CN114303091A

CN114303091A - Sports goggles

Info

Publication number: CN114303091A
Application number: CN201980097483.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·梅西奥
Original assignee: British Optical Plastics Co ltd
Current assignee: British Optical Plastics Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-13
Filing date: 2019-06-13
Publication date: 2022-04-08
Also published as: EP3983845A1; WO2020249919A1; AU2019451089A1

Abstract

The eyewear article comprises a light shield (4) that can be worn independently or attached to the frame (3) of eyeglasses or sunglasses. The shape and position of the light shield (4) is designed so as not to obstruct the wearer's view when looking straight ahead, but to obstruct the wearer's view when looking up or down, except in the areas of the two unobstructed apertures (8) forming a groove at the edge of the light shield (4). If the light shield (4) is positioned above the field of view, it allows a player playing a racquet such as tennis to see the ball during a service or other overhead shot while avoiding glare from surrounding overhead lights. If the light shield (4) is positioned below the field of view, it allows the skier to see the underlying ski run while protecting from glare from surrounding snow. For racquet sports or alpine skiing, the two apertures 8 may be aligned to converge on a fixed point one or several meters away, respectively.

Description

Sports goggles

Technical Field

The present invention relates to improved eyewear for racquets and other sports that are carried out indoors or outdoors in brightly lit conditions.

Background

In general, in outdoor sports such as tennis, strong sunlight damages the vision of tennis players, causes discomfort and persistence of vision, and in some cases, causes temporary blindness. Such damage may also occur in a room illuminated by a bright floodlight. A player's impaired vision can reduce his or her performance and can be dangerous. In the sport of racquets such as tennis and badminton, the most likely cases for this blinding effect are top hit and top serve. The same problem may occur in other sports that are played in sunny conditions, such as when a cricket or baseball player attempts to catch a tall ball. Clay pigeon shooters must also concentrate on a small target seen in the bright sky.

In alpine skiing and other sports, a clear view of the ski run underneath the skier is critical to his or her safety. In bright sunlight, glare reflected by snow may be reflected directly back to the skier's eyes. Such glare can impair the skier's view of the ski run. Drivers may face similar situations when trying to focus on a front road while driving towards a low sun or bright sky.

Prior to the present invention, various solutions to this problem have been employed, including the use of partially opaque lenses or photochromic lenses ((r))

Is an example of a trade name), polarizing filters, gradient index filters, or mirrors with reflective coatings. This arrangement provides a limited solution, but generally operates as a partial attenuation filter throughout the visual field. Obviously, this solution is disadvantageous when the eyes look down or away from the general direction of sunlight or glare, as the external scene is typically darker than desired.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides an eyewear article comprising a light shield as defined in claim 1. Preferred but not essential features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The proposed solution reduces glare in certain directions of the wearer's field of view corresponding to the "fixed point" at which the wearer gazes (e.g. the ball position when tennis is launched), while the field of view in other gaze directions is not affected. Furthermore, the proposed invention provides uninterrupted line of sight as the wearer's gaze direction moves into and out of these particular areas. The desired field of view is continuous with no sharp boundaries or boundaries between them.

The principle behind the invention is that the optical means block light from long distances while allowing light from objects at the point of fixation of the wearer to pass unattenuated. Indirect light rays emitted at an oblique angle from above are also blocked. Because the present invention selectively blocks unwanted light from certain directions, it has a secondary benefit in that less variation in the accommodation required for the eye is required. This is because under bright illumination, the difference in the level of background light seen by the wearer from different directions is small. When the eye is suddenly exposed to intense light, the eye requires time to accommodate. In professional racquet sports, even in competitive leisure sports, even hundredths of a second of reaction time can produce significant competitive advantages. The proposed invention is advantageous in sports such as downhill skiing and when driving towards low sun, as it provides increased safety for the user.

The proposed solution may include a separate piece attached to the existing goggles or glasses by clips, or it may be integrated with the goggles or glasses.

Drawings

Fig. 1, 1a and 1b are a plan view, a side view and a front view, respectively, of goggles that are novel but that do not fall within the scope of the claimed invention but are used to explain the invention. In fig. 1 and 1a, goggles are attached to sports glasses. Only the goggles themselves are shown in figure 1 b.

Fig. 2 and 2a are front and plan views, respectively, of eyewear in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of eyewear in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 and 4a are front and plan views, respectively, of eyewear in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of eyewear in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, 1a and 1b, the proposed goggles 1 are shown attached to sports glasses 3 by means of integral clips 2. The opaque main block 4 has a viewing aperture 5 therein shown in dotted lines. If the main block 4 is solid, the bore may be formed as a tubular passage through the block. The interior surface of the tube has a matte, light-absorbing texture. Alternatively, for weight saving and material saving, the main block 4 may be hollow, in which case each hole is defined by a pair of circular openings in the front and rear walls of the block, respectively. Typically about 10mm in diameter.

Taking a hole diameter of 10mm, the spacing between the front and rear ends of the holes is 20mm, and the eye distance (i.e. the spacing between the rear wall of the main block 4 and the eyes) is 15mm, providing an overall field of view of approximately 16 degrees. The field diameter at a distance of 1000mm is about 280 mm. For tennis balls the ball diameter is 67mm, this field diameter being suitable. For smaller objects, a slightly smaller field may be required, and may be provided by using a smaller diameter aperture of 8mm or less, or by providing a longer aperture. In practice, other factors may influence the choice of the desired aperture, which factors conflict with the level of glare reduction. As the aperture decreases, the glare reduction increases. However, distracting visual "tunneling" can be avoided by increasing the pore diameter. Also increasing the aperture size helps to mitigate positioning tolerances of the main mass 4 with respect to the distance between the eye and the pupil (IP).

Another limitation of the minimum aperture size is set by the diameter of the pupil of the human eye. Typically, under normal ambient lighting conditions, the diameter of the pupil of the eye is 4mm to 8mm, and therefore the diameter of the aperture closest to the eye should not be significantly less than 4 mm. The diameter of the aperture furthest from the eye may be smaller than the diameter of the aperture closest to the eye, providing a tapered geometry. An overall practical compromise is made in the choice of hole diameter, hole length, many parameters being determined by the individual player's viewing comfort requirements and his or her preference for reducing glare levels.

The vertical extent of the main mass 4 is approximately 1/3 to 1/5 of the vertical extent of the lens 6 so as not to significantly affect the main field of view. The lens is hidden by the frame 3 in fig. 1a and is not shown for clarity. Viewing through the spectacle lens is generally from the center of the lens, and when looking up with the neck stretched, such as when driving a ball, it is actually more natural and comfortable to see the eye from the top of the spectacle lens. In this way, the arrangement is advantageous in all viewing directions and the entire ophthalmic lens is fully utilized. The lens 6 is generally curved in an arc shape in plan view and may or may not have optical power. This arrangement is also effective when there is no lens 6 in the frame 3.

The centre lines 7 of the holes 5 are angled in plan view so that they converge and intersect at a fixed point F. The fixing point is arranged to coincide with the position of the ball or shuttlecock when in contact with the head of the racket, with the arms of the player straightening out when serving or hitting the ball at the top of the head. The length of standard tennis and badminton rackets should not exceed 737 and 680mm, respectively. Further, the distance from the center of the racket ball striking area to the grip (hand) is about 430 mm. In addition, if we take the distance between the eye and the hand that extends out of the arm to be 450mm (ignoring gender differences for the moment), we can round the distance between the eye and the ball to be delivered to 1 meter. With a typical average IP distance of 63mm, the centerline 7 has an overall diagonal at point F of about 3.6 degrees. A range between 1 degree and 5 degrees is sufficient to cover most anatomical variations in the population of sports players. When the goggles are manufactured, the pitch of the holes 7 closest to the eyes will match the IP distance of the individual. The centerline convergence angle may also be adjusted or preset to the eye-to-ball distance desired for a particular individual. Universally adjustable holes for a range of IPs and a range of hole centerline fixed angles are also contemplated.

Although the glare reducing characteristics are optimized for eye-to-ball distance for individual top of head serve, the goggles may reduce glare at high ball locations, such as in tennis. This is due to the light-blocking effect of the material of the main block 4 around and adjacent to the eye and the aperture itself.

Although many of the features of the eyewear illustrated in these figures 1, 1a and 1b are advantageous and useful for explanatory purposes, this version of it is not required as an embodiment of the invention, since the aperture creates a boundary that interrupts the field of view when the wearer's line of sight moves from straight ahead to a second direction, e.g., upward, looking through the aperture.

In fig. 2 and 2a preferred embodiment is shown, in which the slot 8 is incorporated in the underside of the main block 4 instead of a tubular bore. The angle of the centerline of the slot 8 in plan view is as shown in the previous embodiment. The slot width is typically about 4mm to 10 mm. The minimum practical width is limited to 4mm because the typical average pupil diameter under bright conditions is at least 4 mm. A smaller slot width may disturb the wearer's vision and be visually uncomfortable. The width of the groove furthest from the eye may be less than the width of the groove closest to the eye by about one millimeter. The vertical length of the slot is in the range of about 8mm to about 12 mm. The distance between the front and rear ends of the slot is about 2 times the width of the slot, for example 14mm to 20 mm. The advantage of the groove 8 compared to the hole in fig. 1 is that the ball is thrown from the moment it is held in the hand (seen approximately straight ahead) until the last moment of contact when the ball is delivered (seen upwards through the groove 8), the ball is seen by the player without interruption.

Due to the shielding of the material above, around and to the sides, a good level of protection is provided against sunlight/bright floodlights entering the desired field of view. Furthermore, light that does not directly enter the desired field of view but may scatter or reflect from the frame or eyebrows or eyelashes and still distract the wearer is also blocked. The rear surface of the main block 4 closest to the wearer's eye is preferably made pale blue, white or other light colour to reduce the visual contrast between the field of view through the slot 8 and the surrounding opaque material. Another way to achieve a similar result is to make the block 4 of a somewhat translucent material that allows diffuse light to reach the rear surface.

In binocular viewing, it is well known that some individuals, even with good vision, have a dominant eye and a non-dominant eye. When such an individual views the target object, the fixation point is controlled by the visual direction of the dominant eye. Thus, the individual is likely to position his goggles such that the dominant eye is well centered with respect to its corresponding viewing aperture. While a small hole or groove size is desirable to minimize glare, the view of the non-dominant eye through its respective hole may appear distorted, or in extreme cases, the position of the ball may appear distorted or difficult to see. One solution (not shown) is to increase the width of the slot 8 corresponding to the non-dominant eye. In fig. 2 and 2a, the prism element 9 is fixed by screws 10 into corresponding threaded holes in the main block. Alternatively, a recess may be provided in the main block 4 for the prism 9 to snap fit into. The prism elements provide horizontal optical power. The prism element 9 is placed in the non-dominant eye position, base in or base out, depending on the wearer's signs of insufficient fixation. The prism elements ensure that the visual direction of the non-dominant eye coincides with the visual direction of the dominant eye at the fixation point. To minimize bulk, the prism elements are made of a lightweight, high index of refraction material (e.g., polycarbonate). Prismatic powers of up to 3 diopters can be used, which can accommodate most visual fixation differences and variations in the normal population. The power of the prism elements is adjusted according to the individual eye and the fixed point deficiencies. Also, all parameters mentioned so far will be set according to the eye and anatomy of the individual wearer.

Fig. 3 shows a partial integration of the invention within the frame 3. The frame 3 extends vertically to incorporate the slot 8 therein. The surrounding portion of the frame 3 may also be similarly extended to provide side light shielding of the eye. The main block 4 has a pressing pin 12, which pressing pin 12 can be permanently fixed to the frame 3 when the pin engages a corresponding hole 13 in the frame. Alternative securing arrangements may be employed, such as bayonet or snap-in type securing means. Additional fixings may be provided at other points along the edge of the main block that engage the frame. These may provide permanent or removable fixing; such fixation methods are well known to those skilled in the art. An optional clip-on light shield 11 is provided to further block downward glare. A typical fixing arrangement for fixing the light shield 11 to the main block 4 is by means of a squeeze pin 12 engaging with a hole 13 in the top of the main block. For aesthetic reasons, the frame 3, the main block 4 and the optional shade 11 are preferably made of materials having the same color, surface texture and surface finish.

There are many well known methods of attaching eyewear devices to eyeglasses or the head and these methods are not claimed and therefore are not discussed in detail in this disclosure.

Figures 4 and 4a show an alternative arrangement of the main block 4 in which a cut-out region 22 is added to accommodate the nose of the wearer. The main block is attached to the spectacle frame 3 by an integral spring clip 23. The main difference here from the previous embodiment is that the main block 4 is located at the lower end of the spectacles. The method of fastening is not claimed and many other mechanical fastening arrangements are possible. The method of fixation obviously depends on the shape and size of the spectacles. The present embodiment is suitable for reducing glare during alpine skiing. Unlike racket sports, in alpine skiing, the required fixation point F is typically several meters from the skier. The angle subtended by the slot centerlines is adjusted to correspond to an increased fixed distance and is typically 0.25 degrees or less.

An embodiment of the invention (not shown) suitable for use by a driver will have the main block 4 located slightly above the horizontal plane in order to shield the eyes from glare of a bright sky, while allowing good peripheral vision. Most vehicles have a closed cab so that the vertical view is limited by the roof and it is not necessary for the channel 8 to extend vertically beyond the edge of the front windscreen as seen in a typical driving position. In general, for driving applications, the groove 8 may be lower and wider than grooves used for racquet sports without degrading the antiglare properties. As with the ski embodiment of figure 4, the axis of the groove 8 will have a small convergence angle to allow the driver to focus on the road a few metres ahead.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the horizontal spacing between the grooves 8 can be adjusted to match the interpupillary spacing of the wearer's eye. Two grooves 8 are formed in respective elements 25 mounted for lateral movement with respect to the block 4, for example by sliding within a cavity of the block 4. The two elements 25 may be interconnected to ensure that they remain symmetrical about the centre line of the visor. One way of achieving this is to have the elements 25 carry respective ratchets (not shown) which mesh with a common pinion (not shown) mounted in the centre of the block, so that they can only move in equal and opposite directions.

The components of the proposed sports goggles will preferably be made of moldable or cast plastic, metal or composite material. Suitable frame materials include nylon, cellulose acetate and cellulose propionate; titanium, aluminum, beryllium, and alloys thereof; and "memory metals", e.g.

In general, existing eyewear solutions for reducing glare from bright sunlight or other overhead light sources, such as polarizing filters, gradient index filters, and reflective filters, inevitably block a portion of the desired forward scene light and block unwanted overhead sunlight light. The combination of the present invention with such existing solutions can reduce the filter attenuation in the forward desired viewing direction because the proposed invention blocks a high proportion of the rays with the highest irradiance from the solar azimuth that would otherwise reach the eye. Also in the case of a gradient filter, it can minimize the attenuation range from low (for forward scene directions) to high (unwanted ray directions). In the case of the gradient filter range, attenuation is 0 to 10% in the forward scene direction and 10% to 20% in the overhead, unwanted light direction, the boundary between the minimum to maximum attenuation will not be readily observable to the naked eye. This in combination with the proposed invention will be an effective arrangement and provide glare reduction with minimal disturbance of the wearer's vision. The filter material may be provided as a continuous sheet extending across both eyes and in this case the main block 4 may be attached to the filter material rather than the frame.

Claims

1. Goggles comprising a lens shield (4) attached to a frame (3), the shape and position of the lens shield (4) being such as not to obstruct the wearer's field of view when the wearer's gaze direction is straight ahead, but to obstruct the wearer's field of view when the wearer's gaze direction is up or down, except for two unobstructed apertures (8), wherein:

the aperture (8) is formed as a slot extending from an edge of the light shield (4), whereby the wearer's line of sight is not disturbed when the gaze direction moves between a straight ahead direction and the aperture (8);

each aperture (8) comprises a front opening and a rear opening in the light shield (4), which define a longitudinal axis (7) of the aperture (8); and is

The longitudinal axes (7) of the two orifices (8) converge at a fixed point.

2. Goggles according to claim 1, wherein the aperture (8) comprises a region of transparent or translucent material in the opaque material of the light shield (4).

3. Goggles as claimed in claim 2, wherein the region of transparent material is a graded filter providing an attenuation of 0-10% in the frontal direction and 10-20% in the aperture.

4. Goggles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance between the front and rear openings of each aperture (8) is at least 14 mm.

5. Goggles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear opening of each aperture (8) has a width not less than 4 mm.

6. Goggles as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal axes (7) of the apertures (8) converge at an angle between 1 and 5 degrees.

7. Goggles according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an optical element (9), said optical element (9) extending over one of said apertures (8) to provide a horizontal optical power.

8. Goggles according to claim 7, wherein said optical element (9) is a prismatic element.

9. Goggles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each aperture (8) is formed in a laterally movable element (25) of the light shield (4), whereby the distance between the two apertures (8) is adjustable.