USOO7753518B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 7,753,518 B2 Lam et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jul. 13, 2010 (54) EYEGLASSES AND EYEGLASS FRAMES 5,633,340 A 5/1997 Hoffman et al. COMPRISING GLYCOL MODIFIED 5,804,617 A 9, 1998 Hoffman et al. COPOLYESTERS 5,852,164 A 12/1998 Akai et al. 6, 160,084 A 12/2000 Langer et al. (75) Inventors: Yin Sang Lam, Hong Kong (CN); Yan 6,388,043 B1 5/2002 Langer et al. Zhang, Hong Kong (CN) 6,398.987 B1 6/2002 Breyne et al. s 6,509,094 B1 1/2003 Shah et al. 6,720,402 B2 4/2004 Langer et al. (73) Assignee: Okia Optical Co., Ltd, Hong Kong 7,014,315 B2 * 3/2006 Iori et al. .................... 351,159 (CN) 7,231,922 B2 6/2007 Davison et al. - 7,249,842 B2 * 7/2007 Conrad et al. ................. 351.83 (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 2003/0055198 A1 3/2003 Langer et al. patent is extended or adjusted under 35 2003/0144419 A1 7/2003 Hoffman et al. U.S.C. 154(b) by 144 days. 2004/00151.87 A1 1/2004 Lendlein et al. 2005/OOO9972 A1 1/2005 Rauh et al. (21) Appl. No.: 12/043,965 2005.0185518 A1 8/2005 Kawakami et al. 2005, 01966.36 A1 9/2005 Kawakami et al. (22) Filed: Mar. 7, 2008 (Continued) (65) Prior Publication Data FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS US 2008/0218683 A1 Sep. 11, 2008 CN 229.7741 Y 11, 1998 Related U.S. Application Data (Continued) (60) Provisional application No. 60/905,591, filed on Mar. OTHER PUBLICATIONS 8, 2007, provisional application No. 61/026,468, filed on Feb. 5, 2008. ISR and WO, Jun. 12, 2008. (Continued) (51) Int. Cl. GO2C I/O (2006.01) Primary Examiner Hung X Dang (52) U.S. Cl. ......................... 351,41.351/110.351/111 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Kam W. Law 351/124 57 ABSTRACT (58) Field of Classification Search ................... 351/41, (57) 351/110, 1 11, 124, 158 Disclosed herein are eyeglass frames and eyeglass frame kits See application file for complete search history. made from a polymer composition comprising PCTG, and (56) References Cited eyeglasses comprising a pair of lenses mounted on the eye glass frames or eyeglass frame kits disclosed herein. The U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS polymer composition disclosed herein may optionally com 5,292,783 A 3, 1994 Buchanan et al. prise one or more additives such as colorants and fillers. 5,422,685 A 6/1995 Conway 5,625,029 A 4/1997 Hubbs et al. 31 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets US 7,753,518 B2 Page 2 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS EP O694181 4f1994 EP O686674 5, 1995 2006, OO68206 A1 3, 2006 Hala et al. JP 2001-172376 A 6, 2001 2006, O142524 A1 6, 2006 Lai et al. WO WO92fO9654 6, 1992 2006/0226,565 A1 10, 2006 Hale et al. WO WO94f00506 1, 1994 2006/0235167 A1 10, 2006 Hale et al. WO WO94,24603 10, 1994 2006/0270806 A1 11, 2006 Hale et al. WO WO95/07032 3, 1995 2006/0286384 A1 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 03/004561 A2 1, 2003 2006/0287.479 A1 12, 2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2006/127831 11, 2006 2006/0287481 A1 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2006,137954 12/2006 2006/0287482 A1 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1536 1, 2007 2006/0287484 A1 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1542 1, 2007 2006/0287486 All 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1547 1, 2007 2006/028.7494 A1 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1548 1, 2007 2006/0287.495 A1 12, 2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1551 1, 2007 2006/0287496 A1 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1552 1, 2007 2006/0293495 A1 12/2006 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1553 1, 2007 2007/OO 10650 A1 1/2007 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1557 1, 2007 2007/010.0122 A1 5, 2007 Rauh et al. WO WO 2007 OO1569 1, 2007 2007/01OO125 A1 5, 2007 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1571 1, 2007 2007/0105993 A1 5, 2007 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1574 1, 2007 2007/0106054 A1 5, 2007 Crawford et al. WO WO 2007 OO1575 1, 2007 2007/01295.31 A1 6, 2007 Crawford et al. OTHER PUBLICATIONS FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS English Abstract of JP2001-172376A. CN 2372698 Y 4/2000 English Abstract of CN2372698Y. CN 1400485 A 3, 2003 English Abstract of CN2297741 Y. EP O559785 11, 1991 English Abstract of CN1400485A. EP O648238 6, 1993 EP O909789 6, 1993 * cited by examiner U.S. Patent Jul. 13, 2010 Sheet 1 of 4 US 7,753,518 B2 Fig.1 U.S. Patent Jul. 13, 2010 Sheet 2 of 4 US 7,753,518 B2 Fig. 2 U.S. Patent Jul. 13, 2010 Sheet 3 of 4 US 7,753,518 B2 Fig. 3 U.S. Patent Jul. 13, 2010 Sheet 4 of 4 US 7,753,518 B2 Fig. 4 US 7,753,518 B2 1. 2 EYEGLASSES AND EYEGLASS FRAMES Eyeglass frames made from polymers or plastics are gen COMPRISING GLYCOL MODIFIED erally cost-effective, extremely lightweight and can be pro COPOLYESTERS duced in a variety of colors and shapes. Some common poly mers or plastics for making eyeglass frames include cellulose PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS esters such as cellulose acetate (e.g., ZYLONITETM) or cel lulose propionate, polyamides or nylons (e.g., GLIAMIDETM This application claims priority to copending U.S. Provi and polyamide 12), polycarbonates, and blends thereof. How sional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/905,591, filed Mar. 8, ever, the above-mentioned polymer or plastic frames may 2007 and 61/026,468, filed Feb. 5, 2008, both of which are have some undesirable properties such as poor dimensional incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 10 stability and low Scratch resistance. For example, they may break easier than metal frames. Furthermore, they may age or FIELD OF THE INVENTION degrade when exposed to heat, humidity or Sunlight. Further more, despite the availability of a variety of polymers or This invention relates to eyeglass frames and eyeglass 15 plastics for making eyeglass frames, the eyeglass frame tech frame kits made from a polymer composition comprising a nology continues to develop to meet new trends or require glycol modified copolyester Such as copolyesters derived from ethylene glycol, 1.4-cyclohexane dimethanol and dim ments as well as to adapt modern technologies. Therefore, ethyl terephthalate or terephthalic acid (e.g., PCTG). This there is always a need for new polymer frame materials that invention also relates to eyeglasses comprising a pair of can provide the desirable properties of plastic frames but are lenses mounted on the eyeglass frames or eyeglass frame kits resistant to breakage, heat, humidity and Sunlight. disclosed herein. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, provided herein are eyeglass frames com Eyeglasses, glasses or spectacles generally can be used for 25 prising a frame front and a pair oftemples, each of the temples vision correction and eye protection from hazards Such as UV pivotally attached to the frame front, wherein the frame front light or Sunlight. Modern eyeglasses generally comprise a and/or the temples are made from a polymer composition pair of lenses mounted on an eyeglass frame which can be comprising a PCTG, with the proviso that the polymer com worn in front of the wearer's eyes. The eyeglass or eyeglass 30 position is free of polyurethane and a cellulose ester. frame may be supported by pads on the bridge of the nose In some embodiments, the eyeglass frame further com and/or by temples placed over the ears. Eyeglass lenses can be prises a pair of hinges, wherein each of the hinges connects a made from glass or polymer Such as polycarbonate. respective temple with the frame front. In other embodiments, Eyeglass frames are generally made from metals, wood, the hinges are spring or normal hinges. In further embodi bone, horn, carbon fiber graphite or polymers. Semi-precious 35 ments, the temples are normal-hinge or spring-hinge temples. or precious stones, such as onyx, turquoise, rhinestones, dia In certain embodiments, the eyeglass frame further comprises monds and the like, may also be used as accents in frames, especially in the temples. The selection of a frame material is a pair of nose pads integrally attached to the frame front. generally based on various properties such as density, texture, In another aspect, provided herein are eyeglass frame kits comprising a pair of temples and a pair of end pieces, each of aesthetics, cost effectiveness, adjustability, safety, workabil 40 ity, strength, and resistances to breakage, deformation, cor the temples pivotally attached to each of the end pieces rosion, and heat. respectively, wherein the temples and/or the end pieces are A variety of metals can be used for making eyeglass made from a polymer composition comprising a PCTG, with frames. Some common metals used for eyeglass frames the proviso that the polymer composition is free of polyure include titanium, aluminum, nickel, copper, beryllium, iron, 45 thane and a cellulose ester. chromium, or a combination or an alloy thereof. Some non In certain embodiments, the eyeglass frame kits disclosed limiting examples of Suitable metal alloys include stainless hereinfurther comprise a bridge. In further embodiments, the steel, nickel alloys (e.g., MONELTM), titanium alloys (e.g., bridge is made from a polymer composition comprising a TICRALTM and FLEXONTM), and aluminum alloys.