HINGE FOR AN EYEGLASSES FRAME

Abstract

A frame of eyeglasses lens is described comprising a ring, to accommodate the perimeter of the lens, with two free clampable ends for closing the ring and tightening it around a lens. a temple rod (50) and a hinge for the rod (50) formed by a hooked or curved portion, comprised at an end of the rod (50), configured to slidingly grip onto the outer surface of the first member.

Claims

1. Frame of eyeglasses lens comprising a ring, to accommodate the perimeter of the lens, having an end consisting of two free clampable ends for closing the ring and tightening it around a lens. a first and second member which can be connected to each other to tighten said free ends, wherein the first member is equipped with a slot in which to insert said ends and a surface access shaped so that through it the second member, by only a linear translation along an axis can be inserted inside the first member to reach a position in which it cooperates with said ends to lock the latter inside the slot; a temple rods and a hinge for the rod formed by a hooked or curved portion, comprised at an end of the rod , configured to slidingly grip onto the outer surface of the first member.

2. Frame according to claim 1, wherein said access comprises threaded walls on which a surface thread provided on the second member can be screwed to perform said linear translation of the second element, the second element being a screw or a threaded dowel.

3. Frame according to claim 1, wherein the second member is configured in such a way that, following said only linear translation along said axis, it divaricates said two ends to push them in opposite directions against the inner walls of the first member, or so that, following said only linear translation along said axis, it pushes on said two ends to push them against the inner walls of the first element.

4. Frame according to claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a base from which two parts separated by said slot protrude cantilevered, wherein the slot is delimited by two walls parallel to each other of the two parts, said access being placed at an intermediate point of the two parts separated by said slot and extending inside the first element parallel to said parallel walls towards the center of the first element.

5. Frame according to claim 1, wherein the first member comprises surface facets to give the rod a snap movement when it rotates dragging on the first member.

6. Frame according to claim 5, wherein the facets in the first member are in correspondence with said two parts separated by said slot, wherein the first element comprises a polygonal-base prism divided in half by the slot.

7. Frame according to claim 1, wherein said two parts separated by said slot comprise on the external lateral surface thereof a smooth band that runs all around the first element.

8. Frame according to claim 9, wherein the smooth band and the polygonal-base prism are divided by two circular edges protruding from the external lateral surface of said two separate parts.

9. Frame according to claim 1, wherein the rod comprises a first and second prong so curved that each has a concavity facing the other, thereby forming altogether a structure for rotatably connecting in a sliding manner to the external surface of the first element.

10. Frame according to claim 9, wherein the rod comprises three prongs; a first prong to slide on the band between the two protruding circular edges, and a second and third prong having the same curvature to slide on the facets, the first prong being curved so as to present a concavity facing the curvatures of the second and third prongs.

11. Frame according to claim 1, wherein the free clampable ends are configured so that, when they are attached to each other, they fit together to form an overall pass-through opening, a free end of a prong, in particular said first prong, having dimensions such that it can pass through the pass-through opening when the rod rotates with respect to the first element.

12. Frame according to claim 1, wherein one or more prongs are configured to abut against the end of the ring when the angle between the rod and the front piece comprising the ring is greater than 90 degrees, so as to create an end-of-travel position for the maximum opening angular rotation of the rod.

13. Frame according to claim 2, wherein the second member is configured in such a way that, following said only linear translation along said axis, it divaricates said two ends to push them in opposite directions against the inner walls of the first member, or so that, following said only linear translation along said axis, it pushes on said two ends to push them against the inner walls of the first element.

14. Frame according to claim 2, wherein the first member comprises a base from which two parts separated by said slot protrude cantilevered, wherein the slot is delimited by two walls parallel to each other of the two parts, said access being placed at an intermediate point of the two parts separated by said slot and extending inside the first element parallel to said parallel walls towards the center of the first element.

15. Frame according to claim 5, wherein said two parts separated by said slot comprise on the external lateral surface thereof a smooth band that runs all around the first element

16. Frame according to claim 15, wherein the smooth band and the polygonal-base prism are divided by two circular edges protruding from the external lateral surface of said two separate parts.

Description

[0053] Preferred embodiments of the front piece and hinge of eyeglass will now be described in detail with the help of the attached drawings in which

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view from below of a hinge for eyeglasses;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a different three-dimensional view from above the hinge in FIG. 1 with different opening;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a view as FIG. 2 but with different opening;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a different exploded view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional view from below of a component of the hinge in FIG. 1;

[0060] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the component in FIG. 6;

[0061] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view according to planes IV-IV and VI-VI;

[0062] FIGS. 9-13 show a cross-sectional view of a variant for the fastening of a lens;

[0063] FIGS. 14-15 show three-dimensional views of opposite sides of a component.

[0064] In order not to crowd the figures too much, some references are omitted. Equal numbers indicate equal parts. The following components are described as in use.

[0065] FIGS. 1÷4 show the components of a hinge for eyeglasses, i.e. a rod 50 for the temple, a barrel 60 and the clampable ends 10, 20 of a circle enclosing a lens (not shown).

[0066] Here, as later on, for the invention the rod is optional, because the cooperation between the barrel 60 and the ends 10, 20 is sufficient to form an independent system for tightening the ends 10, 15 However, with the rod 50 the components advantageously cooperate more synergistically to form an advantageous hinge.

[0067] The ends 10, 20 are shaped so as to be able to be overlapped one on the other in a complementary way (see detail in FIG. 4) and avoid the sliding/translation of the ends at the expense of the tightness of the structure. The upper end 10 comprises a notch 12 on the lower edge and a concave surface 14; while the lower end 20 correspondingly comprises a notch 22 and a convex surface 24. When the ends 10, 20 are attached to each other, the notch 12 and the notch 22 match to form overall a pass-through opening 80, and the convex surface 24 leans on the concave surface 14. The convex surface 24 belongs to an arch that defines a recess 26, while a tooth 16 protrudes from the free end of the concave surface 14 in the direction opposite to the end 20.

[0068] The rod 50 comprises a body 56 elongated along an X axis and ending at one end with three curved prongs 52, 54. The two prongs 52 are preferably equal, separated from each other by a certain distance and exhibit a concavity turned towards the third prong 54. The prong 54 is specular to the first two with respect to the body 56 and has a concavity facing them. Each of the prongs 52, 54 is formed by the junction of two linear segments 58 which form a 90 degree angle. Altogether the prongs 52, 54 embrace—like “three prehensile fingers”—a square-plan space S inside which the barrel 60 can be housed snugly.

[0069] The barrel 60 is provided with a pass-through slot 68 which starting from the base divides it in the center into two equal halves joint by an upper portion 64 having a preferably octagonal plan. The slot 68 divides in half a central smooth band 72 and a second octagonal portion 66, with same plan as the first one, placed at the base of the barrel 60. The horizontal margins of the central band 72 are delimited by two protruding edges 70 which run parallel all around the barrel 60, with the function of stiffening the structure and avoid the detachment of the rod 50 from the barrel 60. At the center of the base of the barrel 60, at the axis thereof (see FIG. 6), the slot 68 has a threaded circular widening 72 for receiving with screwing a screw 62 along the axis of the barrel 60.

[0070] The threaded circular widening 72 constitutes a superficial access shaped so that through it the screw 62, by means of only a linear translation along a Q axis, can be inserted inside the barrel 60 to reach a position in which it cooperates with the ends 10, 20 to lock them inside the slot 68.

[0071] The barrel 60 is used to tighten the ends 10, 20 together.

[0072] The ends 10, 20 have the same width as the slot 68 and can be inserted in it when superimposed on each other (FIG. 7). Since the screw 62 has a diameter equal to the width of the recess 26, when it gets screwed into the widening 72 it ends up snugly inside the recess 26, where it prevents the ends 10, 20 from slipping off and pushes them against the portion 64. Such slipping off is also prevented by the interposition of parts created by the tooth 16 which abuts against an internal inclined plane 74 of the portion 64.

[0073] The barrel 60, fixed as described above to the ends 10, 20, can advantageously also be used to connect the rod 50 to the front piece of the eyeglasses.

[0074] The space S surrounded by the prongs 52, 54 corresponds to the volume of the barrel 60, so that they can support the barrel 60. For this purpose the prongs 52 are arranged so as to overlap—and be able to slide on—respectively the portion 64 and 66, and the prong, 54 is arranged so as to overlap—and being able to slide on—the central portion 72 (see FIGS. 1÷ 3 and 5). Thus, when the barrel 60 is inserted into the space S, the prongs 52 support one side thereof and the prong, 54 supports the opposite side.

[0075] When the rod 50 is opened or closed by moving it relative to the front piece (turning the X axis), the prongs 52, 54 slide on the barrel 60 without detaching, thanks also to their elasticity. The polygonal plan of the portions 64, 66 determines facets on the lateral surface of the barrel 60 on which the segments 58 of the prongs 52 can sequentially fit. Therefore the prongs 52 can only slide with snapping on such facets, following a slight manual effort, of the user who moves the rod 50, necessary to slightly widen the prongs 52 when, passing from one face to the other of the portions 64, they have to climb over the common edge. This has the advantage of maintaining the angular position of the rod 50.

[0076] To maximize the useful angle that the rod 50 can sweep, the free end of the prong 54 has such dimensions that it can pass through the opening 80 (FIGS. 2 and 3). This feature has the additional advantage of making the structure of the “closed” eyeglasses more resilient, namely when a deformation during non-use is more likely (e.g. eyeglasses in the pocket). The opening 80 may also have a different position and/or size to let a different prong or several prongs pass at the same time.

[0077] Advantageously the prongs 58 by construction are outside the rod 50 when the assembly is mounted, and they can abut against the outer surface of the ends 10, 20 if the rod 50 is turned excessively. Thus the prongs 58 cooperate with the outer surface of the ends 10, 20 to limit the maximum excursion of the rods 50 when they move away from the front piece.

[0078] Preferably the prongs 52 are made of elastic material (e.g. steel), so that their flexibility can determine a tolerance for the maximum opening of the rod 50, thereby making the structure flexible without compromising its solidity, and increasing the comfort of the wearing or facilitating the act of wearing/removing the eyeglasses from the face.

[0079] FIGS. 9÷15 show the components for a different tightening system for the ends 100, 110 of a ring for lens.

[0080] This system too can be advantageously exploited to add a hinge—not shown in figures. 9÷15—adapted for rotating a rod with respect to the lens-holding front piece, Such hinge may be e.g. as illustrated in the previous figures or even a hinge of a different type.

[0081] The ends 100, 110 are shaped to be able to overlap each other. The upper end 100 comprises a linear tip 102 with a concavity 104. The lower end 110 comprises a linear tip 112 with a concavity 114. The concavity 104 and the concavity 114 are facing opposite directions, while the tips 102, 112 extend parallel to each other.

[0082] When the ends 100, 110 are attached to each other, between the tips 102, 112 there creates an empty space thanks to two facing shoulders 108, 118 made on the tips 102, 112.

[0083] A barrel 160 is externally shaped like the barrel 60, and has a slot 162 that crosses it centrally without dividing it into two equal halves.

[0084] Inside the barrel 160, at the top and bottom edges of the pass-through slot 162, there are two wedges 164 pointing towards the center of the barrel 160.

[0085] In the center of the slot 162 there is a threaded hole or circular widening 172 to receive a screw 190 with screwing.

[0086] The ends 100, 110 have the same width as the slot 168 and can be inserted into it when superimposed on each other (FIG. 11 and FIG. 12). The elasticity of the tips 102, 112 causes the concavities 104, 114 to snap into place against the complementary wedges 164.

[0087] The threaded circular hole or widening 172 constitutes a surface access shaped so that through it the screw 190, by means of only a linear translation along an axis Q2, can be inserted inside the barrel 160 to reach a position in which it cooperates with the tips 102, 112 to spread them apart and lock them into the slot 172.

[0088] In other words, the screw 190 can be screwed into the barrel 160 parallel to the length of the tips 102, 112 until it locates between the tips 102, 112 inside the empty space formed by the shoulders 108, 118 (FIG. 13).

[0089] When the screw 190 is placed inside the empty space between the shoulders 108, 118, it prevents the points 102, 112 from flexing and uncoupling from the wedges 164. Thanks to the mechanical opposition of the screw 190 against the tips 102, 112, the ends 100, 110 remain integral with the barrel 160.

[0090] Note that the illustrated elements can have different shapes or structures, e.g.

[0091] the barrels may be completely cylindrical or with bases 64 with non-octagonal cross-section, e.g. with a circular or hexagonal or square base;

[0092] the front piece is divided into two parts but with the two parts connectable to each other in different way;

[0093] a different number of prongs on the temple rods;

[0094] different shapes for the prongs of the temple rods;

[0095] a different position in the barrel for the threaded hole that houses the screw;

[0096] different configuration of the ends 10, 20. Eg. there may be only one end to be fixed inside the barrel if the front piece is not a lockable ring to mount the lens.