CVI™ debuts its first generation of glasses, renamed CVs™, today on Indiegogo, www.igg.me/at/ChangingEyewear.com. The unique design of CVs helps to solve the age old question "where did I put my glasses?"
When not in use, CVs collapse to a convenient size that is easy to keep on a retractable reel or in their custom holster. The glasses also come with a small microfiber bag that fits easily in a purse or pocket. The compact size is a result of our unique design of TempleRest™ technology that allows the CVs' sides to gently rest on the temples versus over the ear.
The TempleRest is manufactured from a special memory polymer and its goal is to promote comfort and provide the stability to keep CVs in place. Combine the TempleRests with a specially designed hinge in the bridge of the CVs and they fold into the perfect size when not in use.
By connecting the CVs to a retractable reel, which can clip to your shirt pocket, collar, ID lanyard, or inside pocket of your jacket, the age old question and frustration becomes a thing of the past. The reel is attached by a simple snap and can be removed as needed. A "retract" button on the reel holds them close at hand when you are not wearing them.
If you don't want to use the reel, they have a custom designed holster that clips to your belt, or you can simply slip them in your pocket.
The initial release will include three frame styles in three colors and lenses ranging in strength from 1.0 to 2.5.
CVI founder Robert Rochford, a 28 year veteran of the United States Navy, designed CVs out of a need to resolve the frustration associated with making reading glasses more convenient.
"What I am presenting to you was born out of frustration," Rochford said. "Our goal is to revolutionize not only how you wear eyewear, but how you carry them with you."
When asked about where the concept originated, "Look at the glasses that Ben Franklin wore. Do they look familiar? He invented bifocals over 200 years ago and yet the basic design of glasses themselves is still the same! To solve this problem, I knew that we needed to reinvent glasses altogether."
The company has completed the prototyping and now seeks support through crowdfunding on the Indiegogo.com website. When they reach their 100% funding goal, they will move from prototyping to production capacity.
"The needed funds will support the high quality injection molds to produce the anticipated volume needed and manufacturing infrastructure to succeed right out of the gate," explained Rochford. "We decided to start with Reader CVs™, but are excited to have Sun CVs™ that are for everyone and don't have a prescription, out before Christmas."
Most people who use reading glasses have reached a point in their lives, normally around the age of 40, where their ability to read newspapers, books, or a computer screen becomes hampered as their eyes can't focus up close anymore. However, because reading glasses are not normally worn all of the time, there is a moment of frustration when you find yourself somewhere that your glasses are not.
CVI's challenge was to combine the usefulness of glasses with the convenience of having them with you when you don't need them. Rochford recalls the driving force behind their design was based on the aggravation of reading glasses not being handy.
Rochford said, "I don't remember how many times I left the house without glasses only to find that I can't read the menu because the font is too small or at the supermarket struggling to read a label. Or how about just trying to read or send a text message from your cell phone."
Engineers at CVI overcame two obstacles. First, how do you keep CVs with you without wearing them around your neck on a chain while still keep them close at hand. The second issue that needed to be addressed; the size of traditional glasses don't collapse into a convenient size.
The most common solution today is folding eyeglasses. They have numerous folding mechanisms to open and close them, tend to be flimsy, and are bulky enough that they are difficult to carry.
Folding the glasses was indeed part of the solution, but they challenged the basic paradigm of how glasses are designed and worn today. The result would need to effortlessly collapse and be "at the ready" when you didn't need them; and they would be with you when you did need them.
"I hate to have to walk across the room, up the stairs, out to the car, or borrow someone else's glasses from the next table over just to read something," smiles Rochford while wearing a pair of CVs.
The size of CVs, when closed, was key to the overall design and in particular, how the sides were designed. But size was not the only consideration. Stability of the CVs when worn is in large part due to the technical design and the dimensions of the TempleRest. The gentle spring action of its memory polymer provides just enough pressure to gently hold them in place. When you combine the stability of the TempleRest with the specially designed hinge in the bridge, CVs collapse with very little help.
In addition to significantly changing the size of the glasses when folded, TempleRest technology also fundamentally changes the comfort of wearing glasses. The long arms that stick over your ears hour after hour can be bothersome so they removed the arms.
The final element to solve the "convenience conundrum" is the retractable reel. The reel attaches to the side of the TempleRest by use of a simple snap, which can be removed as needed. On the back of the reel is a pressure clamp that can be slid onto just about anything you're wearing. When the user pulls the CVs away from the reel, the nylon cord remains out until the "retract" button is pushed. When not needed the reel holds the CVs in place. If the wearer doesn't want to use the reel, CVs can be easily stored in their custom designed holster that clips to your belt or in their microfiber bag and slipped in your pocket.
Rochford added, "Our engineers are in the process of redesigning the reel to offer additional attachment options and to improve the overall aesthetics. We expect this to be out sometime early next year."
The change from traditional over the ear glasses to CVs that rest on the temples is most certainly new, and based on the level of interest and the trending towards convenience in today's gadget savvy world, CVs are a welcomed revolutionary change to the norm.
