Optical Aid for Use in the Selection of Spectacle Frames

This invention relates to an optical aid for use in the selection of spectacle frames.

Normally a patient who is choosing a spectacle frame is unable by using a mirror to see himself clearly when wearing the frame because it does not carry a lens and provides no correction of his eyesight. Thus he finds it difficult to select a spectacle frame of appearance pleasing when worn. Trial lenses to provide approximate correction of a patient's eyesight would enable the patient clearly to see himself and the frame he is wearing by looking into a mirror, and he could thus more easily chose a frame the appearance of which he likes when worn by himself.

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical aid for use in the selection of spectacle frames comprising a holder for a lens and a plurality of outwardly extending resilient arms carrying at their extremities members dimensioned and arranged to engage a lens-retaining groove of a spectacle frame. The arms are preferably of different lengths so the mount may be fitted to spectacle frames whose lens openings are not circular. Preferably also the mount may be moulded in one piece from plastics material.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trial lens mount embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mount containing a trial lens and fitted to a spectacle frame having rims for small lenses; and

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows the mount fitted to a spectacle frame having rims for large lenses.

A trial lens mount 10 for use in the selection of spectacle frames comprises an annular lens holder 12 having a circular internal groove 14 for receiving a trial lens 15. The mount has resilient arms 16 and 17 outwardly extending from the holder which arms at their extremities carry arcuate members 18 having V-shaped outer edges 20, for engagement with a lens-retaining groove 22 in a lens opening of a spectacle frame 24. Two of the arms 17 are longer than the remaining arms 16 so that the mount may fit frames whose lens openings are not circular. The whole mount 10 is moulded in one piece from polypropylene.

In use, a set of 12 mounts is provided, each mount holding a lens of different power. A mount with a lens appropriate to approximate correction of a patient's eyesight is selected, and the edges 20 of the arcuate members 18 are sprung into engagement with the lens-retaining groove 22 of a selected spectacle frame. The resilient arms flex, especially at their ends, and during fitting of the mount to a frame allow the arcuate members 18 to be pressed inwardly towards the holder 12 in a bellows-like motion. On being released, the members 18 spring outwardly again and seat in the groove 22. When the frame is worn by the patient he is able to see clearly and, by use of a mirror, can view the appearance of the selected frame.

In FIG. 2, the arms 16, 17 are shown held close to the holder 12 when the mount is fitted in a spectacle frame for small lenses. In FIG. 3, the mount is shown turned through a right angle, in which position by means of the members 18 at the extremities of the arms 17 the mount can fit securely in a spectacle frame designed for large lenses. The arms 16 and the members 18 at their extremities are not operative in this case. It will be appreciated that the mount may be used with spectacle frames of intermediate shapes and sizes with various members 18 seating in the groove 22, and the mount may be rotated so as to fit most securely.

Trial lenses 15 in mounts 10 may be fitted in both lens openings of a spectacle frame for trial purposes, in which case pairs of trial lenses in mounts will be needed. If the patient's eyes need equal correction, such pairs of lenses in mounts must be of equal power, and therefore two like sets of trial lenses will be required. Alternatively, the patient may view himself wearing the frames by looking through one trial lens only in one side of the spectacle frame in which case the appearance of the spectacle frame on the other side will not be affected as no trial lens or mount is fitted therein.

In this specification, the term spectacle is to be understood to include like devices, such as lorgnette, pince-nez and monocle.