GB2402228A

GB2402228A - Spectacle bridge clip

Info

Publication number: GB2402228A
Application number: GB0312177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ahmed Kassim Bharadia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-28
Filing date: 2003-05-28
Publication date: 2004-12-01
Also published as: GB0312177D0

Abstract

A spectacle frame attachment clips onto the spectacle frame at a bridge, and is used to raise the frame relative to the eyes of the wearer of the spectacles so as to allow easier use of the progression or near addition in multifocal lenses. The attachment may comprise a clip (a), preferably having a rubberized gripping surface, an adjustable or fixed stem (b) and a secondary bridge (c) which acts as the resting surface of the frame.

Description

SPECTACLE BRIDGE CLIP

This invention relates to a spectacle attachment for use with multifocal spectacle lenses including bifocals, trifocals and progressive addition lenses.

Although primarily intended for spectacle frames, it is envisaged that the spectacle bridge clip is suitable for other optical mounts such as those of rimless frames.

I'he Spectacle Bridge Clip is a detachable accessory to overcome the problem that multifocal lens users experience when using their lenses at an intermediate or close distance for objects that arc approaching, at, or higher than eye level, for example when using a Visual Display Unit. 'I'he problem occurs primarily because multifocal lenses utilize the lower part of the lens for the near addition or progression zone. For tasks like using a Visual Display Unit, multifocal users would ordinarily have to physically lift their spectacles or they would have to tilt their head backwards to access the reading addition or the progression zone. This is clearly not acceptable for long periods of time. The Spectacle Bridge Clip works by raising the spectacle frame relative to the spectacle wearers' eyes, therefore bringing up the progression or reading addition closer to eye level hence resolving this problem.

The Spectacle Bridge Clip may also work for multifocal users who generally get on with their lenses, except for tasks requiring prolonged reading or near vision work, where they experience eyestrain from having to use extreme downward gaze. The Spectacle Bridge Clip would in this case allow the user to have a position of gaze closer to the primary position of gaze, which some users find more comfortable.

In brief', the Spectacle Bridge Clip is an attachment to a spectacle frame that acts to raise the spectacles relative to the spectacle users eye position, thereby allowing access to the near addition or progression zone of the multifocal lenses. It is deemed to be a device that is easy to attach and detach. 'I'he spectacle bridge clip thereby at't'ords the user of multifocal spectacles with a detachable, adjustable, artificial nasal crest to allow use of the lower part of a multifocal lens without having to raise the spectacle frame or tilt the head backwards to an unnatural position.

The Spectacle Bridge Clip consists of three main parts, a) The t'rame attachment clip, b) The adjustable stem, c) The secondary bridge.

A few diagrams of the invention, by way of example, have been included: Figure I shows a schematic representation of the Spectacle Bridge Clip.

Figure 2 shows a drawing of how the Spectacle Bridge Clip may look (front view).

Figure 3 shows the Spectacle Bridge Clip attached to a spectacle frame (front view).

I'he specific features of each of the parts will now be discussed (see Fig I and Fig 2 for respective features).

a) The t'rame attachment clip; This is the part that secures the Spectacle Bridge Clip to the spectacle frame. It has to be strong enough to prevent compromising the stability of the frame fit and hence the vision.

Additionally, it must not damage the frame. This may be possible by lining the internal of the clip with a rubbery material.

Although the attachment of the Spectacle Bridge Clip to the Spectacle frame may be at any part including the bridge, the lenses or the existing spectacle pads, the bridge is considered as the most suitable place for attachment. This ensures a stable frame fit.

b) The adjustable stem; 'I'his is the part that will help raise the spectacle frame to the required height so as to help utilize the correct part of the lens. It is ideally of adjustable length. This is important as multifocals are fitted at different heights in different frames and on different people. It is also important as there needs to be flexibility to allow different parts of the lens to be accessed. The adjustability may be acquired by using a telescopic stem or a fixed length stem, made of an adjustable material, which can then be bent to a curve. Figure 4 shows how altering the curvature of the stem allows the length of the stem to be varied. This can allow the use of one part of the lens for a task that the multifocal user is having the most problems with. For users with multiple problems a telescopic length may be advised.

The stem may be made of a single length of material or two or more parallel lengths for additional stability. The stem design may be adjusted for greater stability for example by making the two lengths of the stem diverge from the frame attachment clip, as in Figure 5 (b,i).

The stem should also be aesthetically pleasing. In some cases, this may be achieved by using a permanent or changeable attachment on the front of the stem, as in Figured (b,ii).

c) 'I'he secondary bridge; This is the resting surface of the Spectacle Bridge Clip on the nose.

It should be comfortable, being able to spread the weight of the frame sufficiently on the resting surface, which is the nose.

It may be made using various combinations of bridges and/or pads, for example, as a saddle bridge, a fixed bridge, a regular bridge or a pad bridge using rigid, rocking or twinned pads.

In case of a bridge that is adjustable, this may not only ensure greater comfort, but it could provide an alternative method of height adjustment. For instance, to increase the height of the lenses the pads may be brought closer together and vice versa.

In use the Spectacle Bridge Clip is aimed at a person who is having difficulty accessing the addition or progression of multifocals for near or intermediate tasks particularly those approaching, at or higher than eye level. The Spectacle Bridge Clip is fitted and adjusted (by methods described above) to help with the use of the required part of the spectacle lens (for the required distance).

From this point, whenever the user has problems using the multit'ocal spectacles for the described tasks' he/she would attach the Spectacic Bridge Clip to their spectacles. Once the users task has been completed, the spectacle bridge clip can be detached easily and stored in a convenient place for the next time it is needed.

Claims

CLAlMS 1. An attachment to or from a spectacle frame or other optical

mount that is used to access or help access the part of the multifocal lenses, including bifocals, trifocals and progressive addition lenses, that has the progression or near addition.
2. An attachment as in Claim I that attaches to a spectacle frame, has a stem, and rests on the nose of the wearer by means of a secondary bridge.
3. An attachment as in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the frame attachment clip has a grip that is easy to attach and detach to the bridge of spectacles, does not damage the bridge of the frame it attaches

to and is stable.
4. An attachment as described in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the attachment clip has rubber pads on the gripping surface to fulfill the properties ofthe attachment clip described in Claim 2 or Claim 3.
5. An attachment as in Claim I or Claim 2 that has a stem which is t'ixed, variable or adjustable in length.
6. An attachment as in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 5, wherein the stem is adjustable by means of a telescopic length or by having been made of an adjustable material, which can therefore be adjusted to a different length by varying the curvature of the stem.
7. An attachment as in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claims or Claim 6 wherein the stem design is adjusted for greater stability.
8. An attachment as in Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the secondary bridge may be made of any nature of bridge including regular, fixed, saddle or pad bridge.
9. An attachment as in Claim I, Claim 2 or Claim 8 wherein the surface resting on the nose includes any nature of nose pad including fixed, rocking or twinned pads.
I 0. An attachment as in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment clip, stem or secondary bridge has any variation in design to aid stability, to better the aesthetic nature of the design, or to better the comfort of the attachment.
11. An attachment as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from metal, plastics material or wood, or from a combination of these materials.
12. An attachment to or from a spectacle frame, or other optical device, holding multifocal lenses, as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.