Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
  • G02C11/00—Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof
  • G02C11/04—Illuminating means

Definitions

• Spectacle frame having provisions for illuminating objects
• the invention relates to a spectacle frame, in which the spectacle glasses are mounted, having one or more light sources fastened to the frame, an electric voltage supply mounted or built-in, and an operating switch for said lighting.
• Spectacle frames with lighting are known.
• GB 1 306 905 describes a spectacle frame with electric lighting.
• the lighting comprises two electric lamps being arran- ged in recesses in the side parts of the spectacle frame, the lines of illumination of these electric lamps being focussed on the reading or working plane.
• the electric lamps are located in lamp holders or fittings and connected to an externally mounted electric voltage supply through electric conductors .
• the drawback of the spectacle frame with electric lighting is that the electric lamps are rather voluminous for the usual spectacle frame and the electric conductors emerge from the sides, that means the ear-pieces, of the spectacle frame to the external battery in an unaesthetic way.
• a spectacle frame with lighting is known from AU 1 467 982.
• small blocks of plastic material with an optically curved reflector and lamps are snapped onto the spectacle frame at both sides adjacent the spectacle glasses.
• said lamps are connected to an externally arranged battery.
• the embodiment of the spectacle frame with lighting described above Due to the relatively large dimensions of the plas- tic blocks, the embodiment of the spectacle frame with lighting described above has an even more disadvantageous or unaesthetic appearance than the embodiment described in GB 1
• a spectacle frame with lighting is known from JP 2004184956. This provides for a lighting system of small dimensions, which can easily be snapped onto the sides of a spectacle frame.
• the lighting system comprises illuminating LEDs having reflectors, the electric voltage supply and the on/off switch being mounted at the user's back of the head by means of an electrically conducting band or strap.
• This embodiment too has drawbacks, due to the untidy appearance of the entity, when the spectacle user views an illuminated object in the dark or reads something from a newspaper or a book.
• the objects of the invention are to avoid any interference with the design of known spectacle frames when applying lighting and to avoid causing any hindrance in view of the convenience of wearing said spectacle frames .
• the user should be able to carry along a reading or working light in a hardly noticeable way, in which said reading or working lamp can be turned on when desired by means of built-in switches .
• the invention should be carried out in such a way that it can be incorporated in nearly all spectacles and it is independent of any specific type or design. As far as the types of spectacles are concerned, one can think of reading glasses, vario focus glasses, normal glasses, safety glasses, diving goggles, welding goggles, working glasses, magnifyer goggles, and the like.
• a spectacle frame according to the invention is characterized in that the light source is an LED, which is built-in at the front of the spectacle frame and that the electric voltage supply with operating switch and electrical conductors are mounted in the sides, to wit the ear-pieces, of the spectacle frame.
• the advantages are, that, mounted in the spectacles, the lighting is hardly visible and is lightweight, and therefore the spectacles are not affected in an aesthetic sense and the convenience of wearing the spectacles is hardly affected.
• the spectacle frame is characterized in that said LED is an SMD LED and is provided with reflectors and is built-in at both sides near the pivoting sides.
• the advantage is an effective positioning of the LEDs in the spectacle frame for effectively illuminating the object to be viewed at some distance from said spectacles.
• the spectacle frame according to the invention is further developed in such a way, that said operating switch and said supply or discharge conductor of electric voltage are completely located in said sides, said electric voltage supply of the LEDs being a coin cell having an electric voltage of approximately 3 Volts.
• the advantages are a very effective positioning of the highly miniaturized coin cell and operating switch in the sides of said frame.
• figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the spectacle frame having LED lighting and sides with different possibilities of positioning the electric voltage supply and operating switch according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
• figure 2 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a first embodiment of positioning the electric voltage supply and operating switch in the left side of figure 1
• figure 3 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of positioning the electric voltage supply and operating switch in the right side of figure 1
• figures 4A through 4E illustrate a number of plan views of possible electrical connection of voltage supply to the LED with the pivot connection between spectacle frame and sides.
• Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a spectacle frame 1 having two LEDs 2. The electric voltage supply in the form of a coin cell 4 is received in the right side and the operating switch 5 is mounted more forwardly.
• the electric voltage supply in the form of a coin cell 4 ' is mounted in the left side 3 ' and the operating switch 5 ' is mounted more backwardly.
• Said LEDs 2 are preferably clear white LEDs and they are intended for illuminating work pieces or reading objects.
• the LEDs are fed by said coin cells 4, 4'.
• the coin cell 4, 4' can also be substituted by a dummy coin cell and/or plug being provided with supply lines and a series resistor (not illustrated) .
• Said supply line can also be connected to a battery pack, a mains adapter or a solar cell accumulator or another external supply for continuous use.
• connection to the LEDs occurs through the integrated wiring inside the spectacle frame 1, the sides 3, 3' and through the pivot connection 6 between the spectacle frame 1 and the sides 3, 3', see also figures 4A through 4E.
• the pivot connection ⁇ can be carried out in various ways, as can be seen in the figures 4A through 4E, in which the LED is represented by its symbol.
• LEDs For the present LEDs, one can employ various types of clear white LEDs of differing strength and dimension.
• the particular properties and advantages of these LEDs 2, ap- plied to the spectacle frame 1, are: clear white daylight; does not affect/hardly affects the comfort of wearing the spectacles; applicable for private uses and numerous occupations; - does not affect/hardly effects existing spectacle models; the light is pointed in the same direction in which the spectacle wearer is looking,- it's a lightweight application; - employed LEDs are spark-free, unbreakable and shock and impact resistant; LEDs have a long useful life; LEDs are very economical in electricity; spectacles having LEDs are wireless and can be connected to external voltage sources by means of further voltage sources; spectacle frame having LEDs is user-friendly; spectacles having LEDs can be used both indoors and outdoors ; lighting, view and protection are processed in an embodiment and the lighting is built-in in the spectacles in a very compact way; spectacle frame having LEDs and the like can be manufactured in a simple and economically sound way; spectacles having LEDs are
• Figure 2 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a first embodiment of the positioning (see arrows A) of the electric coin cell 4 in a recess 7 in the side 3 of the spectacle frame 1.
• Two electrical conductors 8 and 9 to the LED are schematically indicated.
• Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the positioning (see arrows B) of the electric coin cell 4 ' in a recess 8 mounted more forwardly in the spectacle frame 1 in respect to figure 2.
• 5' is likewise mounted more forwardly.
• Figures 4A through 4E illustrate a number of plan views of pivot connection 6 of a side 3, 3' at the spectacle frame 1.
• the electrical connection can take place in various ways or even be carried out as a resilient electric conductor 10, such as in figure 4A and figure 4C, for example.
• LED 2 can be located on the actual spectacle frame 1 or at the extremity of the side 3, 3' .
• Electric conduction of thepivot connection 6 is also an option (see figure 4E) .

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Eyeglasses (AREA)
• Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (1)

Citations (5)

• 2005
  • 2005-07-12 NL NL1029496A patent/NL1029496C1/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2006
  • 2006-07-05 WO PCT/NL2006/000338 patent/WO2007008062A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

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