HK1136877B - Sports-specific shield - Google Patents

Description

Sports special protection

Background

The present invention relates generally to eyewear and more particularly to a uniquely configured eyewear shield that allows a wearer to adjust their frame to provide multiple vertical viewing angles for a specific sporting application. As discussed in greater detail below, embodiments of the present invention provide a sport-specific shield that can be selectively adjusted by a wearer without the use of tools to customize the construction and wear of the eyewear for beneficial use in a particular activity. The resulting eyewear protection may thus be used in demanding athletic situations where the wearer is required to assume a heads-up or heads-down posture, such as competitive running, driving, skiing, or cycling.

It has long been a general goal of designing eyewear, particularly sunglasses, to block the human eye from the sun or other bright light sources. Over time, various features and advances in this technology have evolved. The evolution of the design of a large number of dual and single lens eyeglasses initially varied substantially only in aesthetic characteristics. However, eyewear and lens designs have been further developed to accommodate various optical considerations, such as optical clarity, resolution, field of view, refraction, and other such characteristics. Conventionally, the optical quality of a lens is best when the wearer's line of sight (LOS) extends parallel to the Optical Center Line (OCL) of the lens.

While these advances in eyewear technology have provided substantial benefits to eyewear wearers participating in a wide range of activities, certain athletic activities often require the wearer to assume a physical position such that the wearer's LOS, particularly in a vertical plane, is displaced from being continuously aligned with the OCL of a particular lens. Furthermore, the unique facial structure and shape can result in different wear, as well as different wearers not generally enjoying the better optical characteristics of a given eyeglass.

Many athletic activities are characterized by requiring the user to assume a head-up or head-down posture. In the heads-up position shown in fig. 6A, the wearer's head is in a substantially vertical position completely above the shoulders. Thus, the OCL of the spectacle lens and the LOS of the wearer tend to be aligned in parallel and directed more or less straight ahead. Activities such as running, driving, etc. tend to encourage the wearer to adopt a heads-up posture.

In the heads-down position, generally as shown in fig. 6B, the wearer assumes a generally forward leaning position with the head extending forward of the torso. In the heads-down position, the head is retracted to an aerodynamic position, where the OCL of the eyeglass lenses is conventionally directed toward the ground in front of the wearer; while the LOS is angularly offset upwardly with respect to the line. Thus, to optimize the front view, the wearer must lift their head upward from the racing position so that their LOS is parallel to the OCL. The racing posture also makes the LOS sufficiently higher than a conventional lens that the upper frame may limit the field of view in the vertical plane. Such as bicycle racing and other activities, often require the wearer to assume a heads-down posture for extended periods of time.

Finally, the unique facial shape may prevent certain wearers from enjoying the better optical characteristics of a given frame and lens system. Due to differences in facial structure, a given pair of eyeglasses often fits different wearers in different ways. Thus, the LOS in front of some wearers may not pass through the lens parallel to the OCL. For example, eyeglasses that have been designed to fit most wearers may be too high or too low due to the different structures and shapes of the nose and face of some wearers. Thus, the facial structure and the particular activity in which the wearer is engaged may result in a particular manner of wearing eyeglasses by the wearer that prevents the OCL of the lens from being optically vertically aligned with the desired LOS of the wearer.

Disclosure of Invention

In light of the above-described shortcomings of eyewear designs, there is a need in the art for improved eyewear that allows a wearer to adjust the wear and/or optical orientation of the eyewear depending on the activity in which the wearer is engaged. Further, there is a need in the art for eyewear that can be adjusted to provide better optical quality in a variety of eyewear configurations. There is a need in the art for adjustable eyeglasses that allow a wearer to align their desired LOS with respect to the OCL of the lens and that can be used in activities that take both heads-up and heads-down postures. Moreover, there is a need in the art for eyewear that can be adjusted by the wearer without the use of tools and that provides better resistance to frontal impact. Finally, there is a need in the art for adjustable eyeglasses that are easily adjustable by the wearer for specific activities, that are lightweight, structurally durable, and that provide easy and quick assembly and disassembly, and that provide adequate protection to the eyes even in the event of a bicycle racing posture.

Accordingly, in embodiments, an eyeglass is provided that minimizes component structural integrity and component weight without reducing the overall structural integrity of the eyeglass. The eyeglasses can include a unitary lens, frame, and nosepiece. The lens can have an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge may have lateral notches formed at opposite ends thereof and the lower edge has a nose piece opening formed therein.

The frame may have opposing ends and an upper channel extending at least partially along the frame. The upper groove may be sized and configured to receive the upper edge of the lens, and the side notches of the lens may be received in the opposing ends of the frame. Further, the upper groove may have a cross-sectional area defined by a depth and a width of the upper groove. In addition, the frame may further have a pillar portion extending downward from a central portion of the frame.

The nosepiece can have a bridge and a mounting member extending upwardly from the bridge. The nosepiece can have a lower groove extending at least partially across the bridge, the lower groove can be sized and configured to receive the lower edge of the lens therein. The mounting component can be attached to the post to attach the nosepiece to the frame. In this embodiment, the cooperative engagement of the frame with the nosepiece retains the lens between the frame and the nosepiece so as to minimize the cross-section of the upper channel without compromising the overall lens retention and overall structural integrity of the eyeglass. For example, the cross-sectional area of the upper slot may be less than about 0.05 square inches, and in certain embodiments, the cross-sectional area may be no greater than about 0.02 square inches. Further, the maximum thickness of the frame is less than 90% of the thickness of the lens along the upper edge of the lens. Thus, the weight of the eyewear and the structural integrity of the individual components may be reduced while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the eyewear.

In another embodiment, the post portion may include a connecting portion at a distal end thereof. Additionally, the mounting component can include a recess sized and configured to receive at least the connecting portion of the post to attach the nosepiece to the frame. The recess of the mounting portion may be formed in a rear side portion of the mounting member. The post may be formed to be connected to the frame behind the groove. In some embodiments, the post may be integrally formed with the frame. Further, the lens can be configured to be mounted anterior to the post and the mounting component of the nosepiece. Finally, the molded configuration of the lens can conform to the upper groove of the frame and the lower groove of the nosepiece.

According to yet another embodiment, the eyeglasses may be configured to be adjustable so as to minimize the vertical offset angle of the wearer during activities that take a heads-down posture. The vertical offset angle may be defined as the angular offset between the optical centerline of the eyewear and the wearer's desired line of sight. The lens of the eyewear may define an optical centerline. In this embodiment, the mount may have a customizable vertical height to minimize the desired vertical offset angle for the wearer.

In another embodiment, the eyewear is adjustable to optimize the protective function of the eyewear throughout the range of vertical viewing angles while maintaining optical quality. In this embodiment, adjusting the vertical height of the mount from the first vertical height to the second vertical height may increase the vertical height of the lens to provide protection when viewing out of the top of the eyeglass while maintaining the desired relationship between the LOS and OCL.

The bridge of the adjustable eyeglasses may be selected from a plurality of bridges having different vertical heights. A corresponding plurality of lenses having matching vertical heights are also provided; the OCL of each lens in the vertical plane is selected to conform to the desired LOS for each lens-nosepiece combination.

Drawings

The above and other features of the invention disclosed herein are described with reference to the drawings of the preferred embodiments. The illustrated embodiments are intended to illustrate, but not to limit the invention. The drawings include the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a front exploded perspective view of an adjustable eyeglass having a frame, a lens, and a nosepiece, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the frame and nosepiece illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a rear view of the eyeglass with the frame, lenses and nosepiece in an assembled state;

FIG. 3B is a front view of the eyewear of FIG. 3A;

4A-4C illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a nosepiece in which the post portion of the nosepiece has a given vertical height.

FIG. 5A is a front view of eyewear in accordance with another embodiment in which the frame and the bridge are assembled together prior to mounting the lenses;

FIG. 5B is a front view of the eyewear of FIG. 5A in an assembled state;

FIG. 6A is a side view of the glasses being worn by a wearer in a heads-up position;

FIG. 6B is a side view of the eyewear being worn by a wearer in a heads-down position, illustrating a vertical viewing angle defined by the wearer's line of sight and the optical centerline of the eyewear;

FIG. 7A is a front view of a prior art eyeglass;

FIG. 7B is a side cross-sectional view of the prior art eyewear of FIG. 7A illustrating the depth of the channel in the frame of the eyewear with the lenses retained therein;

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the eyewear of FIG. 3B, showing the upper channel in the frame and the interconnection of the lenses to the frame.

Detailed Description

While the present description sets forth specific details of various embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is illustrative only and should not be construed in any way as limiting. Moreover, various applications of these embodiments, and modifications thereto, which may occur to those who are skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the general concepts described herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention provides embodiments of uniquely configured eyeglasses 10 that reduce the overall weight of the eyeglasses 10 and improve the optical quality enjoyed by the wearer during various head-up and head-down activities. The eyeglass 10 can be made from a variety of materials and methods. However, according to one of the unique aspects of the present invention, the eyeglass 10 can be assembled using lightweight components, or such components can be eliminated due to structural strength requirements.

For example, in past eyeglass designs, thicker, larger, and heavier designs were employed to provide sufficient durability and structural integrity to the eyeglass 10. However, as further described herein, the eyeglass 10 can be formed using lightweight components (and thus potentially less structural integrity than heavier components) without reducing the overall structural integrity of the eyeglass. Further, embodiments also provide substantial resistance to torsional and/or bending stresses.

In addition, embodiments of the eyeglass 10 can also provide optimal optical characteristics to a wearer at multiple vertical viewing angles. As mentioned above, many athletic activities are characterized by requiring the user to assume a heads-up or heads-down position. In the heads-down position, the wearer typically directs their desired line of sight (LOS) through the upper region of the eyeglass, which may not provide the wearer of the prior art eyeglass with the desired optimal optical quality of the eyeglass that is obtainable when viewing parallel to the Optical Centerline (OCL) of the eyeglass.

As shown in fig. 6A-6B, the angular offset of the wearer's LOS 80 with respect to the OCL 90 of the eyeglass 10 can be represented as a vertical offset angle 92. The vertical viewing angle 92 may also be defined as the angular offset between the OCL 90 of the eyeglass 10 and the LOS 80 of the wearer. By reducing the vertical viewing angle 92, it is anticipated that the wearer may substantially benefit from the improved optical qualities of the eyeglass 10 that are not available due to non-standard facial structures during typical low head activities.

In fig. 1, the eyeglass 10 is illustrated as including a lens 12, a frame 14, a pair of opposing temples 16, and a nosepiece 18. These components of the eyeglass 10 can be configured as snap-fit components that allow the wearer to quickly assemble and disassemble the eyeglass 10 without the use of tools. The lens 12 can be formed in a variety of configurations and geometries. Preferably, the lens 12 is constructed to be lightweight and provide good optical quality throughout the wearer's field of view. It is contemplated that the lens 12 may be formed using a dual lens or a single lens design. As shown in FIG. 1, the lens 12 has an upper edge 20 and a lower edge 22. As shown in fig. 6A-6B, the optic 12 can also define an Optical Centerline (OCL) 90.See, for example, theU.S. patent No. 6,010,218 to Houston et al, entitled "Decentered Corrected lenses for eyeglasses," incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, particularly with respect to the construction, design and optics of the lenses.

The upper and lower edges 20, 22 may be formed in various shapes and contours, as described further below. The lens 12 can also include a pair of opposing lateral indents 24 formed in opposing lateral edges 28 thereof. As also described further below, the side notches 24 may be voids (void) in the lens and take on various shapes. Finally, the lens 12 can also include a nosepiece opening 26 that can at least partially receive the nosepiece 18.

As shown in fig. 1-2, the frame 14 can be configured to include opposing ends 30 and an upper groove 32 that can collectively form an upper lens receiving portion. In an embodiment, the opposing ends 30 are sized and configured to fit at least a portion of the side edges 28 of the corresponding lens 12. Preferably, the end 30 is formed to removably receive the side notch 24 of the corresponding lens 12.

The upper channel 32 may extend at least partially along the frame 14 and preferably midway between the opposing side notches 30. The upper groove 32 is preferably sized and configured to receive the upper edge 20 of the lens 12. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 8, the upper groove 32 may define a longitudinal slot having a width 110 and a depth 112. The upper groove 32 may be formed with inner surfaces of different or the same dimensions. For example, as shown in fig. 8, the rear surface 114 has a greater cross-sectional length than the front surface 116, and may further differ from the cross-sectional length of the upper surface 118 of the upper groove 32. The posterior surface 114, anterior surface 116, and upper surface 118 of the upper groove 32 can be modified to provide varying degrees of retention of the upper edge 20 of the lens 12 within the upper groove 32.

The opposite end 30 may be formed with an upper groove 32 extending at least partially therealong. Thus, the eyeglass 10 can be at least partially assembled with the side indents 24 of the lens 12 being received therein by the opposing ends 30 of the frame 12, and the upper edge 20 of the lens 12 being at least partially received therein by the upper channel 32. As noted above, the side indents 24 of the lens 12 may be configured differently and may include particular geometric patterns that tend to interlock with the geometric patterns of the corresponding ends 30. This feature tends to ensure that the lens 12 is pushed into the upper groove 32 and fully mated with the frame 14. This feature can also be used to assist in fitting to ensure that the lens 12 is in an engaged position with the frame 14 during assembly. Likewise, the lens 12 can be configured to be received in the upper groove 32 to vertically secure the upper edge 20 of the lens 12, and the opposing lateral indents 24 can be received in the opposing ends 30 of the respective frame 14 to horizontally secure the lens 12 to the frame 14.

According to an embodiment, the frame 14 may further include a post 34 extending downwardly from a central portion 36 of the frame 14. As described herein, the post 34 can be formed in a variety of geometries. As described further below, the post 34 may preferably be substantially rectangular and have a sufficient width and thickness to provide secure engagement with the nosepiece 18. The post 34 is preferably integrally formed with the frame 14, such as by injection molding from a single, continuous piece of material. Alternatively, the post 34 may be formed of separate materials and may be bonded to the frame 14 using an adhesive, mechanical interlock, interference fit, or other fastener. Finally, as shown in FIG. 2, the post 34 can also include a connecting portion 38 that can be formed at a distal end 39 of the post 34.

Fig. 1-2 also illustrate an exemplary configuration of the nosepiece 18, wherein the nosepiece 18 has a bridge 40 and a mounting member 42, the mounting member 42 can extend upwardly from the bridge 40 and have a vertical height 44. The center sill 40 and the mounting member 42 are preferably integrally formed, such as by injection molding, but may also be formed of separate bondable materials.

The nosepiece 18 can further include a lower groove 46 formed along at least a portion of the bridge 40. As shown in fig. 1, for example, the lower groove 46 may extend at least partially along the center sill 40. The lower groove 46 of the bridge 40 is preferably sized and configured to removably receive the lower edge 22 of the lens 12. In particular, the lower groove 46 can be shaped to conform to the shape and size of the nosepiece opening 26 of the lens 12.

The mounting component 42 can be sized and configured to be attachable to the post 34 of the frame 14. Various configurations can be utilized to attach the post 34 to the mounting component 42, such as male and female interlocking connections and other first and second complementary surface structures. For example, one of the post 34 or the mounting component 42 can be formed as a male connector that can be removably connected to a corresponding female connector formed by the other of the post 34 and the mounting component 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, the posterior portion 50 of the mounting component 42 can be formed to include a recess 54 into which the post 34 can be received. In this embodiment, the connector portion 38 of the post 34 can be formed to mate with the recess 54 of the mounting component 42. Optionally, the anterior side 52 of the nosepiece 18 can be configured to include a recess 54. In addition, the post 34 can also include a recess in which the mounting component 42 can be received. Such alternative embodiments and modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure and teachings.

Fig. 3A-3B illustrate the cooperative engagement of the lens 12, frame 14, and nosepiece 18. In this embodiment, the post 34 may be connected to the frame 14 behind the upper lens groove 32. Additionally, the lens 12 can be configured to be mounted anterior to the post 34 and the mounting component 42 of the nosepiece 18. The molded configuration of the lens 12 can conform to the upper groove 32 of the frame 14 and the lower groove 46 of the nosepiece 18.

The co-engagement provided by this embodiment may provide significant advantages in that the weight of these components may be reduced without reducing the overall durability and structural integrity of the eyeglass 10. Further, in certain embodiments, the eyeglass 10 can be subject to torsional and/or bending stresses due to the engagement of the side edges 28 and/or side indents 24 of the lens 12 with the opposing ends 30 of the frame 14. Thus, it is contemplated that the engagement of the side edges 28 and/or side notches 24 of the lens 12 with the opposing ends 30 of the frame 14 can further stabilize and mitigate the torsional and bending forces typically encountered during use of the eyeglass 10. Thus, the lens 12 can be more securely retained by the frame 14 and nosepiece 18.

Fig. 3A is a rear view of the eyeglass 10 in an assembled state, and fig. 3B is a front view of the eyeglass 10 in the assembled state. As shown in FIG. 3A, the mounting component 42 of the nosepiece 18 is attached to the post 34 of the frame 14 in order to fix the vertical positioning of the nosepiece 18 relative to the frame 14. 3A-3B, further, with the lens 12 installed, the mounting component 42 is also illustrated as being disposed intermediate the lens 12 and the post 34 of the frame 14 to fix the horizontal positioning of the nosepiece 18 relative to the frame 14.

During assembly, the lens 12 may be installed after the frame 14 and nosepiece 18 are assembled, although this is not required. The lens 12, once assembled, can be cooperatively engaged with the frame 14 and nosepiece 18, and the frame 14 and nosepiece 18 can be maintained in a fixed relationship to each other when the lens 12 is installed. Due to the fixed relationship of the frame 14 and nosepiece 18 to one another, the upper groove 32 and lower groove 46 can also be in a substantially fixed relationship relative to one another, thereby ensuring that the lens 12 is fully retained therein. This embodiment is therefore able to ensure maximum overall retention of the lens 12 and structural integrity of the eyeglass 10.

As described above, another of the significant advantages provided by the embodiments disclosed herein is the reduction, minimization, and/or elimination of vertical deviation angles that may result from positioning the upper frame at different heights relative to the wearer's nose. Thus, in activities such as bicycle racing and other activities that encourage a heads-down posture, the wearer can adjust the eyeglass 10 by selectively interchanging the nosepiece 18 and mounting the respective lenses to change the primary LOS, while still allowing the wearer to enjoy the superior optical qualities of the lenses 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4C, rear views of various embodiments of the nosepiece 18 are illustrated. As shown, the mounting member 42 of the first nosepiece 18 'can have a first vertical height 44', the second nosepiece 18 "can correspond to the second vertical height 44", and the third nosepiece 18 '"can correspond to the third vertical height 44'". The vertical height 44 may be measured generally from the nasal apex 48 to the top end 62 of the nosepiece 18. Fig. 4A-4C illustrate an exemplary set of nosepieces 18 that may be used interchangeably in certain embodiments. These illustrations are provided for illustrative purposes only, and it is contemplated that various other sizes and/or configurations of the nosepiece 18 may be provided. As discussed above, the mounting component 42 can be interconnected with the post 34 of the frame 14. It is contemplated that the wearer may select a nosepiece 18 having a particular vertical height 44 according to their needs and/or preferences. When the selected nosepiece 18 is mounted on the eyeglass 10, a customized wearing pattern of the eyeglass 10 can be provided to the wearer. Each nosepiece mates with a corresponding lens having an OCL in the vertical plane, which by this lens-nosepiece combination remains substantially parallel to the LOS desired by the wearer.

The vertical height 44 of the nosepieces 18 in a set of alternative nosepieces 18 may be within a given range. For example, the vertical height 44 of a given one of the nosepieces may be within a preferred range of about one inch, such as +0.75/-0.250 inches. The height 44 may be, for example, about 0.25 ", 0.5", 0.75 ", and 1.0 inches, or two or more nosepieces may be provided in 1/8 inch increments. The range may be widened or modified depending on the geometry of the eyeglass 10 and depending on other considerations such as the intended activity, the intended consumer, etc.

It is contemplated that by interchanging the nosepiece 18 with one having a different vertical height 44, the wearer can modify the upper edge of the lens 12 relative to the wearer's nose or straight ahead LOS 80. A range of nosepiece sizes may be provided. Thus, the wearer can selectively customize the eyeglass 10 (and can also use the eyeglass 10 for various activities) to optimize the vertical height of the lens and the through-lens viewing angle for a particular use, and the wearer's LOS 80 can still pass through the lens 12 more closely parallel to the OCL, as further explained below with reference to FIGS. 6A-6B.

According to another aspect shown in fig. 4A-4C, the nosepiece 18 can further comprise a collar portion (tubular portion)56 and a nose pad 58. The nose pads 58 may include single or double nose pads attached to the nosepiece 18 or integrally formed with the nosepiece 18. The nose pad 58 may be attached to a bottom portion 60 of the nosepiece 18. The yoke 56 may extend generally midway between the nose pad 58 and the lower groove 46. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the size and configuration of the collar 56 can vary depending on the vertical height of the mounting member 42.

Further, it is contemplated that the lower groove 46 of the nosepieces 18 ', 18 ", and 18'" may remain in a fixed relationship relative to the top end 62 of the nosepieces 18 ', 18 ", and 18'". In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, when the lens 12 is assembled, the nose pad 58 and lower groove 46 can be positioned to be substantially in contact with the nose opening 26 of the lens 12 when assembled to the nose opening 26 of the lens 12. However, when the vertical viewing angle 92 is adjusted by increasing the vertical height 44, such as to the vertical height 44 "or 44'" of fig. 4B or 4C, respectively, a vertical gap is created between the vertical position of the lower groove 46 and the nose pad 58. Thus, the yoke 56 may help compensate for any such gap by filling the vertical gap. The yoke 56 may be solid, perforated or otherwise configured. Thus, the wearer's face and eyes may be protected from air or other substances that may pass through the gap.

Fig. 5A illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of the eyeglass 10 in which the lens 12 can be mounted/engaged on the frame 14 and the nosepiece 18. Further, when disassembling the eyeglass 10 for adjustment or repair, the lens 12 can be separated from the frame 14 and the nosepiece 18 without disassembling or removing other components of the eyeglass 10 prior to separating the lens 14. As described herein, engagement and disengagement of the lenses (in forward and reverse order, respectively) is accomplished by inserting the upper edge 20 of the lens 12 into the upper groove 32 and the opposing end 30, and then inserting the lower edge 22 of the lens 12 into the lower groove 46 of the nosepiece 18. This can be accomplished by gently bending the lens 12. When the lens 12 is fully engaged, the lens 12 can snap into place. In the manner described above, the wearer can selectively adjust the eyeglass 10 to fit using the interchangeable nosepiece 18.

FIG. 5B is a front view of the eyeglass 10 illustrating the installation and wearing of a plurality of nosepieces 18 ', 18 ", and 18'". As discussed above, the different vertical heights 44 ', 44 ", and 44'" (see FIGS. 4A-4C) can allow the wearer to adjust the wear of the eyeglass 10 to the respective heights, thereby providing adjustment of the vertical viewing angle 92. The configuration of the nosepiece 18 can be modified to include any of a variety of sizes, shapes, nose pads, materials, yoke configurations and other features, and can conform to the height of the eyeglass 10 on the face of the wearer, e.g., as measured with respect to the eyebrows of the wearer.

Referring now to fig. 6A-6B, there are illustrated side views of the head of a wearer wearing the eyeglass 10. In fig. 6A, the wearer's head and the eyeglass 10 are in a generally heads-up position, and the OCL 90 of the lens 12 is generally horizontal (straight ahead). Further, the LOS 80 of the wearer is also substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the OCL 90 of the lens 12.

However, in fig. 6B, the eyeglasses 82 are illustrated in dashed lines, wherein the eyeglasses 82 are not adjusted to compensate for the vertically elevated (with respect to the lens) LOS 80. Thus, the LOS 80 of the wearer may pass through the upper portion of the lens of the eyeglass 82 that is closer to the upper frame. This has the consequence that the optical effect is poor and the protection against wind, light and debris is low. In addition, the wearer LOS 80 may be obscured by the frame of the eyewear 82. In any event, with the frame of the eyeglass so close to the LOS 80, the wearer's field of view must be reduced.

In contrast, FIG. 6B also shows eyeglasses 84 in which the vertical height of the nosepiece has been increased and lenses with corresponding configurations have been inserted to reduce the vertical offset angle 92 and provide better eye protection. As shown in fig. 6B, the LOS 80 of the wearer tends to pass closer to the central portion of the lens and is more aligned with the OCL 90 of the lens. Such an implementation may tend to improve the overall optical quality enjoyed by the wearer. Further, this embodiment tends to ensure that the LOS 80 of the wearer is not obscured by the frame of the eyewear 84 when the wearer assumes a heads-down position.

Fig. 7A-7B illustrate front and cross-sectional views, respectively, of an exemplary prior art sunglass 100. Sunglass 100 includes a frame 101, a lens 102, and a nosepiece 104. The frame 101 includes a groove 106 and the lens 102 has an upper edge 108 that is received in the groove 106 of the frame 101. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7B, the groove 106 is used to fully support the lens 102 and the nosepiece 104. Thus, the grooves 106 of such sunglasses 100 must be particularly deep and wide and generally more robust. In some prior art sunglasses, the lens grooves may be as deep as 0.10 inches. Thus, the overall weight of the sunglasses 100 may be greater and the appearance may be bulkier.

In contrast, FIG. 8 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, and further illustrates the light weight construction of the eyeglass 10 and the above-described features of the cooperative engagement. As shown, the upper groove 32 is generally defined by a width 110 and a depth 112. In further contrast to the prior art sunglasses of fig. 7A-B, the depth 112 of the eyeglass 10 can be in the range of approximately 0.030-0.080 inches. Preferably, the depth 112 is less than or equal to about 0.050 inches. Thus, the much smaller depth 112 allows more material to be removed from the frame 14 due to the structural contribution of the nosepiece and lens, thereby allowing the weight of the frame to be reduced.

In certain embodiments of the frame 14, the maximum thickness 120 in the vertical direction of the frame 14 is preferably less than 90% of the thickness of the lens 12, for example, along the upper edge 20 of the lens 12. In other embodiments, the thickness of the lens 12 can also be greater than the thickness 120 of the frame 14 in the vertical direction. The maximum thickness 122 of the frame 14 in the horizontal direction is preferably less than 350% of the thickness of the lens 12. As shown in fig. 8, the frame 14 may be designed in a variety of profiles and cross-sectional configurations. Accordingly, the size and shape of the frame 14 may be modified. However, it is contemplated that by employing the teachings herein, the cross-section of the frame 14 may be substantially minimized.

As described above, the upper groove 32 may be formed to have inner surfaces of unequal or equal size. The upper groove 32 may have a cross-sectional area defined by a width 110 and a depth 112 or by a rear surface 114, a front surface 116, and an upper surface 118. Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the upper groove 32 is approximately equal to or less than 0.02 square inches. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the lens 12 engaged in the upper groove 32 may preferably be less than about 0.02 square inches. The cross-sectional length of the rear surface 114 of the upper channel 32 may be greater than the cross-sectional length of the front surface 116, and may further be different than the cross-sectional length of the upper surface 118. The posterior surface 114, anterior surface 116, and upper surface 118 of the upper groove 32 can be modified to provide varying degrees of retention of the upper edge 20 of the lens 12 within the upper groove 32.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while certain variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the inventions disclosed herein should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.

Claims (16)

1. Adjustable eyeglasses for optimizing the vertical viewing angle of a wearer during a heads-down activity, comprising:

a lens having an upper edge and a lower edge and defining an optical centerline;

a frame having an upper lens receiving portion extending at least partially along the frame and a post extending downward from a central portion of the frame, the post being integrally formed with the frame or being constructed of a separate material and bonded to the frame with an adhesive, mechanical interlock, interference fit, or fastener; and

a nosepiece having a bridge and a mounting member extending upwardly from the bridge, the nosepiece having a lower groove extending at least partially across the bridge, the lower groove being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the lower edge of the lens therein, the mounting member being attachable to the post for attaching the nosepiece to the frame and supporting the lens between the nosepiece and the frame, the mounting member having a vertical height which can be customized to optimize the vertical viewing angle of the wearer.

2. The eyeglasses of claim 1, wherein the nosepieces are selected from a plurality of nosepieces having different vertical heights.

3. The eyeglasses of claim 2, wherein a selected nosepiece is interchangeable with another selected nosepiece.

4. The eyeglasses in claim 1, wherein the nosepiece further comprises a nose pad formed along a bottom of the bridge and a yoke formed along the bridge and extending intermediate the lower groove of the bridge and the nose pad.

5. The eyeglass of claim 4, wherein the yoke varies in size relative to the vertical height of the mount.

6. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the post comprises a connecting portion at a distal end thereof, and the mounting component comprises a recess sized and configured to receive at least the connecting portion of the post for attaching the nosepiece to the frame.

7. The eyewear of claim 6, wherein the recess of the mount is formed in a rear side of the mount assembly.

8. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the post extends downwardly from a central portion of the frame rearward of the lens receiving portion of the frame.

9. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the post comprises a male connector extending downward from the central portion of the frame.

10. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the upper lens-receiving portion of the frame comprises a groove.

11. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the upper lens-receiving portion of the frame further comprises opposing ends for engaging opposing side edges of the lens.

12. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a unitary lens.

13. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the lens is a dual lens design.

14. An adjustable eyewear system for optimizing optical characteristics of the eyewear along a wearer's line of sight, the eyewear comprising:

at least first and second lenses having upper and lower edges, each lens defining an optical centerline;

a frame having an upper groove extending at least partially along the frame and a post extending downward from a central portion of the frame, the post being integrally formed with the frame or the post being constructed of a separate material and bonded to the frame with an adhesive, mechanical interlock, interference fit, or fastener; and

at least first and second nosepieces having a bridge and a mounting component extending upwardly from the bridge, the mounting component being attachable to the post portion for attaching the nosepiece to the frame for collectively retaining the lens between the nosepiece and the frame, the mounting component having first and second vertical heights;

wherein, by removing the first nosepiece and first lens and mounting the second nosepiece and second lens to the frame, the optical centerline is moved from a first angle to a second angle related to a forward line of sight, and a height of the lens in a vertical direction is changed relative to the forward line of sight of the wearer.

15. The eyeglass of claim 14, wherein the second lens has a greater vertical height above the opening of the nosepiece than the first lens.

16. The eyeglasses of claim 14, wherein the nosepieces are selected from a plurality of nosepieces having different vertical heights, the selected nosepieces being interchangeable with another selected nosepiece.