Protective eyewear for winter sports

Abstract

A protective eye mask (1) for winter sports, such as alpine skiing, is provided, which is provided with at least one motorized LC lens (16) and comprises at least one LC layer (16') made of GH-type liquid crystals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to protective eyewear for performing winter sports, and in particular alpine skiing. Background Art

[0002] As we all know, alpine skiing is a winter sport that involves sliding down a mountain slope on a pair of skis.

[0003] In order to protect the eyes and improve visibility, skiers usually wear a ski mask with lenses, which not only protect the eyes but also cover most of the upper face. The lenses have a variety of colors: the darkest lenses are mainly used on sunny days, while lighter lenses are used on days with poor visibility.

[0004] However, during a descent, certain sections of the slope may be sunny, while other sections may be in the shade or through wooded areas; furthermore, during a skiing session which may last several hours, it is common for sunny days to turn cloudy, or vice versa.

[0005] To meet the needs of skiers, ski covers with photochromic lenses have been designed that are capable of independently changing the color of the photochromic lenses depending on the amount of light in the environment.

[0006] For example, some known solutions include photochromic lenses that change color when exposed to sunlight. However, the color of such lenses changes very slowly and they may not be effectively used during alpine skiing descents when sunny and shaded areas appear in rapid succession depending on the speed of the skier's descent.

[0007] Hoods are also known that feature electrochromic lenses that change color when subjected to a voltage. However, these hoods require a relatively high power level to power the lenses, which means using batteries. However, these batteries are bulky and too heavy to comfortably use the hood, and obviously require recharging. Finally, the energy consumption is so high that the lens color change, whether performed automatically or manually by the skier, can only be performed a small number of times (approximately 20 times), after which the batteries must be recharged.

[0008] Some masks are also known that have lenses provided with a liquid crystal (LC) layer powered by batteries. Such a solution is described, for example, in EP-A1-298983. As mentioned above, the use of batteries makes this solution uncomfortable. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a protective eyewear for winter sports, in particular alpine skiing, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the needs of the field.

[0010] This object is achieved by a protective eyewear according to a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a protective eyewear for winter sports is provided, the protective eyewear being provided with at least one electrically powered LC lens and comprising at least one LC layer made of GH-type liquid crystals, wherein the protective eyewear comprises a photovoltaic cell for powering the LC lens, wherein the photovoltaic cell generates higher electrical power when irradiated with higher light intensities and thus supplies higher electrical power to the LC lens, and wherein the LC lens has an upper edge provided with a recess, wherein the photovoltaic cell is arranged in the recess. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The characteristics and advantages of the protective eyewear according to the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] - Figure 1 A protective eyewear according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0013] - Figure 2 Depicts Figure 1 Lens assembly of protective eyewear;

[0014] - Figure 3 Shown with separate components Figure 2 The lens assembly in;

[0015] - Figure 4 The cross-sectional view shows Figure 2 The lens assembly in;

[0016] - Figure 5a and Figure 5b Two states of use of the cover by a skier are shown schematically. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a protective eyewear for winter sports, in particular for alpine skiing, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] The cover 1 includes a support assembly 2 and a lens assembly 4 applied to the support assembly 2 .

[0019] The support assembly 2 comprises a support member 6 , typically made from a single piece of polymer material, adapted to be applied to the lens assembly 4 , such as by an interlocking system.

[0020] Furthermore, the support member 6 preferably has ventilation windows 8 for allowing air to enter the cover; usually, the ventilation windows are obtained at the top and / or the bottom.

[0021] The support assembly 2 also comprises contact portions 10, typically made of sponge or other soft material, located on the periphery of the support 6, internally relative to the lens assembly 4, intended to contact and adhere to the face to limit the incoming airflow towards the eyes.

[0022] Preferably, the mask 1 finally comprises elastic bands 12, usually applied to the sides of the support 6, for holding the mask to the face.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the lens assembly 4 includes an outer lens 14, typically made of polycarbonate, having an outer surface 14a and an inner surface 14b.

[0024] The lens assembly 4 further includes a liquid crystal lens 16 (hereinafter referred to as LC lens) having an inner face 16 b and an outer face 16 a facing the outer lens 14 .

[0025] The LC lens 16 is preferably applied to the outer lens 14, and in particular to the inner surface 14b of the outer lens, by lamination. According to a preferred embodiment, the shape of the LC lens 16 is incorporated into the shape of the outer lens 14, thereby peripherally defining an attachment area 14c on the inner surface 14b of the outer lens 14.

[0026] The lens assembly 4 also includes a frame 20, typically made of a single piece of polymer material, with the outer lens 14 applied at the front of the frame 20 by an outer double-sided tape 18 applied to the attachment area 14c of the inner surface 14b and the peripheral edge of the frame 20.

[0027] Finally, lens assembly 4 preferably includes an inner lens 22 formed from a single piece of polymer material having an outer surface 22a and an inner surface 22b.

[0028] The inner lens 22 is applied to the frame 20 on the side opposite the LC lens 16 , such as by an inner double-sided tape 24 applied between the outer surface 22 a of the inner lens 22 and the frame 20 .

[0029] Finally, the housing 1 comprises a photovoltaic cell 26 and an electronic circuit 28 powered by the photovoltaic cell 26 for controlling the LC lens 16 .

[0030] Preferably, the photovoltaic cells 26 and the electronic circuit 28 are arranged on the same support to form a single electronic board 30 .

[0031] The photovoltaic cell 26 acts simultaneously as a sensor of the amount of light in the environment and as a power source for the LC lens; in fact, the greater the amount of light striking the photovoltaic cell, the higher the power generated by the photovoltaic cell, the higher the power supplied to the LC lens and the darker this LC lens becomes.

[0032] Preferably, the electronic board 30 is supported by the frame 20 , such as below a middle portion 32 of the frame 20 or fixed to one of the inner lens 22 or the outer lens 14 .

[0033] In particular, it is preferred that the photovoltaic cell 26 is placed between the outer lens 14 and the inner lens 22 , in a sealed frame compartment 20 a formed by the frame 20 , the outer lens 14 , and the inner lens 22 , and faces the LC lens 16 .

[0034] To this end, the LC lens 16 has a recess 16 d along the upper section 16 c of the peripheral edge, in which recess the photovoltaic cell 26 is placed so as to be illuminated only by the light that passes through the outer lens 14, thus maintaining the same transparency in the different states of use; therefore, the darkening of the LC lens 16 does not affect the operation of the photovoltaic cell 26, despite the fact that this photovoltaic cell 26 is concealed in the frame compartment 20 a.

[0035] The LC lens 16 is preferably composed of a layer 16 ′ having liquid crystals (hereinafter referred to as LC layer 16 ′) and a support layer 16 ″ made of a polymer material (typically polycarbonate).

[0036] According to an implementation known as GH technology (Guest-Host technology), the LC layer 16 ′ comprises liquid crystals consisting of an organic material with large and elongated molecules, having the characteristic of changing its optical properties in the presence or absence of an electric field in which the dichroic particles are inserted.

[0037] Advantageously, the use of GH type liquid crystals allows overcoming the considerable drawbacks that the Applicant has noticed when using lenses with TN (Twisted Nematic) type liquid crystals used in currently known solutions.

[0038] During skiing, especially when descending, a skier typically adopts two postures: A) at low speeds ( Figure 5a ), the torso is almost upright, and the gaze is focused on the ground a few meters away; in this state, the lens axis (X) (i.e. the direction perpendicular to the lens surface) and the visual axis (Z) (i.e. the axis of the eye) are very similar and almost coincide;

[0039] B) At high speed ( Figure 5b), the torso is in almost horizontal position, touching the thighs, and the gaze is focused further ahead; in this state, the lens axis (X) is very different from the visual axis (Z).

[0040] The applicant has found that by using a mask provided with a lens with TN type liquid crystal, vision is very blurred at high speeds even in the presence of strong ambient light.

[0041] Finally, the mask provided with GH-type LC lenses according to the invention not only allows the mask to automatically adapt to different ambient light conditions, but also ensures good visibility for the skier in all the positions he adopts.

[0042] Obviously, in order to meet possible needs, those skilled in the art may make changes to the above-mentioned cover, and these changes are all included in the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A protective eye mask (1) for winter sports, comprising: an outer lens (14) having an outer surface (14a) and an inner surface (14b); and A motorized LC lens (16), comprising at least one LC layer (16') made of GH-type liquid crystals, wherein: The LC lens (16) is applied to the inner surface (14b) of the outer lens (14); The protective eye mask (1) further comprises a photovoltaic cell (26) for powering the LC lens (16), wherein the photovoltaic cell (26) generates higher electrical power when irradiated by higher light intensity, and thus supplies higher electrical power to the LC lens (16); The protective eye mask (1) is characterized in that the LC lens (16) has an upper edge, the upper edge is provided with a recess (16d), and the photovoltaic cell (26) is arranged in the recess.

2. The protective eyewear according to claim 1, wherein: The GH type liquid crystal is composed of an organic material having a characteristic of changing optical properties in the presence or absence of an electric field in which dichroic particles are inserted.

3. The protective eyewear according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an electronic circuit (28) powered by the photovoltaic cell (26) for supplying electrical power to the LC lens (16).

4. The protective eyewear according to claim 3, wherein: The photovoltaic cells (26) and the electronic circuit (28) are arranged on the same support to form a single electronic board (30).

5. The protective eyewear according to claim 1, comprising an inner lens (22), wherein: The LC lens (16) is arranged in the front portion of the inner lens (22).

6. The protective eyewear of claim 5, comprising a frame (20) supporting the outer lens (14) at the front and the inner lens (22) at the back.

7. The protective eyewear according to claim 6, wherein: The frame (20), the outer lens (14) and the inner lens (22) form a sealed frame compartment (20a) of the frame (20), and the photovoltaic cell (26) is arranged in the frame compartment.

8. The protective eyewear according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4-7, comprising a wearable support assembly (2), the LC lens (16) being supported by the support assembly (2).

9. The protective eyewear according to claim 8, wherein: The support assembly (2) includes a contact portion (10) adapted to be attached to the face to restrict incoming airflow towards the eyes.

10. The protective eyewear according to claim 1, wherein: The winter sport mentioned is alpine skiing.

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