Mounting mechanism for eyewear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10274748-B2
Application number	US-201615087024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2016
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Eyewear can be provided that comprises at least one lens, at least one earstem, and a retention assembly that interconnects the lens with the earstem. The retention assembly can include an engagement protrusion attached to the lens and a coupling mechanism attached to an end of the earstem. The coupling mechanism can include a housing configured to receive the engagement protrusion and a lever mechanism being operative to move between open and closed positions for disengaging or engaging with the engagement protrusion.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. An eyewear having a mounting system, the eyewear comprising:
at least one lens, each lens comprising an engagement protrusion having an interlocking portion;
a frame having a full or partial orbital configured to receive the at least one lens, the frame comprising a coupling mechanism, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:
a housing configured to receive the engagement protrusion; and
a lever mechanism being rotatably mounted relative to the housing to move between open and closed positions for disengaging and engaging with the interlocking portion of the engagement protrusion, wherein the lever mechanism is configured to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation between the open and closed positions, wherein, in the closed position, the coupling mechanism engages the interlocking portion of the lens, and wherein, in the open position, the coupling mechanism is disengaged from the interlocking portion of the lens.

2. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein each lens comprises a lens portion and an engagement portion, the engagement portion having the engagement protrusion and configured to be permanently mounted to the lens portion.

3. The eyewear of claim 2 , wherein a portion of a top and a lateral edge of the lens portion are configured to be received within an opening formed between two side walls of the engagement portion.

4. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein each lens comprises a lens portion and an engagement portion, the engagement portion having the engagement protrusion and mounted to the lens portion, the engagement portion being configured to be removably attachable to the lens portion.

5. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal axis of rotation is configured to extend through first and second sides of the housing in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

6. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the interlocking portion is configured to receive a corresponding engagement portion of the lever mechanism when the lever mechanism is in the closed position to securely mount the at least one lens relative to the frame.

7. The eyewear of claim 6 , wherein:
the engagement portion of the lever mechanism comprises a hook, and the lever mechanism comprises an actuatable portion configured to be pushed by a user to move the lever mechanism from the closed to the open position; and
the interlocking portion of the engagement protrusion comprises a cut-out configured to receive the hook of the lever mechanism when the lever mechanism is in the closed position to securely mount the at least one lens relative to the frame.

8. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the lever mechanism is rotatable from the open position towards the closed position in the anterior direction towards a bottom portion of the housing.

9. The eyewear of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the lever mechanism is positioned within a cavity formed in the bottom portion of the housing.

10. The eyewear of claim 6 , wherein the lever mechanism comprises a biasing member configured to urge the lever mechanism to the closed position.

11. The eyewear of claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is configured to extend and retract along a generally vertical axis.

12. The eyewear of claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is configured to extend and retract at a non-zero angle relative to a vertical axis.

13. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein a posterior portion of the engagement protrusion is configured to be movable in a generally anterior-posterior direction to be received within an opening of the housing.

14. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the frame is hingedly coupled to the housing at a posterior position relative to a posterior end of a posterior portion of the engagement protrusion when the eyewear is assembled.

15. The eyewear of claim 1 , wherein the engagement protrusion comprises a contact surface configured to contact a complementary surface of the lever mechanism, wherein the contact surface and the complementary surface are configured to allow a snap-fit connection between the at least one lens and the frame at least in an insertion direction.

16. The eyewear of claim 15 , wherein the contact surface and complementary surface have a ramped shape.

17. An eyewear having a mounting system, the eyewear comprising:
at least one lens;
at least one earstem; and
a retention assembly comprising an engagement protrusion attached to the lens and a coupling mechanism attached to an end of the earstem, the coupling mechanism comprising:
a housing configured to receive the engagement protrusion and a lever mechanism being rotatably mounted relative to the housing to move between open and closed positions for disengaging and engaging with the engagement protrusion, wherein the lever mechanism is configured to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation between the open and closed positions, wherein, in the closed position, the coupling mechanism engages the engagement protrusion, and wherein, in the open position, the coupling mechanism is disengaged from the engagement protrusion.

18. The eyewear of claim 17 , wherein the engagement protrusion is configured to be permanently mounted to the lens.

19. The eyewear of claim 18 , wherein a portion of a top and a lateral edge of the lens are configured to be received within an opening formed between two side walls of the engagement protrusion.

20. The eyewear of claim 17 , wherein the engagement protrusion is configured to be removably attachable to the lens.

21. The eyewear of claim 17 , wherein the engagement protrusion comprises an interlocking portion configured to receive a corresponding engagement portion of the lever mechanism when the lever mechanism is in the closed position to securely mount the earstem relative to the lens.

22. The eyewear of claim 21 , wherein:
the engagement portion of the lever mechanism comprises a hook, and the lever mechanism comprises an actuatable portion configured to be pushed by a user to move the lever mechanism from the closed to the open position; and
the interlocking portion comprises a cut-out configured to receive the hook of the lever mechanism when the lever mechanism is in the closed position to securely mount the earstem relative to the at least one lens.

23. The eyewear of claim 17 , wherein a posterior portion of the engagement protrusion is configured to be movable in a generally anterior-posterior direction to be received within an opening of the housing.

24. The eyewear of claim 23 , wherein the posterior portion of the engagement protrusion comprises at least one engagement structure configured to engage with at least one engagement member formed on an interior surface of the opening of the housing as the engagement protrusion is moved into the housing.

25. The eyewear of claim 17 , wherein an anterior portion of the housing is configured to be rotatable onto a posterior portion of the engagement protrusion.

Assignees

• Oakley Inc

Inventors

• Calilung Ryan Anthony
• Mckonly Chad Michael
• Heronen Nathan Eino
• Yoshinari Eric

Classifications

• G02C2200/04

  Junctions between frame elements having a click function · CPC title

• G02C1/02 Primary

  Bridge or browbar secured to lenses without the use of rims · CPC title

• G02C2200/08

  Modular frames, easily exchangeable frame parts and lenses · CPC title

• G02C5/10

  Intermediate bars or bars between bridge and side-members · CPC title

• G02C5/143 Primary

  having special ear pieces · CPC title