Patent Application
20070250994
This invention relates to protective goggles typically used for sporting activities like skiing and snowboarding.
Goggles are widely used in a variety of applications, such as when skiing and snowboarding, working in hazardous conditions or with hazardous substances. Goggles typically include a frame having a somewhat oval configuration with an inner edge adapted to a wearer's face, often through a cushioning foam face gasket. The frame usually has an arcuate shape curving rearwardly at the sides to conform to a wearer's face. A lens is normally mounted in the frame near an outer edge of the frame so that the lens and wearer's face substantially enclose the interior of the frame. The goggle is normally held on the wearer's head by an elastic headband having its ends attached to opposite side edges of the goggle frame. The headband may be attached directly to the goggle frame, or it may be attached through an intervening structure.
In some cases, such as in skiing and snowboarding, goggles are alternately worn with and without a helmet. Most goggles are arranged so that they can be comfortably and effectively worn without a helmet. When a goggle is worn without a helmet, the headband extends from the side edges of the goggle rearwardly along the sides of the wearer's head. In this configuration, the force exerted by the headband pulls the side edges of the frame rearwardly to securely hold the inner edge of the frame against the face of the wearer. However, when some goggles are worn with a helmet, the headband can extend laterally to the forward side edges of the helmet. In this configuration, the force exerted by the headband can pull the sides of the goggle away from the wearer's face, forming gaps between the frame and the wearer's face. These gaps can allow light, air or debris such as snow to enter the inside of the goggle.
A number of techniques have been tried to allow a goggle to be comfortably and effectively worn either with or without a helmet. One approach has been to attach the headband to rigid “outriggers” that project laterally outwardly from the front of the frame. The outriggers relocate the point of attachment between the headband and the frame forwardly and inwardly from the side edges of the frame. By effectively connecting the headband to the front of the frame at locations inwardly from the side edges, the headband is more likely to extend rearwardly when worn with a helmet. As a result, the headband can pull the frame rearwardly to hold the goggle against the face of the wearer. The use of an outrigger does somewhat alleviate the problem of the headband pulling the goggle away from the wearer's face when the goggle is worn with a helmet. However, the outwardly projecting outriggers are considered by some to be unattractive. Furthermore, since the goggle frame should be made from a somewhat soft, resilient material and the outrigger should be made from a somewhat rigid material, two different materials must be used, and it is thus not possible to form the frame and outrigger as an integral unit.
One solution that largely solves the headband angle problem without adversely affecting the appearance of a goggle frame is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,383 to Cleary et al. In the Cleary et al. goggle, a headband attachment arm is pivotally mounted to each side of the goggle frame at locations spaced inwardly from the edge of the frame. More specifically, pivot pins project inwardly toward each other from opposite ends of each pivot arm, and the ends of the headband are attached to the middle of the arms. The pivot pins are received by respective pivot holes formed on upper and lower surfaces of the frame, respectively. The periphery of the frame is recessed between the pivot holes so that the arms do not project substantially beyond the outer surface of the frame. As a result, the arms and frame together form a smooth contour that provides an attractive appearance and good aerodynamic performance.
In use, the headband attachment arms of the Cleary et al. goggle are recessed within the frame when the goggle is worn without a helmet, and the headband therefore extends rearwardly from the goggle frame. In this configuration, the attachment arms blend in with the goggle frame and are almost invisible. When the goggle is worn with a helmet, the headband extends from the frame more laterally than rearwardly. However, the attachment arms can pivot forwardly to prevent the headband from pulling the frame forwardly away from the face of the wearer.
The Cleary et al. goggle has most of the advantages of the “outrigger” design without some of its disadvantages. However, it is still less than ideal. In particular, the frame must be made relatively thick in the area where the headband attachment arms are pivotally attached to the frame, which can present an unattractive appearance. If, for example, the frame was too thin, the pivot holes would be relatively shallow, thereby potentially allowing the pivot pins to be easily pulled from the holes. Other pivot structures would likewise require the frame to be sufficiently thick to form the pivot structure. Furthermore, the need to form a pivotal connection between the headband attachment arms and frame limits the choices of materials that can be used to form the arms and frame. In particular, the arms must be rigid enough to substantially retain their shape when they are subjected to forces from the headband. Also, in general, the frame must be sufficiently rigid that the pivot structure retains its shape. For example, if the pivot holes were to become elongated or the upper and lower portions of the frame moved toward each other, the pivot pins could easily be pulled from the pivot holes.
Another disadvantage of the Cleary et al. goggle is the added cost of forming attachment arms separately from the frame and possibly using a different material, as well as the assembly cost of attaching the arms to the frame.
There is therefore a need for a goggle that can be worn either with or without a helmet, a goggle that is not pulled away from the face when worn with a helmet, and a goggle that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and attractive in appearance whether worn with or without a helmet.
A goggle that can be worn with or without a helmet includes a frame having an outer periphery surrounding an opening in which a lens is mounted. The frame also includes a top, a bottom and opposite sides. The goggle further includes a pair of generally U-shaped attachment arms extending along respective sides of the frame. Each of the attachment arms has first and second ends that are fixedly attached to the top and bottom of the outer periphery of the frame at attachment locations that are spaced inwardly from the respective side of the frame. Each of the arms has at least one resilient region structured to allow the arm to bend forwardly and rearwardly. A head support such as an elastic headband is attached to the attachment arms to secure the goggle to the head of a wearer. When the goggle is worn without a helmet, the head support extends from the attachment arms substantially rearwardly at a first angle. In this position, the attachment arms are bent rearwardly to a first position. When the goggle is worn with a helmet, the head support extends from the attachment arms at a second angle that is substantially forward of the first angle. In this position, the attachment arms are bent to a second position that is forward of the first position. However, since the head support has a rearward component as it extends from the attachment arms, the goggle frame is held against the face of the wearer without creating any gaps between the frame and the face of the wearer at the sides of the goggle.
The goggle 10 also includes headband attachment arms 20 having ends 22, 24 that are flexibly attached to upper and lower edges of the frame 12, respectively. The headband attachment arms 20 are fixedly attached to the frame 12 through flexures 28 formed by reduced thickness regions of the arms 20. However, since the arms may be made of a resilient material, such as the material used to form the frame 12, the flexures 28 are not required. Alternatively, the flexures 28 may be made of a material that is different from the material used to form the arms 20, or some other means of making a localized region more flexible may be used.
As best shown in
The headband attachment arms 20 extend around the sides of the frame 12 from the top of the frame 12 to the bottom. Although not necessary, the headband attachment arms 20 may closely fit the contour of the outer periphery of the frame 12, and, as shown in
One aspect of the goggle 10 illustrated in
In one example of the goggle 10, the arms 20 are formed separately from the frame 12, and they may be made from a material that is the same as or different from the material used to form the frame 12. The ends of the arms 20 are then attached to the frame 12 by suitable means, such as bonding. In another example of the goggle 10, the arms 20 and the frame 12 are integrally formed with each other as a unit. In either case, the frame 12 in the area where the arms 20 attach to the frame 12 may be relatively thin since there is no need for any portion of the arms 20 to project inwardly into the frame 12. Furthermore, there are very few constraints on the physical properties of the arms 12. For example, the arms 20 may be relatively soft and elastic like the material used to form the frame 12 even if the frame 12 and the arms 20 are not integrally formed with each other. There is no requirement that the arms 20 be sufficiently rigid to retain the shape of an attachment structure since the ends of the arms 20 need only be bonded to the outer surface of the frame. Of course, portions of the arms 20 may project into the frame 12 or vice-versa if desired, but it is not necessary to do so.
As shown in
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the disclosed embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such modifications are well within the skill of those ordinarily skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
