WO2023126109A1

WO2023126109A1 - Eyeglasses component and its production method

Info

Publication number: WO2023126109A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/083051
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio BORSOI; Diego NICOLIS; Dino MICHELON; Elena MAZZON
Original assignee: Luxottica SRL
Current assignee: Luxottica SRL
Priority date: 2021-12-29
Filing date: 2022-11-23
Publication date: 2023-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-29

Abstract

An eyeglasses component (1), comprising at least one thermoformed polymeric film (2) adapted to act as a support for at least one electronic/electrical and/or magnetic component (3) and is adapted to be at least partially injection-overmolded in order to cover the eyeglasses component.

Description

EYEGLASSES COMPONENT AND ITS PRODUCTION METHOD

The present invention relates to an eyeglasses component and a production method thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to an eyeglasses component that is provided with at least one electronic or electric or magnetic component, and a corresponding production method thereof.

As is known, so-called "electronic eyeglasses" incorporate within them, in the temple, in the front, or in both, electronic/electrical components which need to be fixed in some way inside the eyeglasses component (temple and/or front).

The fixing of such components must take account of the steps of injection molding during which the electrical/electronic component must not be subjected to stress or damage.

Furthermore, for example for eyeglasses fitted with a cable of the flex type, which is normally positioned inside a seat obtained inside the temple/front of the eyeglass frame by way of a first molding and covered by a second molding, a method is required that, in addition to being expensive due to the double molding, also has an impact on the dimensions of the front.

As is known, flex cable is a flexible support on which conducting tracks and/or electronic/electrical components can be placed, and which makes it possible to connect, electrically and/or for data exchange and/or power supply, the various different parts of the eyeglass frame (temples, front).

Even furthermore, applying electronic parts inside an eyeglasses frame entails the need for an increase in space and/or in the thickness of the frame, in both cases with negative consequences from an aesthetic point of view.

In this case too, therefore, there is the need to find solutions that make it possible to contain the increase in thickness and/or the space occupation of the frame so as to make it as similar as possible to a “traditional” frame, even though it contains electronic components.

Another example of eyeglasses components that accommodate an electronic or electric component is the case of a frame that accommodates an acoustic chamber or a corresponding loudspeaker.

In this case, there is an impermeable membrane which is necessary in order to protect the loudspeaker.

The solution currently used consists of adhesive bonding of the membrane directly onto the structure of the temple of the eyeglasses. This configuration, although it may appear simple, is in reality difficult to apply in that, in order to prevent wear or the user from peeling the membrane away from the structure of the temple, the membrane must be positioned inside the temple. It is therefore necessary to create a region inside the temple that respects the adhesive bonding spaces, with drawbacks from the point of view of overall space occupation of the temple and difficulty of assembly.

Furthermore, the design of this adhesive bonding region must be combined with the design of the acoustic chambers and the positioning of the loudspeaker.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an eyeglasses component that accommodates an electronic, electric or magnetic component inside it, and a production method thereof.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an eyeglasses component that makes it possible to accommodate the electronic, electric and/or magnetic component stably and firmly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an eyeglasses component wherein the electronic, electric and/or magnetic component is supported within the eyeglasses component, in order to prevent the subsequent step of injection molding from causing an unwanted displacement thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an eyeglasses component that is highly reliable, easily and practically implemented and of low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by an eyeglasses component, characterized in that it comprises at least one thermoformed polymeric film adapted to act as a support for at least one electronic/electrical and/or magnetic component and adapted to be at least partially injection- overmolded in order to cover said eyeglasses component.

The above aim and objects are also achieved by a method for providing an eyeglasses component, characterized in that it comprises a step of providing a thermoformed plastic film that is adapted to be injection overmolded with polymeric material, said at least one thermoformed plastic film being adapted to be covered at least partially by said injection- overmolded material.

Even more advantageously, the step of partial injection overmolding can be followed by other steps of injection molding and injection overmolding for aesthetic and/or functional purposes.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the eyeglasses component according to the invention, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention in a first step of production;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention in a second step of production;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention in a final step of production;

Figure 4 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 6 is an additional perspective view of the second embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is another additional perspective view of the second embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a side view of a third embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line X- X of Figure 8 of the third embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 15 is a side view of the fifth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 16 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15 of the fifth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 17 is an additional perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 19 is a side view of the sixth embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 20 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention;

Figure 21 is a side view of the seventh embodiment of the eyeglasses component according to the present invention.

With reference to the figures, the eyeglasses component according to the present invention, in a first embodiment thereof in which it provides an eyeglasses temple, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting element 2 made of thermoformed plastic film which is adapted to act as a support for at least one electronic/electrical and/or magnetic component and to be partially injection-overmolded with a plastic material.

The thermoformed plastic film material 2 is a film that can act as a support for electronic, electrical or magnetic components, as will be described below.

For example, the reference numeral 3 indicates an electronic component that is glued with an adhesive 4 onto the thermoformed film 2 and the assembly obtained is inserted into a die in order to perform an injection overmolding of polymeric material.

The thermoformed plastic film 2 thus acts as a support for fixing the electronic component 3 during the step of injection molding.

Figure 3 shows the eyeglasses temple at the end of the step of injection overmolding.

In a variation, the electronic component 3 is embedded in a protective layer of material or, optionally, also an additional layer of thermoformed plastic film 2. The goal is to facilitate the injection process and to protect the electronic component 3 from the injection itself.

In a second embodiment, indicated by the reference numeral 10, the eyeglasses component is an eyeglasses frame or front 11 or temple, which has inside it a cable of the flex type 12 for allowing data and/or power to flow.

In this case, the cable of the flex type 12 can be fixed on a thermoformed plastic film inside the front 11 , in order to pass through the hinges so as to make the connection between the two temples and the front.

In an alternative embodiment, the cable or circuit of the flex type 12 does not pass through the hinges, and the current is transmitted via rivets directly through the hinges to the electronic/electrical components.

In this manner the double molding described previously is avoided, thus reducing costs and the space occupation necessary for the connection between the front and the temples.

The flex cable 12, previously mounted on a thermoformed plastic film, can be arranged inside the front and/or inside the temples, so that the flex cable 12 is covered on one side by the thermoformed plastic film 12 and on the other side by the polymeric material that is injected.

Alternatively, the thermoformed plastic film with the flex cable 12 supported on it can be arranged between two layers of injection-molded material.

In a third embodiment, indicated by the reference numeral 20, when the eyeglasses component is a temple 21 and the electronic component 3 is to be accommodated inside the temple, without there being any increase in thickness of the temple, the thermoformed plastic film 2 is only partially injection-overmolded, in some regions leaving only the layer 2 of thermoformed polymeric film, which becomes a structural element. In these regions, the dimension of the wall is reduced to the thickness of the thermoformed polymeric film 2 alone.

In this manner the thickness of the temple can be reduced to the minimum, thus reducing its volume and rendering it aesthetically pleasing, in that it resembles a conventional temple which does not accommodate electronic components.

In a fourth embodiment, generally designated by the reference numeral 30, the thermoformed polymeric film 2 has, glued on it, a membrane 31 which serves to seal an acoustic chamber 32 in which a loudspeaker 33 is accommodated inside the structure of the temple 34, which is injected onto the thermoformed polymeric film 2.

In this manner the interior design of the temple 34 is divorced from the application of the membrane, which is in fact supported by the thermoformed polymeric film 2.

In a fifth embodiment, a temple, indicated by the reference numeral 40, the thermoformed polymeric film 2 supports sensors of a various nature, such as by way of example: acoustic sensors, pressure sensors, capacitive sensors, light sensors and other sensors all of which are commonly known in the state of the art. Such sensors can be made accessible from the outside by way of a contoured opening provided on the thermoformed polymeric film 2 in order to facilitate their correct operation. Such sensors can also be accommodated in a dedicated seat.

In such fifth embodiment, there can be a LED and/or a light- emitting element 41 in a region of the thermoformed polymeric film 2 that will therefore not be injection overmolded with polymeric material.

In this manner, regardless of the fact that the thermoformed polymeric film or layer 2 is made semi-transparent, entirely transparent or entirely opaque, the light emitted by the LED and/or by a light-emitting element 41 will pass through the thermoformed polymeric film 2 and will be visible externally by virtue of the reduced thickness of the thermoformed polymeric film 2. As a function of the opacity and/or selective transparency at determined regions of the thermoformed polymeric film 2, it will be possible to display particular logos, shapes and/or geometries on the frame (see Figure 17).

In a sixth embodiment, again showing a temple, generally designated by the reference numeral 50, there is a solar-activated element 55 (e.g. a flexible solar panel) in order to support the operation of the device.

Finally, a seventh embodiment, again showing a temple, generally designated by the reference numeral 60, has a thermoformed polymeric film 2 on which at least one magnet 51 is positioned, and preferably a pair of magnets 51, which will then be injection-overmolded and covered by the injection-molded material 53. The magnets 51 will in this way be invisible but will still exert their force of attraction through the thin layer of thermoformed plastic film 2.

As seen, the thermoformed plastic film 2 can act as a support for an electronic, electrical or magnetic component, making it possible to partially or completely injection-overmold the thermoformed polymeric film 2, without chance for the component fixed on it to move or to create problems during the step of injection molding.

In practice it has been found that the eyeglasses component according to the invention fully achieves the set aim and objects, in that it makes it possible to accommodate electronic, electrical or magnetic components stably inside it, without these being influenced by the subsequent step of injection molding in order to achieve the embedding of the electronic, electrical or magnetic component inside the eyeglasses component.

As has been seen, the eyeglasses component can be the front of the eyeglasses, the temple, or both.

The eyeglasses component thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102021000032867 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An eyeglasses component (1; 10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60), characterized in that it comprises at least one thermoformed polymeric film (2) adapted to act as a support for at least one electronic/electrical and/or magnetic component (3; 12; 33; 51) and adapted to be at least partially injection- overmolded in order to cover said eyeglasses component.

2. The eyeglasses component according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one electronic/electrical and/or magnetic component (3) is adapted to be fixed to said thermoformed plastic film (2).

3. The eyeglasses component according to claim 1, wherein the assembly of thermoformed plastic film (2) and of the electronic component (3) is subjected to an injection overmolding step.

4. The eyeglasses component according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic component is a cable of the flex type (12).

5. The eyeglasses component according to claim 4, characterized in that said cable of the flex type (12) is adapted to be supported by said thermoformed plastic film (2), the eyeglasses component being the front of said eyeglasses, the thermoformed plastic film (2) with the flex cable (12) arranged thereon being arranged so that the flex cable (12) is on the outside of the front, so that the flex cable is covered on one side by the thermoformed plastic film (2) and on the other side by the injection-molded material.

6. The eyeglasses component according to claim 5, characterized in that said cable of the flex type (12) is adapted to be supported by said thermoformed plastic film (2), the eyeglasses component being the front of said eyeglasses, the thermoformed plastic film (2) with the flex cable (12) arranged thereon being arranged so that the flex cable (12) is on the outside of the front, so that the flex cable is covered on one side by the thermoformed plastic film (2) and covered on both sides by injection- molded material.

7. The eyeglasses component according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermoformed plastic film (2) is injection overmolded only partially in order to render it structural in those areas in which the size of the wall of the eyeglasses component will be reduced to just the thickness of the thermoformed polymeric film (2).

8. The eyeglasses component according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a membrane (31) adapted to be fixed to said thermoformed plastic film (2) in order to seal a chamber (32) that is adapted to accommodate at least one loudspeaker (33).

9. The eyeglasses component according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one LED and/or lightemitting element (41) is adapted to be arranged on said thermoformed plastic film (2).

10. The eyeglasses component according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least one light-emitting element (41) is adapted to display on the frame particular logos, shapes and/or geometries.

11. The eyeglasses component according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermoformed plastic film (2) is configured to support at least one magnet (51).

12. The eyeglasses component according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermoformed plastic film (2) is configured to support at least one sensor.

13. A method for providing an eyeglasses component, characterized in that it comprises a step of providing a thermoformed plastic film (2) that is adapted to be injection-molded with polymeric material said at least one thermoformed plastic film (2) being adapted to be covered at least partially by said injection overmolded material.

14. The method for providing an eyeglasses component according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises, before the injection overmolding step, a step of adhesive bonding of an electronic component (3; 12) on said thermoformed plastic film (2).

15. The method for providing an eyeglasses component according to one or more of claims 13-14, characterized in that it comprises, before said injection overmolding step, a step of fixing a flex cable (12) on said thermoformed plastic film (12).

16. The method for providing an eyeglasses component according to one or more of claims 13-15, characterized in that it comprises, prior to the injection overmolding step, a step of placing at least one LED or lightemitting element (41) under said layer of thermoformed plastic film (2).

17. The method for providing an eyeglasses component according to one or more of claims 13-16, characterized in that it comprises, before the injection overmolding step, a step of gluing an impermeable membrane (31) for protecting at least one loudspeaker (33).

18. The method for providing an eyeglasses component according to one or more of claims 13-17, characterized in that it comprises further steps of injection molding and/or injection overmolding which are additional to the at least partial injection overmolding in order to cover said eyeglasses component.