GB2444807A - Spectacle side arm counterweight with optional brow pad. - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to resolve the problem of the excessive weight of spectacles on the nose of the wearer, a spectacle counterweight designed to fit the glasses frame side members at or near to the ear rest pieces in order to lift the spectacles or glasses up off of the nose by pivoting about the ear. This device may work in conjunction with a brow or forehead pad that attaches to the bridge between the lenses to maintain the correct position of the spectacles in front of the eyes of the wearer. The counterweight may be fitted to the spectacles in a manner allowing telescopic adjustment or movement of the counterweight in order to vary the counter balance effects as desired. Various embodiments of the device are disclosed including fixings to the spectacle side arms via rubber tubular constructions. This device may be in the form of purpose-built customised spectacles and may in the form of a decorative optical jewellery accessory.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SPECTACLES

A CONCEPT FOR COUNTERBALANCE ACCESSORY AND OPTIONAL

FULCRUM NOSE-LOWER BROW PAD FOR SPECTACLES TO REDUCE

OR ELIMINATE WEIGHT ON THE NOSE

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to spectacles and in a preferred embodiment provides an accessory attachment system for existing spectacles which obviates a number of problems recognised in the art as associated with conventional spectacles. An improved nose-brow device Figures 4,5,6,7 & 8 is illustrated and claimed as further accompanying accessory for spectade wearers who are very sensitive to any touching or pressure at all on the sides of the nose where traditionally nose pads are located and consequently compressing the blood vessels causing sinus pressure headaches.

It is my observation during the course of over 50 years of optometric practice in the United Kingdom and abroad that over 30% of spectacle wearers complain of discomforts of slippage, unsightly necrosis pressure marks on the nose, headaches from pressure on the sinus draining nasal veins and nervousness resulting therefrom.

The optical frame manufacturing industry has been unable to solve this major problem by either frame design or offering an attachment or accessory which may be decorative or practical and functional at an affordable price.

Heretofore the only alternative to eliminate the weight of traditional front heavy spectacles was the above the eyebrow forehead headband like suspension method of Which a number of patents have been granted to myself over the last 36 years. Most spectacles wearer however are accustomed to the appearance of conventional spectacles but must contend with discomfort or not wear them all, and choose the eyestrain or blur instead. With counterbalancing they can now have an alternative other than contact lenses.

The object of the present invention is a counterbalancing attachment Figs. 1-6 for ordinary spectacles (eye glasses) to solve the problems outlined above. By combining the attachment with traditional spectacle design an advanced type of spectacle structure can be achieved.

In a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1A a device for attachment to the arms of a pair of spectacles comprises of a counterbalanced heavy metal weight R at the rear tip of a plastic or lightweight thin spring metal fittings S to offset the effect of gravity on the front part of the spectacles which causes the weight problem and consequent aggravations of spectacle wearers as outlined above. The metal fitting is on about an inch long fulcrum arm of plastic or thin spring steel which could be inserted into the fulcrum T cross section if it were of flexible soft tubing. The effectiveness of the counter balance depends on the provision of a fulcrum area H so that most of the lens weight applied to the bridge of the nose by the spectacles3 is counterbalanced. The fulcrum is provided by the tops of the ears and inwards clasping sidepieces with a contact at the sides of the head just above and about 25mm forward of the ears Fig 15G. Such firm contact may be provided by an inward curvature H of the device as shown at Figs I B, 3 & 4. The larger heads of men will require more tip weight combined with a longer distance from the fulcrum to the weighted ends. Conventional spectacles except for the better spring hinged models provide little inwards head clasping effect. The weight lifting effect on the spectades is caused by the metal tip end counter balances. Thus there will be some downwards pressure on the tops of the ears which is remedied by widening the downwards and inwards bearing area from 2.5 to approximately 5.0mm of the ear tops and sides of the head as shown in cross section Fig 2. Assembly is simply achieved in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 showing soft slip over tubing with a hole U at the bottom of the far end showing an enlarged cross section to accept the temple ends which go downwards through the hole U to prevent twisting or in Figure 2 by inserting the spectacle temple through the more anterior oval hole A in the bottom of the groove instead of through the posterior hole which is for shorter smaller heads. Figures IB-4 show top and bottom views of the groove or slot which is dosed with a floor at the bottom causing it to be U shped as shown * 3 in cross-section of figure 2. The more forward portion of said groove is narrow to accept the thin wire of the front portion of the temples. The groove configuration is determined by the temple tip cover size and shape so that more than one size of balancing accessory will be needed for varying temple cross sections if made of less flexible material. Fewer sizes will be needed if soft flexible tubing were used with one stretching hole in the bottom of such tubing to prevent rotation Fig IA.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig 8 bottom view the wire or temple may clear the attachment with a much shorter groove between the ear area and the front tip of the attachment but secured by a notch on the medial inside of the front end. The shorter model is shown in Figs 2 and 8. Grooving would not be needed il the fulcrum were of a soft tubular triangular cross section as shown in Fig 3A were used.

The overall length may be short as shown in Figures 2 & 8 in which case it can be concealed under the hair as with a tubular cross section, or longer as shown in Fig 3 & 4 in which case a logo or a suitable decoration such as jewels may be used bottom view Figs I & 6. In both cases any fastening method to lock the temple member down and in the groove such as shown in Figure 2 will secure the device. This may be achieved by a snug pressure fit, pins, screws, clips or other simple practical fastening methods.

No fastening would be needed in case of a tubular cross section.

The illustrated devices may be size modified for any metal, plastic or combination frames.

Materials used to make this device may be of all plastic, or metal (including precious metal at the tips) or a combination of both. More counterbalancing weight is provided by at least some metal and the heavier the better (brass, zinc, silver or gold) to achieve a minimum mass of the temple tip so that it will slide easily through the hair and have a more minimalist appearance. As a jeweltery accessory it could be re-used and re-attached to the next pair of spectacles of the same temple cross section tip size.

Care must be taken not to add too much counterbalancing leverage leaving the nose-pads floating in the air and the lenses then floating too high so that the rims will touch the bottom of the eyebrow overhang. The loss of a contact point causes wobbling of the lenses when moving. A solution is to provide a soft transparent dip-on cushioning fitting onto the frame bridge such as shown in Figures 7, 10,11,14,16. Figure 14 is a front view, whilst figure 16 is a back view of the fitting not to be limited to that exact configuration due to varying bridge brow shapes some variations are shown in Fig 11 for higher brow elevations. It may be b secured behind the metal bridge with soft silicone or other very soft flexible plastic adhesive for a soft pillow like touch at the bottom of the eyebrow overhang. It would look attractive and feel better than nose pads if it were made of soft transparent material and resembling from the L front a bird or butterfly Fig 11 shape to fit both the top crest of the nose below and also the anatomy of the upper nose above where it merges with the inner lower overhanging orbital bone. Alternatively a simple short split soft plastic tube would fit any shape of bridge if it is high enough.

The same curvatures and contact areas could be achieved by those skilled in the art by two ordinary plastic nose pads one coming from each nasal eye wire coming upwards/and/or from below and the other from the upper eye wire. Being upside down in a plain of 1800 it (or they) would adjustably fit the bottom of the brow overhang.

The view shown in figure 4 shows an example of a top view of a complete new type of purpose built frame incorporating either or both the accessory attachment herein revealed and the nose-brow piece shown in figure 7. It is herewith claimed that the configuration is unique since the bridge below and bottom of the eyebrow which is above are both contacted or only the lower brow overhang is touched to stabilize the lenses housed by the nm before the eyes if there is no nose contact at all. A fluid filled or airbag liner could automatically provide a perfect fit both at the tip and bottom of the nose-brow piece. Foam stick on pads could be another less permanent alternative if needed. The top portion or crest of the nose is relatively avascular and not as sensitive as the large sinus drainage arteries and veins at the sides of the nose as well as having thicker and stronger bone structure compared with paper thin lower nasal bone which are easily broken by eyeglass nose pads on impact in accidents which has happened million of times to spectacle wearers.

Although the present invention is primarily intended as a retro-fit device for existing spectades, nonetheless newbuild spectacles could incorporate counterbalance devices of the type outlined above with or without the bridge unit described. Figure 5 shows the folded configuration which is approximately 25mm longer than average frame making it easier to remove from an average open end case. A telescoping attachment or in a purpose built model could be devised should there be a need for shorter temples so as to fit into short standard spectacle cases if desired. Purpose built frames could optionally omit the downwards bend behind the ears as are standard temple tips touching the backs of the ears, even though they provide added slippage protection. Part D Fig 13 should only be omitted if the frame has a very strong head clasping effect with robust spring hinges. The amount of counterbalancing weight needed at the posterior temple tips must normally be in the region of five to fifteen grams for each counterweight. The need for weight at the rear opens up many possibilities of placing hearing aids, radios, or the other high tech miniaturized appliances containing small batteries.

Spectacle makers worldwide have been in an ongoing contest to see who has the lightest weight spectacles. The weight of frames per se is not the problem -it is the weight of the lenses which being in a very front heavy badly unbalanced spectade structure cause havoc, slippage, aggravation, headaches and unsightly pockets on the aforesaid unfortunate nose. No manufacturers claim to eliminate the weight in a practical retro fit device excepting the earlier above-mentioned forehead above the eyebrow concepts and none have counterbalances combined with the upper nose brow pad as shown in Fig 14 touching at area F. Some have used cheek pads, behind ear weights or pendulums behind the ears but none have used upside down standard pads to fit the brow /nose area. Gravity can be a friend if we use it to counteract most or all of the lens weight by means of the above devices illustrated by drawings, photos, and the forgoing descriptions.

One must add counterbalancing weight and actually increase the total weight on the head by an insignificant fraction to achieve zero or near zero nasal weight which is the optical manufacturers much publicized goal. Even with tiny lenses which sacrifice a large part of the visual field out of balance front heavy spectades are still heavy enough to slip and leave necrosis pressure marks on the sides of the nose if worn all day regularly.

Frame weight in a traditional front heavy designs of spectade structures aggravate nose pressure.

Recent plastic-metal fashion spectades have massive front heavy thick plastic temples which look attractive but much increased slippage and nose problems. Also designers of sport eyewear have some beautiful models but these are also massively front heavy and very much need balance if the patient is to be comfortable and all would be benefited by the herein descnbed and illustrated accessory or purpose built frames incorporating these concepts instead of requiring cumbersome generally not used rear support headbands.

Counterbalances on the temple tips urge the spectacles upwards as opposed to downwards as with ordinary spectacles there is only a light pillow or butterfly-like touch on the wearer's bottom of the nasal brow prominences thus preventing movement or wobbling of the lens means (spectacle front nms containing the wearers lenses) as is the case if there is no touch at all. This is a stable pressureless touch so consequently it leaves no marks and is felt but it is very comfortable.

This invention features the following: Unique methods of attaching lens counterbalancing devices on existing front spectacles or spectacle like structure such as sports eyewear, industrial eyewear, or eyewear testing trial frames as used by eye testing professionals.

Unique slotted molded or extruded, or a combination of both molded and extruded to achieve a broadened contact at tops of the ears and configured to press inwardly on sides of the head with a minimum of pressure due to the much enlarged downwardly and inwards contact areas as compared to traditional thin wire side piece cross section in this area of ear head contact. Spring loaded temples aid in comfort when combined with the enlarged contact areas above described and/or illustrated. These combine to make even relatively heavy or about 14 gram counterbalances on long fulcrum arms very comfortable.

* An upper nose and/or bottom of brow overhang pad cushion of hard or soft material attachable to metal bridges by adhesive and which may be optional with certain plastic frames. Instead of or in addition to traditional nosepads which are optional since they are not weight bearing on the nose as have been nose pads of all sorts prior to this revelation. The above pad cushion may alternatively be one or more standard soft plastic or fluid filled adjustable pads on metal arms except that such arm or arms go upwards instead of downwards to position aforesaid pads vertically, upside down, or a combination for upper nasal -bottom of the brow overhang contact.

Instead of downwards bearing pads such enables the counterbalanced floating lenses housed in their rims to be stable and not wobble when walking. The above provides stability before the eyes yet the height of multifocal or other lenses may be uniquely raised or towered rapidly by the wearer for safer better vision. This height adjustment is not possible with front heavy fixed nose pad traditional spectades.

* Any or all of the above may be combined to achieve comfort with the wearers existing spectades simply and done inexpensively by the wearer or his optician. The above prevent unsightly nose pockets and painful headache discomforts or will remedy them.

* Any purpose built spectacles which may consequently arise from any or all combinations of the above teachings and which may be developed by those skilled in the art. * 8

* The above inventions may be classified as being optical accessories for Those needing improved spectacle comfort. Decorative treatments may be additionally classify the same as dual optical / jewellery and/or as jewellery accessories with a purpose.

FIGURES

IA. Side view of elastic slipover soft tube fulcrum and cross sections.

lB. Bottom view second embodiment.

2. Side view showing insertion method.

3. Top view of device.

4. Spectacle device -top view-assembled.

5. Rear view-folded for storage.

6. Temple member side view configuration.

7. Upper bridge front, rear and side cross section views.

8. Slide on attachments.

9. Front and rear components partially folded.

10. Bridge bottom view (dashed portion are the optional wing extensions at top as shown in Fig 11).

11. Drawing showing front view upper nose-lower brow pad worn with dashed lines show higher alternatives for higher brow overhangs.

12. Side view when worn on head.

13. Rear perspective view showing contact area of bridge-brow unit and fulcrum area E & G on sides of the head above the ears resulting from inward clasping effects of flexible temples, spring hinges, and/or lens front. Tops of ears provide the rest of the fulcrum effect.

14. Front view pad on frame showing touch area on bottom of wearer's brow overhang. Upwards lift from fulcrum area and counterbalances is at F. 15. Inward clasping of temple members -resulting from spring action of hinges & bridge of frame is shown at G thus providing inwards fulcruming on the sides of the head as well as downwards on the tops of the two ears.

16. Posterior view of bridge pad described above.

Claims (7)

1. A removable weight relieving attachment or construction method for purpose built eyeglasses comprising a fulcrum fitting over the rearwards end of the temple members in cooperation with a metal counterweight flexibly connected to the fulcrum fitting and posterior to it.

2. A fulcrum counterbalance device according to claim I with a nosepiece unit attachable by adhesives or by its configuration to fit over existing spectacle bridges and eyewire rims of the wearer's spectacles in order to provide an elevated contact point so as to touch the bottom of the forehead overhang above the wearer's nose whenever the posterior attachment causes the spectacle front to lift up off the nose completely, thus preventing wobbling.

3. A fulcrum counterbalance according to the daims I and 2 in which the fulcrum may me made of a flexible plastic with a trough shaped groove with a securing method at the anterior end, such groove to accept the temple members with holes in the bottom rear to prevent twisting of the counterweight at the posterior end.

4. A fulcrum counterbalance according to claims 1-3 in which the fulcrum may alternatively be made of a soft slip on silicone-like rubbery tubular material in a cross section similar to that illustrated with one hole as shown at the bottom portion to prevent twisting of the thin spring steel or thin flexible plastic inserted into it and which is secured to the counterweights, and resulting in the possibility of a sliding or tromboning action to vary the arm length, thereby controlling the amount of leverage at the fulcrum caused by the weighted tip end with the final result of precisely counter balancing the spectacle frontal weight to zero which is made possible by also varying the weight itself if necessary.

5. A fulcrum counterbalance device according to claims 1-4 in which the fulcrum tubular slip over covering is of a much larger cross section both vertically and horizontally than the standard spectacle temple end covering which it covers and is located just above the ear area thus nullifying the increased inwards pressure on the head from spring hinges and the downwards pressure at the top of the ears resulting from the leverage of the weighted metal at the ends and which may be tromboned up to several inches in length.

6. A purpose built fulcrum counterbalance device as in claims 1-5 with which a purpose built spectacle structure incorporating any of all of the claims 1-5 or as an accessory to spectacle wearers needing nose-pain relief.

7. A spectacle structure which is purposely budt or as an optical jewellery accessory WhiCh functions substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1-16 and / or as in claims 1-6.