Abstract: The preferred embodiment provides a stopwatch mounted in a lens, goggle, mask or shield for use by a swimmer or other goggle wearer to observe elapsed time during, or countdown time prior to, an activity.

Abstract: A shield comprising a thin elongated transparent flexible member having an upper flat edge, a pair of spaced convex edges spaced apart and located opposite the flat edge for forming a pair of spaced planar portions. The planar portions extend between the flat edge and the convex edges, with the convex edges being joined by a concave edge located opposite the flat edge and between the convex edges which defines a narrowed webbed portion extending integrally between the planar portions. An elongated deformable flexible sealing member extends along the flat edge between the distal ends of the flexible member and a second elongated deformable flexible sealing member extends continuously along the convex edges and the concave edge between the distal ends of the flexible member.

Abstract: The Speech Therapy Translator converts minimal manipulations to aural conversation using basic words and statements necessary for rehabilitating patients who are speech handicapped. The system is also used for language and minor utterance translation. Applications in the fields of animal sound and language translation, Linguistic Anthropology, and aids to the permanently speech-handicapped are evident. The main feature of the system is that the sight sense is not needed for fluent conversation. There are three primary modes of operation.The first mode is DC switch excitation. The switches are attached to the fingers, eyelids or convenient movable positions on the body. The second mode of operation utilizes audio microphone inputs. The microphones, with sufficient amplification, are sensitive to touch excitation. The microphones are also activated by various pulse-type sounds. These sounds are in the nature of clicks, whistles, or cricket sounds.

Abstract: Swim goggles have a pair of eye pieces, each eye piece having a lens with an essentially rigid peripheral frame. Each eye piece has a seal assembly which includes a seal holder and a seal gasket. The seal holder is secured to the frame and has a pair of spaced flanges extending in a direction generally away from the respective lens. Space between the flanges of the seal holder provides a groove extending around the eye piece and the seal holder is resiliently deformable but relatively stiff. The seal gasket is fitted within the space between the flanges and has an outer face standing clear of the flanges to contact the wearer's face. The seal gasket is resiliently deformable and softer than the seal holder to provide a secure but comfortable seal with the wearer's face. Selection of the relative resiliences of the seal holder and seal gasket permits accommodation to a wide variety of faces and extends use of the goggles. A swim mask with single lens provided with a seal assembly as above is an alternative.

Abstract: A water-proof optical grid for correcting optical defects comprises an intermediate grid formed by two perpendicularly arranged series of dark and opaque bars integrally connected to each other in order to form an integral network, all of said bars having a triangular cross section with the base of the triangle facing the eyes of the wearer and the vertex away therefrom, whereby to form square openings having their smaller areas facing the eyes and their larger areas away from the eyes, the ratio of said smaller areas to said larger areas being of from 1:36 to 1:2.25, preferably 1:4, said smaller area of each square opening being of from 0.04 to 4 mm.sup.2, preferably 1 mm.sup.2, and said bars being 1 mm wide, said grid being sandwiched between a pair of transparent plates contiguous thereto in order to avoid the entrance of water into said square opening of the grid when the thus formed laminate or sandwich is submerged in water.

Abstract: A prism lens attached to the window of a diving mask at a position laterally removed from the normal line of sight through the window and having a planar surface (22) and a spaced spherical surface (24) with a chord (26) of the spherical surface (24) disposed at an acute angle relative to the planar surface (22) for magnifying and bending the line of sight through the prism lens means (20) to allow viewing therethrough at an acute angle between the eye and prism lens means (20).

Abstract: A field of vision enhancement device having a mounting on an article of headwear adjustable with respect to a straight ahead, normal line of sight including optics for displaying at least one field of optical information either normally occluded by the headwear article or not readily discernable with binocular vision whereby the field of vision is enhanced.

Abstract: Two identical eye pieces are interconnected by a flexible nose strap. Each eye piece is formed from a single piece of plastic material for improved strength and includes a frame and an outwardly domed transparent hood. The hood includes a central lens portion and a side portion which extends laterally from the lens portion to the outer end of the frame. The lens portion is formed by a flat outer surface and a curved inner surface to permit the focal length to remain unchanged whether the eye goggles are used under or above water. The frame is provided with a connecting member engaging the nose strap. The nose strap is formed with longitudinally spaced stops selectively engaging the connecting member. The longitudinal spacings between the stops on one side of the nose strap differ from those between the stops on the other side to obtain precision distance adjustment between the eye pieces.

Abstract: The invention provides a spectacle frame having on its inner (rear) face a circumferential channel, and frame-to-face seals carrying a mating ridge on the outer (forward) face of each seal. The spectacle frame is converted to an air-vented safety goggle, to a watertight swimmer's goggle or to an underwater diving mask by mating the appropriate frame-to-face seal with the channel in the frame; the frame can carry plano or prescription ground lenses and may be provided with temples or with an elastic headband.

Abstract: An underwater vision device includes first and second lens elements which are maintained in alignment with the eyes of a wearer by a frame. Each lens element includes first and second lens groups. Each lens group includes a first solid transparent lens, a second solid transparent lens and a compressible seal which secures the first and second lenses together and forms a sealed air chamber between the two lenses. A spacer couples the first and second lens groups together and forms a chamber between the two lens groups. This chamber fills with water when the underwater vision device is submerged. The optical parameters of the underwater vision device can be varied so that neutral magnification is provided when the device is not submerged in water, but strong magnification is provided when the device is submerged. If so constructed the underwater vision device permits a wearer to see normally below the surface of a body of water, eliminating the need for a face mask.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixing eyeglasses within a protective mask is disclosed, the eyeglasses being adjustable vertically. An attaching bar is fixed to the viewing glass of the mask, the attaching bar having two or more notches vertically spaced. A carrier has the eyeglasses attached, and the carrier has tabs to be received by the notches. The vertical position of the eyeglasses is fixed by selecting the appropriate notches.

Abstract: An underwater vision device includes first and second lens elements which are maintained in alignment with the eyes of a wearer by a frame. Each lens element includes first and second lens groups. Each lens group includes a first solid transparent lens, a second solid transparent lens and a compressible seal which secures the first and second lenses together and forms a sealed air chamber between the two lenses. A spacer couples the first and second lens groups together and forms a chamber between the two lens groups. This chamber fills with water when the underwater vision device is submerged. The optical parameters of the underwater vision device can be varied so that neutral magnification is provided when the device is not submerged in water, but strong magnification is provided when the device is submerged. If so constructed the underwater vision device permits a wearer to see normally below the surface of a body of water, eliminating the need for a face mask.

Abstract: A pair of eye pieces interconnected by a flexible nose strap, each eye piece being made up of a frame defining a substantially ovaloid sight opening and having a soft pad on its inner surface to act as a seal, and a transparent hood having a peripheral edge secured to the frame and enclosing the sight opening, this hood projecting outwardly from the outer surface of a frame and permitting the wearer straight ahead and peripheral vision therethrough.

Abstract: In an optical system the use of a plurality of air lenses set in an optical medium of higher refractive index than air at a predetermined distance from an object such that various optical aberrations are minimized or eliminated by using aplanatic optical surfaces. Refraction occurs only for a ray going from the higher to the lower refractive index medium. Rays entering the higher refractive index medium from the lower are never refracted since the optical surface is always chosen to have its center or radius coincident with the object or image being optically operated on by the lens. The system can be used to magnify the image of an object, the object being most any two-dimensional representation such as a negative or a positive print. The object might alternatively be a light source or an external object whose rays are imaged onto an embedded light sensor so that the functions of the source or sensor respectively can be enhanced by the optical system.

Abstract: A novel type of swimming goggles includes an improved means for receiving corrective lenses. The corrective lens forms the outermost face of the goggles and is easily insertable. The novel swimming goggles of this invention are inexpensive to manufacture. The lateral vision of the swimmer is improved due to the transparent sidewall construction of the goggles. A resilient gasket between the goggle socket and the face of the swimmer allows for a watertight seal therebetween.

Abstract: In an optical system the use of .Iadd.one or .Iaddend.a plurality of air lenses set in an optical medium of higher refractive index than air at a predetermined distance from an object such that various optical aberrations are minimized or eliminated by using aplanatic optical surfaces. Refraction occurs only for a ray going from the higher to the lower refractive index medium. Rays entering the higher refractive index medium from the lower are never refracted since the optical surface is always chosen to have its center .[.or.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.radius coincident with the object or image being optically operated on by the lens. The system can be used to magnify the image of an object, the object being most any two-dimensional representation such as a negative or a positive print. The object might alternatively be a light source or an external object whose rays are imaged onto an embedded light sensor so that the functions of the source or sensor respectively can be enhanced by the optical system.