Diving mask lens mounting / dismounting system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a swimming or diving mask characterized in that a locking / unlocking means (6) comprises a cam (6A) which, by rotation, causes elastic deformation of the inner frame (2), said elastic deformation allowing the outer frame (3) to be released from the inner frame (2).

Description

[0001] Diving mask lens mounting / dismounting system

[0002] The present invention relates to a system for mounting / dismounting lenses for swimming or diving masks.

[0003] Diving masks can be classified into two categories: those made by overmolding and those that are assembled.

[0004] Overmolded diving masks are manufactured industrially by a process of injecting one or more flexible materials, silicone or thermoplastic rubbers, around a transparent element called a lens, the latter being made of glass or transparent thermoplastic material. The transparent part naturally serves to ensure vision and the flexible and elastic part to ensure the seal of the mask on the swimmer's face and thus prevent contact of water with the eyes. This type of mask is not significant.

[0005] Assembled diving masks consist of a set of rigid and elastic parts assembled with various mechanical systems around two lenses or a single lens. Masks of this type, once assembled, allow the user to disassemble and reassemble them. It is common in these assembled solutions for the system to consist of the following parts: a main frame, an inner frame, lenses, a skirt, buckles, and a strap.

[0006] This feature, in the case of two-lens masks, allows for replacement of the lenses.

[0007] In all cases, the compression of the lenses and the flexible seal of the skirt between the inner frame and the outer frame makes the mask watertight. There are essentially two assembly systems between the outer frame and the inner frame.

[0008] The first involves using assembly screws between the parts. The inner mount is connected to the main mount and tightened onto it with the aforementioned screws, which compresses the seal. This assembly system works well but has the disadvantage of being laborious due to the number of screws required to ensure a seal.

[0009] The second involves a system of assembly between the parts by means of hooking teeth that engage in suitable seats thanks to the elastic deformation of the components. It has the disadvantage of being difficult to disassemble because it requires considerable effort or tools that damage delicate plastic parts, especially if the operation is repeated more than once.

[0010] The need to replace lenses is linked to the possibility of adopting corrective optical lenses for people with vision defects or the desire to use colored or mirrored lenses capable of filtering or modifying the light spectrum like ordinary sunglasses.

[0011] The disassembly, replacement and reassembly of the masks that we will define as having interchangeable lenses are carried out by the end user who will purchase the corrective or colored lenses according to their needs or desires. In particular, for corrective lenses, it is common for the user to need a different correction in the right eye and the left eye and will therefore personalize their mask by purchasing the replacement lenses separately.

[0012] It becomes essential, when the user is not an expert in the assembly and disassembly of masks, to offer a simple and easy-to-use assembly system.

[0013] There are various systems on the market for mounting / dismounting the parts, as described above, which, however, have the disadvantage of either injuring the user's fingers because considerable effort is required to operate them, or, because a screwdriver must be used to lever the parts, damaging the plastic parts of the mask.

[0014] FR 2875709 and US 2017 / 021901 constitute the most relevant prior art.

[0015] The difference between the present invention and the prior art is that the locking / unlocking means (6) is a cam which, by rotation, produces an elastic deformation of the inner mount (2), releasing the outer mount (3) from the inner mount (2).

[0016] The technical effect of the aforementioned difference is that the assembly and disassembly of diving masks is simpler and easier to use, without damaging the lenses, without damaging the frames of the diving masks and without injuring the operator's hands.

[0017] The problem to be solved is that the old systems for mounting / dismounting diving masks by the end user are inconvenient, often damage the product or require physical effort or risk causing pain or even minor injuries to the operator. Another problem to be solved is to find an alternative device, that is, an improved system for mounting / dismounting lenses from diving masks.

[0018] The prior art diving masks do not disclose that the locking / unlocking means (6) is a cam (an eccentric) which, by rotation, produces an elastic deformation of the inner frame (2), releasing the outer frame (3) from the inner frame (2).

[0019] The present invention relates to a swimming or diving mask comprising:

[0020] - a pair of removable lenses (IA, IB) symmetrical side by side with respect to a vertical axis YY, said lenses being distinct from each other or formed in a single piece, in which said lenses have an inner surface (IC) and an outer surface (1D),

[0021] - an inner frame (2) on which rests the periphery of the inner surface (IC) of the lenses (IA, IB), - an outer frame (3) designed to be removed from the swimming or diving mask and located on the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of said lenses (IA, IB),

[0022] - a skirt (4),

[0023] - at least one sealing means (5) located on said inner frame (2) and connected in a sealed manner to the periphery of the inner surface of said lenses (IA, IB) and adapted to be applied in a sealed manner to said lenses (IA, IB),

[0024] - at least one locking / unlocking means (6) located on said outer frame (3), said locking / unlocking means (6) being designed to engage with said inner frame (2) and, when engaged, to fix the lenses (IA, IB) between said outer frame and said inner frame, characterized in that:

[0025] - the locking / unlocking means (6) comprises a cam (6A) which, by rotation, produces an elastic deformation of the inner mount (2), said elastic deformation produced allowing a release of the outer mount (3) relative to the inner mount (2).

[0026] To clarify the term "watertight", this means that the compression of the lenses on the inner frame (2) and the compression of the outer frame (3) on the lenses makes the swim or mask watertight.

[0027] Preferably, the at least one clipping means (7) located on said outer frame (3) cooperates with at least one notch located on said inner frame (2) to fix the lenses (IA, IB) between said outer frame (3) and said inner frame (2).

[0028] Preferably, the locking / unlocking means (6) is located laterally with respect to the inner mount (2) and laterally with respect to the outer mount (3), on a periphery of said outer mount (3), i.e. on an external edge of said outer mount (3).

[0029] Preferably, the outer frame (3) and the inner frame (2) are made of rigid plastic.

[0030] Preferably, the outer frame (3) completely covers the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of the lenses (IA, IB).

[0031] Preferably, the outer frame (3) partially covers the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of the lenses (IA, IB). The present invention also relates to a screwdriver (8) specially adapted for mounting or dismounting the swimming or diving mask, said screwdriver being designed to cooperate with the locking / unlocking means (6) to release the outer frame (3) from the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of the lenses (IA, IB) or said screwdriver being adapted to fix the lenses (IA, IB) between the outer frame (3) and the inner frame (2).

[0032] Using the said screwdriver significantly reduces the force required for assembly compared to manual operation.

[0033] The present invention also relates to a swimming or diving kit comprising the swimming or diving mask and a screwdriver.

[0034] The present invention also relates to a method for mounting at least one or two removable lenses (IA, IB) in a swimming or diving mask, comprising the following steps: a) placing the periphery of an inner surface (IC) of one or two lenses (IA, IB) on an inner frame (2) of the mask, said inner frame (2) comprising at least one sealing means (5), b) placing a removable outer frame (3) on the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of said lenses (IA, IB), c) locking at least one locking means (6) located on said removable outer frame (3), d) clipping at least one clipping means (7) located on said removable outer frame (3) and engaging with the inner frame (2), e) firmly holding said lenses (IA, IB) between the inner frame (2) and the outer frame (3) with the at least one locking means and / or the at least one means of clipping.

[0035] The present invention also relates to a method for dismantling at least one or two removable lenses (IA, IB) from a swimming or diving mask, comprising the following steps: a) unlocking at least one locking / unlocking means (6) located on a removable outer frame (3), b) unclipping at least one clipping means (7) located on said removable outer frame (3) and engaging with the inner frame (2), c) removing an outer frame (3) from the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of said lenses (IA, IB), d) removing said lenses (IA, IB).

[0036] The present invention is represented by the following figures:

[0037] [Fig. 1] shows the locking / unlocking means (6) fixed on the outer mount (3) and on the inner mount (2). [Fig. 2] shows how to unlock the locking / unlocking means (6) fixed on the outer mount (3) and on the inner mount (2).

[0038] [Fig. 3] shows lenses (IA, IB) placed between an outer frame (3) and an inner frame (2) fixed by means of two cams (6). It also shows a pair of removable lenses (IA, IB) symmetrical side by side, said lenses being symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis (YY). [Fig. 4] shows a cam (6) and its positioning hole, an outer frame (3) and an inner frame (2).

[0039] [Fig. 5] also shows the front view of a cam (6) in place in an outer mount (3) and an inner mount (2).

[0040] [Fig. 6] shows the rear view of a cam (6) and a clipping means (7).

[0041] [Fig. 7] also shows the rear view of a cam (6) and a clipping means (7).

[0042] [Fig. 8] is a photograph of the present invention showing the outer surface of the lenses (IA, IB), an outer frame (3) and an inner frame (2). The C-shaped screwdriver used to lock / unlock the cam from the outer and inner frame is also shown on the left side of the photograph.

[0043] [Fig. 9] is a perspective view of the diving mask of the present invention.

[0044] [Fig. 10] is a bottom view of the diving mask of the present invention.

[0045] [Fig. 11] is a top view of the diving mask of the present invention.

[0046] [Fig. 12] is a front view of the diving mask of the present invention.

[0047] [Fig. 13] shows how to mount the lenses (IA, IB), the outer frame (3) and the inner frame (2) with a screwdriver.

[0048] The present invention relates to a system for mounting / dismounting the outer mount (3) from the inner mount (2) by means of a locking / unlocking system actuated by means of an eccentric (also called cam) which, by rotation, produces an elastic deformation of the inner mount (2) which, thanks to this action, releases the outer mount (3) from the inner mount (2).

[0049] A cam is a sliding part in a mechanical link used in particular to transform a rotary movement into a linear movement.

[0050] This assembly / disassembly operation is to be carried out with a tool provided or commonly purchased in hardware stores, which does not require effort and does not damage the system. The effort is obtained through the rotation of a cam integrated into the system (in the case presented, inserted into the inner mount (2), but the same system could also be realized by reversing the concept and integrating it into the outer mount (3) which opens and closes the coupling / release mechanism smoothly, in a simple and repeatable manner several times without damaging the system.

[0051] It will be understood that certain features of the invention which are, for the sake of clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for the sake of brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Claims

Claims

1. Swimming or diving mask comprising: - a pair of removable lenses (IA, IB) symmetrical side by side with respect to a vertical axis YY, said lenses being distinct from each other or formed in a single piece, in which said lenses have an inner surface (IC) and an outer surface (1D), - an inner frame (2) on which rests the periphery of the inner surface (IC) of the lenses (IA, IB), - an outer frame (3) designed to be removed from the swimming or diving mask and located on the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of said lenses (IA, IB), - a skirt (4), - at least one sealing means (5) located on said inner frame (2) and connected in a sealed manner to the periphery of the inner surface of said lenses (IA, IB) and adapted to be applied in a sealed manner to said lenses (IA, IB), - at least one locking / unlocking means (6) located on said outer frame (3), said locking / unlocking means (6) being designed to engage with said inner frame (2) and, when engaged, to fix the lenses (IA, IB) between said outer frame and said inner frame, characterized in that: - the locking / unlocking means (6) comprises a cam (6A) which, by rotation, produces an elastic deformation of the inner mount (2), said elastic deformation produced allowing a release of the outer mount (3) relative to the inner mount (2).

2. Swimming or diving mask according to claim 1, wherein at least one clipping means (7) located on said outer frame (3) cooperates with at least one notch located on said inner frame (2) to fix the lenses (IA, IB) between said outer frame (3) and said inner frame (2).

3. A swimming or diving mask according to claim 1, wherein the locking / unlocking means (6) is located laterally relative to the inner frame (2) and laterally relative to the outer frame (3), on a periphery of said outer frame (3).

4. A swimming or diving mask according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame (3) and the inner frame (2) are made of plastic.

5. Swimming or diving mask according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame (3) completely covers the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of the lenses (IA, IB).

6. Swimming or diving mask according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame (3) partially covers the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of the lenses (IA, IB).

7. A swimming or diving kit comprising the swimming or diving mask according to claim 1.

8. A method of mounting at least one or two removable lenses (IA, IB) in a swimming or diving mask according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) placing the periphery of an inner surface (IC) of one or two lenses (IA, IB) on an inner frame (2) of the mask, said inner frame (2) comprising at least one sealing means (5), b) placing a removable outer frame (3) on the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of said lenses (IA, IB), c) locking at least one locking means (6) located on said removable outer frame (3), d) clipping at least one clipping means (7) located on said removable outer frame (3) and engaging with the inner frame (2), e) firmly holding said lenses (IA, IB) between the inner frame (2) and the outer frame (3) with the at least one locking means and at least one means of clipping.

9. A method of dismantling at least one or two removable lenses (1 A, IB) from a swimming or diving mask according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) unlocking at least one locking / unlocking means (6) located on a removable outer frame (3), b) unclipping at least one clipping means (7) located on said removable outer frame (3) and engaging with the inner frame (2), c) removing an outer frame (3) from the periphery of the outer surface (1D) of said lenses (IA, IB), d) removing said lenses (IA, IB).

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