Foldable eyewear with mechanism facilitating quick opening

CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/113,639 filed Dec. 23, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to eyewear and, more particularly, to eyewear having a mechanism which allows a user to quickly open the eyewear.

Users of eyewear, e.g., eyeglasses, necessarily have to place the eyewear on their face and remove them from their face from time to time. When the eyewear is removed to be stored, temples extending on either side of a front of the eyewear frame are each folded toward the front of the frame to thereby make the eyewear arrangement more compact. Every time a user wishes to wear the eyewear, after the temples have been folded, the user must unfold each arm before the eyewear can be placed on the user's face.

Prior art glasses, like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,853,924 to Herzfeld, provide a biased hinge coupling the temples and the front of the eyeglass fame. If the glasses are stored in a case, when the user removes the glasses from the case, the temples are acted upon by the hinges and caused to open to a position of use. However, this arrangement is not beneficial if the glasses are not stored in a case as the temples are always biased to the use position. A user of the Herzfeld device could not, for example, fold the temples on the front of the frame, and place the glasses on a desk because the hinges would force the temples open.

Other prior art glasses, like those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,785 to Auge, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,024,275 to Morton, provide a means for retaining temples in the folded position. However, these references are devoid of a function for quickly opening the temples to a use position. Further, there is no suggestion in these references for providing such a functionality.

Thus, there exists a need in the art for eyewear which can be opened quickly to a use position and which can also remain in a closed position without requiring an external force to be applied on the eyewear to stay in the closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, eyewear comprises a frame front and a first and second hinge, the first and second hinges being coupled to the frame front. A first temple is pivotably coupled to the frame front through the first hinge. A second temple is pivotably coupled to the frame front through the second hinge. The first and second temples are movable between a closed position and a use position. The first and second hinges bias the first and second temples toward the use position. At least a first catch is disposed on the eyewear. The catch is operable to retain the temples in the closed position in opposition to the biasing of the first and second hinges.

This aspect, as well as others, will become apparent upon reading the following disclosure and corresponding drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1

is a front view of the eyewear of the invention;

FIG. 2

is a top view of the invention;

FIG. 3

is a left side view of the invention;

FIG. 4

is a rear view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5

is a top view showing the first embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

FIG. 6

is a rear, overhead, perspective view showing a temple of a pair of eyewear in a closed position in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7

is a top view detailing the opening of glasses in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8

is a rear view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9A

is a top view of a temple in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9B

is a front view of a temple in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9C

is a bottom view of a temple in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9D

is a top perspective cut away view looking down the length of a temple in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B

are perspective views showing the mating and locking engagement of temples in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to

FIG. 1

, a frame of a pair of eyeglasses or eyewear is shown generally at

20

, comprises a frame front

26

which is effective to hold two lenses

54

. Frame front

26

comprises a left frame front

27

a

and a right frame front

27

b

, each defined by an axis

34

that bifurcates glasses

20

into symmetrical portions. Frame front

26

is resilient and flexible so that upon the introduction of a pivoting force, left and right frame fronts

27

a,b

can be pivoted about axis

34

with respect to each other and upon removal of such a force, left and right frame fronts

27

a

,

27

b

move back to their original positions. This flexibility and resiliency of frame front

26

could be effectuated by, for example, a hinge

36

—as is shown in

FIG. 2

or by making the frame front

26

sufficiently flexible, particularly at axis

34

. Alternatively, as described herein, the temples can be made flexible so as to allow them to be received in and removed from respective catches (discussed below). Although two lenses

54

are shown in frame front

26

, the present invention also applies to any number of lenses held by frame front

26

including a single lens or a plurality of lenses other than two. Further, the frame front can be integral with the lens or lens portions.

Referring now also to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, frame front

26

is pivotably coupled to a left temple

28

and a right temple

30

through a left temple hinge

22

and a right temple hinge

24

, respectively. Left temple

28

includes a left distal end

28

a

. Similarly, right temple

30

includes a right distal end

30

a

. Left and right temple hinges

22

,

24

each include a spring (not explicitly shown) which causes the temples

28

,

30

to bias outwardly toward a use position

32

as shown in FIG.

2

.

The invention provides a user with the convenience of a being able to quickly open the eyewear from a closed position while also not requiring the user to keep the eyewear in the closed position stored in a container. Referring to

FIGS. 2

,

4

and

5

, frame front

26

further includes two catches

38

a,b

disposed on opposite sides of an interior of frame front

26

. Catches

38

a,b

may be molded into frame front

26

and may be in the shape of a lip with a concave shaped cross-section as is seen most clearly in

FIGS. 2 and 5

. Catches

38

a,b

could also be in the form of a groove or ridge or any other suitable catching mechanism, formed integrally or non-integrally with frame front

26

.

When a user desires to store eyewear

20

in a closed position, the user folds temples

28

,

30

of eyewear

20

against the biasing force of spring loaded hinges

22

,

24

toward frame front

26

in directions

40

,

41

(shown in FIG.

2

). As temples

28

,

30

are folded, the user further pivots left and right frame front

27

a,b

about axis

34

in direction

35

a

and

35

b

respectively, thereby enabling catches

38

a

,

38

b

to receive left and right distal ends

28

a

,

30

a

of left and right temples

28

,

30

. Once left and right distal ends

28

a

,

30

a

are received in catches

38

a

,

38

b

respectively, the user releases or refrains from pivoting left and right frame front

27

a,b

about axis

34

and the resiliency of frame front

26

causes left and right frame front

27

a

,

27

b

to resume their original position. Now, left and right temple

28

,

30

are securely held folded to frame front

26

in a closed position

42

against the biasing force of left and right temple hinges

22

,

24

through the engagement of left and right distal ends

28

a

,

30

a

with respective catches

38

a

,

38

b

as is shown most clearly in FIG.

5

.

FIG. 6

shows left temple

28

folded and held in place by catch

38

a

only while right temple

30

is shown unfolded.

If a user wishes to wear the glasses after they have been folded, glasses

20

need to be manipulated between closed position

42

shown in FIG.

5

and use position

32

shown in FIG.

2

. Referring now to

FIG. 7

, when glasses

20

are in closed position

42

, left and right frame front

27

a

,

27

b

assume positions

44

a

and

44

b

(shown in phantom), respectively. When left and right frame fronts

27

a

,

27

b

are in positions

44

a

,

44

b

, catches

38

a

and

38

b

retain left and right distal ends

28

a

,

30

a

in positions

46

a

,

46

b

(shown in phantom) respectively. By simply pivoting left frame front

27

a

and right frame front

27

b

about axis

34

in directions

50

a

and

50

b

, and not applying a force to temples

28

,

30

left frame front

27

a

assumes position

48

a

and right frame front

27

b

assumes position

48

b

. This pivoting in directions

50

a,b,

causes catches

38

a

and

38

b

to move outwardly. When catch

38

b

clears left distal end

28

a

and catch

38

a

clears right distal end

30

a

, left and right distal ends

28

a

and

30

a

are thereby released from the respective catches, and spring biased hinges

22

,

24

act upon temples

28

,

30

respectively to cause temples

28

,

30

to move in directions

52

a

and

52

b

respectively until glasses

20

assume use position

32

(as shown in FIG.

2

).

While the embodiment shown shows two catches

38

a

and

38

b

, only one catch need be used because the temple which is not received in a catch can be folded first underneath the temple receivable in a catch.

In

FIG. 8

, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention. Elements which are similar to the first embodiment are shown with like reference numerals and discussion of these elements is therefore omitted unless necessary to elucidate the features of this embodiment. Glasses of the second embodiment are shown generally at

60

. Glasses

60

include front face

26

coupled to a left temple

62

and a right temple

64

through spring loaded hinges (not shown) as with glasses

20

. Left and right temples

62

,

64

can be identical.

Referring to

FIGS. 9A-9D

, there is shown left temple

62

, it being understood that if left and right temples

62

,

64

are identical, the following illustration describes right temple

64

as well. To improve clarity, elements on temple

62

will be referred to with a sub-reference “a” and similar elements on temple

64

will be described with a sub-reference “b”. Left temple

62

includes a base portion

66

a

that is integral with a first extension

68

a

and second extension

70

a

. First and second extension

68

a

,

70

a

define a recess

72

a

therebetween. Recess

72

a

serves as the catch for this embodiment. As can be discerned, second extension

68

a

extends much further than first extension

70

a

and defines the remainder of temple

62

a

which begins generally with base portion

66

a.

Referring now also to

FIGS. 10A and 10B

, when a user of glasses

60

wishes to store glasses

60

in a closed position, the user again folds temples

62

,

64

against the biasing force of spring loaded hinges

22

,

24

toward frame front

26

. As temples

28

,

30

are folded, the user further pivots left and right frame front

27

a,b

about axis

34

in directions

35

a

,

35

b

(FIG.

2

). This pivoting enables either one of the first extensions

68

, on a first one of the temples

62

,

64

, to approach recess

72

of a second one of the temples

62

,

64

. As the temples can be symmetrical, it does not matter which temple provides the recess and which provides the first extension. For illustration,

FIG. 10A

shows first extension

68

a

of left temple

62

being placed near recess

72

b

of right temple

64

. At this point, the user releases or refrains from pivoting left and right frame front

27

a,b

about axis

34

and the resiliency of frame front

26

causes left and right frame front

27

a

,

27

b

to resume their original position. This causes first extension

68

a

to move toward recess

72

b

in direction

74

and recess

72

b

to receive first extension

68

a

and frictionally maintains it therein. This arrangement keeps temples

62

,

64

in a closed locked position

76

against the biasing force of hinges

22

,

24

.

As with glasses

20

, to open glasses

60

, left frame front

27

a

and right frame front

27

b

are again pivoted about axis

34

without a user applying a force to temples

62

,

64

. This causes first extension

68

a

to be removed from recess

72

b

. Now the biasing force of hinges

22

,

24

is uninhibited and temples

62

,

64

are moved to the use position as above.

While the embodiment shown shows temples

62

,

64

being formed identically, only one of these temples needs recess

72

a

or

72

b

to receive a part of the other of temple

62

,

64

.

Although the two embodiments shown describe a frame front that is flexible at axis

34

, the frame front need not be flexible if the temples are flexible enough to be received in the catches

38

a

,

38

b

,

72

a

,

72

b

. For example, in a third embodiment, if the temples are made sufficiently flexible, they can be snapped into their respective catches. Still further, the frame front and temples need not be flexible if sufficient flexibility against the action of a biasing force, e.g., a spring, is built into the hinges

22

and

24

to enable the temples to be snapped into and out of their respective catches.

Thus, by providing a spring loaded hinge to bias temples toward a use position and providing a catch to keep the temples in a closed position, the problems of the prior art are solved. A user can quickly open up his glasses and move them to a use position. Yet, the user need not store the glasses in a case while the glasses are in a folded position.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, various modes of carrying out the principles disclosed herein are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited except as otherwise set forth in the claims.