HK1105686B - Spectacles - Google Patents

Description

Glasses

The present invention relates to eyeglasses and eyeglass frames and their components, which may be screw-free in the hinge mechanism.

The prior art has disclosed different solutions for the hinge mechanism on spectacle frames. One of the most popular solutions is based on a hinge mechanism, in which pins are provided on the spectacle frame or spectacle lens frame, which pins cooperate with corresponding hinge parts provided at the end of the spectacle frame side of the spectacle arm in such a way that the two parts are nested into one another and are connected rotatably by means of special screws. In most spectacle frames, in particular spectacle frames intended for use with correction lenses, the opening and closing of the spectacle frame is carried out by means of a so-called locking piece for inserting or replacing the spectacle lenses. It is also conceivable for the lenses to be fastened directly to a spectacle frame by screwing screws directly into the lenses. The glasses legs of the glasses without the glasses frames are directly connected with the lenses by screws through accessories.

Since the rotary hinge (Drehgelenk) is subjected to very strong dynamic loads during the working life of the spectacles, various solutions no longer use the conventional rotary hinge for the sake of simplicity.

For example, US patent nr.3,155,982 proposes spectacles in which the temple directly cooperates with the front, lens-retaining frame part. For this purpose, the spectacle-frame-side end of the spectacle arm is divided into three leaf springs, the middle leaf spring resting against the outer edge of the spectacle-frame part, and the two outer leaf springs are inserted with hooks formed on their ends into holes provided in the vicinity of the outer edge in the main part. A disadvantage of the hinge construction described in US3,155,982 is that the temples are only loosely connected to the frame, so that it is easy to happen that: the temples are disengaged from the frame, for example when the glasses fall to the ground.

Another spectacle hinge solution, which also works with a spectacle arm provided with three leaf springs, is proposed by Haffmans and Gottschling in european patent document nr.0863424b 1. The connecting element has an upper and a lower bore, which form a hinge axis extending perpendicularly to the direction of the pivoted temple. In the pivoted-out state of the temple, the two outer leaf springs of the temple, starting from the face of the connecting element facing the face of the person wearing the glasses, pass through the opening of the connecting element with the curved portion provided on the free end thereof and then rest against the face of the connecting element facing away from the face of the person wearing the glasses, while the middle leaf spring rests over its entire length against the face of the connecting element facing away from the face of the person wearing the glasses. Here, the connecting element is divided into two parts, thereby allowing for easy replacement of the lenses. In order to stabilize the use of the catch, the catch can be slipped over a separate connecting element. However, this mechanism has the disadvantage that the insertion of the temple is difficult, since the outer leaf spring and the intermediate leaf spring must be guided past the mutually opposite surfaces of the connecting element, wherein the spring action must be reversed and the end curvature has proven to be in the process a hindrance. Furthermore, there is a risk of the temple being detached from the connecting element under small mechanical stress, in particular when the hinge is small in size.

French publication FR2779241 discloses a spectacle frame with a spectacle hinge which is realized in that a pin is provided at the spectacle-frame-side end of the spectacle arm, which pin engages in a recess of a connecting unit on the spectacle frame, wherein a web of the connecting unit overlaps the spectacle-frame-side end when the spectacle arm is pivoted. However, such a hinge does not ensure a secure retention of the temple in the event of an excessively high mechanical load.

US3,458,866 describes safety glasses in which the temple has a substantially vertical slot into which a lateral connecting element of the frame is rotatably snapped. The front end of the temple surrounds the connecting means. This design, as is common in safety glasses, should allow easy and quick attachment and detachment of the temples and is therefore not suitable for optical glasses.

Based on the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide an eyeglass frame which makes it possible to mount the temple simply and in which the temple is made difficult to detach itself when the eyeglasses are subjected to mechanical loads.

This object is solved by a spectacle frame having the features of claim 1 or 3, and a spectacle frame according to claim 16 and a spectacle arm according to claim 17.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

Thus, the core of the invention is: the temples of the spectacle frame each have three leaf springs running essentially parallel in their longitudinal direction at their spectacle-frame-side end, wherein the outer leaf springs of the three leaf springs have hinge elements at their ends which are arranged relative to the hinge elements of the connecting unit in such a way that, when the temples are pivoted in, they pivot over a seat of the connecting unit or out of the plane of the connecting unit. In this case, according to the invention, the substantially flat connecting unit is designed such that it tapers toward the temple behind the hinge element, wherein the narrowing section forms a seat for the central leaf spring of the three leaf springs of the respective temple when the temple is folded in.

The structure has the advantages that: all three leaf springs can be placed on the face of the connecting unit facing away from the face of the spectacle wearer so as to form a common flat end region. Furthermore, since both the outer leaf spring and the intermediate leaf spring rest on the outside of the connection unit, a simple assembly is possible, since these leaf springs do not have to run past the opposite side of the connection unit.

Although the leaf springs jointly rest on one face, the construction of the spectacle frame according to the invention with the hinge element arranged on the outer leaf spring can constitute a spring mechanism supporting the swinging in or out of the spectacle arm.

The spring mechanism is thus obtained; that is, the central leaf spring is supported on a narrowed section of the connecting unit, which extends in the direction of the temple and thus forms the abutment, while the outer leaf springs of the three leaf springs have the hinge element. Here, the maximum width of the middle leaf spring may coincide with the width of the holder.

In order to form a rotary hinge, the temples have hinge elements in the form of loops on the outer leaf springs, while corresponding pivot pins are provided on the connecting unit. Thus, when the temple is mounted, the pivot pins of the connecting unit are fitted into the surrounding portions of the leaf spring.

In a further embodiment, the pivot pins of the connecting unit are configured substantially conical, so that they are received rotatably in opposite, concave bearing bushes arranged on the outer leaf springs.

The connecting element may be divided over its entire length into an upper strip and a lower strip. The separation line of the connection unit extends through the spectacle frame up to the spectacle lens. Thereby, it is made possible to easily replace the spectacle lens, since the rim of the spectacle frame can be bent away in a simple manner with the temples removed, thus enabling access to the spectacle lens.

The strips can also be secured against bending relative to one another by means of a loop which can be fitted to the connecting element corresponding to the temple before the temple is attached, in order to achieve additional stability.

In a further embodiment of the spectacle frame according to the invention, the outer leaf springs are designed such that they exert a spring force which acts essentially opposite in the direction of the hinge axis in order to hold the outer leaf springs and the hinge elements of the connecting unit in a pivotable but anti-slip connection.

In addition, the spring action exerted by the outer leaf spring acts to clamp the strips together and to secure the spectacle lens in the corresponding section of the spectacle frame in a fall-off-proof manner. These leaf springs can be pulled apart from each other in a simple manner against their elastic action in order to disengage the temples from the connection unit and to make the spectacle frame easily accessible for replacing the spectacle lenses.

According to the invention, the length of the leaf spring and the length of the bearing are selected such that the spring action is sufficient on the one hand to achieve a secure connection of the temple and the hinge element of the connection unit and on the other hand the leaf spring action of the central leaf spring of the temple is sufficient to maintain the temple in its pivoted-out state. In addition, in the embodiment with two strips of the connecting unit, the length of the respective component is selected such that, in addition, the spring action is sufficient to achieve a holding together of the two strips of the connecting unit.

All the parts of the spectacle frame according to the invention can be produced in a preferred embodiment as stamped or cut parts made of sheet metal, which are then also bent into the desired final shape. It is also conceivable to use titanium as the material for the individual components.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a spectacle frame and a spectacle arm of the spectacle frame according to the invention in the swung-out state of the spectacle arm;

fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the spectacle frame and the spectacle arms of the spectacle frame according to the invention in the swung-in state of the spectacle arms;

fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a portion of a spectacle frame in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a part of a spectacle frame of the invention.

The spectacle frame mainly comprises a spectacle frame 1 and spectacle legs 2. The temple 2 has three leaf springs 3,4 and 5 extending in parallel at its frame-side end, namely two outer leaf springs 3 and 4 and a central leaf spring 5.

The spectacle frame 1 has a connecting unit 6 on each side, which extends in the direction of the spectacle arm 2. The connecting element 6 is divided into an upper strip 7 and a lower strip 8.

As can be seen in fig. 3, the separation line extends in the spectacle frame 1 as far as the spectacle lens not shown here. If the temple 2 is removed, the rim of the spectacle frame 1 is easily opened by bending the strips 7 and 8 apart so that the spectacle lens can be inserted or replaced.

The upper and lower strips 7, 8 each have a pivot pin 9, which form a pivot axis in an overlapping manner. In the mounted state, these pivot pins 9 are fitted in the loops 10 provided on the outer leaf springs 3 and 4, respectively.

As can be seen from fig. 3, the temple 2 is fastened to the connecting unit 6 in a simple manner by pulling the outer leaf springs 3 and 4 apart and fitting them onto the pivot pin 9. The resilient action of the outer leaf springs 3 and 4 towards one another causes the loop 10 to snap-off but rotatably on the pivot pin 9, thereby additionally fixing the upper and lower strips 7 and 8 to one another in a flexurally rigid manner.

The connecting unit 6 has a section which tapers in the direction of the temple 2 behind the pivot pin 9 and forms a sheet-like support 11.

As can be seen in fig. 1, in the pivoted-out state, the central leaf spring 5 rests on the surface of the support 11 facing away from the spectacle wearer. When the temple is swung in, as shown in figure 2, the intermediate leaf spring 5 rests on said seat 11 so as to constitute a resilient mechanism.

The support 11 has the same width as the central leaf spring 5 and is shaped here such that the outer leaf springs 3 and 4 can move unhindered over the support 11 when the temple 2 is swung in.

Claims (16)

1. Spectacle frame with a left and a right spectacle leg (2) each, and with a spectacle frame (1) with a left and a right connecting unit (6) each, the ends of which on the spectacle leg side point in the direction of the spectacle leg (2) in the swung-out state, wherein the spectacle legs (2) have three leaf springs (3, 4, 5) on their spectacle frame side ends, respectively, the sheet surfaces of which extend substantially in the plane of the connecting unit (6) in the swung-out state of the spectacle leg (2), and hinge elements (9) are provided on the connecting unit (6), which cooperate with hinge elements (10) provided on the two outer leaf springs (3, 4) of the three leaf springs, forming a rotary hinge, characterized in that: the essentially flat connecting unit (6) tapers in the direction of the temple (2) after the hinge element (9), wherein the narrowing of the connecting unit (6) forms a seat (11) for the central leaf spring (5) of the three leaf springs of the respective temple (2) when the temple (2) is pivoted in.

2. The spectacle frame according to claim 1, wherein the hinge elements (10) are arranged on the outer leaf springs (3, 4) relative to the hinge elements (9) of the respective connecting unit (6) in such a way that the outer leaf springs (3, 4) of the temples (2) move past the abutments (11) of the connecting unit (6) when the respective temples (2) are swung in.

3. Spectacle frame having a left and a right spectacle leg (2) each, and having a spectacle frame (1) having a left and a right connecting unit (6) each, the ends of which on the spectacle leg side point in the direction of the spectacle leg (2) in the pivoted-out state, wherein the spectacle leg (2) comprises three leaf springs (3, 4, 5) at its spectacle frame side end, the faces of which extend substantially in the plane of the connecting unit (6) in the pivoted-out state of the spectacle leg (2), hinge elements (9) are provided on the connecting unit (6), which form a rotary hinge with a hinge axis in cooperation with hinge elements (10) provided on two outer leaf springs (3, 4) of the three leaf springs, and each connecting unit (6) is designed such that it forms a receptacle (11) for the middle leaf spring (5) of the three leaf springs of the respective spectacle leg (2) when the spectacle leg (2) is pivoted, the method is characterized in that: the essentially flat connecting unit (6) tapers in the direction of the temple (2) after the hinge element (9), and the hinge element (10) is arranged on the outer leaf spring (3, 4) relative to the hinge element (9) of the corresponding connecting unit (6) in such a way that the outer leaf spring (3, 4) of the temple (2) moves past the abutment (11) of the connecting unit (6) after the hinge axis opposite the eyeglass frame (1) when the corresponding temple (2) is pivoted in.

4. The frame for spectacles according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hinge elements of one connecting unit (6) are formed by two pivot pins (9).

5. The frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein there are provided, on the outer leaf springs (3, 4) of the temples (2) corresponding to the connecting elements (6), loops (10), into which loops (10) the pivot pins (9) of the connecting elements (6) fit.

6. The frame for spectacles according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hinge elements of a connecting unit (6) are formed by two bearing pins.

7. The frame according to claim 6, wherein bearing bushes are provided on the outer leaf springs (3, 4) of the temples (2) corresponding to the connecting elements (6), into which bearing pins of the connecting elements fit.

8. The frame for spectacles according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting element (6) is consecutively divided into a top strip (7) and a bottom strip (8).

9. The frame according to claim 8, wherein the separation line of the connection unit (6) extends through the spectacle frame (1) up to the spectacle lens received by the spectacle frame.

10. The spectacle frame according to claim 9, wherein a ferrule is fitted on the connecting element (6) before the temple (2) is connected to the connecting element (6).

11. The holder according to claim 3, wherein all the parts are made of sheet metal or titanium.

12. The spectacle frame according to claim 3, wherein the outer leaf springs (3, 4) exert a spring action essentially in the direction of the hinge axis, which spring action keeps the spectacle leg (2) and the hinge element (9, 10) of the connecting unit (6) in a rotatable and anti-slip connection.

13. The holder according to claim 12, wherein the elastic action consists in: the elastic force exerted by the one outer leaf spring (3 or 4) acts in the direction of the other outer leaf spring (4 or 3).

14. The spectacle frame according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the length of the leaf springs (3, 4, 5) of the temple (2) and the length of the abutment (11) are selected such that the spring action is sufficient to achieve a snap-proof connection of the temple (2) and the hinge element (9, 10) of the connecting unit (6), and the leaf spring action of the middle leaf spring (5) of the temple (2) is sufficient to hold the temple (2) in its swung-in state.

15. The frame for spectacles according to claim 14, wherein the length of the leaf springs (3, 4, 5) of the temple (2) and the length of the abutment (11) are chosen such that the spring action is sufficient to achieve that said upper and lower strips (7, 8) of the connecting element (6) are held together and the leaf spring action of the middle leaf spring (5) of the temple (2) is sufficient to hold the temple (2) in its swung-in state.

16. Spectacle frame for receiving spectacle lenses, having connection units (6) arranged on the left and right, respectively, for rotatably fixing a spectacle arm (2) by means of a hinge element (9) arranged on the connection units (6), characterized in that: the connecting elements (6) are designed essentially flat and each extend in the direction of the temple (2), wherein the connecting elements (6) taper to a section after the hinge element (9), wherein the narrowed section serves as a support (11) for the temple (2) when the temple (2) is pivoted in.