A modular temple for connection to a lens

Abstract

Glasses comprising a connection means between a lens 200 and a flexible strap 10 which receives the attachment end 11 of the strap 10 through a slot (22, figure 3) and is secured by a pin (23, figure

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a modular temple for eyeglasses in particular glasses worn during sport activities. Background Eyeglasses such as sunglasses are often worn when a person is active such as when working or playing sport. Traditional eyeglasses have rigid temples and can often move during activity or can fall off which can lead to discomfort and is often a distraction. Attachments such as a toggle tightened strap can be added to a rigid temple to stop glasses from falling off or moving too much but these can cause pressure to the side of the head if pulled tight and so tend to be worn loose. The present invention provides a solution for wearing eyeglasses when active. Prior Art GB2618059A (PARSONS) discloses an armless spectacles and retention system with a pair of sunglasses and a flexible strap. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular temple for connection to a lens comprising: a flexible strap with an attachment end with at least one aperture; and a connector for receiving the attachment end of the flexible strap and which receives part of a lens; wherein the connector has a slot through which the attachment end is received and at least one pin for receiving the at least one aperture of the attachment end to connect the flexible strap to the connector when it has been passed through the slot. In this way a flexible strap can be quickly and easily connected to a connector that connects to a lens to provide a pair of eyeglasses (glasses) that are securely fitted to a wearer by a comfortable flexible strap. The connector is adapted to connect to a lens and to receive the flexible strap so that a pair of glasses can be assembled. Various connectors may be provided to accommodate different lenses and / or different straps so a wearer can select a connector for a preferred lens or flexible strap. In some embodiments the connector has at least one opening that is shaped and dimensioned to receive and engage with part of an edge of a lens. Typically a lens is shaped to have a profile that corresponds to the opening(s) so that the lens edge interlocks with the opening to securely attach the connector to the lens. In another embodiment the connector may include a ferromagnetic means such as one or more magnet for magnetic connection to a magnetic part on a lens or vice-versa (the lens including a magnet and the connector being formed at least in part from a magnetic material), so that the connector and lens can be readily connected and disconnected. The flexible strap wraps closely around the head of a wearer so that the lens(es)s is / are held in a fixed position on a wearer and do not move or become dislodged when active during an activity or sports such as when running. This can also ensure that the glasses remain comfortable over periods of time as there is less movement and no pressure to the side of the head as the temple is formed form the flexible strap. The modular temple does not have a hinge which is a standard component for most eyeglasses and sunglasses and is a common point of failure. Instead the flexible strap is connected to the connector by means of the aperture and the pin. In a preferred embodiment the flexible strap has a first attachment end at a first end and a second attachment end at a second end. A connector can thereby be received to the first and second ends of one flexible strap to receive both sides of a lens or pair of lenses on a frame. Preferably the flexible strap is adjustable in length, so that length can be adjusted to fit to a wearer's head. In some preferred embodiments the flexible strap tapers from the attachment end. Preferably the wider portion at the proximal end is substantially flat so as to lie parallel against the side of a wearer’s head. In some embodiments the flexible strap is formed from two connected parts that can be adjusted relative to each other to alter length of the combined two parts. In a preferred embodiment both parts are identical. This saves on manufacture costs as the two identical parts can be joined to form the flexible strap. In a preferred embodiment the flexible strap is formed from two parts. A proximal end of each part is the attachment end with at least one aperture that connects to the connector and the distal end of each part has an eye that receives the other part so that the parts are connected to form the flexible strap. Preferably the eyes are sized and dimensioned to have a friction fit so that the eye of one part can slide under force along the body of the strap to adjust overall length. In this way the strap length is adjusted when a pulling force is applied by a user but will remain at the set length when adjustment is complete. Ideally the eyes may be formed from a resiliently deformable material to aid with creating a friction fit so that the eye fits closely to the body of the parts of the flexible strap. In some preferred embodiments the thickness of the flexible strap parts increases from the distal ends to the proximal ends. In this way as the eye moves towards the proximal ends the eye become more tightly fitted to the body of the parts. In a preferred embodiment the slot guides the attachment end to a channel provided on an inner face of the connector. Preferably the channel is a recessed region on an inner face of the connector. In this way the attachment end passes through the slot and is guided to the channel which includes the at least one pin, so that the attachment end connects to an inner face of the connector and the connection is not visible when the glasses are worn. The channel also serves to prevent the flexible strap pivoting about the pin so that it remains in a fixed position and does not rub the wearer and the attachment end is prevented from working free. The slot receives the attachment end along a first axis and the at least one pin projects in a second axis substantially perpendicular from the first axis. This configuration ensures that the attachment end is easily received and becomes securely fixed to the pin so that the attachment end cannot be erroneously dislodged and will not become loose when donned as the flexible strap is under tension when worn and the axis of pull is perpendicular to the axis of the pin. A method of assembling the modular temple comprises the following steps that may be completed in any order: inserting the attachment end of the flexible strap through the slot and placing the aperture over the pin; attaching a lens to the connector. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows a front view of a lens connected to a preferred embodiment of the modular temple; Figure 2 shows a side view of the modular temple attached to a lens; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of part of the lens, the connector and part of the flexible; Figure 4 shows the modular temple (two connectors and a flexible strap) connected to the two part flexible strap; and Figure 5 show a rear perspective view of the modular temple attached to a lens. Detailed Description of Figures Figures 1 to 5 show a preferred embodiment of the modular temple 100 connected to a lens 200. The lens 200 is a single curved lens. The modular temple 100 comprises a flexible strap 10 with two attachment ends 11. Each attachment end 11 has an aperture 12 to enable attachment to the connectors 20. The connector 20 has an opening 21 for receiving part of a lens 200 and slot 22 through which the attachment end 11 is received. A pin 23 for receiving the aperture 12 of the attachment end 11 extends from an inner face B of the connector 20. The attachment end 11 is received through the slot 22 and the aperture 12 is placed over the pin 23 so that the flexible strap is connected to the connector 20. The inner face B of the connector 20 has a channel 24 that guides the attachment end 11 and provides a seating position for the attachment end 11 so that the flexible strap 10 when connected is spaced apart from the wearer and secured in position by being in the channel 24. The inner face B is curved to correspond to the curvature of a wearer’s face and present a smooth surface to the wearer. The outer face A of the connector 20 is a smooth curved surface. The shape of the connector 20 also corresponds to the shape of the lens 200 which is typically also curved as shown in the picture embodiment. In the pictured embodiment 100 the strap 10 is formed from two parts 10A, 10B that are joined together to enable length adjustment. The attachment end 11 tapers towards the distal end of each part 10A, 10B. At a distal end of each part 10A, 10B there is an eye 13. The eye 13 of one part 10A is received over the body of the other part 10B and vice-versa. In this way the distal ends are connected and adjustable with respect to each other. To adjust a user pulls one part 10A with respect to the other part 10B to slide the eyes along the body of the flexible strap. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A modular temple for connection to a lens comprising a flexible strap with an attachment end with at least one aperture and a connector for receiving the attachment end of the flexible strap and which receives part of a lens; wherein the connector has a slot through which the attachment end is received and at least one pin for receiving the at least one aperture of the attachment end to connect the flexible strap to the connector when it has been passed through the slot.

2. A modular temple according to claim 1 wherein the flexible strap has a first attachment end at a first end and a second attachment end at a second end.

3. A modular temple according to claim 1 to claim 2 wherein the flexible strap is adjustable in length.

4. A modular temple according to claim 3 wherein the flexible strap is formed from two parts.

5. A modular temple according to claim 4 wherein both parts are identical.

6. A modular temple according to claim wherein a proximal end of each part is the attachment end with at least one aperture that connects to the connector and a distal end of each part has an eye that receives the other part so that the parts are connected and wherein the eyes are sized and dimensioned to have a friction fit so that the eye of one part can slide under force along the body of the strap to adjust overall length.

7. A modular temple according to any preceding claim wherein the slot guides the attachment end to a recessed channel provided on an inner face of the connector.

8. A modular temple according to any preceding claim wherein the slot receives the attachment end along a first axis and the at least one pin projects in a second axis substantially perpendicular from the first axis.

9. A modular temple according to any preceding claim wherein the connector is curved.

10. A modular temple according to any preceding claim wherein the flexible strap tapers from the attachment end.

11. A modular temple according to claim 10 wherein a wider portion at the proximal end is substantially flat so as to lie parallel against the side of a wearer’s head.12.A modular temple according to any preceding claim wherein the connector has at least one opening for receiving part of a lens.13.A modular temple according to any preceding claim wherein the connector has a ferromagnetic means to allow magnetic connection to part of a lens.

14. A method of assembling the modular temple according to any of claims 1 to 13 comprising the following steps that may be completed in any order:inserting the attachment end of the flexible strap through the slot and placing the aperture over the pin;attaching a lens to the connector.

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