GB2461691A

GB2461691A - Swimming goggles with a tension device and gauge.

Info

Publication number: GB2461691A
Application number: GB0812379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Henry Fryett Sir
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-07
Filing date: 2008-07-07
Publication date: 2010-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-07
Also published as: GB2461691B; GB0812379D0

Abstract

Swimming goggles with a head strap tension device 1 encased into a water-resistant tension device chamber 2 formed in the temple of the swimming goggles frame 5. The free end of a silicone or rubber head strap 8 is attached via an adjustable head strap attachment 4 to the tension device. The tension device has a sliding telescopic sleeve or rod 9, which gauges the tension applied to the strap by means of a colour coded and embossed tension display 6, this colour coded tension guide is defined by an area of one colour indicating low tension being applied 10 and an area of a different colour indicating high tension being applied 11, the display has further visible or touch indication of applied tension by way of embossed pointers 7 moveable with the sliding section in conjunction with static markers 3 embossed on the swimming goggles frame.

Description

SWIMMING GOGGLES WITH TENSION DEVICE AND GAUGE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pair of swimming goggles with a head strap tension device and gauge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Swimming goggles are a well know aid, used by swimmers to protect their eyes but can be very uncomfortable to wear or ineffective and leak if the head straps, are incorrectly adjusted.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention, is to provide the user of the swimming goggles with one or more visual and touch guide tension indicators, attached to the swimming goggle head strap, head strap buckle or the goggle framework.

The user can ask a helper to visually look at the tension indicator and adjust the tension on the strap, or use a mirror themselves or by feeling the touch guide tension indicator to see if the gauge is in the correct position.

Another objective is that the user will feel more confident that the goggles will not leak water into the user's eyes, due to the head strap being tensioned correctly.

Also many younger children are unable to gauge the correct tension of their own goggle head strap and therefore can tend to over tighten the strap, which can leave the user with bruising around their eyes, particularly when worn for a long period of time. The inventive step of the built-in head strap tension gauge will allow an adult to adjust the goggle head strap of a young child and feel confident that the correct tension has been applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I TECHNICAL FEATURES

The tension gauge is fitted inside a waterproof compartment on one or both sides of the goggle frame and then attached to the adjustable head strap.

The tension device and gauge could be incorporated into the goggle framework, head strap buckle or entirely independent.

The entirely independent tension device and gauge could be fitted to any swimming goggle with adjustable head strap, fitting between the strap and goggle frame.

The gauge is also colour coded to assist the user or helper to check that the correct tension has been set on the head strap.

The tension gauge could also include embossed mobile pointers, which would connect to the telescopic tension device sleeve. The embossed static markings could be positioned centrally above and below the tension gauge, which could be moulded into the goggle frame or the tension gauge housing. This would assist the user, to be able to feel if correct tension has been achieved, by the embossed mobile pointers being inline with the embossed static markings.

The goggle head strap could have I or more adjustable buckles to adjust the head strap tension, one buckle on each side of the goggle frame and one or more rear buckles behind the users head The tension gauge and device could be made using a pre-set tension device such as a compression spring, coil spring, gas or oil piston cylinder, foam packer, silicone belt, rubber belt, strain gauge attached to 1 or both ends of the head strap.

The tension gauge could also be user adjustable be means of adjustments to the compression spring, coil spring, gas or oil piston cylinder, foam packer, silicone belt, rubber belt, strain gauge with greater or lesser tension.

As the user adjusts the head strap via the head strap buckles the tension device wiU give a visual guide, to show the tension position of the head strap and the user can then make further adjustment to achieve the ideal head strap tension.

The tension device could be factory pre-set to the optimum tension required so the goggles fit perfect.

The user can adjust the head strap while wearing the goggles to either decrease or increase the tension until the goggle head strap tension embossed mobile pointers 7, are inline with the embossed static tension markers 3.

The user will know when the correct tension is achieved by checking that the mobile pointers and static markers are inline and are within the green centre area of the colour tension gauge.

If the mobile pointer 7 and static marker 6 are not inline and the mobile pointer is in the red area 10, of the colour gauge then the head strap tension is too loose.

If the mobile pointer 7 and static marker 6 are not inline and the mobile pointer is in the red area 11, of the colour gauge then the head strap tension is too tight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG 1 shows a preferred embodiment, internal front perspective view of the tension gauge at the lowest tension setting.

FIG 2 shows a preferred embodiment, internal front perspective view of the tension gauge at the correct tension setting.

FIG 3 shows a preferred embodiment, external front perspective view of the tension gauge at the correct tension setting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing the goggles comprise a frame 5, tension device 1, water proof tension device chamber 2, tension device sliding telescopic sleeve 9, embossed static tension markers 3, colour coded visual tension display guide 6, low tension indicator 10, high tension indicator 11 and the goggle head strap 8, with an attachment buckle 4, which when tightened or slackened moves the mobile raised tension display pointers 7, up and down the colour tension display guide 6.

HOW THE INVENTION OPERATES

The user puts on the goggles and if the goggles strap 8, is over tighten, the tension device 1, will retract and pull the tension device sliding telescopic sleeve or rod 9, in a backwards direction into the colour coded tension guide high tension indicator 11, the user will then place their finger over the mobile raised tension display pointers 7, and feel or visually see by using a mirror that the mobile raised tension display pointers 7, is not in-line with the embossed static tension markers 3, which would inform the user that the goggle were to tight.

To rectify the goggle head strap from being to tight, the user would loosen the strap 8, by adjusting through the attachment buckle 4, adding extra strap 8, to allow the tension device 1, to extend in a forward direction, which would in turn, push and drive the tension device sliding telescopic sleeve 9, forwards.

If the correct goggle tension is achieved the mobile raised tension display pointers 7, will be in-line with the embossed static tension markers 3, and it will appear in the center of the colour coded visual tension display guide 6.

If goggles strap 8, is to loose, the tension device 1, will expand due to a lower amounts of pressure being applied to the tension device 1, the tension device sliding telescopic sleeve or rod 9, will also have reduced tension and will be driven forwards by the tension device 1, into the colour coded tension guide low tension indicator 10, the user will then place their finger over the mobile raised tension display pointers 7, and feel or visually see by using a mirror that the mobile raised tension display pointers 7, is not in-line with the embossed static tension markers 3, which would inform the user that the goggles were to loose.

To rectify the goggle head strap from being to loose, the user would tighten the strap 8, by adjusting through the attachment buckle 4, reducing the head strap length 8, to allow the tension device 1, to retract in a backwards direction, which would in turn pull the tension device sliding telescopic sleeve or rod 9, backwards.

To achieve the correct tension setting, the user or helper would be required to continually adjust the strap, until the mobile raised tension display pointers 7, were in-line with the embossed static tension markers 3, in the center of the colour coded visual tension display guide 6.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pair of swimming goggles that incorporates a head strap tension device and gauge.
2. A swimming goggle as defined in claim 1 wherein the goggle tension device has a colour coded visual display indicating the correct tension for the head strap.
3. A swimming goggle as defined in claim 1 and 2 wherein the goggle tension device mobile pointers are embossed / raised to allow the user to touch and feel the pointers, showing the current status of the head strap tension.
4. A swimming goggle as defined in claim 1, 2 and 3 wherein the goggle frame incorporates 1 or more embossed static tension markers.
5. A swimming goggle as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the tension device can be user adjusted.
6. A swimming goggle as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wherein the goggle frame incorporates a waterproof compartment to house the tension device.
7. A swimming goggle as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 wherein the tension device can be factory set.
8. A swimming goggle as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 wherein the goggle head strap tension can be adjusted by the rear or side buckles allowing the user to obtain the correct head strap tension by using the gauge.