U.S. patent application number 16/205732 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-28 for spectacle lens.
This patent application is currently assigned to INUI LENS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is INUI LENS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoshinori INUI.
Application Number | 20190094571 16/205732 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62905881 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190094571 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
INUI; Yoshinori |
March 28, 2019 |
SPECTACLE LENS
Abstract
A spectacle lens is produced through a first step of stacking a
first member colored in cyan and a second member colored in red and
integrating the first member and the second member, and a
subsequent second step of partially polishing a periphery of a
convex surface of the first member. Provision of the polishing step
enables unique design and production of appropriate numbers of
widely varied distinctive spectacle lenses.
Inventors: |
INUI; Yoshinori;
(Higashisumiyoshiku, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INUI LENS CO., LTD. |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
INUI LENS CO., LTD.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
62905881 |
Appl. No.: |
16/205732 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15467244 |
Mar 23, 2017 |
10175509 |
|
|
16205732 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29D 11/00432 20130101;
B29D 11/00009 20130101; G02C 2202/16 20130101; B29K 2075/00
20130101; B29D 11/00923 20130101; G02C 7/105 20130101; B29D 11/0073
20130101; B29K 2995/0021 20130101; G02C 7/104 20130101; B29K
2069/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02C 7/10 20060101
G02C007/10; B29D 11/00 20060101 B29D011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 24, 2017 |
JP |
2017-010173 |
Claims
1. A spectacle lens comprising first and second rigid plastic
members having different tones and permanently integrated with each
other without a gap, the spectacle lens being produced through a
first step of stacking a first member colored in a first tone and
disposed outside so as not to face an eye, and a second member
colored in a second tone and disposed inside so as to face the eye,
and integrating the first member and the second member, and a
second step of partially removing a peripheral surface portion of
the lens having been processed in the first step, by causing a
processing head to be in contact with or applying laser beams to a
convex surface of the first member or a concave surface of the
second member, wherein in the second step, the plastic member is
polished in a direction substantially perpendicular to the convex
surface of the first member or the concave surface of the second
member, to form a border line between a peripheral edge of the
first member and the second member, or between a peripheral edge of
the second member and the first member, to achieve clear tone
change with respect to the border line.
2. The spectacle lens according to claim 1, wherein the border line
has a curved shape with an inflection point.
3. The spectacle lens according to claim 1, wherein, in the second
step, an annular band portion inside a peripheral edge of the first
member is removed continuously or intermittently to form an annular
band line having a different tone.
4. The spectacle lens according to claim 1, wherein the first step
is executed after a first material being colored is molded to have
a predetermined curvature, or the first member being uncolored is
molded to have a predetermined curvature and is then dyed or
printed to be colored.
5. The spectacle lens according to claim 4, wherein the second
member is obtained by molding a second material being colored to
have a predetermined curvature, or the second member being
uncolored is molded to have a predetermined curvature and is then
dyed or printed to be colored.
6. The spectacle lens according to claim 1, wherein the first
member is colored by providing a colored layer between the first
member and the second member or providing the colored layer on the
convex surface of the first member, and in the second step, the
plastic member is polished in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the convex surface of the first member to form a
border line between a peripheral edge of the first member and the
second member, to achieve clear tone change with respect to the
border line.
7. The spectacle lens according to claim 6, wherein the second
member is colored by providing a colored layer on the concave
surface of the second member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/467,244, filed on Mar. 23, 2017, which claims priority to
Japan Patent Application No. 2017-010173, filed on Jan. 24, 2017 in
the Japan Intellectual Property Office, all of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference into the present application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a spectacle lens enabling
novel design.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0003] Spectacle lens design is often featured mostly by the shapes
of glassframes and decoration. Spectacle lenses have been
researched only in terms of technical performance, such as being
unlikely to flaw, reducing brightness, and the like. Some lenses
may be provided on the surface with a protective film or an
antireflection film, but have been less attractive in terms of
design.
[0004] There have been known the inventions titled Lenses having
chromatic effect (U.S. Pat. No. 6,916,095), Multilayer lens
particularly for sunglasses (U.S. Pat. No. 25,668,618), Aid for
color vision deficiencies (U.S. Pat. No. 35,574,517), and the like.
These inventions, however, relate to uniform design and do not
achieve widely varied distinctive design.
[0005] US 2008/0151182 A1 discloses a technique of providing a lens
surface with a complex camouflage pattern. This invention, however,
needs to include a production step of providing the lens surface
with a number of printing faces. Like those inventions mentioned
above, this invention is thus unsuitable for production of widely
varied distinctive commercial products.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,516 (Elterman) discloses
"DISPOSABLE/REUSABLE SUN FILTER" which is partly adhered to ocular
lens by using strip (typically non-permanent adhesive) with a
necessary gap left between them. It is an object of this invention
to provide for readily employed sun filters which are easily
disposed of when the use thereof is completed.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,103 (Minowa) discloses "PARTIALLY DYED
PLASTIC LENS" made by a first step of forming a film of a
nondyeable coating agent on the whole surface of the lens and a
next step of cutting and removing at least part of the film of the
coating agent.
[0008] These inventions, however, have no relation to the
"SPECTACLE LENS" made of two rigid plastic members permanently
integrated with each other without a gap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the above problem, an object of the present
invention is to provide a spectacle lens enabling production of
appropriate numbers of widely varied distinctive commercial
products.
[0010] In order to achieve the object mentioned above, the present
invention provides a spectacle lens comprising first and second
rigid plastic members having different tones and permanently
integrated with each other without a gap, the spectacle lens being
produced through a first step of stacking a first member colored in
a first tone and disposed outside so as not to face an eye, and a
second member colored in a second tone and disposed inside so as to
face the eye, and integrating the first member and the second
member, and a second step of partially removing a peripheral
surface portion of the lens having been processed in the first
step, by causing a processing head to be in contact with or
applying laser beams to a convex surface of the first member or a
concave surface of the second member, wherein in the second step,
the plastic member is polished in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the convex surface of the first member or the
concave surface of the second member, to form a border line between
a peripheral edge of the first member and the second member, or
between a peripheral edge of the second member and the first
member, to achieve clear tone change with respect to the border
line.
[0011] Provision of the second step enables unique design and
production of appropriate numbers of widely varied distinctive
spectacle lenses. The "colored" state in the present invention
includes a state where the first member and the second member
themselves are colored with a coloring agent or the like, as well
as a state where the first member and/or the second member is
provided, on at least one of front and rear surfaces, with a
colored layer. Furthermore, examples of the "colored layer" include
a printed layer, as well as an adhesive agent or a colored sheet
layer provided on a joint surface between the first member and the
second member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a sectional view depicting sectional shapes of
first members;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view depicting sectional shapes of
second members;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a state where the first
members and the second members are integrated, respectively;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a plan view depicting planar shapes of the first
members and the second members;
[0016] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views each depicting the first member
and the second member being colored;
[0017] FIGS. 6A to 6F are views each depicting the first member and
the second member being colored;
[0018] FIGS. 7A to 7F are views each depicting the first member and
the second member being colored;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view in a case of forming gradation
portions in accordance with an oblique polishing method;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view in a case of forming gradation
portions in accordance with an oblique polishing method;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view in a case of forming waved
contour lines in accordance with a straight polishing method;
and
[0022] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view in a case of forming annular
belt lines in accordance with the straight polishing method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
more detail below. FIGS. 1 to 4 are explanatory views of a first
step of producing spectacle lenses 10 each including a first member
B1 and a second member B2. These figures each depict a pair of lens
members for left and right eyes.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a sectional view depicting the first members B1,
B1 provided outside so as not to face eyes. FIG. 2 is a sectional
view depicting the second members B2, B2 provided inside so as to
face eyes. The first members B1 and the second members B2 have
planar shapes depicted in FIG. 4, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are sectional
views taken along line A-A indicated in FIG. 4.
[0025] The first members B1 and the second members B2 are both made
of a plastic material, preferred examples of which include an allyl
diglycol carbonate resin such as CR-39, and a thermoplastic resin
such as a polyurethane resin. The preferred examples also include
an acrylic resin, a polycarbonate resin, and a thermosetting resin
such as nylon.
[0026] The present embodiment nonlimitingly exemplifies the first
members B1 and the second members B2 each having a uniform
thickness of about 1 mm and an appropriately curved identical
shape. The first members B1 and the second members B2 are colored
in different tones. For example, the first members B1 are colored
in cyan and the second members B2 are colored in red.
[0027] (1) A plastic raw material (typically a pellet) mixed with a
coloring agent is heated and melted, or cast, to be molded. (2) A
colored layer is printed or deposited on a transparent plastic
member having been molded. (3) The molded transparent plastic
member is immersed in a coloring tank to be dyed. The first members
B1 and the second members B2 are colored in accordance with any one
of these methods (1) to (3).
[0028] The embodiment, in which the plastic member is colored by
means of printing, deposition, or dyeing, is applicable to a case
where (a) the colored layer is provided only on a convex surface of
the plastic member, a case where (b) the colored layer is provided
only on a concave surface of the plastic member, and a case where
(c) the colored layer is provided on both of convex and concave
surfaces of the plastic member.
[0029] In a case where two types of plastic members are colored
after being molded, the colored first members B1, B1 and the
colored second members B2, B2 are integrated by means of an
adhesive agent or the like, respectively, to complete spectacle
lens for left and right eyes depicted in FIG. 3. The adhesive agent
is typically thermally cured or UV cured.
[0030] In an exemplary step of coloring each of the two types of
molded plastic members, (1) a colored layer in a first tone is
provided on the convex surface of the first member B1 and/or on the
concave surface of the first member B1, and (2) a colored layer in
a second tone is provided on the convex surface of the second
member B2 and/or the concave surface of the second member B2.
[0031] In alternative cases, (3) the colored layer in the first
tone is provided on the convex surface of the first member B1, and
the colored layer in the second tone is provided on the concave
surface of the first member B1, and (4) the colored layer in the
first tone is provided on the convex surface of the second member
B2, and the colored layer in the second tone is provided on the
concave surface of the second member B2.
[0032] In any one of these cases, the first member B1 and the
second member B2 are bonded to be integrated with each other in a
subsequent bonding step. The adhesive agent is cured by ultraviolet
(UV) irradiation or the like.
[0033] The first members B1, B1 and the second members B2, B2 are
not necessarily integrated by bonding. For example, after
completing a first type of the plastic members, it is possible to
adopt a double molding technique, such as a double injection method
of stacking, on the first type of the plastic members, a second
type of the plastic raw material being heated and melted and
injection molding the raw material, or a double casting method of
extrusion molding the second type of the plastic raw material.
[0034] According to the double molding technique, the second
members B2, for example, are produced initially. The first members
B1 are then molded on the cured second members B2. Specifically, a
plastic raw material mixed with a red coloring agent is heated and
melted to be molded, to obtain the second members B2. A plastic raw
material mixed with a cyan coloring agent is subsequently heated
and melted to be molded, the molded plastic material is stacked on
the cured second members B2 to integrate the first members B1 and
the second members B2, respectively.
[0035] FIG. 5A depicts the spectacle lens 10 produced in accordance
with this production method, having a sectional structure in which
the first member B1 colored in the first tone and the second member
B2 colored in the second tone are integrated with each other. Such
a configuration is suitable for mass production of spectacle lenses
of an identical tone model.
[0036] In order for production of distinctive spectacle lenses with
more tone types and varied tone combinations, it is also preferred
to provide a colored layer after double molding, not being limited
to the above production method. In this case, both or either one of
the first member B1 and the second member B2 is preferred to be
uncolored (transparent) in order for increase in tone
variation.
[0037] Initially described is the case where both the first member
B1 and the second member B2 are transparent. In this case, in the
subsequent coloring step, the colored layer in the first tone is
provided on the convex surface of the first member B1 and the
colored layer in the second tone is provided on the concave surface
of the second member B2 (see FIG. 5B). Provision of the colored
layers after double molding enables much more tone combinations and
production of appropriate numbers of spectacle lenses in
distinctive tones.
[0038] Both the first member B1 and the second member B2 are not
necessarily transparent, but only one of them can be transparent.
In a case where the second member B2 is initially produced and the
transparent first member B1 is molded on the cured second member
B2, the colored layer in the first tone is provided on the convex
surface of the first member B1 in the coloring step subsequent to
double molding.
[0039] Such a procedure is applicable to a case where a plastic
base material for the second member B2 is entirely colored in red
(see FIG. 6A) and a case where a colored layer in red is already
provided on the convex surface of the second member B2 and/or the
concave surface of the second member B2 (see FIGS. 6B to 6D).
[0040] In a case, as depicted in FIG. 6E, where a colored layer in
cyan is provided on the convex surface of the second member B2 and
a colored layer in red is provided on the concave surface of the
second member B2, there is no need to provide any colored layer on
the first member B1. As depicted in FIG. 6F, a colored layer in
cyan is optionally provided on the convex surface of the first
member B1.
[0041] This production method including any one of these steps has
an additional task such as printing, in order to provide a colored
layer on the convex surface of the second member B2 and/or on the
concave surface of the second member B2. This production method is
still suitable for considerable increase in tone variation and
production of appropriate numbers of spectacle lenses in
distinctive tones.
[0042] There can be a case of initially producing the first member
B1 and then molding the transparent second member B2 on the cured
first member B1. In this case, the colored layer in the second tone
is provided on the concave surface of the second member B2 in the
coloring step subsequent to double molding.
[0043] Such a procedure is applicable to a case where a plastic
base material for the first member B1 is entirely colored in cyan
(see FIG. 7A) and a case where a colored layer in cyan is already
provided on the convex surface of the first member B1 and/or the
concave surface of the first member B1 (see FIGS. 7B to 7D).
[0044] In a case, as depicted in FIG. 7E, where a colored layer in
cyan is provided on the convex surface of the first member B1 and a
colored layer in red is provided on the concave surface of the
first member B1, there is no need to provide any colored layer on
the second member B2. As depicted in FIG. 7F, a colored layer in
red is optionally provided on the concave surface of the second
member B2.
[0045] In any one of the cases depicted in FIGS. 5A to 7F, the
first members are colored in the first tone and the second members
are colored in the second tone in the integrated state depicted in
FIG. 3. In an exemplary combination of cyan and red, the entire
spectacle lens 10 appears to have uniform purple when viewed from
outside. This spectacle lens 10 is thus sufficiently applicable to
sunglasses. This spectacle lens 10 is, however, quite ordinary in
design with no feature.
[0046] In view of this, the present embodiment further includes a
second step of polishing to thin portions 10B and 10C in a
peripheral surface portion of the spectacle lens 10. Polishing is
performed preferably with use of a five-axis polisher including a
polishing head to be in contact with a processed workpiece
(spectacle lens), having a freely settable movement locus. The
five-axis polisher according to the present embodiment includes the
polishing head having a freely settable movement locus, and is thus
configured to appropriately thin the peripheries of the spectacle
lenses 10 having the double-layer structure depicted in FIG. 3.
[0047] FIG. 8 illustrates an oblique polishing method of obliquely
polishing the convex surfaces of the first members B1 so as not to
cause the side surfaces of the first members B1 and the second
members B2 to be perpendicular to the convex surfaces. The first
members B1 according to the present embodiment are each produced by
mixing the coloring agent with the plastic raw material to obtain
the base material entirely having the first tone (see FIGS. 5A and
7A).
[0048] The first member B1 in the outermost portion 10C is
completely removed in the present embodiment, so that the second
tone (red) of the second member B2 appears in the outermost portion
10C of the spectacle lens 10. In the gradation portion 10B adjacent
to a center portion 10A, the first member B1 is gradually thinned
to achieve tone change from a third tone (purple) to the second
tone (red) with the gradually decreasing the first tone (cyan).
[0049] As depicted, the gradation portion 10B and the outermost
portion 10C each have a curved band shape, to provide significant
design with no adverse effect to a user's visual field. The convex
surface of the first member B1 is obliquely polished in this case.
The concave surface of the second member B2 can alternatively be
polished. This also applies to a straight polishing method
described hereinafter, similarly to the oblique polishing
method.
[0050] FIG. 9 depicts a state where only the peripheral portions
10B of the first members B1 are obliquely polished in accordance
with the oblique polishing method as in the case depicted in FIG.
8. The second members B2 according to this embodiment are not
exposed to outside, so that the gradation portions 10B adjacent to
the center portions 10A of the spectacle lenses 10 each have a
curved band shape having change from the third tone (purple) with
the gradually decreasing the first tone (cyan).
[0051] FIG. 10 illustrates the straight polishing method of
polishing the convex surfaces of the first members B1 along the
normal line so as to cause the side surface of the first member B1
to be substantially perpendicular to the convex surface. Polishing
is performed along the normal line in this embodiment to remove the
first members B1 or the colored layers of the first members B1. The
tone of the second members B2 thus appears in the outer peripheral
portions 10C, which have red clearly different from purple in the
center portions 10A.
[0052] As depicted, the center portions 10A each have a waved
contour line (border line) having inflection points. The present
embodiment adopts the five-axis polisher including the polishing
head to be in contact with a processed workpiece (spectacle lens),
having a freely settable movement locus. It is thus possible to
form a more complex contour line in addition to the waved contour
lines depicted in FIG. 10. Such clear tone change with respect to
the complex contour line will achieve significant design.
[0053] As in the configurations depicted in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A to 6D,
7A, 7B, 7E, and 7F, the embodiment including no provision of the
colored layer in the first tone on the convex surface of the second
member B2 preferably achieves the design of FIG. 10.
[0054] Particularly in the configurations other than those depicted
in FIGS. 5A and 7A, the design of FIG. 10 is considerably
preferably achieved with quite a small polishing amount for removal
of the colored layer (see FIGS. 5B, 6A to 6D, 7B, 7E, and 7F).
[0055] FIG. 11 relates to an embodiment in which the polishing head
is made in contact with the concave surface of each of the second
members B2 to provide a cut groove 11 having an annular band shape
along the outer periphery of the second member B2. The annular band
portion is cut off in the second member in the second tone (red) in
this embodiment, to provide an annular groove (an annular band
line) in the first tone (cyan) so as to achieve an impressive
design.
[0056] In order to form an annular groove in the second tone (red),
the polishing head is made in contact with the convex surface of
the first member B1 to cut off an annular band portion along the
outer periphery of the first member B1.
[0057] Regardless of whether the concave surface of the second
member B2 or the convex surface of the first member B1 is polished,
there is no need to particularly provide a continuous cutoff line.
More impressive design is achieved with a discontinuous cutoff
line.
[0058] When the concave surface of the second member B2 is
polished, as in the configurations depicted in FIGS. 5B, 6D to 6F,
and 7A to 7D, the embodiment including provision of the colored
layer in the second tone only on the concave surface of the second
member B2 made of the transparent plastic base material is
considerably preferred in order to achieve the design of FIG. 11
with quite a small polishing amount for removal of the colored
layer in the second tone.
[0059] When the convex surface of the first member B1 is polished,
as in the configurations depicted in FIGS. 5B, 6A to 6D, 7B, 7E,
and 7F, the embodiment including provision of the colored layer in
the first tone only on the convex surface of the first member B1
made of the transparent plastic base material is considerably
preferred in order to achieve the design of FIG. 11 with quite a
small polishing amount for removal of the colored layer in the
first tone.
[0060] In the case where the second member B2 is made of the
plastic base material in the second tone as in the configurations
depicted in FIGS. 5A and 6A, the gradation portion can be provided
by forming an annular groove having a depth appropriately changed
from the cut groove 11. In an embodiment including provision of the
cut groove 11 with the polishing head made in contact with the
concave surface of the second member B2, the deeper cut groove 11
has a tone closer to the first tone with the fewer second tone.
[0061] In another embodiment including provision of the cut groove
11 with the polishing head made in contact with the convex surface
of the first member B1, the deeper cut groove 11 has a tone closer
to the second tone with the fewer first tone.
[0062] The spectacle lens 10 is completed by executing the second
step. Where appropriate, a protective film is provided on the outer
surface or the inner surface of the spectacle lens. The two types
of plastic members B1 and B2 can optionally be provided
therebetween with a polarizing film.
[0063] The embodiments have been described in detail, in which the
five-axis processor can be replaced with a laser processor. FIG. 10
illustrates the straight polishing method, which can be replaced
with the oblique polishing method to provide the gradation portions
10B depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this case, the gradation portions
are provided outside the center portions 10A, continuously from the
waved contour lines, to achieve impressive design.
[0064] The first member or the second member can be colored by
integrating the first member and the second member with use of a
colored adhesive agent. In a case where the first member is
transparent, the first member is colored with the adhesive agent.
In another case where the second member is transparent, the second
member is colored with the adhesive agent.
* * * * *