Compressed gas lens cleaning apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning eyewear lenses includes: a wearable article or an accessory and a gas supply conduit provided within the wearable article or accessory. The gas supply conduit has a spray nozzle connected to one end of the gas supply conduit and one or more compressed gas storage containers connected to the other end of the gas supply conduit. An actuator is provided to release gas from the compressed gas storage container(s) through the gas supply conduit and out the spray nozzle. The gas in the compressed gas storage container is pressurized to a level sufficient to remove at least one of water, ice, snow, perspiration, dirt, and dust from the eyewear lenses.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning eyewear lenses including:
 at least one of a wearable article and an accessory;   a gas supply conduit provided within the at least one of the wearable article and the accessory, the gas supply conduit having a first end and a second end;   a spray nozzle connected to the first end of the gas supply conduit;   at least one compressed gas storage container connected to the second end of the gas supply conduit; and   an actuator, wherein the actuator releases gas from the at least one compressed gas storage container through the gas supply conduit and out the spray nozzle,   wherein the gas in the compressed gas storage container is pressurized to a level sufficient to remove at least one of water, ice, snow, perspiration, dirt, and dust from the eyewear lenses.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a warming element configured to raise a temperature of the compressed gas within the gas storage container. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the warming element includes a hand warming pad. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a spray valve assembly, the spray valve assembly including the spray nozzle, the actuator, a plunger, a gate, and a connecting pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory is a ski pole and grip. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the grip includes a first housing and the ski pole includes a second housing, the spray nozzle provided within the first housing and the compressed gas container provided within the second housing. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the first housing comprising a cavity for receiving a warming element, the cavity including an access door. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable article is a helmet and wherein the gas storage container and the spray nozzle are coupled to the helmet. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a tensioner pulley coupled to the helmet, the tensioner pulley configured to extend the gas supply conduit from the helmet when desired and to retract when not in use. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the gas supply conduit wraps around the tensioner pulley. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , the helmet including at least one clip to secure the spray nozzle when not in use. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , the helmet including an enclosed area for storing the at least one gas storage container. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , the enclosed area having an access door. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a warming device, the warming device configured to heat the compressed gas storage container. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable article is a glove, the glove including a storage pouch configured to house the at least one gas storage container. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a warming device disposed within the storage pouch. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for cleaning eyewear lenses including:
 a housing;   a gas delivery system coupled to the housing;   a spray valve assembly coupled to the gas delivery system; and   a portable source of pressurized gas coupled to the gas delivery system,   wherein the spray valve assembly includes a spray nozzle, an actuator, and a gate, the gate being biased closed to contain the pressurized gas within the gas delivery system and openable by the actuator, and   wherein the portable source of pressurized gas includes a check valve that releases the gas when connected to the spray valve assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is a pressure sensitive activation button at least partially covered by a flexible cover. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the gas delivery system includes a supply hose of sufficient length guided through an interior of the housing to transport compressed gas to the spray valve assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a warming element configured to raise a temperature of the pressurized gas contained within the portable source of pressurized gas.