AU739479B2

AU739479B2 - Protective sports eyeglasses with buffer and shock-absorbing function

Info

Publication number: AU739479B2
Application number: AU45846/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ing Chung Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-06-16
Filing date: 1997-09-24
Publication date: 2001-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-24
Also published as: BR9714772A; TR199903080T2; NZ502340A; JP2002512548A; CN1155351C; EP0989836A4; RU2197211C2; AU4584697A; WO1998057605A1; CA2292780A1; CN1265014A; EP0989836A1

Description

P:\OPER\DC45846-97 rs2.dc-17/08/01 -1- PROTECTIVE SPORTS EYEGLASSES WITH BUFFER AND SHOCK-ABSORBING

FUNCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Common conventional protective eyeglasses such as those used in swimming, diving, cycling, etc. generally have a cushion made of an elastic material such as a sponge or foam rubber to produce soft and comfortable feeling in wearing it on a face.

However, when conventional protective eyeglasses receives strike or shock, a wearer may suffer pain, harm or wound because of poor elasticity the cushions have, limited by its thickness and its elasticity coefficient.

•oo 10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0In accordance with the invention, there is provided protective sport eyeglasses configured to be worn on a face of a user and comprising a frame defining at least one eye o :opening, a lens on the frame and at least partially covering the at least one eye opening, characterized in that: a pad is coupled to one of the frame and lens so as to contact the face 15 of a user to provide sealing or shock-absorbing functions during use, said pad being an annular hollow three-dimensional fluid cushion with a preset curvature and formed as an integral unit with said lens and said frame.

i In another aspect, there is provided a fluid cushion pad for protective sport eyeglasses configured to be worn on a face of a user and characterized in that: the cushion pad comprises a prior molded three-dimensional hollow-sealed fluid cushion having a preset curvature for attachment to said protective sport eyeglasses.

In yet another aspect, there is provided protective sport eyeglasses configured to be worn on a face of a user and having a lens for at least partially covering at least one eye opening, characterized in that: a pad is coupled to the lens so as to contact the face of a user to provide sealing or shock-absorbing functions during use, said pad being formed as an integral unit with said lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying R A drawings, wherein: WO 98/57605 PCT/US97/16669 Figure I is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of eyeglasses with buffer and shock-absorbing function in the present invention: Figure 2 is a right side view of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a bottom side view of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of line 4 4 in Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of line 5 5 in Fig. 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of line 6 6 in Fig. 1: Figure 7 is a front view of a second preferred embodiment of eyeglasses with buffer and shock-absorbing function in the present invention; Figure 8 is a right side view of Fig. 7; Figure 9 is a bottom side view of Fig. 7; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of line 10 10 in Fig. 7; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of line 11 11 in Fig. 7; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of Fig. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of Fig. 11; Figure 14 is a front view of a cushion provided with a hollow passageway in the protective sports eyeglasses in the present invention; 2 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 98/57605 PCT/US97/16669 Figure 15 is a front view of the hollow passageway cut off after the cushion is inflated in the present invention: and, Figure 16 is a front view of an air valve attached on the hollow passageway- fixed with the cushion in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first preferred embodiment of protective sports eyeglasses with buffer and shock-absorbing function in the present invention, as shown in Figs. I 6, includes a lens I and a frame 2 independent from each other and able to be firmly combined together. Further, a cushion 3 is provided with the lens I on the side contacting with the face of a wearer, formed integral with the lens at its peripheral edge, and having a hollow interior. The cushion 3 is shaped as an annular hollow 3D ring, sealed and endless, so its route is not a surface.

Further, the cushion 3 is filled with a preset pressure, permitting it contact the face of a wearer steadily and comfortably because of 3D curvature of the cushion 3. having buffer and shock-absorbing effect. The cushion 3 is made of materials having high density and low percolation, selected from polyamide, polyethylene, PolyproPelene, acetic salt of ethylene, polyester, polyamide, Polyurethane, chlorinated polyethylene, or butyl rubber. Or materials having good elasticity, flexibility, anti-low-temperature, and easy processibleness can be used as well.

-3- SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 98/57605 PCT/US97/16669 A second preferred embodiment of the protective sports eyeglasses with buffer and shock-absorbing function in the present invention is shown in Figs.

7 11, includes a lens 1 and a frame 2 formed integral with the lens 1. and a cushion 3 made independent to be attached on the frame 2. The cushion 3 is an annular hollow 3D ring with a preset curvature, not a flat two dimensions The hollow interior of the cushion 3 is filled with air pressure of a preset.value. The- frame 2 has an annular groove 21 of a preset size for the cushion 3 to fit therein with close fitness and stability.

Another preferred embodiment of that shown in Fig. 7 is shown in Figs.

12 and 13, includes a lens 1, a frame 2 having a flat surface without an annular groove 21. The annular flat surface of the frame 2 should be wide enough for attaching the cushion 3 thereon.

The cross-section of an inner or the outer shape at any point of the hollow 3D cushion 3 is all the same or not the same, of any geometric shape. As the cushion 3 is made to have a hollow 3D shape closely contacting the face of a user, and a preset pressure in the hollow interior to minimize sport harm or wound with its buffer and shock-absorbing function in practical use, thus Protecting the face from hurt.

The inner buffer pressure filled in the cushion 3 may be preferably in the scope of 0 40 psi, and then different buffer pressure can be selected for 4 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) different objects and different conditions, able to be chosen by consumers. So at least one hollow passageway 30 may be added to the cushion 3, communicating the cushion 3 with outer air, as shown in Figs. 14 16, for connecting an air valve 301, a valve, a pump. or the like so as to fill the hollow interior of the cushion 3 with a gas, a semi-fluid, a fluid, a liquid or low-percolating large particle gas such as SF6, C2F6, etc.

An inner pressure of the cushion 3 not communicating with outer air is :.."produced with a special method, such as a process with a hollow mold placed in an air pressure container, forming a sealed cushion 3 with the same inner 10 pressure as that in the air pressure container, which is preset in advance.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention have been described i ~above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

eeee The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not i be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as Po "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

1. Protective sport eyeglasses configured to be worn on a face of a user and comprising a frame defining at least one eye opening, a lens on the frame and at least partially covering the at least one eye opening, characterized in that: a pad is coupled to one of the frame and lens so as to contact the face of a user to provide sealing or shock-absorbing functions during use, said pad being an annular hollow three-dimensional fluid cushion with a preset curvature and formed as an integral unit with said lens and said frame.

2. The protective sport eyeglasses of claim 1, characterized in that said pad and frame are made from the same material as said lens.

3. The protective sport eyeglasses of claim 1, characterized in that said pad is a i molded three-dimensional hollow-sealed cushion that is non-releasably filled to a predetermined pressure with a fluid material.

4. The protective sport eyeglasses of claim 3, characterized in that the fluid material comprises a low-percolating large particle gas.

The protective sport eyeglasses of claim 3, characterized in that the fluid material comprises a liquid.

6. A fluid cushion pad for protective sport eyeglasses configured to be worn on a face of a user and characterized in that: the cushion pad comprises a prior molded three- dimensional hollow-sealed fluid cushion having a preset curvature for attachment to said protective sport eyeglasses.

7. The fluid cushion pad for protective sport eyeglasses of claim 6, characterized in that the cushion includes at least one hollow tube extending therefrom for inflating the cushion.

8. The fluid cushion pad for protective sport eyeglasses of claim 6, characterized in -7 that the pad further includes a pump for inflating said cushion. A 4 P \OPER\DHF4584697 rs2 doc-170&01 -7-

9. The fluid cushion pad for protective sport eyeglasses of claim 8, characterized in that the pad further includes a valve.

The fluid cushion pad for protective sport eyeglasses of claim 6, characterized in that the hollow, sealed cushion is made from a high density, low-percolation material.

11. The fluid cushion pad for protective sport eyeglasses of claim 10, characterized in that the high density, low percolation material is a material selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene, acetic salt of o ethylene, polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, chlorinated polyethylene, butyl 10 rubber and mixtures thereof.

12. Protective sport eyeglasses configured to be worn on a face of a user and having a lens for at least partially covering at least one eye opening, characterized in that: a pad is coupled to the lens so as to contact the face of a user to provide sealing or shock-absorbing functions during use, said pad being formed as an integral unit with said lens.

13. The protective sport eyeglasses of claim 14, characterized in that the lens and pad ooo•• S• are integrally formed of the same material.

14. Eyeglasses, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. A fluid cushion pad, substantially as hereinbefore described with referenced to the drawings. DATED this 17 t h day of August, 2001 Ing-Chung Huang by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant