Eyewear Article Side Shield Retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016274382-A1
Application number	US-201415032326-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 21, 2014
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A side shield retainer kit is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a side shield retainer kit includes a spring bar having first and second engagement surfaces and an outer surface including a sloped portion. A cylindrical polymeric retainer having an outer major surface and an inner major surface is positionable around the spring bar and is configured to secure the spring bar to a spectacle side shield upon exposure to heat.

First claim

1 . An eyewear article side-shield retainer kit, comprising:
a spring bar including first and second engagement surfaces and an outer surface including a sloped portion; and a cylindrical polymeric retainer having an outer major surface and an inner major surface and positionable around the spring bar and an eyewear article temple piece; wherein the first and second engagement surfaces are configured to contact an outer surface of an eyewear article temple piece, and the polymeric retainer is configured to secure the spring bar to a spectacle side shield upon exposure to heat.

2 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the sloped portion has an angle φ relative to the first engagement surface, and 2°<φ<15°.

3 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein 5°<φ<12°.

4 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the spring bar has an inner surface, the inner surface comprising the first and second engagement surfaces.

5 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the angled spring bar includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the outer surface.

6 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric retainer is configured to contact the sloped portion to secure the spring bar to the spectacle side shield.

7 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the spectacle side-shield retainer is electrically insulating.

8 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the spring bar is made from a material having a flexural modulus of between 2000 MPa and 6000 MPa.

9 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric retainer is configured to permanently attach the spring bar to the spectacle side shield.

10 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the polymeric retainer comprises an adhesive.

11 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric retainer comprises a heat shrinkable tube.

12 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric retainer has a length between 10 mm and 40 mm.

13 . The kit of claim 1 , further comprising a spectacle side-shield.

14 . The kit of claim 13 , wherein the spring bar is integrally formed with the side-shield.

15 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the spring bar includes an engagement end having a projection configured to be positioned between a temple piece and a side shield when secured to an eyewear article.

16 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement surface of the spring bar has a first angle θ relative to the second engagement surface in an unsecured configuration and is configured to have a second angle β relative to the second engagement surface when the spring bar and spectacle temple portion are secured by the polymeric retainer.

17 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein θ>β.

18 . A method for retaining a side shield on an eyewear article, comprising:
positioning a side shield and spring bar proximate an eyewear article temple portion, the spring bar including first and second engagement surfaces and an outer surface including a sloped portion; positioning a cylindrical polymeric retainer around at least a portion of the sloped portion of the spring bar and the temple portion; and shrinking the polymeric retainer to secure the spring bar to the eyewear article temple portion.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of shrinking the polymeric retainer comprises heating the polymeric retainer.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the polymeric retainer comprises a generally cylindrical shape having an outer major surface and an inner major surface, the inner major surface comprising an adhesive.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Froissard Laurent
• Dixon Dana R

Classifications

• G02C11/12 Primary

  Side shields for protection of the eyes · CPC title

• G02C5/008

  Spectacles frames characterized by their material, material structure and material properties · CPC title

• G02C13/001

  Assembling; Repairing · CPC title