Removable elastic hinge for eyeglass frames

Abstract

An elastic hinge for eyeglasses includes: a box-shaped housing with an inlet aperture; a fork carriage, slidably mounted in a guiding cavity inside the box-shaped housing opposing an elastic element; and an elastic holding clip, snap-engageable with a retaining structure of the housing cavity, against which one end of the elastic element abuts. The elastic holding clip is generally C-shaped, providing a resting arm and a flexible arm joined by a connecting portion, the flexible arm having an engaging unit to snap-engage with the retaining structure, the resting arm and flexible arm elastically biased one towards the other by inner walls of the housing. The flexible arm is integral with at least one bias element, accessible from an inlet aperture of the housing, defining bias planes to be engaged with a tool, introduced via the inlet, for imparting a disengaging bias, bending the flexing arm towards the resting arm.

Claims

1. An elastic hinge for eyeglasses comprising a component including a box-shaped housing (1) provided with an inlet aperture, a fork carriage (2), slidably mounted in a guiding cavity inside said box-shaped housing (1) in opposition to an elastic element, elastic holding clip (4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13), snap-engageable with a retaining structure (1b) of said housing (1) cavity, against which one end of said elastic element abuts, wherein said elastic holding clip has a generically C-shaped shape, which provides at least a resting arm (4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 9b, 10b, 11b, 12b, 13b) and a flexible arm (4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) joined by a connecting portion (4f, 5f, 6f, 7h, 9i, 10i, 11f, 12f), said flexible arm being provided with engaging means (4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) configured to snap engage with said retaining structure (1b), said resting arm and flexible arm being elastically biased one towards the other by inner walls of said housing (1), wherein said flexible arm (4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) is integral with at least one bias element, accessible from an inlet aperture of said housing (1), which defines bias planes (4e, 4d, 5e, 5d, 6e, 6d, 7e, 7d, 9e, 9d, 10e, 10d, 11d, 12d, 13d) to be engaged with a tool, introduced via said inlet, for imparting a disengaging bias configured to cause said flexible arm to bend towards said resting arm.

2. The elastic hinge of claim 1, wherein said bias planes (4e, 4d, 5e, 5d, 6e, 6d, 7e, 7d, 9e, 9d, 10e, 10d, 11d, 12d, 13d) are transversal to the bending plane of said flexible arm.

3. The elastic hinge of claim 1, wherein said engaging means (4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) are in the shape of an edge tooth of said flexible arm.

4. The elastic hinge of claim 1, wherein said elastic holding clip (4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) is obtained from cut and folded metal sheet.

5. The elastic hinge of claim 4, wherein said at least one bias element is in the shape of at least one side ear (4d, 4e, 5d, 5e, 6d, 6e, 7d, 7e, 9d, 9e, 10d, 10e) which projects orthogonally to said flexible arm on a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said holding clip.

6. The elastic hinge of claim 5, further comprising at least one release cut-out on said resting arm (4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 9b, 10b, 11b, 12b, 13b) or on said at least one side ear (4d, 4e, 5d, 5e, 6d, 6e, 7d, 7e, 9d, 9e, 10d, 10e).

7. The elastic hinge of claim 6, wherein said at least one release cut-out results in the resting arm (9b) being split into two thin elements joined through said connecting portion (9i) to side portions (9e, 9d) provided with upper edges (9e, 9d) which define said bias plane.

8. The elastic hinge of claim 1, wherein said resting arm projects with a front tab (4c, 5c, 6c) configured to close a front part of said elastic holding clip.

9. The elastic hinge of claim 1, wherein said elastic holding clip (11, 12, 13) is obtained from a solid body with a generic C shape.

10. The elastic hinge of claim 1, wherein said elastic holding clip (4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) is furthermore provided with at least a side flap (4f, 4f, 5f, 5f, 6f, 6f, 7f, 7f, 9f, 9f, 10f, 10f, 11f, 11f) configured to be inserted into at least one side cut-out (2w) obtained on at least one of the two opposite sides of said carriage (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) However, further characteristics and advantages of the clip according to the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments, given by way of example and illustrated on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an interrupted perspective view of a flexible hinge with fork carriage being mounted on a temple and front end piece of an eyeglass frame;

(3) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a carriage, comprising an elastic element and a holding clip according to a preferred variant of the invention;

(4) FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the carriage of FIG. 2A;

(5) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hinge of FIG. 1;

(6) FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views, from different points of view, of an elastic holding clip according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 4C is a view of the holding clip, longitudinally sectioned, of FIG. 4B;

(8) FIG. 4D is an elevational side view of the holding clip of FIG. 4A;

(9) FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views, from different points of view, of an elastic holding clip according to a second embodiment of the invention;

(10) FIG. 5C is an elevational side view of the holding clip of FIG. 5A;

(11) FIG. 5D is an elevational front view of the holding clip of FIG. 5A;

(12) FIG. 5E is a perspective view of a shaped metal sheet from which the holding clip of FIG. 5A is obtained;

(13) FIGS. 6A-6D are similar views to FIGS. 5A-5D of a third embodiment of the invention;

(14) FIGS. 7A-7D are similar views to FIGS. 5A-5D of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

(15) FIG. 7E is a perspective view of the holding clip, longitudinally sectioned, according to the fourth embodiment;

(16) FIGS. 8A-8C are partial sectional views of a hinge according to the invention which illustrate a disassembly sequence;

(17) FIGS. 9A and 9B are similar views to FIGS. 5A-5B of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

(18) FIG. 9C is a longitudinal sectional view of the holding clip of FIG. 9A;

(19) FIG. 9D is a top plan view of the holding clip of FIG. 9A;

(20) FIGS. 10A-10D are similar views to FIGS. 9A-9D of a sixth embodiment of the invention;

(21) FIG. 10E is a plan view of a shaped metal sheet from which the holding clip of FIG. 10A is obtained;

(22) FIGS. 11A-11D are similar views to FIGS. 9A-9D of a seventh embodiment of the invention;

(23) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a holding clip according to an eighth embodiment of the invention; and

(24) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a holding clip according to a ninth embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(25) FIGS. 1-3 shows a flexible hinge for eyeglasses of the type having a fork carriage. In the context of the present application, the term fork carriage aims to designate any carriage terminating in the front part with at least one pair of separate and parallel hinging eyelets: the two eyelets are then integral with corresponding prongs of a thin U-folded carriage body, or they can converge towards a common carriage body obtained with other techniques but provided with a suitable central housing for an elastic element.

(26) In FIG. 1 the whole hinge is well represented in its final arrangement: it is comprised of a female component F of the hingehaving the shape of a fork with a through hole, integral with a front end piece T of a frame of a pair of eyeglassesjoined in rotation, by means of a pivoting pin V, with a relative male M component of the hinge integral with a temple A of the frame.

(27) The male component of the hinge comprises a box housing 1 and a carriage, indicated with 2 as a whole, intended to slide within a guide seat formed in the housing 1, as better disclosed below. The housing 1 has an inlet mouth through which the carriage 2 enters and exits in longitudinal direction.

(28) According to the technique disclosed in IT 1414611, the carriage 2 presents, for example, a general arrangement like a fork with two prongspreferably obtained from a cut and U-shaped metal sheetat the free ends of the two prongs being formed two eyelets 2a and 2b, wherein two aligned holes 2a and 2b are made, whose centers determine the axis of rotation of the hinge.

(29) Between the two parallel prongs of the U-shaped carriage, an elastic element 3 is installed, for example a coil spring, constrained, on one hand, resting on a bottom portion 2c of the U-shaped carriage (in the area where the carriage body forms an end curved section) and, on the other hand, to a holding clip 4 which is made integral with the guiding seat of the housing 1 of the carriage 2.

(30) In a manner known per se, the holding clip 4 has a shape which yields elastically, by collapsing, when inserted in the seat of the housing 1; once inserted into the seat, the holding clip 4 deploys elastically and causes an engagement portion thereof to abut against the wall of the seat of the housing 1, preventing it from being extracted in the opposite direction.

(31) For this purpose, it is typically constituted by at least a flexible arm provided with an engagement portion and an opposite resting arm, which abuts on an inner wall 1a of the housing, for elastically loading the holding clip itself. In fact, in the natural state of the holding clip, the flexible arm, on which the engagement portion is carried, has a certain divergence with respect to the resting arm, divergence which is compressed when the holding clip 4 is inserted and forced into the cavity of the housing 1. Because of this mounting compression, the elastic holding clip 4 is loaded elastically, with the flexible arm being then stressed away from the resting arm: this mechanism ensures that the engagement portion is snapped up, and held therein forcibly, inside a holding seat 1b opposed to the abutment wall 1a.

(32) Normally, as shown in the accompanying figures, the abutment wall 1a is constituted by the bottom wall of the guiding cavity of the box-shaped housing 1 and the holding structure 1b has a shape of a recess or a step provided in the opposite vault wall of the same cavity.

(33) The engagement portion of the holding clip 4 is in the form of a tab or tooth provided with an abutment edge, facing the exit direction of the carriage 2 from the housing 1: the engagement portion engages with the holding structure 1b and keeps the holding clip 4 locked in position; in this way, the holding clip 4 holds the elastic element 3, preventing the carriage 2 from being completely removed from the housing 1.

(34) For its operation, the elastic holding clip 4 has typically a generic C-shaped configuration, with an upper arm and a lower arm joined together by a connecting portion. The upper arm constitutes the flexible arm carrying the engagement portion, while the lower arm constitutes the resting arm. The ends of the two upper and lower arms are directed towards the inlet of the housing 1, so that the holding clip can close (bringing the upper and lower arms close each other) when it is inserted into the housing 1. The compression of the C-shaped configuration, obtained by inserting the holding clip 4 inside the housing 1, produces the elastic expansion reaction which holds the engagement portion into the holding structure 1b. In other words, by means of the connecting element between the flexible arm and the resting arm the elastic reaction is transferred, which is pushing the two arms apart from one another.

(35) According to the invention, the elastic holding clip 4 has also at least a bias portion, rigidly integral with the flexible arm, on which it is possible to intervene from the entry inlet of the housing 1, in order to exert an action opposite to the elastic stress which pushes the engagement portion in the holding structure 1b.

(36) Typically, the bias portion is determined by at least one plane land, transverse to the bending plane of the flexible arm of the holding clip 4 and arranged in the front part of the holding clip, in an area falling near the inlet of the housing 1.

(37) In this context, with front part or end it is meant the inlet side of the housing 1. Up and down, right and left, refer to the orientation of the attached figures, even if they are not intended as absolute terms because an elastic hinge can take any orientation in space, once it is mounted on the frame of a pair of eyeglasses.

(38) FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a first embodiment of the holding clip according to the invention. The holding clip is obtained from a strip of a sheet (of elastic material, typically metal) cut and folded so as to define a generic C shape. An upper branch constitutes a flexible arm 4a, provided with an end edge 4a forming the engagement portion. A lower branch constitutes a resting arm 4b and preferably has two resting areas 4b and 4b, spaced longitudinally, between which it is provided a fold which enhances the flexibility of the holding clip. At its front end, the resting arm 4b projects with an end tab 4c which rises perpendicularly to close the front part of the holding clip 4.

(39) According to the teaching of the invention, from the flexible arm 4a, two side ears 4d and 4e extend towards the bottom, which extend forward with two upper edges 4d and 4e which lie at a lower level with respect to the end edge 4a of the flexible arm. The upper edges 4d and 4e define a bias plane, transversal to the bending plane of the arm 4a (which coincides with the plane of the proper sheet of FIG. 4D), on which a tool can act (for example, the flat tip of a screwdriver). As can be seen in the figures, the edges 4d and 4e are at a lower level of the end edge 4a, so that the bias plane is visible from the inlet mouth of the housing 1 and therefore can be reached by a tool inserted through the inlet of the housing 1.

(40) The action of the tool on the bias plane makes it possible to apply a moment R (FIG. 4D) which, through the side ears, cause bending of the flexible arm 4a towards the resting arm 4b, collapsing the holding clip and then disengaging the engagement portion 4a from the holding structure 1b of the housing.

(41) Preferably, from the rear side 4f of the holding clip two opposite side tabs 4f and 4f depart, said tabs having suitable widths and heights to be inserted in lateral cut-outs 2w formed on the two fork sides of the carriage 2.

(42) FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate a second embodiment of the holding clip according to the invention. Elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 4A-4D have the same references, except that in this case they have base 5.

(43) In this case, the lower resting arm 5b has an extension tab 5c which extends with a further curved portion 5c which terminates in contact below the flexible arm 5a (as can be clearly seen in FIG. 5C). Through appropriate sizing and folding of the various components, starting from a shape of metal sheet like that shown in FIG. 5E, it is possible to arrange the end of the curved portion 5c so that it elastically pushes against the flexible arm 5a, i.e. it tends to oppose coming closer of the resting arm 5b. With this arrangement a further elastic bias is obtained, which is useful for making effective the snap engagement of the engagement portion 5a in the holding structure 1b of the housing 1.

(44) For the remaining part, this embodiment has elements which correspond to those of the first embodiment.

(45) FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate a third embodiment of the holding clip according to the invention. Elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 4A-4D have the same references, except that in this case they have base 6.

(46) In this case, the resting arm 6b has a very pronounced curve (as can be seen in FIG. 6C) and a longitudinal cut-out 6w, which has the purpose of lightening the resting arm and increasing its flexibility and ability to bear the fold.

(47) For the remaining part, even this embodiment has elements which correspond to those of the first embodiment.

(48) FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate a fourth embodiment of the holding clip according to the invention. Elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 4A-4D have the same references, except that in this case they have base 7.

(49) In this case, the holding clip is obtained by folding a metal sheet mainly around a longitudinal axis of the holding clip, rather than around a transverse axis as in the previous embodiments. Also in this case, a flexible arm 7a provided with an engagement portion 7a, is provided with two side ears 7e and 7d which descend parallel and join each other on the front side. The side ears 7e and 7d have upper edges 7e and 7d which define a bias plane. However, this embodiment provides that the lower resting arm 7b projects from one of the two side ears 7d, by means of a short connecting portion 7h. The bending stress of the holding clip, between the flexible arm 7a and the resting arm 7b, is thus transferred through the side ear 7d and the connecting portion 7h (instead of through the rear side, as in the previous embodiments).

(50) For the remaining part, even this embodiment has elements which correspond to those of the first embodiment.

(51) FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate an extraction sequence of a carriage from the housing 1, which shows the operation of a holding clip according to the fourth embodiment of the invention (being understood that, for the other embodiments, the operation is similar).

(52) When the hinge is mounted, the carriage 2 is completely inserted into the housing 1 and the elastic holding clip 7 is elastically expanded, bringing the engagement portion into the recess 1b of the housing 1, thus determining its locking in position. One end of the spring 3 abuts against the holding clip 7, while the other end is engaging with the bottom portion 2c of the carriage 2.

(53) Due to the arrangement of the holding clip according to the invention, it is possible to insert the flat tip of a screwdriver C (FIG. 8A) through the inlet of the housing 1 and rest it on the bias plane of the holding clip. Levering the vault of the housing, the tip of the screwdriver C can be rotated in direction C1 so as to rotate the front end of the holding clip with a moment according to the arrow R. In this way, the flexible arm is brought to come closer to the resting arm, overcoming the elastic reaction, so as to release the engagement portion from the holding structure 1b of the housing. Once the engagement portion is completely out of the holding structure 1b, it is possible to withdraw the carriage from the housing through the inlet (direction E in FIG. 8B).

(54) According to the preferred embodiment, the elastic holding clip remains then engaged on the carriage 2 by means of the opposed side tabs, which are guided into the cut-outs 2w and held therein by the action of the elastic element 3.

(55) The preassembled unit consisting of carriage 2, holding clip and elastic element 3 can be completely withdrawn from the housing 1 without any component becoming detached and lost.

(56) FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate a fifth embodiment of the holding clip according to the invention. Elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 4A-4D have the same references, except that in this case they have base 9.

(57) This embodiment is manufactured essentially with the same technique as the fourth embodiment, but in this case the holding clip body is completely symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane. The resting arm 9b is split into two thin elements which are joined, by means of bending elements 9i, with side portions 9e and 9d provided with upper edges 9e and 9d defining the bias plane. The bending elements 9i constitute elastic connections between the lower resting arms 9b and the upper flexible arm 9a. The bending elements 9i constitute elastic reaction elements of the holding clip, through which it is exerted and performed an elastic reaction force which opposes to the coming closer of the flexible arm to the resting arm.

(58) For the remaining part, even this embodiment has elements which correspond to those of the first embodiment.

(59) FIGS. 10A-10E illustrate a sixth embodiment of the holding clip according to the invention. Elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 4A-4D have the same references, except that in this case they have base 10.

(60) In this embodiment, the resting arm 10b is elastically connected to the flexible arm 10a by means of a bending element 10i which projects from the front part of a side ear 10e. The bending element 10i has at least a pair of folds which amplify the elastic flexibility of that part of the plate, so as to ensure an elastic stress which is sufficient to push the flexible arm 10a in an opposite direction to the resting arm 10b. FIG. 10E shows the shape of a cut metal sheet, before bending.

(61) For the remaining part, even this embodiment has elements which correspond to those of the first embodiment.

(62) FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate a seventh embodiment of the holding clip according to the invention. Elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 4A-4D have the same references, except that in this case they have base 11.

(63) In this and in the following embodiments, the holding clip is no longer obtained from a folded metal sheet, but from a suitably machined solid bodypossibly made from a profiled bodyor by means of other technologies such as metal injection molding (MIM) from metal powders or micro-injection.

(64) A resting arm lib projects from a rear base portion 11f and defines two resting points 11b and 11b. A flexible arm 11a projects from the upper part of the rear base portion 11f and has an engagement portion shaped as a step 11a. In this variant, from the flexible arm 11aa single protrusion 11d projects in the front direction, defining a stress plane 11d.

(65) With this typical C-shaped configuration, the elastic reaction elementas for the first embodimentsis represented by the connecting portion between the two arms, i.e. the rear base portion 11f.

(66) FIGS. 12 and 13 show similar variants of a solid body holding clip, wherein various machining processes are applied to suitably exploit the generic C-shaped configuration and to obtain the desired elastic effect, an effective intervention ability for the tool and cost-effective manufacture.

(67) As it is understood from the above detailed description, the solution of the invention allows to fully achieve the desired results.

(68) The holding clip according to the invention, in fact, can be manufactured simply and in a cost-effective manner by means of various technologies, depending on the advantage or specific geometry chosen: either starting from a cut and then folded metal strip, or from a solid profile, or by means of the MIM or micro-fusion technology. Its shape allows to define a reduced transversal size, so as to obtain a hinge for eyeglasses having a reduced width.

(69) The C-shaped structural arrangement offers significant elasticity to achieve the desired snap-lock function in the seat of the housing. The C-shaped arrangement does not necessarily require that all the components of the holding clip must be aligned on the same plane or that there is an axial symmetry, but it implies the presence of two opposite branches (flexible arm and resting arm), connected to each other by means of a connecting element through which efforts are transferred from one branch to the other.

(70) At the same time, the inverse bending capacity, supplied by the presence of a bias plane integral with the flexible arm, allows to cause partial collapsing of the holding clip acting through the inlet of the box-shaped housing, so as to disengage the holding clip and to withdraw the carriage.

(71) The operation of the holding clip and the possibility of extraction of the carriage are obtained regardless of the intervention and therefore the state (which could also be faulty) of the coil spring 3.

(72) The additional presence of the side tabs, suitable to establish a mutual engagement between the holding clip and the carriage, allows to exploit the holding clip also to assemble a stable product (preassembled unit formed by carriage+spring+holding clip) which can be easily handled both during assembly and during the withdrawal step of the carriage, for the benefit of operators who have to intervene even without having specific equipment.

(73) It is however understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated above, which represent only non-limiting examples of its scope, but that numerous variants are possible, all within the reach of a skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

(74) For example, although in the figures the bias plane is always defined by flat surfaces, it is understood that it could be represented by the rim edge of a hole. For example, a longitudinal hole in a portion of the flexible arm, which can be reached from the inlet mouth, allows to insert a pointed tool and to exert a lever effect as indicated in FIG. 8A: in this case, the edge of the hole constitutes what has been defined in the disclosure as a bias plane.

(75) Moreover, it is not excluded that the same holding clip can constrain a pair of elastic elements instead of a single coil spring, arranged for example one above the other so as not to negatively affect the transverse size.

(76) Furthermore, the carriage can also have more than two eyelets, provided that the holding clip is accessible from the inlet mouth of the sliding cavity of the housing 1.

(77) Finally, although a fork carriage having two side portions has been illustrated, the teaching of the invention can also be applied to a box-shaped carriage, wherein the holding clip is in any case accessible by a tool which is inserted from the inlet of the housing.