An Italian physicist named Salvino D’Armate is credited with inventing the first wearable eyeglasses around 1284.
But it’s former Oxford resident John Bovee who will be credited with inventing a device that makes wearing glasses more comfortable and convenient.
On April 28, Bovee, who attended OHS in the 1940s, was granted a patent from the United States government for his invention of eyeglasses with a ‘mid-temple hinge.?
‘I’m kind of elated,? he said. ‘I’d like to see it on the market as soon as possible.?
Basically, this mid-temple hinge allows an eyeglass wearer to move the lenses and frame up and away from the eyes and comfortably seat them on his or her forehead (see photo left).
Bovee, who lives in Waterford, invented these hinged glasses for people who want or need to take their spectacles on and off for one reason or another, but don’t wish to inadvertently break or misplace them.
‘I broke mine twice when I sat on them,? he said. ‘My grandkids broke them once.?
Bovee said many people need to remove their glasses at different times throughout the day for comfort or health reasons.
Constant wearing of eyeglasses can lead to eyestrain, while the weight of the frame can lead to headaches. Pressure from the frame on the nose can lead to nasal congestion and aggravate sinus problems.
‘It’s going to help a lot of people,? said Bovee, a Korean War veteran who’s a member of American Legion Post 108 and AMVETS Post 108, both located in Oxford.
It took Bovee about a year ? from formulating and designing his idea to building an actual prototype ? to make his invention a reality. ‘I’m an engineer at heart,? said Bovee, who’s actually a retired physician.
Bovee began the process of obtaining a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in May 2006. ‘They searched back to the 1800s and there was nothing like this (in their records),? he said.
A Florida-based marketing company is currently in the process of searching for someone to either purchase the rights to manufacture Bovee’s invention and pay him royalties or buy the patent outright.
‘The people I’ve been talking to are excited about it,? he said. ‘With a little luck and some financing, this will grow.?
‘If the price was right, I’d sell it in a heartbeat,? Bovee added.
The mid-temple hinge has the potential to used on both prescription and nonprescription glasses, certain safety glasses and even sunglasses. ‘It’s going to be great with sunglasses going in and out of dark places,? Bovee said.
He plans to market his invention under the name ‘i-PHOCUS.?
‘Kind of catchy, huh??