U.S. patent application number 09/764427 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-26 for support for auxiliary lenses.
Invention is credited to Da Via, Gianmarco.
Application Number | 20010009450 09/764427 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27274259 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010009450 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Da Via, Gianmarco |
July 26, 2001 |
Support for auxiliary lenses
Abstract
Support for auxiliary lenses (11) able to associate auxiliary
lenses (11) with glasses (13) comprising a frame (20) supporting
main lenses (14), for each of said auxiliary lenses (11) said
support (10) comprising at least two attachment elements arranged
along the edge of said lens (11), each of said attachment elements
(16, 15) comprising at least a substantially U-shaped segment
(16a), equipped with elastic means (22) to couple with a lens (11),
at least the attachment elements (16) comprising a hook-shaped
extension (16b) able to anchor itself to the frame (20) of the
glasses (13).
Inventors: |
Da Via, Gianmarco; (Domegge
Di Cadore, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW,
GARRETT & DUNNER, L.L.P.
1300 I Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
27274259 |
Appl. No.: |
09/764427 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60188018 |
Mar 9, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
351/57 ;
351/47 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02C 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
351/57 ;
351/47 |
International
Class: |
G02C 007/08; G02C
009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 21, 2000 |
IT |
UD2000A000007 |
Claims
1. Support for auxiliary lenses able to temporally associate a pair
of auxiliary lenses (11) in removable fashion with glasses (13)
comprising a frame (20) supporting main lenses (14), the support
being characterized in that, for each of said auxiliary lenses
(11), it comprises at least two attachment elements, first (16) and
second (15), arranged distanced from each other along the edge of
said lens (11), each of said attachment elements (16, 15)
comprising at least a segment (16a) shaped substantially like an
upside-down U and equipped with elastic means (22) to mechanically
couple with a relative auxiliary lens (11), at least the first
attachment elements (16) also comprising an extension (16b) shaped
like a hook to anchor itself to said frame (20).
2. Support as in claim 1, characterized in that for each of said
auxiliary lenses (11) it comprises two of said first attachment
elements (16) arranged distanced from each other along the edge of
the relative auxiliary lens (11).
3. Support as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a
bridge (12) able to unite said auxiliary lenses (11), said bridge
(12) being connected to the relative auxiliary lenses (11) by means
of said respective second attachment elements (15).
4. Support as in claim 3, characterized in that it comprises, for
each of said auxiliary lenses (11), one of said second attachment
elements (15) and one of said first attachment elements (16), said
second attachment element (15) also having an extension (16b)
shaped like a hook able to anchor itself to said frame (20).
5. Support as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, for
each auxiliary lens (11), an attachment element, first (16) or
second (15), arranged on the upper edge and at least a first
attachment element (16) arranged on the lateral or lower edge of
the auxiliary lens (11).
6. Support as in claim 1, characterized in that said segment (16a)
shaped like an upside down U defines a cavity (18, 21) inside which
said elastic means (22) are made, said elastic means (22) being
able to be inserted and clamped due to mechanical interference into
a mating cavity (17) made in a corresponding position on the
relative auxiliary lens (11).
7. Support as in claim 6, characterized in that said elastic
mechanical coupling means (22) comprise elastic fin means (122)
able to partly deform and clamp inside said cavities (17) of the
relative auxiliary lens (11).
8. Support as in claim 3, characterized in that said connection
bridge (12) is made of at least partly elastic and flexible
material.
9. Support as in claims 3 and 8, characterized in that said
connection bridge (12) is able to exert on the relative second
attachment elements (15) an elastic thrust which keeps them under
tension in their anchorage position on said frame (20) to which
they are attached.
10. Support as in claim 3, characterized in that said connection
bridge (12), in correspondence with its ends, has an
anti-detachment shape able to cooperate with a mating seating made
in the relative second attachment element (15).
11. Support as in claim 10, characterized in that said
anti-detachment shape is defined by the T-shaped conformation (19)
of said ends of the bridge (12).
12. Support as in claim 10, characterized in that said
anti-detachment shape is defined by lateral knurls (23) or upper
knurls (24) made on said ends of the bridge (12).
13. Support as in claim 3, characterized in that said bridge (12)
has its respective ends which couple with the second attachment
elements (15) curving downwards.
14. Support as in claim 3, characterized in that said bridge (12)
has its respective ends which couple with the second attachment
elements (15) curving upwards.
15. Support as in claim 6, characterized in that said cavities (17)
have an anti-detachment shape mating with the shape of said elastic
mechanical coupling means (22).
16. Support as in claim 15, characterized in that said
anti-detachment shape comprises a T-shaped conformation.
17. Support as in claim 15, characterized in that said
anti-detachment shape comprises at least an enlargement at the
bottom.
18. Support as in claim 15, characterized in that said
anti-detachment shape comprises at least a reduction in the
intermediate section.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns a support for auxiliary lenses,
suitable to be attached to a glasses frame equipped with main
lenses, in order to temporally associate a pair of additional
lenses, for example sun lenses, with said main lenses.
[0002] The support according to the invention allows to assemble
the auxiliary lenses securely and in such a manner as to allow a
plurality of lenses, different in shape and size, to be
coupled.
[0003] Moreover, the support does not require complex equipment to
make it, and allows a personalized production able to satisfy the
clients' specific requirements in an extremely short time and at
very limited cost.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The state of the art includes various attachment and support
devices used to temporally associate a pair of auxiliary lenses,
for example sun lenses, to a glasses frame. These devices generally
consist of a support, or trunk, which substantially defines an
auxiliary frame, with a precise and defined shape, and comprising a
plurality of metal hooks welded thereto and arranged to anchor the
auxiliary frame to the main frame of the glasses.
[0005] Producing a trunk of the type mentioned above entails
preparing the equipment to shape and weld the metal wires, which
requires a long time to prepare and work. Therefore, it is
substantially impossible for producers of this accessory to satisfy
clients' specific requirements in a short time and at reasonable
cost. Moreover, with time, the metal hooks often do not have a
sufficient grip, and repeated operations to assemble/dis-assemble
them can progressively reduce the solidity of the hooks and cause
them to bend or break.
[0006] Even if the hooks are covered with a protective material
they can in any case scratch or damage the glasses frame to which
they are applied.
[0007] Moreover, the welds with which the hooks are attached to the
trunk, or with which the lenses are attached to the bridge, must be
made with extreme care, so they are not visible and do not
compromise the overall aesthetics of the glasses; this entails a
further increase in the production costs.
[0008] Other solutions provide auxiliary attachment elements, such
as screws, rivets, or similar, or use glues to couple the hooks
with the relative lenses. These solutions entail a considerable and
often unsustainable increase in production costs and times for the
supports.
[0009] The present Applicant has devised and embodied this
invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art, and
to obtain other advantages as will be shown hereafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The invention is set forth and characterized in the main
claim, while the dependent claims describe other innovative
characteristics of the invention.
[0011] The main purpose of the invention is to achieve a support
for auxiliary lenses which does not require particular, complex and
expensive production equipment, which will be easy and inexpensive
to make and which can therefore be produced even in small,
personalized quantities according to the clients' requests.
[0012] A further purpose is to achieve a support for lenses which
can be adapted to every type of frame, which will considerably
reduce the risk of scratches or damage to the frame on which it is
applied, and which will remain substantially unchanged with time,
always ensuring high reliability and grip.
[0013] The support for auxiliary lenses according to the invention
comprises first attachment elements arranged on the periphery of
each lens and suitable to anchor themselves to the glasses frame on
which the lenses have to be applied.
[0014] In a preferential embodiment, the support also comprises at
least a connection bridge which, by means of second attachment
elements attached to the respective lenses, unites the two
auxiliary lenses.
[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the second attachment
elements not only have the function of supporting the bridge and
connecting it to the auxiliary lenses, but also of anchoring
themselves to the glasses frame to couple said support for the
auxiliary lenses to the glasses themselves.
[0016] In a preferential embodiment, for every auxiliary lens there
is one of said first attachment elements and one of said second
attachment elements, distanced from each other along the edge of
the lens; the second element, associated with the bridge, is
arranged on the upper part of the lens and the first element is
arranged on the lower part thereof. Advantageously, said two
attachment elements are displaced towards the outer side of the
relative lens.
[0017] According to a variant, there are at least two of said first
attachment elements for every lens, for example one in its lower
part and one in its lateral or upper part.
[0018] The first and second attachment elements are made of at
least partly elastic plastic material.
[0019] According to the invention, each of said first attachment
elements consists of a segment with a section substantially shaped
like an upside down U, able to attach itself to the respective
auxiliary lens, and of a hook-type extension able to anchor itself
elastically to the frame of the glasses on which the auxiliary
lenses are applied.
[0020] The upside down U segment, according to the invention, has
elastic means able to be inserted and mechanically clamped inside a
mating cavity made in the lens, ensuring that the auxiliary lenses
are clamped securely, stably and enduringly, and preventing any
risk of the segment accidentally coming out.
[0021] The second attachment elements are suitable to be mounted
and clamped to the respective ends of the connection bridge, which
has its ends shaped in such a manner as to ensure an indissoluble
connection, which also prevents any risk of the segment
accidentally coming out.
[0022] The connection bridge is advantageously made of plastic or
metal material, preferably of wire, to ensure the desired
elasticity and flexibility of the entire support and to allow the
support to be easily coupled with the frame of the glasses, by
exploiting this elasticity.
[0023] When the second attachment elements also have the function
of anchoring themselves to the glasses frame, the elasticity and
flexibility of the connection bridge reinforces the coupling
between the support for auxiliary lenses and the frame; in fact,
said attachment elements are kept constantly under tension in their
position, thus preventing the connection from loosening, or any
possible accidental detachment.
[0024] According to a variant, the connection bridge is made of
semi-rigid metal material.
[0025] The second attachment elements, when their only function is
to attach the bridge, are substantially shaped like an upside down
U, and in turn have elastic means suitable to be inserted and
mechanically clamped into cavities made in the lenses for this
purpose, in order to ensure an enduring attachment, substantially
preventing any risk of the attachment means accidentally coming
out.
[0026] On the contrary, when the second attachment elements also
function as a coupling between the support for auxiliary lenses and
the glasses, they are substantially identical to the first
attachment means.
[0027] Thanks to the elastic clamping means, it is extremely quick
and easy to assemble the first and second attachment means to the
relative lenses, and no auxiliary equipment or working is
required.
[0028] In a variant, the attachment elements and the lenses, and
the second attachment elements and the bridge, are coupled together
definitively, by using adhesives.
[0029] The support for auxiliary lenses according to the invention
therefore does not provide auxiliary structures of the type with a
metal trunk, such as those known in the state of the art, but
provides to use universal elements, which can be prepared and
assembled in a very short time and at a very limited cost, and then
associated with lenses cut according to the required shape.
Moreover, the support does not provide either complex assembly
procedures, or auxiliary elements such as screws, rivets or
similar; nor does it require holes or threads to couple and attach
the attachment elements to the relative lenses.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] These characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become obvious from the following description of some preferential
forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with
reference to the attached drawings wherein:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a front view of a support for auxiliary lenses
according to the invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a part view of the support shown in FIG. 1
associated with a pair of glasses;
[0033] FIGS. 3a and 3b show respectively, with a prospective view,
the detail A and the detail B of FIG. 1, in the disassembled
condition;
[0034] FIGS. 4a-4c show in section, from above, three embodiments
of the detail of the coupling of the bridge and the second
attachment elements;
[0035] FIGS. 5a-5c show in section, from the side, three
embodiments of the detail of the coupling of the bridge and the
second attachment elements;
[0036] FIGS. 6a-6g show six embodiments of the cavities made in the
auxiliary lenses to couple with the respective attachment
elements;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a prospective view of the attachment elements
according to the invention;
[0038] FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the invention,
respectively from the front and with a prospective view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERENTIAL EMBODIMENTS
[0039] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a support 10 for auxiliary lenses 11 of
the type able to be temporally attached to a pair of glasses 13
equipped with main lenses 14 associated with a frame 20. The
auxiliary lenses 11 may be, for example, of the type for sun
glasses, or special lenses, chromatic lenses, etc.
[0040] The support 10 and the glasses 13 are coupled, in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means of first attachment
elements 16, arranged along the edge of the relative lens 11 and
able to anchor themselves to said frame 20.
[0041] In this case, the support 10 has two of said first
attachment elements 16 for every lens 11, respectively one on the
upper edge and one on the lateral edge of the relative lens 11.
[0042] The first attachment elements 16 are made of at least partly
elastic plastic material.
[0043] It is within the field and scope of the invention to provide
three or more first attachment elements 16 for every lens 11.
[0044] The first attachment elements 16 comprise a segment 16a
shaped substantially like an upside down U defining a cavity 18
able to be inserted and mechanically clamped, as will be seen
hereafter, in a mating cavity 17 made in the relative lens 11, and
a substantially horizontal extension 16b terminally shaped like a
hook.
[0045] The extension 16b is able to hook onto a relative segment of
the frame 20 to clamp the support 10 to the glasses 13.
[0046] The support 10 also comprises a connection bridge 12 able to
unite the two auxiliary lenses 11; the bridge 12 is made
preferentially of metal or plastic material at least partly elastic
and flexible to facilitate the operations to attach/detach the
support 10 to/from the glasses 13.
[0047] At the ends of the bridge 12 respective second attachment
elements 15 are associated; these are shaped substantially like an
upside down U and define a cavity 21 able to cooperate with a
mating cavity 17 made in the lens 11. The second attachment
elements 15 are also made of at least partly elastic plastic
material.
[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second
attachment elements 15 not only have the function of supporting the
bridge and coupling it with the auxiliary lenses 11, but also as an
attachment to the frame 20 of the glasses 13. In this case, the
second attachment elements 15 are substantially identical in
configuration to the first attachment elements 16.
[0049] The preferential embodiment of the invention provides in
this case that, for every auxiliary lens 11, the support 10 has a
second attachment element 15 with the double function of supporting
the bridge 12 and as an anchorage to the frame 20, and a first
attachment element 16, distanced from the second attachment element
15 and arranged, for example, along the lower edge of the lens 11,
towards the outside thereof.
[0050] Using the second attachment elements 15 also as an anchorage
to the frame 20 not only further reduces the number of pieces
needed to produce the support 10, but also increases the stability
of the coupling of the support 10 to the frame 20. In fact, the
flexibility and elasticity of the bridge 12, exerting an action of
elastic thrust against the respective attachment elements 15, keeps
them under tension in their position, and hence prevents them from
loosening and relaxing.
[0051] Inside the respective cavities 18 and 21, the first 16 and
second 15 attachment elements have elastic mechanical attachment
means 22 able to be clamped inside the cavities 17 of the lenses
11; the cavities 17 in turn have a shaped conformation such as to
ensure a stable anchorage which does not require further auxiliary
elements, such as screws or suchlike.
[0052] In the solution shown in FIG. 7, the elastic attachment
means 22 consist of fins 122 able to cooperate with the
substantially T-shaped conformation of the cavity 17. By exploiting
the elasticity of the material, the fins 22 are forced inside the
T-shaped cavities 17, partly deforming and clamping themselves
inside, in a stable manner so that they cannot accidentally come
out.
[0053] On this point please see FIGS. 5a-5c too.
[0054] It is obvious that instead of the T shape, the cavities 17
can be of other shapes, and some examples are shown in FIGS.
6a-6g.
[0055] The cavities 17 shown in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6g have a hole 17b
which allows a pin element or similar, which is included on the
attachment element 15, to be inserted; in FIG. 6a the hole 17b is
round and is associated with a lead-in hollow, whereas in FIG. 6g
the hole is square; the cavity 17 shown in FIG. 6b has a step-like
enlargement at the bottom, whereas the cavity 17 shown in FIG. 6c
has a gradual enlargement; the cavity 17 shown in FIG. 6d has
lateral knurls, the cavity 17 shown in FIG. 6e has a circular
enlargement at the bottom while the cavity 17 shown in FIG. 6f has
an intermediate narrowing of section.
[0056] It is also obvious that for every different shape of the
cavities 17 the elastic means 22 will have a mating shape so that
they can be inserted and mechanically clamped inside thereof.
[0057] To ensure a substantially indissoluble mechanical anchorage,
suitable to prevent accidental detachment, the bridge element 12
has its respective ends equipped with an anti-detachment shape
cooperating with the respective second attachment element 15.
[0058] Examples of these shapes are shown in FIGS. 4a-4c.
[0059] In FIG. 4a, the end of the bridge 12 is substantially shaped
like a T 19.
[0060] By exploiting the elastic deformability of the material
which constitutes the second attachment element 15, the T-shaped
end of the bridge 12 can be inserted into a mating seating made for
this purpose in the base thickness of said element 15; once it has
been inserted, it is substantially impossible for the end to
emerge, thanks to the T-shaped coupling.
[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4b, at its end the bridge 12
has knurls 23 made laterally, while in the embodiment shown in FIG.
4c it has knurls 24 made on the upper part; the knurls are suitably
oriented forwards so as to allow insertion but to mechanically
prevent extraction once the coupling is achieved.
[0062] The shaping of the terminal segment of the bridge 12 may be
straight, as in FIG. 5b, or slightly curving downwards (FIG. 5a) or
upwards (FIG. 5c), both for aesthetic reasons, for example to
distance the bridge 12 from or bring it nearer to the lenses 11,
and also to further reinforce the coupling between the bridge 12
and the second attachment elements 15.
[0063] To achieve the support 10 it is therefore sufficient to cut
the auxiliary lenses 11 to size, according to the desired shape,
and then to mechanically apply thereto the first attachment
elements 16 and the bridge 12 by means of the relative second
attachment elements 15.
[0064] The elements 12, 15 and 16 can be of the substantially
universal type, and the assembly procedures are extremely simple,
quick and economical; consequently, the support 10 can be produced
in a very short time, with limited costs and therefore also for
extremely limited and personalized quantities.
[0065] Obviously, modifications and variants may be made to the
invention, but these shall remain within the field and scope of the
invention as defined by the attached claims.
* * * * *