Interchangeable Hinge for Modular Eyewear

Abstract

A wearable lightweight, adjustable, and comfortable modular eyewear with multiple interchangeable components includes: a central frame with two eyeglass supporting members, lenses, temple and hinge. The assembly has a hinge which is designed to fit the frames. The fronts and temples are grooved to allow the hinge to fit snuggly into the grooves. The hinge is flexible that it will allow the temples to flex 180+ degrees.

Claims

1. A modular eyewear with multiple interchangeable components, comprising: a) a central frame haying at least two eyeglass lenses and a bridge member symmetrically positioned between and connecting said two lens supporting members, said central frame having a front and a back and having peripheral sides, and frame ends having side portions extending backward from opposing lateral sides of the central flame, the side portion of each frame end having an attachment lock; b) The modular eyewear where the fronts and temples of the frames made of plastic and is grooved so that the hinge, which is U-shaped, will slide into the groove. c) The modular eyewear pith multiple interchangeable components of claim 1 wherein said frame and said temple members is molded plastic. d) The modular eyewear with multiple interchangeable of claim 1 wherein said invention is molded plastic selected from the group consisting of rigid plastic and semi-rigid plastic. e) The modular eyewear has hinge which will be made of high resilient plastic such as silicone and will allow for 180-degree movability. f) The modular eyewear has no screws or other hardware needed for assembly. The hinge is also universal so 1 hinge will fit both the left side and the right side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates the hinge part, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates the groove part, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates the groove, hinge, and frames part, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0041] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

[0042] The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0044] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0045] The present invention as directed for modular eyewear includes: a central frame with two eyeglass supporting members, otherwise known as the frame front; an eyeglass located in each of the two eyeglass supporting members; at least two removable interchangeable temples attached to the frame; quick release hinges for removing and attaching temples to the frame front.

[0046] The central frame has a front, a back and peripheral sides, and has at least two eyeglass supporting members for support two lenses and has a bridge member symmetrically positioned between and connecting the two eyeglass supporting members, for resting directly or indirectly on the nose of a user.

[0047] The fronts and temples of the frames will be made of high-quality resilient plastic and is grooved so that the U-shaped hinge (100), will slide into the groove (301). The hinge (100) will be made of silicone—that will allow for 180 degree move ability but will go back into place. There will be no screws or other hardware needed for this to work. The hinge is also universal so 1 hinge will fit both the left side and the right side. The connection is a male-female one, where the hinge fitting is U-shaped on both sides and it slides into the grooves of the frame front and the temple.

[0048] As mentioned, an eyeglass lens is located in each of two eyeglass supporting members, and the eyeglass lens is selected from the group consisting of non-prescription glass, prescription glass, non-prescription plastic, prescription plastic and combinations thereof. Any of these may or may not be safety glasses.

[0049] There are at least two temple members, hinged and connected to the central frame at opposite ends thereof. Preferably, there is one hinge member on each side (left and right temples) which will allow quick release mechanisms and are connected to the frame at opposite ends thereof and each connected to one of the temple members, so as to permit quick release of each of at least a portion of the temple member for interchangeability with other mechanically similar, different temple members. The frame front attaches to the hinge which attaches to the temple. With this invention, a user may wear the modular eyewear with matching, non-matching, or substitute temple members.

[0050] While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.

[0051] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0052] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.