# US 2012/0236253 A1 · Frame hinge and side arm, eyeglass frame with multiple wearer connections and improved spectacle kit

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- Number: US 2012/0236253 A1
- Document ID: US20120236253A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/065,308
- Filed: 2011-03-19
- Published: 2012-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-19
- Inventors: Kenneth D. Altemare, JR.; Christopher J. Altemare
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120236253A1

## CPC

- G02C 5/2209: {Pivot bearings and hinge bolts other than screws}
- G02C 3/003: {Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use}
- G02C 5/02: Bridges; Browbars; Intermediate bars (nose engaging-surfaces G02C5/12)
- G02C 5/10: Intermediate bars or bars between bridge and side-members
- G02C 9/04: by fitting over or clamping on
- G02C 9/00: Attaching auxiliary optical parts (auxiliary optical parts per se G02C7/08 - G02C7/16)
- G02C 2200/08: Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses
- G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00)

## Abstract

A spectacle kit is disclosed having a protective mask insert and detachable means for attaching a spectacle frame to the protective mask insert, by snapping the receiver onto an insert clip. Notch attachments connect a holding strap at each horizontal end of the spectacle frame so that the spectacle kit can be worn around the wearer's head external from the protective mask. Each front piece end also has a hinge and side arm combination, each hinge having a back wall, top region, bottom region and connector pin between that forms an arcuate-shaped gap between each back wall and connector pin. Each side arm for that hinge comprises an elongate side that terminates in a region fitting over the wearer's ear; and an arcuate region for fitting into the gap between the hinge back wall and connector pin when: (i) positioned at an angle between about 20 and 75 degrees relative to the main frame body; (ii) slid into the gap; and (iii) rotated about the connector pin away from the main frame.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hinge and side arm combination for an eyeglass frame which combination permits repeated connecting and disconnecting of the side arm to the hinge, said eyeglass frame having a hinge and side arm combination at each frame end,
(a) each hinge comprising: a back wall, a top region, a bottom region and a connector pin between the top and bottom regions for forming an arcuate-shaped gap between the back wall and the connector pin; and
(b) each side arm comprising: an elongate side that terminates in a region fitting over an ear of the eyeglass frame wearer; and an arcuate region for fitting into the gap between the back wall and connector pin of the hinge but only when: (i) positioned at an angle between about 20 and 75 degrees relative to the eyeglass frame; (ii) slid into the gap; and (iii) rotated about the connector pin in a direction away from the eyeglass frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hinge and side arm combination of claim 1, wherein the arcuate region is fitted for connecting to the hinge when positioned between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the eyeglass frame.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hinge and side arm combination of claim 2, wherein the arcuate region is fitted for connecting to the hinge when positioned between about 40 and 50 degrees relative to the eyeglass frame.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hinge and side arm combination of claim 1, wherein the connector pin of the hinge is substantially columnar.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The hinge and side arm combination of claim 4, wherein the connector pin has opposed flat sides.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hinge and side arm combination of claim 1, wherein the arcuate region is more than about fifty-five percent (55%) of a circle in cross-section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The hinge and side arm combination of claim 6, wherein the arcuate region is more than about seventy-five percent (75%) of a circle in cross-section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hinge and side arm combination of claim 1 which do not require snap fitting about the connector pin of the hinge.

### Claim 9

An eyeglass frame with easily connecting/disconnecting side temple arms, said frame comprising:
a main body with left and right lens holding areas, said main body having at opposite ends a hinge and temple arm combination with a first component of said combination including:
a back wall, a top region, a bottom region and a columnar connector spaced between the top and bottom regions so as to form a gap between the back wall and the columnar connector;
and a second combination component including:
an arcuate region for fitting into the gap between the back wall and columnar connector of the first combination component but only when:
(i) positioned at an angle between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the main body,
(ii) slid into the gap without having to snap about any portion of the columnar connector; and
(iii) rotated into the gap away from the main body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The eyeglass frame of claim 9 wherein at least one hinge and temple arm connection includes an elongate member that terminates at one end with a second combination component.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The eyeglass frame of claim 9 wherein both hinge and temple arm connections include an elongate member that terminates at one end with a second combination component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The eyeglass frame of claim 9 wherein at least one hinge and temple arm connection includes an elongate member that terminates at one end with a first combination component.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The eyeglass frame of claim 12 wherein the elongate member with the first combination component and the elongate member with the second combination component are able to interconnect for storage when not connected to the eyeglass frame.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The eyeglass frame of claim 9 wherein the arcuate region is fitted for connecting when positioned between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the main body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The eyeglass frame of claim 14 wherein the arcuate region is fitted for connecting when positioned between about 40 and 50 degrees relative to the main body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The eyeglass frame of claim 9 wherein the arcuate region is between about fifty-five percent (55%) to seventy-five percent (75%) of a circle in cross-section.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The eyeglass frame of claim 9 wherein the main body includes a notched recess on an exterior to each opposite end, and said eyeglass frame further includes at least one of:
(a) a full front shield for connecting to the main body in one or more of:
(i) a central region between the left and right lens holding areas; and
(ii) a protrusion sized or shaped for fitting within the notched recess at each opposite end;
(b) a pair of side safety shields, each side shield having a protrusion sized or shaped for fitting in the notched recess at each opposite end; and
(c) a strap having a connector at opposite ends, said connector sized or shaped to fit in the notched recess of the main body exterior.

### Claim 18

An eyeglass frame with multiple wearer connections, said frame comprising:
(a) a main body having left and right lens holding areas, said main body having a hinge connect receiver at opposite ends, each hinge connect receiver comprising a back wall, a top region, a bottom region and a columnar connector spaced between the top and bottom regions so as to form a gap between the back wall and the columnar connector;
(b) a pair of side temple arms, each arm terminating at one end in an arcuate region for fitting into the gap between the back wall and columnar connector of the hinge connect receiver but only when:
(i) positioned at an angle between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to the main body,
(ii) slid into the gap without snapping to any portion of the columnar connector; and
(iii) rotated into the gap away from the main body; and
(c) said main body further comprising at opposite ends one or more elastic strap connectors for the wearer to use with a strap for positioning about the wearer's head when the side temple arms are not connected to the main body.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The eyeglass frame of claim 18 wherein the main body includes a notched recess on an exterior to each opposite end, and said eyeglass frame further includes at least one of:
(a) a full front shield for connecting to the main body in one or more of:
(i) a central region between the left and right lens holding areas; and
(ii) a protrusion sized or shaped for fitting within the notched recess at each opposite end; and
(b) a pair of side safety shields, each side shield having a protrusion sized or shaped for fitting in the notched recess at each opposite end.

### Claim 20

In a spectacle kit article comprising: (i) a spectacle frame for holding two lenses, a bridge piece, a receiver, and notch attachment means for connecting a holding strap at each horizontal end of said spectacle frame; (ii) a removable protective mask insert for placement in a conventional, commercially available full face respirator or self contained breathing mask, said protective mask insert having an insert clip at a central location of said protective mask insert; and (iii) detachable means for attaching said spectacle frame to said removable protective mask insert, wherein said spectacle frame firmly attaches to said insert clip by snapping said receiver onto a central protrusion on said insert clip, the improvement wherein:
said spectacle frame further comprises a hinge and side arm combination at each horizontal end,
(a) each hinge comprising: a back wall, a top region, a bottom region and a connector pin between the top and bottom regions for forming an arcuate-shaped gap between the back wall and the connector pin; and
(b) each side arm comprising: an elongate side that terminates in a region fitting over an ear of the eyeglass frame wearer; and an arcuate region for fitting into the gap between the back wall and connector pin of the hinge but only when: (i) positioned at an angle between about 20 and 75 degrees relative to the front piece; (ii) slid into the gap; and (iii) rotated about the connector pin in a direction away from the front piece for use by the spectacle kit wearer.