Title: Snug-fitting Floating Eyewear
Inventor: Thomas A. Bonacci (a.k.a. the Bomber)
In a nutshell, our patents explain that Bomber's glasses with foam will perform as follows:
Here are some details (excerpted from our US disclosures):
"Eyewear of any type used for outdoor activities, particularly sunglasses that are worn in sports that include speed and accelerated movements, obviously become vulnerable to breakage and loss. The invention utilizes a series of float pads attached at strategic points upon a pair of wrap around glasses, permiting the glasses to float but always in the same direction with the temples prominently protruding in a upward position above the water. The glasses are balanced to right themselves when entering the water from any orientation.
"Another object of the invention is directed to the positioning of the float pads around the edge of wearer's brow and temple area. This location obstructs and protects this region from eddy currents created by the velocity of the wind impinging on this area. In contrast, conventionally configured glasses are adversely effected by the wind.
"A tight fit is achieved with the instant invention as the foam is resilient and easily conforms to the contour of the users face completely sealing this potential anomaly that may cause loss of the eye wear when wind or vehicle speed is encountered. Loss of glasses is particularly a concern when riding a motor vehicle such as a open automobile, boat, motorcycle and the like, when the rider or driver turns his or her head to look to the rear. In this circumstance the wind catches this vulnerable area and blows the glasses from the face. This is apparent by observing someone in this type of situation when the person actually holds the glasses in place with the finger or hand while turning to look to the rear.
"Sufficient space is left to prevent or at least minimize fogging of the lenses. In glasses that touch both the forehead and cheeks, the elevated temperatures and evaporating perspiration has a tendency to collect on the lenses fogging them to the extent that vision is impaired, particularly when the glasses are initially brought into use. It has been found that in comparing similar glasses, the float pads greatly ameliorate this phenomena as air is permitted to flow freely and circulate around the lenses, whereas prior art using sponge material on the brow or glasses that are tight fitting on top and bottom completely impede the air flow.
"Yet another object of the invention is realized by increasing user comfort when wearing the improved eye glasses by the addition of resilient temple pads. The pads not only increase wearer comfort due to its pliant nature but also helps keep the glasses from sliding off of ones face. It may be noted that almost all eyeglasses have the tendency to slip down on the nose when the wearer is hot and perspiration is present however since the temples are completely covered with a material that conforms to the contour of the head and is essentially springy it permits a greater degree of permanence. Comfort is realized in not only outdoor usage but when the eyeglasses have clear lenses and are the safety type, as preferred in the invention, particularly the type ANSI.Z87. 1 approved by the American National Standard Institute, factory workers find this added resiliency along with the advantages noted above are extremely beneficial to the user.
"A further object of the invention relative to the temple pads, is that when the glasses are temporarily removed from ones face and placed around the neck or on top of the head they are much easier to be retained for the same reasons as described above.
"A final object of the invention is that the eyeglass temples are formed in a convex longitudinal shape. This configuration does not detract from the structural integrity of the member in any way however it does provide a optimum surface for mounting float pads in comparison with the angular surface encountered in many conventional glasses."
Want to read ALL the details? We own United States patents 6,059,408 and 6,513,925 (in addition to others).
