GB2458514A - Removable spectacles counterbalance with universal attachment. - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable universal counterbalance attachment for eye glasses, ophthalmic trial frames and eye test frames comprises a one piece malleable metal counterbalance designed to fit a spectacles temple covering, for example via hole D. The device may further comprise a silicone rubber tubular spectacles fulcrum cover. The counterbalance may be used in conjunction with a spectacles nose or brow pad.

Description

AN OPHTHALMIC BALANCING ATTACHMENT OR STRUCTURES FOR

REMOVING LENS WEIGHT

Purpose: To create practical comfortable inexpensive attachable devices which represent variations from earlier patent applications for the purpose of achieving a weightless or near weightless spectacle lens front. This is also a needed accessory for eye testing trial frames, safety or sports spectacles, low visual aids, or ophthalmic medical loupes. Any head borne visual device would benefit from better balance and could improve eye health by preventing nasal marks, slippage, and the resulting pressure necrosis and headaches caused by compression of the sinus draining large arteries and veins located where traditional nose pads rest. Eye health may be improved by avoiding long term nose pad traction on the adjacent lacrimal duct portion of the eyelids which may additionally prevent an associated lower lid ectropian.

Many light weight spectacle frames have been designed by others but the problem of lens weight and/or designed in front heaviness of the frame can only be solved by working the gravity in the form of counterbalances which must be practical, simply attachable, attractive, comfortable and economical.

Description:

Drawings on pages 1 and 2 illustrate a one piece metal counterbalance casting the tip end of which inserts on either the inner head side or preferably the outer side of the stretchable slide on elastic rubber like temple cover as shown. The cover Figure 9 may have a hole D for the counterbalance insertion or the cover may be only short, one inch or so, with the small pointed end inserted directly in the end of the extrusion or a molded slip on silicone like temple cushion cover above the ears. The elastic temple cover is stretched laterally by both the temple member cross section and the counterbalance cross section thus about doubling the surface area of the temple member ear contact thereby nullifying the increased weight at the tops of the ears.

The counterbalance is an elongated curved streamlined metal casting with a flowing configuration so as to lend an esthetically pleasing overall appearance on the spectacle structure with rounded ends and sides for safe non snagging insertion through or over the hair. The counterbalance weight may range from seven to about twenty grams. The thicker heavier weights are for use on ophthalmic trial frame testing by opticians. Trial frames with up to eight lenses are very front heavy and after thirty minutes or more make the patient very nervous, painfully clamped in, and consequently uncomfortable. Balance makes a big difference with the trial frame floating' and not heavy on the nose at all. The weight design may be varied from that which is herewith shown without altering its function.

The balances may be left straight from a top view as shown with no adjustments being needed at all since no head contact is needed in most cases. If such should be desired then being of relatively soft material such as brass or silver they are easily bent inwards at the rear should the head contact be desired.

Sjjnilarly they can be bent outwards to clear and go over the hair if required making it more visible from the front in which case it may also function as a decorative jewelry accessory. Being behind the ears on the sides of the wearer's head the balances may be concealed under longer hair or worn above the hair as a decorative jewelry accessory. A further simplification is that the same weight fits both sides so no separate right or left sides are needed.

Fig 1 Top overall view showing the assembly method after the soft silicone like fulcrum is fitted over the ends of the spectacle earpieces. The metal balance weight may be bent inwards to be against the head E or outwards F to be above the hair as a visible decoration if desired. In most cases it may be left as is.

Fig 2 Assembled side view showing appearance from the outside looking towards the wearer's head extrusion A is first slipped over the temple tips C and then the counterbalance small rounded ends are inserted. The insertion angle may be t about twenty degrees where the temple bends downwards behind the ears to prevent twisting on those temples which are round on cross section. Oval cross section tips may be inserted at any angle and wilt not twist by virtue of its slight relative flatness.

Fig 3 View from inside of extrusion adjacent to the wearer's head showing the temple member curving downwards behind the ear to keep the lens front urged rearwards. The spectacle temple end ear adjustments are unaltered by the extrusion and counterbalance with ear adjustments being unchanged as compared to other spectacles.

Fig 4 Temple counterbalance components, metal casting part B and extrusions parts A which may be either short or long with the behind the ear temple tip being covered also with side hole D for the counterbalance insertion as shown on the trial frame temple covering page two of drawings.

Fig 5 Optional above the nose fitting to act as an anti wobbling contact point in case of all frontal nasal lens and frame weight being eliminated.

Fig 6 Overall top view of trial frame with balances installed as on page 1.

Fig 7 Outer view looking at wearer's head from the outside.

Fig 8 Inner aspect adjacent to wearers head.

Fig 9 An embodiment of an extrusion of a soft molded temple cover with hole 0 for insertion of balance (top view). The rearward portion of said cover continues on downwardly to cover the temple portion behind the ear and particularly on trial frames it reduces the rearwards pressure behind the ears Fig 10 Possible stretchy soft rubber extrusion cross sections if other than simple tubular design is desired. These two variations better fit the above the ear anatomy. A. It may have separate insertions for the temple member and metal counterbalance. B. There is a rounded triangular shape to fit above the ear anatomy comfortably with the flat side being against the head. Both the earpiece and counterbalance are inserted in a common hole anteriorly to the ears.

Fig 11 Side view showing how metal counterbalance and extrusion are assembled on a spectacle structure.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS1. A removable weight relieving attachment or construction method for purpose built eyeglasses, safety eyeglasses, eye testing ophthalmic trial frames or telescopic low vision aids comprising a fulcrum filling over the rearwards end of the temple members in cooperation with a metal counterweights connected to the fulcrum fittings.
2. 2. A fulcrum counterbalance according to claim 1 in which the fulcrum may be made of a soft slip on silicone-like rubbery stretchable tubular material optionally in a cross section similar to that illustrated with an optional hole as shown at the side to prevent twisting of counterweights, and resulting in the possibility of a limited sliding or tromboning at the insert location to vary the arm length depending on depth of the counterweight insertion, 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 made possible by also varying the weight itself if necessary.
3. 3. A fulcrum counterbalance device according to claims 1-2 functioning cooperatively together 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.
4. 4. A fulcrum counterbalance device according to claims 1-3 working in cooperation with a nosepiece unit attachable by adhesives or moulded by its configuration to fit over existing spectacle bridges and eyewire rims of the wearers spectacles in order to provide an elevated contact point so as to touch the bottom of the forehead overhang above the wearer's nose in cases where the posterior attachment causes the spectacle front to lift completely up off the nose completely in order to prevent wobbling.
5. 5. A purpose built fulcrum counterbalance device as in claims 1-4 with which a purpose built spectacle or ophthalmic or head mounted medical structure incorporating any of all of the claims 1-4 or as an accessory to spectacle wearers or other ophthalmic devices as described needing long term nose-pain relief and thus preventing tissue necrosis of the nose-eyelid area.
6. 6. A spectacle, medical device, trial frame structure or any ophthalmic visual aid which is purposely built or as an attachable optical or jewellery accessory which functions substantiaHy as described and illustrated in claims 1-5.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS * (0a 1. A removable fulcrum counterbalancing accessory device for spectacle frame or similar ophthalmic spectacle structures such as eye testing trial frames compnsing of slide over stretching tubular cover to be slid over the side arms and positioned above the wearer's ears and a bendable one piece metal counterbalancing which is bendable over its full length and inserted through at least part of the length of the stretchy tubular cover from the posterior, the bendable one piece metal counterbalance being located at the structures rear posterior end furthest from the spectacle lenses and which may or may not touch the wearers head behind the insertion point from which it extends rearwards 2. A fulcrum counterbalance according to claim 1 in which the fulcrum may be made of a soft slip on silicone rubber like expendable tubular material such as a short tube as shown located on the temple member above the ears or with a hole in the case of a longer tube also shown located at the side to prevent twisting of the counterweight with said tubing being round or in any other cross sections such as shown and resulting in the possibility of a limited sliding or tromboning at the insert location to vary the leverage depending on then depth of the counterweight insertion, thereby controlling the amount of leverage at the fulcrum caused by the weighted tip end with the final result of precisely counterbalancing the frontal weight to zero which is additionally made possible by also varying the counterweight itself if necessary.3. A fulcrum counterbalance device according to claimsl-2 functioning cooperatively together 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 ft covers and is located primarily just above the ear area thus nullifying the increased inwards pressure on the head from spectacle spring hinges and the downwards pressure at the top of the ears resulting from the leverage of the weighted metal counterbalance at the rear.4. A fulcrum counterbalance device according to claims 1-3 working in cooperation with a nosepiece unit attachable by adhesives or moulded by its configuration to fit over existing spectacle bridges and eyewearnrns of the wearers spectacles in order to provide an elevated contact point so as to touch the batten: of the forehead overhang above the wearers nose in cases where the posterior attachMent cause$ the optical lens holding front to lift completely off the nose in order to prevent wobblin,g the form of upside down nose-brow pads.5. A p'urose built fulcrum counterbalance device as in claims 1-4 with which a spectacle like structure or ophthalmic or head mounted medical structure incorporating any or all of the claims 1-4 or as n aecessory to spectacle wearers or other ophthalmic devices as described needing long all of , . the time or short term nose pain relief as when having eye examinations and thus preventing tissue necrosis or pain in the nose eyelid area.6. A fulcrum counterbalance as in claims 1-5 for any spectacle like ophthalmic structure or ophthalmic head borne visual aid as a universally attachable one piece optical accessory with the purpose of non slipping comfort and functioning substantially as described and illustrated in 1-5.