GB2204709A

GB2204709A - Polarising spectacles providing variable attenuation

Info

Publication number: GB2204709A
Application number: GB08711086A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cyril Clifford Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-05-11
Filing date: 1987-05-11
Publication date: 1988-11-16
Also published as: GB8711086D0

Abstract

Polarising spectacles comprising a frame 10, a first pair of translucent elements (11, 12) of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the first pair to be positionally fixed left and right with respect to the frame, a second pair of translucent elements 13, 14 of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the second pair to overlie respectively the left and right elements (11, 12) of the first pair, and means 15 for effecting angular movement of the elements of the second pair in unison with respect to the first pair of elements, the last-mentioned means including an operating device 16, 20 (or 37, 38, 40) located wholly or at least substantially within the outline of the frame (when viewed from the front). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECTACLES This invention relates to spectacles for wear, and in particular to polarising spectacles for attenuating the transmission of radiations in the ultra-violet waveband to the eyes of the wearer.

Polarising spectacles providing variable attenuation of UV transmissions have already been proposed, e.g. in USA Patent Specifications Nos. 2298058, 2565362, 4149780 and 4386832.

In general, these prior proposals suggest polarising spectacles comprising a frame, a first pair of translucent elements of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the first pair to he positionally fixed left and right with respect to the frame, a second pair of translucent elements of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the second pair to overlie respectively the left and right elements of the first pair and for angular movement with respect to the first pair of elements, and means for effecting said angular movement of the elements of the second pair in synchronism, the last-mentioned means including a manual operating device projecting from the frame.

It is considered that the projecting operating devices of these prior art proposals would be unsightly and/or detract from the aesthetic appeal of the polarising spectacles.

With a view to obviating (or at least mitigating) this disadvantage, the present invention provides polarising spectacles comprising a frame, a first pair of translucent elements of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the first pair to be positionally fixed left and right with respect to the frame, a second pair of translucent elements of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the second pair to overlie respectively the left and right elements of the first pair, and means for effecting angular movement of the elements of the second pair in unison with respect to the first pair of elements, the last-mentioned means including an operating device located wholly or at least substantially within the outline of the frame (when viewed from the front).

Preferably said operating device comprises a part projecting laterally from one of the elements of the second pair, said part being manually operable to move said one element angularly, and further comprises transmission means within the frame outline to transfer the angular movement of said one element to the other element of the second pair. The said transmission means may comprise a band that is longitudinally movable in a groove in the frame and that cooperates with the polarising elements of said second pair.

Advantageously, the extent of the lateral projection of said part is less than the smallest distance from said one one element to the frame perimeter so that the operating device constituted by said part is wholly within the outline of the frame.

Conveniently, said part may be provided with a serrated or otherwise roughened edge to facilitate its manual operation.

Alternatively, the means for effecting said angular movement of the second pair of elements comprises a thumb wheel rotatably mounted in the frame with part of the wheel periphery accessible through an aperture in the bridge of the frame, said thumb wheel drivingly engaging a band that is longitudinally movable in a groove in the frame and that co-operates with the polarising elements of said second pair.

Preferably said aperture is provided in the top surface of the frame.

The thumb wheel's periphery may be toothed and drivingly engage a toothed surface of the band, e.g. in the manner of a rack-and-pinion transmission. Alternatively the thumb wheel's periphery may be knurled or otherwise roughened and drivingly engage a roughened surface of the band.

Preferably said band is enlarged at its ends, the enlargements fitting into apertures provided in the second polarising elements (conveniently at or adjacent the periphery of each second element, or of a holder therefor).

Advantageously the frame comprises first and second frame members, the thumb wheel and band are mounted in recesses or cavities provided therefor in a rearward surface of the first frame member, and the second frame member has the form of a cover plate for said recesses or cavities. Preferably the cover plate is integrally provided with a spindle on which the thumb wheel is to rotate.

By way of non-limiting example, first, second and third embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference respectively to Figures 1 to 14, Figures 15 to 26 and Figures 27 to 34 of the accompanying drawings. In these drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of part of the first embodiment, Figures 2 and 3 are respectively plan and side views of a main frame member shown in Fig. 1, Figure 4 is a plan view of a pinion or gear wheel shown in Fig. 1, Figures 5, 6 and 7 are respectively a plan view, front elevation and end elevation of a band shown in Fig. 1, Figures 8 and 9 are respectively rear and plan vies of a cover plate for the main frame member shown in Fig. 1, Figure 10 is a rear elevation of part of the main frame member shown in Fig. 1, Figures 11 and 12 are respectively front and side elevations of a first lens for said first embodiment, and Figures 13 and 14 show respectively front and side elevations of a second lens for said first embodiment; Figures 15 and 16 are respectively rear and side views of the main frame member of the second embodiment, Figures 17 and 18 are respectively a rear elevation and a plan view of a cover plate for the main frame member of Fig 15, Figures 19 and 20 are respectively a plan view and a rear elevation of a band for said second embodiment, Figure 21 and 22 are respectively rear and side elevations of a thumb wheel for said second embodiment, Figure 23 and 24 are respectively rear and side elevations of a first lens for said second embodiment, and Figures 25 and 26 are respectively rear and side elevations of a second lens for said second embodiment;; Figures 27 and 28 are respectively a plan view and a rear elevation of the main frame member of the third embodiment, Figure 29 is a rear view of a lens holder for the third embodiment, Figure 30 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the lens holder of Fig 29 and a there-adjacentpart of the main frame member of Figs 27 and 28, Figures 31 and 32 are respectively a plan view and a front elevation of a band for the third embodiment, and Figures 33 and 34 are respectively a plan view and a front elevation of a cover plate for the main frame member of Figs 27 and 28.

Each of the illustrated embodiments provides polarised sun glasses of the kind comprising a frame 10 mounting a first pair of lenses 11,12 in a fixed attitude and a second pair of lenses 13,14 substantially co-extensive with the first pair, all the lenses 11-14 being of polarised material, the lenses 13,14 of the second pair being trtatahle r in unison, with respect to the fixed lenses 11,12 of the first pair by a frame mounted drive device 15. In the embodiments of Figs 1 to 14 and Figs 15 to 26, the drive device 15 comprises a thumb wheel 16 rotatably mounted in the frame with a small part of the wheel periphery accessible (possibly, as shown, slightly projecting) through an aperture 17 provided in the top surface of the bridge 18 of the frame. The thumb wheel 16 drivingly engages a band 20 that is longitudinally movable in a groove 19 in the frame and co-operates with the lenses 13,14 of said second pair.

In the first embodiment of Figs 1 to 14, the periphery of thumb wheel 16 is toothed and drivingly engages a toothed surface of the band 20 in the manner of a rack-and-pinion transmission. In the second embodiement of Figs 15 to 26, the periphery of thumb wheel 16 is knurled or otherwise roughened and drivingly engages a roughened surface of the band 20.

The band 20 is enlarged at its ends 21, these enlargements fitting into apertures 22 provided in the second lenses 13,14 at or adjacent the periphery of each second lens.

Optionally, the underside of the band 20 (i.e. the surface opposite that which is engaged by thumh-wheel 16) may be provided with an elongate groove (see Fig 7) at least adjacent the end enlargements 21, the groove(s) serving to accomodate peripheral portions of lenses 13,14 adjacent the end enlargements 21.

The thumb wheel 16 and hand 20 are mounted in recesses or cavities 24 provided therefor in a rearward surface of a first frame member 10a, the frame comprising a second member 1Ob in the form of a cover plate for said recesses or cavities 24. The cover plate lOb is integrally provided with a spindle 23 on which the thumb wheel 16 is to rotate.

The third embodiment of Figs 27 to 34 provides a modified form of drive device for the lenses 13,14 of the second pair. In this third embodiment, the lenses 13,14 are fixed in respective holders 33,34 which are snap-fitted into undercut annular recesses 35,36 provided in the rear surface of frame member 10a. One of these holders, e.g. holder 33, has a lateral projection 38 provided with a serrated, or toothed, or otherwise roughened edge 37. Preferably edge 37 does not project laterally beyond the adjacent outline of frame member 10a (or, as shown, only so projects to a minimal extent). A band-like transmission element 40 is again employed to effect a rotation of lenses 13,14 in unison with respect to lenses 11,12. The band 40 has integral pins 41 at its ends which fit into holes 43 provided in the lens holders 33,34.The band 40 is mounted for longitudinal sliding motion in a groove 42 provided therefor in the rearward surface of frame member 1Oa, a second frame member 10b in the form of a cover plate 1Oh being push-fit attached to member 10a to cover the band 40.

It will be apparent that each of the above-described and illustrated embodiments of the invention provides means for effecting angular movement of the elements of the second pair in unison with respect to the first pair of elements, the last-mentioned means including an operating device located wholly or at least substantially within the outline of the frame (when viewed from the front). The degree of angular motion of lenses 13,14 relative to lenses 11,12 determines the intensity of the ultra-violet range of radiations transmitted by the lenses 11-14. Conveniently, the range of movement is between 0 and 450 It will be appreciated that the term "lens" as used herein refers to a translucent element for the spectacles, whether or not such element provides any optical correction for the vision of the wearer.

Claims

1. Polarising spectacles comprising a frame, a first pair of translucent elements of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the first pair to be positionally fixed left and right with respect to the frame, a second pair of translucent elements of polarising material, means mounting the elements of the second pair to overlie respectively the left and right elements of the first pair, and means for effecting angular movement of the elements of the second pair in unison with respect to the first pair of elements, the last-mentioned means including an operating device located wholly or at least substantially within the outline of the frame (when viewed from the front).

2. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 1, wherein said operating device comprises a part projecting laterally from one of the elements of the second pair, said part being manually operable to move said one element angularly, and further comprises transmission means within the frame outline to transfer the angular movement of said one element to the other element of the second pair.

3. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 2, wherein said transmission means comprises a band that is longitudinally movable in a groove in the frame and that cooperates with the polarising elements of said second pair.

4. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the extent of the lateral projection of said part is less than the smallest distance from said one element to the frame perimeter so that the operating device constituted by said part is wholly within the outline of the frame.

5. Polarising spectacles according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said part is provided with a serrated or otherwise roughened edge to facilitate its manual operation.

6. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 1, wherein the means for effecting said angular movement of the second pair of elements comprises a thumb wheel rotatably mounted in the frame with part of the wheel periphery accessible through an aperture in the bridge of the frame, -said thumb wheel drivingly engaging a band that is longitudinally movable in a groove in the frame and that co-operates with the polarising elements of said second pair.

7. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 6, wherein said aperture is provided in the top surface of the frame.

8. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the thumb wheel's periphery is toothed and drivingly engages a toothed surface of the band.

9. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the thumb wheel's periphery is knurled or otherwise roughened and drivingly engages a roughened surface of the band.

10. Polarising spectacles according to anyone of Claims 6 to 9, wherein said band is enlarged at its ends, the enlargements fitting into apertures provided in the second polarising elements or in rotatably mounted holders there for.

11. Polarising spectacles according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the frame comprises first and second frame members, the thumb wheel and band are mounted in recesses or cavities provided therefor in a rearward surface of the first frame member, and the second frame member has the form of a cover plate for said recesses or cavities.

12. Polarising spectacles according to Claim 11, wherein the cover plate is integrally provided with a spindle on which the thumb wheel is to rotate.

13. Polarising spectacles substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 14, or Figures 15 to 26, or Figures 27 to 34 of the accompanying drawings.