WO2003019267A1

WO2003019267A1 - Head worn instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2003019267A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/001186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Martin Meysztowicz
Original assignee: Iatia Instruments Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-31
Filing date: 2002-08-30
Publication date: 2003-03-06
Also published as: AUPR742401A0

Abstract

A head worn instrument such as optical loupes is disclosed which includes an instrument such as a loupe assembly (30) having at least one eyepiece (32) and a head worn frame (12) generally configured in the nature of a pair of spectacles having side arms (14). The frame carries a mounting section (42) which includes sockets (46). The loupes (32) carry a shaft (50) which in turn carries balls (84) which are spring biased by springs (82) so that the balls can register in the sockets (46) to selectively attach or detach the loupes to and from the frame. The joint formed by the shaft (50) and the mounting section (42) also enables the loupes to pivotally move so that they can pivot into and out of alignment with a user's eyes when the instrument is worn by a user.

Description

HEAD WORN INSTRUMENT

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a head worn instrument such as an optical loupes of the type worn by surgeons and like people who use such instruments to view a work area such as the location of surgery or other delicate work which may be performed by a person using the loupes.

Background Art

Optical loupes are disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,923,467 which is licensed to the present applicant and in our pending International Patent Application No. PCT/AU01/00440. The contents of this patent and application are incorporated into this specification by this reference. The loupes in the above patent and International application have an objective axis and an ocular axis which are inclined with respect to one another so that when the loupes are worn, the area which is viewed by the wearer is below the normal level of sight when the user looks straight ahead. This tends to overcome fatigue because it is not necessary for the user to tilt his or her head in order to perform an operation or perform other delicate work which may need to be undertaken for a considerable amount of time. However, it is not necessary that the ocular axis be inclined with respect to the objective axis and the two axes could be generally parallel with one another if it is desired to view a work area which is generally in the line of sight of a wearer when looking straight ahead.

The above patents disclose a mechanism for supporting the optical loupes on a frame and also for enabling the loupes to be adjusted.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide further improvements in the mounting of head worn instruments such as the mounting of the loupe assembly on a frame of the optical loupes.

A first aspect of the invention provides head worn instrument including: an instrument; a mounting element coupled to the instrument, the mounting element including one of a socket and a ball element; a frame having a mounting section for receiving the mounting element, the mounting element including the other of the socket and the ball element; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a releasable joint of the instrument to the frame, and thereby allow the instrument to be disconnected from the frame so that different instruments can be selectively coupled to the frame.

This aspect of the invention therefore enables a number of different instruments to be used with a common frame. The instruments may include optical loupes, light sources and other instruments which a surgeon or other person needs to wear in order to perform a particular task. Thus, a kit of instruments can be produced, all of which are connectable with a common frame to enable the instruments to be head worn and therefore used by the person whilst performing the required task.

This aspect of the invention may also be said to reside in an instrument for attachment to a frame which has a mounting section, the instrument including: an instrument body; a mounting element coupled to the body, the mounting element including one of a socket and ball element for engagement with the other of the socket and ball element provided on the mounting section of the frame; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a releasable joint to enable the instrument to be selectively attached to and detached from the frame.

This aspect of the invention may further be said to reside in a head worn frame for supporting an instrument having a mounting element, the frame including: a mounting section for receiving the mounting element of the instrument, the mounting section including one of a socket and ball element for engaging the other of the socket and ball element provided on the mounting element of the instrument; and the mounting section being for receiving the mounting element so that the mounting element be selectively attached to and detached from the mounting section to enable a number of different like instruments to be connected to the frame.

The invention, in a first aspect, may be said to reside in optical loupes including: a loupe assembly having at least one eyepiece; a mounting element coupled to the eyepiece, the mounting element including one of a socket or a ball element; a loupes frame having a mounting section for receiving the mounting element of the loupe assembly, the mounting section including the other of the socket or the ball element; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a pivot joint so the loupe assembly can be pivoted from a position in alignment with the eyes of a wearer when the loupes are worn to a position out of alignment with the eyes of a wearer, and wherein the loupe assembly can be inserted into or removed from the loupes frame by moving the mounting element into or out of the mounting section so that the ball or socket can move against the bias of the biasing means to enable engagement of or separation of the ball and socket to connect or release the loupe assembly from the frame.

This aspect of the invention therefore provides optical loupes with a mounting structure which enables the loupe assembly to be easily replaced on the frame so that one loupe assembly can be interchanged with another like loupe assembly if required, and also enables the loupe assembly to be pivoted so that the loupe assembly can be selectively arranged in registry with a user's eye so the user can look through the loupe assembly, or pivot away from the user's eye so that the user has an uninterrupted view when the loupe assembly is pivoted away from alignment with the user's eyes.

Preferably the mounting element includes the ball element and the biasing means and the mounting section includes the socket .

Preferably the mounting section has a groove or recess having a part circular surface, a boss located at each end of the recess, the bosses having surfaces which face one another, and a said socket in each of the said surfaces of the bosses.

Preferably the mounting element includes two ball elements, one ball element being arranged at each end of the mounting element for registering in two sockets in the mounting section of the frame.

Preferably the mounting element comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft having at least one longitudinal extending cutout, a pair of mounting slides arranged in the hollow shaft for movement along the hollow shaft, a pair of eyepiece frames each for supporting an eyepiece of the loupes, the frames being respectively connected to one of the slides so that the slides can move relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the shaft to adjust the interpupillary distance of the eyepieces.

Preferably the slides comprise a part cylindrical plug having a flattened surface and the eyepiece frames include a projection for locating in the cutout adjacent the flattened surface of the slides, and respective connecting means for connecting the slides to the projections.

Preferably the connecting means comprises a screw which passes through a hole in the respective eyepiece frame and into a hole in the respective slide.

Preferably the ball element comprises a retainer located in the hollow shaft, a ball supported in the retainer, a spring arranged in the retainer for biasing the ball to project partly out of the retainer, and the spring comprising the said biasing means.

Preferably the shaft includes at least one eccentric lobe so that when the shaft is pivoted to move the eyepieces out of alignment with a wearer's eyes, the eccentric lobe wedges against a surface of the mounting section of the frame to hold the loupe assembly in the pivoted position.

Preferably the longitudinal cutout is formed in two parts, the two parts being separated by a cylindrical land, one of the said slides being accessible through each of the parts of the longitudinal cutout .

Preferably the cylindrical land is for receiving a cylindrical bracket of a light source for mounting a light source to the loupes.

Preferably the frame comprises a spectacle frame having a nosepiece and adjusting means for adjusting the position of the nosepiece relative to the frame for adjusting the height of the loupe assembly relative to a user when the loupes are worn by a user.

The invention, in a second aspect, may be said to reside in an optical loupe assembly for attachment to a loupes frame which has a mounting section, the assembly including: at least one eyepiece; a mounting element coupled to the eyepiece, the mounting element including one of a socket or a ball element for engaging with the other of the socket or ball element provided on the mounting section of the frame; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a pivot joint so the loupe assembly can be pivoted from a position in alignment with the eyes of a wearer when the loupes are worn to a position out of alignment with the eyes of a wearer, and wherein the loupe assembly can be attached to or removed from the frame by moving the mounting element into or out of the mounting section so that the ball or socket can move against the bias of the biasing means to enable engagement or separation of the ball and socket to attach or release the loupe assembly from the frame.

Preferably the mounting element includes the ball element and the socket is provided in the mounting section of the frame.

Preferably the mounting element comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft having at least one longitudinal extending cutout, a pair of mounting slides arranged in the hollow shaft for movement along the hollow shaft, a pair of eyepiece frames each for supporting an eyepiece of the loupes, the frames being respectively connected to one of the slides so that the slides can move relative to one another in the longitudinal direction to adjust the interpupillary distance of the eyepieces.

Preferably the shaft includes at least one eccentric lobe so that when the shaft is pivoted to move the eyepieces out of alignment with a wearer's eyes, the eccentric lobe wedges against the mounting section of the frames to hold the loupe assembly in the pivoted position.

Preferably the longitudinal cutout is formed in two parts, the two parts being separated by a cylindrical land, the said slides being accessible respective through one of the parts of the longitudinal cutout.

The invention, in a third aspect, may be said to reside in a loupes frame for optical loupes which include a loupe assembly having a mounting element including: a mounting section for receiving the mounting element of the loupe assembly, the mounting section including one of a socket or ball element for engaging the other of the socket or ball element provided on the mounting element of the loupes assembly; the mounting section being for receiving the mounting element so that the mounting element can move in pivotal fashion relative to the mounting section.

A further aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a frame for optical loupes including: a pair of side arms for engaging a user's ears; a nosepiece for resting on a user's nose; moveable mounting means for mounting the nosepiece to the frame so that the frame can move relative to the nosepiece to adjust the height of the frame relative to a user's eyes; the adjustable mounting means including at least one leg which is received in a track, the leg being connected to the nosepiece or the frame and the track being connected to the other of the nosepiece or the frame, and a detent on the leg or track for engaging in a detent recess in the other of the leg or track to thereby securely locate the nosepiece relative to the frame.

Preferably the leg has a plurality of recesses so that the detent can locate in one of the recesses and be held in that recess to adjust the height of the frame relative to the nosepiece to a particular position.

Preferably the frame includes mounting means for mounting an optical loupe assembly relative to the frame, the frame having a pair of eyepieces so that when a user views through the eyepieces, the user can also view through the loupe assembly to view a work area.

Preferably the loupe assembly is pivotally mounted to the frame so that the loupe assembly can be moved from a position in registry with the eyepieces to a position out of registry with the eyepieces to provide the user with an uninterrupted view through the eyepieces.

In another aspect, the invention may be said to reside in spectacle frames for optical loupes including: a pair of arms for engaging a user's ears; a nosepiece for supporting the frame on a user's nose; and adjustable mounting means for mounting the nosepiece to the frame, the adjustable mounting means including: a pair of tracks on the frames; a pair of legs on the nosepiece, the legs being spring biased relative to one another so that in order to adjust the position of the nosepiece, the nosepiece is squeezed to move the legs inwardly relative to one another to enable adjustment in the tracks and then, when adjustment has taken place, released so that the spring nature of the legs biases the legs outwardly to engage in the tracks and secure the nosepiece at the adjusted position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a pair of optical loupes according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the loupes of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed view showing part of the mounting assembly of the preferred embodiment; Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view of the mounting section and mounting element of the preferred embodiment;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a nosepiece mounting assembly used in the preferred embodiment; Figure 5 is a front view of the assembly of

Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detailed view of part of the assembly of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view of a second embodiment of a mounting assembly; and

Figure 8 is a view of the assembly of Figure 7 in a mounting position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figure 1, optical loupes 10 are shown which have a spectacle frame 12 which has arms 14 which are adjustable in length and pivotally mounted in a known manner so that they can be extended to a required length and pivot to a folded condition, as is conventional with spectacles. A strap 16 may be connected to the arms 14 for facilitated tight securement of the loupes onto a user's head if desired. The frame 12 has a lens frame portion 18 and has apertures 20 which may carry corrective lenses 22 if desired. If corrective lenses 22 are not required, the apertures 20 can merely be left open, or filled with a non-prescription shield for splash protection.

A loupe assembly 30 is pivotally mounted onto the frame 12. The loupe assembly 30 includes a pair of eyepieces 32 and a light source 34. Full optical details of the eyepieces 32, together with their structure, is disclosed in our aforesaid International Application No. PCT/AU01/00440. The lens frame 18 carries a nosepiece 36 for supporting the frame 12 on the user's nose, as is also conventional. The nosepiece 36 is adjustable vertically with respect to the lens frame 18 so as to adjust the height of the spectacles when supported on a user's nose and therefore the location of the loupe assembly 30 relative to a user's eyes in a vertical direction. The details of the nosepiece 36 and its mounting will be described hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 2, lenses 22 may clip into holes 20 in a manner which is generally known so that the lenses 22 can be inserted, removed or interchanged as is required.

The lens frame 18 carries a mounting section 40 which is preferably formed from a separate part and attached to the frame 18 by clipping the assembly 40 into a recess or socket formed in the frame 18 or attaching the mounting section 40 by screws or the like to the frame 18.

Alternatively, the mounting section could be formed integral with the frame 18. The mounting section 40 comprises a part cylindrical groove or recess 42 which has mounting bosses 44 located at each end. The bosses 44 are each provided with a socket 46 in end faces 47. As will be apparent from Figure 2, the end faces 47 face one another.

The loupe assembly has a cylindrical shaft 50 which is hollow and which is provided with a longitudinal cutout 52 which is broken into two parts 52a and 52b by a cylindrical land 54. Located just above the cutout sections 52a and 52b and adjacent to land 54 are eccentric lobes 56, the function of which will be described hereinafter. Slides 58 are located in the hollow shaft 50. The slides 58 are part cylindrical in configuration, but have a flat face or surface 59. The surfaces 59 of the slides 58 are accessible through the cutouts 52a and 52b when the slides 58 are inserted into the hollow shaft 50. Eyepieces 32 are mounted to respective eyepiece frames 60 and 61 by a snap-in configuration in which a groove or recess 62 locates in a corresponding groove or recess 63 in ring portion 64 of the frames 60. The frames 60 have inclined arms 67. Referring also to Figure 3A, upper portions of the arms 67 carry a projection 68 which has a flat face 69 and upper and lower ledges 69a and 69b. A hole 70 passes through the arms 67, the projection 68 and registers with a hole 72 in the respective slides 58. A screw 74 passes through the respective holes 70 and screws into a screw thread in holes 72 of the respective slides 58 so as to attach the eyepiece frames 60 to the slides 58. When the screws 74 are fully tightened, the eyepiece frames 60 are securely attached to the slides 59 and the slides 59 are pulled hard against internal surface portions 75 of the shaft 50 to thereby secure the slides 58 in place. The frames 60 also have flattened surfaces

77 which extend at right angles to the ledges 69a and 69b. When the frames 60 are securely attached to the slides 58, the ledges 69a and 69b sit snugly within the cutouts 52a (and 52b in respect of the other frame 60) so that they abut edges 59a of the hollow shaft 50 which define the cutout 52a. The hollow shaft 50 is also provided with a flattened surface 50a and a flattened surface 50b adjacent and generally perpendicular to the respective surfaces 59a which abuts against the surfaces 77 of the frame 60. Thus, the frame 60 is securely connected into the cutout 52a and prevented from wobbling when the screw 74 is tightened. The interpupillary distance (shown by arrow A in Figure 2) between the eyepieces 32, can be adjusted by simply loosening the screws 74 and sliding the eyepieces in the direction of double-headed arrow A so the slides 58 move in the hollow cylinder 50 to the required location and then tightening the screws 74.

Retainers 80 are also inserted into the hollow tubes 50 and, as best shown in Figure 3, have a flange 85 which abuts the end of the hollow shaft 50. The retainers 80 can be secured in place by adhesive or any other suitable manner. The retainers 80 hold a spring 82 and a ball 84 which is secured in place by crimping the end of the retainer to form a flange or bend 86 which prevents the ball 84 from being pushed completely out of the retainer 80 but allows the ball to partly project from the retainer as shown in Figure 3. Thus, the spring 82 biases the ball 84 so that the ball 84 projects out of the open end 81 of the retainer but, because of the flange 86, cannot move completely out of the retainer 80.

In order to attach the loupe assembly 30 to the frame 12, the shaft 50 is located in the socket or recess 42 by pushing the shaft 50 directly into the socket or recess 42. As the shaft 50 is pushed into the socket or recess 52, the balls 84 will engage faces 47 of the bosses 44 and be pushed inwardly into the retainer 80 against the bias of the springs 82. When the shaft 50 is completely registered in the recess 42, the balls 84 will be in line with the sockets 46 in the bosses 44 and the springs 82 will bias the balls 84 outwardly so that they project out of the open ends 81 of the retainer 80 (as best seen in Figure 3) and register in the sockets 46. Thus, the shaft 50 is securely attached to the mounting section 40 and therefore the loupe assembly 30 is securely attached to the frame 12.

The loupe assembly 30 can be removed in the same manner by pulling the shaft 50 outwardly of the recess 42 which will again cause the balls 84 to move into the retainer 80 against the bias of the springs 82, thereby enabling the shaft 50 to be released from the recess 42. This enables different loupe assemblies to be interchanged with one another or replaced as is needed.

Because the loupe assemblies are connected by the balls 84 and the sockets 46, the removal and replacement of the loupe assemblies can be achieved quickly and very easily simply by clipping in and pulling out the loupe assemblies as is needed.

The engagement of the balls 84 in sockets 46 forms a pivot joint so that the loupe assembly 32 can be pivoted around the longitudinal axis of the shaft 50. Thus, the loupe assembly can be raised from a position in which it is in alignment with the lenses 22 (and therefore the eyes of a user) to a raised position where the loupe assembly is moved out of alignment with the lenses 22 to afford the user an uninterrupted view through the lenses 22 should that be needed or desired.

When the shaft 50 is rotated to raise the loupe assembly out of the line of sight of the wearer, the eccentric lobes 56 engage the part circular surface 43 of the groove 42 and wedge against the surface 43 of the groove 42, thereby providing sufficient friction to hold the loupes in the raised position so the loupes will not fall down as the user walks around or otherwise moves. When it is desired to again move the loupe assembly 32 into the line of sight, the loupes are simply pivoted downwardly so that the shaft 50 rotates on the pivot joint formed by the balls 84 and sockets 46 to move the eyepieces into the line of sight.

The light assembly 34 includes a part cylindrical bracket 92 which can clip onto cylindrical land 54 between the lobes 56. The light assembly, as is best shown in Figure 1, has an electrical lead 95 which extends across the lens frame 18 to one of the arms 14 and then along that arm 14 and terminate in an electrical jack (not shown) which can then be engaged with an electrical jack 97 for supplying power from a power source (not shown) to the light source 34.

The frame 12 is also adjustable relative to the user's eyes by adjusting the nosepiece 36 so that the frame 12 can be raised or lowered relative to the user's nose and therefore the user's eyes, to position the loupe assembly vertically relative to the user.

The nosepiece 36 (as is best shown in Figure 2) includes a pair of pads 101 which will rest on a user's nose. The pads 101 are joined by a generally U-shaped frame 102 which has a first leg 103, a second leg 104 and a cross piece 105. The lens frame 18 has a pair of tracks in the form of channels 107 (which are best shown in Figures 4-8) in which the legs 103 and 104 engage to secure the nosepiece 36 to the lens frame 18.

As is best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the channels 107 generally have a square C-shaped cross section having open ends which face one another, and the arms 103 and 104 register in the channels 107. The nosepiece 36 can be adjusted by moving the legs 103 and 104 upwardly or downwardly relative to the channels 107 to thereby adjust the position of the nosepiece 36 relative to the frame 18 and therefore the frame relative to the user's eyes.

In one embodiment of the invention, as is shown in Figure 6, the legs 103 and 104 are provided with a plurality of detent recesses in the form of notches or cutouts 111 and the channel 107 is provided with a detent in the form of a projection 112. The arm 103 can be moved upwardly or downwardly relative the channel 107 with one of the recesses 111 engaging the detent 112 to thereby position the legs 103 and 104 and secure the legs 103 and 104 in that position relative to the channels 107 to thereby adjust the height of the nosepiece 36. The legs 103 and

104 can also be fixed in place by gluing after they have been adjusted to the required height.

In a second embodiment, shown in Figures 7 and 8, the frame 102 formed by the legs 103 and 104 and cross piece

105 is formed from spring metal so that adjustment takes place by pushing the legs 103 and 104 inwardly in the direction of arrows B and D as shown in Figure 7, and then adjusting the nosepiece 36 relative to the channels 107.

When the legs 103 and 104 are released, the natural spring bias of the frame 102 will cause the arms 103 and 104 to spring outwardly and engage on base walls 114 (see Figure 4) of the channels 107 to securely hold the frame 102 and therefore the nose piece 36 in the adjusted position.

Thus, adjustment can simply take place by the user removing the loupes from his or her head, squeezing the nose pads 101 towards one another by the user's fingers and then sliding the legs 103 and 104 upwardly or downwardly relative to the channels 107 and then simply releasing the pads 101 so the legs 103 and 104 spring out and engage the base walls 114 of the channels 107. The preferred embodiment of the invention thereby provides optical loupes which have a loupe assembly which can be easily interchanged and which is pivotally mounted so as to be able to be moved into and out of the line of vision of the user very easily. Furthermore, vertical adjustment of the loupes relative to the user can take place by adjusting the nosepiece 36 relative to the frame 12 to provide for vertical height adjustment. The interpupillary distance of the eye pieces 32 of the loupes can easily be adjusted by loosening screws 74 and sliding the eyepieces sideways on slides 58 which are located within the hollow channel 50 until the correct distance is obtained and then tightening the screws 74.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in relation to optical loupes, the frame 12 can be used with other instruments, such as discrete light sources, or any other instrument which needs to be head worn and used by a surgeon or other person usually performing a delicate task. Thus, a set of instruments can be built up, each of which is useable with the frame 12 and which can be selectively attached to and detached from the frame to enable the instrument to be head worn by the user to assist in performing a particular task.

Claims

1. A head worn instrument including: an instrument; a mounting element coupled to the instrument, the mounting element including one of a socket and a ball element; a frame having a mounting section for receiving the mounting element, the mounting element including the other of the socket and the ball element; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a releasable joint of the instrument to the frame, and thereby allow the instrument to be disconnected from the frame so that different instruments can be selectively coupled to the frame.

2. The head worn instrument of claim 1 wherein the mounting element includes the ball element and the biasing means and the mounting section includes the socket.

3. The head worn instrument of claim 1 wherein the mounting section has a groove or recess having a part circular surface, a boss located at each end of the recess, the bosses having surfaces which face one another, and a said socket in each of the said surfaces of the bosses.

4. The head worn instrument of claim 1 wherein the mounting element includes two ball elements, one ball element being arranged at each end of the mounting element for registering in two sockets in the mounting section of the frame .

5. An instrument for attachment to a frame which has a mounting section, the instrument including: an instrument body; a mounting element coupled to the body, the mounting element including one of a socket and ball element for engagement with the other of the socket and ball element provided on the mounting section of the frame; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a releasable joint to enable the instrument to be selectively attached to and detached from the frame.

6. The instrument of claim 5 wherein the mounting element includes the ball element and the socket is provided in the mounting section of the frame.

7. The instrument of claim 5 wherein the mounting element includes two ball elements, one ball element being arranged at each end of the mounting element for registering in two sockets in the mounting section of the frame.

8. A head worn frame for supporting an instrument having a mounting element, the frame including: a mounting section for receiving the mounting element of the instrument, the mounting section including one of a socket and ball element for engaging the other of the socket and ball element provided on the mounting element of the instrument; and the mounting section being for receiving the mounting element so that the mounting element be selectively attached to and detached from the mounting section to enable a number of different like instruments to be connected to the frame.

9. The head worn frame of claim 8 wherein the mounting element includes the ball element and the biasing means and the mounting section includes the socket.

10. The head worn frame of claim 8 wherein the mounting section has a groove or recess having a part circular surface, a boss located at each end of the recess, the bosses having surfaces which face one another, and a said socket in each of the said surfaces of the bosses.

11. Optical loupes including: a loupe assembly having at least one eyepiece; a mounting element coupled to the eyepiece, the mounting element including one of a socket or a ball element; a loupes frame having a mounting section for receiving the mounting element of the loupe assembly, the mounting section including the other of the socket or the ball element; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a pivot joint so the loupe assembly can be pivoted from a position in alignment with the eyes of a wearer when the loupes are worn to a position out of alignment with the eyes of a wearer, and wherein the loupe assembly can be inserted into or removed from the loupes frame by moving the mounting element into or out of the mounting section so that the ball or socket can move against the bias of the biasing means to enable engagement of or separation of the ball and socket to connect or release the loupe assembly from the frame.

12. The optical loupes of claim 11 wherein the mounting element includes the ball element and the biasing means and the mounting section includes the socket.

13. The optical loupes of claim 11 wherein the mounting section has a groove or recess having a part circular surface, a boss located at each end of the recess, the bosses having surfaces which face one another, and a said socket in each of the said surfaces of the bosses.

14. The optical loupes of claim 11 wherein the mounting element includes two ball elements, one ball element being arranged at each end of the mounting element for registering in two sockets in the mounting section of the frame.

15. The optical loupes of claim 11 wherein the mounting element comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft having at least one longitudinal extending cutout, a pair of mounting slides arranged in the hollow shaft for movement along the hollow shaft, a pair of eyepiece frames each for supporting an eyepiece of the loupes, the frames being respectively connected to one of the slides so that the slides can move relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the shaft to adjust the interpupillary distance of the eyepieces.

16. The optical loupes of claim 15 wherein the slides comprise a part cylindrical plug having a flattened surface and the eyepiece frames include a projection for locating in the cutout adjacent the flattened surface of the slides, and respective connecting means for connecting the slides to the projections.

17. The optical loupes of claim 16 wherein the connecting means comprises a screw which passes through a hole in the respective eyepiece frame and into a hole in the respective slide.

18. The optical loupes of claim 11 wherein the ball element comprises a retainer located in the hollow shaft, a ball supported in the retainer, a spring arranged in the retainer for biasing the ball to project partly out of the retainer, and the spring comprising the said biasing means.

19. The optical loupes of claim 18 wherein the shaft includes at least one eccentric lobe so that when the shaft is pivoted to move the eyepieces out of alignment with a wearer's eyes, the eccentric lobe wedges against a surface of the mounting section of the frame to hold the loupe assembly in the pivoted position.

20. The optical loupes of claim 15 wherein the longitudinal cutout is formed in two parts, the two parts being separated by a cylindrical land, one of the said slides being accessible through each of the parts of the longitudinal cutout.

21. The optical loupes of claim 20 wherein the cylindrical land is for receiving a cylindrical bracket of a light source for mounting a light source to the loupes.

22. The optical loupes of claim 11 wherein the frame comprises a spectacle frame having a nosepiece and adjusting means for adjusting the position of the nosepiece relative to the frame for adjusting the height of the loupe assembly relative to a user when the loupes are worn by a user.

23. An optical loupe assembly for attachment to a loupes frame which has a mounting section, the assembly including: at least one eyepiece; a mounting element coupled to the eyepiece, the mounting element including one of a socket or a ball element for engaging with the other of the socket or ball element provided on the mounting section of the frame; and biasing means for biasing the ball element and socket together to form a pivot joint so the loupe assembly can be pivoted from a position in alignment with the eyes of a wearer when the loupes are worn to a position out of alignment with the eyes of a wearer, and wherein the loupe assembly can be attached to or removed from the frame by moving the mounting element into or out of the mounting section so that the ball or socket can move against the bias of the biasing means to enable engagement or separation of the ball and socket to attach or release the loupe assembly from the frame.

24. The optical loupe assembly of claim 23 wherein the mounting element includes the ball element and the socket is provided in the mounting section of the frame.

25. The optical loupe assembly of claim 23 wherein the mounting element includes two ball elements, one ball element being arranged at each end of the mounting element for registering in two sockets in the mounting section of the frame.

26. The optical loupe assembly of claim 23 wherein the mounting element comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft having at least one longitudinal extending cutout, a pair of mounting slides arranged in the hollow shaft for movement along the hollow shaft, a pair of eyepiece frames each for supporting an eyepiece of the loupes, the frames being respectively connected to one of the slides so that the slides can move relative to one another in the longitudinal direction to adjust the interpupillary distance of the eyepieces.

27. The optical loupe assembly of claim 26 wherein the slides comprise a part cylindrical plug having a flattened surface and the eyepiece frames include a projection for locating in the cutout adjacent the flattened surface of the slides, and respective connecting means for connecting the slides to the projections.

28. The optical loupe assembly of claim 27 wherein the connecting means comprises a screw which passes through a hole in the respective eyepiece frame and into a hole in the respective slide.

29. The optical loupe assembly of claim 23 wherein the ball element comprises a retainer located in the hollow shaft, a ball supported in the retainer, a spring arranged in the retainer for biasing the ball to project partly out of the retainer, and the spring comprising the said biasing means.

30. The optical loupe assembly of claim 29 wherein the shaft includes at least one eccentric lobe so that when the shaft is pivoted to move the eyepieces out of alignment with a wearer's eyes, the eccentric lobe wedges against the mounting section of the frames to hold the loupe assembly in the pivoted position.

31. The optical loupe assembly of claim 26 wherein the longitudinal cutout is formed in two parts, the two parts being separated by a cylindrical land, the said slides being accessible respective through one of the parts of the longitudinal cutout.

32. The optical loupe assembly of claim 31 wherein the cylindrical land is for receiving a cylindrical bracket of a light source for mounting a light source to the loupes.

33. The optical loupe assembly of claim 23 wherein the frame comprises a spectacle frame having a nosepiece and adjusting means for adjusting the position of the nosepiece relative to the frame for adjusting the height of the loupe assembly relative to a user when the loupes are worn by a user.

34. A loupes frame for optical loupes which include a loupe assembly having a mounting element including: a mounting section for receiving the mounting element of the loupe assembly, the mounting section including one of a socket or ball element for engaging the other of the socket or ball element provided on the mounting element of the loupes assembly; the mounting section being for receiving the mounting element so that the mounting element can move in pivotal fashion relative to the mounting section.

35. The loupes frame of claim 34 wherein the mounting element includes the ball element and the biasing means and the mounting section includes the socket.

36. The loupes frame of claim 34 wherein the mounting section has a groove or recess having a part circular surface, a boss located at each end of the recess, the bosses having surfaces which face one another, and a said socket in each of the said surfaces of the bosses.

37. A frame for optical loupes including: a pair of side arms for engaging a user's ears; a nosepiece for resting on a user's nose; moveable mounting means for mounting the nosepiece to the frame so that the frame can move relative to the nosepiece to adjust the height of the frame relative to a user's eyes; the adjustable mounting means including at least one leg which is received in a track, the leg being connected to the nosepiece or the frame and the track being connected to the other of the nosepiece or the frame, and a detent on the leg or track for engaging in a detent recess in the other of the leg or track to thereby securely locate the nosepiece relative to the frame.

38. The frame of claim 37 wherein the leg has a plurality of recesses so that the detent can locate in one of the recesses and be held in that recess to adjust the height of the frame relative to the nosepiece to a particular position.

39. The frame of claim 37 wherein the frame includes mounting means for mounting an optical loupe assembly relative to the frame, the frame having a pair of eyepieces so that when a user views through the eyepieces, the user can also view through the loupe assembly to view a work area.

40. The frame of claim 39 wherein the loupe assembly is pivotally mounted to the frame so that the loupe assembly can be moved from a position in registry with the eyepieces to a position out of registry with the eyepieces to provide the user with an uninterrupted view through the eyepieces.

41. Spectacle frames for optical loupes including: a pair of arms for engaging a user's ears; a nosepiece for supporting the frame on a user's nose; and adjustable mounting means for mounting the nosepiece to the frame, the adjustable mounting means including: a pair of tracks on the frames; a pair of legs on the nosepiece, the legs being spring biased relative to one another so that in order to adjust the position of the nosepiece, the nosepiece is squeezed to move the legs inwardly relative to one another to enable adjustment in the tracks and then, when adjustment has taken place, released so that the spring nature of the legs biases the legs outwardly to engage in the tracks and secure the nosepiece at the adjusted position.