GB2512940A

GB2512940A - Swimming goggles

Info

Publication number: GB2512940A
Application number: GB1306715.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Herman Chiang
Original assignee: Global Esprit Inc
Current assignee: Global Esprit Inc
Priority date: 2013-04-12
Filing date: 2013-04-12
Publication date: 2014-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-12
Also published as: GB201306715D0; GB2512940B

Abstract

Swimming goggles 1 includes left 20 and right 21 frames, a connecting element 22 for interconnecting the left and right frames, protection pads 231, 232, lenses 30, 31 installed in the left and right frames, buckles formed on side portions of the left and right frames, and a head strap being movably connected with the buckles. Each of the buckles 4 has a main body 40 which is disposed on the corresponding side portion of the left or right frame. The buckle comprises a hole 411 in the lens or frame and may have a vertical pillar or bar disposed in the hole such that the head strap be threaded through the buckle either side of the dividing pillar. The pillar may be ridged. The buckles may be integrally formed with the frame or detachable from the frame such that they are smoothly connected to the frame when attached.

Description

TITLE -SWIMMING GOGGLES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. HELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to swimming goggles, and particularly to swimming goggles that is simplified and ergonomic in design, perfect fit and comfortable in wearing, and is watertight in use.

2. RELATED ART [0002] A stmcture of swimming goggles relating to the present invention has left and right frames and a connecting element that are integrally formed together. For such swimming goggles, lenses are assembled with the left and right frames iii a manner of implantation, and the left and right frames are provided with buckles for a head strap to pass therethrough. The buckles provide functions to not only position the head strap but also limit the head strap to move in one direction so as to allow the head strap to be adjustable to a proper length. However, the buckles are mostly connected with the left and right frames for which the assembly with other parts of the swimming goggles are needed to be considered by utilizing extra and more components.

Consequently, a. cost for assembly is increased because of multiple and complicated components, and the overall swimming goggles is increased in size as well for the same reason, and is not compatible with a light and simple trend in design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide swimming goggles having a simple structure by simplifying buckles and skillfully integrating the buckles with existed components, so as to make assembly of the swimming goggles less difficult, and further reduce a cost for assembly.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide buckles that are intended to enable a head strap to be adjusted in length quickly and easily without taking off the swimming goggles so as to achieve the effect of convenient use.

[0005] To achieve the above objects, the swimming goggles of the present invention comprise left and right frames integrally formed together, a connecting element for interconnecting the left and right frames, protection pads, lenses installed in the left and right frames, buckles integrally formed on side portions of the left and right frames, and a head strap being movably connected with the buckles, wherein ea.ch of the buckles comprises a main body which is disposed on and integrally formed with the conesponding side portion of the left! right frame, and the main body is defined with a through hole for positioning the head strap.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the main body has a plate-like shape and integrally extends from an edge of each of the lenses to be embedded into the side portion of the left/right frame. The main bodies form a part of the lenses. The side portions of the left and rght frames are formed with frame holes corresponding to the through holes.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, the main body is smoothly connected to the side portion of the left/right frame in such a manner that upper and lower sides of the main body are smoothly connected with upper and lower sides of the side portion of the left/right frame, and forms a part of the left/right frame.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a rectangular pillar is longitudinally disposed in the through hole of the main body, and divides the through hole into a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion. A guiding end of the head strap passes through the first guiding portion to go around the rectangular pillar then through the second guiding portion in such a manner that the head strap is bent at approximate 90 degrees around and against the rectangular pillar, whereby the guiding cud is capable of being drawn rearward to tighten the hea.d strap in only one direction. Other portion of the head strap is defined betweeui a wearer's head and the rectangular pillar. When the main body is not pulled outward, the other portion of the head sftap is not drawable because the other portion is in frictional engagement with the rectangular pillar. When the head strap is to be loosened, the main body is being pulled outward, the other portion of the head strap is thus drawable rearward because an angle between the other portion and the rectangular pillar is increased. Accordingly, adjustment of the head strap for loosening or tightening is performed without taking off the swimming goggles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of swimming goggles in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of FIG. 1; [0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of FIG. 2; [0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 3; [0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of swimming goggles in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIGS. 6A is a partially exploded perspective view of swimming goggles in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 6B is a perspective assembly view of FIG. 6A; [0016] FIG. 6C is a schematic sectional view of FIG. 6B; [0017] FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically show a head strap being assembled with and adjusted in the swimming goggles of FIG. 6C; and [0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of swimming goggles in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 showing a first embodiment of swimming goggles of the present invention, the swimming goggles I of the present invention comprise: left and right frames 20 and 21, a connecting element 22, lenses 30 and 31, buckles 4, and a head strap (not shown in this embodiment), wherein the left and right frames 20 and 21, and the connecting element 22 are integrally made of therma plastic rubber by means of injection molding. Additionally, each of the left and right frames and 21 is defined with a connecting opening 202 and 212 for receiving the lenses 30 and 31. Protection pads 231 and 232 are integrally formed with the lenses 30 and 3 1 for providing comfortable and watertight contact with a user's face when being worn. The lenses 30 and 31 are made of polycarbonate resin or cellulose acetate or cellulose propionate sheet, and peripheral sides of the lenses 30 and 31 are integrally enveloped by the left and right frames 20 and 21 at the time when the left and right frames 20 and 21 and the connecting element 22 are in the process of integral injection molding.

[0020] Each of the buckles 4 is integrally formed with side portions of the left and right frames 20 and 21, and comprises a main body 40 which is made of polycarbonate resin as same as the lenses 30 and 31. In this preferable embodiment, the main body 40 ha.s a plate-like sha.pe and forms a through hole 411 thereon. In particular, the main body 40 integrally extends rearward and temporally from an edge of each of the lenses 30 and 31, and therefore forms a part of the lenses 30 and 31. The main bodies 40 and part of the lenses 30 and 31 are embedded in the side portions of the left and right frames 20 and 21. The side portions of the left and right frames 20 and 21 are formed with frame holes 24 and 25 colTesponding to the through holes 411 for securing the head strap.

[0021] Referring to FIG. I in combination with FIG. 4, the swimming goggles 1 of the present invention, in assembly, is to utilize integral injection molding technique to integrally form the left and right frames 20 and 21, and the connecting element 22, wherein when the lenses 30 and 31 and the main bodies 40 of the buckles 4 are being embedded in respective left and right frames 20 and 21, the assembly is finished. Thus the swimming goggles 1 is simplified in structure and is light and handy in design through the integration of the main bodies 40 of the buckles 4 and the lenses 30 and 31.

Furthermore, a head strap can be provided with hooks (not shown) to directly hook over the through holes 411 of the main bodies 40.

Alternatively, a head strap is fastenable with the buckles 4 through other connecting elements (not shown).

[0022] Referring to FIG. 5 illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, a major difference between this embodiment and the preceding embodiment is that a rectangular pillar 412 is longitudinally disposed in the through hole 411 of the main body 40. The rectangular pillar 412 divides the through hole 411 into a first guiding portion 413 and a second guiding portion 414 so as to enable a tightening or loosening adjustment of the head strap (detailed processes are described below).

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention, likewise, swinuning goggles 1' of this embodiment comprise the left and right frames 20' and 21', the connecting element 22', the lenses 30' and 31', and the buckles 4'. Different features between this embodiment and the first embodiment are a.s follows: the main body 40' of the buckle 4' is smoothly connected to the side portion of the left/right frame 20' and 21' in such a manner that upper and lower sides of the main body 40' are smoothly connected with upper and lower sides of the side portion of the left/right frame 20' and 21'. Therefore, the buckle 4' forms a part of the left/right frame 20' and 21'. Additionally, the rectangular pillar 412' is longitudinally disposed in the through hole 411', wherein opposite sides of the rectangular pillar 412' are disposed facing internal walls of the through hole 411', and the through hole 411' is divided into the first and second guiding portions 413' and 414' by the rectangular pillar 412'. With the above mentioned structure, a head strap 5' is capable of passing through the first and second guiding portion 413' and 414', and is circled around aiid held against the rectangular pillar 412' at approximate 90 degrees. The rectangular pillar 412' is recessed from an outer surface of the main body 40' to form a gap t (shown in FIG. 6B) for covering a width of the head strap 5' and holding the head strap thereon. Furthermore, the main body 40' comprises a tongue portion 421' which is embedded in the side portions of the left/right frame 20' and 21'. The tongue portion 421' has a cavity 422' formed thereon for being filled with injection material during integral injection molding so as to provide a better grip between the side portion of the left/right frame 20' and 2i' and the tongue portion 421'. Accordingly, the main bodies 40' are integrally attached to the side portions of the left and right frames 20' and 21'. Furthermore, the left and right frames 20' and 21' are respectively provided with notches 201' and 211' that are longitudinally formed on inner sides of the left a.nd right frames 20' and 21', and are located adjacent to the tongue portions 421' and the lenses 30' and 31'. The notches 201' and 211' function as a fulcrum when the main bodies 40' are being pulled outward.

[0024j Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, after wearing the swimming goggles 1', as shown in FIG. 7, the head strap 5' (shown only on one side of the swimming goggles 1') that passes through the first and second guiding portions 413' and 414' is only allowed to be adjusted in one direction. More specifically, the head strap 5' is defined with a guiding end 50' which passes through the first guiding portion 413' to go around the rectangular pillar 412' then through the second guiding portion 414' in such a manner that the head strap 5' is bent a.t approximate 90 degrees continuously to be around and against the rectangular pillar 412', whereby the guiding end 50' of the head strap 5' is capable of being drawn rearward (direction indicated as an arrow in FIG 7) to tighten the head strap 5'. Other portion 51' of the head strap 5' is defined between a wearer's head and the rectangular pillar 412'.

When the main body 40' is not pulled outward, the other portion 51' of the head strap 5' is not drawable because the other portion 51 is in frictional engagement with the rectangular pillar 412' by the head strap 5' circled around and against the rectangular pillar 412' at an approximate 90 degrees.

When the head strap 5' is to be loosened, the main body 40' is being pulled outward (direction shown as an arrow in FIG. 8), wherein the notch 201 (211') functions as a fulcrum to facilitate pivoting of the main body 4', the other portion 51' of the head strap 5' is thus drawable rearward because an angle betweeii the other portion Si' and the rectangular pillar 412' is increased. Consequently, adjustmeiit of the head strap 5' for loosening or tightening is performed without taking off the swimming goggles 1'.

Accordingly, the swimming goggles of the third embodiment is simplified in structure and is light and handy in design through the integration of the main bodies 40 and the lenses 30 and 31, and the rectangular pillar 412' enables a quick and easy adjustment of the head strap.

[00251 Further referring to FIG. 4 illustrating a. forth embodiment of the present invention, a major difference between this and the third embodiment is that a rib 43' is formed on a surface of the rectangular pillar 412's. The rib 43' has a size smaller than the rectangular pillar 412' and forms a step-like shape together with the rectangular pillar 412'. As a result, a contact area. of the head strap and the rectangular pillar 412' is reduced so that friction between the head strap and the rectangular pillar 412' is reduced as well.

Therefore, the structure of the rib 43' enables a smooth adjustment of the head strap, and more specifically, the head strap is capable of being adjusted to be loosened by pulling the main body 4' outward at a smaller angle.

[00261 It is understood tha.t the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the claims. Thus the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative, and not restrictive, of the invention defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Swimming goggles, comprising left and right frames, and a connecting element for interconnecting the left and right frames as a unit, each of the left and right frames defined with a connecting opening; lenses respectively installed in the connecting openings; buckles integrally formed on side portions of the left and right frames respectively; protection pa.ds respectively disposed on the left and right frames; and a head strap being movably connected with the buckles; wherein each of the buckles comprises a. main body which is disposed on and integrally formed with the corresponding side portion of the left! right frame, the main body defined with a. through hole.
2. The swimming goggles of claim 1, wherein the main body has a plate-like shape and integrally extends from an edge of each of the lenses to be embedded into the side portion of the left/right frame, and the side portions of the left and right frames are formed with frame holes corresponding to the through holes.
3. The swimming goggles of claim 1, wherein the main body is smoothly connected to the side portion of the left/right frame in such a manner that upper and lower sides of the main body are smoothly connected with upper and lower sides of the side portion of the left/right fra.me, and forms a part of the left/right frame.
4. The swimming goggles of claim 2, wherein a rectangular pillar is longitudinally disposed in the through hole of the main body, and divides the through hole into a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion.
5. The swimming goggles of claim 3, wherein a rectangular pillar is longitudinally disposed in the through hole of the main body, and divides the through hole into a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion.
6. The swimming goggles of claim 5, wherein the main body comprises a tongue portion having a cavity formed thereon for being integrally embedded into the side portion of the left/right frame.
7. The swimming goggles of claim 5, wherein opposite sides of the rectangular pillar are disposed facing internal walls of the through hole so as to support the head strap in such a manner that the head strap passes through the first and second guiding portions and is bent at approximate degrees around and against the rectangular pillar, whereby the head strap is limited to be tightened from free ends thereof when wearing, and is released by pulling the main body outward in order to loosen the head strap.
8. The swimming goggles of claim 7, wherein the rectangular pillar is recessed from an outer surface of the main body and is further formed with a rib on a surface of the rectaiigular pillar, the rib has a size smaller than the rectangular pillar and forms a step-like shape together with the rectangular pillar, whereby reducing contact area of the head strap and the rectangular pillar and enabling a smooth movement of the head strap when loosening the head strap.
9. The swimming goggles of claim 6, wherein the left and right frames are respectively provided with notches formed on inner sides thereof and adjacent to the tongue portions, and the notches are functioned as a fulcrum when the main body is being pulled outward.
10. The swimming goggles of claim 6, wherein the left and right frames, the connecting element, and the protection pads are integrally formed and made of therma. plastic rubber.