Patent Application
20210191149
The present disclosure relates to coupling devices for eyeshield assemblies, and more particularly, a coupling device for detachably connecting an eyeshield assembly to the brim of a head covering.
When a person is outside on a sunny day wearing a head covering with a brim, there are times when the person wants to also wear sunglasses in order to provide additional protection for their eyes from the sunlight. In many use scenarios it may be advantageous to couple the eyeshield assembly to the underside of the brim of the head covering.
Eyeshield assemblies according to some embodiments of the present disclosure include features that facilitate easily attaching to a brim of a head covering, coupling securely to the brim of a head covering, and easily adjusting to the user's facial profile. Such features also facilitate easily detaching the eyeshield from the brim of the head covering when desired.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an eyeshield assembly is configured to couple to a brim of a head covering. The eyeshield assembly includes a base that is configured to couple to the brim of the head covering. A connector detachably couples to the base, and an eyeshield couples to the connector. A connecting structure detachably couples the connector to the base. The connecting structure includes a cantilevered tooth coupled to one of the base and the connector and a socket coupled to the other of the base and the connector. The socket selectively receives the cantilevered tooth to secure the connector to the base.
An eyeshield assembly according to the previous paragraph, wherein the connector couples to the cantilevered tooth and the socket couples to the base.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, wherein the cantilevered tooth exits the socket and the connector slidably detaches from the base when a detachment force exceeds a threshold.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, wherein the connector is slidably detachable from the base by translating in a first direction, the cantilevered tooth is pivotable relative to the one of the base and the connector about an axis, and the axis is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, wherein the cantilevered tooth exits the socket and the connector slidably detaches from the base when a detachment force applied in the first direction exceeds a threshold.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, wherein the cantilevered tooth includes an apex, the socket selectively receiving the apex to secure the connector to the base.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, further including a plurality of sockets including the socket, each of the plurality of sockets individually selectively receiving the cantilevered tooth to secure the connector to the base.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an eyeshield assembly selectively couples to a base. The base is configured to couple to a brim of a head covering, and the base includes a socket. The eyeshield assembly includes an eyeshield and a connector coupled to the eyeshield. The connector is configured to detachably couple to the base. The connector includes a connector body and a slider support coupled to the connector body. The slider support is configured to slidably couple the connector to the base. A cantilevered tooth is coupled to the connector body, and the cantilevered tooth is configured to be selectively received in the socket to secure the connector to the base.
An eyeshield assembly according to the previous paragraph, wherein the cantilevered tooth includes an apex, and the apex is configured to be selectively received in the socket to secure the connector to the base.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, wherein the connector is configured to slidably detach from the base by translating in a first direction, and the apex extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, wherein the connector is configured to slidably detach from the base by translating in a first direction, the cantilevered tooth is pivotable relative to the connector body about an axis, and the axis is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a base for an eyeshield assembly is configured to couple to a brim of a head covering. The eyeshield assembly includes a connector that couples to an eyeshield, and the connector includes a cantilevered tooth. The base includes an attachment aperture that is configured to receive a fastener for coupling the base to the brim of the head covering. A slider support is configured to slidably receive the connector. A socket is configured to selectively receive the cantilevered tooth of the connector to secure the connector to the base.
An eyeshield assembly according to the previous paragraph, wherein the socket includes an inverse apex.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, wherein the slider support facilitates translation of the connector in a first direction relative to the base, and the inverse apex extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, further including a plurality of sockets including the socket, each of the plurality of sockets configured to individually selectively receive the cantilevered tooth to secure the connector to the base.
An eyeshield assembly according to any of the previous paragraphs, further including an arcuate upper surface configured to engage a lower surface of the brim of the head covering.
Advantages and features of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Eyeshield assemblies according to some embodiments of the present disclosure removably couple an eyeshield to a head covering. Such assemblies advantageously facilitate interchanging different types of eyeshields and/or reducing the weight carried by the head covering when use of an eyeshield is not desired. Eyeshield assemblies according to some embodiments of the present disclosure facilitate simple and quick transition from a use position of an eyeshield, in which a user wearing the eyeshield positions the eyeshield in front of their eyes to protect their eyes, to a non-use position, in which the user removes the eyeshield from his/her line of sight. It may be advantageous to transition an eyeshield to a non-use position, for example, when use of the eyeshield is temporarily undesirable. Eyeshield assemblies according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may also advantageously facilitate transitioning the eyeshield from the use position to the non-use position with substantially a hands-free operation.
Referring to
Referring again to
The eyeshield 52 generally includes a frame 62 having an upper edge 64 that couples to the pivot arm 60, and a lower edge 66 opposite the upper edge 64. In various embodiments, the frame 62 of the eyeshield 52 and the pivot arm 60 may generally be made from a resilient and lightweight material, such as plastic. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame 62 of the eyeshield 52 and the pivot arm 60 are molded as a unitary or monolithic component. The frame 62 carries one or more lenses between the upper edge 64 and the lower edge 66. In various embodiments and as illustrated, the eyeshield 52 includes a right lens 68 and a left lens 70 that are configured to be positioned in front of a user's right eye and left eye, respectively. In other embodiments, the eyeshield 52 may include a unitary lens (not shown) extending continuous between both of the user's eyes. In still other embodiments, the eyeshield 52 may include a single lens or an electronic device screen positioned in front of one, or both, of the user's eyes (that is, the eyeshield 52 may provide “smart glasses” or other types of electronic eyewear). The eyeshield 52 may be formed in any other configuration and shape. The lenses 68 and 70 may be tinted such that eyeshield 52 defines sunglasses. However, the lenses 68 and 70 may comprise a translucent or transparent material in any color or may be a clear translucent material such that the eyeshield assembly 50 may be configured for a plurality of applications. For example, in some embodiments, the entire eyeshield 52 may be formed of lens material, such as a transparent yellow plastic or a clear plastic (to provide, for example, protective eyewear). In these embodiments and others, the eyeshield 52 may lack lenses per se and one or more components of the frame 62, such as the upper edge 64 and lower edge 66. In some embodiments, the lenses 68 and 70 may be polarized.
Referring now to
With continued reference to
The above components and other components of the hinge assembly 72 may be the same as or similar to the components of any of the hinge assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,048,509 or 10,444,535, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. Alternatively, in other embodiments and as described in further detail below, eyeshield assemblies according to the present disclosure may include eyeshields that are non-pivotable relative to quick-connector devices and the head coverings.
Referring to
The cantilevered teeth 98 are pivotable about a cantilever axis 102 to facilitate entering and exiting the sockets 100. Illustratively, the cantilever axis 102 is disposed at proximal ends 104 of the cantilevered teeth 98 that couples to the remainder of the connector 58 (also referred to as a connector body 106), and the cantilever axis 102 may be substantially perpendicular (that is, perpendicular ±10 degrees) to the detachment direction 92 and the attachment direction 94. Opposite the cantilever axis 102 and the proximal ends 104, the cantilevered teeth 98 include upstanding distal ends 108 that engage the sockets 100. Illustratively, the distal ends 108 include triangular shapes having apexes 110. Similarly, the sockets 100 may have the inverse shape of the distal ends 108 of the cantilevered teeth 98, specifically inverse triangular shapes having inverse apexes 112, for receiving the distal ends 108 of the cantilevered teeth 98. Alternatively, one or both of the distal ends 108 of the cantilevered teeth 98 and the sockets 100 may have non-triangular shapes. Illustratively, the distal ends 108 of the cantilevered teeth 98 and the sockets 100 may have uniform shapes in a second or transverse direction 114 substantially parallel (that is, parallel ±10 degrees) to the cantilever axis 102 and substantially perpendicular to the detachment direction 92. More specifically, the apexes 110 of the cantilevered teeth 98 and/or the inverse apexes 112 of the sockets 100 may extend in the transverse direction 114.
The shape of the distal ends 108 of the cantilevered teeth 98 and the shape of the sockets 100 facilitate securing the connector 58 to the base 56 unless a user applies a force to the connector 58 that exceeds a nominal threshold. More specifically, the cantilevered teeth 98 pivot about the cantilever axis 102 and slide relative to the sockets 100 and, as a result the connector 58 slides relative to the base 56, when a force applied in the detachment direction 92 or the attachment direction 94 exceeds the threshold. In some embodiments, the threshold is the same when applying the force in the detachment direction 92 or the attachment direction 94. In other embodiments, the threshold is different when applying the force in the detachment direction 92 or the attachment direction 94. In some embodiments, the threshold is less than about 20 N. In some embodiments, the threshold is about 0.5 N.
Referring now to
An opposite lower surface 120 of the base 56 defines the sockets 100. The base 56 illustratively includes two sets of sockets 100, and each set illustratively includes five sockets 100. The sockets 100 in each set are disposed adjacent to each other in the detachment direction 92 and the attachment direction 94. Accordingly, the cantilevered teeth 98 of the connector 58 (shown elsewhere) may be received in different sockets 100 to facilitate repositioning the eyeshield 52 (shown elsewhere) relative to the front edge 20 of the brim 14 of the head covering 10 (shown elsewhere), for example, based on user preference. In some embodiments, the base 56 may include a different number of sets of sockets 100, and/or each set may include a different number of sockets 100. Illustratively, each set of sockets 100 couples to an adjacent socket slot 122 through which the distal end 108 of one of the cantilevered teeth 98 slide when the connector 58 attaches to or detaches from the base 56.
With continued reference to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
While various embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it is understood that these embodiments are not limited thereto. The embodiments may be changed, modified and further applied by those skilled in the art. Therefore, these embodiments are not limited to the detail shown and described previously, but also include all such changes and modifications.
Furthermore, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements. The scope is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B or C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.
In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.
Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
