WO2006116036A1

WO2006116036A1 - Eyeglasses having removable safety lenses

Info

Publication number: WO2006116036A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/015018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Irfan Yousuf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-22
Filing date: 2006-04-21
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-22

Abstract

A pair of corrective eyeglasses (10) having removable safety lenses (11). Each safety lens is designed to overlap a corrective lens (12) and may be attached to the front or to the back of the eyeglasses. The eyeglasses comprise rims (15) for securing the corrective lenses, wherein each rim comprises a flange (16) that is formed along a lower edge of the rim, either on the front or on the back of the eyeglasses. Each flange preferably includes a resilient material (17) for engaging a lower edge of a safety lens to hold the safety lens securely adjacent a corrective lens.

Description

EYEGLASSES HAVING REMOVABLE SAFETY LENSES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to eyewear and, more particularly, to eyeglasses having removable safety lenses.

Background Art

Many people wear eyeglasses having corrective lenses ("corrective eyeglasses") for vision correction. Because some people must wear corrective eyeglasses at all times, they typically either purchase clip-on safety lenses ("clip-ons") that attach to the eyeglasses frame and overlap the corrective lenses or a second pair of eyeglasses that have corrective safety lenses ("safety glasses") for protection against, for example, ultra-violet (UV) radiation. Because eyewear has become very fashionable, many people will purchase several pairs of clip-ons or safety glasses having different colored lenses, which can become quite expensive. Accordingly, what is needed is corrective eyeglasses designed to hold individual safety lenses that can be quickly removed and replaced, thereby permitting a plurality of different colored safety lenses to be used with a single pair of corrective eyeglasses.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a pair of corrective eyeglasses having removable safety lenses. Each safety lens is designed to overlap a corrective lens and may be attached to the front or to the back of the eyeglasses. The eyeglasses comprise rims for securing the corrective lenses, wherein each rim comprises a flange that is formed along a lower edge of the rim, either on the front or on the back of the eyeglasses. Each flange preferably includes a resilient material for engaging a lower edge of a safety lens to hold the safety lens securely adjacent a corrective lens. The safety lenses can be impact resistant and/or designed to block UV radiation. The flange is preferably made from a lightweight metal and can be retrofitted to the eyeglasses frame or manufactured as part of the eyeglasses frame.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the safety lenses detached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the safety lenses attached. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the safety lenses detached.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the safety lenses attached. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

The present invention is a pair of corrective eyeglasses 10 having removable safety lenses 11. Each safety lens 11 is designed to overlap a corrective lens 12 and may be attached to the front of the eyeglasses 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, or to the back of the eyeglasses 10, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. The eyeglasses 10 comprise frame rims 15 for securing the corrective lenses 12, wherein each rim 15 comprises a flange

16 that is formed along a lower edge of the rim 15, either on the front of the eyeglasses 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, or on the back of the eyeglasses 10, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. Each flange 16 preferably includes a resilient foam or rubber material

17 for engaging a lower edge of a safety lens 11 to hold the safety lens 11 securely adjacent a corrective lens 12.

The safety lenses 11 can be impact resistant and/or designed to block UV radiation. Safety lenses having these features are well known in the art. The flange 16 is preferably made from a lightweight metal and can be retrofitted to the eyeglasses frame or manufactured as part of the eyeglasses frame. In the retrofitting process, the flanges 16 can be attached, for example, with a strong adhesive or by soldering or welding. While the invention has been shown and described in some detail with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, there is no intention that the invention be limited to such detail. On the contrary, the invention is intended to include any alternative or equivalent embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described above and as recited in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pair of eyeglasses having removable safety lenses, comprising: a. a frame having two rims, wherein each rim secures a corrective lens within said frame; and b. an arcuate flange attached to a lower edge of each said rim for reversibly receiving and securing a safety lens adjacent to said corrective lens.

2. A pair of eyeglasses according to claim 1, further comprising a resilient material affixed within each said flange for securing said safety lens adjacent to said corrective lens.

3. A pair of eyeglasses according to claim 1, wherein each said flange spans the lower half of said rim.

4. A pair of eyeglasses according to claim 1, wherein each said flange extends forwardly from said rim.

5. A pair of eyeglasses according to claim 1, wherein each said flange extends rearwardly from said rim.

6. A pair of eyeglasses having removable safety lenses, comprising: a. a frame having two rims, wherein each rim secures a corrective lens within said frame; b. an arcuate flange attached to a lower edge of each said rim for reversibly receiving and securing a safety lens adjacent to said corrective lens, wherein said flange spans the lower half of said rim; and c. a resilient material affixed within each said flange for securing said safety lens adjacent to said corrective lens.

7. A pair of eyeglasses according to claim 6, wherein each said flange extends forwardly from said rim.

8. A pair of eyeglasses according to claim 6, wherein each said flange extends rearwardly from said rim.

9. A method for retrofitting a pair of eyeglass frames having two rims for securing corrective lenses to receive detachable safety lenses adjacent to said corrective lenses, comprising the steps of: a. attaching an arcuate flange to a lower edge of each rim of said eyeglass frames; and b. inserting a safety lens into each said flange such that said safety lens is reversibly secured adjacent to a corrective lens.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein each said flange has a resilient material affixed therein for securing said safety lens adjacent to said corrective lens.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein each said flange is attached to said rim such that said flange spans the lower half of said rim.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein each said flange is attached to said rim such that said flange extends forwardly from said rim.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein each said flange is attached to said rim such that said flange extends rearwardly from said rim.