Flip-up glasses

Flip-up glasses are a form of eyeglasses that include a combination of a spring loaded hinge and a magnetic seat. This allows the wearer to flip up a sunglasses layer for indoor use. The alternative is clip-ons.

They were invented by Jeffrey C. Herold (Huntington Beach, California) and Hiroyuki Sasaki (Sabae, Japan). [United States Patent 7,018,035 awarded March 28, 2006]

Mechanics

The spring loaded hinge relieves a user the task of properly placing a flip-up portion in a holding mechanism. In combination with the spring, the magnetic seat allows the flip-up lenses to be held against the spring force and provides a simple release action which may be quickly accomplished by merely breaking a magnetic contact bond. As such, the action of flipping up and flipping down a sunglasses lens or lenses becomes comfortable and simple. The glasses are particularly useful for users who frequently switch between looking into shadows and lit areas which would otherwise require removing sunglasses and replacing them.

In popular culture

Dwayne Wayne, a character on the television program "A Different World" was known for wearing flip-up glasses. [Google [http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=%22Dwayne+Wayne%22 image search] for "Dwayne Wayne" where you can see the flip-up glasses.]

Edward Rooney, in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, is seen wearing flip-upsFact|date=June 2008

References