Eye protection

Abstract

An eye protection apparatus is disclosed that includes detachable dome-shaped eye protection portions.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 10/101,546, filed Mar. 18, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to eye protection. In particular, it relates to protective eye wear, for protecting eyes against radiation, that can be used in a variety of environments.

[0003] The use of sun lamps and ultraviolet lamps for tanning skin has increased greatly over recent years. In addition to the traditional ‘sunbed’, where a user lies in a prone position on a platen beneath a sun-canopy, there is also tanning equipment that requires a user to be in an upright position.

[0004] Conventionally, a user 20 (see FIG. 1) preparing for a tanning session using the ‘prone’ method would lie down on the platen and place an individual eye protector 21 over each eye before activating the lamp(s). Advantageously, these types of eye protectors cover the minimum area of facial skin during use.

[0005] When using the ‘upright’ method, a user cannot use the individual-type eye protectors since they will not remain in place over a user's eyes due to the position of the body. In this instance the type of protection goggles 22 as shown in FIG. 2 are required. Here, a user wears the goggles in much the same way as a swimmer wears swimming goggles; the eyepieces are interconnected via a nose bridge 23 and are fastened to an elastic headband 25 at fastening portions 24. These goggles do not slip from the wearer's face, even when the wearer is in an upright position.

[0006] Since users of tanning equipment often use both of the methods described above, many of them are required to obtain both types of eye protectors; both the individual and the headband fastening type of goggles.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved eye protector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided eye protection apparatus comprising eye protection goggles including detachable eye protection portions.

[0009] Preferably, the apparatus includes a means for securing the detachable portions to a frame portion of the goggles. Preferably, this provides a substantially light-tight attachment.

[0010] According to the present invention in a further aspect there is provided eye protection goggles including: a frame section comprising orbit portions adapted to surround a user's eye orbit, the orbit portions interconnected via a nose bridge; detachable eye portions adapted to filter ultraviolet radiation; and detachable attachment portions adapted to surround and secure the eye portions to the frame section.

[0011] The eye portions may be generally dome-shaped or otherwise shaped to have a hollow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a conventional individual eye protector;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows schematically a pair of conventional eye goggles;

[0015] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a pair of eye protection goggles according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 4 shows an unexploded view of the eye protection goggles of FIG. 3;

[0017] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the eye protection goggles shown in FIG. 4;

[0018] FIG. 6 shows a nose-bridge portion of a pair of goggles;

[0019] FIG. 7 shows an alternate design of eye protectors; and

[0020] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a pair of goggles having the eye-protectors of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a pair of eye protection goggles 1 includes a frame 2, eye protectors 6, and locking sleeves 8.

[0022] The frame 2 comprises two orbit portions 3 interconnected via a nose bridge 5. The nose bridge 5 may be rigid, flexible or a concertina-type linkage for example. The bridge preferably includes a widened central portion 5a, for strength. The eye protectors 6, which generally have an oval shaped base that abuts an orbit portion, are fabricated from a plastics material, preferably a rigid plastics material, for example ABS. The eye protector 6 includes a lens 7 of typically circular aperture. The lens is adapted to block both UVA and UVB light from impinging on the eyes of the wearer but may allow a degree of vision through it.

[0023] In order that the eye protectors 6 can be secured to the frame, the eye protection goggles include detachable locking sleeves 8. The sleeves 8 are adapted to enclose around the lower periphery of the eye protectors 6, and to releasably engage with respective orbit portions 3. Engagement is achieved via the mating of lugs 9 with reciprocal sockets 4 disposed on the orbit portions 3. The locking sleeves are dimensioned such that they can pass unhindered over the lens portion of the eye protectors 6, but cannot pass over the lower periphery of the eye protectors due to the increased circumference of the eye protectors. Also, the sleeves are of an adequate thickness to hold the eye protectors in abutment with the orbit portions without exerting more than necessary pressure, whilst also preventing the eye protectors from movement in any direction within the frame 2.

[0024] Alternatively, the sleeves may have an adhesive connection with the frame.

[0025] In alternative embodiments, the sleeves may be omitted entirely, and the eye protectors arranged to directly engage the frames, either by a mechanical fitting, or simply be adhesive fitting, for example.

[0026] Mating of the lugs 9 with the sockets 4 is achieved by a snap fit, force fit or any other such known method of releasably attaching these components. In alternative embodiments the mating may be achieved via a non-permanent adhesive layer disposed between the eye protectors and the orbit portions; in another embodiment the eye protectors are clipped or adhered onto the frame directly in one of a variety of known ways. Other methods of attaching a protector to a frame may be used whatever way, whatever method is used it will usually be useful to ensure that the attachment between the protectors and frames is light-tight.

[0027] Once the eye protectors 6 have been secured to the frame 2 via the locking sleeves 8, the goggles 1, as shown in FIG. 4, can be attached to a user's head. This is normally achieved by attaching an elasticated headband to the attachment lugs 10 located to the left and right periphery of the left and right eye protector respectively. Once in place, the headband can be passed over the user's head and worn in the usual manner.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the eye protection goggles 1 with protectors secured in place.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a nose bridge portion 20 according to a further embodiment, which is generally concertinaed, to provide flexibility and wearability.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows an alternative design of eye protector 76, having a generally flattened front portion 77 in which the lens is mounted. FIG. 8 shows a pair of goggles 81 incorporating such eye protectors. This pair includes a concertina-type nose bridge 82 but may of course have any other type of nose bridge.

Claims

1. Eye protection goggles comprising:

a frame portion; and

eye protection portions detachably connected to the frame portion and adapted to filter ultraviolet radiation, wherein each said eye protection portion covers the user's eye while fitting within the user's eye orbit.

2. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, further comprising means for securing said detachable eye portions to said frame portion.

3. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said detachable eye portions are connected to said frame portion with a light-tight attachment.

4. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, comprising an adhesive to connect said eye protection portions to said frame portion.

5. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said eye protection portions are dome-shaped.

6. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said eye protection portions include lenses.

7. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, further comprising a concertina-type nose bridge portion.

8. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said frame portion includes openings and each eye protection portion includes an increased circumference portion, and wherein each said eye protection portion protrudes through a corresponding one of said openings while said increased circumference portion abuts against said opening.

9. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said eye protection portions block both UVA and UVB light from impinging on the eyes of the wearer while allowing visible light to impinge on the eyes of the wearer.

10. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, further comprising locking sleeves that detachably connect said eye protection portions to said frame portion, wherein each eye protection portion protrudes from an opening in a corresponding one of said locking sleeves.

11. Eye protection goggles comprising:

a frame section comprising orbit portions adapted to surround a user's eye while fitting within the user's eye orbits, the orbit portions being interconnected via a nose bridge; and

eye portions detachably connected to the frame section and adapted to filter ultraviolet radiation.

12. The eye protection goggles of claim 11, wherein said eye portions are dome shaped.

13. The eye protection goggles of claim 11, wherein said eye portions include lenses.

14. The eye protection goggles of claim 11, wherein said nose bridge is a concertina-type nose bridge.

15. The eye protection goggles of claim 11, wherein said eye portions block both UVA and UVB light from impinging on the eyes of the wearer while allowing visible light to impinge on the eyes of the wearer.

16. The eye protection goggles of claim 11, wherein said frame section includes openings and each eye portion includes an increased circumference portion, and wherein each said eye portion protrudes through a corresponding one of said openings while said increased circumference portion abuts against said opening.

17. The eye protection goggles of claim 16, wherein said increased circumference portion forms a lug and said frame section includes a socket, wherein said lug detachably mounts within said socket.

18. Eye protection goggles, comprising:

at least two eye protection portions adapted to filter ultraviolet radiation, wherein each said eye protection portion fits within one of the user's eye orbits; and

a connecting frame wherein said eye protection portions demountably engage said connecting frame.

19. The eye protection goggles of claim 17, wherein said connecting frame includes at least two openings and each said eye protection portion includes an increased circumference portion, and wherein each said eye protection portion protrudes through a corresponding one of said openings while said increased circumference portion abuts against said opening.

20. The eye protection goggles of claim 19, wherein said increased circumference portion forms a lug and said frame includes a socket, wherein said lug detachably mounts within said socket.