Flat pack optical device kit

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, generally to glasses and, more specifically, to a flat pack glasses kit.

GLOSSARY

Proximal: situated close to the user.

Distal: situated distant or away from the user (relative to Proximal).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to provide glasses that are easily carried for emergency use. A multiplicity of compact, foldable and collapsible glasses are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,225,857, 5,896,185, 6,017,119, 6,158,860 and 6,379,003.

Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,317 to Huang on Sep. 5, 1995, entitled “Combination of foldable glasses and rigid compact container,” there are disclosed collapsible glasses and a small rectangular carrying case. Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,967 to Conner on Jul. 27, 1999, entitled “Combination glasses and glass case,” there is disclosed narrow, compact glasses having collapsible ear-pieces, contained in a tubular case, similar to a pen with a pocket clip.

Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,347 to R. Vogel on Nov. 5, 1968, there is disclosed a pocket magnifier including a pocket pouch adapted to be carried in the pocket, purse or wallet of the user. The lens is formed of a transparent plastic sheet material having a substantial degree of stiffness and having Fresnel lens contours molded into its upper surface.

Referring now to U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,430 to Finkelstein et al. on Jan. 23, 2001, entitled “Method for making a wallet card with an integral magnifying lens,” there is disclosed a wallet card adapted for use in reading, including a transparent, substantially non-foldable semi-rigid base. The semi-rigid base includes a Fresnel magnifying lens.

Referring also to U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,372 to Waters on May 21, 2002, entitled “Cards with reading lenses,” there is disclosed a reading card including one or more Fresnel reading lenses smaller in size than the card. The card is the size of a typical credit card such that it can fit into a sleeve or holder used for such cards in wallets, and the like. The lenses, which are essentially for reading, are fitted into the card so that there is additional space for placement of, for example, numbers, name and a magnetic strip as in credit, debit, and phone cards.

The reading cards and pocket magnifiers disclosed by Waters, Finkelstein and Vogel hereinabove, are generally functional as hand held devices, essentially for reading and not for use as glasses to be worn by the user. While the foldable glasses disclosed by Huang are very compact and portable, inevitably the lenses will be narrow and appear best suited for reading.

There is a need in the art for lightweight, robust, very flat and compact emergency glasses, which can be used as sunglasses or in accordance with the prescription of the user, to replace damaged or lost glasses, rapidly and conveniently, especially under circumstances in which replacement is problematic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide an emergency, flat pack, glasses kit, which is easily and quickly assemblable into glasses. The kit is compact and typically has the size of a credit card, and may thus be carried in a pocket, wallet or purse. Various types of lenses having a variety of purposes may be fitted or formed in the kit, including prescription lenses to suit the user for general use or for reading, sun-protection or safety lenses.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flat pack optical device kit, which includes: one or more lens frames, each having an optical lens disposed therein and each having one or more frame attachment means formed on the frame; one or more support arms, each having, formed at a first extremity thereof, an arm attachment means for attaching the one or more support arms to the one or more lens frames and each having an ear holder element formed at a second extremity thereof; and apparatus for supporting the one or more lens frames, and the one or more support arms in a planar arrangement, wherein the one or more lens frames and the one or more support arms are adapted for selectable disassembly from the planar arrangement, and for cooperative assembly so as to form the optical device.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the flat pack optical device kit also includes a nosepiece bridge having one or more bridge attachment means for joining the one or more lens frames thereto.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the one or more support arms include: one or more hinge members, each having a first and second extremity and a hinge element formed in a predetermined position therebetween, the first and second extremities having, respectively, a first and second hinge attachment means formed thereat, the first hinge attachment means for attaching the hinge member to the one or more frame attachment means; and one or more earpiece members, each having an earpiece attachment means formed at a first extremity thereof for attaching the one or more earpiece members to the second hinge attachment means, and each having an ear holder element formed at a second extremity thereof.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, the one or more lens frames have an optical lens formed or fitted therein.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the one or more optical lenses are a Fresnel-type lenses.

According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the flat pack optical device kit is formed in a planar arrangement.

According to a variation of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the planar arrangement includes the one or more lens frames, the one or more support arms and the supporting apparatus formed as a frangibly attached arrangement for selectable disassembly from the planar arrangement, and for cooperative assembly so as to form the optical device.

According to another variation of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the planar arrangement is formed as a substantially credit card sized arrangement.

Furthermore, there is provided a method of construction of an optical device from a flat pack optical device kit, which includes the steps of: separating each of the components from the flat pack optical device kit; attaching each lens frame to a nosepiece bridge; attaching a hinge member to each lens frame; flexing a hinge element of each hinge member; and attaching an earpiece member to each hinge member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and its features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the ensuing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

illustrates a flat pack optical device kit constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a diagrammatic view of the components illustrated in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a pair of glasses assembled from the flat pack optical device kit shown in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 4

illustrates a flat pack optical device kit constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a stud and socket joint for assembling components of a flat pack optical device kit, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a mortise and tenon joint for assembling components of a flat pack optical device kit, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a continuous strip of plastic material having lens apertures die-cut therefrom; and

FIG. 8

is a perspective view of two pre-assembled layers of continuous strips of plastic material having die-cut lens apertures with a continuous lens strip therebetween, for bonding together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Despite the availability of a multiplicity of compact, folded and assemblable glasses, most of these are generally not much smaller than regular glasses except for being conveniently shaped, folded or contained in a convenient carrying container. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flat pack kit is disclosed which generally has the size of a conventional credit card, from which a pair of glasses is assemblable in an emergency situation, without the need for any special skills, equipment or adhesives.

The lenses that may be utilized for such a kit include purpose made prescription lenses for general use, reading lenses, sun-protection lenses, safety lenses or any combination of these, such as tinted bifocal or multi-focal lenses, to mention a few examples.

With reference to

FIG. 1

, there is seen, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flat pack optical device kit, generally referenced

10

. Kit

10

includes two lens frames referenced

12

and

14

, having disposed therein optical lenses referenced

16

and

18

, respectively, a nosepiece bridge referenced

20

, two hinge members referenced

22

and

24

and two earpiece members referenced

26

and

28

.

Kit

10

may be formed and packaged in a number of configurations. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, alternative configurations may include but are not limited, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, to components adhering to a backing card, in blister-packing, in sleeve-packing, arranged in a semi-rigid envelope or arranged as a frangible assembly.

With regard to assembling the components of the kit, it should be noted that, with the exception of lens frames

12

and

14

and lenses

16

and

18

disposed respectively therein, each component is usable on either the left or right side relative to the user. Although frames

12

and

14

as seen in

FIG. 1

, appear generally similar, frame

12

and lens

16

are specifically prescribed for the right eye, for example; whereas frame

14

and lens

18

, requires inversion, and is indicated (not shown) as prescribed for the left eye. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, lenses

16

and

18

may be formed in or fitted into frames

12

and

1

, respectively. In order to maintain as flat a surface for kit

10

as possible, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, lenses

16

and

18

are formed as Fresnel-type lenses, from high refractive optic material or from other suitable lens material. Alternatively, lenses

16

and

18

may be formed of planar glare resistant optically transparent material.

Referring now to

FIG. 2

, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, kit

10

(as shown in

FIG. 1

) is seen separated into individual components, namely, right and left lens frames

12

and

14

including lenses

16

and

18

disposed respectively therein, nosepiece bridge

20

, two hinge members

22

and

24

and two earpiece members

26

and

28

. In a frangible assembly, kit

10

components are separated by carefully fracturing each component from the assembly.

Each component is formed having assembly devices for enabling the assembly of the glasses from kit

10

. Nosepiece bridge

20

is formed having assembly lugs referenced

32

on both sides. Each lug

32

includes one or more locking elements referenced

34

. Lugs referred to hereinbelow are formed having one or more similar locking elements. Lens frames

12

and

14

have lug receptors referenced

36

disposed on the innter and outer edges thereof. Hinge members

22

and

24

each have an assembly lug referenced

32

disposed at a distal end referenced

38

thereof and a lug recweptor referenced

36

formed at a proximal end referenced

40

thereof, with a hingeable element referenced

42

formed therebetween, disposed close to assembly lug

32

thereof. Earpiece members

26

and

28

each have an assembly lug referenced

32

formed at a distal end (not referenced) thereof, and an ear-holder referenced

44

disposed at a proximal end thereof.

Referring now to

FIG. 3

, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, components of kit

10

are assembled according to the following steps:

Right lens frame

12

and inverted left lens frame

14

are attached to nosepiece bridge

20

by inserting assembly lugs

32

into inner edge lug receptors

36

. Hinge members

22

and

24

are attached to lens frames

12

and

14

by inserting assembly lugs

32

into outer edge lug receptors

36

. Relative to distal portions

38

(

FIG. 2

) of hinge members

22

and

24

, proximal portions

40

(

FIG. 2

) are flexed thereby to cause hingable elements

42

to bend such that distal and proximal portions

38

and

40

, respectively, are approximately at right angles. Earpiece members

26

and

28

are attached to hinge members

22

and

24

by inserting assembly lugs

32

of earpiece members

26

and

28

into lug receptors

36

of hinge members

22

and

24

.

Referring now to

FIG. 4

, there is seen a non-locking kit generally referenced

50

, generally similar to that shown and described above in conjunction with

FIGS. 1-3

, but wherein the lugs, referenced

52

, are formed without locking elements

34

(as seen in FIGS.

1

-

3

). Omitting locking elements

34

, while partially reducing the rigidity of the assembled glasses, enables these to be disassembled for later use.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that assembly of the various components is illustrated but not limited to using assembly lugs

32

and lug receptors

36

as a means for assembling components. Alternative assembly or fastening devices are well known to persons skilled in the art. Examples of some such alternative fastening devices are illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 6

. In

FIG. 5

, there is seen a mortise-and-tenon-type joint generally referenced

60

, whereby joining two components is achieved by inserting a tenon referenced

62

formed on an extremity of component

64

into a mortise referenced

66

formed in an extremity of component

68

. In

FIG. 6

, there is seen a stud-and-socket connector generally referenced

70

which includes one or more studs referenced

72

formed on an extremity of component

74

and having one or more corresponding sockets referenced

76

formed in component

78

.

Referring now to

FIGS. 7-8

, there is illustrated a process for manufacturing, for example a flat-pack sunglasses or safety glasses kit, or others specifically wherein the lenses are formed as a flat continuous sheet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A continuous strip generally referenced

80

of plastic material having a preselected length, width and thickness as seen in

FIG. 7

, is passed through a die-cutter, which cuts out a pair of lens apertures referenced

82

and

84

. Die-cut strips

80

are stored as rolls until a sufficient quantity has been prepared. As seen in

FIG. 8

, two strips of die-cut strips

80

are fed, having accurate registration of lens apertures

82

and

84

, together with an interposed continuous lens strip referenced

86

of suitable optical plastic material therebetween, through a sonic welder or other suitable bonding process. This produces a bonded sandwich (not shown) of two outer layers

80

and a lens layer

86

. Thereafter, the sandwich strip is passed through one or more die-cutters to produce substantially credit card-sized frangible flat pack glasses kits

10

substantially as seen in FIG.

1

and as described hereinabove.

In accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention, a similar process to that described hereinabove may be utilized to produce flat-pack kits with optical prescription lenses, which are fitted into the lens frame apertures. In order to maintain the flat pack feature, fitted lenses are made as Fresnel lenses or from high refractive optical material. Alternative lens configurations include multi-focal, bifocal, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and reading lenses.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by the drawings and description hereinabove presented. Rather, the invention is defined solely by the claims that follow.