EP1787158A1

EP1787158A1 - Spectacles

Info

Publication number: EP1787158A1
Application number: EP05784591A
Authority: EP
Inventors: R. J. Germishuys
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-22
Filing date: 2005-08-22
Publication date: 2007-05-23
Also published as: ZA200702363B; WO2006024051A1

Abstract

Spectacles which comprise tinted lenses, characterized in that each lens is arcuate in shape, having a convace edge downwardly and a convex edge or flat edge upwardly, the concave edge forming an opening in the shape of a half moon extending to the lower edge of the lens. The lenses allow protection from glare while at the same time allowing full vision of darkened areas.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention lies in the field of spectacles, that is, pairs of glass or plastic lenses set in a metal and/or plastic frame, the frame resting on the nose and usually the ears; while the lenses are often used to correct or assist defective eyesight, the lenses are not always so in this field of existing spectacles, especially spectacles which are tinted, i.e. "dark glasses".

Night driving presents a special challenge to many people because of the strength of headlights of motor vehicles today, which cause strong glare from oncoming vehicles. Tinted or dark glasses cannot be worn at night to compensate for headlight glare because all other features become insufficiently visible for safe driving, especially when there is no other vehicle closely approaching. Even bright headlights of vehicles behind a driver can give problems because of reflection in the rear view mirror; this is dangerous because it may distract from vision to the front. This problem occurs frequently because many motorists apparently think it unnecessary to dip their headlights when behind another vehicle. Although vehicles are fitted with means of dipping the headlights, often drivers fail to do so or fail to do so early enough, not infrequently the headlight aim is incorrectly adjusted, resulting in glare irrespective.

Even in the daytime glare from sunlight causes eye strain and wearing of dark glasses is usually resorted to but these must be discarded when entering a tunnel or other dark space and put on again^". While wearing dark glasses features that are in shadow may be insufficiently visible. When driving into the sun in early morning and late afternoon the sun can present the same problem as headlights at night. In order to try to moderate the glare of the sun the wearing of dark glasses can result in other areas in the visual field being insufficiently visible. The rising or setting sun can also cause glare through the rear view mirror, when the vehicle is driving away from the sun.

These problems present challenges, out of which the present invention arose.

THE INVENTION

Spectacles in accordance with this invention comprise tinted lenses, characterized in that each lens has an opening in the shape of a half moon extending towards the lower edge of the lens.

The half moon shape may approximate a semi-ellipse, a semi-circle, or an opening that is wider at the bottom edge of the lens and narrows towards the mid region of the lens.

The lens itself will thus have a remaining portion that is arcuate, concave downwardly and convex upwardly.

The lenses may be fitted to any shape and kind of frame, in principle. The lenses can also be provided as "clip ons", that is, lenses that are adapted to be clipped onto ordinary spectacles, to provide protection against glare.

The opening in the lenses will be so located that in use the upper edge of the opening is opposite the pupil of the eye; this allows the wearer to tip the head downwards a very slight amount to allow the tinted lens to come between the glare and the eye, conversely the head can be tilted up to allow direct vision without the light passing through the tinted lens. Thus sunlight that is above the horizon can pass through the tinted lenses and darker parts like a black tar road surface can be seen directly through the openings of the lenses. Similarly, at night when there are sharp lights from a vehicle approaching from the front the head can be tilted down to reduce the glare through the tinted lenses; as soon as the vehicle has passed the head may be tilted up again. Similarly when a sharp light is reflected by the rear view mirror, this can be seen through the tinted lenses while at the same time viewing ahead through the openings. The instrument panel can be seen through the openings.

These effects contribute to safer driving as eye fatigue and blinding effects are reduced.

THE DRAWINGS

The invention is more fully descried by way of the drawings, in which : -

Figure 1 is a view of spectacles on wearer's face,

Figure 2 is a view of another example of spectacles,

Figure 3 is a view of spectacles that can be clipped onto ordinary spectacles,

Figure 4 is a view of another example of spectacles, and Figure 5 is view of another example of spectacles.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in figure 1, the spectacles 1 have a frame 2 with a nose rest 3 and ear pieces 4 (not shown fully) and lenses 5 and 6, which have openings 7 and 8 respectively of half-moon shape, extending to the bottom of the lenses. A wearer's eyes 9 and 10 are shown in the position they are in when the spectacles are worn. The description "half-moon" is a generic description for an opening shape that may vary, according to style and functional aspects of the spectacles.

Figure 2 shows another pair of spectacles 11, having again a frame 12 with a nose piece 13 behind the lenses 18, 19 made of one piece of plastic, and ear pieces 14 and 15; openings 16 and 17 are provided in the lenses.

Figure 3 shows "clip-on" type lenses 20, 21 made of one piece of plastic, that have abridge 22 with clip on fingers 23 and a tab 24 that may be manipulated to open the fingers and released to clip the lenses onto a pair of ordinary spectacles. The lenses again have openings 25, 26 respectively.

Figure 4 shows lenses 27, 28 with openings 29, 30 respectively, a bridge 31 joining the lenses.

Figure 5 shows lenses 32, 33 with openings 34, 35 respectively that extend towards the lower edges of each lens but do not quite reach the lower edge, thus providing openings that are not open to the bottom edge of the lenses. The lenses are held in a frame 36, which has usual nose piece 37 and ear pieces (not shown).

000

Claims

1. Spectacles which comprise tinted lenses, characterized in that each lens is arcuate in shape, having a concave edge downwardly and a convex edge or flat edge upwardly, the concave edge forming an opening in the shape of a half moon extending to the lower edge of the lens.

2. Spectacles as claimed in claim 1, in which the half moon shape approximates a semi-ellipse, a semi-circle, or an opening that is wider at the bottom edge of the lens and narrows towards the mid region of the lens.

3. Spectacles as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, provided as lenses that are adapted to be clipped onto ordinary spectacles, to provide protection against glare.

4. Spectacles as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the opening in the lenses is so located that in use the upper edge of the opening is opposite the pupil of the eye.

5. Spectacles as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the opening extends towards the lower edge but does not reach the lower edge.

6. spectacles as herein described and as illustrated in any one of the drawings.

000