U.S. patent application number 13/092109 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-04 for swim goggles.
This patent application is currently assigned to Global Esprit Inc.. Invention is credited to HERMAN CHIANG.
Application Number | 20120246810 13/092109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46452424 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120246810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHIANG; HERMAN |
October 4, 2012 |
SWIM GOGGLES
Abstract
A pair of swim goggles includes left and right frames having
lenses therein, respectively, a bridge element connecting the left
and right frames, and left and right sealing frames sealing around
peripheral sides of the left and right frames and forming
protection seals, respectively. Each of the protection seals has a
substantially J shape in cross-section in any segment thereof.
Strap apparatus disposed on outer sides of the left and right
frames, respectively. The swim goggles are characterized in that
buffer portions are provided between the protection seals and the
left and right frames, respectively, so that the buffer portions
and the protection seals capable of cooperatively absorbing an
external impact.
Inventors: |
CHIANG; HERMAN; (New Taipei
City, TW) |
Assignee: |
Global Esprit Inc.
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
46452424 |
Appl. No.: |
13/092109 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 33/004 20200801;
A63B 33/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/428 |
International
Class: |
A63B 33/00 20060101
A63B033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 1, 2011 |
TW |
100205960 |
Claims
1. A pair of swim goggles, comprising: a left frame and a right
frame having lenses therein, respectively; a bridge element
connecting the left and right frames; a left sealing frame and a
right sealing frame sealing around peripheral sides of the left and
right frames and forming protection seals, respectively, each of
the protection seals having a substantially J shape in
cross-section in any segment thereof; and strap apparatus disposed
on outer sides of the left and right frames, respectively, wherein
buffer portions are provided between the protection seals and the
left and right frames, respectively, so that the buffer portions
and the protection seals capable of cooperatively absorbing an
external impact.
2. The swim goggles of claim 1, wherein the buffer portions and the
protection seals cooperatively form wave-shaped contact faces.
3. The swim goggles of claim 2, wherein each of the left and right
frames is formed with wave-shaped lips located at upper and lower
sides thereof, and each of the protection seals forms wave-shaped
flanges corresponding to the wave-shaped lips, whereby to
cooperatively define the contact faces.
4. The swim goggles of claim 3, wherein the left and right frames
and the lenses are integrally formed of Polycarbonate (PC).
5. The swim goggles of claim 3, wherein the left and right sealing
frames and the bridge element are integrally formed of Therma
Plastic Rubber (TPR).
6. The swim goggles of claim 3, wherein the left and right sealing
frames have first portions and second portions, respectively, the
peripheral sides of the left and right frames are sealed by the
first portions, the protection seals are formed by the second
portions, and the first and second portions are formed integrally
by secondary injection molding.
7. The swim goggles of claim 6, wherein the first and second
portions of the left and right sealing frames are formed in
different hardness by the secondary injection molding.
8. The swim goggles of claim 7, wherein the first portions of the
first and second sealing frames are provided with injection slots,
respectively.
9. The swim goggles of claim 6, wherein the first and second
portions of the first and second sealing frames are formed in
different colors by the second injection molding.
10. The swim goggles of claim 1, wherein each of the strap
apparatus comprises a coupling base extending integrally from
respective outer sides of the left and right frames, the coupling
base has a position hole and a recessed portion, the position hole
is allowed for a head strap drawn therethrough, and the recessed
portion facilitates formation of the left and right sealing frames
and the left and right frames.
11. The swim goggles of claim 10, wherein the recessed portion is
provided with an injection hole for facilitating the formation with
respective left and right sealing frames.
12. The swim goggles of claim 1, wherein the left and right frames
form tongue portions, respectively, each of the tongue portions
being located adjacent to the bridge element and tilted upwards and
outwards of the left and right frames.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a pair of swim goggles, and
more particularly to a pair of swim goggles having buffer portions
help buffer the swim goggles against an external impact.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] As is well-known, primary functions of swim goggles are to
protect eyes and prevent them from contacting water. Therefore, it
is very important that swim goggles are capable of being water
permeation-proof and providing protection as well as comfort in
use. Such a water permeation-proof design is fulfilled by providing
seals, which are known as a foam-type seal in early times and a
sucking-type seal in latter times. Both types of swim goggles are
significantly improved in comfort and materials. The sucking type
seal is made of soft material and formed integrally with a lens
frame in order to fit better to the eye socket and to enhance
comfort, which is currently a typical structure of swim goggles.
The sucking type seal is generally of a substantially `J` shape in
cross-section in any segment thereof. The J-shaped seal is
functioned as a buffer portion between the lens frame and the eye
socket, and is deformable to fit closely to the eye socket.
[0005] Though the sucking type seal is served to buffer the swim
goggles and fits to the eye socket as well, it will be over
deformed by outer pressure from the lens frame and lenses when
swimming or inappropriately wearing the swim goggles. Further, the
deformation will become serious when the pressure is increased. As
a result, the sucking type seal may over fit to the eye socket and
badly affect the blood circulation thereabout. In such a
circumstance, inflamed imprints or even bruises may be left after
taking off the swim goggles. Besides, actions or exercise that
involves strong impact on the swim goggles, such as jumping into
water or triathlon, may also cause the same problems and hurt eyes
because of the excessive deformation of the J-shaped seals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide novel swim goggles which have not only protection seals
used to provide comfort and a water permeation-proof function, as a
first buffering against impact, but also buffer portions provided
between frames and the protection seals, as a second buffering
against the impact.
[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a pair of swim
goggles include left and right frames having lenses therein,
respectively, a bridge element connecting the left and right
frames, and left and right sealing frames sealing around peripheral
sides of the left and right frames and forming protection seals,
respectively, each of the protection seals having a substantially J
shape in cross-section in any segment thereof, and strap apparatus
disposed on outer sides of the left and right frames, respectively,
wherein buffer portions are provided between the protection seals
and the left and right frames, respectively, so that the buffer
portions and the protection seals capable of cooperatively
absorbing an external impact.
[0008] In accordance with the above-mentioned features, the buffer
portions and the protection seals cooperatively form wave-shaped
contact faces, and the left and right frames and the lenses are
integrally formed of Polycarbonate (PC).
[0009] Further, the left and right sealing frames and the bridge
element are integrally made of Therma Plastic Rubber (TPR), and are
formed in different colors by second injection molding.
[0010] Still further, each of the strap apparatus includes a
coupling base extending integrally from respective outer sides of
the left and right frames, the coupling base has a position hole
and a recessed portion, the position hole is allowed for a head
strap drawn therethrough, and the recessed portion facilitates
formation of the left and right sealing frames and the left and
right frames.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIGS. 1 and 2 are different exploded perspective views of a
pair of swim goggles of the present invention;
[0012] FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective assembly views of FIGS. 1 and
2, respectively;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIGS. 6 to 8 are cross-sectional views taken along lines
6-6, 7-7, and 8-8 in sequence in FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of swim goggles 1 of the
present invention include a left frame 2 and a right frame 3, a
bridge element 4, a left sealing frame 5, a right sealing frame 6
and strap apparatus 7, wherein the left and right frames 2, 3 are
integrally formed with lenses 80, 81 and are made of Polycarbonate
(PC). The left and right frames 2, 3 further form tongue portions
20, 30, respectively, located adjacent to the bridge element 4 and
tilted upwards and outwards of the left and right frames 2, 3. Each
of the tongue portions 20, 30 faces each other and is of a
substantially triangle shape. Furthermore, each of the left and
right frames 2, 3 is formed with wave-shaped lips 21, 31 located at
upper and lower sides thereof (the wave-shaped lips 21, 31 are part
of buffer portions, described below). The strap apparatus 7 are
disposed on outer sides of the left and right frames 2, 3,
respectively. Each of the strap apparatus 7 includes a coupling
base 70 extending integrally from respective outer sides of the
left and right frames 2, 3. The coupling base 70 has a position
hole 71 and a recessed portion 72. The position hole 71 penetrates
the coupling base 70 from a top to bottom of the coupling base 70
and is allowed for a head strap (not shown) drawn therethrough. The
recessed portion 72 is provided with an injection hole 721 and is
laterally recessed between respective lenses 80, 81 and the
position holes 71. With the recessed portions 72, the coupling base
70 is firmly formed with the left and right sealing frames 5, 6.
Peripheral edges of the lenses 80, 81 slightly shrink from the
peripheral sides of the left and right frames 2, 3 for facilitating
integrally formation with the left and right sealing frames 5,
6.
[0016] The left and right sealing frames 5, 6 seal around the left
and right frames 2, 3, respectively. In this preferable embodiment,
the left and right sealing frames 5, 6 and the bridge element 4 are
integrally formed and made of Therma Plastic Rubber (TPR) by
secondary injection molding. The left and right sealing frames 5, 6
have first portions 50, 60 and second portions 51, 61,
respectively, the first portions 50, 60 sealing the peripheral
sides of the left and right frames 2, 3, the second portions 51,
61, forming the protection seals 52, 62, and the first and second
portions 50, 60, 51, 61 are formed integrally by secondary
injection molding. Particularly note that the first portions 50, 60
are formed in different hardness and colors from the second
portions 51, 61 and the bridge element 4 by the secondary injection
molding. The first portions 50, 60, are provided with injection
slots 53, 63, respectively, in order for facilitating formation of
materials of different hardness. Further, each of the protection
seals 52, 62 has a substantially J shape in cross-section in any
segment thereof. The protection seals 52, 62 respectively form
wave-shaped flanges 521, 621 corresponding to and engaged with the
wave-shaped lips 21, 31. The wave-shaped flanges 521, 621 are
defined as another part of the buffer portions of the present
invention. The buffer portions defined by the wave-shaped lips 21,
31 and the wave-shaped flanges 521, 621 are one of the preferable
embodiments of the present invention. Any other structure that is
functioned as the buffer portion can be applied to the present
invention in alternative. For instance, resilient elements (not
shown) can be provided between the left and right frames 2, 3 and
the protection seals 52, 62 for being used as the buffer
portion.
[0017] Accordingly, after being assembled, the J-shaped protection
seals 52, 62, and the wave-shaped buffer portions defined by the
wave-shaped lips 21, 31 and the wave-shaped flanges 521, 621
corresponding to and engaged with each other are clearly seen in
FIGS. 3 and 4. The J-shaped protection seals 52, 62 are to provide
better comfort and a water permeation-proof function, and the
buffer portions of the wave-shaped contact faces are capable of
absorbing an external impact on the swim goggles 1. Further
referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, more specific, once the swim goggles 1
receive the impact, the impact energy will be transferred through
the wave-shaped lips 21, 31 to the corresponding wave-shaped
flanges 521, 621 and therefore be effectively absorbed thereby.
Further, strength of the impact will be lessened by both the
wave-shaped contact faces and appropriate deformation of the
protection seals 52, 62. Consequently, the buffer portions help
buffer the swim goggles 1 against the impact.
[0018] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other
forms within the scope of the claims. Thus the present examples and
embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative,
and not restrictive, of the invention defined by the claims.
* * * * *