Nose pad device for adjustment of a nose pad of a spectacle frame .

Technical fieXd

The present invention relates to a nosepad device for adjustment of a nosepad of a spectacle frame, a nosepad and a nosepad attachment for a nosepad device, respectively, and a spectacle frame comprising said nosepad device, nosepad and/or nosepad attachment.

Background

Most people over the age of 40 needs several strengths in one and the same glass eye, as a result of the decreased flexibility of the biological lens, with increasing age, in order to be able to be adjusted for different distances. The multifocal glasses compensate for the stiffness of the lens, such that the user may utilize several different distances. Many people that works in front of a display carries multifocal eyewear.

Multifocal eyewear has several strengths in one and the same glass eye. The range in the glass is from 40 cm to 6 m, i.e. close, intermediate and distance range. Multifocal eyewear are adjusted by the optician such that they, for so called standard position, are arranged with the distance part of the glass, that is the upper part of the glass, centered just straight in front of the pupil. During terminal/display work, which means that a part of the glass (the central part of the glass) is adapted with correct strength for an intermediate distance vision of about 60-70 cm for the user, the glass should on the other hand be centered such that the intermediate distance part of the glass, i.e. the middle part of the glass, is

centered just in front of the pupil. A lower part of the glass is adapted with correct strength for a reading distance of about 40 cm, i.e. that is used for reading, for the user. Use of multifocal eyewear during terminal/display work may lead to serious problems with the neck above all. The problem is that the eyewear user is forced to bend the head backwards in order to find the so called intermediate distance part in the multifocal eyewear, which may cause problems with the neck. If the head is not bend backwards, the eye muscles are instead forced to accommodate such that problems with dizziness, focussing, headache and read eyes are caused. If the spectacle frame for the multifocal eyewear would be correctly adjusted for terminal/display work, the intermediate distance part of the glasses should be centered in front of the eyes, and thus the user would not be forced to bent the head, and a correct head carriage of the user could be reached for terminal/display work.

Description of the invention

One object with the present invention is to achieve a device for adjustment of nosepads for eyewear that at least partially eliminates those drawbacks that are associated with devices according to the state of the art. Further, an object is to achieve a device that improves the comfort for the eyewear user. A further object is to achieve better ergonomics for the eyes and to avoid neck problems during use of multifocal eyewear. Yet an object is to achieve an improved functionality for the multifocal eyewear. In particular the object with the invention is to achieve improved ergonomics when it concerns use of multifocal eyewear during terminal/display work. A further object is to achieve a device that is

simple to repair, that comprises components that can be produced cost-efficient, and that makes it possible for an uncomplicated and rapid exchange of the nosepads.

These objects have been reached with a nosepad device for adjustment of a nosepad of a spectacle frame, according to the present invention as defined in the appended claim 1, which spectacle frame have a nosepad arm arranged to the front of the spectacle frame, which nosepad arm has a nosepad connecting member. Said nosepad device comprises a nosepad and a nosepad attachment, which nosepad attachment in a first end is releasably engaged to the nosepad connecting member of the nospad arm, and that the nosepad attachment has a second end intended for support of the nosepad. The nosepad device is characterised in that the nosepad is pivotally arranged in the second end of the nosepad attachment .

An advantage with this solution according to the invention is that the front of the eyewear, that is intended for multifocal glasses, can be raised and lowered via the nosepad device, that by other words can be defined as a kind of tilting function, in order to obtain correct strength for the eyes during terminal position or standard position, respectively. Each nosepad on each respective side of the nose are adjusted such that both nosepads are placed in terminal position or standard position. Thus, a better vision ergonomics can be provided for the user of the multifocal eyewear. As a result, neck problems can be avoided. This is achieved with a fast and simple grip by the hand of the eyewear user. By taking hold of the respective nosepad, the nosepad is turned to/towards the desired position, either terminal position or standard position. It is also within the scope of the invention possible that the nosepad is non-gradually tiltable. The nosepads are easily exchangeable as well as the nosepad

attachments. All components have a shape that facilitates a cost-efficient manufacturing.

The nosepad and the nosepad attachment are detachably arranged to each other or alternatively not releasably arranged to each other. According to the last mentioned design, the nosepad and the nosepad attachment can be interconnected to one unit whereby they are not detachable from each other. One advantage with the last mentioned is that it is uncomplicated for an optician or a user to assemble a unit, that is formed of the nosepad and the nosepad attachment, to the nosepad connecting member of the nosepad arm at the spectacle frame. One advantage with the first mentioned embodiment, where the nosepad and the nosepad attachment are detachably arranged to each other, is among other things that the respective components could easily be exchanged. Preferably, the nosepad device is formed of separate components designed as nosepad and nosepad attachment that can be produced separately and assembled together or disassembled apart. The present invention also relates to a nosepad for a nosepad device, intended for a spectacle frame. The nosepad is characterised in that it comprises a shaft pin.

The present invention also relates to a nosepad attachment for a nosepad device, intended for a spectacle frame, which spectacle frame has a nosepad arm attached to the front of the spectacle frame, the nosepad arm has a nosepad connecting member. The nosepad attachment is characterised in that it comprises a first end that is intended to be releasably engagable to the nosepad connecting member of the nosepad arm, and a second end that is intended for pivotable connection to a nosepad.

The present invention also relates to a spectacle frame comprising a nosepad device, a nosepad and/or a

nosepad attachment according to the present invention described above.

The device according to the present invention is suitably intended to be used in the following way; The multifocal eyewear are adjusted by the optician such that they, at a so called standard position, are arranged with the distance part of the glass centered right in front of the pupil. When the user should start working at terminal/display, he/she takes a simple hold on either one or both nosepads at the same time, having the spectacles somewhat raised above the nose bridge or removed, and tilts the respective nosepad upwards such that the spectacle/front is enhanced on the nose bridge in order to achieve an adjustment of the eyewear for intermediate distance vision. This means that the central part of the glass, with correct strength for an intermediate distance vision of about 60-70 cm for the user, is arranged such that the intermediate distance part now is centered right in front of the pupil. In that respect, the eyewear user may continue the use of the eyewear with excellent vision ergonomics and without increased risk for problem with neck, dizziness, focussing, headache and read eyes.

Additional preferred features, advantages and favourable embodiments of the invention, are evident from the dependent claims, and also in the following from description of the embodiments.

Description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described more in detail by examples of application, by reference to the accompanying drawings, without limiting the interpretation of the invention thereto, where fig. IA-B schematically shows in a side view the principle for multifocal glass (fig. IB) and multifocals

adjusted for distance vision for a person sitting in front of a computer display (fig. IA) , fig. 2 schematically shows the traditional design of spectacle frames, fig. 3 schematically shows in a side view multifocals for a person sitting in front of a computer display adjusted for intermediate vision at terminal work, fig. 4A-C shows various usual occurring embodiments of nosepad arms that has a nosepad connecting member, such as a compressive device in fig. 4A, a screw device in fig. 4B and a clamping device in fig. 4C, fig. 5-6 schematically shows in a side view the principle for tilting of a nosepad of a nosepad device according to the present invention, towards a standard position and a terminal position, respectively, fig. 7 schematically shows an embodiment of the nosepad device comprising the nosepad and the nosepad attachment according to the present invention, for arranging the nosepad in the nosepad attachment, and the nosepad attachment in a traditional compressive device of a nosepad arm, fig. 8 schematically shows an embodiment of the nosepad and the nosepad attachment according to the present invention, showing an alternative arrangement of the nosepad in the nosepad attachment, fig. 9A-D schematically shows various embodiments of the nosepad device according to the present invention for arranging the nosepad device in a standard position and a terminal position, respectively, fig. 10 schematically shows yet an embodiment of the nosepad device comprising the nosepad and the nosepad attachment according to the present invention, and also arrangement of the nosepad attachment in a conventional screw device of a nosepad arm,

fig. 11 schematically shows additional embodiments of the nosepad device comprising the nosepad and the nosepad attachment according to the present invention, showing alternatives for arrangement of the nosepad in the nosepad attachment and also arrangement of the nosepad attachment in a conventional clamping device of a nosepad arm, and fig. 12 schematically shows yet an embodiment of the nosepad device, the nosepad and the nosepad attachment according to the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

Corresponding features in the various embodiments disclosed below are denoted with the same reference numerals.

With reference to fig. 1-3 is shown the principle and the design for a spectacle frame. In fig. IB is schematically shown a multifocal eyewear glass 1 that comprises a distance part A in the upper part of the glass and an intermediate part M in the middle of the glass. The lower part of the glass is adapted for a reading distance L. At standard position (i.e. when a spectacle frame is adjusted such that the eyewear is carried by the user in this position mostly during standard, daily use) , the distance part A of the glass 1 is placed centered just in front of the pupil, as evident in fig. IA, since most people wish to have the spectacles arranged for distance vision. Use of multifocals during work at a terminal/display 2 may result in serious problems with the neck above all. The problem is that an eyewear user 3 is forced to bend the head backwards in order to find the intermediate part M in the multifocals. The forced, unnatural head carriage, as evident in fig. IA, may thus cause neck problems. If the head is not bent backwards,

the eye muscles are instead forced to accommodate such that it creates problems with dizziness, focussing, headache and read eyes. If the spectacle frame for the multifocals would be correctly adjusted for terminal/display work, the intermediate distance part M of the glasses would be centered in front of the eyes, and thus the user 3 would not be forced to bent the head as shown in fig. IA,, and a correct head carriage of the user could be reached for terminal/display work 2 (as evident in fig. 3) .

A spectacle frame 4 is usually designed of a front 6 where the optical glasses 1, which are evident from fig. 2, are installed in two sidepieces 8 that are connected to each side of the front, and also a support/bridge 10 that link the right and the left glass 1 of the front together. Two separate nosepad arms 12 are projecting from each side of the support 10. The nosepad arms 12 may also be arranged on the front of the spectacle frame itself (i.e. on the frame) . On the nosepad arms are the nosepads 14 mounted in traditional nosepad connecting members 15, which are explained in detail below with reference to figs. 4A-C, which nosepads are exchangeable due to wear that arises during time.

The invention is based on that the respective nosepad is vertically adjustable. The nosepad is pivotable arranged and positioned in at least two end positions, an upper and a lower position. By a simple operation, either by taking hold of one or both nosepads simultaneously, the respective nosepad is tilted up or down such that the frame/front is raised or lowered on the bridge of the nose in order to obtain that the eyewear are adjusted for distance vision A, i.e. for aligning the look in the distance area of the glass ("long distance") as evident from fig. 1, or adjusted for a intermediate distance

vision M for terminal work, i.e. for aligning the look in the intermediate area of the glass ("intermediate distance"), as evident from fig. 3. A lower part of the glass 1 is adapted with correct strength for a reading distance of about 40 cm, so called reading distance L, i.e. that is used for traditional reading, for the user 3.

Figs. 4A-C shows various conventional embodiments of nosepad arms 12 comprising a nosepad connecting member, such as a compressive device 16 in fig. 4A, a screw device 18 in fig. 4B and a clamping device 20 in fig. 4C, that all are usually occurring today on the market, and that can be adapted during utilization of the present invention. The compressive device 16 in fig. 4A is formed such that an attachment part for a nosepad (not shown in figs. 4A-C) is brought into the space U that is formed between the two projecting sides 17 of the compressive device 16, which sides have a respective free outer end where they forms an opening in-between. When the attachment part of the nosepad has a design that is slightly larger than the space U in-between the sides 17, the sides will bear on the attachment part of the nosepad with a certain prestressing force, since the sides 17 have a certain inherent material stiffness, and thus the nosepad remains in the nosepad connecting member of the nosepad of the spectacle frame. The screw device 18 in fig. 4B is designed by four continuous sides 19 that forms a space U intended for inserting of an attachment part of a nosepad, where the nosepad is holded in the space ϋ with a screw S from one of the sides 19. The clamping device 20 in fig. 4C is designed with several protrusions 21, which protrusions 21 forms a slim waist 23 around the body 22 with the surrounding protrusions 21. An attachment part of a nosepad is shaped in such a way that it is arranged over

the body 22 and the outer protrusions 21 and arranged around the waist 23.

With reference to figs. 5-13, various embodiments of a nosepad device, a nosepad, a nosepad attachment and a spectacle frame, respectively, according to the present invention intended for multifocals are described. By a design according to the present invention, where a nosepad is pivotally arranged in a nosepad attachment, and the nosepad attachment in turn is arranged in some of the conventional nosepad arms, for example, that are commonly occurring and that are shown in figs. 4A-C, a "tilting device" can be achieved that makes the position of the nosepad to be alternatively changeable up to suitably 45 degrees . Figs. 5-6 shows the principle according to the present invention. A nosepad 24 with a nosepad attachment

26, according to an embodiment of the present invention, arranged to a conventional nosepad connecting part 16, 18

(see figs. 4A-B above) of a nosepad arm 12, is here located in a standard position in fig. 5. In fig. 6 is the same nosepad 24 shown as in fig. 5 but here changed to a terminal position, which has been achieved by an easy push on the upper or lower edge of the nosepad 24, whereby the nosepad 24 that is pivotally arranged in a pivot to the nosepad attachment is turned about 45 degrees in comparison to the nosepad attachment 26 that is arranged to the nosepad connecting member of the nosepad arm.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a nosepad 32 and a nosepad attachment 30 according to the present invention. The nosepad attachment has a first end 34 that is intended for a nosepad connecting device of the type compressive device 16 as described above with reference to fig. 4A. The nosepad attachment 30 and the nosepad 32, respectively, have adapted shapes in comparison to each

other for releasably connection with each other. A second end 35 of the nosepad attachment 30 is designed with a protrusion 36. Between the protrusions 36 there is a narrow passage 38 that inwards, in direction towards the centre of the nosepad attachment, expands somewhat to a recess or a space 40, formed by the protrusions 36, intended as an attachment for a shaft. The nosepad 32 in the embodiment according to the present invention comprises a conventional nosepad disc 33 that may have various form. The nosepad 32 have a shaft pin 42 that is arranged to a bracket 44 attached to the rear 46 of the nosepad disc 33. The shaft pin 42 and the passage 38 are adapted in such a way that the shaft pin 42 can be squeezed in-between the protrusions 36, that are able to flex slightly, and placed in the space 40 intended as shaft attachment, where the shaft pin 42 can be admitted to rotate between the positions as described above in figs. 5 and 6. The shaft pin 42 is kept sidewards in the recess/space 40 by flanges 43 on the shaft pin 42. The bracket 44, from the rear 46 of the nosepad, is suitably fixed centrally on the shaft pin 42. In order for the bracket 44 to find room around the centre of the shaft pin at placement in the space 40 of the shaft attachment between the protrusions 36 of the nosepad attachment 30, the nosepad attachment may suitably be designed such that a first side 3OA of the nosepad attachment has a first couple of protrusions 36 and a second opposite side 3OB of the nosepad attachment has a second couple of protrusions 36. In that respect, there can be a slot 48 arranged between the couples of protrusions 36 such that the bracket 44 on the middle of the shaft pin can find room and such that the shaft pin 42 may rotate. This design with couples of protrusions 36 facilitates also resiliency of the protrusions, insertion of the shaft pin 42 of the

nosepad, and also a possible need for releasing the shaft pin 42 from the shaft attachment 30, suitably by hand, without having to detach parts by the use of tools.

In fig. 8 is yet an embodiment of the nosepad and the nosepad attachment according to the present invention described, which shows a design for application such that the nosepad can be remained in the positions, respectively, standard and terminal position as explained in fig. 5 and 6 above. In fig. 8 is shown that the space 40 of the shaft attachment can be provided with a recess 50, a first recess for the position of the nosepad in the standard position and a second recess for the position of the nosepad in the terminal position, which recesses 50 are adapted for a firmly arranged step 52 arranged on the shaft pin 42. By turning the nosepad by hand, possibly with a power in direction out from the nosepad attachment, the step 52 of the shaft pin 42 of the nosepad can be brought to leave the current position such that the nosepad can be turned to a desired new position, i.e. standard or terminal position, where the step 52 on the shaft pin is located in the next recess 50.

Fig. 9A-D shows additional embodiments of a nosepad 32 and a nosepad attachment 30 according to the present invention. Fig. 9A shows the nosepad 32 and the nosepad attachment 30 in fig. 7, assembled and arranged to the nosepad connecting member 16. The arrows Pl, P2 shows the directions for rotation of the nosepad 32 to the different positions, standard position and a terminal position, as explained in connection to fig. 5-8 above. Figs. 9B-D shows additional embodiments of the nosepad and the nosepad attachment for designs that defines and constitutes stop positions for the nosepad in the positions Pl and P2, respectively, standard position and terminal position according to fig. 9A. In fig. 9B is

shown that the bracket 44 of the nosepad 32 presents a chamfered rim 54 intended to define a stop position for standard position for instance, when the nosepad is mounted in the nosepad attachment. Fig. 9C shows the nosepad 32 mounted in the nosepad attachment 30 which in turn is arranged in the nosepad connecting member 16 of the nosepad arm 12. In this embodiment is shown that protrusions 36' of the nosepad attachment 30 are extending to adjacent the rear 46 of the nosepad. One of the protrusions 36' of the nosepad attachment is designed with a chamfered rim 56 such that it defines a stop position for standard position for instance. Fig. 9D shows that the rear 46 of the nosepad, adjacent the mount of the bracket 44, is provided with a bulb 58 intended to define a stop position for a terminal position for instance, when the nosepad is mounted in the nosepad attachment.

Figs. 10-11 shows embodiments of the present invention in which various kinds of conventional nosepad connecting member are used for attachment of a nosepad attachment according to the present invention. In fig. 10 is shown a conventional nosepad connecting member 18 that has been described in fig. 4B above. The nosepad attachment 30 comprises a hole 60 in the first end 34. When the nosepad attachment 30 is mounted in the nosepad connecting part 18, it is attached by screwing the screw 8 into the nosepad connecting member 18 down into the hole 60 in the nosepad attachment 30. In fig. 11 is shown a conventional nosepad connecting member 20 that has been described in fig. 4C above. The nosepad attachment 30 comprises a recess 62 in the first end 34. Two different embodiments of nosepad attachments 30' , 30' ', are shown in fig. 11. The nosepad attachment 30 is mounted in the nosepad connecting member 20, by bringing the nosepad connecting member 20 into the recess 62 of the nosepad

attachment such that the recess 62 of the nosepad attachment is arranged around the waist 23 of the nosepad connecting member 20 between the protrusions 21 on each side of the nosepad attachment. The described main parts according to the present invention, such as the nosepad attachment for instance, can be completely or partly produced of metal or plastics, such as polycarbonate.

In the description, the nosepad attachment 30 of the present invention, as evident of the various embodiments in figs. 5-13, is designed with a recess/space 40 and the nosepad with a pivot in the form of a shaft pin 42. It is however within the inventive idea according to the present invention also possible according to an embodiment that this design is the opposite, i.e. that the nosepad 32 instead is designed with a recess 62, corresponding to the recess 40 mentioned above and that the nosepad attachment 30 is designed with a shaft pin 64 for receiving and pivotable arranging of such a recess 62 of the nosepad 32 such as schematically shown in fig. 12.