GB2453108A

GB2453108A - Swimming goggles comprising curved lenses with head strap attachments fitted into resilient material padded frames.

Info

Publication number: GB2453108A
Application number: GB0718652A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terry Chou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-25
Filing date: 2007-09-25
Publication date: 2009-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-25
Also published as: GB2453108B; GB0718652D0

Abstract

Swimming goggles comprising two lenses 1 with a smooth curved transition 13 between a forward face 11 and a lateral or side face 12 allowing a wider than usual field of view (Figure 4: X). The lenses 1 also comprise a lens pad engaging area 15 to fit into padded frames 2 and lens strap engaging pieces 14. The goggles frames 2 or lens receiving pads 2 comprise resilient materials shaped into a loop designed to hold the lenses whilst not obscuring the wearer's view through the lenses, with padding forming an interface between the wearer and the frames 23 and a nose-bridge 24. The goggles also comprise a head strap 3. The lens pad engaging area of the lenses may be glued into the goggles frame or lens receiving pads, a fixing that may be of a permanent nature.

Description

FRAME-REDUCED SWIM GOGGLES WITH ANGLE-FREE LENS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pair of swimming goggles. In particular, the present invention relates to a combination of two specialized lens, two lens-receiving pads and one or more securing strap for a pair of swimming goggles, which has a simplified structure, broadened view, stronger resistance to water flow, and substantial durability.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most conventional swim goggles include in general three main components: the lens, the frame and the padding, plus the securing head strap. In conventional goggles, a frame provides both a securing and a connecting function for an assembly of lens and padding. Three related conventional goggles are discussed below, and illustrated in FIG. 7 and 8 for the first prior art, in FIGS. 9 and 10 for a second prior art, and in FIGS. 11 for a third prior art.

FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings illustrates a pair of conventional swimming goggles, comprising two lens 10', a nose-bridge II', two padding members 12', and a head securing strap 13'. Detailed description of this prior art is given below. The two lens 10' are made of transparent material. Each of lens 10' comprises a front-view 101', a side-view 102', and an angular-view 103' in between the front-view 101' and the side-view 102'. The protruding flange 104' is formed at the rear of each of lens 10', extending outwards. A head strap connecting piece 105' is disposed at one side of a len 10' near a swimmer's temple position for engaging with the head securing strap 13'. On the other side of the len 10', corresponding to either side of the nose position is located a nose- bridge receiver 106'. In a similar way, the two ends of the nose-bridge 11' connect to the two nose-bridge receivers 106' . The two padding members 12' are made of soft materials, of which the front is formed a lens-engaging compartment 121' for receiving the protruding flange 104' (of the lens 10'). At the rear of each padding member 12' neighboring the lens-engaging compartment 121' is disposed an extension 122' (of the lens-engaging compartment), while an eye-goggles interface is configured as a further extension of the extension 122' (of the lens-engaging compartment). The head strap connecting piece 13' engages with the head strap connecting piece 105'.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, which illustrate a pair of conventional swimming goggles, comprising two lens 20', two frames 21', two padding members 22', a central bridge 23', and a head strap 24'. The two lens 20' are transparent flat bodies, while the two frames 21', two padding members 22', and a central bridge 23' are made of soft material and produced as one single piece in manufacturing. The head strap 24' engages with the two frame 21', within each of which a frame-receiving compartment 211' is formed to engage with the frames 21'.

The advantages associated with the conventional goggles shown in FIG. 10 is that since the frames 21' are not visible, the visible part is represented only by a very limited angle c.

Furthermore, the frame-receiving compartment 211' has a compartment wall 212' to enclose the lens 20'; the presence of the compartment wall 212' also blocks a goggle wearer' view.

A third related prior art is shown in FIG. 11. The transparent lens 30' is assembled with a padding member 31'. An angular view 303' (of the lens 30') is disposed in between the front view 301' and the lateral view 302'. At the rear of the lens 30' is formed a receiving compartment 304', from which extends a protruding rim 305'. The padding member 31' is made of soft material and includes an pad-lens engaging part 311', a padding extension part 312', an eye-goggle interface 313.' The pad-len engaging part 311' is assembled together with the receiving compartment 304', and the protruding rim 305'.

Referring to FIG. 8 -11, some disadvantages associated with these three prior arts include: (1) Objects in front of lens in the above-discussed pnor arts is presumably visible with a see-through angle a. Nevertheless, due to the presence of an angular- view (in between the front and the lateral view of a len) , the otherwise see-through angle a is decreased to a smaller angle b.

(2) The angular-view adversely effects the water resistance of the goggles when (3) The loosen engagement of between the padding members and the lens cause them to fall apart very easily.

(4) The visible engaging between the padding members and the lens is exposed outsides, which defies the spirit of an ensemble design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The goal of the present invention is to provide a pair of swimming goggles with improved assembling convenience, less water resistance, a broadened view, and a streamline ensemble appealing look at a reduced manufacturing cost, without affecting its utility durability.

The present invention distinguishes itself from related prior arts in that only two main components are utilized: the lens and the padding. The structure of the present invention is substantially simplified and the disadvantage of blocking a swimmer's lateral view by a non-transparent frame or an angular len is at the same time avoided.

A pair of swimming goggles in accordance with an aspect of the invention comprises two lens, two pads, and one or more head securing strap. The lens are made of transparent material, each of which includes two an up-front view (right in front of a swimmer's eyes), a lateral view, and a smooth angle-less curve surface configured in between the up-front view and the lateral view; the design of such a smooth transition curve between the up-front view and the lateral view substantially increase the range of a swimmer's view. Along the perimeter of the rear surface of each len is formed a lens-pad engaging rim; while a lens-strap engaging window is formed at each end of each lens, neighboring the lateral view.

Each pad is made of soft material and configured with a lens-receiving compartment to engage with the len. The lens-receiving compartment is configured not to enclose or block any part of the lens to which the compartment is engaged. Gluing material may be applied to secure the engagement between the lens and the padding; or alternatively, the lens and the padding are made together as a single piece in manufacture.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the 1st embodiment of a pair of swimming goggles in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial assembly view of the goggles shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the pair of swimming goggle in FIG. 2 along the vertical A-A cross-sectional view. r

FIG. 4 illustrates the pair of swimming goggles in FIG. 2 along the horizontal B-B cross-sectional view.

FIG. 5 is an assembly perspective view of the 2d embodiment of a pair of lens and padding in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an assembly perspective view of the 3 embodiment of a pair of lens and padding in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the 1St pair of conventional swimming goggles.

FIG. 8 is an assembly perspective view of the l pair of conventional swimming goggles.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the 2 pair of conventional swimming goggles.

FIG. 10 is an assembly perspective view of the 2id pair of conventional swiniming goggles.

FIG. 11 is an assembly perspective view of the 3 pair of conventional swimming goggles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWThGS

Referring to Figs. I to 3, a piece of swim goggles in accordance with the present invention comprises mainly two pieces of lens 1, two lens-receiving pads 2, and one or more head securing strap 3. Detail descriptions are given to each of the three components below.

The lens! further includes five sections: the front view 11, the lateral view 12, a smooth -transition curve surface 13 between the front view 11 and the lateral view 12, a strap engaging piece 14, and a len-padding engaging area 15, from which a rear protruding flange 151 extends outwards.

The len-receiving pads 2 are made of sofi material with two loop-like lens-receiver 21 formed along the inner perimeter of the pair of lens. The loop-like lens-receiver 21 is designed to fit the len 1 so that the combination of the two comfortably and securely sit around the eyes of a swimmer, and is also configured not to enclose or block any part of the lens by extending outwards, vertical to the direction or phase of the lens. A pad-lens contact wall 211 is formed relative to the physical configuration of the above-discussed rear protruding flange 151, extending outwards from the boundary of loop-like lens-receiver 21 in a direction vertical to the surface of the loop-like len-receiver 21 so that the rear protruding flange 151 leans securely against the pad-len contact wall 211 in assembling. The loop-like lens-receiver 21 can be engaged with the len-padding engaging area 15 (of the lens 1) by gluing or by being made as a single piece in manufacture. As a result, more durable securing between the lens and the pads is achieved by having a larger contact area via the engagement between the rear protruding flange 151 and the pad-len contact wall 211. A pad extension 22 further extends along the loop-like lens-receiver 21. An eyes-goggles interface 23 is formed, neighboring the pad extension 22 and connecting the nose bridge 24.

Each of the two ends of the head securing strap 3 connects to the lens 1 via its corresponding strap engaging piece 14 in such a way that the strap fits a swimmer's forehead.

Alternatively, the head securing strap 3 can also interlock with the strap engaging piece 14 by some connecting piece (not shown in the figures).

Please further refer to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a summary of the distinguishing characteristics of the present invention: (1) Due to the specially designed angle-less and frame-less lens, the area of visible view substantially increases, as embodied by an angle of x in the figures. The arrow in the figure indicates the smooth transition curve surface 13, which also reduces the resistance of flowing water.

(2) The interface between the lens and the receiving pads is so designed that no part of the pad will ever block or enclose any part of the lens.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A pair of swimming goggles, comprising: (I) two lens, made of transparent material, each comprising: (I) a front view, (2) a lateral view, (3) a front-lateral curve as a smooth transition between said front view and said lateral view without an angle formed therein, (4) a len-pad engaging area, along the perimeter of the rear surface of each said lens, and (5) a len-strap engaging piece, facing away from a goggle wearer; (II) two len-receiving pads, made of soft materials, each comprising: (1) a loop-like lens-receiver, formed along the outer perimeter of said lens-receiving pad and configured to interlock with said lens-pad engaging but not to block any part of each said lens, (2) a pad extension, which extends from said loop-like lens-receiver, (3) an eyes-goggles interface, neighboring said pad extension, and (4) a nose bridge; (III) a head securing strap assembly, the two ends of which connects respectively to those of said lens.

2. The pair of swimming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement between said len-pad engaging area and said loop-like lens-receiver is by gluing. r

3. The pair of swimming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement between said lens-pad engaging area and said loop-like lens-receiver is fixed in manufacturing.

4. The pair of swtmming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rear protruding flange extends outwards from said loop-like lens-receiver, and a corresponding pad-lens contact wall is formed relative to the physical configuration of said rear protruding flange.

5. The pair of swimming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said lens comprising a loop-like concave rim and a protruding nm; each said pad compnsing a pad-lens engagement area to interlock with said loop-like concave rim and said protruding rim via gluing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

What is claimed is: 1. A pair of swimming goggles, comprising: (I) Iwo lenses, made of transparent material, each comprising: (1) an outer surface, (2) an inner surface having a perimeter.

(3) a front portion, (4) a side portion, (5) a front-side curve comprising a smooth transition between said front portion and said side portion without an angle formed therein, (6) a lens-pad engaging area, extending along the perimeter of the inner surface of each said lens, and (7) a lens-strap engaging piece, formed at a distal end of the side portion; (II) two lens-receiving pads, made of resilient materials, each comprising: (1) an outer face, having a perimeter, a loop-like lens-receiver, formed along the perimeter of the outer face of said lens-receiving pad and configured to interlock with the perimeter of the inner surface of said lens without visually obscuring any part of each said lens, a pad extension, which extends inwardly from said loop-like lens-receiver, and * an inner face, neighboring said pad extension,

S

(Ill) a nose bridge; and (IV) a head securing strap assembly, comprising a strap and two ends, the two ends connecting respectively to the lens-pad engaging areas of said lenses.
2. The pair of swimming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement between said lens-pad engaging area and said loop-like lens-receiver is by gluing. lb
3. The pair of swimming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lens-pad engaging area and said loop-like lens-receiver are integrally formed.
4. The pair of swimming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rear protruding flange extends inwardly from the inner surface of said lens, and a corresponding pad-lens contact wall is formed relative to the perimeter of the outer face of said loop-like lens-receiver.
5. The pair of swimming goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said lens comprises a loop-like concave rim and a protruding rim; each said pad comprising a pad-lens engagement area to interlock with said loop-like concave nm and said protruding rim via gluing.
6. A pair of swimming goggles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * S. * I. *S.S * *. * * * SSS * e **.

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