US3924271A

US3924271A - Goggles

Info

Publication number: US3924271A
Application number: US504051A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Jack B Hirschmann
Original assignee: H L BOUTON Co
Current assignee: H L BOUTON Co
Priority date: 1974-09-09
Filing date: 1974-09-09
Publication date: 1975-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-09

Abstract

Single-aperture goggles of a flexible material have an improved bridge portion for seating around the nose of the wearer, comprising thin, flexible skirt members integral with the bridge portion which yieldably overlie the sides of the wearer''s nose to seal the spaces between the nose and the bridge portion.

Description

a Uiifi States Patent 1191 1111 3,924,271

Hirschmann, Jr. Dec. 9, 1975 GOGGLES 2,979,729 4/1961 Hirschmann, Jr. 2/14 M Inventor: J B. H sc ma n Jr. Buzzards 3,031,674 5/1962 Rmg 2/14 L y MaSS- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Assigneej H, L Bouton Company Buzzards 941,126 6/1948 France 2/14 W Bay, Mass.- [22] Filed: Sept 9 1974 Primary ExaminerWerner H. Schroeder Assistant ExaminerPeter Nerbun PP 504,051 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBiebe1, French Bugg [52] 11.s.c1. 2/14 11,2/14 w [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. (11. A61F 9/02 5 Field f Search H 2/14 M 14 L 14 W, 14 D S1ng1e-aperture goggles of a flexlble matenal have an 2/14 R 14 improved bridge portion for seating around the nose of the wearer, comprising thin, flexible skirt members [56] References Cited integral with the bridge portion which yieldably overlie the sides of the wearers nose to seal the s aces be- UNIT P ED'STATES PATENTS tween the nose and the bridge portion. 2,524,245 10/1950 Wold 2/14 W 2,936,458 5/1960 Luisada 2/14 D 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 1 GOGGLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to goggles for eye protection and more particularly to a single-aperture goggle of a flexible material having an improved bridge portion for sealing around the nose of the wearer.

Single-aperture goggles of a flexible material are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,773,260 discloses such goggles. Generally, the goggles are simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to produce, while providing protection against the exposure of the eyes to harmful and/orundesired liquids and the like. Expensive or awkward goggles will not be used, and so defeat their purpose of providing safety to the wearer by protecting his eyes.

Although generally effective for many purposes, the

- prior art goggles frequently are ineffective in preventing fumes and/or liquids from entering the goggles in the nose area. This portion of a goggle has generally proved to be the most difficult to mold. As a result, the nose pad does not always sit tight against the face of the wearer.

One reason for this problem is that noses exist in a multitude of shapes. It is difficult to have a nose portion or pad of a goggle which will fit all noses, and yet effectively exclude liquids, vapors, and/or other foreign matters from the wearers eyes. Structurally the nose pad in prior goggles was merely a portion of a flexible material extending rearwardly from the front rim of the goggles, and generally conforming and parallel with the bridge portion of the wearers nose. The flexibility of the material of the goggles was relied upon, to some extent, to seal the nose area, but it generally proved ineffective because of the basic difficulty of shaping the nose area or pad.

Therefore a need exists for simple, inexpensive and effective safety goggles which provide effective protection for the eyes in the area of the nose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention generally is directed to an improved goggle, and specifically is directed to a single-aperture goggle having an improved nose portion.

The invention comprises skirt members attached to and integral with the portion of the frame which extends rearwardly from the front rim of the goggle and is I located above the nose of the wearer. The remainder of the goggle structure may be conventional, including a frame comprising a front rim portion and a portion projecting rearwardly from the rim portion adapted to fit against the face of the wearer and to define a singleaperture eye chamber, a one-piece lens received within the rim and complementary thereto, and a head strap attached to and for supporting the frame on the head of the wearer. Conventional flange means can be provided on the peripheral portion of the rearwardly projecting portion of the frame which fits against the face of the wearer as a further seal for that portion. This flange portion is parallel to and flush against the face.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved flexible construction, single-aperture goggle having an improved bridge portion providing improved protection for the eyes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved flexible construction, single-aperture goggles 2 having sealing skirts which are integral portions of the bridge structure.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view, looking from underneath of an improved goggle of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, looking from the inside, of the goggle of FIG. 1 without the head strap;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partially broken away, taken along the line 44 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIRTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pair of safety goggles shown in the drawing includes a frame IO molded of relatively soft impervious plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride or the like. The goggle frame 10 includesa rim portion-12 and a back portion or wall 14 which extends rearwardly from the rim and terminates in a peripheral flange 16 for engaging the face of the wearer. A head strap 18 is shown as connected to the frame by means of loops 20 provided near the back edge of frame 10 at opposite sides of the goggles.

The front rim portion 12 defines a single viewing aperture having portions for both eyes connected by a portion of reduced vertical extent above the nose of the wearer. The rim portion 12, in combination with the rearwardly extending portion or wall 14, defines an eye chamber 21. I

A lens 22, which is substantially complementary to the shape of the rim, is removably received in rim 12, by seating it between rim 12 and lugs 24. The lens is further secured to rim 12 by fasteners 26, such as the well-known Dot type, which are essentially malefemale snap members. Otherv fasteners or fastening means may be used as desired.

The portion of the goggle frame which defines the recess 28 for receiving the nose of the wearer comprises a bridge 30 of saddle shape including portions 31 of the wall 14 which are adapted to straddle the nose and fair into the rim 12 at the apex of the recess 28. A web 32 extends between opposed portions of the rim 12 in the upper end of the recess 28 and is generally triangular in vertical section and thus has a thin edge portion 33 which forms pad means adapted to seat yieldingly on the bridge of the wearers nose. The problem to which this invention is directed is that with a goggle frame of the character described up to this point, there is usually some space between the saddle portions 31 and the sides of the wearers nose through which splashing liquid, spray, or other undesired material can reach the area of the wearers eyes.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by the provision of a pair of skirts 35 which are molded to extend toward each other into the recess 28 from the rearward edges of the saddle portions 31 of wall 14. As shown in the drawing, each of these skirts 35 is of elongated generally half-crescent or arcuate wedge shape, with its widest portion adjacent the lower end thereof where its end joins the adjacent end of the flange l6, and with its upper end running out into the top of the saddle portion 31.

e.g., a thickness of approximately l/32 inch as compared with a thickness of approximately l/l6 inch flange l6, and its portion where each skirt 35 merges into the flange 16 is of correspondingly varying thickness. These dimensions are not absolute, and so variations thereof are acceptable as long as the flange 16 and skirts 35 remain flexible. The shirts 35 will therefore easily flex to fit along the sides of the wearers nose and thereby to close the space between the nose and the saddle portions 31 without compressing the wearers nostrils or otherwise inconveniencing the wearer. The flange 16, on the other hand, should maintain its shape sufficiently to reinforce the rearward edge of wall 14 against collapse where it engages the wearers face.

When the goggles are worn, the skirts 35 flex in a generally outward direction, i.e., away from the wearers face. It is the ability of each skirt to bend resiliently, and yet to seal against the nose of the wearer, that makes the improved goggles of the invention effective as safety goggles under conditions such as splashing liquid and spray. Skirts 35 compensate for the inability to mold the nose pad to conform to the shape of every nose. Where the nose pad would not ordinarily be in contact with the nose, the skirts 35 are in contact, thus effectively curtaining the nose area against the passage of hannful fumes, liquid spray and splashes, etc. between the saddle portions 31 and either side of the wearers nose.

While the article herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of article, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A goggle frame including a front rim and rearwardly extending, peripheral wall substantially com-' pletely surrounding said front rim and defining an eye chamber having a reduced portion above and adapted to receive the nose of the wearer, a lens received within said rim, and head strap means attached to said wall for supporting said frame on the head of the wearer, and

further characterized by bridge structure for receiving the nose of the wearer composed of a first means comprising saddle portions of said rim and wall defining a recess for receiving the nose of the wearer, a second means comprising a pad means connecting the upper ends of the forward edges of said saddle portions and adapted to seat on the bridge of the wearers nose, and a third means comprising skirt members integral with and extending toward each other into said recess in substantially the same plane from the rearward edges of said saddle portions, said skirt members being relatively thin and flexible for outward deflection into yieldable overlying engagement with the sides of the wearers nose to seal the spaces between the nose and said saddle portions.

2. A goggle frame as defined in claim 1 wherein each said skirt is of generally half-crescent configuration, the narrowest portion of each said skirt being adjacent the top of said recess, and the widest portion thereof being adjacent the lower end thereof.

3. A goggle frame as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange adapted to engage the face of the wearer, and further characterized in that each said skirt is integrally connected at the lower end thereof with said flange.

4. A goggle frame as defined in claim 3 wherein the thickness of each of said skirts is substantially less than the thickness of said flange to impart greater flexibility to said skirts than to said flange.

5. A goggle frame as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall includes an outwardlyextending peripheral flange adapted to engage the face of the wearer, and further characterized in that each said skirt is of generally halfcrescent configuration, the narrowest portion of each said skirt being adjacent the top of said recess, the widest portion thereof being adjacent the lower end thereof, and each said skirt being integrally connected at the lower end thereof with said flange.

6. A goggle frame as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said skirts is of substantially less thickness than said flange and is faired smoothly into said flange to impart greater flexibility to said skirts than to said flange.

Claims

1. A goggle frame including a front rim and rearwardly extending, peripheral wall substantially completely surrounding said front rim and defining an eye chamber having a reduced portion above and adapted to receive the nose of the wearer, a lens received within said rim, and head strap means attached to said wall for supporting said frame on the head of the wearer, and further characterized by bridge structure for receiving the nose of the wearer composed of a first means comprising saddle portions of said rim and wall defining a recess for receiving the nose of the wearer, a second means comprising a pad means connecting the upper ends of the forward edges of said saddle portions and adapted to seat on the bridge of the wearer''s nose, and a third means comprising skirt members integral with and extending toward each other into said recess in substantially the same plane from the rearward edges of said saddle portions, said skirt members being relatively thin and flexible for outward deflection into yieldable overlying engagement with the sides of the wearer''s nose to seal the spaces between the nose and said saddle portions.

5. A goggle frame as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange adapted to engage the face of the wearer, and further characterized in that each said skirt is of generally half-crescent configuration, the narrowest portion of each said skirt being adjacent the top of said recess, the widest portion thereof being adjacent the lower end thereof, and each said skirt being integrally connected at the lower end thereof with said flange.