Oakley has spent decades researching and perfecting their innovative Oakley safety glasses.
This research has allowed athletes to achieve performance levels like never before.
As the company was designing and creating durable protection for athletes, a need for safety glasses arose in the defense, health and industrial fields.
In response to this demand, Oakley raised the bar of their designs, and increased protection standards and durability.
Their product line began to include eye protection for excessive impact and laser lights; fire-resistant gloves designed for professional race car drivers; and extreme footwear suitable for combat, extreme weather and motor sports.
The industrial division at Oakley is continually researching and developing new technologies to protect the lives of people who work hard, and play even harder.
The History of Oakley
Jim Jannard, born and raised in Alhambra, California, started the Oakley company after feeling industry standards left much to be desired. After unsuccessfully trying to convince others of his beliefs, Jannard decided to take matters into his own hands.
With only three hundred dollars and a goal to improve the look and functionality of safety products, he started his own company in 1975.
The name of the company was inspired by his pet dog, Oakley Anne. The first product he designed was a new style of hand grips for motorcycles. With only his garage for a lab, he developed a unique shape that allowed riders to grip the handles tighter and a new, slip-resistant tread.
Next was his Oakley 0/20 goggles. This invention took the company out of the garage, and into the spotlight. Racers everywhere were using the O Frame, curved lens goggles.
As the inventions kept rolling out, his employees started calling him the “Mad Scientist”, because his ideas were so innovative. Jim's inventions have garnered him more than 600 patents worldwide. He sold the company in 2007, and walked away as one of the richest people in the world.
Today, Jim Jannard’s creations have become known as a mark of excellence. They are a great example of what develops when you don't compromise on performance and quality.
Oakley Industrial Products
While the company was busy meeting the high demands of the professional athletic world, another industry came knocking. The industrial world was very interested in Jim Jannard's inventions, to apply them for their own uses.
Oakley's protection technology was already being used by soldiers, members of SWAT teams, and others that take their safety very seriously. Workers in other fields, from heavy industry to home repair, all wanted the level of protection these products could provide.
In response, Oakley created their Industrial M Frame. Thoroughly tested, these Oakley safety glasses qualify as real safety glasses. The clarity of the lenses and the impact resistance of the frames meets ANSI Z87.1 standards. The glasses also meet Canada's CSA Z94.3-02 protection criteria standards.
But, there is more to safety than UV and impact protection. In many cases, the most important part about safety is spotting hazards in time to avoid them. This eye protection uses HD optics. This technology allows the Industrial M Frame to surpass industry standards.
It surpassed tests for:
1. Clarity – the HDO technology allows the wearer to maintain visual sharpness, even at great distances.
2. Refractive power – inferior lenses tend to magnify images, making you feel like you are wearing prescription glasses. Refractive power minimizes this affect.
3. Prismatic power – inferior lenses have the tendency to bend light. This makes objects appear distorted, or altered. Prismatic power minimizes this affect, as well
All of these wonderful features come in a great looking, lightweight design that feels as good as it looks. You can comfortably wear them all day.
The unique Oakley 3-point fit holds your lens securely in place with precise alignment. The Unobtainium frame increases the grip, so your glasses stay put.
You can choose the lens to suit your situation:
1. Clear – great for very low light conditions and indoors.
2. Yellow – specially engineered for very low light. Boosts color contrast for enhanced depth perception.
3. Persimmon lens – specially formulated color for enhanced depth perception in low light.
4. Grey – optimizes the ability to differentiate colors in medium to bright light.
Oakley safety glasses provide protection with style. They are peerless in the world of safety glasses.