Decentered protective eyewear

US6755525B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NIKE, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Alan W. Reichow · Beaverton, US
• Karl Citek · Forest Grove, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 2, 2002
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2004
• Expiry date: Dec 2, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F9/02
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Noncorrective protective eyewear with lateral wrap and pantoscopic tilt introduce prismatic distortion and astigmatism into lenses that interfere with good optical performance. The lenses of this invention have an optical axis that is deviated away from the line of sight, in a direction generally opposite the inward tilt of the lateral wrap and/or the incline of pantoscopic tilt, to offset the tilt induced prism. Low power may be introduced into the lenses to decrease their taper, further offset the tilt induced prism and astigmatism (particularly in peripheral fields of view), lessen weight, provide better physical stability, and allow more uniform light transmission than plano lenses. The lenses may be cut from lens blanks in which the A line of the lens is at a non-zero angle to an equator of the lens, and the optical center of the lens may be horizontally and vertically displaced from the geometric center of the lens, and even off the lens altogether. This invention provides greater versatility in cutting a lens from a lens blank in a position that avoids peripheral irregularities in the molded lens blank, while significantly decreasing tilt induced prism, yoked and vergence de…