Goggle lens with compound curvature for downward field of view enhancement

Abstract

A goggle may include a goggle frame and a lens assembly that may be removably coupled by magnetic materials and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism may couple the goggle frame to the lens assembly by mechanically engaging latch components. The latch mechanism may couple the goggle frame to the lens assembly by magnetically coupling latch components. Latch components may be included with the lens assembly and the goggle frame. The goggle frame may include an elastomer face gasket. The goggle frame may include outriggers fixedly coupled to the face gasket. The lens assembly may include an elastomer lens frame.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 a lens configured to be worn by a user, the lens having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is separated from the lower portion by a longitudinal line,   wherein the upper portion has a substantially constant radius of curvature in a vertical direction, such that any two meridians perpendicular to the longitudinal line have a same constant radius of curvature in the upper portion,   wherein the lower portion has a variable radius of curvature in the vertical direction such that at least two of the meridians have respective radii of curvature in the lower portion which are different from each other and different from the radius of curvature of the at least two of the meridians in the upper portion, and   wherein, when worn by the user, an optical axis of the upper portion is aligned with a forward viewing direction of the user and a downward field of view is viewed through the lower portion.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lens is a goggle lens. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a goggle frame comprising a flexible gasket that defines an opening configured to encircle the user's eyes when the goggle frame is worn by the user, wherein the lens is coupled to the goggle frame. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein for each of the at least two meridians the greatest degree of curvature is located in the lower portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lens has a substantially constant thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the upper portion is a cylindrical or spherical lens and the lower portion is neither a cylindrical or spherical lens. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lens is a unitary lens configured to extend across both of the user's eyes when worn. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lower portion is shaped to limit distortion to the peripheral region of the lens. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lower portion has a complex curvature which is not definable by a standard curve form. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a lens configured to be worn by a user, the lens having an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a longitudinal line, wherein when worn by the user the upper portion is positioned in front of a main field of view of the user and the lower portion is positioned in a downward field of view of the user,   wherein a first meridian extending along the lens perpendicular to the longitudinal line has a radius of curvature which is constant along the first meridian in the upper portion and varies along the first meridian in the lower portion,   wherein a second meridian extending along the lens perpendicular to the longitudinal line has a radius of curvature which is constant along the second meridian in the upper portion and varies along the second meridian in the lower portion, and   wherein the radius of curvature of the first meridian varies along the lower portion in a manner different to how the radius of curvature of the second meridian varies along the lower portion.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein when worn by the user the lower portion of the lens curves to be closer to the user's face than the upper portion. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the upper portion has a substantially constant longitudinal radius of curvature such that each longitude in the upper portion has a same radius of curvature. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the lens is spherical in the upper portion such that the radius of curvature of the first and second meridian in the upper portion match the same radius of curvature of each of the longitudes in the upper portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the lens is cylindrical in the upper portion such that the first and the second meridian in the upper portion have a flat radius of curvature. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the lens has a substantially constant thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a goggle frame configured to hold the lens, wherein the goggle frame is worn by the user. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the goggle frame includes a gasket configured to form a opening which encircles both of the user's eyes when worn, and wherein the lens fits over the opening and extends across both of the user's eyes. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the goggle frame is configured to be removably coupled to the lens. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a frame configured to be worn on a user's face, the frame configured to form an opening which encircles the user's eyes when worn; and   a lens comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is separated from the lower portion by a longitudinal line, and wherein the lens is configured to be coupled to the frame;   wherein the upper portion has a substantially constant radius of curvature in a vertical direction, such that any two meridians perpendicular to the longitudinal line have a same constant radius of curvature in the upper portion,   wherein the lower portion has a variable radius of curvature in the vertical direction such that at least two of the meridians have respective radii of curvature in the lower portion which are different from each other and different from the radius of curvature of the at least two of the meridians in the upper portion, and   wherein, when worn by the user, an optical axis of the upper portion is aligned with a forward viewing direction of the user and a downward field of view is viewed through the lower portion.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a second lens which has a generally similar shape to the first lens; and   a lens bracket configured to hold the first lens and the second lens with a space between, and wherein the lens bracket is configured to be coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a lens bracket configured to hold the lens, wherein the lens bracket and the frame each include a respective plurality of magnets configured to magnetically couple the lens bracket to the frame.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the lower portion is configured to wrap under the upper the portion and towards the user's cheeks when the frame is worn on the user's face. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the lens extends across both of t when the frame is worn on the user's face. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a greatest degree of curvature of the lens is located outside a main field of view of the user.