Removably attachable top frame for eyewear

Abstract

An eyeglass system includes interchangeable anterior aesthetics. The system includes a base frame, including a front face with a left lens orbital carrying a left lens and a right lens orbital carrying a right lens, and left and right earstems attached to the front frame. A decorative top frame includes a left annular mask with an unobstructed left opening and a right annular mask with an unobstructed right opening, configured to cover the left and right orbitals, respectively, while exposing the left and right lenses through the left and right openings. The top frame is releasably connectable to the base frame. The system may include a plurality of visually distinct top frames, each interchangeably removably connectable to a common base frame.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of enabling a user to removably attach a top frame to a corresponding base eyewear, the method comprising:
 providing a top frame comprising:
 a left opening without a lens and a right opening without a lens; 
 a bridge positioned between the left and right openings; and 
 a curved posterior surface; 
 at least two magnets; and 
   enabling the user to align the top frame with the base eyewear such that the magnets of the top frame induce an attractive force between the posterior surface of the top frame and a curved anterior surface of the base eyewear;   wherein the top frame is made of a different material than the base eyewear, the top frame comprising one or more of a metal or a composite material;   wherein the posterior surface of the top frame comprises a pre-attached shape that corresponds to the anterior surface of the base eyewear such that, when the top frame is attached to the base eyewear, the posterior surface of the top frame closely fits with the anterior surface of the base eyewear, without requiring the top frame to be contorted to attach the top frame to the base eyewear; and   wherein, when the top frame is attached to the base eyewear, the top frame has no part that extends in a posterior direction past the anterior surface of the base eyewear.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top frame is made of a metal comprising aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top frame is made of a metal comprising steel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top frame is made of a metal comprising iron. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top frame is made of a metal comprising titanium. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top frame is made of a composite material comprising carbon fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of different top frames. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a design on an anterior surface on each of the plurality of different top frames is different than a design on the anterior surface of the base eyewear. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of different top frames has an anterior surface with a design that is different in appearance from designs on each anterior surfaces of each of the other of the plurality of top frames. 
     
     
         10 . A method of enabling a user to removably attach a top frame to a corresponding base eyewear, the method comprising:
 providing a top frame comprising:
 a left opening without a lens and a right opening without a lens; 
 a bridge positioned between the left and right openings; and 
 a curved posterior surface; 
 at least two magnets; and 
   enabling the user to align the top frame with the base eyewear such that the magnets of the top frame induce an attractive force between the posterior surface of the top frame and a curved anterior surface of the base eyewear;   wherein the top frame is made of a different material than the base eyewear, the top frame comprising one or more of a thermoplastic amorphous polyamide, acetate, xylonite, or nylon;   wherein the posterior surface of the top frame comprises a pre-attached shape that corresponds to the anterior surface of the base eyewear such that, when the top frame is attached to the base eyewear, the posterior surface of the top frame closely fits with the anterior surface of the base eyewear, without requiring the top frame to be contorted to attach the top frame to the base eyewear; and   wherein, when the top frame is attached to the base eyewear, the top frame has no part that extends in a posterior direction past the anterior surface of the base eyewear.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the top frame is made of cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the top frame is made of cellulose acetate propionate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the top frame is made of a nylon blend. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein an anterior surface of the top frame comprises an aesthetic appearance that is different from an aesthetic appearance of the anterior surface of the base eyewear. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the material of the top frame is resilient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the top frame is less than a thickness of the front portion of the base eyewear. 
     
     
         17 . A method of enabling a user to removably attach a top frame to a corresponding base eyewear, the method comprising:
 providing a top frame comprising:
 a left opening and a right opening; 
 a bridge positioned between the left and right openings; 
 a front layer and a rear layer, the front layer being opaque and the rear layer being transparent; and 
   enabling the user to align the top frame with the base eyewear such that the top frame attaches to the base eyewear;   wherein the posterior surface of the top frame comprises a pre-attached shape that corresponds to the anterior surface of the base eyewear such that, when the top frame is attached to the base eyewear, the posterior surface of the top frame closely fits with the anterior surface of the base eyewear, without requiring the top frame to be contorted to attach the top frame to the base eyewear.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the front layer of the top frame is thinner than the rear layer of the top frame. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the front layer of the top frame is less than or equal to about 1 mm in thickness. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the top frame is made in a two-shot mold. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the front layer has a glossy surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the front layer has a matte surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a design on an anterior surface on the top frames is different than a design on the anterior surface of the base eyewear.