GB2548093A

GB2548093A - Spectacle apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2548093A
Application number: GB1603849.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Kenyon Victor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-03-07
Filing date: 2016-03-07
Publication date: 2017-09-13
Also published as: GB201603849D0

Abstract

A pair of spectacles have at least one lens and at least one elongate arm 10. The arm has a lens end, a substantially straight stem and a distal ear end 4 providing an ear hook. A displaceable device 1 is arranged in use to be located at the ear end of the spectacles so as to surround at least part of the ear hook on at least three sides. Aperture 2 is for receipt of an ear hook (13, figure 3d) of the spectacles and slot opening 3. The device may be made of a resiliently deformable material such as closed cellular structure foam, so as to allow for the weight of the spectacles to be absorbed and spread across the ear. Cord 12 may be provided to hang the spectacles around a users neck.

Description

SPECTACLE APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to spectacle apparatus, in particular apparatus for making spectacles more comfortable; more particularly but not exclusively apparatus comprising a displaceable device for enhancing comfort of spectacle earhooks.

Background

Increasing numbers of users reach advanced years, and/or have access to good quality eye care.

As a result increasing numbers of users are wearing spectacles, temporarily or permanently.

Spectacle wearing can be troublesome and/or uncomfortable. In particular the spectacles may be heavy on the nose or ears.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 379 029 (HAGUE) discloses a spectacle frame comprising a pair of spectacle legs, the free end of each leg having an ear pinna engaging portion comprising a first part for engaging the inner surface of the respective ear pinna and a second part for engaging the outer surface of the ear pinna.

Japanese patent application JP 2003 029 215 (HORIKAWA) provides spectacles with which the energizing force of ear bends to the head can be easily adjusted. The front ends of ear bend members are supported at receiving sections apart a specified distance from the rear ends of temples and the rear ends of the temples are engaged with engaging sections apart a specified distance from the front ends of the ear bend members. The stepwise changing of the angle toward the inner side of the ear bend members is made possible by changing the engaging positions of the rear ends of the temples with the engaging sections of the ear bend members. More specifically, long holes are formed at the rear ends of the temples and the front ends of the ear bend members are fitted and supported into receiving sections at the front ends of the long holes. The rear ends of the long holes are engaged with the engaging sections of the ear bend members.

United States patent application US 3 953 114 (BIDGOOD) discloses retaining means for eyeglasses comprising a cushion member for attaching to the temple pieces of eyeglasses, said cushion member including a generally wedge-shaped cushion member having a thinner portion and a thicker portion, and attaching means fixed to said cushion member for removably fixing said cushion member to the lower edge of said temple piece, said attaching means being bendable to conform to the shape of said lower edge of said temple piece, said attaching means being so constructed and arranged to locate said cushion member so that said thinner portion is engageable with the top of the ear of a wearer and said thicker portion is immediately rearward of the ear, and a weight carried by the extending end of said temple piece rearward of said cushion member, said weight being just sufficient for holding said thicker portion down behind the ear to prevent forward movement of said temple piece, the arrangement being such that said cushion member is selectively movable along said lower edge to retain said thicker portion immediately rearward of the ear said attaching means comprising a channel, said channel including a plurality of segments adjacent to one another and separated by a plurality of slits, at least one pair of clamp members carried by said channel and formed integrally with said segments and engageable with said temple piece, said channel being bendable selectively to provide a concave portion and a convex of said attaching means, said clamp members being located at said convex portion.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided spectacle apparatus comprising: (a) spectacles having at least one lens and at least one elongate arm; wherein said arm comprises: a lens end, a substantially straight stem and a distal ear end providing an earhook; and (b) a displaceable device arranged in use to be located at the ear end of the spectacles so as to surround at least part of the ear hook on at least three sides.

In some embodiments the device may comprise padding, so as to provide a padding to the earhook in use.

In some embodiments the arm may comprise an intermediate deviation, between the ends, which deviation may be gradual and included in the stem, or discrete and between the stem and earhook.

The ear hooks may comprise a different material to the stems, for example wherein the stems may be metallic or alloy, and the earhooks comprise thermoplastic bodies placed over the intermediate deviation and distal end of the arm.

In some embodiments therefore the intermediate deviation may consequently be comprised in and internal to the ear hooks.

In some embodiments the ear hooks may comprise an area of the arm arranged to interact with the user’s ear, for example wherein the arm is a monolithic part of thermoplastics. The ear hook may comprise a portion of the stem, the intermediate deviation and the distal end or may cover a portion of the stem, the intermediate deviation and the distal end.

The device may comprise a resiliently deformable material, for example such as closed cellular structure foam, so as to allow for weight of the spectacles to be absorbed and spread across the ear in use.

In some embodiments the device is arranged to surround the earhook to all sides, such that a user’s ear comes solely into contact with the device when wearing the spectacles.

The device may be arranged to cover only the earhooks, or comprise a short length of stem and the intermediate deviation. In this way the device may advantageously visually replace or replicate the earhooks in use.

In some embodiments the device comprises a body arranged to cover the arm.

Such body may be continuous, discontinuous or partial in coverage. For example in some embodiments the body may be arranged by the securement mechanism to surround the body around plural sides between the stem and the distal end.

In some embodiment the body may be perforated. This perforation may be used for ventilation, moisture or sweat reduction, or aiding in comfort.

In some embodiments the device comprises a securement mechanism of the body onto, over or with the arm.

Such securement mechanism may comprise displaceable parts.

Such securement mechanism may comprise opening parts.

Such securement mechanism may comprise elastic or biased parts.

In some embodiments the securement mechanism may comprise at least one aperture, wherein the body comprises an aperture sufficient for entrance of the arm or earhook.

For example in some embodiments the securement mechanism may comprise parts that are displaceable in order to open an aperture in the device, so as to allow entrance of the arm. The device may then comprise bias so as to bias the device to close again around the arm.

Brief Description of Figures

Figures 1 show isometric views of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment in use on a pair of spectacles:

Figures 3 show sketches of an isometric view, a sectional view, an isometric view during bending, and a side detail view of a third embodiment in use, respectively;

Figure 4 shows a sketch of an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the present invention in use; and

Figures 5b and 6b show sectional views of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to figures 1 and 2 there is shown an embodiment of the device comprising a monolithic form 1 with a central aperture 2 arranged for receipt of the earhook 13 of a pair of spectacles.

The earhook is subsequently inserted into the aperture, or the device placed over the earhook of the spectacles, temporarily or semi-permanently.

The spectacles comprise arms 10 formed by metal or alloy elongate substantially straight stems, with discrete intermediate deviations forming ear ends arranged at approximately 45 degrees to the stems. The deviations, part of the stems and the ear ends are all covered by permanent plastic earhooks.

The securement mechanism comprises the resilient deformation wherein the deformation of the body is comprised by elastomeric material. The body of the first embodiment comprises a single part of flexible elastomeric and resiliently deformable material.

The body of the first embodiment comprises an enlarged distal end 4 and square section proximal end providing a central aperture for receipt of the spectacle earhook.

The aperture includes a further slot opening 3 which continues the aperture along the top edge of the body, corresponding in use to the earhook part precedent to deviation, which deviation is reflected by a deviation 6 in the device, and wherein the slot largely corresponds to the arm stem.

The slot opening finishes adjacent the top edge of the intermediate deviation and precedent the top edge 7 of the ear end, and beyond the bottom edge 8 of the ear end, so as to advantageously limit danger of exit of the earhook from the device.

In use therefore the ear end of the earhook will be inserted through the aperture and the stem and intermediate deviation inserted through the slot opening.

In further embodiments further embodiments of the device may be envisaged to be permanently included on the earhook, forming a resiliently deformable or padded cover to the earhook in use.

In the second embodiment the devices comprise anchor points 11 on the distal ends 4 for a cord 12 to hang the spectacles, for example around a user’s neck.

The third embodiment comprises an elongate body 22. The body comprises a silicone cover over a flexible and resilient metal core 23.

In the third embodiment the securement mechanism comprise the flexibility and bias of the body, and two apertures 23 for receipt of the earhook, the apertures arranged as loops 21 adjacent the body ends, such that the earhook may be inserted through the apertures, wherein the flexure and bias of the body acts to straighten the device and pull it against the earhook in use.

For the fourth embodiment the securement mechanism may be the same as in the first embodiment, namely an aperture into which the earhook is inserted, wherein the device further includes padding comprised by a spring bias in the body 30.

The body comprises a horizontal returning continuous shape with an open side 31 facing forwards and is comprised by two substantially parallel portions, namely a top portion 35 and bottom portion 33, wherein the two portions include a return 32 that goes behind the ear in use and the bottom portion finishes at an end 34 at the open side; and whereby in use deformation and resilience in the body maintains the spacing apart of the two portions of the body upon the top of the user’s ear.

The fourth embodiment may further comprise a permanently secured embodiment to the spectacles, wherein the device comprises a part of a pair of spectacles.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

1. Spectacle apparatus comprising: (a) spectacles having at least one lens and at least one elongate arm; wherein said arm comprises: a lens end, a substantially straight stem and a distal ear end providing an earhook; and (b) a displaceable device arranged in use to be located at the ear end of the spectacles so as to surround at least part of the ear hook on at least three sides

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a securement mechanism arranged in use to secure the displaceable device to the spectacle arm.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the securement mechanism is temporary.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 2 or 3 wherein the securement mechanism comprises an aperture and a bias.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the aperture comprises a slot opening.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the device comprises an intermediate deviation.

7. A device substantially as described herein with reference to the figures.