GB2485174A

GB2485174A - Eyeglasses

Info

Publication number: GB2485174A
Application number: GB1018552.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Michael Blackburn; Parmjit Singh Mund; David Stuart Whittle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-03
Filing date: 2010-11-03
Publication date: 2012-05-09
Also published as: GB201018552D0

Abstract

An eyeglass combination comprising a first pair of glasses 1 to be worn by a user of the combination and a second pair of glasses 13 to be releasably attached to the first pair of glasses 1. The glasses 1, 13 are provided with co-operating formations 23, 25 for connecting the glasses to each other at bridge regions 7, 19. One of the formations can be a tongue 25 and the other formation can be an opening 23 to receive the tongue 25. The opening 23 can be formed in the bridge region 7 or in an adaptor (27) secured to the bridge region 7 of one pair of glasses. The first pair of glasses may be active shutter glasses for 3D viewing. Also disclosed is a lens (109) mounted in a holder (133) that can be releasably attached to a frame (103).

Description

EYEGLASSES

This invention relates to eyeglasses. The invention has particular but not exclusive application to glasses for 3D viewing.

Glasses for a specialist use such as active shutter glasses for 3D viewing are typically designed and supplied for use by people with normal vision.

When used by people who wear glasses to correct a sight defect, the active shutter glasses have to be worn on top of the normal glasses. This is awkward, cumbersome and uncomfortable for the user.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the problems aforementioned.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide an eyeglass combination comprising a first pair of glasses to be worn by a user and a second pair of glasses attached to the first pair of glasses.

The first pair of glasses may be configured for use by a person having normal vision with the second pair of glasses being configured to correct a sight defect, for example short or long sight. In this way, a person having normal vision can wear the first pair of glasses without the second pair of glasses and a person having a sight defect can wear the first pair of glasses adapted to correct their sight defect by attaching the second pair of glasses.

The first pair of glasses may be configured for a specialist use such as 3D viewing or sporting activities. In one preferred embodiment, the first pair of glasses comprise active shutter glasses for 3D viewing and the second pair of glasses comprise an insert for correcting a sight defect.

The insert may be an RX insert, i.e. an insert with prescription lenses.

Preferably, the first pair of glasses has a frame and a pair of sides for the user to wear the first pair of glasses and the second pair of glasses has a frame for attaching to the frame of the first pair of glasses.

Preferably, the frame of the second pair of glasses is connected to a bridge of the frame of the first pair of glasses. More preferably, a bridge of the second pair of glasses is connected to the bridge of the first pair of glasses.

Preferably, the bridges are provided with co-operating formations to connect releasably the frames of the first and second pairs of glasses. One or both co-operating formations may be formed integrally with the associated bridge or formed separately and attached to the bridge. For example, one or both formations may be provided by an adaptor that is attached to the bridge. This may be beneficial for converting an existing pair of glasses to the invention.

The co-operating formations may comprise a tongue on the bridge of one pair of glasses received in an opening in the bridge of the other pair of glasses. Preferably, the opening is provided in the bridge of the first pair of glasses with the tongue on the bridge of the second pair of glasses.

The co-operating formations may provide an interference friction fit or a snap fit or any other form of releasable connection.

Preferably, the co-operating formations are configured to locate and retain the first and second pairs of glasses in a desired orientation relative to one another. For example, the formations may engage to prevent the frames twisting or rotating relative to one another.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide an insert for correcting a sight defect for use with a pair of glasses configured for use by a person having normal vision.

The insert may comprise a frame for attaching releasably to a frame of the normal vision glasses. The insert frame may have a formation that is releasably engageable with a co-operating formation on the frame of the normal vision glasses. One or both co-operating formations may be formed integrally with the associated frame or formed separately and attached to the associated frame.

In one arrangement, the insert is provided with a separate adaptor for attaching to the frame of the normal vision glasses and the co-operating formations are provided on the insert and the adaptor.

The insert may be provided with one or more prescription lenses to correct a sight defect.

The normal vision glasses may be configured for 3D viewing and may comprise active shutter glasses. Alternatively, the normal vision glasses may be suitable for leisure or sporting activities or any other purpose.

For example, the normal vision glasses may comprise sunglasses.

According to a third aspect of the invention, we provide an adaptor for attaching first and second pairs of glasses to each other.

The adaptor may be attached to one pair of glasses and the other pair of glasses may be connectable to the adaptor to attach the glasses to each other, preferably releasably. Alternatively, the adaptor may comprise two parts that can be attached to the first and second pairs of glasses respectively and are connectable to each other to attach the glasses to each other, preferably releasably. The adaptor may connect bridge regions of the first and second pairs of glasses to each other.

The first pair of glasses may be suitable for a person having normal vision and the second pair of glasses may comprise a prescription insert for adapting the first pair of glasses for use by a person having a sight defect.

According to a third aspect of the invention, we provide in or for a pair of glasses having one or more detachable lenses, a lens for 3D viewing.

The 3D lens may be configured for a person having normal vision or for a person having a sight defect. The 3D lens may be a circular polarised lens. Where the 3D lens is for use by a person having normal vision, the glasses may be adapted for use by a person having a sight defect by attaching an insert according to the second aspect of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an eyeglasses combination according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the assembled combination of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an eyeglasses combination according a second embodiment of to the invention;

S

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the assembled combination of Figure 3; S Figure 5 is a front perspective view of eyeglasses according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the eyeglasses of Figure 5 partially dis-assembled.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of an eyeglasses combination is shown and comprises a first pair of glasses 1 having a frame 3 with two rims 5 and a bridge 7 connected between the rims 5. A pair of lenses 9 are engaged with the rims S and a pair of sides 11 are provided for use when wearing the first pair of glasses 1. In this embodiment the sides 11 are pivotally connected to the ends of the frame 3 but this is not essential and the sides 11 could be fixed relative to the frame 3 and may be formed in one piece with the frame 3. In this embodiment, the glasses 1 are so-called active shutter glasses for 3D viewing by a person with normal sight, i.e. the lenses 9 are not intended to correct sight defects of a person wearing the glasses.

The eyeglasses combination further comprises a detachable insert comprising a second pair of glasses 13 having a frame 15 with two rims 17 and a bridge 19 connected between the rims 17. A pair of lenses 21 are engaged with the rims 17. The lenses 21 are adapted to correct sight defects of a person wearing the glasses 13 and in this embodiment are prescription lenses.

The bridge 7 of the first pair of glasses 1 is provided with an opening 23 and the bridge 19 of the second pair of glasses 13 has a tongue 25 that is received in the opening 23 to attach the second pair of glasses 13 to the first pair of glasses 1 so that the first pair of glasses 1 can be worn by a person having a sight defect that is corrected by the second pair of glasses 13.

The opening 23 and tongue 25 provide co-operating formations and are preferably releasable so that the second pair of glasses 13 can be attached to the first pair of glasses 1 if the first pair of glasses are to be worn by a person having a sight defect and can be detached from the first pair of glasses if the first pair of glasses are to be worn by a person having normal sight. In this way, the first pair of glasses can be used both by people having normal sight and by people having sight defects by attaching the appropriate second pair of glasses 13 when required.

In this embodiment, the opening 23 and tongue 25 are of rectangular shape and the tongue 25 is preferably an interference friction fit in the opening 23 so that the second pair of glasses 13 is located and retained in position when attached to the first pair of glasses 1 but can be detached from the first pair of glasses when the first pair of glasses is to be worn by another person having normal vision or a different sight defect requiring fitment of a different second set of glasses.

It will be understood however that the opening 23 and tongue 25 may have shapes other than rectangular, for example oval or triangular, although it is generally preferred that the shapes are non-circular so that the second of glasses 13 is located and retained in the required position and cannot rotate to change the mounted position which may affect the comfort and/or vision of the person wearing the eyeglasses combination.

Also in this embodiment, the opening 23 is in the bridge 7 of the first pair of glasses 1 and the tongue 25 is on the bridge 19 of the second pair of glasses 13. In this way, when the first pair of glasses 1 is worn by a person having normal vision without the second pair of glasses 13, the opening 23 in the bridge 7 does not have any adverse affect on the comfort and/or vision of the person wearing the glasses 1.

It will be understood however that the opening 23 could be in the bridge 19 of the second pair of glasses 13 and the tongue 25 on the bridge 7 of the first pair of glasses 1 so that, when worn by a person having normal vision without the second pair of glasses 13, the tongue 25 should preferably not affect the comfort and/or vision of the person wearing the glasses 1.

Also in this embodiment, the first and second pairs of glasses 1, 13 are rcleasably connected together by an interference friction fit of the tongue 25 in the opening 23. In this way, the second pair of glasses 13 can be attached to the first pair of glasses 1 by a push fit as shown by the arrow in Figure 1 and detached from the first pair of glasses 13 by separating the glasses 1, 13 so that a high degree of manual dexterity to attach/detach the second pair of glasses 13 is not required facilitating use by a wide range of potential users of the first pair of glasses 1.

It will be understood however that the opening 23 and tongue 25 may be configured so that the first and second pairs of glasses 1, 13 are releasable connected together by a snap-fit or any other suitable means that allows the second pair of glasses 13 to be attached to and detached from the first pair of glasses 1.

Also in this embodiment, the first and second pairs of glasses 1, 13 are releasably connected together by a pair of co-operating formations comprising the opening 23 and tongue 25 and it will be understood that more than one pair of co-operating formations may be provided and that the or each pair of co-operating formations may comprise a tongue and opening as described or any other suitable co-operating formations.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, a second embodiment of an eyeglasses combination is shown similar to the first embodiment and like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.

In the first embodiment, the opening 23 is provided in the bridge 7 of the first pair of glasses 1 for attaching the second pair of glasses 13. The opening 23 may be provided during manufacture of the frame 3.

In this second embodiment, the first pair of glasses 1 does not have an opening 23 in the bridge 7. Instead, the opening 23 is provided in an adaptor 2? that can be attached to the bridge 7 of the first pair of glasses 1 so that the second pair of glasses 13 can be releasably connected to the first pair of glasses 1 in similar manner to the first embodiment.

The adaptor 2? may be attached to the bridge 7 by any suitable means.

For example the adaptor may be provided with a layer of self adhesive material covered by a protective release layer of paper that can be removed to allow the adaptor 2? to be stuck to the bridge 7. In this embodiment, the adaptor 27 preferably has a locating formation 29 shaped to co-operate with a nose piece 31 on the first pair of glasses 1 when attaching the adaptor 2? to the bridge 7 so as to locate and secure the adaptor 27 in the correct position. The locating formation is not essential and may be omitted or replaced by any other means to position the adaptor 2? on the bridge 7.

In other respects, the construction and operation of this embodiment is similar to and will be understood from the description of the first embodiment including any of the modifications referred to.

As will now be understood from the description of the first and second embodiments, the invention enables a pair of glasses suitable for wearing by a person having normal vision to be adapted for wearing by a person having a sight defect by attaching a second pair of glasses that correct the sight defect. This may be of particular benefit if the first pair of glasses have a specialised use such as active shutter glasses for 3D viewing where it may not be practical and/or cost effective to provide lenses that are adapted to the sight requirements of an individual by allowing one pair of glasses to be used by several people.

Moreover, the second pair of glasses is mounted on and supported by the first pair of glasses which is more comfortable for the user than wearing two separate pairs of glasses one on top of the other. In particular, the second pair of glasses can be attached to the first pair of glasses without significantly changing the position in which the first pair of glasses is worn so that user comfort may be maintained.

It will be understood that some or all of these benefits and advantages may be obtained for any type of glasses that may be supplied for use by a person having normal vision, for example glasses for sporting activities and sunglasses having non-prescription lenses.

In the above-described embodiments, a pair of glasses for wearing by a person with normal vision is adapted for wearing by a person having a sight defect by releasably attaching a pair of glasses for correcting the sight defect.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, a third embodiment of eyeglasses that can be adapted to suit different uses and/or different sight requirements is shown using a single pair of glasses only.

The glasses 101 have a frame 103 with two rims 105 and a bridge 107 connected between the rims 105. A pair of lenses 109 are engaged with the rims 105 and a pair of sides 111 are provided for use when wearing the glasses 101. In this embodiment the sides 111 are pivotally connected to the ends of the frame 103 but this is not essential and the sides 111 could be fixed relative to the frame 103 and may be formed in one piece with the frame 103.

Unlike the previous embodiments, the lenses 109 are detachable and can be replaced by different lenses according to the intended use and/or the sight requirements of the wearer. As shown the lenses 109 are mounted in holders 133. The holders 133 are releasably attached to the frame 103 by engagement of co-operating formations on the holders 133 and the frame 103. The formations may be an interference friction fit or a snap fit or any other suitable fit to releasably secure the lenses 109. The lenses 109 may also be detachable from the holders 133.

With this arrangement, one pair of frames can be adapted for different uses by changing the lenses 109. For example circular polarised lenses 109 may be fitted to produce glasses for 3D viewing or any other use by the same or different people.

Thus, a person may have sets of lenses for different uses that are adapted to their vision requirements and can select and fit any set of lenses to the same frame as required. This may be beneficial as only one frame is needed for all the uses of the wearer. Alternatively or additionally, different styles, shapes or colours of frame may be adapted for use with one or more sets of lenses for different uses providing a wide range of combinations of frames and lenses for the wearer to choose from.

The ability to change the lenses in this way also applies to use of the same frame by people having different sight requirements as each person can fit their own set of lenses for a particular use.

Other benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are deemed within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An eyeglass combination comprising a first pair of glasses to be worn by a user and a second pair of glasses attached to the first pair of glasses.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the first pair of glasses is configured for normal vision and the second pair of glasses is configured to correct a sight defect
3. The combination of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second pair of glasses is releasably attached to the first pair of glasses.
4. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the first pair of 1 glasses comprise active shutter glasses for 3D viewing and the second pair of glasses comprise an insert for correcting a sight defect.(\J
5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the insert is an RX insert.
6. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the first pair of glasses has a frame and a pair of sides for the user to wear the first pair of glasses and the second pair of glasses has a frame for attaching to the frame of the first pair of glasses.
7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the frame of the second pair of glasses is connected to a bridge of the frame of the first pair of glasses.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein a bridge of the second pair of glasses is connected to the bridge of the first pair of glasses.
9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the bridges are provided with co-operating formations to connect releasably the frames of the first and second pairs of glasses.
10. The combination of claim 9 wherein one or both co-operating formations is formed integrally with the associated bridge or formed separately and attached to the bridge.
11. The combination of claim 9 or claim 10 wherein one or both formations is provided by an adaptor that is attached to the bridge.
12. The combination according to any of claims 9 to 11 wherein the co-operating formations comprise a tongue on the bridge of one pair of 1 glasses received in an opening in the bridge of the other pair of glasses.V"
13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the opening is provided in the bridge of the first pair of glasses with the tongue on the bridge of the second pair of glasses.
14. The combination of any of claims 9 to 14 wherein the co-operating formations provide a releasable connection between the frames of the first and second pair of glasses.
15. The combination of any of claims 9 to 14 wherein the co-operating formations provide an interference friction fit or a snap fit.
16. The combination of any of claims 9 to 15 wherein the co-operating formations are configured to locate and retain the first and second pairs of glasses in a desired orientation relative to one another.
17. The combination of any of claims 9 to 16 wherein the co-operating formations engage to prevent the frames twisting or rotating relative to one another.
18. An insert for correcting a sight defect for use with a pair of glasses configured for use by a person having normal vision.
19. The insert of claim 18 wherein the insert comprises a frame for attaching releasably to a frame of the normal vision glasses.
20. The insert of claim 19 wherein the insert frame has a formation that is releasably engageable with a co-operating formation on the frame of the normal vision glasses+ r
21. The insert of claim 20 wherein one or both co-operating formations I." is formed integrally with the associated frame or is formed separately and C.J attached to the associated frame.
22. The insert of claim 20 or claim 21 wherein the insert is provided with a separate adaptor for attaching to the frame of the normal vision glasses and the co-operating formations are provided on the insert and the adaptor.
23. The insert of any of claims 18 to 22 wherein the insert is provided with one or more prescription lenses to correct a sight defect.
24. An adaptor for attaching first and second pairs of glasses to each other.
25. The adaptor of claim 24 wherein the adaptor can be attached to one pair of glasses and the other pair of glasses is connectable to the adaptor to attach the glasses to each other.
26. The adaptor of claim 24 wherein the adaptor comprises two parts that can be attached to the first and second pairs of glasses respectively and are connectable to each other to attach the glasses to each other.
27. The adaptor of claim 25 or claim 26 wherein the adaptor is configured for releasably attaching the glasses to each other.
28. The adaptor of any of claims 24 to 27 wherein the adaptor connects bridge regions of the first and second pairs of glasses to each other. r29. A pair of glasses having a frame and a lens mounted in a holder releasably attached to the frame. (40 30. The pair of glasses of claim 29 wherein the holder and frame have co-operating formations to attach releasably the holder to the frame.31. An eyeglass combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.32. An eyeglass combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.33. A pair of glasses substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.