US 5,416,536 A · Eyeglass lens piece with rear view reflective surfaces

Abstract

An aerodynamic eyeglass lens piece which integrally combines a central inboard transparent section with laterally outboard mirror sections, thus enabling a forward facing user to see objects in front as well as behind. The lens piece sections form one agonic lens piece comprising: a light transmissive transparent section and fully reflective mirror sections. The mirror sections have an anatomical shape permitting unhindered over the shoulder viewing for bicycle riding. Several enhancements allow the lens piece to be interchangeable with tinted or clear alternatives. In the preferred eyeglass embodiment of the invention, the lens piece is selectively adjustable to a variety of operative positions. These enhancements serve to provide added versatility, fine tuning and custom fitting for the user. An alternate embodiment fits the lens piece to the existing sport helmet of the user. This helmet eyeshield embodiment functions in substantially the same way as the eyeglass embodiment with the added advantage of the user being able to use prescription glasses with the eyeshield. By virtue of the rearward viewing made possible by either lens piece embodiment, the user can achieve a panoramic view. This permits good spatial orientation thus improving safety for bicyclists and other sport participants in a way that is technically satisfying yet aesthetically pleasing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An eyeglass lens piece configured for both forward and rearward viewing, said eyeglass lens piece adapted by a supporting means on the head and centered a predetermined space distance in front of the user's eyes, the lens piece comprising in an integrated unit:

(a) at least one substantially spheroidally curved transparent section extending between, in front of, above, and below said user's eyes and a space distance laterally from the sides of said user's eyes to the approximate sides of the user's head;
(b) at least one mirror section tangentially oriented to an edge of the transparent section, said mirror section extending laterally outward from within the side of, to externally beyond the side of the user's head;
(c) said mirror section positioned in the near proximity and with predetermined focal distance to the user's eye;
(d) said tangentially oriented mirror section having a tangentially angular orientation out of the normal perpendicular plane of the transparent section and may be further canted downward from the vertical, permitting targeted views of objects to the rear;
(e) said mirror section covering an area defined by a preferably small fractional portion of a corresponding margin of the transparent section and continuing uniformly to include an adjoining area extending externally beyond the side the user's head;
(f) said area of the mirror section thus defined leaving a remainder of said corresponding margin of the transparent section totally unobstructed for peripheral vision to the sides, thereby permitting a full range of unhindered forward vision.

3 more elements

A unitary eyeglass lens piece including an outboard viewing means extending laterally beyond the sides of a user's head for seeing objects behind the forward facing user comprising:

(a) a centrally inboard and spheroidally curved transparent section for forward viewing having a convex front face and a substantially parallel concave rear face and extending between, in front of, above, and below the user's eyes and a space distance laterally from the sides of the user's eyes to the approximate sides of the user's head;
(b) said outboard viewing means for seeing objects behind the forward facing user comprising:
at least one mirror section angled backward away from the normal perpendicular plane of the transparent section and laterally located at either distal outboard extremity from the associate transparent section and extending outward from within the side, to externally beyond the side, of the user's head;
(c) said mirror section positioned in the near proximity and at an adequate space distance for the user to momentarily focus his eyesight thereon;
(d) said mirror section covering an area defined by a preferably small fractional portion of a corresponding margin of the transparent section and continuing uniformly to include an adjoining area extending externally outboard beyond the side of the user's head, thus permitting targeted views of objects to the rear along a line of sight substantially parallel to the side of the user's head;
(e) said area of said mirror section thus defined leaving a remainder of said corresponding margin of the transparent section totally unobstructed for peripheral vision to the sides, thereby permitting a full range of unhindered forward vision.

3 more elements

In an integral combination, a unitary eyeglass lens piece configured for both forward vision and for seeing targeted objects behind a forward facing user, said unitary eyeglass lens piece disposed in a supporting means for mounting the lens piece on the head of the user, said integral combination comprising:

(a) a spheroidally formed transparent section centrally positioned a predetermined space distance in front of and extending between, above and below the user's eyes and a space distance laterally from the sides of the user's eyes to the approximate sides of the user's head;
(b) at least one integrally incorporated mirror section located outboard at either extreme edge of the associate inboard transparent section and extending laterally outward from within a side of the user's head, to externally beyond said side of the user's head;
(c) the mirror section being positioned in the near proximity and with sufficient space distance for focusing the user's eye, and further having a tangentially angular orientation to the normal perpendicular plane of the transparent section;
(d) the mirror section covering an area defined by a preferably small fractional portion of a corresponding margin of the transparent section and continuing uniformly to include an adjoining area extending externally beyond said side of the user's head, thus permitting targeted views of objects to the rear along a line of sight substantially parallel to said side of the user's head;
(e) said area of the mirror section thus defined leaving a remainder of said corresponding margin of the transparent section totally unobstructed for peripheral vision to the sides, thereby permitting a full range of unhindered forward vision as well.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Eyeglass lens piece with rear view reflective surfaces

Life of this patent

Eyeglass lens piece with rear view reflective surfaces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20