| FR1055825A | 1954-02-22 | |||
| FR1190806A | 1959-10-15 | |||
| US3427098A | 1969-02-11 | |||
| US1308477A | 1919-07-01 | |||
| US2738709A | 1956-03-20 | |||
| GB750926A | 1956-06-20 | |||
| US2652746A | 1953-09-22 | |||
| US2452159A | 1948-10-26 |
| 1. | An eyeglass frame adapted to receive removable lenses comprising: a. a lens ring (16, 18) , b. multiple lens hooks (40, 42, 44) secured to said lens ring, said hooks and said lens ring adapted to receive and retain an eyeglass lens, c. temple means (27, 28) secured to said eyeglass frame, • d. a temple extension member (43) intermediate said lens ring and said temple member, and e. a temple lens latch (46) constructed in association with said temple extension (48) adapted to retain a lens on said lens ring (16, 18) in association with said multiple lens hooks (40, 42, 44) . |
| 2. | The invention of claim 1 further comprising a latch arm (50) tiltably mounted on said temple extension (48), said latch arm (50) movable from a first position retaining a lens (17, 19) on said lens ring (16, 18) and movable to a second position releasing said lens (17, 19) . |
| 3. | The invention of claim 1 including: a. a slot (49) constructed in said temple extension (48) , and b. a latch arm (50) tiltably mounted in said slot. |
| 4. | The invention of claim 1 further comprising a slide clip movably attached to said temple extension (48) , said slide movable from a first position securing a lens (17, 19) to a second position releasing a lens (17, 19) . |
| 5. | The invention of claim 4 further comprising: a. a latch slide (56) mounted internal of said temple member (48) , OMP V IP b. a latch pin (60) projecting from said latch slide (56) , and c. a spring (58) mounted in said temple extension (48) urging said latch slide (56) to a 5 position securing a lens (17, 19) on said lens ring (16, 18) . |
| 6. | The invention of claim 1 further comprising a swing clip (70) attached to said temple extension (48) , said swing clip (70) movable from a first position 10 securing an eyeglass lens (17, 19) on said lens ring (16, 18) to a second position releasing said eyeglass lens (17, 19) from said lens ring (16, 18) . |
| 7. | The invention of claim 1 further comprising: a. a recess constructed in said temple 15 extension (48) , and b. a retention pin (76) adapted to be secured in said recess thereby retaining a lens (17, 19) on said lens ring (16, 18) . |
| 8. | A frame for eyeglasses or sunglasses of the 20 type having removable lenses comprising: a. frame means (14) for receiving said lenses, said frame means (14) including lens rings (16, 18) for abutting an inside edge of said removable lenses (17, 19) , b. temple means (27, 28) pivotally secured to 25 an outer edge of said frame means (14) , said temple means (27, 28) for holding said eyeglasses in position on a wearer, c. fixed retaining means (40, 42, 44), on said lens rings for slidably receiving said removable 30 lenses in an inward direction perpendicular to said outer edge, d. moveable retaining means (46) moveably secured to said outer edge, a first position of said moveable retaining means (46) allowing said removable lenses (17, 19) to be inserted or removed in said direction perpendicular to said outer edge, a second position of said moveable retaining means (46) abutting said removable lenses (17, 19) to hold said removable lenses (17, 19) in position on said lens rings (16, 18) . |
| 9. | The frame as recited in claim 8 wherein said fixed retaining means (40, 42, 44) is a plurality of hooks extending forward from said lens rings (16, 18) to overlap said removable lenses (17, 19) . |
| 10. | The frame as recited in claim 8 wherein said moveable retaining means (46) is an extension of means for said pivotally securing of said temple means (27, 28) to said outer edge of said frame means (14) . |
| 11. | The frame as. recited in claim 10 wherein said moveable retaining means (46) is spring loaded for rearward movement of said temple means (27, 28) to simultaneously remove abutment from said removable lenses (17, 19) , said spring loading urging said temple means (27, 28) and said moveable retaining means (46) forward. |
Eyeglass Frames Having Removable Lens
Technical Field
This invention pertains to an' improved design for eyeglass frames primarily intended for utilization with non-prescription sunglass lenses of different shades or shooting lenses. The eyeglass frames are constructed in a rather conventional manner insofar as lens frames and temple members are concerned. The modification resides in the manner of securing the lenses to the lens rings. The lens rings are constructed with stationary inner lens hooks, upper lens hooks, and lower lens hooks. These hooks are constructed and arranged to receive the detachable ' ' eyeglass lenses. These lenses are retained in position by movable temple lens latches mounted at the outer extremity of the lens rings on or adjacent the temple hinge or projection.
Background Art
The most closely related patent, to the knowledge of applicant, is the recent patent to Matthias, 4,176,921.
The Matthias patent employes a similar construction of lens rings and lens hooks. The Matthias patent utilizes a- retaining clip mounted on the nose bridge with the clip tilting from a released position releasing the lenses to a closed position retaining the lenses. The distinction in design of this invention over the Matthias invention is the variation in positioning of the lens latch. The various species of the latches of this invention are all secured to the outer extremity of the lens frames in a position adjacent the temple or hinge.
OMPI
Disclosure of the Invention
The eyeglass frames having removable- lenses incorpo¬ rated in the invention of this disclosure utilize eyeglass frames having two lens rings of relatively conventional outer configuration. These two lens frames are attached in the conventional manner by a nose bridge and employ a conventionally constructed first and second pads and first and second temple members having ear loops. The variation in the construction of the eyeglass frames of this inven- tion resides primarily in the manner of securing the eye¬ glass lenses to the lens rings. Attached to the portion of the lens rings adjacent the nose bridge consist of inner lens hook, upper lens hooks, and lower lens hooks securely attached to the lens rings projecting over and receiving and securing the eyeglass lenses. The temple lens latches utilized on each of the lens rings are movable from a lens securing position to a lens releasing position. - Several concepts of temple lens latches are incorporated in the various species of the invention of this application. In summary, the first species employs a tiltable catch;. the second species a spring loaded catch;, the third species a frictionally sliding projection; the fourth species a swing projecting arm; and the fifth species utilizes detachable retention pins projecting oi tward from the temple extension.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For a detailed description of the construction of the eyeglass frame having removable lenses of this inventive concept, reference is made to the attached drawings where- in the construction of the preferred species and all related species are illustrated and will be described in the following detailed description.
FIG. 1, is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame having removable lenses incorporating the first species . utilizing the tilt catch.
FIG. -.2 is a fragmented, side view of lens ring and temple illustrating the tilt catch in the locked position retaining the lens in the lens ring. An upper and lower lens hook is illustrated.
FIG. 3 is a fragmented, front view of lens ring re¬ taining a lens in position illustrating the tilt catch in the released position.
FIG. 4 is a fragmented, side view of temple hinge utilizing a spring loaded projecting retention pin.
FIG. 5 is a fragmented, top view of a lens ring, lens, and temple utilizing a spring loaded latch pin. FIG. 6 is a fragmented, sectional view of the spring loaded latch pin.
FIG. 7 is a fragmented, side view of fractionally retained slide clip retaining a lens in position.
FIG. 8 is a fragmented, sectional view of FIG. 7 taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG. 7 viewed in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 9 is a fragmented, side view of a lens retained by an embodiment or modification of a tilt catch of the first species. FIG. 10 is a fragmented, side view of a swing clip con¬ structed with an integral retention pin.
FIG. 11 is a fragmented view of the swing projecting arm with an integral latch pin in the open position.
FIG. 12 is a fragmented, side view of lens ring and temple with hinge employing a detachable retention pin.
FIG. 13 is a fragmented, side view of lens ring, temple, and hingeillustrating a modification of the detachable retention pin.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
For a- detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the various species, reference is made to the attached several views wherein identical reference characters will be utilized to refer to identical or equivalent components throughout the various views and the following description. The construction of the eyeglass frames 14 are rather conventional as illustrated in FIG. 1. They utilize a first lens ring 16 retaining a first lens 17 and a second lens ring 18 retaining a lens 19. The two lens rings 18 and 19 are secured in an integral structure with a nose bridge 24 and the lens rings 18 and 19 are equipped with a first nose pad 25 and a second nose pad 26 of conventional construction. The eyeglass frames 14 include a first temple member 27 and a second temple member 28 having first and second ear loops 30 and 32. The temples 27 and 28 are attached to the eyeglass frames 14 utilizing a conventional construction for a first and a second temple hinge34 and 36. The temple members are secured to the eyeglass frame 14 by means of conventional hinge pins 38.
The variation in construction of eyeglass frames 14 of this invention resides in the manner in which the first and second lenses 17 and 19 are secured to the first and second lens rings 16 and 18. The lenses 17 and 19 are secured to the lens rings 16 and 18 by means of their sliding under and being grasped by inner lens hooks 40 and upper lens hooks 42 as well as lower lens hook 44. These various hooks project outward from the lens rings 16 and 18 and project over the lenses 17 and 19. Engagement is constructed in a relatively loose, slidable, grasping contact. The first and second lenses 17 and 19 are locked into a relatively firm position on:.the lens rings 16 and 18 by means of a movable temple lens latch 46. The various species of this invention reside in the various
configurations and constructions of the temple lens latch 46.
The preferred- embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, which consist of a temple extension 48 into which is formed or machined a latch slot 49. The latch arm 50 is tiltably mounted in the latch slot
49 and secured into position by means of a latch pin 51 which,, in movement from a vertical position to a horizontal position, moving over a detent 52. This construction provides a slight restriction to the rotation of latch arm
50 tending to retain the latch arm in the forward projec¬ ting position as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this configura¬ tion the lens is retained in engagement with the various lens hooks 40, 42, and 44. When the latch arm 50 projects forward as illustrated in FIG. 1, the lens cannot be removed from first lens ring 16 nor the second lens ring 18. If the lens arm 50 is tilted upward into a position relatively normal to temple members 37 and 38, FIG. 3, the first and second lenses 17 and 19 may be readily removed from the eyeglass frames 14. This readily detachable r-.esecuring feature permits an interchangeability of lenses of varying densities or permits changing from the shaded sunglass type lens to the light amber shooting glass lens. The second species of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The construction visualized in this embodiment incorporates a latch slide 56 in lieu of the tilting latch arm 50 described in the species above. The latch slide 56, as visualized, is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 4 and 6. Latch slide 56 is mounted in a structure somewhat equivalent to temple extension 48. Temple extension 48 is constructed with a recess to which is mounted a latch spring 58 which springs loads latch pin 60 in the extended position. A small detent may be provided in the temple extension 48 to retain the latch
pin 60 in a desired position.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7, which is referred to as a slide clip 64. This configuration of the invention visualizes a slide clip 64 having a configuration generally as illustraded in FIG. 8 which permits the slide clip 64 moving along the temple extension 48 from a lens latched position as illustrated in FIG. 7 and when retracted toward the temple hinge 34, 36 to release the lenses 17 and 19. Another configuration of the device is as illustrated in FIG. 9. This is considered to be a modification of the first species of the invention as previously described. A rotating like arm comprising the tilt clip 66 is mounted on the exterior of temple extension 48 by means of a latch pin 51.
Another configuration of the device of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. This device comprises a swing clip 70 which is tiltably mounted on the first and second temple hinges 34 and 36 pivotally retained by the hinge pins 38. In this configuration of the device the lenses 17 and 19 are locked in position as illustrated in FIG. 10. When it is desired to change or release the lenses, the swing. , clip 70 is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 11. The manner in which the swing clip 70 is retained in position on the temple extension 48 is by means of a friction lock 72 which is forced over and grasped temple extension 48.
Other methods of retaining the lenses 17 and 19 in position are illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. A small, threaded aperture can be machined in the end of temple extension 48. A retention pin 76 engages the temple extension 48 by means of retention pin threads 78 in the temple extension 48 threadably engaging the retention pin screw threads 80.
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Industrial Applicability
The purpose of this invention is to permit a changing of the first and second lenses 17 and 19 as desired by the user. Devices of this invention, other than the species utilizing the threaded retention pin 76 as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, permit the changing, if desired, of the lenses 17 and 19 without removing the eyeglass frame 14 from the wearer. Although the device of this invention is visualized primarily for utilization in sunglasses or shooting glasses wherein various densities of lenses might be utilized, all variations in lenses are possible, such as a shifting from a prescription lens to a non-prescription lens, or the interchangeability of prescription lenses. Polarized glass might be utilized or various tints or shades interchangeable. The device of this invention, in effect, provides a slot into which the lenses 17 and 19 project and they are latched into position by a temple lens latch 46 of various configurations retaining the lenses 17 and 19 in position from the side of the lens rings 16 and 18 adjacent the temple members 27 and 28.
OMPI