Optical filtering element

Claim 2

A substantially solid, dry, substantially transparent optical filter element which absorbs, on the average, from about 10% to about 99%, and transmits, on the average, from about 90% to about 1% visible radiation having wavelengths in the range of about 400 nm to about 700 nm including: optical means, said optical means including at least one substantially discrete fluorescent means having two opposed surfaces, said fluorescent means including fluorescent material which is substantially stable and which has the ability to absorb transversing visible radiation of one or more wavelengths which is incident on one surface of said fluorescent means and then to emit visible radiation from its opposed surface, substantial amounts of said emitted radiation being at different wavelengths than the radiation absorbed, said fluorescent means being of a thickness of no greater than about 1 mil (0.0254 mm) between its opposed surfaces so that the incident side of said fluorescent means does not scatter, reflect or emit substantial amounts of radiation; and non-fluorescent optical means substantially parallel and in light transmitting optical relationship to said optical means.

Claim 3

The optical filter element of claim 1 wherein the stable fluorescent material is selected from the group of dyes consisting of light stable oxazine, light stable carbazine and light stable carbopyronin represented by the following generic structural formula: ##STR3## wherein: R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , and R 6 each represent a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom; a lower alkyl radical; a lower alkoxy radical; a lower alkyl radical containing one solubilizing substituent from among the group --SO 3 H, --COOH, --OH, and --NH 2 ; and R 1 and R 10 , R 2 and R 3 , R 5 and R 4 , and R 6 and R 7 each represent a pair of atoms which, when taken together, represent the carbon atoms necessary to complete a fused 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heterocyclic ring; R 3 , R 4 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 each represent a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom; a lower alkyl radical; a lower alkoxy radical; an aryl group; a halogen atom; and R 7 and R 8 , and R 9 and R 10 each represent a pair of atoms which, when taken together, represent the carbon atoms necessary to complete a fused 5- and 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; Z- represents an anion; A represents an atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen; sulfur; and selenium; B represents a member selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl radical; a thiol radical; a selenol radical; and an amine radical; D represents a member selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom; a sulfur atom; a selenium atom; and a carbon atom with two additional substituents each being a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom; a lower alkyl radical; an alkoxy radical; a thioalkyl radical; C-1 and C-5 of 3-oxo-1, 4-pentadiene; and C-2 and C-6 of 4-oxo-3, 5-dimethyl-2, 5-heptadiene; E represents a member selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen atom; a phosphorous atom; a carbon atom with one additional substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom; a lower alkyl radical; a one to three ring aryl radical; a heterocyclic ring; C-2 of a benzoic acid radical; and C-2 on the aromatic ring of an ethyl benzoate radical.

Claim 4

The optical filter element of claim 2 wherein the stable fluorescent material is cresyl violet perchlorate having a structure and formula of: ##STR4## wherein Z - is C10 4 -

Claim 5

The optical filter element of claim 3 wherein said non-fluorescent means is means for tinting said element.

Claim 6

The optical filter element of claim 4 wherein said fluorescent perchlorate having a structure and formula of: ##STR5## wherein Z is C10 4 - .

Claim 7

The optical filter element of claim 5 wherein said tinting means is yellow.

Claim 8

The optical filter element of claim 2 wherein the stable fluorescent material is nile blue A perchlorate having a structure and formula of: ##STR6## wherein Z is C10 4 - .

Claim 9

The optical filter element of claim 7 wherein said non-fluorescent means is means for tinting said element.

Claim 10

The optical filter element of claim 1 wherein the stable fluorescent material is oxazine 170 perchlorate having a standard chemical name of: 9-ethylamino-5-ethylimino-10-methyl-5H benzo(a)phenoxazonium perchlorate.

Claim 11

The optical filter element of claim 9 wherein said non-fluorescent means is means for tinting said element.

Claim 12

The optical filter element of claim 1 wherein said non-fluorescent means is means for tinting said element.

Claim 13

The optical filter element of claim 11 wherein said tinting means is yellow.

Claim 14

The optical filter element of claim 12 wherein said tinting means renders said optical filter element yellow, yellow-green, green, green-grey or grey.

Claim 15

The optical filter element of claim 12 wherein said non-fluorescent means renders the visible light absorption characteristics of said element more uniform across the visible spectrum than it would be with only said fluorescent means.

Claim 16

The optical filter element of claim 1 wherein said fluorescent means includes substantially only light stable fluorescent material and wherein non-fluorescent tinting means are present in combination with said optical filter element, but separate from said stable fluorescent material.

Claim 17

The optical filter element of claim 1 wherein said non-fluorescent means is means for polarizing light.

Claim 18

The method of making the optical filter element of claim 1 including the steps of: dissolving said fluorescent means and a compatible non-interfering solvent; and then forming said combination into an optical element.

Claim 19

The optical filter element of claim 1 wherein said optical means further includes a transparent substrate having two opposed surfaces, said transparent substrate and fluorescent means being substantially parallel and in light transmitting optical relationship to one another.

Claim 20

The optical filter element of claim 18 wherein said fluorescent means is present as a coating on at least one surface of said transparent substrate.

Claim 21

The optical filter element of claim 19 wherein said fluorescent means includes substantially only light stable fluorescent material and wherein non-fluorescent tinting means are present in combination with said optical filter element, but separate from said stable fluorescent material.

Claim 22

The method of making the optical filter element of claim 19 including the steps of: dissolving said fluorescent means in a non-interfering solvent; and then coating said solution on at least one surface of said transparent substrate.

Claim 23

The method of claim 21 wherein a non-interfering light transmitting binder material is combined with said dissolved fluorescent material prior to coating.

Claim 24

The optical filter element of claim 18 wherein said fluorescent means is present as a film associated with at least one surface of said transparent substrate.

Claim 25

The optical filter element of claim 23 wherein said fluorescent means includes substantially only light stable fluorescent material and wherein non-fluorescent tinting means are present in combination with said optical filter element, but separate from said stable fluorescent material.

Claim 26

The optical filter element of claim 18 wherein said fluorescent means is present as a substantially discrete layer imbibed in one surface of said optical element.

Claim 27

The optical filter element of claim 25 wherein said fluorescent means includes substantially only light stable fluorescent material and wherein non-fluorescent tinting means are present in combination with said optical filter element, but separate from said stable fluorescent material.

Claim 28

The method of making the optical filter element of claim 25 including the steps of: dissolving and combining said fluorescent means and a non-interfering light transmitting binder material in a non-interfering solvent; casting said solution on a surface; drying said cast solution to form a film; removing said film from said surface; and then associating said film with said transparent substrate.

Claim 29

The method of claim 27 wherein said fluorescent means is dichroic and wherein said film is stretched uniaxially to form a light polarizing sheet.

Claim 30

Human eyewear wherein the optical portion of said eyewear includes the optical means of claim 1.