GB1583222A - Spectacles - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SPECTACLES (71) We, AMERICAN OPTICAL COR PORATION, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, 14 Mechanic Street, Southbridge, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to eyewear and more particularly but not exclusively to safety spectacles.

Customarily, a plastics spectacles frame is fitted with lenses by heating the frame and stretching it enough to allow bevelled lenses to be fitted into grooved rims of the frame.

This requires special equipment and trained personnel both of which are, more often than not, unavailable at the site where lens replacement may be required. Additionally, each such lens replacement is tedious and time-consuming requiring delays in operations where safety spectacles must be worn.

In recognizing these problems, it has previously been proposed to snap conventionally bevel-edged lenses into and out of rims of plastics spectacle frames with finger pressure but without an optimum end result.

The usual bevel grooving is eliminated in lens-receiving rims of these previous proposed frames and, instead, they are provided with a forwardly opening L-shaped recess which freely accepts the full effective diameters of the bevelled lenses. The lenses are snapped over holding tabs which are formed as integral parts of the lens rims.

In each case of a lens removal and replacement, these holding tabs suffer the abuse of being twice over-ridden; first by the acutely bevelled edges of the lens being inserted and removed and secondly by similar acutely bevelled edges of the replacement lens. Wear, chipping and cracking of the holding tabs, if not complete breaking away from the frame, quickly renders the frame incapable of properly supporting its lenses. Thus, the intended convenience and economical advantage of being able to readily replace and dispose of damaged lenses is largely defeated by short effective frame life.

The present invention provides spectacles having manually replaceable lenses comprising: a frame front having forward and rear sides and including a pair of interconnected lens receiving rims each constructed and arranged to completely encircle a lens received therein; each of said rims having an internally encircling rearwardly shouldered lens receiving recess, said recess having a substantially fiat base surface extending forwardly from said rearward shouldering and including by deepening into said base surface a plurality iof peripherally spaced slots; a respective lens manually insertable into and removable from each of said recesses of said frame front through its forward side toward said rearward shouldering and into a position adjacent to said shouldering, each lens having a peripheral shape and size substantially matching the shape and size of a one of said recesses intended to receive the same, there being integral tab means extending radially from the periphery of said lens at positions thereabout corresponding to locations of said slots in said one recess and the material of said lens being of such resiliency as to permit forceful insertion of said tab means into and out of said slots.

The present invention further provides a spectacle lens comprising a concave-convex body and a plurality of integral tabs extending away from the periphery of said body.

The present invention still further provides a spectacles frame, for receiving manually replaceable lenses, comprising a frame front having two rims each of which is internally recessed to receive a lens, the recess being provided with a plurality of spaced slots extending into said rims and intended to receive corresponding tabs on a lens.

A preferred embodiment provides safety spectacles in which removal and replacement of lenses can be accomplished with finger pressure alone but without undue wear and/ or other damage to the more costly frame component of the spectacles and further wherewith wear and/or damage incurred by lens removal and replacement will be preferentially imparted to the already damaged and disposable lens element in each case. This allows long-term frame life and economic feasibility in the use of expensive but higher quality and better fitting frames in safety spectacles.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to safety spectacles, the invention is of general application and could be used, for example with sunglasses to enable lenses of different lens powers or densities to be used.

In order that the invention will be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a type of lens intended for use in the spectacles depicted in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of Figure 1 with an intermediate portion thereof broken away for convenience of illustration.

Spectacles 10 (Figure 1 and 3) comprise frame front 12 and disposable lenses 14 which are readily removable and replaceable in front 12. The size, shape and general styling of frame front 12 here shown has been selected merely for purposes of illustration, it being understood that various modifications may be made It will become apparent as this description progresses that bridge 18, endpieces 22 and rims 16 of the spectacles 10 may be of any size and/or shape desired and preferably, but not necessarily, of heavier and/or more rigid construction than that used for ordinary streetwear. The front 12 is provided with temples 20 to which endpieces 22 are hinged and from which the endpieces extend rearwardly for supporting the frame front upon the face of a wearer in conventional fashion.

The frame front 12 may be cast, moulded, punched and/or machined to shape and size. Finishing would normally include polishing with tumbling and/or buffing operations. The front 12 may be formed of cellulose acetate, butyrate or propionate and lenses 14 may be formed of an optical quality acrylic [e.g. Plexiglas (Registered Trade Mark)], propionate or polycarbonate.

Other materials known and used in the spectacles frame and lens art may, of course, be used.

Referring more particularly to structural details of the spectacles 10, it can be seen in Figures 1 and 3 that the rims 16 of the frame front 12 are each provided with an internal lens-receiving recess 24 having a generally L-shaped cross-sectional configuration. At preselected points about the recess 24 the frame is deepened in the form of slots 26, three of which have been illustrated in each rim 16. Greater or lesser numbers of slots 26 may be provided, if desired, there preferably being two or more slots. Referring more particularly to Figure 3, it can be seen that the slots 26 have a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration. While various other shapes may be used, this V-shape is preferred for reasons which will become more apparent as this description progresses.

Disposable lenses 14 intended for use with the frame front 12, and of which one is illustrated separately in Figure 2, are preferably of a meniscus or other concavo-convex cross-sectional configuration having a peripheral shape and size adapted to match and fit freely into the L-shaped recess 24 against a shoulder 28 thereof substantially as illustrated with full lines in Figure 3. Tabs 30 of a generally V-shaped, i.e. bevelled, configuration (Figure 3) are provided at locations about the edge of lens 14 which correspond to positions of slots 26 in frame front 12. These tabs, as integral extensions of lens 12 in each case, retain the lens in place when entered into corresponding slots 26 of the frame front 12.

The bevelled external configuration of the tabs 30 permits easy entrance thereof into the slots 26. With the lens centered in the recess 24, pressure of the fingers against its convex side adjacent one or more of the tabs 30 will effect a "snap-in" mounting thereof in the frame front 12. Similarly, removal of the lens for disposal and replacement may be effected by pressing the fingers against the concave or rear surface of the lens adjacent one or more of the tabs 30. Accordingly, spattered, cracked, scratched, fractured or otherwise damaged lenses 14 may be quickly and easily removed, discarded and replaced without the need for tools and/or special skills and with minimal loss of time on the job.

The leading edges 32 (Figure 3) of the slots 26 are smoothly rounded to facilitate entrance of the tabs 30 and these rounded edges are supported by a substantial thickness of rim material so that the lens tabs 30 preferentially receive substantially all wear and/or damage which may result from their resistance ot entrance into or removal from the slots 26.

Thus, the frame front 12 can withstand a great multiplicity, if not unlimited, lens replacement operations without appreciable wear or sacrifice of its original lens-retaining capabilities.

Dot-dash outline of the lens 14 in Figure 3 illustrates a manner in which the lens may be entered into rims 16. By first entering an edge of the lens 14 oppositely of a preselected tab 30 (e.g. the top edge of the lens 14) partially or fully into the L-shaped recess 24, finger pressure applied adjacent the opposite tab, e.g. as illustrated by arrow 34 will force the tab 30 into its corresponding slot 26.

It is contemplated that users of spectacles 10 be provided with a supply of replacement lenses for on-the-job replacement and disposal of damaged lenses. Furthermore, the long useful life of frame front 12 that can be expected offers the opportunity to supply, without economic hardship, higher quality, better fitting and more comfortable spectacles frame structures than the short term, less expensive but inferior products.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that there are various other modifications and adaptations of the precise form of the invention here shown which may suit particular requirements.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Spectacles having manually replaceable lenses comprising: a frame front having forward and rear sides and including a pair of interconnected lens receiving rims each constructed and arranged to completely encircle a lens received therein; each of said rims having an internally encircling rearwardly shouldered lens receiving recess, said recess having a substantially flat base surface extending forwardly from said shouldering and including by deepening into said base surface a plurality of peripherally spaced slots:: a respective lens manually insertable into, and removable from each of said recesses of said frame front through its forward side toward said rearward shouldering and into a position adjacent to said shouldering, each lens having a peripheral shape and size substantially matching the shape and size of a one of said recesses intended to receive the same, there being integral tab means extending radially from the periphery of said lens at positions thereabout corresponding to locations of said slots in said one recess and the material of said lens being of such resiliency as to permit forceful insertion of said tab means into and out of said slots.

2. Spectacles according to claim 1, wherein said recess in each rim is of a generally Lshaped configuration opening at the forward side of said frame front and extending inwardly of said rim adjacent the rearward side of said frame to form a shoulder against which a lens may be seated when secured in place in said spectacles.

3. Spectacles according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the extensions of said slots into said rims are of a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

4. Spectacles according to claim 3 wherein said tabs on said lenses are bevelled for fitting deeply into said slots.

5. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are at least two slots and a corresponding number of tabs on said lenses.

6. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said lenses are formed of a disposable plastics material.

7. Spectacles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A spectacle lens comprising a concavoconvex body and a plurality of integral tabs extending away from the periphery of said body.

9. A lens according to claim 8 wherein said tabs are bevelled.

10. A spectacle lens substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A spectacle frame, for receiving manually replaceable lenses, comprising a frame front having two rims each of which is internally recessed to receive a lens, the recess being provided with a plurality of spaced slots extending into said rims and intended to receive corresponding tabs on a lens.

12. A spectacles frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. wear or sacrifice of its original lens-retaining capabilities. Dot-dash outline of the lens 14 in Figure 3 illustrates a manner in which the lens may be entered into rims 16. By first entering an edge of the lens 14 oppositely of a preselected tab 30 (e.g. the top edge of the lens 14) partially or fully into the L-shaped recess 24, finger pressure applied adjacent the opposite tab, e.g. as illustrated by arrow 34 will force the tab 30 into its corresponding slot 26. It is contemplated that users of spectacles 10 be provided with a supply of replacement lenses for on-the-job replacement and disposal of damaged lenses. Furthermore, the long useful life of frame front 12 that can be expected offers the opportunity to supply, without economic hardship, higher quality, better fitting and more comfortable spectacles frame structures than the short term, less expensive but inferior products. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that there are various other modifications and adaptations of the precise form of the invention here shown which may suit particular requirements. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Spectacles having manually replaceable lenses comprising: a frame front having forward and rear sides and including a pair of interconnected lens receiving rims each constructed and arranged to completely encircle a lens received therein; each of said rims having an internally encircling rearwardly shouldered lens receiving recess, said recess having a substantially flat base surface extending forwardly from said shouldering and including by deepening into said base surface a plurality of peripherally spaced slots:: a respective lens manually insertable into, and removable from each of said recesses of said frame front through its forward side toward said rearward shouldering and into a position adjacent to said shouldering, each lens having a peripheral shape and size substantially matching the shape and size of a one of said recesses intended to receive the same, there being integral tab means extending radially from the periphery of said lens at positions thereabout corresponding to locations of said slots in said one recess and the material of said lens being of such resiliency as to permit forceful insertion of said tab means into and out of said slots.

2. Spectacles according to claim 1, wherein said recess in each rim is of a generally Lshaped configuration opening at the forward side of said frame front and extending inwardly of said rim adjacent the rearward side of said frame to form a shoulder against which a lens may be seated when secured in place in said spectacles.

3. Spectacles according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the extensions of said slots into said rims are of a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

4. Spectacles according to claim 3 wherein said tabs on said lenses are bevelled for fitting deeply into said slots.

5. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are at least two slots and a corresponding number of tabs on said lenses.

6. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said lenses are formed of a disposable plastics material.

7. Spectacles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A spectacle lens comprising a concavoconvex body and a plurality of integral tabs extending away from the periphery of said body.

9. A lens according to claim 8 wherein said tabs are bevelled.

10. A spectacle lens substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A spectacle frame, for receiving manually replaceable lenses, comprising a frame front having two rims each of which is internally recessed to receive a lens, the recess being provided with a plurality of spaced slots extending into said rims and intended to receive corresponding tabs on a lens.

12. A spectacles frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.