Eyeglasses having magnetically coupled primary lens frame and auxiliary lens frame

Abstract

Eyeglasses comprising a primary lens frame having a first pair of lens holders separated by a bridge portion having a major magnetic member disposed on a rear side thereof and facing rearward. The eyeglasses further include an auxiliary frame having a second pair of lens holders separated by a bridge portion and having pivoting arms attached to each lens. The arms are connected by a grip extension having minor magnetic members disposed on a side facing the major magnetic members. The auxiliary frame is coupled to the primary lens frame from the bottom such that the grip extension extends under the bridge portion in the primary lens frame and allows the major and minor magnetic members to form a magnetic attraction. The pivoting arms permit the auxiliary frame to be moved in and out of the line of sight of the user without disrupting the magnetic coupling of the primary and the auxiliary frames.

1 . An eyeglass apparatus comprising: 
 a pair of primary lenses separated by a bridge portion, said bridge portion having a major magnetic member positioned on a rear side such that a surface of the major magnetic member is exposed and faces rearward, said major magnetic member being capable of magnetically coupling with a minor magnetic member on a bridge portion of a pair of auxiliary lenses, thereby securing said pair of auxiliary lenses to said pair of primary lenses solely by a magnetic attraction between said major magnetic member and said minor magnetic member.    
   
   
       2 . The eyeglass apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the major magnetic is positioned within the bridge portion such that the exposed surface of the major magnetic member is flush with the rear side of the bridge portion, thereby forming one cohesive and smooth surface on the rear side of the bridge portion.  
   
   
       3 . The eyeglass apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the major magnetic member is positioned within the bridge portion such that the exposed surface of the major magnetic member is elevated from the rear side of the bridge portion, thereby extending or protruding from the rear side of the bridge portion.  
   
   
       4 . The eyeglass apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the major magnetic member is positioned within the bridge portion such that the exposed surface of the major magnetic member is recessed within the rear side of the bridge portion, thereby forming a recess or aperture within the rear side of the bridge portion of the primary lens frames.  
   
   
       5 . A method for forming a pair of eyeglasses comprising: 
 constructing a primary lens frame having a first pair of lens holders, for holding a pair of primary lenses, and separated by a bridge portion disposed therebetween, said bridge portion having a major magnetic member disposed therein;    constructing an auxiliary frame having a second pair of lens holders separated by a bridge portion, said bridge portion formed to include a protruding grip extension which extends perpendicularly outward from the auxiliary frame, and said grip extension having an upward lip with a minor magnetic member disposed therein;    coupling said auxiliary frame to said primary lens frame from the bottom such that said major magnetic member in the primary lens frame magnetically engages said minor magnetic member in the auxiliary frame, thereby securing the auxiliary frame to the primary lens frame solely by a magnetic attraction between said major magnetic member and said minor magnetic member.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the major magnetic member is disposed within the bridge portion such that the exposed surface of the major magnetic member is flush with the rear side of the bridge portion, thereby forming one cohesive and smooth surface on the rear side of the bridge portion.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the minor magnetic member is disposed within the upward lip of the grip extension such that the exposed surface of the minor magnet member is flush with the front side of the upward lip, thereby forming one cohesive and smooth surface on the front side of the upward lip.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the major magnetic member is positioned within the bridge portion of the primary lens frame such that it is elevated, thereby extending or protruding from a rear surface of the bridge portion.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the minor magnetic member is disposed within the upward lip of the grip extension such that the minor magnet member is not flush with the front side of the upward lip; but, rather, is recessed therein, thereby forming a recess or aperture on the front side of the upward lip.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the major magnetic member in the primary lens frame is inserted into the recess or aperture on the front side of the upward lip and the major and minor magnetic members are then magnetically coupled together.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the major magnetic member is disposed within the bridge portion such that it is recessed,  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the minor magnetic member is disposed within the upward lip of the grip extension such that the minor magnet member is not flush with the front side of the upward lip; but, rather, is elevated from a front surface of the upward lip, thereby extending or protruding from the front side of the upward lip.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the minor magnetic member in the auxiliary frame is inserted into the recess or aperture on the rear side of the bridge portion of the primary lens frame, said major and minor magnetic members then magnetically coupling together.  
   
   
       14 . An eyeglass apparatus comprising: 
 a pair of primary lenses separated by a bridge portion, said bridge portion having at least one major magnetic member positioned on a rear side such that a surface of the major magnetic member is exposed and faces rearward,    a pair of auxiliary lenses separated by a bridge portion, each said auxiliary lens having a pivoting arm positioned near its upper edge, 
 said arms being joined by an extension grip,  
 said extension grip having at least one minor magnetic member positioned on a side capable of facing the rear side of said bridge portion connecting said primary lenses, such that a surface of the minor magnetic member is exposed and is capable of forming a magnetic attraction with said major magnetic member;  
 wherein said pivoting arms are capable of rotating so that the auxiliary lenses are moved between a position in the user's line of sight and a position outside of the user's line of sight, while retaining the magnetic attraction between said major and minor magnetic members.  
   
   
   
       15 . A method of forming a pair of eyeglasses comprising: 
 constructing a primary lens frame having a first pair of lens holders, for holding a pair of primary lenses, and separated by a bridge portion disposed therebetween, said bridge portion having at least one major magnetic member disposed therein;    constructing an auxiliary frame having a second pair of lens holders separated by a bridge portion and further having a pair of pivoting arms attached to the upper portion of said frame, said arms being connected by an extension grip having at least one minor magnetic member disposed therein and capable of facing said major magnetic member;    coupling said auxiliary frame to said primary lens frame from the bottom such that said major magnetic member in the primary lens frame magnetically engages said minor magnetic member in the auxiliary frame, thereby securing the auxiliary frame to the primary lens frame solely by a magnetic attraction between said major magnetic member and said minor magnetic member.