FR2630653A1 - Optical device for swimming blind (without visibility) - Google Patents

Abstract

Swimming goggles and accessories relating to the sight (vision) of swimmers. The invention relates to an optical device of the rear-view mirror type, and makes it possible to improve the field of view of crawl and back-stroke swimmers. It consists of a mirror 1 fixed in goggles 2 or directly onto the swimmer's face. By means of reflection in the mirror 1, the swimmer is able to see all the obstacles which he may find on his route. The device according to the invention is intended particularly for swimming on one's back in a crowded swimming pool.

Description

 The present invention relates to a swimming accessory relating to the goggles and the field of vision of swimmers.

 Some types of swimming do not allow you to see easily in front of you while swimming. However, traditional swimming goggles are only intended for direct observation, by simple transparency of the glasses, of objects lying in front of the face and not of '' objects located elsewhere and in particular behind.

 Thus, for the swimmer practicing backstroke or even the crawl, everything that happens on his future trajectory escapes his view, which can present discomfort or even danger.

 The device according to the invention makes it possible to remedy this drawback by using the laws of perfect reflection (reflected angle equal to incident angle). It therefore includes a mirror quite comparable to conventional mirrors mounted on vehicles or used in certain special cases. surveillance or security.

 Thus, a mirror incorporated in the structure of his glasses allows the swimmer to "back", therefore swimming facing the sky1 due to see back.

 Similarly in the case of the crawl, the swimmer, facing a time towards the bottom, a time on the side, can however better see ahead of his race, according to the same principle of reflection and thanks to the aforementioned mirror.

 According to a more perfected embodiment, the glasses may include a device for adjusting the inclination of the mirror.

 In certain embodiments the mirror can be external and retractable & will be able to adjust its position in order to adjust the vision or to retract the mirror to reduce its size.

The mirrors may be made of unbreakable glass or other material offering more security while having sufficient reflective power for this use.

 According to another clean embodiment & swimming on the back, the mirror is independent of the glasses or even adaptable outside of them and can thus reach a much larger dimension and even have a certain curvature allowing to benefit from 'a sufficiently wide field of vision, of the panoramic mirror type.

According to a particular embodiment, the reflective mirror can also be fitted with goggles and masks for divers and underwater swimmers as well as the portholes of the diving helmet. In the latter case, the mirror can occupy the entire periphery of the portholes and-also part of the helmet or successively different parts of the latter, by possible displacements of the mirrors controlled at will. This, to allow a quasi-circular field of vision fairly close to that of certain birds and insects, under the condition of a helmet design and a adequate windows,
According to a first variant, the glasses can also be equipped with a particular emptying and ventilation device making it possible to quickly purge the glasses and to eliminate, without removing them, a deposit of fogging on the mirror interfering with vision in the latter. The control of this device can be manual or facial.

 According to another possible variant, the glasses comprise a device for strengthening or re-establishing the sealing of the peripheral seal, thus making it possible to limit the inflow of water which can drown the reflecting mirror. Leakage that can cause or promote the operation of the previous emptying device, by equalizing internal and external pressures.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
Figure 1 shows the position of the swimmer's head on the back looking back through the mirror.

 FIG. 2 schematically represents a life-size detail of the swimmer's eye looking in the mirror.

 Figure 3 shows the position in the water of the head of a crawl swimmer looking forward through the mirror.

 Figure 4 shows the different possible positions for one. adjustable and retractable mirror.

 Figure 5 shows, in section, a drain and ventilation device.

 FIG. 6 represents a front view of a mouth-controlled demisting system.

 Figure 7 shows, in section, a sealing adjustment system.

 Figure 8 shows the system of Figure 7 after deformation of the peripheral seal.

 Figures g and 10 show, seen in elevation, independent mirrors for swimming on the back.

 The device shown in Figure 2 includes a mirror (1) embedded in swimming goggles (2), the incident light being shown schematically by the ray (3) and the light reflected by the ray (4).

In (5), there is a type of conventional peripheral seal ensuring the tightness of the glasses (2).

 In FIG. 5, a variant of the glasses Ç2) comprises a pull tab (7) for controlling the two lower and upper purge valves (6).

The pull (7) allows to evacuate by the lower valve (6) the residual water (8) drowning the mirror (i>. The two lower and upper valves (6) allow a circulation of fresh air to ventilate the inside the glasses (2) and evacuate the mist deposited on the mirror (1).

System allowing bleeding and demisting without fitting the glasses (2).

In Figure 6 we see a system of double zippers (7) retained by the mouth (or passing through the chin strap under the chin) of the swimmer.

Arrangement which makes it possible to demister the mirror (1) by simple adequate facial movement, avoiding any manual intervention and thus allowing an appreciable saving of time for competitive swimmers.

 The sealing device shown in FIG. 7 comprises a screw body (9) passing through the edge of the glasses (2) through the hole (11). The screw (9), with an external knurled nut (10), is attached to the lower part (13) of the peripheral seal (5) by an end washer (12) embedded in the part (13). The part (13) is in contact with the skin (14) of the figure of the swimmer.

In a variant of the previous device, the screw (9> can be replaced by a knurled bolt (9) (10) screwed into a tapped hole (11) formed in the edge of the glasses (2).

 In Figure 8 we see how, after demisting, the sealing of the glasses (2) can be restored or supplemented without removing them, by turning the wheel (10). This raises the bottom surface by the screw (9) ( 13) of the seal (5) creating a vacuum (15) necessary for the adhesion of the part (16) of the seal (5). The peripheral seal (5) is thus applied hermetically, by vacuum, to the wet skin ( 14) of the swimmer's face.

 In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, the mirror (1) is not mounted on goggles (2). It is an independent mirror (1) fixed directly on the swimmer's face by a special frame (17 ) suitable for the ears and nose of the latter and retained by elastic bands.

 In a simplified variant according to Figure 10 of the previous independent mirror (1), the support (17> is constituted by a kind of small cap covering the swimmer's nose and retained by an elastic band passed behind his head. Any other embodiment of the support (17) which can be designed to adapt the mirror (to the swimmer's face.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended for swimming in an overcrowded pool since it makes it possible to avoid all obstacles (other swimmers, reckless divers, children's buoys, abandoned training planks etc.) which may be on the path of the swimmer. similarly, serious accidents, such as the head trauma of swimmers hitting their heads at the edge of the pool, can be avoided. Especially since the strokes concerned (crawl and "back") are competitive strokes, therefore speed strokes. And we know that the severity of the consequences of a shock is proportional to the kinetic energy developed therefore squared by the speed at the time of the impact.

 Also at sea, the device according to the invention will make it possible to avoid jellyfish on the surface and to see, while diving, sharks or any other danger approaching from a blind spot the natural visual field or helmet.

For underwater fishing, the peripheral mirror can find interesting applications to improve the vision of the hunter in search of a fleeting game or in pursuit of a dangerous species.

Claims (9)

 1) Device for ameliorer.la vision of swimmers and divers characterized in that it comprises a mirror (1) reflecting in (4) the light (3) arriving through swimming goggles (2) and portholes of helmets or visors of diving masks.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the in  tilting of the mirror (1) is adjustable.  3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the mirror (1) retractable at will is placed outside the glasses (2).  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mirrors (1) can be movable at several points of the diving helmet.  5) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it is a panoramic reflecting mirror (1) adaptable to swimming goggles (2) helmets or diving masks.  6) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the mirror (1) is not mounted on swimming goggles (2) but secured to a face frame (17>.  7) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the swimming goggles (2) are provided with two purge valves (6) lower and upper & simultaneous control (7).  8) Device according to claim 7 characterized in that the valves (ô) are facial controls.  9) Device according to one of claims 1 or 7 characterized in that the peripheral seal C5) of the glasses (2) comprises a sealing adjustment composed of screws <9) with nut (10) knurled passing through the edge of the glasses ( 2) through the hole (il) and terminated by a washer (12) embedded in the part (13) of the seal (5).