EP0187151A4

EP0187151A4 - Cushioning compliant support means for use with, and in combination with, ophthalmic articles.

Info

Publication number: EP0187151A4
Application number: EP19850902794
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Donald Borsos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-30
Filing date: 1985-05-10
Publication date: 1986-09-24
Also published as: WO1985005700A1; JPS61502287A; EP0187151A1

Abstract

A cushioning support member, in a first embodiment comprising a sealed tube (12), which confines a fluent material therewithin, and in a second embodiment comprises a flexible compliant band (12b). The device is integral with, or attachable to (by adhesion, fastening, clippling, etc.), the bridge (20) of an ophthalmic article, thereby to cushion the setting of the article by freely conforming, continuously along its length, to the shape of the nose of the wearer of the article, as well as to inhibit slippage of the article along the nose.

Description

DESCRIPTION

CUSHIONING COMPLIANT SUPPORT MEANS FOR USE WITH, AND IN COMBINATION WITH, OPHTHALMIC ARTICLES

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention pertains to cushioning and conforming means for/ and in combination with/ ophthalmic articles/ such as corrective eyeglasses or sunglasses or the like/ and in particular to improved cushioning compliant support means of the type aforesaid which are more freely conformable to the configuration of the nose of the wearer of the article.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Cushioning means for and in combination with/ ophthalmic articles are well known in the prior art and/ exemplary thereof, U.S. Patent No. 4/070/104/ issued to oodrow R. Rice on 24 January 1978/ for a Nose Pad for Eyeglasses/ discloses the nature of the prior art. Patentee Rice teaches the use of nosepiece air cushions at opposite sides of the bridge of eyeglasses at points on the sides of the nose of the wearer.

The teaching of patentee rice surely advanced the comfort of eyeglass users/ and yet his air cushions merely provide soft rather than hard contacts on a very small area on either side of the nose/ and not a means supporting the conforming to the broad surface/ and hard top of the nose of the eyeglass wearer. The patentee's air cushions comprise a series of parallel/ closed air chambers. Accordingly/ the entrapped cushioning air is restrained in very closed spaces; it is not free to flow/ from one end of the cushion to the other/ as would be most desirable/ in order for the cushion to freely conform to the configuration of the nose.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention/ I provide a cushioning support member for use with ophthalmic articles such as corrective eyeglasses or sunglasses/ or the like/ which have a lens-joining bridge/ comprising extended cushion means/ for fixing thereof to an ophthalmic article lengthwise of the bridges thereof/ for cushioningly supporting the article upon the nose of a wearer of such article; said extended cushion means having means for attaching said cushion means to/, or being a part of/ such an opthalmic article circumferen- tially relative to the nose of a wearer of such article; and where said cushion means is compliant fully length¬ wise thereof/ intermediate said opposite ends thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further objects of this invention/ as well as the novel features thereof/ will become more apparent by reference to the following description/ taken in con¬ junction with the accompanying figures/ in which:

FIGURE 1 is a frontal/ elevational view of an embodi- ment of the novel cushioning compliant support means shown in accordance with the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a frontal view of an alternative e bodi- ment of the invention/ the same comprising a fore¬ shortened cushioning compliant support means for use only above the bridge of the nose/ or for use/ in com¬ bination with another thereof/ for use along the sides of the nose; and FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of yet another/ alter¬ native embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

As shown in the figures/ a first embodiment of the novel cushioning support means 10 comprises an element 12 which is of a cushiony and compliant material/ or is sealed and confines therewithin a fluent material 16 which/ in this embodiment/ is oil.

Fastening means 18 are provided at the ends 14 and 14a and selected places along the length of the element 12/ for fixing the element fast to the bridge 20 and/or rims 22 of the lens of the ophthalmic article 24.

Cushioning compliant support means 10/ of course/ has a sufficient length to wholly bridge^' across/ and lie over the nose of the wearer of the ophthalmic article 24. Hence/ the means 10 fully overlies the bridge and part of the sides of the nose/ and th oil 16/ for being fluent/ migrates to conform the element 12 to the con¬ figuration of the nose. By this menas/ the oil-filled element 12 will gently engage the nose fully there- across/ adapt to its shape/ and distribute the weight of the article 24 uniformly along an extended area of con¬ tact. This is what provides an uncommon comfort. Yet/ as the element is brought into gentle engagement with the surface of the nose/ fully along the length/ or sub¬ stantially fully along the length of the element 12/ the latter exhibits an extended/ frictional large area engagement with the nose surface and/ therefrom/ it inhibits slippage of the ophthalmic article 24 therefrom. FIGURE 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of the cushioning compliant support means 10a from which sub¬ stantially the same benefits/ as obtained from the FIGURES 1 and 2 embodiment/ flow. Here/ however/ the means 10a comprises a foreshortened element 12a. Element 12a also has fluent material therewithin/ or is of a cushiony compliant material/ and has fastening elements 18. Element 12a may be fixed to the bridge 20 of an ophthalmic article for interpositioning between the latter and the bridge of the nose. Alternatively/ a pair of elements 12a may be fixed to the article for interpositioning between the latter and the sides of the nose. Optionally/ both practices may be used/ with two of three of said elements 12a deployed as aforesaid over and long part of the sides of the nose. In its essentials/ the invention comprises the dis¬ closure of improved cushioning support means which are compliant fully lengthwise thereof/ intermediate the ends thereof/ and particularly such means which are freely conformable to the configuration of the nose of the wearer of the ophthalmic article continuously along the length of the cushion means. In these respects at least/ the novel means clearly distinguish the prior art. To this end/ the invention comprises another embodiment/ 10b/ as shown in FIGURE 4 , in which the cushion means 12b comprises a compliant strap. The ends of the strap also have fastening elements 18 thereat for fixing the same to the article 24. Patently, the strap freely con¬ forms to the configuration of the nose continuously along the length thereof between the ends thereof/ and may be gas or fluid filled for additional conformance and comfort.

A short web or flexible support 26 may be fixed to, or made integral with/ an intermediate portion of the strap 12b/ for fastening thereof to the bridge 20/ for holding the intermediate portion in place when the eye¬ glasses are not being worn. Alternatively/ however, the web 26 may be dispensed with/ or the strap 12b may be made slightly thicker/ hence more substantial/ to cause the internediate portion thereof to retain an arcuate shape in elevation.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof/ it is to be clearly understood that this done only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention/ as set forth in the objects thereof/ and in the appended claims. For example/ in lieu of fastening elements 18/ the cushioning support means could be built into the bridge or could be fabricated with adhesive/ clips/ or other fastening devices/ which releasably or permanently latch to the ophthalmic article. Also in the illustrated embodiment/ the fluent material is disclosed to be oil. However/ anyb fluent material or a cushiony compliant element/ or combinations thereof/ are comprehended by the invention. Such may comprise gas/ gelatinous sub- stances, liquids of differing types, and the like/ as well as a compliant cushion of cellular or other yield¬ ing ^~ r resilient material. These and other variations and modifications of the invention/ as will occur to others by taking teachings from the disclosure, are deemed to be within the ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. Cushioning compliant support means/ for use with ophthalmic articles such as corrective eyeglasses or sunglasses or the like/ which have a lens-joining bridge/ comprising: extended/ cushion means, for fixing thereof to an ophthalmic article lengthwise of the nosepiece thereof/ for cushioningly and conformingly supporting the article upon the nose of a wearer of such article; said extended cushion means having means at opposite ends thereof for attaching said cushion means to such an ophthalmic article circumferentially relative to the nose of a wearer of such articler and wherein said cushion means is compliant/ fully lengthwise thereof/ intermediate said opposite ends thereof/ and being freely and continuously conformable/ along its length/ to the configuration of the nose of a wearer of the article.

2. Cushioning support means, according to Claim 1/ wherein: said cushion means comprises a tubular element defingin a chamber therewithin; and said chamber confines a fluent material there¬ within. 3. Cushioning support means/ according to Claim 2 , wherein: said fluent material comprises at least one material taken from a group consisting of liquid/ oil, gelatin, viscous/ and gas.

4. Cushioning compliant support means/ according to Claim 2/ wherein: said tubular element has a length which is adequate for fully overlying the bridge and part of the sides of the nose of a wearer of such article.

5. Cushioning compliant support means/ according to Claim 1/ wherein: said cushion means comprises a compliant strap.

6. Cushioning compliant support means according to Claim 5/ wherein: said strap has a length significantly greater than the distance which obtains between the lens of the ophthalmic article to which said strap is to be fixed. 7. Cushioning compliant support means/ according to Claim 6/ further including: means coupled to said strap, intermediate the length thereof, for attaching to the bridge of an ophthalmic article pendantly to support said strap from such bridge. 8. In combination with an ophthalmic article/ such as corrective eyeglasses or sunglasses/ or the like, which has a lens-joining bridge/ cushioning compliant support means for the article/ comprising: extended/ cushion means/ fixed to said article lengthwise of the nosepiece thereof/ for cushioningly conformingly supporting the article upon the nose of a wearer of the article; said cushion means having attachment means at opposite ends thereof fixing said cushion means to said article circumferentially relative to the nose of a wearer of the article; and wherein said cushion means comprises means compliant/ fully lengthwise thereof/ intermediate said opposite ends thereof conformable to the configuration of the bridge and sides of the nose of a wearer of the article continuously along the length of said cushion means between said ends thereof.