Cylindrical lens for sunglasses
AssigneeOakley, Inc.
InventorJames H. Jannard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a cylindrical lens for use in a pair of sunglasses, comprising a unitary pane of transparent material curved about an axis and having a substantially constant radius such that the lens defines a portion of the wall of a cylinder. The arc length measured from a first distal end along the lens to a second distal end is within the range of about 51/2 to about 7 inches so that the lens covers both eyes of the wearer and effectively shields the eyes from peripheral as well as direct bright light. The lens may have either a uniform thickness throughout, or may taper from a greater thickness in a region centered about the midpoint, generally above the nose of a wearer, to a lesser thickness near the peripheral ends of the lens.
Claims16
An arcuately molded lens for eyeglasses, said lens being mounted on the wearer by means of an eyeglass frame having a lens-receiving portion and a pair of ear stems, and suitable for participation in active sports, such as biking, skiing, and the like, said lens comprising:
- a unitary lens having an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge having a nosepiece opening formed therein for mounting said lens on the nose of the wearer, thereby mounting said lens, in cooperation with said eyeglass frame, on the head of the wearer, said upper edge of said lens having a generally upwardly arcuate configuration to maximize the surface area of said lens above the eye level of said wearer in order to intercept light rays incident from above,
- said lens having a bright portion over said nosepiece opening, the distance separating the lower edge of the bridge portion and the top of the lens being defined as d.sub.1, and the distance separating the bottom edge of the lens and the top of the lens being defined as d.sub.2, wherein d.sub.1 is in the range between about 3/4 inch and 1/2 inches, and d.sub.2 is in the range from about 13/4 inches to 23/4 inches, said dimensions providing optimum interception of light rays while allowing sufficient ventilation around the face of the wearer while participating in active sports,
- said lens having in its as-molded condition an arcuate cross-sectional configuration wherein the arc length (L) of said lens is in the range of about 51/2 to about 7 inches, and wherein the plane of said lens substantially defines a portion of the wall of a cylinder,
- said lens having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface, and a thickness therebetween, wherein the radius (R.sub.1) from the axis of said cylinder to an arc defining said inner concave surface is a substantially constant radius in the range of about 21/2 inches to about 41/2 inches;
- and
- means for mounting said lens on said lens-receiving portion of said frame.
An arcuately molded lens for eyeglasses for participation in active sports, such as biking, skiing, and the like, said lens comprising:
- a single pane, unitary lens having a top edge and a bottom edge, said bottom edge having a nosepiece opening formed therein for mounting said lens on the nose of the wearer,
- said lens having a bridge portion over said nosepiece opening, the distance separating the lower edge of the bridge portion and the top edge of the lens being defined as d.sub.1 and the distance separating the top edge of the lens and the bottom edge of the lens being defined as d.sub.2, wherein d.sub.1 is in the range of about 3/4 inch to 11/2 inches, and d.sub.2 is in the range of about 13/4 inches to 23/4 inches, said dimensions providing optimum interception of light rays while allowing sufficient ventilation around the face of the wearer while participating in active sports,
- said lens having in its as-molded condition an arcuate cross-sectional configuration wherein the arc length (L) of said lens is in the range of from about 51/2 inches to 7 inches, and wherein the plane of said lens lies substantially in a cylinder,
- said lens having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface and a thickness therebetween, wherein the radius (R.sub.1) from the axis of said cylinder to an arc defining said inner concave surface is a substantially constant radius in the range of about 2.5 inches to about 4.5 inches, and wherein the ratio of d.sub.2 to L is in the range of from about 0.30 to about 3.50.
An arcuately molded lens for eyeglasses, said lens being suitable for participation in active sports, such as biking, skiing, and the like, said lens comprising:
- a single pane, unitary lens having an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge having a nosepiece opening formed therein for mounting said lens on the nose of the wearer,
- the distance separating the upper edge and the lower edge of the lens being in the range of from about 13/4 inches to about 23/4 inches,
- said lens having an arcuate cross-section configuration in its as-molded condition which substantially defines the wall of a cylinder,
- said lens having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface and a thickness therebetween, wherein the radius (R.sub.1) from the axis of said cylinder to an arc defining said inner concave surface is a substantially constant radius in the range of about 21/2 inches to about 41/4 inches.
An arcuately molded lens for eyeglasses, said lens being suitable for participation in active sports, such as biking, skiing, and the like, said lens comprising:
- a single pane, unitary lens having an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge having a nosepiece opening formed therein for mounting said lens on the nose of the wearer,
- said lens having an arcuate cross-sectional configuration in its as-molded condition which substantially defines the wall of a cylinder,
- said lens having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface and a thickness therebetween, wherein the radius (R.sub.1) from the axis of said cylinder to an arc defining said inner concave surface is a substantially constant radius in the range of about 21/2 inches to about 41/4 inches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.