WO2014002033A1

WO2014002033A1 - Steel bridge for connecting the two lenses of swimming goggles

Info

Publication number: WO2014002033A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/055253
Authority: WO
Inventors: Danilo MOLLARI
Original assignee: Sensibility Di Mollari Danilo; ZAMBONI, Fabio
Priority date: 2012-06-26
Filing date: 2013-06-26
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: ITTO20120560A1

Abstract

Described herein is a bridge member for connecting a pair of lenses of a swimming goggle. The bridge member is made of a plastically deformable material and is adapted to maintain a geometry defined by means of a plastic deformation imparted thereto.

Description

"Steel bridge for connecting the two lenses of swimming goggles"

Field of the invention

The subject of the present invention is the connection area of the lenses for swimming goggles, referred to hereinafter simply as "bridge".

The bridge forming the subject of the invention is made of a material, and with a geometry and size such as to enable it to adapt as much as possible to the conformation of the user's face and never have, in any case, to rest on the nasal septum, irrespective of the individual wearing the goggles. Moreover envisaged is the possibility of infinite adjustment of the lenses in the three planes, given that it is a continuous system. The curved geometry, the material used, and its dimensions enable plastic deformation of the bridge, straddling of the nasal septum, and optimal distribution of the pressure over the entire area of the eye, considerably increasing the comfort and performance of the goggles.

Prior art and general technical problem

Swimming goggles so far known generally comprise a bridge made of plastic material, rubber, or a simple thread of fabric. This bridge in some subjects rests on the nasal septum creating a dual drawback: the first drawback emerges in the case where, on account of the pressure exerted on the nasal septum when the bridge rests thereon, skin abrasions are caused; the second drawback consists in the fact that the position of the bridge, which is rigid and not modifiable, implies that the lenses in the proximity of the angles of contact between the eyes and the nose tend to rise.

In this way, the pressure exerted by the lenses on the rim of the orbital cavity is not distributed correctly, and the stability of the goggles decreases, creating a weaker contact (point with less pressure) that is the cause of loss of the goggles during swimming activity, which conseguently imposes the need to tighten the elastic strap of the goggles a lot at the back to increase the grip and try to prevent the infiltration of water.

Another problem with known goggles is that of adjusting the distance between the lenses. To the present day, with known swimming goggles, this can be obtained in three ways, according to the type of bridge used .

In a first type of goggles, the so-called "Swedish" model, the distance between the lenses is tailored to the wearer using a simple thread of fabric. In a second type of goggles, the distance is adjusted via a mobile system with a number of working positions, which thus enable only some admissible configurations given that it is a discrete system. In a third type of goggles, the bridge has a fixed geometry, without the possibility of varying the distance between the lenses. Moreover, irrespective of the type of bridge used, this distance can be adjusted only in one direction.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to overcome the technical problems mentioned previously. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a connection bridge for the lenses of swimming goggles that will enable adjusting continuously and in plural directions the relative position of the lenses, moreover maintaining the set position after adjustment.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is achieved by a bridge element for connection of a pair of lenses of swimming goggles having the features forming the subject of the appended claims, which form an integral part of the technical disclosure herein provided in relation to the invention.

The invention, to overcome the aforementioned technical problems, consists in using a connection bridge made of a material and with a size such as to enable, for the user, a plastic . deformation thereof so that it can adapt as much as possible to the conformation of his own face (see, for example, Figure 2) .

The bridge thus modified remains fixed with this geometry without undergoing any further modification under the tensile stress exerted by the elastic strap. The length of the bridge must be such as to enable it to stride over any nasal septum, without having to rest thereon (see in this connection Figure 5) .

The above features enable a better distribution of the pressure on the lenses and a considerable increase in the comfort and the performance during use of the goggles.

Thanks to this solution, no resort to a complicated assembly is required, with evident advantages from the standpoint of simplicity and economy of construction, of the weights, and of overall dimensions.

The above type of bridge can moreover be adapted also to different models of goggles, already present on the market .

Brief description of the drawings

- Figure 1 is a front view, not in scale, of a connection bridge according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view, not in scale, of a pair of goggles including a bridge of the type forming the subject of Figure 1; - Figures 3 and 4 illustrate two further views of a pair of goggles incorporating a connection bridge according to the invention;

- Figure 5 illustrates goggles incorporating the bridge according to the invention worn by an athlete;

Figure 6 illustrates four variants provided by way of example of the bridge according to the invention; and

- Figure 7 illustrates yet a further variant of the bridge according to the invention, where Figure 7A is a perspective view of the bridge, Figure 7B is an orthogonal view according to the arrow VII. B of Figure 7A, and Figure 7C is a view according to the arrow VII. C of Figure

7A.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment of the invention

Figure 1 illustrates a connection bridge according to the invention, without goggles coupled thereto; the representation is not in scale and is a front view. The points designated by A and B are the points of connection with the lenses of goggles (also on different models) .

The points 1 and 2 correspond to areas that can be manipulated to make a continuous adjustment of the geometry of the bridge by fine deformation thereof according to the requirements of use. The bridge can be modified by hand directly by the person using it.

Figure 2 illustrates goggles in perspective view, not in scale, where the two lenses are connected together by the bridge according to the invention. The arrows A and B highlight the fact that, by plastically deforming the bridge in the direction of the longitudinal distance between the eyes, the lenses can be positioned according to the anatomical conformation of the internal angles between the eyes and the nose (points C and D) . In this way, the contact pressure of the two lenses in those points is greater and uniform, improving the grip in water and comfort of use. By doing so, assuming the the same grip of the goggles on the swimmer's face as that of goggles of a known type, a lower tensile stress can be imposed on the rear elastic strap of the goggles themselves, in so far as the adjustment of the geometry of the bridge and the consequent adjustment of the position of the lenses to the swimmer's face enables optimization of the grip in respect of infiltration of water.

Figure 3 shows a pair of goggles not in scale. The possibility of adjustment of the bridge in the three dimensions enables the lenses to be moved and positioned anywhere in space, modifying the position thereof according to the anatomical morphology of each type of face, not only in the direction of the longitudinal distance between the eyes, but also according to the antero-superior asymmetries (A) and postero-inferior asymmetries (B) , creating - through an adjustment of a continuous type - a constant of adaptation to all types of face.

Figure 4 illustrates a pair of goggles in perspective view and not in scale. The curve at the top emphasizes the fact that the bridge according to the invention, once deformed to adapt better to the conformation of the wearer's face (according to the modalities of a continuous system, as already described), maintains the geometry (i.e., the geometry imposed with the deformation) irrespective of the force exerted by the rear elastic strap of the goggles (line B) . Figure 5 illustrates a pair of goggles in schematic and simplified perspective view not in scale. The goggles are worn by a model. Note how the arrows in Figure 5 highlight the fact that the bridge strides over the nasal septum without touching it, maintaining a constant pressure of the lenses in the points of contact indicated (points 1 and 2) . The bridge maintains the distance from the nasal septum, at the same time maintaining the position assigned by means of the fine adjustment described above throughout its use.

Thanks to the bridge according to the invention a swimmer can, before diving into the water, adjust the relative position of the lenses simply by acting with his or her fingers on the points 1 and 2 indicated in Figure 1. The plastic deformation that the bridge (preferably made of steel) undergoes under the action of the swimmer's fingers ensures, once the action of deformation itself is removed, that the lenses remain in the position assigned, after which the swimmer may wear the goggles without any need for further adjustments. The action exerted by water during swimming and even when diving are not in themselves sufficient to modify the geometry imposed on the bridge with plastic deformation, a fact that ensures substantial invariability of the position of the lenses and optimal grip in regard to any infiltration of water .

Steel, as has been said, constitutes a preferential choice as regards the material, but it is, however, possible to use other materials, preferably metal materials. In general, the choice shall fall on a material capable of plastic deformation and able to withstand repeated cycles of plastic deformation without reaching the point of failure. Moreover, the material must have a good resistance to oxidation and corrosion when immersed in water. Metal materials constitute a preferential choice (not only steel, as has been said) , but also other materials could be used for the purpose.

With reference to Figure 6, the free ends of the bridge according to the invention, designated by the letters A, B in Figure 1 may be made with an extremely wide range of shapes. A first variant forms the subject of Figure 6A: the free end of the bridge is curved to form an eyelet having a circular shape and tangential with respect to the bridge. Of course the closed geometry (useful for preventing accidental disengagement from the lens) would be imparted to the eyelet after connection to the corresponding lens.

A second variant forms the subject of Figure 6B: the free end of the bridge is curved to form a quadrangular eyelet, preferentially square. Also in this case, the closed geometry (useful for preventing accidental disengagement from the lens) would be imparted to the end of the bridge after connection to the corresponding lens.

A third variant forms the subject of Figure 6C: the free end of the bridge is curved to form a triangular eyelet. Again, the closed geometry would be imparted to the end of the bridge after connection to the corresponding lens.

A fourth variant forms the subject of Figure 6D: the free end of the bridge is curved to form a circular eyelet not tangential to the bridge; the closed geometry would be imparted to the end of the bridge after connection to the corresponding lens.

In all the variants forming the subject of Figures 6A-6D, the curved end of the bridge (irrespective of the shape that is assigned thereto) is substantially coplanar with the bridge itself. However, further variants are possible wherein the curved end of the bridge belongs to a plane different from that of the rest of the bridge itself.

In this respect, please consider the preferred variant of Figure 7, wherein - with reference in particular to Figure 7A - the reference number 100 designates a bridge according to a preferred variant of the present invention, , in particular of the embodiment of Figure 1.

The bridge 100 includes a main stretch 101 having an arched shape, preferentially with circular development, and terminating in a pair of curved ends 102, shaped like an eyelet and belonging to a plane inclined with respect to the plane to which the main stretch 100 belongs (as may be seen in Figures 7B and 7C) , preferentially of a right angle (90°) . In the embodiment of Figure 7 the ends 102 are shaped like a quadrangular eyelet.

As regards the dimensions, a maximum height HI of the bridge (which, in the preferred embodiment of Figure 7 coincides with a radius of the stretch 101, since this has a circular geometry) is preferentially comprised in the range of 15-20 mm, and preferentially chosen equal to 16 mm. The size is measured in undeformed conditions of the bridge 100.

The width of the bridge, corresponding substantially to the distance between the lenses of the goggles in the undeformed condition of the bridge itself, is designated by LI, and in the preferred embodiment with circular geometry is twice the height HI (i.e., comprised in the range of 30-40 mm and preferentially chosen equal to 32 mm) . In the case where the shape of the stretch 101 follows an ellipsoidal geometry or in any case a non-circular geometry, the length LI may be generally comprised, without this affecting the values of HI referred to above, in the range of 25-50 ram.

Finally, as regards the eyelets 102, where the dimensions are designated by Wl and W2 , preferentially they have a square shape. This means that the dimension Wl is equal to the dimension W2 and is comprised in the range of 5-8 mm, and preferentially chosen equal to 6 mm. The radius of curvature Rl at the interface between the two dimensions of the eyelet 102 is preferentially chosen equal to 1 mm.

Even when the dimension Wl is different from the dimension W2 (which is equivalent to having an eyelet with a rectangular geometry) , both of the dimensions are preferentially comprised in the aforementioned range of 5-8 mm.

Of course, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the^' scope of protection of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. Ά bridge member for connecting a pair of lenses of a swimming goggle, the bridge member being characterized in that it is made of a plastically deformable material and in that it is adapted to maintain a geometry defined by means of a plastic deformation imparted thereto.

2. The bridge member according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is a wire-like element.

'

3. The bridge element according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it is made of a metal material, preferably steel.

4. The bridge element according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it includes a first and a second^' curved ends configured for coupling with a corresponding lens of a swimming goggle.

5. A swimming goggle including a pair of lenses connected by a bridge member according to any of Claims 1 to 4