NL1029496C1 - Spectacle frame with provisions for illuminating objects. - Google Patents

Description

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GLASSES FRAME WITH ARRANGEMENTS FOR LIGHTING OBJECTS

The invention relates to a pair of spectacles or, more preferably, to a spectacle frame, in which the spectacle lenses are contained, said features consisting of one or more light sources attached to the frame, on or built-in electrical power source, and a control switch of said illumination.

Glasses or spectacle frames with illumination are known from various patents, such as from the English patent "SPECTACLE FRAMES", no. 1 306 905, filed June 9, 1971, by Thomas Gerald JOY of Darlington, England, wherein a spectacle frame or spectacle frame with electric 15 lighting has been described.

The illumination consists of two electric lamps, each of which is arranged in recesses in the side parts of the spectacle frame, the illumination lines of said electric lamps being focused on the reading or working surface. The electric lights are placed in a lamp holder or fitting and connected with electrical conductors to an external or externally applied electrical power source.

The drawback of the above-described spectacle frame with electrical illumination is that the electric lamps are rather bulky for the conventional spectacle frame and the electrical conductors to the external voltage source unsthetically come out of the mounting brackets of the spectacle frame or frame to the external battery .

Furthermore, a spectacle frame with illumination is known from the Australian patent "READING AID" filed April 30, 1974, by John SULLIVAN of Queensland, Australia.

In this embodiment, blocks of plastic material with an optically curved reflector and lamps on both sides are clicked onto the spectacle frame or frame next to the spectacle lenses. The lights are connected via electrical lines to a battery, which is arranged externally.

1029496 - 2 - t

Due to the relatively large dimensions of the plastic blocks, the aforementioned embodiment of the Australian spectacle frame with lighting has an even more disadvantageous or unaesthetic appearance than the previously described known British embodiment.

Then there is a spectacle frame with illumination known from the Japanese patent "SMALL-SIZED ILLUMINATOR MOUNTABLE ON AND DEMOUNTABLE FROM SPECTACLES", no. JP 2004184956 with publication date 2004-07-02 of ARII TSUNEO.

A lighting system with small dimensions is provided here, which can easily be clicked on the sides of the spectacle frame. The lighting system consists of illuminating LEDs with reflectors, whereby the electric voltage source and on / off switch are arranged on the back of the user's head by means of an electrically conductive band or strap.

This known embodiment also has drawbacks, because of the messy appearance of the whole, when the user of the glasses looks at an illuminated object in the dark or read something from a newspaper or book.

The object of the invention is to hardly damage existing spectacle designs by providing lighting and not to cause any hindrance with regard to wearing comfort. The user must at all times hardly noticeably carry a personal reading or working lamp, which reading or working lamp can be switched on at any time as required, by means of built-in miniature switches. The invention should be build-in in almost all glasses and be independent of a specific model or design. In terms of spectacles, reading glasses, vario-focus glasses, normal glasses, safety glasses, diving glasses, welding goggles, work glasses, magnifying glasses and the like should then be considered. The invention should add an added and functional value to each pair of glasses.

For this purpose a spectacle frame according to the invention has been further developed in an inventive manner, characterized in that said light source is an LED which is built in at the front of the spectacle frame or frame and that the electrical voltage source with operating switch and electrical lines are mounted in the mounting brackets of the glasses 5.

The advantages are that the lighting provided in the glasses is hardly visible and very light, as a result it does not affect the glasses in an aesthetic sense and hardly affects the wearing comfort of the glasses.

The spectacle frame according to the invention is further developed in such a way, characterized in that said LED is an SMD LED and is provided with reflectors and is mounted on either side next to mounted spectacle lenses near the hinged mounting brackets.

The advantage is an effective placement of the LEDs in the spectacle frame to effectively illuminate the object to be considered at object distance from the spectacles.

The spectacle frame according to the invention is then further developed, characterized in that said operating switch and said supply or discharge line of electrical voltage are arranged and the whole is placed in said mounting brackets, said electrical voltage source of the LEDs being a button cell with an electrical power of around 3 volts.

The advantages are a very effective placement of highly miniaturized button cell and operating switch in the mounting brackets.

The invention is further explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawing. Herein: figure 1 shows a view in oblique projection of the spectacle frame with LED lighting and mounting brackets with different possibilities of placement of the electrical voltage source and operating switch according to preferred embodiments of the invention; Figure 2 is a partial view in oblique projection of a first embodiment of placing the electrical voltage source and operating switch in the left-hand mounting bracket of Figure 1; figure 3 shows a view in oblique projection of a second embodiment of placing the electrical voltage source and operating switch in the right-hand mounting bracket of figure 1; and Figures 4A to 4E show a number of top views of possible electrical interconnection from voltage source to LED at the hinge connection between spectacle frame and mounting bracket.

Figure 1 shows an oblique projection view of a spectacle frame 1 with LEDs 2. In the left-hand mounting bracket 3 the electrical voltage source in the form of a button cell 4 and operating switch 5 is arranged more to the rear. In the right-hand mounting bracket 3 ', by way of example or alternative, the electrical voltage source in the form of a button cell 4' and operating switch 51 is arranged more to the front. Said LEDs 2 are preferably bright white LEDs and are intended for illuminating workpieces or reading objects. The LEDs are powered by button cells 4, 4 'in fitted recesses in mounting brackets 3, 3'. The button cell 4, 4 'can also be replaced by a dummy button cell and / or plug, which is provided with supply wires and a switching resistor (not shown). The said power supply wire can also be connected to a battery pack, a mains adapter or a solar cell battery or another external power supply for continuous use. The aforementioned LEDs provide a clear white daylight and can be switched on and off with said control switch 5, 5 '. The connection to the LEDs is via the integrated wiring in the spectacle frame 1, the mounting brackets 3, 3 'and via the hinge connection 6 between said spectacle frame 1 and the mounting brackets 3, 3' (see also Figures 4A to 4E). Said hinge connection 6 can be made in various ways, as can be seen in figures 4A to 4E, the LED being represented by its symbol 1,029496-5.

For the LEDs in question, use can be made of different types of bright white LEDs of different strength and size. The present application with LEDs 5 on the spectacle frame can be used for ordinary glasses, protective glasses, reading glasses, safety glasses, diving glasses, work glasses and specialist glasses. The special properties and advantages of these LEDs 2 applied to the spectacle frame l are: 10 - clear white daylight; does not or hardly affect wearing comfort of glasses; applicable for private use and for numerous professions; does not, or hardly, affect existing models of glasses; 15 - which direction is being viewed is also light; it is a lightweight application; applied LEDs are non-sparking, unbreakable and shock and impact resistant; LEDs have a long service life; 20 - LEDs are very economical with electricity; glasses with LEDs are wireless and can be connected to external power sources with further connection wires; spectacle frame with LEDs is user-friendly; 25 - glasses with LEDs can be used indoors and outdoors; light, vision and protection are processed in an action or embodiment and the lighting is very compactly built into the glasses; spectacle frames with LEDs and the like are easy to manufacture in an economically responsible manner; Glasses with LEDs is essentially a hands-free system.

Figure 2 shows a partial oblique projection view of a first embodiment of placing (see arrows A) the electric button cell 4 in a recess 7 in the mounting bracket 3 of the spectacle frame 1. The electrically positive and negative leads 8 and 9 to the LED (not shown) are shown schematically 1 02 9496 - 6.

Figure 3 shows a skewed projection view of a second embodiment of placing (see arrows B) the electrical button cell 4 'in an additional recess 8 formed therefor in the spectacle frame 1. The operating switch 5 'is also placed forward.

Figures 4A to 4E show a number of top views of hinged mounting or hinge connection 6 of the mounting supports 3, 3 'to the actual spectacle frame 1. The electrical interconnection can take place in various ways or even be designed as a resilient electrical conduction 10, such as for example in figure 4A and in figure 4C. Furthermore, the LED 2, marked with a symbol, can be placed on the actual spectacle frame 1 or on the end of the mounting bracket 3, 3 '. Electric conduction of the actual hinge connection 6 is also an option (see figure 4E).

Finally, it should be explicitly stated that preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above and that further modifications and the like are of course possible without departing from the scope of this patent.

1029496

Claims (8)

A spectacle frame, in which the spectacle lenses are mounted, with provisions for illuminating objects, said provisions consisting of one or more light sources attached to the frame, an on or built-in electrical voltage source and an operating switch of said lighting, characterized in that said light source is an LED (2) which is built in at the front of the spectacle frame (1) or frame and in that the electrical voltage source (4, 4 ') with operating switch (5, 5') and electrical lines (8, 9) are mounted in the mounting brackets (3, 3 ') of the glasses. 2. Glasses frame according to claim 1, characterized in that said LED (2) is a bright white LED. 3. Spectacle frame according to claim 1, characterized in that said LED (2) is an SMD LED and is provided with reflectors and is mounted on either side next to mounted spectacle lenses near the hinged mounting brackets (3, 3 '). The spectacle frame according to claim 1, characterized in that said LED (2) is built into the spectacle frame (1) in a number of at least two at random locations around the spectacle lenses. Glasses frame according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the electrical supply voltage of said LEDs (2) is approximately 3 volts. A spectacle frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinges (6) between the spectacle frame (1) and the mounting brackets (3, 3 ') are designed for conducting and removing electrical voltage to said LEDs (2) ). 7. Glasses frame according to claim 1, 3 and 6, characterized in that said control switch (5, 5 ') is arranged in said supply or discharge line of electrical voltage and the whole is placed in said mounting brackets (3, 3 *) . 102949¾ 5 - 8 - Glasses frame according to claim 1, 5, 6 and 7, characterized in that said electrical voltage source (4, 4 ') of the LEDs (2) is a button cell of approximately 3 Volts. 1029496