1. An earstem assembly comprising:
a flexible suspension component extending posteriorly from an eyeglass frame, the suspension component having an anterior end and a posterior end; and
a rigid elongate body having an anterior end and a posterior end, the anterior end of the rigid elongate body being pivotally coupled to the flexible suspension component, the rigid elongate body and the suspension component being attached to each other at a point posterior to the anterior ends of the rigid elongate body and the suspension component, the rigid elongate body being operative to rotate relative to the eyeglass frame;
wherein the attachment between the rigid elongate body and the flexible suspension component causes deflection of the flexible suspension component upon rotation of the rigid elongate body relative to the frame.
2. An earstem assembly as in claim 1, wherein the flexible suspension component is pivotally coupled relative to the eyeglass frame.
3. An earstem assembly as in claim 2, wherein upon rotation of the rigid elongate body beyond a deployed position, deflection of the flexible suspension component dampens further rotation of the rigid elongate body relative to the eyeglass frame.
4. An earstem assembly as in claim 2, wherein the anterior end of the suspension component comprises a pair of connectors that form a pivot axis such that the suspension component can be pivotally coupled relative to the eyeglass frame.
5. An earstem assembly as in claim 2, wherein the anterior end of the suspension component comprises a protrusion that engages a portion of the eyeglass frame to limit relative rotation thereof beyond a deployed position.
6. An earstem assembly as in claim 5, wherein the eyeglass frame comprises a receptacle configured to receive the anterior end of the suspension component and engage the protrusion of the suspension component to limit relative rotation thereof.
7. An earstem assembly as in claim 5, wherein the rigid elongate body moves from the deployed position to a deflected position upon deflection of the suspension component.
8. An earstem assembly as in claim 1, wherein the posterior end of the flexible suspension component is coupled to the rigid elongate body at approximately a midpoint of the rigid elongate body.
9. An earstem assembly comprising a flexible elongate body extending rearwardly from a frame and a rigid elongate body pivotally coupled to an anterior portion of the flexible elongate body to define a first pivot point, the rigid elongate body also being coupled to a posterior portion of the flexible elongate body, wherein the rigid elongate body can be rotated about the first pivot point to move to a deflected position.
10. An earstem assembly as in claim 9, wherein an anterior end of the flexible elongate body is pivotally coupled to the frame at a second pivot point.
11. An earstem assembly as in claim 9, wherein the rigid elongate body can be rotated about the first pivot point to move from a deployed position to the deflected position.
12. An earstem assembly as in claim 11, wherein the flexible elongate body is positioned adjacent to the rigid elongate body in the deployed position, and the flexible elongate body is separated from the rigid elongate body along at least a portion thereof in the deflected position.
13. An earstem assembly as in claim 11, wherein the flexible elongate body is constrained against rotation when the rigid elongate body is in the deflected position.
14. An earstem assembly as in claim 9, wherein a posterior end of the flexible elongate body is coupled to the rigid elongate body at approximately a midpoint of the rigid elongate body.
15. An eyeglass comprising:
a frame;
a pair of suspension components extending rearwardly from the frame; and
a pair of rigid elongate bodies being pivotally coupled to respective suspension components along an anterior portion of each suspension component to define first pivot points, the pair of rigid elongate bodies also being coupled to the respective suspension components along a posterior portion of each suspension component to define second contact points such that pivoting of the rigid elongate body causes deflection of the suspension components to dampen further pivoting of the rigid elongate bodies.
16. An eyeglass as in claim 15, wherein anterior ends of the suspension components are pivotally coupled to the frame.
17. An eyeglass as in claim 16, wherein the anterior ends of the suspension components each comprise a protrusion that limits relative rotation thereof beyond a deployed position.
18. An eyeglass as in claim 16, wherein the rigid elongate bodies are pivotally coupled to the suspension component adjacent to anterior ends of the suspension components.
19. An eyeglass as in claim 16, wherein the rigid elongate bodies are operative to pivot relative to the suspension components and the frame beyond the deployed position upon application of increased force.
20. An eyeglass as in claim 15, wherein the anterior ends of the suspension components each comprise a pair of protrusions that engage with corresponding recesses formed in the rigid elongate bodies to form pivot axes such that the rigid elongate bodies can be pivotally coupled relative to the suspension components.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,
sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
storing the vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,
sensing with a second sensor the seat belt being fastened,
storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed as a speed incident in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time as a time incident in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance as a distance incident in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration as an acceleration incident in the control module, and
characterized by adjusting the applied resistance during a first incident in proportion to a second vehicle operation mode during the first incident.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first incident is a time incident and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed.
3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first incident is a distance incident and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first incident is a speed incident and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration.
5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by adjusting a first threshold of a first vehicle operation mode in proportion to the number of first incidents.
6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first incidents are speed incidents.
7. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the first incidents are time incidents.
8. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the first incidents are distance incidents.
9. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first threshold is threshold acceleration and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the first incidents are acceleration incidents.
10. A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,
sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
storing vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,
sensing with a second sensor a seat belt being fastened,
storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration, and
characterized by applying the resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to a first vehicle operation mode exceeding a first threshold overriding the response to a second vehicle operation mode exceeding a second threshold.
11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first threshold is threshold speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second threshold is threshold distance.
12. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first threshold is threshold speed and the second vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second threshold is the threshold time.
13. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the first threshold is threshold speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration.
14. A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,
sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
storing vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,
sensing with a second sensor a seat belt being fastened,
storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration, and
characterized by adjusting a first threshold of a first vehicle operation mode in proportion to the proximity of a second vehicle operation mode to a second threshold.
15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second threshold is threshold distance.
16. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second threshold is threshold speed.
17. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold time and the first vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration.
18. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second threshold is threshold time.
19. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second threshold is threshold distance.
20. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold speed and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration.
21. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle speed and the second threshold is threshold speed.
22. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second vehicle operation mode is time of vehicle mobilization and the second threshold is threshold time.
23. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first threshold is threshold distance and the first vehicle operation mode is vehicle distance traveled and the second vehicle operation mode is vehicle acceleration and the second threshold is threshold acceleration.
24. A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle with a resistive device and a control module and sensors to encourage compliance with desired operating conditions, and comprising the steps of;
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator pedal to establish vehicle speed,
applying an operational input of force with an input device to an accelerator to establish time of vehicle mobilization,
sensing with a first sensor the vehicle speed and the time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle distance traveled based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
establishing vehicle acceleration based on vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization,
storing vehicle speed and time of vehicle mobilization and vehicle distance traveled and vehicle acceleration as vehicle operation modes in the control module,
sensing with a second sensor the seat belt being fastened,
storing the seat belt being fastened in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed as a speed incident in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the time of vehicle mobilization exceeding a threshold time as a time incident in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle distance traveled exceeding a threshold distance as a distance incident in the control module,
applying a resistance with the resistive device to the application of the operational input of force to the accelerator pedal in the absence of the seat belt being fastened and in response to vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration,
storing each instance of applied resistance based on the vehicle acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration as an acceleration incident in the control module, and
characterized by increasing said applied resistance in response to a second incident occurring after a first incident and further increasing said applied resistance in response to a third incident occurring after said second incident in the continued absence of the seat belt being fastened.
25. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the first incident is a time incident and the second incident is a time incident and the third incident is a time incident.
26. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the first incident is a speed incident and the second incident is a time incident and the third incident is a time incident.