# US 9,753,306 B2 · Eyewear with flexible bridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,306 B2 - Document ID: US9753306B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/856,273 - Filed: 2015-09-16 - Published: 2016-03-17 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-17 - Assignees: Marchon Eyewear, Inc. - Applicants: Marchon Eyewear, Inc. - Inventors: Carl Allen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753306B2 ## CPC - G02C 5/06: with resilient means - G02C 5/02: Bridges; Browbars; Intermediate bars (nose engaging-surfaces G02C5/12) - G02C 5/18: reinforced - G02C 5/008: {Spectacles frames characterized by their material, material structure and material properties} - G02C 5/16: resilient or with resilient parts - G02C 2200/16: Frame or frame portions made from rubber - 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 Eyewear comprises a first frame portion that is configured to retain a first lens therein, a second frame portion that is configured to retain a second lens therein, a first temple that is coupled to the first frame portion, a second temple that is coupled to the second frame portion, and a flexible bridge that is positioned intermediate the first frame portion and the second frame portion. In some embodiments, the flexible bridge is formed from a flexible polymer material and a shape-retaining alloy metal at least partially embedded in the flexible polymer material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Eyewear comprising: a. a first non-metallic frame portion that is configured to retain a first lens therein; b. a second non-metallic frame portion that is configured to retain a second lens therein; c. a first temple coupled to the first non-metallic frame portion; d. a second temple coupled to the second non-metallic frame portion; and e. a flexible bridge positioned intermediate the first non-metallic frame portion and the second non-metallic frame portion, wherein: i. the flexible bridge is formed from a flexible material and a shape-retaining alloy metal, wherein the shape-retaining alloy metal includes a first end and a second end, and ii. the shape-retaining alloy metal is one of (1) fully encased and free floating within the flexible material that forms the flexible bridge, or (2) surrounded by the flexible material intermediate the first end of the shape-retaining alloy metal and the second end of the shape-retaining alloy metal so that the first end of the shape-retaining alloy metal is embedded in the first non-metallic frame portion and the second end is embedded in the second non-metallic frame portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the flexible bridge is integrally formed with the first non-metallic frame portion and the non-metallic second frame portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining alloy metal is embedded in the first non-metallic frame first portion and the second non-metallic frame portion and extends substantially from proximate where the first temple couples to the first non-metallic frame portion to proximate where the second temple couples to the second non-metallic frame portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is translucent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the first and second non-metallic frame portions are formed from a first polymer material and the flexible polymer is formed from a second polymer material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The eyewear of claim 5, wherein the first polymer material and the second polymer material are the same material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining alloy metal between the first end and the second end is a unitary component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The eyewear of claim 1, further comprising a first lens and a second lens. ### Claim 9 An eyewear frame comprising: a. a frame having a first area configured to retain a first lens and a second area configured to contain a second lens; b. a flexible bridge portion that couples the first area to the second area, wherein the flexible bridge allows the second frame area to bend with respect to the first frame area at an angle from substantially between 10 degrees and 90 degrees, wherein the flexible bridge portion is formed from a memory metal that is fully encased within and free floating within a flexible material; c. a first temple coupled to the first area; and d. a second temple coupled to the second area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The eyewear frame of claim 9, wherein the memory metal is a shape-retaining alloy metal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The eyewear frame of claim 9, wherein the first area and the second area are integrally formed with the flexible bridge portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The eyewear frame of claim 9, wherein the first temple is pivotally coupled to the first area and the second temple is pivotally coupled to the second area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The eyewear frame of claim 9, wherein the first temple and the second temple comprise shape-retaining memory metal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The eyewear frame of claim 13, wherein the shape-retaining memory metal of the first temple and the second temple are embedded in a respective flexible polymer material. ### Claim 15 An eyewear frame comprising: a. an upper frame portion that extends from a first end to an opposite second end, wherein the upper frame portion comprises a first non-metallic portion that is configured to retain a first lens therein, a second non-metallic portion that is configured to retain a second lens therein, and a bridge portion intermediate the first non-metallic portion and the second non-metallic portion; b. a first temple coupled to the first non-metallic portion proximate the first end; and c. a second temple coupled to the second non-metallic portion proximate the second end, wherein the bridge portion comprises a shape-retaining memory metal that includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the shape-retaining memory metal is fully surrounded by a flexible material intermediate the first end and the second end of the shape-retaining memory metal so that the first end of the shape-retaining memory metal is embedded in the first non-metallic portion that is configured to retain a first lens therein and the second end is embedded in the second non-metallic portion that is configured to retain a first lens therein. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The eyewear frame of claim 15, wherein the first portion of the upper frame portion and the second portion of the upper frame portion are formed from a polymer material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The eyewear frame of claim 15, wherein the shape-retaining memory metal between the first end and the second end is a unitary component.