U.S. patent number RE32,638 [Application Number 06/839,040] was granted by the patent office on 1988-04-12 for goggle.
Invention is credited to Todd G. Nesler.
United States Patent |
RE32,638 |
Nesler |
April 12, 1988 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Goggle
Abstract
A unique goggle is disclosed with improved ventilation means.
The goggle includes a frame having a transparent lens across its
forward side and the frame is secured to the head of the user by a
strap or the like. In doing so, a goggle chamber is formed between
the frame, lens and the head of the user. At least one ventilation
port is formed through the frame which is open to the chamber while
an elongated ventilation channel is secured to and extends
rearwardly from the frame. One end of the channel is open to the
goggle chamber while the other end of the channel is open
rearwardly of the goggle frame.In use, air is evacuated from the
goggle chamber and out through the ventilation channel by venturi
forces.
Inventors: |
Nesler; Todd G. (Brighton,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
27033862 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/839,040 |
Filed: |
March 12, 1986 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
444321 |
Nov 24, 1982 |
04435852 |
Mar 13, 1984 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
9/028 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
9/02 (20060101); A61F 009/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/436,437,439,447,454,435,438,10,424,434,427 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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242315 |
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Dec 1962 |
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AU |
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150848 |
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Sep 1981 |
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DE |
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474999 |
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Aug 1969 |
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CH |
|
Primary Examiner: Nerbun; Peter
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce
Claims
I claim:
1. A goggle comprising:
a frame having a front side and a rear side,
a transparent lens secured across the first side of said frame,
means for detachably securing said frame to a head of a user so
that said rear side of said frame abuts against the head of the
user and thus forming a chamber between said frame, lens and the
head of the user,
at least one ventilation port formed through said frame and open to
said chamber,
at least one elongated ventilation channel, said channel open at
each end and only each such end and defining a fluid passageway
between its ends, said channel secured to and extending rearwardly
from said frame,
wherein one end of said channel is open to said chamber and,
wherein the other end of said channel faces rearwardly from the
rear side of said frame and is open at a position spaced rearwardly
from the rear side of said frame.
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber is
laterally elongated and wherein said one end of said channel is
open to one side of said chamber.
3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and comprising a second
ventilation channel secured to and extending rearwardly from said
frame, said second channel having one end open to the other side of
said chamber.
4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said channel
comprises a first portion extending laterally outwardly from said
one side of said channel and a second portion extending rearwardly
from said first portion.
5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the cross sectional
area of said fluid passageway increases from said one end of said
channel and toward the other end of said channel. .Iadd.
6. A goggle comprising:
a frame having a front side and a rear side,
a transparent lens secured to said frame,
means for detachably securing said frame to a head of a user so
that said frame abuts against the head of the user and thus forms a
unitary chamber between said frame, lens, and the head of the
user,
at least one ventilation port formed through said frame and open to
said chamber,
at least two ventilation channels secured to said frame, each of
said channels being open at each end and only each such end and
defining a fluid passageway between its ends, wherein one end of
each of said channels is open to said chamber and the other end of
each of said channels is spaced rearwardly from said respective one
end and facing substantially in a rearward direction relative to
the front side of said frame, such that the pressure at said other
ends of said channels is lower than the pressure at said
ventilation port upon relative air movement past said goggle.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.7. The goggle as defined in claim 6 wherein the
cross-sectional area of each of said channels increases over
substantially its entire length from said one end to said other
end. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A structure for clearing the inside surface
of a transparent lens that is supported in a spaced relationship to
the eyes of the user by apparatus adapted to be worn on the head of
the user such that a unitary chamber is formed between the
apparatus, the lens, and the head of the user comprising:
at least one ventilation port formed through said apparatus and
open to said chamber; and
at least two ventilation channels, each of said channels being open
at each end and only at each such end and defining a fluid
passageway between its ends, wherein one end of each of said
channels is open to said chamber and the other end of each of said
channels is open to atmosphere external of said chamber and
projects substantially in a rearward direction relative to the
user, such that the pressure at said other ends of said channels is
lower than the pressure at said ventilation port upon relative
air
movement past said structure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The structure as
defined in claim 8 wherein the cross-sectional area of each of said
channels increases over substantially its entire length from said
one end to said other end. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A structure adapted
to be worn on the head of a user while the user is moving in a
forward direction, the forward movement of the user creating an
area of relative high pressure immediately in front of the head of
the user and zones of relative low pressure toward both sides of
the head of the user, said structure being further adapted to clear
the inside surface of a transparent lens that is supported by
apparatus in spaced relation to the eyes of the user, such that the
area formed between the apparatus, the lens, and the head of the
user defines a unitary chamber; said structure including:
first means for communicating the relative high pressure air
created by the movement of the user in a forward direction into
said chamber; and
second means defining first and second fluid passageways open only
at their respective ends for communicating said chamber with the
zones of relative low pressure air toward both sides of the head of
the user created by the movement of the user in a forward
direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A structure for clearing the inside
surface of a transparent lens that is supported by apparatus in
spaced relation to the eyes of the user, such that the area formed
between the apparatus, the lens, and the head of the user defines a
unitary chamber; said structure including:
first means for communicating the relative high pressure air
created by relative movement of air past said structure, into said
chamber; and
second means defining first and second fluid passageways, each of
said first and second fluid passageways being open at each end and
only at each such end with one end open to said chamber and the
other end open to atmosphere external of said chamber and facing
substantially in a rearward direction, for creating a zone of
relative low pressure across said other end upon relative movement
of air past said structure, to thereby evacuate the air in said
chamber through said first and second fluid passageways.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The goggle as defined in claim 6 wherein said
frame defines a right side and a left side relative to the face of
the user, and further wherein one of said ventilation channels is
located on the right side of said frame and the other of said
ventilation channels is located on the left side of said frame.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein
said apparatus defines a right side and a left side relative to the
face of the user, and further wherein one of said ventilation
channels is located on the right side of said apparatus and the
other of said ventilation channels is located on the left side of
said apparatus. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The structure as defined in
claim 11 wherein said apparatus defines a right side and a left
side relative to the face of the user, and further wherein one of
said ventilation channels is located on the right side of said
apparatus and the other of said ventilation channels is located on
the left side of said apparatus. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to goggles and, more
particularly, to a goggle with improved ventilation means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Goggles are used in a number of different sports, such as
motorcycling, skiing and the like. The previously known goggles
typically include a frame having a lens secured across the front
side of the frame. The frame is then attached to the head of the
user so that the rear side of the frame abuts against the face of
the user and around the user's eyes. In doing so, a goggle chamber
is formed between the frame, lens and the user's face.
One disadvantage of the previously known goggles is that such
goggles are prone to fogging of the lens which, in turn, obscures
the vision of the user.
In order to minimize fogging of the goggle lens, a number of
previously known goggles include ventilation ports through the
goggle frame. These previously known ventilation ports, however,
provide only minimal air circulation within the goggle chamber and
do not adequately prevent fogging of the lens.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a goggle which overcomes the above
mentioned disadvantages of the previously known goggles.
In brief, the goggle of the present invention comprises a frame
having a front side and a rear side. A transparent lens is secured
across the front side of the frame is any conventional fashion. The
frame with its attached lens is then secured to the head and around
the eyes of the user by a strap or other conventional means. In
doing so, a goggle chamber is formed between the frame, lens and
the face of the user.
At least one ventilation port is formed through the frame and open
to the goggle chamber. In addition, at least one elongated
ventilation channel is secured to and extends rearwardly from the
frame. The channel is open at each end so that one end of the
channel is open to the goggle chamber while the other chamber is
open exteriorly of and spaced rearwardly from the goggle
chamber.
In operation, when the user moves in a forward direction the
venturi faces on the rear open end of the ventilation channel
effectively evacuate air and accumulated moisture from the goggle
chamber. The ventilation channel thus effectively eliminates all
fogging of the lens during use of the goggles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon
reference to the following detailed description when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 in
FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a second
preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
With reference first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of
the goggle 10 of the present invention is thereshown and comprises
a frame 12 having an opening 14 formed on its front side 18. A
transparent lens 16 is then secured across the front side 18 of the
frame 12 and within the opening 14.
As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the goggle 10 is secured to the
head 20 of a user by a strap 22 or other conventional means. In
doing so, a rear side 24 of the frame abuts against the face of the
user. Furthermore, the frame 12 is laterally elongated and
dimensioned to fit around the eyes of the user thus forming a
goggle chamber 26 (FIG. 3) between the frame 12, lens 16 and the
face of the user.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the frame 12 includes one or more
ventilation ports 28 which allows air to flow from outside the
goggle 10 and into the goggle chamber 26 as illustrated by arrows
30. The ventilation ports 28, however, are conventional in
construction and other types of ventilation ports can be employed
without deviation from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, at least one elongated
ventilation channel 32 is secured to one side 34 of the frame 12.
Preferably, a second elongated ventilation channel 36 is secured to
the other side 38 of the frame 12. Since the ventilation channels
32 and 36 are substantially identical to each other, only the
ventilation channel 32 will be described in detail, it being
understood that a like description shall also apply to the
ventilation channel 36.
The ventilation channel 32 includes a first portion 40 which
extends laterally outwardly from the frame 12 and a second portion
42 which extends rearwardly from the first portion 40. The channel
32 is tubular and has one end 44 open to the goggle chamber 26. The
other end 46 is open at a point spaced rearwardly from and facing
rearwardly from the goggle frame 12. Thus, the ventilation channel
32 forms an elongated passageway 48 open to the goggle chamber 26
and this passageway 48 preferably increases in cross sectional area
from the front end 44 and toward the rear end 46 of the passageway
48. In addition, although the channel passageway 48 illustrated in
the drawing is generally rectangular in cross sectional shape,
other shapes can be employed without deviation from the spirit of
the invention.
In addition, since the strap 22 is effectively connected to the
outer free ends of the first portions 40, the portions 40 function
as levers and ensures that the side 24 of the goggle flatly seats
against the user's face even through a helmet is worn by the
user.
With reference now to FIG. 4, a second preferred embodiment of the
invention is thereshown in which the ventilation channel 32' has
one end 44' open to the goggle chamber 26 and its other end 46'
open exteriorly of the goggle chamber 26 at a position spaced
rearwardly from the frame 12 and thus from the goggle chamber 26.
The ventilation channel 32' differs from the ventilation channel 32
shown in FIG. 3 in that the channel 32' is substantially straight
and extends rearwardly from the frame 12.
In operation, the goggle 10 is positioned on the head 20 of the
wearer as shown in FIG. 1. Then, whenever the wearer of the goggle
10 moves in a forward direction, a venturi force is created across
the rear ends 46 of the ventilation channels 32. This venturi force
effectively evacuates air out through the passageway 48 in the
ventilation channel 32 while fresh air simultaneously enters the
goggle chamber 26 through the frame ports 28. In practice, the air
flow through the goggle chamber 26 and out through the passages 48
is sufficiently large to prevent all fogging of the goggle lens
16.
Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it
pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as
defined by the scope of the appended claims.
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