WO2000002505A1

WO2000002505A1 - Goggle

Info

Publication number: WO2000002505A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/021249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luciano Simioni; Marco Damin
Original assignee: Killer Loop Eyewear S.P.A.
Priority date: 1998-07-10
Filing date: 1998-10-07
Publication date: 2000-01-20
Also published as: ITMI981596A1; AU9690798A; ITMI981596A0

Abstract

A goggle adapted for cold weather sports includes a rigid front frame having right and left eye openings wherein right and left eye cup inserts are secured. Right and left lenses are secured within eye grooves of the eye cup insert prior to the eye cup inserts being secured to the front frame. The eye cup inserts include a radially extending, flexible wall portion which curves to meet the face snugly about the wearer's eye orbitals.

Description

Title of the Invention: Goggle

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to eyewear, and more particularly relates to a goggle

which is particularly adapted for cold weather sports such as skiing and snowboarding, for

example.

Goggle designs for cold weather sports typically include a large frame for holding a unitary lens which extends across the face of the user. A strap is attached to either side

of the frame and extends about the back of the wearer's head for holding the goggle on

the face. Fogging of the lens is a common problem, and various venting and lens coating techniques have been employed in the prior art for coping with this problem. Other common problems are comfort and proper fit of the goggle on the face, and performance (e.g., goggle should not needlessly restrict the wearer's normal range of vision).

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a goggle for cold weather sports which

successfully addresses the common problems associated with prior art cold weather goggles described above. The inventive goggle comprises a rigid front frame of unitary

construction which includes right and left eye openings, each having a circumferential

groove formed therein, and a bridge area therebetween. A pair of right and left eye cup

inserts are provided which each include wall portions with at least the rear-most wall portions thereof being made of a flexible material which provides a cushioning component between the front frame and the wearer's face.

The forward wall portion of the eye cup inserts each include an inside and outside

surface, with a first groove being formed on the inside surface and a second groove being provided on the outside surface. The second groove forms a flange on the outside surface of the forward wall portion. A pair of right and left lenses are secured within the first grooves of the right and left eye inserts, respectively. The eye cup inserts together with the lenses are then secured within the front frame with the flange on the outside surfaces

of the eye cup inserts being secured within the circumferential grooves of the eye openings in the front frame, respectively. A foam backing may be applied to the rear-most

edge of the rear-most wall portion of the eye cup inserts for added comfort against the face.

The bridge area of the front frame includes a recessed nasal area into which a removable nose piece is secured. The nosepiece includes flexible wing portions for resting

on the nose of the wearer, and a plurality of cuts are formed therein which enhances

comfort and fit of the goggle on the face.

An adjustable head strap is provided which is secured to either lateral side of the

front frame.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front, perspective view of the goggle of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front, elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a rear, elevational view thereof; Figure 4 is a side, elevational view thereof;

Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 7 is a side, elevational view of the goggle on the face of wearer;

Figure 8 is a front, elevational view of the font frame portion of the goggle;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through an eye opening of the front frame taken generally along the line 9-9 in Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of an eye cup insert of the goggle;

Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view thereof as taken generally along the line 11-11 in Fig.

10; and

Figure 12 is a cross- sectional view thereof as taken generally along the line 12-12 in Fig.

10.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawing, there is seen in the figures a goggle indicated generally at 10. Goggle 10 is intended for use in cold weather sports such as skiing, snowboarding,

sledding, snowmobiling, skating, etc, but may also be used for any activity wherein

protection of the eyes is a concern. In a common ski goggle, a large frame having a

unitary lens is provided which can prove bulky and difficult to handle and position on the face properly. In the present invention, goggle 10 is not of this type, but instead comprises

a front frame 12 having right and left eye openings 14,16 wherein a pair of right and left

lenses 18,20 are secured, respectively. Thus, goggle 10 has discrete eye openings and

lenses as compared to the more common, unitary lens goggles. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, front frame 12 is seen to include a bridge area 22 which extends between eye openings 14,16. Front frame 12 further includes opposite top and bottom edges 24,26 and opposite lateral side edges 28,30, respectively. A recessed nasal area 32 is provided in bottom edge 26 at bridge area 22 to accept a removable nose piece

34 (Figs. 1-7). Nose piece 34 will be discussed in more detail later. Front frame 12 is formed as a unitary, rigid piece and may be made of any desired material (e.g., plastics,

metals, composites, etc.). In the preferred embodiment, front frame 12 is made of a metal such as aluminum.

Referring now also to Figs. 10-12, a pair of right and left eye cup inserts 36,38 are provided each including first and second wall portions 36a,36b and 38a,38b, respectively (only left eye cup insert 38 is shown in Figs. 10-12; however, it is understood that the

right eye cup insert 36 is a mirror image of left eye cup insert 38). Each eye cup insert

36,38 includes a first groove 36c,38c encircling the inside surface 26d,28d of the front wall portions 36a,38a thereof, respectively. The peripheral edge of right and left lenses 18,20 are secured within first grooves 36c,38c of eye cup inserts 36,38 as seen best in

Figs. 11,12. A second groove 36e,38e is formed on the outside surface 36f,38f of each

eye cup insert which forms a flange 36g,38g thereon. As seen in Fig. 8, the eye openings

14,16 of front frame 12 each include an internal groove 14a, 16a wherein flange 36g,38g

of eye cup inserts 36,38 are secured, together with lenses 18,20, respectively.

It will be noticed that a third wall portion 36b', 38b' integrally extends

form second wall portions 36b,38b of each eye cup insert 36,38, which third wall portions

extend radially beyond first wall portion 36a,38a and second wall portions 36b,38b. It is preferred that at least third wall portions 36b', 38b' are made flexible and curve to snugly and comfortably meet the face about the eye orbitals, while also providing a cushioning component between the face and the front frame 12, as seen in Fig. 7. A foam backing

material 40 is applied to the rear surface 37 of third wall portions 36b', 38b' to provide further comfort and cushioning to the face. It is preferred that eye cup inserts 36,38 are individually formed (e.g., molded) as unitary pieces out of plastic such as nylon, TPE (thermoplastic elastomer)or TPU(thermoplastic urethane), for example.

Preferably, a plurality of vent passages 42 are formed in the lower section of

second wall portion 34b,36b, and may also extend into third wall portions 36b', 38b', as seen best in Figs. 6 and 10. Further venting is provided at the nasal area through opening 39 in nose piece 34 (Fig. 5), and also in the nasal area 37 of the eye cup inserts 36,38

where second and third wall portions 36b,38b, 36b', 38b' are absent.

An adjustable head strap 44 is provided which is attached at opposite ends

44a,44b thereof to the opposite side edges 28,30 of front frame 12. In a preferred embodiment, elongated openings 46,48 are formed adjacent side edges 28,30 of front

frame 12 wherethrough strap ends 44a, 44b may be passed and secured. As such, goggle 10 may be fit to a wearer's face with the head strap 44 extending around the head as seen

in Fig. 7.

As seen best in Figs. 1 and 4-6, nose piece 34 is seen to include a semi-rigid front

arch 34a which includes a groove which is secured to the lip 32a of recessed nasal portion

32 (Fig. 8). A pair of catches 32b,32c may be provided on front frame 12 to assist

retention of nose piece 34 to frame 12. Nose piece 34 further includes a more flexible rear arch 34b which includes right and left wing portions 34c,34d which rest on the nose of the wearer. Preferably, a series of parallel cuts 34e are formed in wing portions 34c,34d which enhance the comfort and fit of the nose piece and goggle on the face.

There is thus provided a novel goggle construction adapted for cold weather sports which fits snugly about the eye orbitals of the wearer for increased comfort and performance. The provision of a rigid front frame with flexible eye cup inserts allows for greater design options than possible with traditional goggle designs. Also, the fact that the flexible eye cup inserts hold the lenses rather that the front frame directly provides for

easier assembly and protection of the lens edge against chipping.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is: 1. A goggle comprising:

a) a unitary, rigid front frame having a pair of right and left eye openings and a bridge area therebetween, said right and left eye openings each having an inner, circumferential groove, said front frame having an upper edge, a lower edge

and a pair of opposite side edges, all defining an outer perimeter of said front frame; b) a pair of right and left lenses each having an outer perimeter, said right and left

lenses each being of substantially the same shape as said right and left eye

openings in said front frame; c) a pair of right and left eye cup inserts each having a front wall portion defining a lens opening, each of said lens openings having opposite inside and outside

surfaces with first and second grooves being formed in said inside and outside surfaces thereof, respectively, said second groove forming a flange on said

outside surfaces, said right and left eye cup inserts each further including a

second wall portion extending rearwardly from said first wall portions thereof;

and

d) a face-engaging, resilient material affixed to said second wall portions of said eye cup inserts;

wherein said outer perimeters of said right and left lenses are secured within

said first groove of said right and left eye cup inserts, respectively, and

wherein said right and left eye cup inserts together with said right and left

lenses are secured within said eye openings of said front frame with said flange of said outer surface of each said eye cup inserted and secured within said inner, circumferential grooves of said eye openings of said front frame,

respectively.

2. The goggle of claim 1 and further comprising a third wall portion integrally extending from said second wall portion.

3. The goggle of claim 2 wherein said third wall portion extends radially beyond said first wall portion of said eye cup insert, respectively.

4. The goggle of claim 3 wherein said first wall portion is semi-rigid and said third wall portion is flexible.

5. The goggle of claim 4 wherein each of said eye cup inserts are formed as single,

molded units.

6. The goggle of claim 2 wherein said second wall portion of each of said eye cup inserts include a plurality of ventilation passages formed therein.

7. The goggle of claim 6 wherein said ventilation passages also extend into said third wall portion of each of said eye cup inserts.

8. The goggle of claim 2 wherein said third wall portions of said right and left eye cup

inserts are absent adjacent said bridge area of said front frame.

9. The goggle of claim 1 wherein said front frame bridge area defines a recessed nasal edge, and further comprising a nose piece removably attached to said recessed nasal

edge.

10. The goggle of claim 9 wherein said nose piece includes front and rear wall portions,

said front wall portion being substantially rigid and said rear wall portion being flexible, said rear wall portion further including a pair of nose-engaging wing portions each including a plurality of spaced, parallel cuts formed therein.

11. The goggle of claim 1 wherein said opposite side edges of said front frame each include an elongated aperture formed therein.

12. The goggle of claim 11, and further comprising a head-engaging strap attached to said

front frame through said elongated apertures.