US20180256398A1 - Modular anti-fog goggle system - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular, anti-fog goggle system comprising: lens with an anti-fog heating element and electrical contact, a semi-rigid anterior body comprising an inner peripheral engagement receptacle for receiving the lens within the body, the lens being releasably retained by a removable lens retaining member preferably comprising a tongue releasably interconnected with a groove in the body, the anti-fog element on the lens being releasably connected with a battery preferably retained within the body, the releasable electrical connection being reinforced by the tongue and groove interconnection, a flexible posterior interface being adapted for interposition between the removable lens retaining member and a user's face, and strap means adapted for holding the goggle on the user's head or helmet and reinforcing the interconnection between the removable lens retaining member and the body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This patent application is a divisional of and claims the benefit and priority of U.S. National Stage patent application Ser. No. 14/359,907 filed May 21, 2014, which claims the benefit and priority of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/066434 filed Nov. 22, 2012, which claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/563,738 filed Nov. 25, 2011.
FIELD
• This invention relates generally to goggles and more particularly to a relatively inexpensive modular anti-fog goggle system with easily interchangeable lenses adapted to particular weather, lighting and fogging conditions.
BACKGROUNDGoggle Construction Generally
• Sport goggles, such as are often used for skiing, cycling, snow-boarding, motorcycle and ATV riding, paint-balling, or standard-issue military goggles used primarily for military ground operations, typically have comprised a plastic frame or body and clear plastic, or polycarbonate, see-through lens. Sometimes the plastic body has further been comprised of an anterior body interconnected to a posterior body, the foremost portion of the anterior body being designed for attachment to, carrying and positioning of the lens a comfortable distance from a user's eyes. The posterior body has comprised a foam rubber interface on the most posterior portion thereof for comfortable positioning of the body on the user's face around and defining the field of vision for the user's eyes. Such conventional goggles have further comprised an elongated, elastomeric strap attached at either end thereof to corresponding ends of the anterior body for the purpose of holding the goggles on the head, or helmet, of the user by stretching the strap around the back of the head, or helmet, with the goggle positioned in opposing fashion on the face of the user. It has generally been accepted and understood among goggle wearers that different colors of lenses have been advantageous for different lighting and weather conditions.
The Need for Easily Interchangeable Lenses in Goggles
• Earlier conventional goggles have not provided for interchangeable lenses. Not only has this resulted in a much less useful goggle as changing lighting conditions through the day have rendered a current goggle unsuitable for more easily distinguishing variations in terrain, especially snowy terrain of mostly a single color often having only slight shadows on the surface thereof to determine the presence of variations, but where the lens of the goggle has become damaged, or broken, such goggles have required replacement of the entire goggle.
• More recently, conventional goggles have allowed for replacement of a damaged or broken lens, or replacement of a lens that is no longer suitable for changed lighting conditions. In such goggles, the body has comprised a flexible, but resilient, molded material forming a relatively deep vertically-oriented groove, often together with a plurality of notches on the lens matched with pegs in the groove for alignment and retention purposes. The notches and matched pegs have been designed to receive and hold the peripheral edge of the lens in a vertically-oriented fashion in the groove and to retain the lens in proper orientation on the pegs relative to the body.
• When a user has desired to remove such a lens, they have pulled the flexible body members apart, disconnecting the notches and otherwise disassociating the lens from the groove in the body. Replacement with a different color lens has involved a reverse process of aligning the edge of the lens, and its notches, with their associated groove and pegs, first fitting an upper, or alternatively lower, portion of the lens into its associated groove and pegs, and then fitting the opposite portion of the lens into its associated groove and pegs. This process has been time-consuming and cumbersome, making it difficult for a user to easily interchange lenses, so much so that many have determined to not make an attempt to change the lens in the open, but rather to use a lens that has provided multi-purpose, though not ideal, use for most lighting conditions. Alternatively, where users have shown the patience necessary to have repeatedly changed lenses, these goggle bodies have lost some resiliency, broken, or cracked, due to repeated stressing of the bodies, and this has led to a lack of a sealed engagement between the lens and the body.
• Responsive to the difficulties of interchanging lenses for these types of goggles, there have been developed goggles having articulated frames designed for opening and closing to allow easier changing to lenses adapted for changed conditions. An example of such a frame is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,235, to Runckel, for Ski Goggles With Pivotal Frame Members For Interchanging Lenses. Similarly, published US Patent Application No. US20110225709A1, to Saylor et al., for Eyewear With Interchangeable Lens Mechanism, has facilitated the interchanging of lenses of such goggles with a biased outrigger, gate or latch for securing the lens relative to the goggle, the lens being further held in a proper orientation by one or more engagement members aligned with an aperture, or apertures, in the lens.
The Need for Anti-Fog Means in Goggles
• Goggles are known to have become obscured with moisture when temperature and relative humidity conditions inside of the space defined between the goggle body and the user's face and eyes have been such that a dew point has been reached and condensation has formed like a “fog” on the inner surface of the goggle. This typically has happened when a colder inner surface of the goggle lens has come in contact with a now warmer and more humid area enclosed within the goggle body. There are many possible conditions which may lead to fogging of a goggle, since the dew point of the inside of the lens is affected by varying temperature, moisture, pressure and ventilation conditions. One common example of fogging has occurred when a person who has been skiing, cycling, hiking or engaging in other strenuous activity, stops moving as quickly as before, reducing the amount of air flow over the surfaces of the goggle, such that temperature differentials between the inner surface of the goggle and the now warmed and moist air within the goggle caused by the physical exertion and the enclosed space of the goggle have caused fogging.
• Another example of fogging involves a significant increase in activity, increasing the amount of moisture and heat trapped within the goggle, primarily from perspiration and also from a higher incidence of exhaling moist warm air that is associated with such physical exertion. In such a case there has existed a greater imbalance in temperature between the inner surface of the goggle lens and the warm, moist air now trapped within the goggle, causing condensation and resulting fogging of the inner surface of the goggle lens.
• Thus, fogging is a very common problem with goggles and this has occurred in various situations involving temperature extremes, and particularly warmer temperatures caused by perspiration and respiration entering within the goggle enclosure and which are warmer relative to colder temperature conditions outside of the goggle body. Of course this problem has ranged from being annoying to the user, to presenting a very dangerous situation where the user's field of vision has been greatly diminished while the user has been traveling at high speeds among fixed obstacles, such as trees, widely varying terrain such as bumps, cliffs, or other participants, or the user has otherwise been unable to clearly see an intended target or an enemy combatant. The problem of fogged goggles has resulted in injury and even death among goggle users.
• Responsive to this common, annoying and even dangerous condition, great attention has been paid to solutions to the problem of fogging of goggles. For instance, numerous efforts have been made to increase the amount of passive airflow into the goggle. Examples of such may be found in US Patent Application Serial No. 20050193478 to Hussey, for Goggle Attachment System, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,885 to Masumoto, for Goggles.
• Despite best efforts to produce a goggle that utilizes passive air-flow means for defogging the lens of the goggle, there are often present conditions which have rendered passive air-flow means of de-fogging ineffective. Such conditions have overwhelmed the ability of the passive means to overcome the temperature and humidity differentials presented by exertion by a user in cold, icing conditions or accumulation of snow clogging ventilation means. Also, sometimes a user's clothing, especially such as scarves or face masks, have impeded intended airflow of such goggles, rendering them ineffective. Finally, a problem with passive anti-fogging systems is that, since they have depended upon a larger air space between the user's face and the lens inner surface to create adequate airflow to attempt to overcome dew point, they have not been well-suited for corrective lens applications requiring a smaller and more consistent distance between the user's eyes and the lens. Additionally, the larger air space and distance requirements between the users face and the lens for this type of passive air-flow anti-fog goggle has limited the field of vision of users of such goggles.
• As a result, there have even been developed goggles with active, personal fans to ventilate the enclosed space within and the inner surface of the lens of the goggle to mitigate the conditions leading to fogging. An example of such a system has been provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,480, to Ryden, for Ski Goggles. One problem of such a device is that it does not necessarily overcome icing, snow accumulation or other blockage of outer goggle vents, thus rendering such a system less effective. Such goggles still have suffered from the higher volume of airspace between the user's face and the goggle lens, thus leading to inapplicability of such systems to corrective lens wearing situations.
• Regardless of the exact causes of fogging of a goggle in a particular situation, it has become understood that sufficient heating of the inner surface of the lens of the goggle comprises an effective means of removing fog from the lens and preventing further fogging. Accordingly, there have been developed various means of actively heating the inner surface of the goggle lens. One such means has comprised the placement of wires, or a resistive gel surface, on the inner surface of the goggle lens, which wires or resistive surface have been attached to an electrical power source such as a DC battery carried on the goggle headband or jacket of the user in order to provide sufficient power to heat the leans. Examples of such a method of heating the lens of the goggle have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,929, to Curcio, for Electrically Heated Ski Goggles, U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,533, to McCooeye et al., for Defogging Eye Wear, and Published US Patent Application Serial No. US20090151057, to Lebel et al., for Reversible Strap-Mounting Clips for Goggles.
• Thus, while there have been devised independent solutions to a need for easily interchanging the lens on a sport or standard-issue military goggle and the need for maintaining such a goggle fog free, there yet exists a need for a sport or standard-issue military goggle that provides not only an easily interchangeable lens system, but also provides an active, effective means of heating the lens to prevent fogging. The lack of interchangeability of lenses and higher manufacturing costs associated with such prior art active heating element-type goggles has greatly limited their suitability for corrective lens wearing applications. Thus, in particular, there exists a need for an efficient and effective means of both releasably attaching the lens of a goggle to its body and therefore preferably allowing for efficient, simultaneous interconnection of the lens to a source for heating of the lens when necessary to prevent fogging. Ideally, such a system would be easy to operate, even with a gloved hand, and would be provided in a goggle that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is thus affordable, for sporting and standard issue military ground operation applications.
Other Goggle Features
• Not only have prior art anti-fog goggles lacked the combination of a readily removable and replaceable lens that easily attaches and detaches from a battery power source retained on, or within, the goggle body, but such has not been provided together with such features as on-board on/off switching, onboard battery status indication, and onboard adjustment of the heat to have been applied to the lens to prevent fogging.
• Thus, prior art anti-fog goggles have been more cumbersome to use since they have included a detached, remote battery that the user has been required to carry either in a pocket or with a clip on a goggle strap. The battery for such prior art anti-fog goggles has required wiring external of the goggle body for connection to the remote battery.
SUMMARY
• In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular, anti-fog goggle system comprising: a lens having an anti-fog heating element with an electrical contact thereon and further comprising first and second ends, an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a peripheral edge adapted for being releasably retained in a body of the goggle a distance from a user's eyes so as to provide a shield for the eyes. The goggle further comprises a semi-rigid anterior body further comprising first and second ends and an inner peripheral engagement receptacle adapted for receiving the lens within the body with a portion of the anterior surface of the lens that is adjacent the peripheral edge of the lens engaging the inner peripheral engagement receptacle, the body further comprising a portion of mated retention means attached around an inner periphery of the body. The goggle further comprises a battery adapted for electrical connection to the heating element on the lens and a removable lens retaining member adapted for engaging a portion of the posterior surface of the lens that is adjacent the peripheral edge of the lens and, together with the engagement receptacle of the body, adapted for releasably retaining the lens within the body, the removable lens retaining member further comprising another portion of the mated retention means attached around the periphery of the lens retaining member for releasably interconnecting with the portion of the mated retention means around the inner periphery of the body for retaining the lens within the receptacle within the body when the lens retaining member is installed in the body with the lens retained in the receptacle, the lens being free to be removed from the body upon removal of the lens retaining member. The goggle further comprises an electrical contact on one of the body and the lens retaining member and operatively connected with the battery, wherein upon installation of the removable lens retaining member into the body, the electrical contact on the lens is releasably connected with the electrical contact on one of the body and the lens retaining member adapted for allowing heating of the lens. The goggle further comprises a flexible posterior interface attached to the removable retaining frame member adapted for engaging a user's face adjacent the user's eyes, and a strap means having first and second ends, the first end of the strap means interconnected with the first end of the body, and the second end of the strap means interconnected with the second end of the body, adapted for holding the goggle on one of a user's head and helmet, the strap means further adapted for reinforcing retention of the lens in the body and contact of the electrical contacts on the lens with the battery.
• Further, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular, anti-fog goggle with a removable lens and adapted for accommodating various weather, lighting and fogging conditions. The goggle comprises: a body having a battery and contact therein and further comprising first and second ends, a semi-rigid outer portion defining an outer opening for field of vision and a semi-rigid interior portion defining an inner opening within the outer portion for field of vision and defining a rear-access socket. The goggle further comprises a semi-rigid, semi-transparent lens comprising a peripheral edge, an anterior surface and a posterior surface, the lens residing within the rear-access socket and adapted for being positioned to provide a semi-transparent, shielded view through the outer and inner openings, the lens having a resistive heating element thereon and operatively connected with the battery through the contact. The goggle further comprises retaining means having first and second ends, the retaining means for releasably holding the lens within the rear-access socket and for releasably holding the resistive heating element in electrical contact with the battery. The goggle further comprises a cushioned posterior interface member interposed between one of the lens, the body and the retaining means and a user's face for providing a cushioned structure upon which the goggle is adapted for contacting the user's face, and strap means having first and second ends, the first end of the strap means interconnected with one of the first end of the body and the retaining means, and the second end of the strap means interconnected with one of the second end of the body and the retaining means, the strap means adapted for holding the goggle on a user's head.
• This aspect of the invention provides a separate lens and lens retainer member, and it will be appreciated that the face contact member of this aspect of the invention may be glued or otherwise attached to the lens retainer member.
• In accordance with this aspect of the invention there is provided an alternate embodiment of a modular, anti-fog goggle system comprising: a battery and a semi-rigid anterior body further comprising first and second ends, a receptacle adapted for receiving a lens and lens retaining member within said body, a portion of mated retention means attached around an inner periphery of said body and an electrical contact electrically connected to said battery. This embodiment of the invention further comprises a removable lens having an anti-fog heating element with an electrical contact thereon and further comprising first and second ends, an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a peripheral edge. The removable lens in accordance with this embodiment of the invention further comprises a retaining member attached around the peripheral edge of the lens, the lens retaining member further comprising another portion of mated retention means attached around the periphery of the lens retaining member for releasably interconnecting with the portion of the mated retention means around the inner periphery of the body for retaining the lens and lens retaining member within the receptacle within the body with the lens positioned in front of a user's eyes so as to provide a shield for the eyes, wherein upon interconnecting of the lens retaining member with the body, the electrical contact on the lens is releasably connected with the electrical contact on the body allowing heating of the lens. The goggle further comprises a flexible posterior interface attached to the removable lens retaining member adapted for engaging a user's face adjacent the user's eyes and strap means having first and second ends, the first end of the strap means interconnected with the first end of the body, and the second end of the strap means interconnected with the second end of the body, adapted for holding the goggle on one of a user's head and helmet, the strap means further adapted for reinforcing retention of the lens in the body and contact of the electrical contact in the lens with the contact in the body operatively connected with the battery.
• Thus, this aspect of the invention provides that the lens and the lens retaining member, as well as the face contact member, are comprised of a single module in that the lens retaining member is attached around the periphery of the lens and the face contact member is preferably glued, or otherwise attached to the posterior of the lens retaining member.
• In accordance with either the first or the second aspect and embodiments of the invention, the portion of mated retention means attached around the inner periphery of the goggle body comprises a groove and the portion of mated retention means attached around the periphery of the lens retaining member, whether integrated with the lens, or apart from the lens, comprises a tongue, the groove and tongue portions of the body and the lens retaining member being adapted for releasably interconnecting the body and the lens retaining member to retain the lens within the body and to retain the contact of the heating element on the lens in contact with the electrical contact connected with the battery. Also, preferably, in accordance with either aspect of the invention the goggle is provided with an on/off power switch for turning off power to the heating element of the goggle to conserve battery power as, for example, during storage or other non-use of the goggle.
• These first two aspects and embodiments of the invention address and alleviate problems presented by conventional goggles in that they provide for an easily interchangeable lens in a goggle that is also adapted for fog-free wearing pleasure. Thus, users are enabled in easily interchanging one fog-free lens with another fog-free lens to adapt to varying lighting conditions without enduring the hassle associated with conventional goggles to successfully get the lens back in the frame. Further, users are enabled in interchanging a non-fog-free lens with a fog-free lens, as both types of lenses are interchangeable with the present invention. By minimizing the number of steps a user must take to interchange lenses, as well as to use the fog-free characteristics of the present invention, users will be more apt to use and benefit from the features of the improved goggle.
• Further, making of the electrical connection with the battery power source with these aspects and embodiments of the invention is essentially simultaneous, or automated, with interchanging of the lens, without any additional steps being further necessary to make the connection for power to the lens. Of course, it may be advantageous to provide an on/off switch on the goggle system to allow conservation of battery power when not in use, but operation of such does not comprise an additional step to interchanging of lenses, since such interchanging may be accomplished with no risk to the user or the system in such a low-voltage power system without first switching off the battery. Further, using the strap in placing the goggles on the user's head serves to reinforce the engagement of the easily interchangeable lens and the body of the goggle and also serves to reinforce the electrical connection between the heating element of the goggle lens and the battery.
• A goggle provided in accordance with either of these aspects of the invention is suitable for use with any color or tint of anti-fog lens, it being the case that the user may have at ready whichever type of goggle lens the user needs given weather, lighting and fogging conditions, such as relative humidity inside and outside of the goggle, outside temperature, body temperature, difficulty of terrain leading to greater exertion, and barometric pressure conditions. Of course, if conditions do not require anti-fog capability in the lens, the power to the battery, and thus to the lens, may be easily turned off by toggling the on/off switch. Users of goggles rarely can anticipate with certainty what such conditions will be on any given day, so it is important to have a goggle that is widely adaptable to the many and varied conditions that may be encountered on any given day.
• Thus, a goggle in accordance with either of these aspects of the invention is readily adapted for use with fully interchangeable lenses, whether they be lenses for a sunny day with, or without, anti-fog means incorporated, whether they be lenses for a cloudy day with, or without, anti-fog means incorporated, or whether they be lenses adapted for rain, or heavy snow, or some weather condition in-between. In such case the user will be encouraged to make appropriate lens changes, thus contributing to the safety of clearer vision through an appropriately chosen goggle by using the goggle of the invention, because interchanging of the lens and simultaneous interconnection of an electrical heat source to the goggle, when desirable, is assured. Further the invention is readily applicable for vision correcting lenses, since active heating of the lens with the heating element overcomes dew point within the cavity formed between the lens and the user's face preventing fogging of the lens despite smaller volume and areas existing between the lens and the user's face with the present invention. Since the present invention allows for a consistent and smaller distance between the user's face and the lens of the goggle than prior art passive anti-fog lenses, this enables application of the present invention to corrective lens requirements that the corrective lens be close to the user's eyes and consistently spaced therefrom. Still further, because the present invention is modular in allowing easy interchangeability of lenses, the invention is easily adapted for use with separately manufactured corrective, anti-fog lenses that are nevertheless manufactured for use with the goggle. Also, because the lens of the present invention is in close proximity to the user's face, this enables greater field of peripheral vision for the user of the present invention.
• In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the battery for heating the lens may be retained on, or preferably within, the body of the goggle. This aspect of the invention adds to the ease of use of the invention, since the user does not need to manage a separate battery pack and there are no external wires interconnecting the goggle and the battery that may become dislodged during the jolting sometimes encountered during strenuous activity, such as skiing or riding of ATVs.
• In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a battery strength indicator means carried on the body of the goggle. This aspect of the invention gives the user the ability to easily determine whether the level of power in the battery is suitable for a desired time for activity, or whether charging of the battery may be necessary before continuing the activity. Such a system of indicating battery strength may comprise an array of LED's or an on-lens display. The LEDs of each array may further comprise temporary visibility of the same within the goggle, as by using square LEDs on the corner of the field of vision of the user, or similarly by using light pipes to direct light to the edge of the field of vision.
• In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a heat adjustment means on the body of the goggle which heat adjustment means is operatively connected with the battery. This aspect of the invention provides the ability to increase the level of power to the heating element on the lens of the goggle as necessary to combat fogging of the lens, or even just to warm the face of the user during cold winter days.
• The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following descriptions taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular, anti-fog goggle in accordance with the first and second embodiments of the invention disclosed;
• FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a goggle in accordance with the invention and shown strapped on a user's head;
• FIG. 3ais a front plan view of a tinted, anti-fog lens of a goggle in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the lens having resistive-gel anti-fog means thereon;
• FIG. 3bis a front plan view of an alternate, differently-tinted, anti-fog lens of a goggle in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the lens having resistive-wire anti-fog means thereon;
• FIG. 3cis a front plan view of another alternate, non-tinted, lens of a goggle in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the lens having no anti-fog means thereon;
• FIG. 3dis front plan view of a lens retaining/face contact member combination of a goggle in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the view also comprising a blown up portion to show further detail of the retaining member interconnection portion in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 3eis a front plan view of a tinted, anti-fog lens/retaining/face contact member combination of a goggle in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the lens having resistive-gel anti-fog means thereon;
• FIG. 3fis a front plan view of an alternate, differently-tinted, anti-fog lens/retaining/face contact member combination of a goggle in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, the lens having resistive-wire anti-fog means thereon;
• FIG. 3gis a front plan view of an alternate, non-tinted, lens/retaining/face contact member combination of a goggle in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, the lens having no anti-fog means thereon;
• FIG. 4ais a top perspective exploded view of anterior goggle body, lens and posterior lens retaining member/face contact member parts of a goggle in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 4bis a top perspective exploded view of an anterior goggle body and lens/retaining/face contact member combination of a goggle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 5ais a detailed cross-section partial top view showing parts of an anterior goggle body with internal battery and electronics, an anti-fog lens, and a posterior lens retainer/face contact member combination of a goggle prior to installation of the lens and lens retainer/face contact member in the body in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 5bis a detailed cross-section partial top view showing the parts of a goggle in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention and after installation of the lens and lens retainer/face contact member combination in the body showing contact of the resistive lens heating element with the battery;
• FIG. 5cis a detailed cross-section partial top view showing another end of the goggle ofFIG. 5aafter installation of the lens and lens retainer/face contact member combination in the body showing contact of another end of the resistive lens heating element with the battery;
• FIG. 5dis a detailed cross-section partial top view showing parts of an anterior goggle body with internal battery and electronics, an anti-fog lens/lens retainer/face contact member combination of a goggle prior to installation of the lens/lens retainer/face contact member combination in the body in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 5eis a detailed cross-section partial top view showing the parts of a goggle in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention and after installation of the lens/retainer/face contact member combination in the body showing contact of the resistive lens heating element with the battery;
• FIG. 5fis a detailed cross-section partial top view showing another end of the goggle ofFIG. 5dafter installation of the lens and retainer/face contact member combination in the body showing contact of another end of the resistive lens heating element with the battery;
• FIG. 6ais a rear perspective view of inside the body portion of a goggle in accordance with the present invention showing a flexible circuit board having thereon a heat level adjustment switch and heat level indicator diodes on one end of the goggle and an on/off switch and battery-level indicator diodes on another end of the goggle;
• FIG. 6bis a rear perspective view of a portion of the goggle body in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 6cis a rear perspective view of a portion of the goggle body in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing circuitry for a goggle in accordance with the present invention; and
• FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing computing functions for a goggle in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSDetached Lens and Retention Member Embodiment
• Referring toFIGS. 1-3c,4a,5a-c,and6a,there is shown a first embodiment of a modular, anti-fog enabledgoggle system100 in accordance with the invention. Thegoggle100 in accordance with this first embodiment of the invention further comprises agoggle body102 having a first, left,body end103 and a second, right,body end105, the determination of left and right being made as if looking through the goggle. Thegoggle100 further comprises an easilyinterchangeable lens104, a flexible, preferably foam rubber, posterior face contact orinterface101 andstrap retaining members130 that depend from thegoggle body102. Thegoggle100 further comprises anadjustable strap110 that has first and second ends132,134 attached to thestrap retaining members130 andlength adjustment members121.
• Anti-Fog Power and Goggle Feature Control Circuit
• Used as an anti-fog goggle, thelens104 of thegoggle100 further comprises an anti-fog means, such as aheating element112. To power theheating element112, as shown primarily inFIGS. 5a-c, 6a,7 and8, theanti-fog goggle system100 further comprises a power and control circuit comprising a double-sidedflexible circuit board148 having thereon one or more power supplies, such as lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries114 with a meltable link, or electronic,fuse175, commonly available for use with cell phones, the circuit also having thereon an on/offpower switch142 for controlling power to theheating element112 of thegoggle lens104.Flexible circuit148 may further comprise a power-level control input device, such as a three-way rocker switch166, on the flexible circuit for controlling the amount of voltage from the batteries to heat theheating element112. One ormore IC chips170,172 are included on theflexible circuit board148 for control of circuit functions such as on/off control, battery charging control, LED array battery life indicator control, variable voltage/power control and LED array power indicator control. Theflexible circuit board148, thebatteries114 and the other power circuitry described are preferably housed and sealed withinbody102 of thegoggle100, the body being sealed with a water-tight seal to prevent intrusion of liquid into the goggle body. Thegoggle body102 may comprise an O-ring type seal, or preferably it may be permanently sealed at the time of manufacture to prevent moisture. Apower switch142, such as a rocker switch for turning on and off the anti-fog heating element of thegoggle100, is accessible with the user's finger, the switch being carried on an end, such asleft end103, of thegoggle body102 and operably connected with theflexible circuit board148.
• The basic electronics circuit assembly for thegoggle100 comprises theflexible circuit board148 having thebatteries114 thereon, thepower switch142, wiring115,117 in thegoggle body102,lens contacts138,140, correspondinggoggle body contacts139,141 and theheating element112 on thelens104. As will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art of such circuit design, some variations in the design of the power circuit may be required, depending upon the specific requirements of the overall system and the type ofheating element112 employed. Thus, as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, for example, for the resistive-wire version of thegoggle100, thebatteries114 could be employed in parallel configuration to allow for the higher current requirements of a resistive-wire heating element112. Further, for a resistive-gel version of thegoggle100, thebatteries114 could be employed in series configuration to allow for the higher voltage requirements of the resistive-gel heating element112. Or, a combination of such wiring schemes could be applied to meet the demands of a particular system as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of electronics design upon acquiring specific components for assembly of thegoggle100.
• Opening of the power circuit by turning off thepower switch142, turns off the power to theheating element112, thus rendering the anti-fog heating properties of thegoggle100 temporarily nonfunctional. Likewise, removal of thelens104 from thegoggle body102 opens the circuit and disconnects the heating element from the heating source, thus rendering the anti-fog heating properties of the goggle temporarily nonfunctional. Similarly, use of a lens without aheating element112 and withoutlens contacts138,140 also opens the circuit so as to render the anti-fog capability of thegoggle100 temporarily nonfunctional until an anti-fog enabledlens104 is installed. Since it is an object of the invention to provide an anti-fog enabled and capable goggle with an easily interchangeable lens, the use of a lens not having ananti-fog heating element112 with thegoggle body102 otherwise having the anti-fog electronics included nevertheless falls within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the power andelectronic system198 of thegoggle100,100′. The power andelectronic system198 is master-controlled by amicrocontroller206 and powered byrechargeable batteries114 able to be recharged via abattery charger circuit161 connected to acharger jack160. Power to the system is switched on or off via a single-pole, dual throw, normally open, three-position,rocker switch142 which is operatively connected to amicro-controller206 to start or stop the functions of the goggle. A desired level of heat may be selected with the use of a single-pole, dual throw, normally open, three-position,rocker switch166, which similarly is operatively connected with themicro-controller206 for power adjustment of heat supplied the goggle. TheLED array164 for displaying battery life is controlled by battery lifeindicator display logic204. Thelens heating element112 is controlled by alens heater driver202. TheLED array168 for displaying the heating power level applied to theheating element112 is controlled by powerlevel display logic200.
• Upon initiation of power to the goggle withswitch142, or upon initiation of a more power or less power signal fromswitch166, themicrocontroller206, sends a corresponding signal to the lens heater driver to increase the voltage, or decrease the voltage provided to theheating element112, which in turn increases, or decreases, the amount of heat which the heating element produces. At the same time as those adjustments are made, themicrocontroller206 sends a corresponding signal to the powerlevel display logic200 to turn on, or turn off, LEDs in the power levelLED array display168 in a manner that is representative of the level of power being applied to thelens104. The system is calibrated such that when the maximum voltage is applied to theheating element112, the most significant LED is turned on indicating maximum power. Conversely, when the least amount of voltage is sent to theheating element112, themicrocontroller206 signals to the powerlevel display logic200 to turn on the least significant LED in thearray display168 indicating the power is nearly off. In either case themicrocontroller206 awaits for a pre-determined amount of time and then turns theLED array display168 off to conserve power.
• Any time thepower switch142 is depressed, in either on or off position, or thepower level switch166 is depressed, themicrocontroller206 requests from thebattery charger circuit161 an estimated recharge level available in the batteries and sends a corresponding signal to the battery lifeindicator display logic204 to display the power level. Activation of the most significant LED of the array indicates full power and activation of the least significant LED of the array indicates minimal power available and that the batteries should be recharged soon. Of course, any number of LEDs could be in the array, and different colors of LEDs may be used to enhance the informational capabilities of the display.
• Lens/Body Interconnection Means
• Referring further specifically toFIGS. 3a-dand 5a-c,eachlens104 has aperipheral edge107, a peripheralanterior surface117 and a peripheralposterior surface119 all around the outer periphery of the lens, and thegoggle body102 further comprises an innerperipheral engagement receptacle150 around the inner periphery of the goggle body for receiving the lens within the body, theedge107 andanterior surface117 engaging with thereceptacle150 on and aroundperipheral edge107 and on theanterior edge surface117 of thelens104. Posterior of theengagement receptacle150, thegoggle body102 further comprises a portion of a mated retention means152 attached or defined around the inner periphery of the body. Preferably, this portion of mated retention means152 comprises agroove152 defined in the inner periphery of thebody102. Theposterior face contact101 further comprises a removable lens retaining, or interface,member154 adapted for engaging theposterior edge portion119 of thelens104, the removablelens retaining member154 being glued or otherwise attached to the preferably foamrubber face contact101. The removablelens retaining member154 preferably comprises a semi-rigidplastic frame member154 which carries theother portion156 of the mated retention means around the periphery, the other portion comprising atongue156 formed around the periphery of the semi-rigid plastic lens retaining member. The removablelens retaining member154, and itstongue156, is for releasably interconnecting with the portion of the mated retention means152 around the inner periphery of thebody102 for retaining thelens104 within thereceptacle150 of the goggle body.
• Once thelens104 has been placed in thereceptacle150 of the goggle body adapted to be a distance from the user's eyes upon user installation of the goggle, and so as to provide a shield for the eyes, theface contact101 and integral or attachedinterface member154 are snapped into place behind, or posterior of, the lens, contacting and engaging an anteriorperipheral surface158 of theinterface member154 with the posteriorperipheral surface119 of thelens104 for holding the lens in place and such that thelens contacts138,140 are held in place in electrical contact with thecorresponding body contacts139,141. Thetongue156 and groove152 are designed to be a snap, or force, fit such that there is required a small force to overcome the interconnection between the two once thelens104 is installed in thereceptacle150 of thegoggle body102.
• FIG. 5ashows theleft side103 of thegoggle body102,lens104 andposterior face contact101/interfacelens retaining member154 prior to installation of the lens and the posterior face contact/interface lens retaining member as described.FIG. 5bshows theleft side103 of thegoggle body102 after installation of thelens104 andposterior face contact101/interfacelens retaining member154, withtongue156 installed intogroove152, thegoggle100 now being ready for placement on a user's head as shown inFIG. 2. Further, it will be appreciated thatstrap110 attached tostrap attachment members130 serve not only to retain thegoggle100 on the user's head, but to help maintain thetongue156 in thegroove152 during wear, and hence, positive contact between thelens contacts138,140 and thebody contacts139,141.
• Referring specifically toFIG. 5c, theright side105 of thegoggle100 is shown, with thelens104 havingheating element112 thereon and being retained inreceptacle150 in thegoggle body102 byremovable face contact101/interfacelens retaining member154, together withtongue156 and groove152 shown engaged, the tongue and groove extending around the entire periphery of the lens retaining member and the inner periphery of the body respectively.
• Interchangeable Lenses
• Referring now toFIGS. 3a-d, there are shown front plan views ofinterchangeable lens portions104 and a front plan view of the correspondingface contact portion101/lensinterconnection frame member154 described above, for use in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention and showing that thetongue156 preferably extends around the entire periphery of the lensinterconnection frame member154.
• FIG. 3ashows a lightly tintedlens portion104 of agoggle100 and having resistive-gel anti-fog means112 thereon. Thelens104 hasbuss bar wires111,113 interconnecting the gel anti-fog means112 withlens contacts138,140, respectively. Theperipheral edge107 and the peripheral anterior surface of thelens104 are adapted for retention within thereceptacle150 of thegoggle body102, where thelens contacts138,140 interconnect with thecorresponding body contacts139,141. Thelens104 is held into place in thereceptacle150 with the assistance of the lensinterconnection frame member154 shown inFIGS. 3dand 5a-c.
• FIG. 3bshows an alternate shade tintedlens portion104 of a goggle in accordance with the invention and having resistive-wire anti-fog means112 thereon. The wires of the resistive-wire anti-fog means112 of thelens104 ofFIG. 3bare interconnected bycontacts138,140. Theperipheral edge107 and anteriorperipheral surface117 of thelens104 ofFIG. 3bare likewise adapted for engagement within the receptacle of thegoggle body102, where thelens contacts138,140 contact with thecorresponding body contacts139,141. Thelens104 ofFIG. 3bis likewise held into place in thereceptacle150 with the assistance of the lensinterconnection frame member154 shown inFIGS. 3dand 5a-c.
• FIG. 3cshows anotheralternate lens104 without any tint and without any anti-fog means or related electrical contacts thereon. Theperipheral edge107 and peripheralanterior surface117 of this lens is likewise adapted for engagement and retention within thereceptacle150 ofbody102 of thegoggle100 with the assistance of lensinterconnection frame member154 as shown inFIGS. 3dand 5a-c.
• Referring specifically toFIG. 3d, a front plan view of theface contact101/lens retaininginterface member154 is shown comprising atongue member156 extending around the periphery of theinterface member154. Thetongue156 is adapted for receipt in agroove152 defined around the inner periphery of thegoggle body102. The interior periphery of thegoggle body102 is angled slightly inwardly, similar to a funnel configuration, so that theface contact101/lens retaininginterface member154 is guided into place to where it rests withtongue156 retained in thegroove152 behind thelens104. Thetongue member156 is part of the interconnection means for retaining thelens104 in thelens retaining receptacle150 of thegoggle body102. Posterior of theinterface member154 and around the periphery of the interface member, there is attached aface contact member101, preferably comprised of foam rubber, for making a seal against the user's face, and that is glued, or otherwise attached, to the posterior portion of the interface member.
• FIG. 3dfurther shows a magnified detailed portion of theinterface member154 andtongue156, the tongue being represented by three dashed lines, one line for each side of the base of the tongue and one line for the ultimate tip of the tongue. Further, these three lines are represented as a single line extending around the periphery of theinterface member154 demonstrating that thetongue156 preferably extends around the entire periphery of the interface member. It will be appreciated that, because of the somewhat irregular curvature of theinterface member154/face contact member101 to adapt to the contours of a person's face, as is commonly understood in the goggle art, the lines representing thetongue156 are for illustrative purposes, and the lines illustrating the tongue would at various points around the interface member be hidden by other lines for leading front edges of the interface member.
• Referring now toFIG. 6b, showing a back view of the goggle body102 (normal to the orientation ofFIG. 5a), thegroove152 is shown as being defined around the entire inner periphery of the body.FIG. 6balso includes a magnified detailed portion of thegroove152 wherein the groove is represented by three dashed lines, whereas the groove as it extends around the remainder of the inner periphery of thegoggle body102 is represented as a single dashed line for sake of illustration and because three dashed lines would be too close together to distinguish in the drawing. For added reference and understanding of the drawing,reference points159 and161 correspond to like reference points, or edges, onFIG. 5a. Other hidden lines are left off of drawing6cfor sake of clarity.
• This aspect of the invention provides for easy interchangeability of differingtinted lenses104 having anti-fog means112 thereon, since, upon removal of the goggle from the user's head, theface contact101/retainingmember154 is able to be grabbed and removed from its interconnected engagement with thebody102. This feature makes use of thegoggle100 more care-free, as whether the goggle is switched on, or off, the user is encouraged in choosing a goggle that suits the weather, terrain, and lighting conditions of the moment. Removal of the retainingmember154 may be facilitated by flexing thegoggle body102 andlens104 combination in opposition to the natural curvature of the lens and goggle body to pop the seal between thetongue156 of the retaining member and thegroove152 of thebody102. Alternatively, a small pull tab or zip cord (not shown) may be added to the rear side of the retainingmember154 for facilitating and directing grabbing and removal of theface contact101/retainingmember154 combination.
• Resistive-Wire Heating Element Version
• InFIG. 3b, theheating element112 is shown as a resistive-wire heating element preferably sandwiched with transparent glue between two lenses comprising acomposite lens104 as is known in the art. The resistive-wire heating element112 branches fromcontacts138,140 with the contacts leading, upon installation of thelens104 into thegoggle body102, to and from power control circuitry on theflexible circuit148 as described previously.
• Resistive-Gel Heating Element Version
• InFIG. 3a, theheating element112 is shown as a resistive-gel heating element with bussbar lead wires111,113 leading to and from the resistive-gel heating element and in contact withlens contacts138,140 that, upon installation of thelens104 in thegoggle body102, connect with correspondinggoggle body contacts139,141, as described above, to interconnect the resistive-gel heating element with theflexible circuit board148 and power circuit described previously.
• As is known in the art, thegel heating element112 comprises a transparent conductive oxide heating element along with metal, such as silver, bussbar lead wires111,113, both of which are deposited on thelens104 via DC magenetron sputtering process, ion-enhanced E-beam vaporization process, or pressure-sensitive adhesive laminate onto a semi-rigid optical substrate, such as acrylic or polycarbonate, of thelens104.
• It will be appreciated that the basic configuration of the power electronics shown inFIGS. 5a-cand6-8 apply whether the resistive-gel version of thelens104 is utilized or the resistive-wire version of thelens104 is utilized, though there would be some differences in the circuitry for one version over the other as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon learning manufacturer specified power requirements for either type of heating element.
• Other Goggle Electronic Features
• Referring further toFIGS. 5a-band6-8, there is shown a chargingjack160 and connectingwire162 for allowing recharging of thebatteries114 of thegoggle100. Referring specifically toFIG. 7, in addition to the chargingjack160, there is shown acharging circuit161 comprising thebattery jack160 and adiode163 in series with thebatteries114. When a charger is plugged into thejack160, current flows through the jack to refresh thebatteries114. Thediode163 prevents the battery charger from inadvertently discharging thebatteries114 should the charger not produce any current as when it is unplugged or there is a short circuit. Of course, it will be appreciated that other means of recharging thebatteries114 may be employed, including a charging mat (not shown) as is known in the art.
• Thegoggle100 further comprises a plurality of LED indicators in anLED array164, as further shown inFIGS. 1 and 6, depending from theflexible circuit148. Upon turning on the power to thegoggle100 with thepower switch142, and also upon re-activating the on position of the power rocker switch, theLED array164 turns on temporarily to show that the power is on and battery strength, the more LEDs that light up, the more battery life that is remaining.
• Referring further toFIGS. 5c, 6a, and7-8, thegoggle100 further comprises a power heat adjustment andindicator switch166 operatively connected with a variable resistancevoltage control circuit174 and anotherLED array168, for user feedback and selection of the amount of anti-fog power to be applied to theheating element112 of thegoggle100, the more LEDs lighting up, the more power that is being applied to theanti-fog heating element112 of thelens104 at a given time.
• Theswitches142 and166 are preferably rocker switches that are easy to operate, even with a gloved hand, while thegoggle100 is being worn, and lights from theLED arrays164,166 are able to be seen temporarily by the user from inside the goggle, since the LED arrays wrap around from the side of the goggle into the user's visible field of vision.
• Thelens104 of the goggle in accordance with this embodiment of the invention need not be used as an anti-fog lens, either because power to the lens may be turned off, or because there is no anti-fog element on the particular lens chosen. Nevertheless, such agoggle100 does not depart from the true scope and spirit of the invention as claimed herein, since the power to the lens may be turned on with thepower switch142, or another lens with ananti-fog element112 thereon may be easily substituted for a current lens not having an anti-fog element thereon.
Combined Lens and Lens Retention Member Embodiment
• Referring specifically now toFIGS. 3e-gand 5d-f,an alternate embodiment of thelens104′ is shown wherein the lens further comprises an attached, or integrated,face contact101′/lens retaining member154′. Thus, a primary difference between this embodiment of the invention and the first embodiment of the invention is that thelens104 of the first embodiment of the invention is a separate module from theface contact101/lens retaining member154, whereas with this embodiment of the invention, they are more permanently attached, or are of integrated construction. Attachment of thetongue156′ of the engagement or interconnection means to any of thelens portions104′ ofFIGS. 3e-gand 5d-fis accomplished through injection molding of thelens retaining member154′ and subsequent gluing, pressure or snap fit retention and/or other physical attachment means between the lens and the retaining member. Thetongue156′ is preferably integrally formed with the retainingmember154′ or molded around the entire periphery of the retaining member in durable fashion.
• FIG. 5dshows theleft side103′ of thegoggle body102′ and combinedlens104′/posterior face contact101′/lens retaining member154′ prior to installation of the combination lens/face contact/interface lens retaining member as described.FIG. 5eshows theleft side103′ of thegoggle body102′ after installation of the combinedlens104′/face contact101′/lens retaining member154′, with thetongue156′ installed into thegroove152′, thegoggle100′ now being ready for placement on a user's head as shown inFIG. 2. Further, as described above in connection withFIG. 2, it will be appreciated that with this embodiment of the invention, as with the first embodiment of the invention, astrap110 attached tostrap attachment members130 serve not only to retain thegoggle100′ on the user's head, but to help maintain thetongue156′ in thegroove152′ during wear, and hence, positive contact between thelens contacts138′,140′ and thebody contacts139′,141′.
• Referring specifically toFIG. 5f, theright side105′ of thegoggle100′ is shown, with thelens104′ havingheating element112′ thereon. Thecombination lens104′/retaininginterface member154′/face contact101′ is shown being retained inreceptacle150′ in thegoggle body102′ withtongue156′ seated ingroove152′, shown engaged inFIG. 5f, the combination lens/retaining interface member/face contact having been installed into the goggle body. Further, as with the previously described embodiment of the invention, thetongue156′ and groove152′ extend around the entire periphery of the lens retaininginterface member154′ and the inner periphery of thebody102′, respectively.
• Referring toFIGS. 5d-f, there are providedlens contacts138′,140′ in thelens retaining member154′, the lens contacts being in electrical contact with theheating element112′ of thelens104′.Corresponding body contacts139′,141′ are found in thereceptacle150′ of thegoggle body102′, the body contacts being electrically connected with theflexible circuit board148′, and hencebattery114′,power switch142′, powerlevel adjustment switch166′, andIC control chips170′,172′ bywires115′,117′ as shown. Similarly as described in connection with the primary embodiment of the invention, there are providedLED arrays164′ and166′ for indicating battery-life and power level.
• Interchangeable Lenses
• As with the primary embodiment of the invention, this embodiment of the invention also provides for easy interchangeability oflenses104′ having various different characteristics with agoggle body102′. Referring now toFIGS. 3e-g, there are shown front plan views of interchangeable combinedlens104′/face contact101′/lens retaining member154′, described above, for use in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, and showing that thetongue156′ preferably extends around the entire periphery of the lens retaining (or interconnection frame)member154′.
• FIG. 3eshows a lightly tintedlens portion104′ of agoggle100′ and having resistive-gel anti-fog means112′ thereon. Thelens104′ hasbuss bar wires111′,113′ interconnecting the gel anti-fog means112′ withlens contacts138′,140′ carried on and adjacent aface plate158′ of thelens retaining member154′, respectively. Thelens retaining member154′ has aperipheral edge107′ adapted for engagement with and retention within thereceptacle150′ of thegoggle body102′, where thelens contacts138′,140′ interconnect with thecorresponding body contacts139′,141′. Thus thelens104′/face contact101′/lens retaining member154′ is held into place in thereceptacle150′ with the assistance of thetongue156′ and groove152′ interconnection means reinforced by astrap110 that assists in holding the assembly of thegoggle body102′ and the lens/face contact/lens retaining member together.
• InFIG. 3e, a front plan view of the combinedlens104′/face contact101′/lens retaininginterface member154′ is shown comprising thetongue member156′ extending around the periphery of theinterface member154′. Thetongue156′ is adapted for receipt in thegroove152′ defined around the inner periphery of thegoggle body102′. Thetongue member156′ is part of the interconnection means for retaining thelens104′ in thelens retaining receptacle150′ of thegoggle body102′. The interior periphery of thegoggle body102′ is angled slightly inwardly, similar to a funnel configuration, so that the combinedlens104′/face contact101′/lens retaininginterface member154′ is guided into place to where it rests withtongue156′ retained in thegroove152′. Posterior of theinterface member154′ and around the periphery of the interface member, there is attached aface contact member101′, preferably comprised of foam rubber, for making a comfortable seal against the user's face, and that is glued, or otherwise attached, to the posterior portion of the interface member.
• FIG. 3efurther shows a magnified detailed portion of theinterface member154′ andtongue156′, the tongue being represented by three dashed lines in the detailed portion, one line for each side of the base of the tongue and one line for the ultimate tip of the tongue. Further, these three lines are represented as a single line extending around the periphery of theinterface member154′ demonstrating that thetongue156′ preferably extends around the entire periphery of the interface member. It will be appreciated that, because of the somewhat irregular curvature of thelens104′/interface154′/face contact101′ member to adapt to the contours of a person's face, as is commonly understood in the goggle art, the lines representing thetongue156 are for illustrative purposes, and the lines illustrating the tongue would at various points around the interface member be hidden by other lines for leading front edges of the interface member.
• FIG. 3fshows an alternate shade tintedlens portion104′ of a goggle in accordance with the invention and having resistive-wire anti-fog means112′ thereon. The wires of the resistive-wire anti-fog means112′ of thelens104′ ofFIG. 3fare interconnected bycontacts138′,140′. Theperipheral edge107′ of thelens retaining member154′ ofFIG. 3fis likewise adapted for engagement within thereceptacle150′ of thegoggle body102′. Aface plate part180 of thelens retaining member154′ which is preferably integrally formed posterior and laterally adjacent the outer edge of the retaining member carrieslens contacts138′,140′ for making electrical contact between theheating element112′ and thecorresponding body contacts139′,140′ leading to the power circuit assembly, it being the case that the power circuit assembly is the same for this embodiment of the invention as for the previous embodiment of the invention. Thelens104′ ofFIG. 3fis likewise held into place in thereceptacle150′ with the assistance of astrap110 which reinforces thetongue156′ and groove152′ engagement and interconnection described previously.
• FIG. 3gshows anotheralternate lens104′ without any tint and without any anti-fog means or related electrical contacts thereon. Theperipheral edge107′ of thelens104′/face contact101′/lens retaining member154′ of this embodiment of the invention is likewise adapted for engagement and retention within thereceptacle150′ ofbody102′ of thegoggle100′ with the assistance of thetongue156′ and groove152′ engagement and interconnection means as shown inFIGS. 33 and 5d-f.
• Referring now toFIG. 6c, showing a back view of thegoggle body102′ (normal to the orientation ofFIG. 5d), thegroove152′ is shown as being defined around the entire inner periphery of the body.FIG. 6calso includes a magnified detailed portion of thegroove152′ wherein the groove is represented by three dashed lines, whereas the groove as it extends around the inner periphery of thegoggle body102′ is represented as a single dashed line for sake of clarity in illustration and because three dashed lines would be too close together to distinguish. The fourth, innermost, dashed line inFIG. 6crepresents an inner edge182 (corresponding to thereference point182 as shown inFIG. 5d) of thebody102′ partially defining thereceptacle150′ in which thelens retaining member154′ resides. For added reference and understanding of the drawing,reference points159′ and161′ correspond to like reference points, or edges, onFIG. 5d. Other hidden lines are left off of drawing6cfor sake of clarity.
• This aspect of the invention provides for easy interchangeability of differingtinted lenses104′ having anti-fog means112′ thereon, since, upon removal of the goggle from the user's head, theface contact101′/retainingmember154′ is able to be grabbed and removed from its interconnected engagement with thebody102′. This feature makes use of thegoggle100′ more care-free, as whether the goggle is switched on, or off, the user is encouraged in choosing a goggle that suits the weather, terrain, and lighting conditions of the moment. Removal of the retainingmember154′ may be facilitated by flexing thegoggle body102′ andlens104′ combination in opposition to the natural curvature of the lens and goggle body to pop the seal between thetongue156′ of the retaining member and thegroove152′ of thebody102′. Alternatively, a small pull tab or zip cord (not shown) may be added to the rear side of the retainingmember154′ for facilitating and directing grabbing and removal of thelens104′/face contact101′/retainingmember154′ combination.
• Resistive-Wire Heating Element Version
• InFIG. 3f, theheating element112′ is shown as a resistive-wire heating element preferably sandwiched with transparent glue between two lenses comprising acomposite lens104′ as is known in the art. The resistive-wire heating element112′ branches fromcontacts138′,140′ with the contacts leading, upon installation of thelens104′ into thegoggle body102′, to and from power control circuitry on theflexible circuit148′ as described previously.
• Resistive-Gel Heating Element Version
• InFIG. 3e, theheating element112′ is shown as a resistive-gel heating element with bussbar lead wires111′,113′ leading to and from the resistive-gel heating element and in contact withlens contacts138′,140′ that, upon installation of thecombination lens104′/face contact101′/interface member154′ in thegoggle body102′, connect with correspondinggoggle body contacts139′,141′, as described above, to interconnect the resistive-gel heating element with the power circuit assembly described previously.
• As is known in the art, thegel heating element112 comprises a transparent conductive oxide heating element along with metal, such as silver, bussbar lead wires111,113, both of which are deposited on thelens104 via DC magenetron sputtering process, ion-enhanced E-beam vaporization process, or pressure sensitive adhesive laminate onto a semi-rigid optical substrate, such as acrylic or polycarbonate, of thelens104.
• It will be appreciated that the basic configuration of the power electronics shown inFIGS. 5a-c,6aand8 apply whether the resistive-gel version of thelens104 is utilized or the resistive-wire version of thelens104 is utilized, though there would be some differences in the circuitry for one version over the other as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon learning manufacturer specified power requirements for either type of heating element.
• An object of the invention is to facilitate the use of anti-fog goggles with a number of easily interchangeable and different lenses having differing tint, anti-fog, vision correction and UV-filtering characteristics. Another object of the invention is to accomplish this in a goggle that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and provide to the marketplace. The present invention addresses these objectives simply by making it easier for a user to interchange lenses in an anti-fog goggle in accordance with the invention, it being the case that upon installation of the alternative lens, contact is automatically made between the power and electronics of the goggle and theheating element112 of the lens. Thus, via the interconnection means of thelens104 and thegoggle body102, namely thetongue156 and groove152 defined on the lens and in the body, respectively, thelens104 is secured to thebody102 simultaneously with the electrical interconnection between the anti-fog resistive means112 and the battery-operatedpower source114. Thus, this aspect of the invention facilitates a minimum of steps, at most one or two steps, for interconnection of anew lens104 with thebattery power source114 such that users will be encouraged to use the same while engaging in the activity for which the goggle has been designed. In this way, the interconnection means is used to reinforce engagement of thelens104 with thegoggle body102 and also provides for completion of the circuit for providing heat to the lens.
• Regarding application of the present invention tovision correcting lenses104, active heating of the lens with theheating element112 overcomes dew point within the cavity formed between the lens and the user's face, thus preventing fogging of the lens, such that the greater volume and area requirements for passive anti-fogging of prior art lenses are not necessary. Thus the present invention allows for a consistent and smaller distance between the user's face and thelens104 of the goggle than prior art passive anti-fog lenses, which in turn enables application of the present invention to corrective lens requirements that the corrective lens be close to the user's eyes and consistently spaced therefrom. Because the present invention is modular in allowing easy interchangeability of lenses, the invention is easily adapted for use with separately manufactured corrective, anti-fog lenses. Further, because thelens104 of the present invention is in close proximity to the user's face, this enables greater field of peripheral vision for the user of the present invention.
• While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. For example, it will be appreciated that one of ordinary skill in the art may mix and match the various components of the various embodiments of the invention without departing from the true spirit of the invention as claimed. Thus, by way of example, it will be appreciated that a cap-and-ridge engagement means may be interchanged with a tongue-and-groove engagement means in any embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, interchanging lens colors or disclosed anti-fog capability with alternate embodiment body or lens frame would likewise not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

What is claimed is:

1. A modular, anti-fog goggle with a removable lens and adapted for accommodating various weather, lighting and fogging conditions comprising:

a body having a battery and contact therein and further comprising first and second ends, a semi-rigid outer portion defining an outer opening for field of vision and a semi-rigid interior portion defining an inner opening within the outer portion for field of vision and defining a rear-access socket;

a semi-rigid, semi-transparent lens comprising a peripheral edge, an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said lens residing within the rear-access socket and adapted for being positioned to provide a semi-transparent, shielded view through the outer and inner openings, the lens having a resistive heating element thereon and operatively connected with the battery through the contact;

retaining means having first and second ends, said retaining means for releasably holding said lens within the rear-access socket and for releasably holding the resistive heating element in electrical contact with the battery;

cushioned posterior interface member interposed between one of said lens, said body and said retaining means and a user's face for providing a cushioned structure upon which the goggle is adapted for contacting the user's face; and

strap means having first and second ends, the first end of said strap means interconnected with one of the first end of said body and said retaining means, and the second end of said strap means interconnected with one of the second end of said body and said retaining means, said strap means adapted for holding the goggle on a user's head.

2. The modular, anti-fog goggle system ofclaim 1, wherein said body further comprises a groove around the inner periphery of the rear-access socket, wherein said retaining means further comprises a tongue around the periphery of said retaining means, and wherein the tongue of said retaining means is inserted into the groove of the rear-access socket to releasably hold the lens in said body and in electrical contact with the battery.

3. The modular, anti-fog goggle system ofclaim 1, further comprising a battery strength indicator means carried on said body.

4. The modular, anti-fog goggle system ofclaim 1, further comprising heat adjustment mean on said body and operatively connected with said battery.

5. The modular, anti-fog goggle system ofclaim 1, further comprising an on/off switch on said body and operatively connected with said battery.

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