US3563640A - Device for holding spectacles in a mask - Google Patents

Abstract

A FRICTION MEMBER IS SUPPORTED FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT BEHIND THE WINDOW OF A MASK FACE PIECE, IN WHICH THE DEVICE CAN BE MOUNTED, AND IS PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING EXTENDING FORWARD FROM ITS REAR SIDE. A SPECTACLES FRAME BEHIND THR FRICTIN MEMBER IS PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL SUPPORT THAT EXTENDS FORWARD INTO THE FRICTION MEMBER OPENING SO THAT THE FRAME CAN BE ADJUSTED FORWARD AND BACKWARD.

Description

Feb. 16, 1971 w s ETAL DEVICE FOR HOLDING SPECTACLES IN AMASK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aqg. 12. 1968 INVENTORS. LAYTOA/ A. W/SE ELME/Q E. BUBAA/ amwwm 5 Feb. 16, 1971 w|5E ETAL 3,563,640

DEVICE FOR HOLDING SPECTACLES IN A MASK Filed Aug. 12, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1/ 7 U1 ll 4/ I INVENTORS.

1 4/0 70 ,4. WISE I 54,145 E. 5054M v v I ,vmfiwm ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,563,640 DEVICE FOR HOLDING SPECTACLES IN A MASK Layton A. Wise, Washington, and Elmer E. Buban, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 751,864 Int. Cl.G02c 3/02 US. Cl. 351-458 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A friction member is supported for vertical adjustment behind the window of a mask face piece, in which the device can be mounted, and is provided with an opening extending fonward from its rear side. A spectacles frame behind the friction member is provided with a central support that extends forward into the friction member opening so that the frame can be adjusted forward and backward.

It is not possible for the wearer of a breathing mask to wear spectacles that are provided with the usual temples which extend back over the ears, because the temples will hold side portions of the face piece away from the sides of the head and thereby permit the mask to leak. In view of this, it is the usual practice to provide spectacles with stub temples that can be slipped into bosses on the inside of the face piece. Although this is satisfactory as far as supporting the spectacles is concerned, it requires the face piece to be modified in order to provide it with the templereceiving bosses.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a device for holding spectacles in a mask, which does not require any change in the construction of the mask, which is simple and inexpensive, which can be quickly and easily attached to the mask or removed from it, and which permits the spectacles to be adjusted up and down and also forward and backward.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a front view of the spectacles holding device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a mask, partly broken away in central vertical section to show the device in section; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section of a mask, looking down on the device therein.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a spring wire 1 is bent midway between its ends to form a central downwardly extendingloop 2 that has substantially parallel spaced sides. The portions of the wire extending in opposite directions away from the upper end of the loop are curved downwardly and rearwardly to conform to the top and sides of the wall of a window opening in the front of amask face piece 3, as shown in FIG. 2. The window opening contains a window 4 that bows forward. The opposite ends of the curved spring wire can be pressed toward each other sufliciently to allow the wire to be inserted in the window opening directly behind the window and in engagement with it. When the ends are released, the wire will straighten out sli htly 3,563,640 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 against the wall of the opening and hold itself in place.

The upper end of thewire loop 12 is offset a slight distance rearwardly from the window to space the loop farther from it, and the sides of the loop extend downwardly more or less vertically. The lower end portion of the loop may be bent forward to engage the window so that both ends of the loop will engage the window and be steadied by it. If desired, the portions of the (wire in engagement with the window can be coated with a plastic to help prevent scratching the glass.

Supported by the wire loop is a friction member 6, which for best results is made of an elastic material such as rubber or the like. This member is adjustable up and down the loop. For this purpose the friction member preferably is a block provided withpassages 7 extending through it from top to bottom. The sides of the loop extend through these passages and frictionally engage their side walls. The ends of the block may be slit inwardly to the passages to permit the sides of the loop to be inserted laterally in them.

The friction block also is provided with at least one opening extending forward in it from its rear side. Preferably, there are twosuch openings 9 extending in parallel relation entirely through the block between the sides of the wire loop. These openings receive a support for aspectacles frame 10. Most suitably, as shown in FIG. 2, this support is. a U-shape member having parallel prongs 11 integrally connected at their rear ends by across piece 12 that is welded to the bridge of the frame. Of course, the frame is capable of receivinglenses 13 ground to the prescription of the wearer of the mask.

With this invention it will be seen that the prongs 11 of the frame support can be inserted in the forwardly extendingopenings 9 in the elastic block a distance that will hold the spectacles the correct distance in front of the eyes of the wearer. By sliding the block up or down the wire loop, the spectacles also can be located in the correct vertical position. Both adjustments are easily made. No modification of the face piece is required, because the spring wire has a friction fit Within the window opening. The spectacles have no temples to support them or to interfere with the face piece seal.

According to the provisions of the patent statues, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. A device for holding the lenses of spectacles behind the window of a mask facepiece, the device comprising a friction block having a rear side, means including'a pair of laterally spaced substantially vertical wires adapted to be mounted in a facepiece for supporting the block behind its window, said block having a pair of passages extending therethrough from top to bottom receiving said vertical wires in frictional engagement with the block to permit the block to be adjusted vertically on said wires, the block being provided with an opening extending forward therein from its rear side, a spectacles frame behind said member, and a frame support secured rigidly to the central portion of said frame and extending forward into said block opening in frictional engagement with the block, whereby the frame can be adjusted substantially horizontally toward and away from the block as well as vertically with the block along said vertical wires.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said friction block is an elastic member and said opening extends past said passage.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which said friction block is provided with a pair of said openings, and said frame support includes a pair of prongs disposed in said openings.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which said supporting means include a spring wire curved to fit against the top and sides of the facepiece window opening, said wire being bent centrally to provide a downwardly extending loop having substantially parallel sides, and said vertical passages in said friction block receiving said loop sides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,713 11/1945 'Schutz et al 351-158UX 2,905,172 9/1959 Rodenhouse 12814l 2,842,029 7/1958 Roth 35155X 2,962,722 12/1960 Curran 35l155X 10 DAVID SCHONBERG, Primary Examiner J. W. LEONARD, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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