IP Library Granted Patent US 11,561,412
Granted Patent B2
US 11,561,412 · App. 16/968,148 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Eyewear

Inventors: Ryuki Kan (Nagoya, JP); Hirofumi Asada (Niihama, JP); Tsuyoshi Kamibeppu (Nagoya, JP); Takafumi Ohto (Nagoya, JP); Masayoshi Hino (Saijo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
G02C5/008G02C5/22G02B3/14G02C1/06G02C7/02G02F1/1333
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,561,412
App. No.
16/968,148
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is eyewear comprising a front piece that has a metallic wraparound end piece and a non-metallic hinge member that constitutes a hinge portion together with the wraparound end piece. Thereby eyewear that is comfortable to wear and has a metallic front piece is provided.

Claims (59)

1. Eyewear, comprising:

a front including a rim portion that holds a lens and is made of metal;

a flexible substrate arranged along an inner surface of the rim portion, and including a conductive layer and an insulation cover that covers the conductive layer; and

a first insulator formed separately from the insulation cover and arranged so as to surround the flexible substrate between the inner surface of the rim portion and the flexible substrate.

2. The eyewear according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a conductive section including the flexible substrate and a conductive piece which connects between an electrode of an electric element disposed in the lens and the conductive layer;

wherein the flexible substrate is disposed so as to surround the conductive section;

a lens held in the front and including an edge portion in which a part of the electrode of the electric element is disposed; and

a control section that controls the electric element.

3. The eyewear according to claim 2 , wherein:

the front includes an end piece portion that is made of metal;

the eyewear further comprises a hinge member that is made of non-metal and constitutes a hinge portion together with the end piece portion;

the flexible substrate is connected to the control section and is disposed so as to be along the edge portion, and

the flexible substrate is partially disposed in a gap between the end piece portion and the hinge member.

4. The eyewear according to claim 3 , wherein:

the end piece portion includes an end piece-side first element extending in a width direction, and an end piece-side second element extending backward from one end portion of the end piece-side first element, and

the hinge member includes a hinge-side first element engaging with the end piece-side first element, and a hinge-side second element engaging with the end piece-side second element.

5. The eyewear according to claim 4 , wherein:

the hinge-side first element includes a first housing portion in which the flexible substrate is disposed, and

the hinge-side second element includes a second housing portion in which the flexible substrate is disposed.

6. The eyewear according to claim 4 , comprising a recessed portion in a connection portion of the hinge-side first element and the hinge-side second element.

7. The eyewear according to claim 4 , wherein

the connection portion of the hinge-side first element and the hinge-side second element is configured to be elastically deformable.

8. The eyewear according to claim 3 , further comprising a temple made of non-metal and coupled to the front at one end of the temple via the hinge portion, wherein

the control section is held in the temple.

9. The eyewear according to claim 2 , wherein

the control section is held in a temple.

10. The eyewear according to claim 2 , further comprising a cover member held by a bridge of the front, wherein

the flexible substrate is partially disposed in a gap between the bridge and the cover member.

11. The eyewear according to claim 2 , wherein

the flexible substrate is disposed along the edge portion, is connected to the control section and includes a conductor surface facing the edge portion; and

the conductive piece comes into contact with the electrode and the conductor surface.

12. The eyewear according to claim 11 , wherein:

the lens includes a curved surface that is convex from one side toward another side along an optical axis of the lens, and

the front includes a first covering portion covering another side of the conductive piece.

13. The eyewear according to claim 12 , wherein

the first insulator includes a first element disposed between the first covering portion and the conductive piece.

14. The eyewear according to claim 13 , wherein

the front includes a second covering portion covering one side of the conductive piece.

15. The eyewear according to claim 14 , wherein:

the edge portion includes a protruding portion inserted between the first covering portion and the second covering portion,

the electrode is exposed from a tip of the protruding portion, and

the conductive piece is pressed by the protruding portion and the conductor surface.

16. The eyewear according to claim 14 , wherein

the first insulator includes a second element disposed between the second covering portion and the conductive piece.

17. The eyewear according to claim 16 , wherein:

the first insulator includes a continuous element connecting between the first element and the second element, and

the conductive section is disposed at a position at least partially surrounded by the first element, the second element, and the continuous element.

18. The eyewear according to claim 16 , wherein

the first element and the second element are each film-like and fixed to the first covering portion and the second covering portion, respectively.

19. The eyewear according to claim 16 , wherein

a second insulator is disposed between the first covering portion and the conductive piece and between the second covering portion and the conductive piece.

20. The eyewear according to claim 16 , wherein

the first element and the second element include end edges on sides close to the optical axis, the end edges being closer to the optical axis than the conductive piece is.

21. The eyewear according to claim 20 , wherein

the end edges are farther from the optical axis than end edges on sides close to the optical axis of the first covering portion and the second covering portion is.

22. The eyewear according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a conductive section including the flexible substrate and a conductive piece which connects between an electrode of an electric element disposed in the lens and the conductive layer;

wherein the flexible substrate is disposed so as to surround the conductive section.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2024
From: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
To: CARL ZEISS VISION INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 066439/0283 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2020
From: KAN, RYUKI; ASADA, HIROFUMI; KAMIBEPPU, TSUYOSHI; OHTO, TAKAFUMI
To: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053426/0022 →