CA2246263A1 - Multi-sport eye protector - Google Patents

Abstract

Eye goggles for use in different sporting activities to protect the eyes against harsh light and possible impact injury. The goggles comprise a goggles frame having a pair of eyepiece frames interconnected by a nosepiece, a pair of eyepiece lenses, and a goggles retainer to retain the goggles against the wearer's face. Each eyepiece frame has elongated and spaced apart inner and outer support elements in which the inner support elements are locatable between a wearer's face and an adjacent outer support element. The support elements are spaced apart by a plurality of relatively short spacer elements and extend in generally similar directions to define upper and lower edge portions of each eyepiece frame. The spacer elements are spaced apart along lengths of the support elements to provide ventilation openings located between the support elements and spacer elements. Each lens is connected to a respective outer support element of each eyepiece frame to retain the lens within the frame so that the ventilation openings are exposed between the lens and the wearer's face.

Description

W O 97/32~50 PCT/CA97/00146 MULTI-SPORT EYE PROTECTOR

The invention relates to an eye protector or goggles for use when partiCiratin~ in a wide variety of activities to protect the eyes from harsh light and/or impact iniury.
There are many types of eye protectors or goggles which protect the eyes from harsh light, for example ski goggles, and also goggles to protect the eye from impact injury, for exarnple rarq~letb~ll or squash goggles. Usually, goggles which are suitable for one activity are ....~ .hle for another, and thus partil~irS7nt~ of many activities have different 10 goggles for each of ~eir ~ r~rel.l activities.
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Each dirrel~-lL activity requiring goggles tends to dictate the design and construction of each type of goggle. For example, sun glasses or ski goggles to protect the eyes from harsh light are usually not subjected to much force and are co,....~l~oly constructed from~5 relatively lightweight m~tPri~l~ Such materials tend to be flexible and do not offer much ~ to impact, and thus sun glasses or ski goggles do not protect the eyes s7rlPqn~t~ly from impact injury and are not used in other sports where eye impact is likely.
Also, ski goggles have a resiliently padded frame suL)l,o~ g a wrap-around single ~ulvalu~e lens, which is su~polLed es~entis7lly c- ntin-lously around its periphery by the 20 wearer's face. The frame is relatively flexible to conroll-l to the wearer's face and the frame relies mostly on support for S~lcllglil from the wearer's face. Any impact in the lens tends to result in gross clefl~ction of the lens and frame, and thus ski goggles usually do not provide a~leq~l~te support against impact injury.

2 5 R~rq ~eth~ll or squash goggles usually do not offer any protection against harsh light, and cl,l.. ).. ly, due to their design for strength for impact injury protection, are relatively heavy and not particularly co---rvl~ble for long periods of use. It has been found that a person will often neglect to wear goggles that are heavy or u~ rvlL~ble, thus i,l.,rea~ing the risk of eye injury, particularly in sports where eye injury is to be e~rectec1, 3 o such as squash or racquetball. nc~ e goggles that are relatively heavy and unconlrvlLable to wear are less likely to be worn than more convenient goggles, it is hllLw~ ~at goggles should be light and co~ able.

Also, contact of the padded frame of the ski goggles with the face tends to limit ventil~tinn~ thus ag 1~V~i11g a tendency of the lens to "fog", i.e. collect conrl~n~tir~n from ~ hdLion during heavy e~elLi~ of the wearer. Sun glasses have lenses which are usua21y well spaced from the face which reduces fogging, but the lenses are usually 5 su~o.Led on relatively weak and/or flexible frames which also provide poor protection against impact. Lenses which are well spaced from the face offer little protection against light entering the eyes from the side or from beneath and thus are not very effective for eye protection in harsh lighting con~litinn~ as found on snow.

10 Many types of eye protectors or goggles are provided with ventilation openings to reduce fogging of the lens. While ski goggles commonly have ventil~tion o~t;ni1, s provided along upper and lower edges of the goggles, such openings tend to weaken the goggles thus further reducing any impact protection such goggles provide.

Multi-sport eye glasses or goggles are known, and cul.. f l~ly use a "wrap-around", single CUI v~lure lens which provides protection against light entering from the side and so.~ s from beneath. A wrap-around lens is usually spaced some ~ t~nf~e from thewearer's face to f~ilit~t~ v~ntil~tinn and side support frames are often elimin~t~d to ~ )lOVe peripheral vision. Such glasses are n~rm~l1y ~uL~o1Led on the face using20 co.,v~.1;on~l arrns which engage the side of the head and/or the ears, and, because of their lig~ f'S~:, and the manner in which they are retained on the wearer's face, such glasses usually do not provide Zlf~e~ tf' prot~ction against impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention reduces the ~liffic1llti~s and disa~lv~lLages of the prior art by providing an eye protector for use with dirr~ activities which has the a lv~ll~ge of providing a relatively stiff frame which is also ~1ditir~n~lly supported by contact with the wearer's face, and yet is provided with peripheral vçntil~tir~n openings to reduce fogging of ~e 30 lens. In arl~litifl~ the lenses are generally spherical to provide a stiff barrier for a~ ition~l protection against impact, while concul1e1,Lly hl~p1~vi~g optical quality of the lens. The eye protector ~-Gfe.~ly has a one-piece or integral goggles frame which is ~le$ign~1 to provide a relatively high strength-to-weight ratio, and thus for their weight W O 97/32S50 PCTICA97/001~6 the goggles are very strong and thus can be worn with n~gligihle inconvenience to the wearer. The frarne provides ~ ition~l protection against eye injury should a lens be inad~ tly displaced inwardly from the frame towards the eye. For convenience, the eye protector can be s~ oll~d on the wearer's head using collvel.~ional spect~le- arms 5 which engage the head adjacent the ears, or alternatively a resilient band which passes around ~e head.

Eye goggles acco~ing to the invention comprise a goggles frame having a pair of eyepiece frames i~ co~ e~ d together by a nose piece, a pair of eyepiece lenses, and 10 the goggles retainer. Each eyepiece frame has el~ng~tPd and spaced apart inner and outer support cle-..~-"l~, the inner support el~m~ t~ and being locatable bel~,~,n a wearer's face and an ~jace~-~ outer support el~mpnt The support el~mPnt~ are spaced apart by aplurality of relatively short spacer elem~nt~ and extend in generally similar directions to define upper and lower edge pOl~iOllS of each eyepiece frame. The spacer e1ement~ are 15 spaced apart along length of the support elomçnt~ to provide a plurality of vPntil~tinn ~ellings located between t'ne support el~m~nt~ and the spacer e1~-mPnt~. Each ~yG~iece lens is co~ ed to a respecti~ve outer support element of each eyepiece frame to retain the lens within the frame. In this way, the ventil~tion openings are exposed between the lens and the wearer's face. The goggles retainer cooperates with the eyepiece frames to 20 retain the goggles against the wearer's face.

~eft;l~bly, each outer support elemPnt has a groove therein to receive an edge of the ~;r~iece lens. Also, each outer support element has a thif~np-s~ greater than thof each inner support el~mPnt to provide ~fl(litic~n~l thickn~ss for the groove to receive 2 5 the eyepiece lens. Also, each inner support element has width greater than width of the outer support elp-ment to provide a greater bearing area against the wearer's face and 1 safety for the wearer's eye.

In one embo~imPnt the nose piece has a hinge portion eYtpn~ling therealong, the hinge 30 portion being a relatively narrow strip having a thi(L~nP~ less than thicl~nf~ of surrounding portions of the goggles frame and eYtPnfling between the eyepiece frames.
The hinge portion f~rilitiPS slight bending between the eyepiece frames to accommodate v~ri~ti-)n~ in shapes of faces of dir~ wearers.

, Al~lnaLivt; eye goggles according to the invention c~ lises a goggles frame having a single eyepiece frame of e1ong~t~d and spaced apart inner and outer support elPmPn~.
The inner support element is loc~t~hle between a wearer's face and the outer support elem.snt The support elAm~nt~ are spaced apart by a plurality of relatlvely short spacer 5 elem~nt~ and extend in generally similar directions to define upper and lower edge portions of the eyepiece frame. The spacer elem~?nt~ are spaced apart along lens to the support e!~m~nt~ to provide a plurality of ventil~tinn openings located between the support el~m~nt~ and the spacer el~m~nt~ The one eyepiece lens is connected to the outer support elemPnt to retain the lens within the frarne so that the ventil~tinn openings 10 are exposed between the lens and the wearer's face. The goggles retainer cooperates with the eyepiece frame to retain the frame against the wearer's face.

A detailed disclosure following, related to drawings, describes a plefell~d embodiment and an ~ltçrn~tive of the invention, the invention being capable of expression in structure 15 other than that particularly described and illustrated.

BRIEF D~SCRIPIION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a simplifi~-d front pel~e.ilive of an integrally mo~ ecl dual eyepiece goggles frame in accold~l.,e with the invention, with a goggles retainer, resilient items and eyepiece lenses removed for clarity, Figure 2 is a simplified fi~.. d~d top plan view of the complete goggles, fitted with head e~gagin~ arms shown in ç~t~n~l~d and retracted positions, Figure 3 is a simplified r,~.,.~.J~-l side elevation of the goggles of Figure 2, with an eyepiece lens and portion the head engagin~ arm removed, Figure 4 is a simplified Lr~ls~,.;,e section through the goggles, as seen generally 3 0 on line 4 - 4 of Figure 2, with a portion of the wearer's face shown for clarity, Figure S is a simplified fr~gmPntP(I rear elevation of portions of the goggles adjacent the wearer's nose, Figure 6 is a simplified fra~m~Rnted section on line 6 - 6 of ~igure 5, Pigure 7 is a simplified fraEmPnte(l side view of a portion of an eyepiece frame and an inner arm portion hinged thereto, with a r1et~rh~kle head en~ing portion or head band, and ~0 Figure 8 is a simplified front elevation of an alternative single eyepiece goggles frame.

DETAILED DESCRlPrION

15 Fi~ures 1 throu~h 6 Eye goggles 10 accordillg to the invention comprise a one-piece or integral dual eyepiece goggles frame 11 having left and right eyepiece frames 13 and 14 connPcte(l together by a nosG~iece 16. The frame is preferably molded in high impact Nylon (TM) to provide 20 a high strength-to-weight ratio. The goggles further COIll~liSC separable left and right eyepiece lenses 19 and 20 fitted within the respective frames 13 and 14, and a goggles retainer 22 cooLJt;-aLillg with the eyepiece frames to retain the goggles against the wearer's face as will be d~scrihe~ The eyepiece lens are ~refel~ly made of hard coated polycarbonate, and treated for filtering or reflPctin~ harsh light and to reduce fogging 25 from cr-n~len~tion The eyepiece frames and lenses are mirror images of each other about an axis of sylllllleLl~ 24, and thus, in general, the left hand frame and associated lens only will be described.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 4, the left eyepiece frame 13 has upper and lower edge 30 portions25 and 26 colllplisil~g elollg~tPd and spaced apart inner and outer support elPmRnt~ 29 and 30 respectively. The support elemPnt~ are spaced apart by a plurality of relatively short spacer elPmPnt~ 32, are generally parallel to each other and extend in generally similar directions and to define the upper and lower edge portions of the -W O 97132550 PCT/CA97~00146 -6-eyepiece frame. The spacer eloment~ are spaced apart along the length of the support el~mPnt~ to provide a plurality of ventil~tiQn openings 35 located between the support elem~nt~ and the spacer el~m~nt~.

5 As best seen in Figure 4, each inner support e!~ment 29 has a thirl~nPss 33 and a width 34, ratio of thirtrness to width being within a range of between ~lu~i~nately 1:10 and 1:15. In contrast, each outer support elem~nt 30 has a greater thirl~ness 36 and a n~lUW~1 width 37, and ratio of thir~n~ss to width is bet-ween a~,~,lu~ ately 1:1.5 and 1:2.
Also, uulwaldly facing outer edges of the inner and outer support ellom~ntc are generally co-planar with each other so that the upper and lower edge portions 25 and 26 are pleasing in a~ea~lce and provide a relatively smooth band, provided with a row of elongated openings defining the ventil~tion openings. In conl~sL, inwardly facing inner 15 edges of the inner support elem~ont~ 29 extend inwardly much more than a~ reMt corresponding inwardly facing edges of the outer support ehPm~nt~. Thus, spacing 31 between the inner edges of the inner support elPm~ntc 29 is con~i(lerably smaller than spacing 40 between inner edges of the outer support elements 30. This provides a~l~lition~l security for the wearer as it is es~e-nti~lly impossible for the lens 19 to pass 20 easily inwardly belw~ell the inner support e!~mP-nt~, and thus there is little chance of injury to the wearer's eye should the lens 19 be ina~lv~.lt;l,lly sepa.aled from the outer support elPmPnt~ to which it is secured, as will be described.

It is noted that the thir~n~ 33 of the inner element is less than the thicl~n~5 36 of the 25 outer elem~nt, and ratio of the thlr~np~ 33 to the thirl~nP~ 36 is between about 1:2 and 1:3. Thus, the inner elempnt is slightly more flexible than the outer element to provide a Illea~ e of resili~nre, whereas the outer element is stiffer to provide a~l~lition~ lellgll for eng~ing the eyepiece lens as will be described. Prefeldbly, a resilient padding 38 is bonded to and extends along the inner support elem~nt~ so as tû cushion the goggles 3 0 adjacel.~ a wearer's face 39 without materially obstructing airflow through the ventil~tir~n c~enillgs. ThuS, the inner support elemPnt~ 29 are locatable between ~e wearer's face and the outer support elem~ont In aA~lition, a small lip 44 extends from an outer edge of each inner support element 29 towards the wearer's face to protect the bond between the ps~ lin~ 38 and ~e elem~nt 29 by m~ ing the bond line and increasing stability of the ps~-l(1in~ 38.

The eyepiece lens 19 is col nPctP~I to the outer support elçmpnt~ 30 to retain the lens 5 securely within the eyepiece frame 13, although preferably the lens should be relatively easy to remove from the frarne to provide interch~ngP~hility of lenses for different lighting crn-1hir,n~. One means of providing easy interch~nge~bility of lenses is to provide inwardly facing edges of the outer support elP-n-Pnt~ 30 of the edge portions 25 and 26 with V-shaped grooves 41 and 42 respectively, in which each groove faces 10 inwardly towards the opposite outer support elPmPnt The eyepiece lens has a generally V-shaped edge 43 ext~nf1ing therearound and being generally complement~ry to the V-shaped grooves 41 and 42 in the outer support e!em~nt~ 30 so as to be received snugly therein. The lens has a thir~ness of a~ Jxi~ -ly 0.08 inches (2.0 rnrn) for safety reasons, and the thickness 36 of the outer support e!PmP-nt 30 is preferably about twice 15 the thir1~nPs~ of the lens and thus the support element 30 provides an anchor of ~rleqn~t strength to retain the edges of the lens therein. It can be seen in Figures 1 and 4 that the ventil~tion openings are disposed beL~n the lens and the wearer's face, and are located in two curved rows one above the other to provide a plurality of p~cs~gPs for collve~livt; cooling when the wearer's face is upright.
An important feature of the invention relates to the high strength of the goggles frarne, which is npces~ry to withstand any impact sn~t~in~d by the lens itself, as well as impacts on the frame. In contrast to other multi-sport glasses, the present frarne is ~l~Psi~npcl to be suffit~i~ntly stiff to withstand impact loads, while obt~inin~ some support from the 2 5 wearer's face. This is attained by providing a relatively stiff space frame of the inner and support el~m.3nt~ which pass around the eye to provide a sturdy anchor to support edges of the eyepiece lens. The spacer elem~nt~ are thus spaced apart pillars c~nnPcting the inner and outer support elemPnt~ together, but holding them spaced apart to increase the mnclllllls of cross-section. Each pair of inner and outer support elemPnt~ and ~soci~teci 3 0 spacer elements thus provide a girder-like beam which is particularly adapted to sustain loads in a direction normal to the width or broader faces of the support elements. As best seen in Figure 1, the inner and outer support el~-m~nt~ providing the lower edge portion of each eyepiece frarne merge into each other and extend upwardly and inwardly to form the nosepiece, so as to connect four of the lower support c~ e~; together at the nosepiece to i~ .ove ~L-e~

The eyepiece lens 19 is partially spherical, is curved in two places, and extends convexly 5 oulwa,dly from the wearer's face. Thus, the lens is "dome-like" or "arched" to provide reCict~nre to deflection if the lens is imr~rtecl generally normally to it_ surface. Any generally perpentlic~ r force applied to the lens 19 in direction of an arrow 45 tends to flatten the lens, which in turn imposes an oulw~ds lateral force on the outer support elPmPntc 30, i.e. generally perpendic~ rly to the arrow 45. The comphP-~ ..y V-10 shapes of the grooves 41 and 42 and the lens edge 43 tends to ~gmPnt retention of theedges of the lens by the support el~mP-ntc thus reducing chances of the lens being inadve.~nlly pushed into the eye. In addition, each outer support element 30 has a mot~ lc of cross-section located to most effectively absorb oulw~u.ls directed forces from the lens. Thus, the ratio of ~e thjclrne5s 36 to the width 37 enables the outer support 15 element to withct~nt1 most forces resulting from load on the lens tending to flatten the lens.

As intlir~tP(l earlier, it is ~ss~- ,I;~lly impossible for the lens 19 to pass laterally between the inner support elem~-ntc 29 should an edge of ~e lens be forced out of the frame due 20 to an impact. The resulting free edge of the lens would likely contact and be ~esllail~ed by the ~ çnt inner support el~mP-nt 29 of the frame, and thus not move inwardly to iniure the wearer's eye. In addition, ~e outer margin of the partially spherical lens has an outer surface generally parallel to outer surfaces of ~ cent portions of the outer support e!~m~ntc so as provide a generally smooth exterior ~ .e~ e and only a small 25 step as a tr~nciti~n betwt;ell the lens and support element~, thus reducing the possibility of a foreign object hitting the step and possibly d~l..~i..g the goggles As best seen in Figure 2, the eyepiece frame 13 is curved to col~ru.ll. as closely as possible to the wearer's face which also assists in providing a sturdy support for the lens.
30 The eyepiece fra~es 13 and 14 are integrally inlelco~ ected at the nosepiece 16 which, as will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, provides a hinge of limited mov~lllc;lll to acco.. ocl~te variations bet~,-veen faces of most we~t;-~. Clearly, recili.onre CA 02246263 l998-08-l2 W O 97/32S50 PCTtCA97/~0146 _g_ in the resilient p~rlding 38 ~. co.. o~tes minor variations between faces as well as providing ar~ tir~n~l comfort for the wearer.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, the upper and lower edge portions 25 and 26 of the 5 eyepiece frame 13 col-vc;Lge rt;;~aldly towards each other on a side of the ey~iece frarne remote from the nosepiece 16. A col~n~clor 48 extends between oppositely facing portions of the outer support ~lem~nt~ 3() of the upper and lower edge portions 25 and 26 of the frame. The connector has an inwardly facing inner face, not shown, which co~ an a~lja~nt portion of an outer face of the lens so as to retain an outer corner 10 portion 53 ~broken line in Figure 3) of the eyepiece lens remote from the nosepiece.
Thus, the edge of the lens ~ eent the corner portion 53 is not retained in a V-shaped groove as elsewhere, but instead the lens face lies against the com~e~,~or 48 and this provides space for s~lffl~;~nt mvv~ e-ll of the lens to f~rilit~te insertion and removal of the lens from the frame as will be described.
The upper and lower edge portions 25 and 26 are also inter-connected at extreme positions remote from the nosepiece by a frame hinge portion 55 which is disposed re~v2l~dly of the cclmecl~)r 48 to provide a rear ventil~tion opening 56 therebetween to ~nh~nre air flow through the goggles. However, in some conditi~ns, e.g. water spray, 20 it may be desirable to close the openin5~ 56 by use of a r~ ovable, clip-on cover, not shown. The portion 55 is s~ffl~i~ntly sturdy and rigid to provide an anchor for the goggles retainer 22 which is Conn~cte(i to a goggles hinge, which comprises a frame hinge boss 58 ext~n-iing rea-wa,~ly from the portion 55, the boss being shown exposed in Figure 1 and in broken outline in Figure 3. The goggles hinge also colll~lises an inner 25 arm portion 61 having a pair of spaced arm hinge bosses 65 (broken outline in Figure 3) which straddle the frame hinge boss 58. The bosses 58 and 65 have aligned openings to receive a hinge pin 67 passing therc;lh,vugh so that the arm hinge portion is hinged to the rent frame hinge portion. This permits limited swinging of the portion 61 about the goggles hinge between an ~Yt~nf1ed position as shown in full outline in Figure 2, and a 30 retracted position sho-wn in broken outline and de~ n~t~d 61.1. The inner arm portion 61 is also a portion of the goggles retainer 22 and has an outer end having a latch portion 64 which has a recess to cooperate with a compl~ment~ry tang of a latch portion as will be de,sc-il,ed.

_ As seen in ~igures 2 and 3, the goggles retainer 22 further comprises an outer arm portion 69 having an outer end with a head engagin portion 71 which is shown in broken outline at 71.1 in the retracted position. The arm has an ear eng~Ein~ hook which resembles the outer end of the cul.v~ ;on~l spect~r!e arms. The outer arm portion has 5 an inner end 74 having a tang which serves as a latch portion 75 which is comple~
to the latch portion 64 of the inner arm portion.

As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the hinge pin 67 is inclined at an angle 66 to a main optical plane of goggles 68, the main optical plane passing through an optical axis of the wearer's eye when the eye looks ho~ o~ lly with the head upright. Thus, as the arm portion swings from the e~ten~ position to the retracted position, the arm portion sweeps through an arc disposed at right angles to the hinge pin 67, which results in portion 71 of the arm passing below the lenses to be clear of the lenses so as to prevent contact between the ends of the folded arms and the lenses. This pltivel~L, the ends of the arms ~l~m~ing the lenses which is a co~lu,.oll problem with many sungl~es where the hinge axis is disposed generally perpen~lic~ rly to the axial plane.

An al~ live goggles retainer will be described with reference to Figure 7.

As best seen in Figures ~ and 6, the eyepiece frame 14 has upper and lower edge portions 78 and 79 which resemble the coll~,s~ol ding edge portions 25 and 26 of the opposite eyepiece frame 13. The elong~tPd support elem~.nt.~ 29 and 30 providing the lower edge portions 26 and 79 of the eyepiece frames extend upwardly and inwardly L~wdrds each other to define a generally inverted V-shaped recess 82 below the nosepiece 16 and between the eyepiece frames 13 and 14 to receive the wearer's nose, not shown.
The nosepiece 16 has a hinge portion 87 e~tt~n~ling along the nosepiece and within the axis of symmetry 24. The hinge portion 87 is a relatively narrow central strip of the nosepiece having a reduced thi~kne~ 89 which is less than thit~l~nP~s 91 of ~ullou~ding portions to the goggles frame to provide a hinge portion of inc.eased flexibility. The strip extends between upper edges of the eyepiece frames to an apex of ~e V-shaped recess 82 to f~cilit~t~ limited bending between the eyepiece frames to acco variations in shapes and faces of different wearers.

CA 02246263 l998-08-l2 W O 97/32~50 PCT/CA97/00146 As also seen partially in Figures 1 and 3, a inverted V-shaped resilient nose support 95 extends around the generally inverted V-shaped recess 82 between ~e eyepiece frames to provide a cushion for supporting the goggles upon the wearer's nose. The nosepiece 16 has an oppositely facing edge portions 97 and 98 provided with .JuLw~dly facing 5 grooves 101 and 102 respectively which are aligned with and inLercol~ect the upper and lower grooves 41 and 42 on the outer support e!Pln~nt~ 30 of the eyepiece frames. In this way, edges of the eyepiece lenses a~ cçnt the nosepiece are retained within the V-shaped grooves of the nosepiece similarly to retPntion of the lens edges 43 wi~in the edge portions 25 and 26 of the eyepiece frames. This ensures sturdy and accurate location of 10 inner portions of the eyepiece lenses within the frames and further restricts deflection of ~e lenses under impact forces.

OPER~TION

15 The goggles are worn in a variety of activities while retained on the head using the arm portions 69 as in co-,ve~l;on~l spect~ es, or A~ ;vely using a resilient head band as will be (lesc ribed with leL"cllce to Figure 7. In co~ d~l to prior art goggles, the lenses 19 and 20 can be easily interchanged by applying a force to the rear facing surface of the lens away from the eye, to displace the lens forwardly from the V-shaped grooves 41 and 20 42 following slight lateral uuLwards displ~renlent of the edge portions 25 and 26. As described above, to e~-nti~lTy elimin~t~- the risk of eye injury, it is very rlfifficlllt to remove the lens by displacing the lens towards the eye. A lens is re-inserted into the frame by first placing the corner portion 53 of the lens inwardly of the CO~ clor 48, and gently S~l~,~illg the edge portion 25 and 26 laterally oulwa~dly to enable the edge 43 of 2~ the lens to be received easily in the V-shaped grooves 41 and 42 and the col..;sL,onding grooves in the edge portion of the nosepiece.

ALTERNATIVES

30 l?~ere.al~ly the goggles frame 11 is made as an integral unit, i.e. the eyepieces and the ,~ nosepiece are molded in one piece. AlL~ iv~;ly, each eyepiece could be made an integral unit and illt~,.co~ e~ d at an a~ ve nosepiece by a conv~ ion~l hinge providing limited hinging movement therebetween. In any event, the nosepiece extends c~mtim~ollcly between the eyepiece frames to locate the frames sturdily relative to each other.

F;~ure 7 The goggles retainer 22 has an allerllaliv~; head band embodiment 105 having a resilient or elastic hP~lb~n~l 107 adapted to pass around a portion of the wearer's head. The band has opposite end portions, which are preferably loops, not shown, which cooperate with a pair of band col~n-P-~;Iols 110, one band co~ e~lor only being shown cooperating with 10 the inner arm portion 61. The band cornector has a tang providing a band latch portion 112 which is complP~ y to the recess of the latch portion 64 of the inner arm portion 61. In this way, if a wearer decides that a hP~Ab~n~l would be more ~plopli~le than the outer arrn portions 61 of Figures 1-4, the latch portions 75 of the outer arm portions are disc~ nnPctPcl from the inner ann portions 61, and the band latch portions 112 15 are substitnt-p~l~ Clearly, use of the h~ b~nrl in most circ....~ es provides a more secure means of ret~ining the goggles on the wearer's head.

Fi~ure ~

2 0 The eye goggles 10 of the present invention has a dual eyepiece frame with ~ tinrtly separated left and right eyepiece frarnes and lenses. Separate lenses are preferred for many activities because the lens portions are nPces~rily smaller, and thus in general, stronger. In ~ ition~ the hinge in the nosepiece enables the frarne 11 to conro~ll- to the shape of wearer's faces.
However, in some in~t~nres it may be prere--ed to have a single or unitary one-piece lens snffl~ ;Pntly large for both eyes. An ~ iv~ single eyepiece goggles frame 115 has a single eyepiece lens 117 retained within a single eyepiece frame which passes around both eyes in a manner somewhat similar to a collvenLional ski goggles mask. The frame has 3 0 similar loops of generally parallel inner and outer support el~n~Pnt~ erconnected by a plurality of shorter spacer el~m~nt~ in the manner similar to ~e dual eyepiece frames as illustrated. The eyepiece lens is curved in two planes and connected to the outer support element of the frame to retain the lens within the frame so that the ventil~t;on openings W O 97/325',0 PCT/CA97/00146 are exposed bet~-veen the lens and ~e wearer's face. A goggles retainer 119, preferably of ~e elastic hto~-lh~nrl type, has opposite ends conn~cte~l to opposite sides of the frame in a manner siînilar to cu~lve~il;on~l ski goggles.

Claims (20)

1. Eye goggles (10) comprising:

(a) a goggles frame (11) having a pair of eyepiece frames (13, 14) interconnected together by a relatively stiff nosepiece (16) extending essentially continuously between the eyepiece frames (13, 14) to locate the eyepieces frames sturdily relative to each other, each eyepiece frame (13, 14) having upper and lower edge portions (25, 26) comprising elongated and spaced apart relatively stiff inner and outer support elements (29, 30), each inner support element (29) being locatable between a wearer's face (39) and an adjacent outer support element (30), the support elements (29, 30) being spaced apart by a plurality of relatively stiff and short spacer elements (32), and being curved in generally similar directions to conform approximately to the wearer's face (39) so as to obtain some support therefrom, the spacer elements (32) being spaced relatively closely together along the support elements (29, 30) to provide a relatively stiff space frame with essentially uniform support of the outer support elements (30) to resist-deflection thereof, and to provide a row of ventilation openings (35) located between the inner and outer support elements (29, 30) and the spacer elements (32), (b) a pair of relatively stiff eyepiece lenses (19, 20), each lens being connected to a respective outer support element (30) of each eyepiece frame (13, 14) to retain the lens (19, 20) within the frame (13, 14) so that the ventilation openings (35) are exposed between the lens (19, 20) and the wearer's face (39), and (c) a goggles retainer cooperating with the eyepiece frames (13, 14) to retain the goggles against the wearer's face (39).

2. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) each outer support element (30) has a groove (41, 42) therein to receive an edge (43) of the eyepiece lens (19, 20).

3. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) each outer support element (30) has a thickness (36) greater than the thickness (33) of the each inner support element (29) to provide additional thickness for the groove (41, 42) to receive the eyepiece lens (19, 20).

4. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) each inner support element (29) has a width (34) greater than width (37) of the outer support element (30) to provide a greater bearing area against the wearer's face (39), and (b) spacing (31) between oppositely facing inner edges of the inner support elements (29) is smaller than spacing (40) between oppositely facing inner edges of the outer support elements (30) to prevent the lens (19) from passing through an opening defined by the inner support elements (29) to provide additional safety for the wearer's eye.

5. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) the nosepiece (16) has a hinge portion (87) extending therealong, the hinge portion being a relatively narrow strip having a thickness (89) less than thickness (91) of surrounding portions of the goggles frame (11) and extending between the eyepiece frames (13, 14) to facilitate limited bending between the eyepiece frames (13, 14) to accommodate variations in shapes of faces of different wearers.

6. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 5, in which:

(a) the inner and outer support elements (29, 30) providing the lower edge portion (26) of each eyepiece frame (13, 14) merge into each other and extend upwardly and inwardly towards the adjacent eyepiece frame (13, 14) to define a generally inverted V-shaped recess (82) between the eyepiece frames (13, 14) to receive the wearer's nose, the recess having an apex generally adjacent the hinge portion (87).

7. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 6, further including:

(a) a resilient nose support (95) extending around the generally inverted V-shaped recess (82) between the eyepiece frames (13, 14) to provide a cushion for supporting the goggles (10) upon the wearer's nose.

8. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 2, in which:

(a) the inner and outer support elements (29, 30) providing the upper and lower edge portions (25, 26) of each eyepiece frame (13, 14) terminate generally adjacent the nosepiece (16), and (b) the nosepiece (16) has opposed edge portions (97, 98) provided with outwardly facing grooves (101, 102) which are aligned with and interconnect the grooves (41, 42) on the outer support elements (30) of the eyepiece frames (13, 14) so as to retain edges (43) of the eyepiece lenses (19, 20) adjacent the nosepiece (16).

9. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) the inner and outer support elements (29, 30) providing the upper and lower edge portions (25, 26) of each eyepiece frame (13, 14) converge towards each other on a side of each eyepiece frame remote from the nosepiece (16), and (b) a connector (48) extends between the upper and lower edge portions (25, 26) of each eyepiece frame (13, 14), the connector having an inwardly facing inner face which contacts an adjacent portion of an outer face of the lens (19, 20) so as to retain an outer corner portion (53) of the eyepiece lens (19, 20) remote from the nosepiece (16).

10. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) the support elements (29, 30) providing the upper and lower edge portions (25, 26) of each eyepiece frame (13, 14) are interconnected at positions remote from the nosepiece (16) to provide a frame hinge portion (55) for each eyepiece frame (13, 14) remote from the nosepiece (16), and (b) the goggles retainer (22) comprises a pair of inner arm portions (61), each inner arm portion having an arm hinge portion (65) hinged to an adjacent frame hinge portion (55) of each eyepiece frames (13, 14), and a latch portion (64) on a side of the inner arm portion (61) remote from the arm hinge portion (65).

11. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 10, in which the goggles retainer (22) further comprises:

(a) a pair of outer arm portions (69), each outer arm portion having an outer end with a head engaging portion (71), and an inner end (74) having a latch portion (75) complementary to the latch portion (64) of the inner arm portion (61).

12. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 11, in which:

(a) the arm hinge portion (65) is hinged to the frame hinge portion (55) for rotation about a hinge axis (67) which is inclined to a main plane (68) of the goggles (67) passing through the wearer's eyes, so that the head engaging portions (71) of the outer arm portions (69) are clear of the lenses when the outer arm portions (69) are hinged to retracted positions.

13. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 10, in which the goggles retainer (22) further comprises:

(a) a resilient head band (107) adapted to pass around a portion of a wearer's head, the band having opposite end portion, and (b) a pair of band connectors (110), each band connector having a band latch portion (112) complementary to the latch portions (64) of the inner arm portions (61) and being connected to the end portions of the head band (107).

14. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) the eyepiece lenses (19, 20) extend convexly outwardly from the wearer's face (39) and have edges (43) cooperating with respective outer support elements (30) in such a way that any outwards forces imposed by the lenses on the support elements (30) tend to augment retention of the edges (43) of the lenses (19, 20) by the support elements (30).

15. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 14, in which:

(a) the eyepiece lens (19, 20) is partially spherical.

16. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 15, in which:

(a) the partially spherical lens (19, 20) has an outer margin having an outer surface generally parallel to outer surfaces of adjacent portions of the outer support elements (30) so as to provide a generally smooth exterior appearance.

17. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a resilient padding (38) extending around the inner support elements (29) so as to cushion the goggles adjacent the face (39) without materially obstructing air flow through the ventilation openings (35).

18. Eye goggles (10) as claimed in Claim 1, in which:

(a) the goggles frame (11) is moulded as a one-piece integral unit.

19. Eye goggles comprising:

(a) a goggles frame having a single eyepiece frame (115) having upper and lower edge portions comprising elongated and spaced apart relatively stiff inner and outer support elements, the inner support element being locatable between a wearer's face (39) and the outer support element, the support elements being spaced apart by a plurality of relatively stiff and short spacer elements and being curved in generally similar directions to conform approximately to the wearer's face so as to obtain some support therefrom, the spacer elements being spaced relatively closely together along the support elements to provide a relatively stiff space frame with essentially uniform support of the outer support element to resist deflection thereof, and to provide a row of ventilation openings located between the inner and outer support elements and the spacer elements, (b) a relatively stiff eyepiece lens (117) connected to the outer support element to retain the lens within the frame, so that the ventilation openings are exposed between the lens and the wearer's face, and (c) a goggles retainer (119) cooperating with the eyepiece frame to retain the frame against the wearer's face.

20. Eye goggles as claimed in Claim 19, in which:

(a) the outer support element has a groove therein to receive an edge of the eyepiece lens, and a thickness greater than thickness of the inner support element to provide additional width for the groove to receive the eyepiece lens, (b) the inner support element has a width greater than width of the outer support element to provide a greater bearing area against the wearer's face, and, (c) spacing between oppositely facing inner edges of the inner support elements is smaller than spacing between oppositely facing inner edges of the outer support elements to prevent the lens from passing through an opening defined by the inner support elements to provide additional safety for the wearer's eyes.