AU1653992A - Improved spectacles - Google Patents

Description

"Improved Spectacles"

This invention relates to improved spectacles especially but not exclusively for use in alleviating the symptoms of hay-fever.

Hay fever is essentially an allergic reaction to plant pollen which causes irritation to the eyes, nose, mouth etc and is a problem which affects large numbers of people in the summer months. Various solutions have been proposed to overcome the problem or at least relieve the symptoms and, depending on the severity of the allergic reaction, these are to a degree at least effective. Generally, however treatment involves the use of some form of medicament and as such is not always available or desirable.

A solution to the problem is proposed in British Patent No 1341395. In this arrangement a filtered air supply is provided to spectacle frames and exits from holes around the base of the frames adjacent to the users eyes. While the presence of filtered air may have some beneficial effect this arrangement has the disadvantage that the filtered air being blown out the base will have the effect of drawing unfiltered air around the top of the lens across the users eyes.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the disadvantages of the known prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided a spectacle arrangement having air supply means arranged thereon and provided with outlets for directing air towards and across a users face so as to create an area of positive air pressure around the users eyes.

The air supply means may comprise an air tube attached to the spectacle frame or may be formed by a hollow section of the frame itself.

Preferably the air outlets are arranged so as to direct air in several directions simultaneously.

Preferably also an air pump or compressed air reservoir supply is provided for supplying the air supply means and filter means are provided for the air supply.

The spectacle frame may carry plain lenses, prescription lenses, sun lenses or may be a plain frame without lenses.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of spectacle arrangement in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a spectacle arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 a spectacle arrangement in accordance with the present invention comprises a hollow tubular frame 1 having; legs 2; a top bar 3; a bottom bar 4, with a nose piece 5, and a lens arrangement 6.

An air supply is provided from an air pump or compressed air bottle, shown generally at 7, and connected to the frame 1 by a flexible tube 8. A series of air outlets 9, 10 and 11 are provided on the top bar 3, bottom bar 4 and nose piece 5 respectively. The air outlets are either small diameter holes or appropriately angled and positioned slits.

In operation the air supply 7 provides an air flow which creates a positive air pressure within the frame 1 which results in the creation of a plurality of air streams across a users eyes, nose and mouth from the outlets 9, 10 and 11. The effect of this is that an area of slightly higher pressure air is created in front of the users face. As the air supply is preferably filtered this creates a pollen free area in front of the users face which thus removes the cause of allergic reaction and thus provides relief to a hay fever sufferer.

The air supply 7 which may be in the form of a battery operated air pump or a small compressed air cylinder can easily be attached to a users belt and the tube 8 routed to the frame 1 as appropriate.

The particular embodiment illustrated is a frame having wrap around sun lens type lenses but alternative arrangements are possible. For example, plain lenses, prescription lenses or any type of filtered lenses may be used. In addition the lenses may be of glass or plastics material and the frame may also be metal or plastics material as desired. The spectacles are thus suitable for users requiring corrective vision spectacles as well as those who do not.

A second embodiment of a spectacle arrangement in accordance with the present invention is shown in Fig.2 and is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly like parts are accorded the same reference numerals. This embodiment is somewhat simplified however in that it is only the top bar 3 which is provided with air outlets. These air outlets are arranged both along the top of the top bar 3, designated 19a, and below the top bar 3, designated 19b. As before an air supply 7 is provided by an air pump 7 through a tube 8 and a separate filter 7a is also provided.

In operation the effect of the air flows from outlets 19a and 19b is to create an area of positive air pressure around the users eyes with filtered air thus minimising the users exposure to pollen laden air. Exposure to pollen laden air will not be entirely eliminated but the effect of the spectacles is to considerably reduce the pollen count in the area around the users eyes and to some extent the nose. The spectacles are also useful in dust laden atmosphere or when noxious fumes are present.

It is also envisaged that a version having a simple lensless frame could be produced if it is desired to have the air flow arrangement by itself. Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A spectacle arrangement having air supply means arranged thereon and provided with outlets for directing air towards and across a users face so as to create an area of positive air pressure around the users eyes.

2. A spectacle arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the air supply means comprises an air tube attached to the spectacle frame.

3. A spectacle arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the air supply means is formed by a hollow section of the spectacle frame.

4. A spectacle arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the air outlets are arranged so as to direct air in several directions simultaneously.

5. A spectacle arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein an air pump or compressed air supply is provided for supplying the air supply means.

6. A spectacle arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein filter means are provided for the air supply.

7. A spectacle arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the frame carries no lenses or lenses selected from the following, plain lenses, prescription lenses, sun-filter lenses.