bridge 50a to enable the latter to adapt easily to the size of the user's head without resulting in deformation of the lens frames Each of the slits 51 has opposite shallower ends 511 to reinforce the nose bridge 50a so as to avoid tearing of the same at the slits 51.

Like the previous embodiment, the extension on each of the lens frames 30a also has one side formed with depressions to enhance stretchability of the extension.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the first section of the extension is formed with a concavity 33a, while the second section of the extension is formed with an ovalshaped cavity 34a which has a major axis that lies 10 along a lengthwise direction of the second section. The S" cavity 34a has a rounded bottom 35a, as shown in Figure Referring to Figure 13 and 14, the third section of the extension has first and second enlarged segments 361, 362 and a through-hole 363 between the enlarged segments 361, 362.

Each of the strap connectors 60a includes complementary first and second connector units 61a, oooo 62a. As with the previous embodiment, the first and

S.

second connector units 61a, 62a are plate-like members having clamping and strap engaging portions 610a, 611a and 620a, 621a. The clamping portion 610a, 620a of each of the first and second connector units 61a, 62a has an inner side formed with two retaining grooves 350, 360 and 370, 380 which engage the enlarged segments 361, 362 of the third section of the corresponding extension. Each retaining groove 350, 360, 370, 380 has a wall portion T1, T2 which abuts against the respective one of the enlarged segments 361, 362 to arrest movement of the strap connector 60a away from the respective extension. The clamping portion 610a of the first connector unit 61a is formed with two retaining holes 39a, 39b disposed adjacent to the retaining grooves 350, 360, respectively. Each retaining hole 39a, 39b extends in a transverse direction of the extension. The clamping portion 620a i of the second connector unit 62a is formed with a pair of retaining projections 651 which extend respectively into the retaining holes 39a, 39b. Each of the retaining projections 651 has a hooked end portion 6511. Each of the retaining holes 39a, 39b is formed with a barb projection 652 which engages the hooked end 15 portion 6511 of the respective one of the retaining e projections 651. One of the retaining projections 651 extends through the through-hole 363 in the third 00*o section of the corresponding extension.

During assembly, the enlarged segments 361, 362 of the third section of the extension are disposed respectively in the retaining grooves 370, 380 of the second connector unit 62a. One of the retaining projections 651 of the second connector unit 62a extends through the through-hole 363 in the third section of the extension at this time. The first connector unit 61a is then provided on the third section of the extension such that the retaining grooves 350, 360 thereof engage the enlarged segments 361, 362 and such that the retaining projections 651 of the second connector unit 62a extend into the retaining holes 39a, 39b, respectively. The barb projections 652 in the retaining holes 39a, 39b engage the hooked end portions 6511 of the retaining projections 651 at this time to interconnect the first and second connector units 61a, 62a.

9. i. As mentioned beforehand, the wall portions T1, T2 of the retaining grooves 350, 360, 370, 380 abut against the enlarged segments 361, 362 to guard against movement of the strap connector 60a away from the respective extension. In addition, one of the retaining 9** 9* projections 651 extends through the through-hole 363 in 15 the extension to reinforce the connection between the strap connector 60a and the extension. As with the previous embodiment, the strap engaging portion 611a, 621a of each of the first and second connector units 61a, 62a is generally C-shaped so as to engage one of the looped ends 71 of the head strap 70 in the aforementioned manner.

Claims

1. A pair of swimming goggles including two lens frames, each of which has an inner periphery that defines a lens retaining space, an outer periphery that has a bridge connecting portion and a strap connecting portion opposite to said bridge connecting portion, and front and rear parts, two lens units, each of which is mounted on said front part of a respective one of said lens frames in said lens retaining space of the respective one of said lens frames, a nose bridge having two terminal end portions, each of which is 0-0 connected to said bridge connecting portion of a respective one of said lens *0frames, two gasket units each of which is provided on said rear part of a respective one of said lens frames, and a head strap having two ends connected respectively to said lens frames, said lens frames, said nose bridge and said gasket units being formed •integrally, 000 owherein each of said terminal end portions of said nose bridge is formed with a number of slits that are transverse to a lengthwise direction of said nose bridge, thereby enhancing stretchability of said nose bridge. i

2. A pair of swimming goggles according to Claim 1, wherein each of said slits has opposite shallower ends. DATED this 14th day of September 1999 HERMAN CHIANG WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP:DHS:MMC DOC 28 AU003259.WPC