[01] . Background :

[02] The present specification relates to safety spectacles with side shields and more specifically to safety

spectacles with angularly adjustable side shields that can accommodate different face widths.

Summary :

[03] A safety spectacle accommodates various face widths by providing for angular adjustment of the side shields relative to the lens.

[04] The safety spectacle generally comprises a frame, a lens removably secured to the frame, left and right side shields respectively hinged to left and right side edges of the lens, and a fixing mechanism configured and arranged to releaseably fix the left and right side shields in a plurality of angular positions relative to the lens.

[05] The frame generally includes a brow bar extending

across the front, left and right side bars extending rearwardly from the brow bar, and left and right upper shields respectively extending between adjacent portions of the brow bar and the left and right side bars. Left and right temple bars are hinged to terminal ends of the left and right side bars of the frame and extend rearwardly therefrom.

[06] The lens generally includes a bridge portion, and left and right lens portions having left and right side edges. A nose piece is secured in the area of the bridge portion, or alternatively the bridge portion may include integrally formed nose pads as is common in the art. The upper peripheral edge of the lens is removably secured to the brow bar of the frame with a plurality of interlocking mating formations.

[07] The left and right side shields are respectively

hinged to the left and right side edges of the lens whereby the left and right side shields are each angularly adjustable relative to the lens between an inner position which accommodates narrower faces, a normal intermediate position, and an outer position which accommodates wider faces .

[08] The fixing mechanism comprises interlocking formations formed on the side shields and the frame which are configured and arranged to both provide adjustment of the position of the left and right side shields and releaseably fix the left and right side shields in the inner,

intermediate and outer positions. More specifically, the interlocking formations comprise left and right segmented slots respectively formed in the left and right upper shields of the frame, and left and right fixing posts extending upwardly from the left and right side shields.

The segmented slots include three segments which correspond to the inner, intermediate and outer positions of the side shields. When the lens is assembled with the frame, the left and right fixing posts are slidably received within the left and right segmented slots and are frictionally seated within a predetermined segment of the respective segmented slot to fix the respective side shield in a respective position.

[09] The post and slot arrangement provides for a simple

and effective mechanism for both adjusting the position of the side shields relative to the lens as well as for fixing the side shields in their desired position.

[10] Accordingly, an objective is to provide an improved

safety spectacle that can accommodate different face widths.

[11] It is another objective to provide a safety spectacle . having a simple and effective mechanism for adjusting the angular position of the side shields relative to the main lens .

It is still a further objective to provide a safety spectacle having left and right side shields that can be adjusted independent of each other.

Other objects, features and advantages shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when

considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings .

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures:

The preferred embodiment will now be described further by way of example with reference to the following examples and figures, which are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting upon the scope of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present safety spectacles constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the brow bar portion of the frame ; Fig. 3A is an enlarged top view of the frame and lens showing movement of the lens shield; and

Fig. 4 is a top perspective view showing the angular movement of the side shields relative to the main lens.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment:

A safety spectacle is generally indicated at 10 in Figs. 1-4. In accordance with the teachings herein, the safety spectacle accommodates various face widths by

providing for angular adjustment of the side shields relative to the lens.

The safety spectacle 10 generally comprises a frame 12, a lens 14 removably secured to the frame 12, left and right side shields 16, 18 respectively hinged to the lens 14, and a pair of fixing mechanisms 20, 22 configured and arranged to releasably fix the left and right side shields 16, 18 in a plurality of angular positions relative to the lens 14.

The frame 12 is preferably molded from a durable plastic material and generally includes a brow bar 24 extending across the front, left and right side bars 26, 28 extending rearwardly from the brow bar 24, and left and right upper shields 30, 32 respectively extending between adjacent portions of the brow bar 24 and the left and right side bars 26, 28. Left and right temple bars 34, 36 are hinged to terminal ends of the left and right side bars 26, 28 of the frame 12 and extend rearwardly therefrom.

The lens 14 is preferably molded from a suitable transparent plastic material and generally includes a bridge portion 38, and left and right lens portions 40, 42 having left and right side edges 44, 46 which turn

rearwardly in alignment with the side bar portions 26, 28 of the frame 12.

A nose piece 48 is secured to the lens 14 in the area of the bridge portion 38 for supporting the lens 14 on the user's nose. Alternatively, the bridge portion 38 may include integrally molded nose pads as is common in some lenses in the art.

The lens 14 is preferably removably secured to the frame 12 so that the lens 14 or frame 12 can be removed or replaced if damaged. In this regard, the upper peripheral edge of the lens 14 is removably secured to the brow bar 24 of the frame 12 with a plurality of interlocking mating formations. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the lens 14 includes a plurality of apertures 50 along the upper peripheral edge The brow bar 24 of the frame 12 includes a downwardly

facing channel (not shown) and a matching plurality of detents (not shown) which are snap received into the apertures 50 to hold the lens 14 in assembled relation with the frame 12.

[27] The left and right side shields 16, 18 are molded from a durable, transparent plastic material and are

respectively hinged to the left and right side edges 44, 46 of the lens. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the left and right side edges 44, 46 of the lens 14 and the left and right side shields 16, 18 each include mating hinge formations 52, 54 which are snapped together to provide the required pivoting hinge motion. In an alternative, it is

contemplated that the side shields 16, 18 could be

integrally molded with the lens 14 and connected to the side edges 44, 46 with a living hinge, thus simplifying the structure even further.

[28] The fixing mechanisms 20, 22 each comprise

interlocking formations formed on the side shields 16, 18 and the frame 12 which are configured and arranged to both provide adjustment of the position of the left and right side shields 16, 18 and releasably fix the left and right side shields 16, 18 in a plurality of predetermined

positions. More specifically, the interlocking formations comprise left and right segmented slots 56, 58 respectively formed in the left and right upper shields 30, 32 of the frame 12, and mating left and right fixing posts 60, 62 extending upwardly from the left and right side shields 16, 18. The segmented slots 56, 58 each include three distinct segments 56a, 56b, 56c and 58a, 58b, 58c which correspond to the inner, intermediate and outer positions of the side shields 16, 18 (See Fig. 3A) . When the lens 14 is assembled with the frame 12, the left and right fixing posts 60, 62 are slidably received within the left and right segmented slots 56, 58 and are frictionally seated within a

predetermined segment of the respective segmented slot 56, 58 to fix the respective side shield 16, 18 in a respective position.

[29] Referring to Fig. 3A, in operation, the left and right side shields 16, 18 are each angularly adjustable relative to the lens 14 between an inner position A (segment 56a) which accommodates narrower faces (see also broken lines in Fig. 4), a normal intermediate position B (segment 56b), and an outer position C (segment 56c) which accommodates wider faces (see also solid lines in Fig. 4). Movement of the side shields 16, 18 to the desired position is

accomplished simply by snapping the fixing posts 60, 62 from one segment to another segment. The reduced

dimensioned areas between the segments provide a positive tactile snap between the positions and then hold the post 60, 62 in that position.

As can now be appreciated, the post and slot

arrangement provides for a simple and effective mechanism for both adjusting the position of the side shields relative to the lens as well as for fixing the side shields in their desired position.

For these reasons, the safety spectacle as described herein is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art, which has substantial commercial merit.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the eyewear, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various

modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the

underlying concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claim.