U.S. patent application number 10/992416 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for hinge for spectacles.
Invention is credited to Richard Louis, Chagny Yves.
Application Number | 20060109419 10/992416 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36460611 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060109419 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yves; Chagny ; et
al. |
May 25, 2006 |
HINGE FOR SPECTACLES
Abstract
The hinge is for use on spectacles of the type comprising a
front frame for carrying lenses and a pair of temples. The hinge
comprises a first attachment device for attaching the hinge to a
corresponding one of the temples, a second attachment device for
attaching the hinge to the frame, a rigid intermediate portion, a
first flexible resilient portion carrying the first attachment
device and attached to the rigid intermediate portion, and a second
flexible resilient portion carrying the second attachment device
and attached to the rigid intermediate portion opposite the first
resilient portion.
Inventors: |
Yves; Chagny; (Rue de champ
de Foire, FR) ; Louis; Richard; (Drummondville,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LESPERANCE & MARTINEAU
1440 WEST
STE-CATHERINE ROOM 700
MONTREAL
QC
H3G1R8
CA
|
Family ID: |
36460611 |
Appl. No.: |
10/992416 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
351/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02C 2200/16 20130101;
G02C 5/2272 20130101; G02C 5/2254 20130101; Y10T 16/526 20150115;
G02C 5/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
351/140 |
International
Class: |
G02C 5/00 20060101
G02C005/00 |
Claims
1. A hinge for use on spectacles of the type comprising a front
frame for carrying lenses and a pair of temples, said hinge
comprising: a first attachment device for attaching said hinge to a
corresponding one of the temples; a second attachment device for
attaching said hinge to said frame; a rigid intermediate portion; a
flexible first resilient portion carrying said first attachment
device and attached to said rigid intermediate portion; and a
flexible second resilient portion carrying said second attachment
device and attached to said rigid intermediate portion opposite
said first resilient portion.
2. A hinge as defined in claim 1, wherein said first resilient
portion and said second resilient portion are made of a polymeric
material having an intrinsic resiliency.
3. A hinge as defined in claim 2, wherein said intermediate portion
comprises a rigid metallic piece extending between said first
resilient portion and said second resilient portion and attached
thereto.
4. A hinge as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flexible
unitary resilient member defining first and second ends and
reinforced with a rigid element fixedly attached to said unitary
resilient member between and spaced from said first and second
ends, with said first resilient portion being defined between said
first end and said rigid element, with said second resilient
portion being defined between said second end and said rigid
element, and with said rigid intermediate portion being defined at
the position of said rigid element.
5. A hinge as defined in claim 1, wherein said first attachment
device and said second attachment device comprise tenon and mortise
joint means for interlock engagement with complementary tenon and
mortise joint means provided on the temple and the frame,
respectively.
6. A hinge as defined in claim 1, further comprising a pair of
grooves each provided on either side of and adjacent said
intermediate portion allowing said first resilient portion and said
second resilient portion to collapse towards and against said
intermediate portion.
7. Spectacles comprising a front frame for carrying lenses over the
nose of a wearer, a pair of temples and a pair of hinges each
linking a corresponding one of said temples to said frame, each of
said hinges comprising: a first attachment device attaching said
hinge to a corresponding one of said temples; a second attachment
device attaching said hinge to said frame, whereby said temple is
hingedly attached to said frame; a rigid intermediate portion; a
flexible first resilient portion carrying said first attachment
device and attached to said rigid intermediate portion; and a
flexible second resilient portion carrying said second attachment
device and attached to said rigid intermediate portion opposite
said first resilient portion; wherein each of said temples can be
pivoted with its corresponding one of said hinges relative to said
frame between a stored position, in which said temple is unbiased
by said hinge and in which said temple is pivoted adjacent to said
frame; an operative position in which said temple is pivoted away
from said frame, is substantially perpendicular to the general
plane of said frame and is biased towards said stored position
under the effect of a first spring-back biasing force exerted by
said first resilient portion and said second resilient portion; and
a spread out position, in which said temple is pivoted outwardly
away from said frame beyond said operative position and is biased
towards said stored position under the effect of a second
spring-back biasing force exerted by said first and second
resilient portions, with said second spring-back biasing force
being greater than said first spring-back biasing force.
8. Spectacles as defined in claim 7, wherein said first resilient
portion and said second resilient portion are made of a polymeric
material having an intrinsic resiliency.
9. Spectacles as defined in claim 8, wherein said intermediate
portion comprises a flexible rigid metallic piece extending between
said first resilient portion and said second resilient portion and
attached thereto.
10. Spectacles as defined in claim 7, further comprising a flexible
unitary resilient member defining first and second ends and
reinforced with a rigid element fixedly attached to said unitary
resilient member between and spaced from said first and second
ends, with said first resilient portion being defined between said
first end and said rigid element, with said second resilient
portion being defined between said second end and said rigid
element, and with said rigid intermediate portion being defined at
the position of said rigid element.
11. Spectacles as defined in claim 7, wherein said first attachment
device and said second attachment device comprise tenon and mortise
joint means engaged interlockingly with complementary tenon and
mortise joint means provided on said temple and said frame,
respectively.
12. Spectacles as defined in claim 7, further comprising a pair of
grooves each provided on either side of and adjacent said
intermediate portion allowing said first resilient portion and said
second resilient portion to collapse towards and against said
intermediate portion.
13. Spectacles as defined in claim 7, wherein said spread out
position of each of said temple forms a large acute angle relative
to said operative position thereof.
14. Spectacles as in claim 13, wherein the optimal value of said
large acute angle ranges between 30 and 60.degree..
15. Spectacles as in claim 14, wherein said optimal value of said
large acute angle is about 45.degree..
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to spectacles, and more
particularly to a hinge for spectacles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known to provide flexible resilient members to link
the temples of spectacles to the front frame thereof. These
flexible resilient members allow a hinged attachment of the temples
to the spectacle frame, thus allowing the temples to be pivoted
between an inward stored position in which the temples extend
parallel to and along the frame, and an operative position in which
the temples extend perpendicularly to and away from the frame to
engage the wearer's head above his ears. The flexible resilient
hinges have the advantage of further allowing the temples to be
pivoted outwardly away from the spectacles frame beyond their
operative position without damaging the hinge. This is useful in
cases where the temples are accidentally moved beyond their
operative position, to prevent the hinge, the temples and/or the
frame from being damaged.
[0003] These resilient hinges also offer a spring-back effect that
will continuously bias the temples towards the respective sides of
the head of the person wearing the spectacles, which helps to
securely hold the spectacles against the wearer's head. Some such
spectacles with temples having this spring-back effect are called
sports glasses due to the fact that they will hold on to the
wearer's head even under sudden movements of the head such as those
that occur during sporting activities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a hinge for use on
spectacles of the type comprising a front frame for carrying lenses
and a pair of temples, said hinge comprising: [0005] a first
attachment device for attaching said hinge to a corresponding one
of the temples; [0006] a second attachment device for attaching
said hinge to said frame; [0007] a rigid intermediate portion;
[0008] a first flexible resilient portion carrying said first
attachment device and attached to said rigid intermediate portion;
and [0009] a second flexible resilient portion carrying said second
attachment device and attached to said rigid intermediate portion
opposite said first resilient portion.
[0010] In one embodiment, said first and second resilient portions
are made of a polymeric material having an intrinsic
resiliency.
[0011] In one embodiment, said intermediate portion comprises a
rigid metallic piece extending between said first and second
resilient portions and attached thereto.
[0012] In one embodiment, said hinge further comprises a unitary
flexible resilient member defining first and second ends and
reinforced with a rigid element fixedly attached to said unitary
resilient member between and spaced from said first and second
ends, with said first resilient portion being defined between said
first end and said rigid element, with said second resilient
portion being defined between said second end and said rigid
element, and with said rigid intermediate portion being defined at
the position of said rigid element.
[0013] In one embodiment, said first and second attachment devices
comprise tenon and mortise joint means for engagement with
complementary tenon and mortise joint means provided on the temple
and the flame, respectively.
[0014] In one embodiment, said hinge further comprises a pair of
grooves each provided on either side of and adjacent said
intermediate portion allowing said first and second resilient
portions to collapse towards and against said intermediate
portion.
[0015] The present invention further relates to spectacles
comprising a front frame for carrying lenses, a pair of temples and
a pair of hinges each linking a corresponding one of said temples
to said frame, each said hinge comprising: [0016] a first
attachment device attaching said hinge to a corresponding one of
said temples; [0017] a second attachment device attaching said
hinge to said frame, whereby said temple is hingedly attached to
said frame; [0018] a rigid intermediate portion; [0019] a first
flexible resilient portion carrying said first attachment device
and attached to said rigid intermediate portion; and [0020] a
second flexible resilient portion carrying said second attachment
device and attached to said rigid intermediate portion opposite
said first resilient portion; wherein each said temple can be
pivoted with its corresponding said hinge relative to said frame
between a stored position in which said temple is unbiased by said
hinge and in which said temple is pivoted adjacent to said frame;
an operative position in which said temple is pivoted away from
said frame, is substantially perpendicular to said frame and is
biased towards said stored position under the effect of a first
spring-back biasing force exerted by said first and second
resilient portions; and a spread out position in which said temple
is pivoted outwardly away from said frame beyond said operative
position and is biased towards said stored position under the
effect of a second spring-back biasing force exerted by said first
and second resilient portions, with said second spring-back biasing
force being greater than said first spring-back biasing force.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In the annexed drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the spectacles according to
a first embodiment of the present invention, showing the temples in
full lines in their operative position, and further showing in
phantom lines the temples in two alternate positions, namely in a
stored and in a spread out position;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the area circumscribed by
circle II of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a partial top and front perspective view of the
spectacles of FIG. 1, including one temple, one hinge and part of
the front frame;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a partial top and rear perspective view at an
enlarged scale of the spectacles of FIG. 1, including one hinge and
the adjacent parts of the front frame and corresponding temple;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge only of the
spectacles, taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, but pertains to an alternate
embodiment of the invention; and
[0028] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge only
of the spectacles of FIG. 6, taken along line VII-VII of FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0029] FIGS. 1-5 show a first embodiment of spectacles 10 according
to the 15 invention, that comprise a front frame 12 for carrying
lenses (not shown), a pair of temples 14, 16 and a pair of hinges
18, 20 each linking a corresponding one of temples 14, 16 to frame
12. Front frame 12 is of a conventional shape, and defines opposite
first and second extremities 12a, 12b, a nose bridge 12c and first
and second lens openings 12d, 12e for carrying selected lenses
therein. Frame 12 may be arcuate, as illustrated, or flat, or other
suitable shape, such that frame 12 forms a general plane adapted to
fit over the nose and ahead of the wearer's eyes.
[0030] Each hinge 18, 20, for example hinge 18 shown in FIGS. 1-3
and 5, comprises a first attachment device attaching hinge 18 to
its corresponding temple 14, in the form of a tenon and mortise
joint means that includes a tenon or cross-sectionally T-shaped lip
22 that engages a complementary tenon and mortise joint means in
temple 14 in the form of a mortise or cross-sectionally T-shaped
slot 24 made in the temple extremity 14a attached to adjacent frame
extremity 12a. It is understood that the tenon and mortise joint
means could be inverted, i.e. the protruding lip could be provided
on the temple and the slot could be provided on the hinge; and more
generally, any other suitable male-female attachment device can be
envisioned including for example any similar male and female
dovetail interlock joint means, of various shapes, or any suitable
adhesive or small bolts, provided they do not hamper pivotal
capability of temple 14 relative to frame 12 about hinge 18 as
above noted.
[0031] Hinge 18 also comprises a second attachment device attaching
hinge 18 to the corresponding extremity 12a of frame 12, in the
form of a tenon and mortise joint means that includes a tenon or
cross-sectionally T-shaped lip 26 that engages a complementary
tenon and mortise joint means in frame 12 in the form of a mortise
or cross-sectionally T-shaped slot 28 made in the frame extremity
12a attached to temple 14. It is understood that the tenon and
mortise joint means could be inverted, i.e. the protruding lip
could be provided on the frame and the slot could be provided on
the hinge; and more generally, any other suitable male-female
attachment device can be envisioned including for example any
similar male and female dovetail interlock joint means, of various
shapes, provided they do not hamper pivotal capability of temple 16
relative to frame 12 about hinge 18 as above noted, or any suitable
adhesive or small bolts.
[0032] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, slots 24, 28
respectively made in temple 14 and frame 12 are opened at the
underside of spectacles 10 and are close-ended, in that they do not
extend for the full height of temple 14 and frame 12. Consequently,
lips 22 and 26 can be upwardly slidably inserted in their
respective slots 24 and 28 from underneath, with lips 22, 26
abutting against the closed ends of slots 24, 28. The engagement of
lips 22, 26 in slots 24, 28 is preferably of the friction fit type
engagement, to prevent lips 22, 26 from accidentally sliding our of
slots 24, 28.
[0033] Hinge 18 also defines a rigid intermediate portion 30, a
first flexible resilient portion 32 carrying lip 22 and a second
flexible resilient portion 34 carrying lip 26. More particularly,
in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, hinge 18 comprises a unitary
resilient member 36 that extends between temple 14 and frame 12,
including lip 22 at a first end and lip 26 at a second end of
resilient member 36. A rigid element in the form of a rigid, flat,
vertical metallic plate 38 is fixedly attached to unitary resilient
member 36 between and spaced from its first and second ends, facing
outwardly of spectacles 10. The first resilient portion 32 is more
particularly defined between rigid plate 38 and the resilient
member first end at lip 22; the second resilient portion 34 is more
particularly defined between rigid plate 38 and the resilient
member second end at lip 26; and the rigid intermediate portion 30
is more particularly defined at the position of rigid plate 38.
Rigid plate 38 is attached to the unitary resilient member 36 by
means of a pair of screws 40 that are driven through resilient
member 36 and into complementary threaded sockets 42 integrally
attached to rigid plate 38 and that extend within holes 44 made
through resilient member 36 (see particularly FIG. 5).
[0034] Hinge 18 further comprises a pair of grooves 46, 48 made in
resilient member 36 and each provided on either side of and
adjacent intermediate portion 30, facing outwardly of spectacles
10.
[0035] It is understood that hinge 20 is a mirror image of hinge
18, and consequently although hinge 20 is not detailed herein, it
is understood that the present description of hinge 18 also applies
to hinge 20.
[0036] In one embodiment, the first and second resilient portions
32, 34, of hinges 18,20, are made of a polymeric material having an
intrinsic resiliency, such as rubber. One material which may be
used is the thermoplastic elastomer sold under the registered
trade-mark FORPRENE, by the company So.F.Ter. Spa located in Forli,
Italy.
[0037] In use, spectacles 10 are assembled by friction-fitting the
lips 22, 26 of hinges 18, 20 into the corresponding temple openings
24 and front frame openings 28 respectively as described
hereinabove, to hingedly attach temples 14, 16 to front frame 12.
More particularly, as suggested in FIG. 1, temples 14, 16 are
hinged to frame 12 in such a way as to allow temples 14, 16 to
pivot between: [0038] a) a stored position shown in phantom lines
at 14', 16' in FIG. 1, in which temples 14, 16, are pivoted towards
and are positioned generally parallel to the general plane of front
frame 12, and in which hinges 18, 20 are in a rest position (shown
in FIG. 5 for example), i.e. hinges 18, 20 do not bias temples 14,
16 towards or away from front frame 12; [0039] b) an operative
position shown in full lines at 14, 16 in FIG. 1, in which temples
14, 16, are pivoted away from and are positioned generally
perpendicular to the general plane of front frame 12 for engaging a
wearer's head over his ears as known in the art, and in which
hinges 18, 20 are in slightly compressed compared to their rest
position and continuously bias temples 14, 16 towards their rest
position due to the intrinsic resiliency of the hinge resilient
portions 32 and 34, thus allowing for a more stable engagement of
spectacles 10 on the wearer's head; and [0040] c) a spread out
position shown in phantom lines at 14'', 16'' in FIG. 1, in which
temples 14, 16, are pivoted outwardly away from their operative
position and yet further away from frame 12, and in which hinges
18, 20 significantly bias temples 14, 16 inwardly towards their
rest position.
[0041] It can be seen that each hinge 18, 20, for example hinge 18
as shown in FIG. 5, is designed to promote the two-tiered biasing
force distribution suggested hereinabove according to the angular
position of its corresponding temple 14. Indeed, in the rest
position of hinge 18, resilient member 36 naturally forms an elbow
with lips 22, 26 extending in divergent directions. Consequently,
if no outside force is exerted on temple 14, it will adopt its
stored position. This is desirable, since having the temples 14, 16
extending along frame 12 in a stored position provides a more
compact shape to spectacles 10 that favors easy storing thereof and
reduces likelihood of accidental damage thereto.
[0042] However, as temple 14 is pivoted away from its rest position
and towards its operative position, resilient member 36 will bend,
mainly at grooves 46, 48 that offer a weaker resistance area on
resilient member 36, with the first and second resilient portions
32, 34 collapsing towards rigid intermediate portion 30. The
latter, being reinforced by rigid plate 38, will not compress.
Thus, a first spring-back biasing force is then exerted on temple
14 by hinge 18, which first spring-back biasing force is calibrated
to offer a desirable inwardly oriented pressure against a person's
head around that person's ears when spectacles 10 are worn.
[0043] It is further desirable to allow temple 14 to be pivoted
further outwardly away from its operative position, for example
into the spread out position shown at 14'', 16''. In such an
angular position of temple 14 outwardly beyond its operative
position, the first and second resilient portions 32, 34 of hinge
18 have collapsed against rigid intermediate portion 30, and the
angular displacement of temple 14 beyond its operative position is
allowed by the compression of first and second resilient portions
32, 34 between the temple extremity 14a and the rigid
plate-reinforced intermediate hinge portion 30. This compression of
first and second resilient portions 32, 34 provides a second
spring-back biasing force which is greater than the above-mentioned
first spring-back biasing force.
[0044] This second spring-back biasing force of greater value than
that of the first spring-back biasing force is desirable to ensure
that temple 14 will move back towards the wearer's head with haste
if it is accidentally pulled away, which is especially advantageous
on sports glasses. However, one would not want such a powerful
spring-back biasing force applied to temple 14 at all times since
it would then become uncomfortable for the wearer of spectacles 10
who would feel considerable pressure against the sides of his head.
Also, allowing temple 14 to pivot outwardly beyond its operative
position into a spread-out position, is desirable since it prevents
hinge 18, temple 14 and/or frame 12 from being damaged or broken if
temple 14 is accidentally pulled outwardly away beyond its
operative position.
[0045] It can be seen that throughout the pivotal displacement of
temple 14 from its operative position towards its spread out
position, the hinge rigid intermediate portion 30 will provide a
seat against which first and second resilient portions 32, 34 may
abut.
[0046] It is understood that grooves 46, 48 are facultative. In the
absence of grooves 46, 48, a resilient member 36 could be designed
having a geometry allowing for a gradual increase of the
spring-back biasing force exerted by hinge 18 as temple 14 is
pivoted away from its stored position. The optimal angular value of
temples 14'', 16'' at their spread-out position is a large acute
angle relative to their operative position 14, 16, generally
perpendicular to frame 12, preferably between 30 and 60.degree.,
and most preferably about 45.degree..
[0047] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present
invention, which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5
except as noted hereinafter.
[0048] In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, spectacles 100 comprise a
hinge 102 linking the temple 104 to the front frame 106. Hinge 102,
similarly to hinges 18, 20 of the first embodiment, comprises a
rigid intermediate portion 108 flanked by first and second flexible
resilient portions 110, 112 located on either side of intermediate
portion 108. First and second resilient portions 110, 112 are
respectively provided with first and second tenon and mortise joint
means 114, 116 that cooperate with respective complementary tenon
and mortise joint means (not shown) provided on temple 104 and on
frame 106 for attaching hinge 102 to temple 104 and to frame 106,
thereby effectively hingedly attaching temple 104 to frame 106.
[0049] According to the second embodiment of the invention, hinge
102 comprises an intermediate portion 108 made from a rigid
metallic piece extending between first and second resilient
portions 110, 112 and attached thereto by means of additional tenon
and mortise joint means 118, 120. Thus, the hinge 102 of the second
embodiment is not made of a unitary resilient member as per the
first embodiment, but rather from a pair of distinct first and
second resilient members that form the first and second resilient
portions 110, 112, and from a rigid metallic piece attached between
and linking the first and second resilient members.
[0050] Similarly to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 105,
grooves 122, 124 may be provided on the outer surface (relative to
the entire spectacles 100) of hinge 102, to facilitate the
resilient pivotal displacement of temple 104 relative to flame 106
between the stored position and the operative position of temple
104. However, when temple 104 reaches its operative position in
which it extends substantially perpendicularly to frame 106, first
and second resilient portions 110, 112 have collapsed and become
seated against rigid intermediate portion 108 to increase the
elastic resistance of any further outward pivotal displacement of
temple 104 beyond its operative position towards a spread out
position.
[0051] It has been found that with either type of the above noted
embodiments of hinges according to the present invention, an
unexpectedly large increase in resistance to wear and in sturdiness
were obtained. Accordingly, eyewear integrating these temple hinges
should be much more longer lasting than prior art eyewear.
[0052] Any further modification obvious for someone skilled in the
art is considered to be included herein, as may be ascertained from
the appended claims.
* * * * *