Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02724372 2010-12-08
SUNGLASSES CLIP-ON DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sunglasses clip-on
devices for attaching
sunglass lenses to a pair of spectacle thereon by mechanically inserting the
device having the
sunglass lenses onto the bridge of the spectacle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sunglasses clip-on devices have been known for quite some time. It is
desirable for the
clip-on sunglasses to be quickly and easily attached and removed from the
spectacle so that the
user can selectively engage or disengage the clip-on sunglasses when needed.
[0003] Traditionally, there are a number of devices that have been used to
attach clip-on
sunglasses to spectacle. Examples of the traditional clip-on sunglasses
devices include those
using magnetic force to fasten the frame of the sunglass lenses to the frame
of the spectacle, or
those using a flip-over style biasing clamp to secure the sunglass lenses to
the bridge of the
spectacle. With the flip-over style clamp, a user can "flip" the sunglass
lenses skyward when the
sunglass function is not required.
[0004] There are many disadvantages associated with the magnetic clip-ons and
flip-over clamps.
The magnetic clip-ons are expensive and add weight to the spectacle which, in
turn, creates
discomfort to the user. While the flip-over clamps are not as weighty, the
generally conspicuous
and unsightly clamping mechanism takes away the aesthetic effect of the
sunglass lens.
[0005] In view of the disadvantages of the prior art clip-on devices, it is
desirable to provide a
sunglasses clip-on device which is both easy to use, inexpensive to
manufacture and also
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enhances the aesthetic of the sunglass lenses and, at the same time,
minimizing the weight
burden of the add-on sunglass lenses by having a light weight sunglasses clip-
on device.
[0006] The present invention addresses the foregoing shortcomings of the prior
art sunglasses
clip-on devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, it provides a sunglasses clip-
on device for
releasably engaging an auxiliary sunglass onto the bridge of a spectacle which
comprises a
proximal-end wall member extending vertically and in parallel with a distal-
end wall member.
The proximal-end wall member and the distal-end wall member are integrally
connected in the
middle section to form an inverted "U" shape. The distal-end wall member has a
width shorter
than the width of the bridge of the spectacle. There is provided at least two
mechanical fastener
means located at the two outboard ends of the proximal-end wall member for
receiving auxiliary
sunglass lenses. There is also provided at least two first protrusions means
provided on the
proximal-end wall member and projecting towards the at least two second
protrusions means
provided on the distal-end wall member in order to create a void, whereby the
thickness of the
voids is bigger than the thickness of the spectacle bridge for securely
engaging the sunglasses
clip-on device onto the bridge.
According to another aspect of the invention, it provides a sunglasses clip-on
device for
releasably engaging an auxiliary sunglass onto a bridge of a spectacle which
comprises a first
spectacle-facing wall member, a second spectacle-facing wall member and a
bridge-facing wall
member. The device provides at least two mechanical fastener means at each of
the outboard
ends of the first and second spectacle-facing wall members for receiving
auxiliary sunglass
lenses. There is an inverted "U" shape void joining the inboard end of the
first spectacle-facing
wall member and another inverted "U" shape void joining the inboard end of the
second
spectacle-facing wall member at the two lateral ends of the bridge-facing wall
member to form a
notch in each of the inverted "U" shape voids, whereby the thickness of the
notches is bigger
than that of the spectacle bridge for securely engaging the sunglasses clip-on
device onto the
bridge.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is described with respect to particular exemplary
embodiments
thereof and reference is accordingly made to the drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the sunglasses clip-on device in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the sunglasses clip-on device shown in FIG. I.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front side view of the sunglasses clip-on device shown in
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a rear side view of the sunglasses clip-on device shown in
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective front view of the sunglasses clip-on
device shown in
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective rear view of the sunglasses clip-on
device shown in FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the sunglasses clip-on device
shown in FIG. 1
with sunglass lenses attached thereon.
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the sunglasses clip-on device
shown in FIG. 1
with sunglass lenses attached thereon and securely attaching onto the bridge
of a user's spectacle.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective top view of FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective bottom view of FIG. 7.
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[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective front view of the sunglasses clip-on
device of another
embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective front view of the sunglasses clip-on
device of yet another
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 12A illustrates a perspective front view of the sunglasses clip-on
device of a further
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 12B illustrates a perspective front view of the sunglasses clip-on
device shown in
FIG. 12A with added metal stripe.
[0023] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective front view of the sunglasses clip-on
device shown in
FIGS. 12A and 12B without the sunglass lenses and securely attaching onto the
bridge of a
user's spectacle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The sunglasses clip-on devices of the present invention will be
described with reference
to the drawings disclosed herein.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the sunglasses clip-on device 10 in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the orientation "bottom
view" is used in
the description herein, it is meant that the viewer is looking into the distal
protrusions 101 and
proximal protrusions 102 provided on the distal-end wall member 103 and
proximal-end wall
member 104, respectively. With this "bottom view" orientation, the viewer is
also able to see the
two sunglass lens rivets 105 disposed at each outboard end of the proximal-end
wall member 104.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a top view of the sunglasses clip-on device 10 in accordance
with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention. When the orientation "top view" is used
in the description
herein, it is meant that the viewer is viewing the clip-on device from the top
and that is also how
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the device will sit on the bridge of the spectacle when in use. With this "top
view" orientation,
the view is unable to see the distal protrusions 101 or the proximal
protrusions 102 provided on
the distal-end wall member 103 and proximal-end wall member 104. However, the
viewer is
still able to see the two sunglass lens rivets 105 disposed at each outboard
ends of the clip-on
device 10.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a front view of the sunglasses clip-on device 10 in
accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. By "front", it is meant that
the viewer is looking
at the clip-on device 10 away from the user. This also means that the proximal-
end wall member
104 is closer to the viewer while the distal-end wall member 103 is further
away from the viewer.
By the same token, the distal-end wall member 103 is facing the user. With
this "front view"
orientation, the viewer is unable to see any of the distal protrusions 101,
proximal protrusions
102 or rivet 105. The viewer clearly sees the proximal-end wall member 104
and, depending on
the shape of the clip-on device 10, perhaps a small portion of the distal-end
wall member 103 (as
shown).
[0028] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the sunglasses clip-on device 10 in accordance
with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention. This is the opposite view of FIG. 3. As
in FIG. 3, with
this "rear view" orientation, the viewer is unable to see neither the distal
protrusions 101 nor the
proximal protrusions 102. However, the rivets 105 are clearly visible. The
viewer can see the
full distal-end wall member 103 but not the full proximal-end wall member 104,
except the two
outboard ends where rivets 105 are positioned.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 and viewing from the top down, the clip-on
device 10 takes on
an inverted U-shape. The two sides of the inverted "U" are defined by a distal-
end wall member
103 and proximal-end wall member 104. Proximal-end wall member 104 is
symmetrically
longer than distal-end wall member 103 in order to provide for the rivets 105
to attach the
sunglass lens 60 at each of the outboard ends of the proximal-end wall member
104. Besides the
rivets 105, at least two proximal protrusions 102 are provided on the proximal-
end wall member
104. These proximal protrusions 102 work in cooperation with the distal
protrusions 101 to form
a tight and snugly fit onto the bridge of the wearer's spectacle 70.
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[0030] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 4, the distal-end wall member 103 and
the proximal-end "
wall member 104 are symmetrical and, preferably, matching in their geometrical
shape. For
example, if the distal-end is concave, it is preferred that the proximal-end
is, correspondingly,
concave in shape. Moreover, the distal-end wall member 103 is in the middle
portion of the clip-
on device 10 and its width must be shorter, albeit very slightly, than the
bridge 701 of the
spectacle 70. The reason is that the width of the bridge 701 defines the width
of the distal-end
wall member 103 since the latter must be able to be engaged onto the inside of
bridge 701.
[0031] The width of the middle portion of the proximal-end wall member 104
generally
corresponds to the width of the distal-end wall member 103.
[0032] This "middle" portion on the clip-on device 10 is where the clipping
mechanism takes
place ¨ by cooperative clamping efforts provided by the distal protrusions 101
and proximal
protrusions 102, such that when the device 10 is being inserted onto the
bridge 701 of the
spectacle 70, the distal protrusions 101 are urging against the distal side
703 of the bridge while,
at the same time, the proximal protrusions 102 are urging against the proximal
side 702 of the
bridge.
[0033] Under this clipping mechanism, in order to produce the best tight fit,
the dimension of the
void 106 between the distal and proximal protrusions should be bigger, albeit
very slightly, than
the thickness of the bridge 701 of the spectacle 70. On the other hand, the
precise location of the
distal and proximal protrusions are not critical, so long as the distal
protrusions 101 and
proximal protrusions 102 are more or less evenly spaced apart within the
distal-end wall
member 103 and proximal-end wall member 104, respectively. Preferably and as
shown in FIGS.
1 to 4, the proximal protrusions 102 are spaced further apart than the distal
protrusions 101.
[0034] In order to provide a tight and snugly fit and to prevent or minimize
any rattling of the
clip-on device 10 while sitting on the bridge 701 of the spectacle 70, it is
preferred that at least
two distal protrusions 101 are provided to work cooperatively with at least
two proximal
protrusions 102.
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[0035] Optionally, the distal and proximal protrusions can be made of
resilient and/or flexible
materials such that these protrusions are slightly bendable. It is to be noted
that the protrusions
101 and 102 are integrated as part of the sunglasses clip-on device 10 to form
a one-piece uni-
body. It is also to be noted that the specific shape of the protrusions 101
and 102 is not
important. For example, it can be cylindrical, square, diamond or triangular
in shape.
[0036] The auxiliary sunglass lenses 60 can be fastened to the clip-on device
10 by inserting the
rivets 105 through the lens apertures 601 by using conventional methods, such
as to compress the
bulb of the rivets 105 against the lenses 60 (as shown in FIG. 6).
[0037] FIGS. 7 to 9 show the different views of the clip-on device 10 of the
instant invention
being attached to a spectacle 70.
[0038] Depending on the style of the bridge 701 of the spectacle 70 and/or the
style of the
spectacle 70 itself, the shape of the clip-on device 10 and the curvatures of
the distal-end wall
member 103 and proximal-end wall member 104 can be modified. FIG. 10 shows
another
embodiment of the clip-on device 20 in which the middle bottom portion of the
inverted "U" is
convex in design. On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the
clip-on device
30 in which not only the middle bottom portion of the inverted "U" is concave
in design, it also
rises "above" the proximal-end wall member 104.
[0039] FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate additional embodiments of the clip-on
device 40. Referring
to FIG. 12A, instead of creating a void 106 between the distal and proximal
protrusions, clip-on
device 40 utilizes two notches 401 for inserting the clip-on device 40 onto
the bridge 701 of the
spectacle 70. In order to provide for a tight and snugly fit, the dimension of
the width of the
notches 401 should correspond and be just very slightly bigger than the
thickness of the bridge
701 of the spectacle 70.
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[0040] FIG. 12B illustrates the clip-on device 40 with bendable means embedded
in the
proximal-end wall member to promote bendability of the device 40. A metal
stripe 402 is shown
thereon.
[0041] FIG. 13 illustrates clip-on device 40 being inserted and fits snugly on
bridge 701 of the
spectacle 70.
[0042] The sunglasses clip-on device 10 can be made from any plastic injection
materials.
Preferably, the device 10 is made from polyflex material. Also preferably, the
device 10 is made
from plastic injection materials which are stretchable and/or bendable.
[0043] The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is provided
for the purposes
of illustration and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention
to the embodiments
disclosed. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the
appended claims.
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