Eyewear with enhanced air flow and/or absorption features

Abstract

Eyewear having an enhanced air flow and/or absorption features which may be used for safety, sports, and the like. The eyewear may desirably provides features in design and/or function of the structure to enhance air flow and reduce moisture. Additional elements such as removable pads and/or cartridges may be used with the eyewear to enhanced airflow and reduce moisture adjacent a user's eyes and face as well.

1 . Eyewear adapted to protect a user's eyes, the eyewear comprising: 
 at least one lens, the lens having at least one first portion positioned adjacent a user's nose and at least one second portion which is positioned adjacent an outer edge of a user's eye when the eyewear is positioned on a user's face, the lens positioned to extend a distance from a user's eye and the lens configured to cover a user's eye from the distance, the lens including an opening positioned in the lens and the opening having an air permeable covering provided therein to provide protection, promote airflow and reduce fogging;    a frame portion coupled to at least a portion of an outer edge of the lens; and    a pair of ear pieces coupled to a portion of the eyewear.    
   
   
       2 . The eyewear of  claim 1 , wherein the air permeable covering is positioned peripheral to the second portion of the lens.  
   
   
       3 . The eyewear of  claim 2 , wherein the covering is removable.  
   
   
       4 . The eyewear of  claim 3 , wherein the covering includes a woven material.  
   
   
       5 . The eyewear of  claim 2 , wherein the covering includes a desiccant.  
   
   
       6 . The eyewear of  claim 5 , wherein the desiccant is provided in a removable and replaceable cartridge.  
   
   
       7 . The eyewear of  claim 2 , wherein the covering includes a superabsorbent.  
   
   
       8 . The eyewear of  claim 6 , wherein the superabsorbent is provided in a removable and replaceable cartridge.  
   
   
       9 . Eyewear adapted to protect a user's eyes, the eyewear comprising: 
 a pair of lenses, each lens of the pair having a first portion and a second portion, and when the pair of lenses are positioned on a user's face, each lens extending a distance from a user's eye and configured to cover a user's eye from the distance, the first portion of each lens positioned adjacent a user's nose and the second portion of each lens positioned adjacent an outer edge of a user's eye, each lens having an outer edge, wherein there is no connection between one lens and the other lens positioned across a user's nose; and    a frame connected to at least a portion of an outer edge of each lens, the frame including at least one ear piece configured to extend from one lens about a back of a user's head to an opposite lens, wherein the frame does not extend across a user's nose.    
   
   
       10 . The eyewear of  claim 8 , wherein each lens is configured to be pivotably coupled to a portion of the ear piece via the frame.  
   
   
       11 . The eyewear of  claim 8 , wherein the eyewear includes a pair of nose pieces, one of each of the pair of nose pieces positioned on one side of a user's nose when a user wears the eyewear.  
   
   
       12 . The eyewear of  claim 8 , wherein the ear piece includes at least one adjustor to lengthen and shorten the earpiece and the ear piece is configured to substantially conform to a portion of a circumference of a user's head.  
   
   
       13 . The eyewear of  claim 11 , wherein the ear piece has resiliency to permit it to conform to a circumference of a user's head.  
   
   
       14 . The eyewear of  claim 11 , wherein the ear piece is moveably coupled to a portion of the frame.  
   
   
       15 . The eyewear of  claim 8 , wherein the eyewear is configured to prevent heated, moist exhaled air expelled through a user's nose to flow under the pair of lenses.  
   
   
       16 . The eyewear of  claim 8 , wherein the eyewear is configured to permit outside air to flow under each lens adjacent each second portion of each lens.  
   
   
       17 . Eyewear adapted to protect a user's eyes, the eyewear comprising: 
 at least one lens, the lens having at least one first portion positioned adjacent a user's nose and at least one second portion which is positioned adjacent an outer edge of a user's eye when the eyewear is positioned on a user's face, the lens configured to extend a distance from a user's eye and the lens configured to cover a user's eye from the distance when worn, the lens having a generally convex configuration, the lens including an outer edge which includes an upper edge and a lower edge;    a frame coupled to at least a portion of the outer edge, the frame positioned along the upper edge and the frame including a filtering/absorbent portion positioned between the frame and a user's forehead, the frame and filtering/absorbent portion cooperating to substantially seal the upper edge of the eyewear to a user's face; and    a pair of ear pieces, each ear piece coupled to a portion of the eyewear.    
   
   
       18 . The eyewear of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one lens further comprises a common lens which extends over both of a user's eyes when the eyewear is positioned on a user's face.  
   
   
       19 . The eyewear of  claim 17 , wherein the upper edge of the lens substantially conforms to contours of a user's forehead, and wherein the lower edge of the lens substantially conforms to contours of a user's nose and cheeks to provide a seal against a user's face.  
   
   
       20 . The eyewear of  claim 16 , wherein the filtering/absorbent portion assists in sealing the lens against a user's forehead.  
   
   
       21 . The eyewear of  claim 16 , where the filtering/absorbent portion is constructed from a material which permits airflow and ventilation, and the filtering/absorbent portion is removable.  
   
   
       22 . The eyewear of  claim 20 , wherein the filtering/absorbent portion includes an elastic honeycomb material.  
   
   
       23 . The eyewear of  claim 20 , wherein the filtering/absorbent portion includes a desiccant.  
   
   
       24 . The eyewear of  claim 20 , wherein the filtering/absorbent portion includes a superabsorbent material.  
   
   
       25 . Eyewear adapted to protect a user's eyes, the eyewear comprising: 
 at least one lens, the lens having at least one first portion positioned adjacent a user's nose and at least one second portion which is positioned adjacent an outer edge of a user's eye when the eyewear is positioned on a user's face, the lens positioned to extend a distance from a user's eye and the lens configured to cover a user's eye from the distance, the lens having an outer edge which includes an upper edge and a lower edge;    a frame coupled to at least a portion of the outer edge of the lens, the frame including an upper frame having at least one area for attaching a forehead pad, and a lower frame positioned adjacent a lower edge of the lens, the lower frame having at least one opening configured to receive an air permeable cartridge; and    a pair of ear pieces, each ear piece coupled to a portion of the eyewear.    
   
   
       26 . The eyewear of  claim 24 , wherein the filtering/absorbent pad is constructed from a material which absorbs liquid and permits air flow.  
   
   
       27 . The eyewear of  claim 25 , wherein the pad includes a desiccant.  
   
   
       28 . The eyewear of  claim 25 , wherein the pad includes a superabsorbent material.  
   
   
       29 . The eyewear of  claim 24 , wherein the air permeable cartridge is constructed from a material which absorbs liquid and permits air flow.  
   
   
       30 . The eyewear of  claim 28 , wherein the cartridge includes a desiccant.  
   
   
       31 . The eyewear of  claim 28 , wherein the cartridge includes a superabsorbent material.  
   
   
       32 . The eyewear of  claim 24 , wherein the upper frame conforms to at least a portion of a user's forehead, and wherein the lower frame conforms to at least a portion of a user's cheeks and nose.  
   
   
       33 . The eyewear of  claim 24 , wherein the lens includes an anti-fogging coating.  
   
   
       34 . Eyewear adapted to protect a user's eyes, th eyewear comprising: 
 at least one lens, the lens having at least one first portion positioned adjacent a user's nose and at least one second portion which is positioned adjacent an outer edge of a user's eye when the eyewear is positioned on a user's face, the lens positioned to extend a distance from a user's eye and the lens configured to cover a user's eye from the distance, the lens having an outer edge including an upper edge; and    at least one frame portion coupled to at least a portion of the upper edge of the lens, the frame portion including a pair of ear pieces and at least a portion of the frame portion and ear pieces including a tubular conduit, a plurality of air openings formed in the conduit and at least one roller moveably positioned in the conduit such that movement of a user's head causes movement of the roller, and as the roller moves it pushes air through the conduit and out of at least one of the plurality of openings to reduce fogging of the lens.    
   
   
       35 . The eyewear of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one lens further comprises a common lens which extends over both of a user's eyes when the eyewear is positioned on a user's face.  
   
   
       36 . The eyewear of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of air openings are covered by at least one diaphragm flapper valve provided on the outside of the conduit.  
   
   
       37 . The eyewear of  claim 35 , wherein each ear piece includes a first portion and a second portion at an opposite end thereof, and wherein the first portion is coupled to the frame portion and the conduit extends into the first portion of each air piece and at least a portion of the second portion of each ear piece.  
   
   
       38 . The eyewear of  claim 36 , wherein air intake into the conduit is provided via an opening in the second portion of at least one of the ear pieces.  
   
   
       39 . The eyewear of  claim 37 , wherein air enters the conduit via the opening in the second portion of at least one of the ear pieces and air is moved via the roller in the conduit such that the air is expelled adjacent a user's eyes via the plurality of openings and the diaphragm flapper valve adjacent a user's eyes.