This invention relates generally to spectacle or corrective lens frames.

Conventional 'pince-nez' style glasses generally include nose mounts that are resiliently biased along a vertical plane to engage with the nose of a wearer. This often results in incorrect or non-symmetrical alignment between the lenses and the wearer's eyes.

It is therefore a non-exclusive object of the invention to provide a spectacle frame which mitigates these issues.

Moreover, people who need to wear corrective eyewear (prescription spectacles) generally require bespoke sunglasses, for example prescription sunglasses. Their options are limited to, for example, smoked or 'light-reactive' lenses (which cannot be curved or 'wrap-around') or clip-on type lenses over their prescription spectacles. Such options are not as flexible, effective or as stylish as conventional non-prescription sunglasses.

It is therefore a non-exclusive object of the invention to provide a spectacle frame which can be used in conjunction with conventional non-prescription sunglasses.

It is a further, more general object of the invention to provide an improved corrective lens frame, for example having a novel fixing means.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a spectacle frame comprising a pair of lens supports interconnected by a bridge member, each lens support having one of a pair of opposed nose mounts connected thereto, the nose mounts being positioned such that a bending moment applied along the bridge member causes the distance between the nose mounts to increase, wherein the bridge member is resiliently deformable, in use, along a first, substantially horizontal plane and is substantially inflexible along a second, substantially vertical plane.

It is therefore possible with the aforementioned arrangement for the wearer to flex the bridge to increase the gap between the nose mounts allowing the frame to be placed over the bridge of the nose and, when released, return to a position that allows a light pressure to be applied by the nose mounts to the nose in order to hold the invention in position. This design of bridge is applicable to all types of spectacles or eyeglasses, including those fitted with arms.

For the avoidance of doubt, the term "nose mount" used herein refers to a portion of a member which contacts or applies pressure to a discreet portion of the nose of the wearer. For example, each pad of the embodiments described herein comprises a nose mount, however, the invention is not limited to such a mount design.

Preferably, the frame further comprises an outrigger, for example which is connected to the bridge member and/or to the lens supports. More preferably, the nose mounts and the outrigger are arranged to contact, in use, different portions of the nose of a wearer.

A second aspect of the invention provides a spectacle frame comprising a bridge member, a pair of lens supports interconnected by the bridge member and an outrigger connected to the bridge member, each lens support having one of a pair of opposed nose mounts connected thereto, wherein the nose mounts and the outrigger are arranged to contact, in use, different portions of the nose of a wearer.

This arrangement provides a comfortable, stable fit and mitigates the tendency for the corrective lenses to rotate or fall forward, which can occur when there is only a single mounting or pressure point on each side of the nose.

The outrigger may be connected, for example fixed, to the bridge member either directly or to one or both of the lens supports. The outrigger may comprise a single, e.g. central or side mounted, member or nose mount but it preferably comprises two or more members, e.g. further nose mounts. For example, one of a second pair of opposed nose mounts may be connected to each lens support. The first and second pairs of opposed nose mounts may be arranged to contact, in use, different portions of a wearer's nose.

One or more of the nose mounts is preferably adjustable, for example to increase or decrease the distance between the first and/or second pairs of opposed nose mounts. More preferably, each nose mount is independently adjustable.

Advantageously, the lens supports may be spaced from each other by a distance of at least 22 millimetres. A third aspect of the invention provides a spectacle frame comprising a pair of lens supports interconnected by a bridge member, each lens support having one of a pair of opposed nose mounts connected thereto, wherein the lens supports are spaced from each other by a distance of at least 22 millimetres.

This arrangement appears to provide sufficient space on and around the bridge of the nose for a second pair of glasses to be worn over the top, resting on the bridge of the nose in the conventional manner without discomfort, and without interference from the invention.

The nose mounts may be positioned such that a bending moment applied along the bridge member causes the distance between the nose mounts to increase, wherein the bridge member may be resiliently deformable, in use, along a first, substantially horizontal plane and is substantially inflexible along a second, substantially vertical plane.

One or more of the nose mounts may comprise a pad, for example made of a plastics and/or elastomeric material such as silicone. The lens supports are preferably vertical lens supports.

The invention provides a frame for corrective lenses that, when worn, will allow a second pair of glasses (for example, sunglasses) to be worn in a conventional manner, over the top of the invention, without discomfort or interference with the invention's frame or corrective lenses.

A further aspect of the invention provides spectacles comprising the aforementioned frame.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spectacle frame according to one embodiment of the invention with lenses fitted to the lens supports;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the frame of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a top view of the frame of Figures 1 and 2. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a spectacle frame F according to one embodiment of the invention. The spectacle frame F includes a bridge member 1 , a pair of lens supports 2a, 2b interconnected by the bridge member 1 , a first pair of opposed nose mounts 3a, 3b, a second pair of opposed nose mounts 4a, 4b and a pair of lenses 5a, 5b, which are oval in this embodiment.

The bridge member 1 is in the form of a curved spring in this embodiment. The bridge member 1 is resiliency deformable along a first plane, which is horizontal in normal use, and is substantially inflexible along a second plane normal to the first plane, i.e. a plane that is vertical in normal use. The bridge member 1 also includes one of the lens supports 2a, 2b secured adjacent to and extending downwardly from each of its ends.

This ensures the lenses can be accurately and constantly positioned in front of the wearer's eyes without moving outwards or swinging up each side as would happen if the spring were to flex in the vertical plane.

Each lens support 2a, 2b includes a lens mount 20a, 20b, an outrigger 21a, 21 b and one of each pair of nose mounts 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b connected thereto. Each lens mount 20a, 20b extends outwardly from an intermediate portion of the respective lens support 2a, 2b and includes a fastener 22a, 22b that extends through and secures one of the lenses 5a, 5b. Each outrigger 21 a, 21 b extends downwardly from the terminal end of a respective lens mount 20a, 20b.

The nose mounts 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b are made of silicone in this embodiment. Each nose mount 3a, 3b of a first of the nose mount pairs 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b is positioned on the inner side of the intermediate portion of a respective one of the lens supports 2a, 2b. Each nose mount 4a, 4b of a second of the nose mount pairs 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b is positioned on the inner side of the terminal end of a respective one of the outriggers 21 a, 21 b.

The distance B between each pair of nose mounts 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b is preferably over 22 millimetres and is adjustable in this embodiment by virtue of a bendable portion of the lens support 2a, 2b. The distance of 22 millimetres is selected to provide sufficient space on and around the bridge of the nose (not shown) to allow a second pair of glasses (not shown) to sit comfortably on the bridge of the nose (not shown) in the conventional manner but over the top or in front of the frame F without discomfort, and without interference from the frame F. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the first nose mount pair 3a, 3b is arranged to contact an upper portion of the nose (not shown) while the second nose mount pair 4a, 4b contact a lower portion of the nose (not shown). The second nose mount pair 4a, 4b therefore act as outriggers to hold the frame/lenses in the correct vertical position by eliminating the tendency for the lenses 5a, 5b to rotate about the first nose mount pair 3a, 3b which can cause the top of the lenses to fall forward, as is common with pince-nez designs which only have a single contact or pressure point each side.

Referring now to Figure 3, when the wearer (not shown) wishes to put the frame F on, they hold the top and bottom edges of the two lenses 5a, 5b between forefingers and thumbs and by moving them in the direction of arrow A to flex the bridge 1 in the horizontal plane and the gap B between each nose mount pair 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b will increase. The wearer (not shown) then positions the frame F on their nose (not shown). Upon release, the gap B reduces, the nose mounts 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b come in contact with the nose (not shown) and the bridge 1 maintains a light pressure to hold the frame F and lenses 5a, 5b in place.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the embodiments described herein are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the frame 1 need not comprise multiple pairs of nose mounts 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b and/or the nose mounts 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b need not be formed as pads and/or need not be formed of silicone. Additionally or alternatively, the nose mounts 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b need not be adjustable or the adjustability may be provided by some other means such as a screw arrangement. Additionally or alternatively, the nose mount pairs 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b may be offset in a different manner.

Moreover, the outrigger function may be provided by any number of alternative arrangements, for example the frame may include a single outrigger which is connected to the bridge member rather than to the lens supports.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein.