Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Split rim mounting
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-08-21
Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Split rim mounting
C351S092000, C351S097000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276796
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an eyeglass frame, an eyeglass, and a method of manufacturing an eyeglass.
More specifically the invention relates to eyeglass frames adapted for retaining glasses by means of engaging a peripheral edge hereof by a rim. Still more specifically the invention relates to eyeglass frames wherein the rim engaging the glasses is slit so as to permit selective opening in order to facilitate removal and insertion of a glass.
As used herein, the term eyeglass relates to the well known accessory which substantially comprises two lenses of glass or of other refractive or tinted, transparent material intended to be worn in front of the eyes of the user enabling him to obtain a corrected or a darkened view through the glasses, and a form of spectacle frame arranged to keep the lenses or glasses expediently fixed in the preferred position of use, wherein the wearer can look straight forward with both eyes and with parallel lines of vision through the respective lenses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,132 describes an eyeglass frame with split rims for engaging the glasses, wherein the split rims are closed by respective connecting devices, which connecting devices are spring loaded and adapted for being turned between an unlocked and a locked position in order to selectively close the rim. The connecting mechanism comprises a number of small parts, which require complicated manufacturing and assembly. The mechanism is likely to create a somewhat bulky appearance, which may by some users be considered undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,085 describes an eyeglass with split rims wherein the split rims are secured by a screw which holds together a pair of lugs riveted to respective ends of the rim. This solution involves several small parts which are somewhat complicated in manufacturing and assembly and which may detract from the visual appearance of the eyeglass.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,296 describes an eyeglass wherein each of the glasses is provided with a peripheral groove in the edge, and wherein each of the rims of the frame comprises two sections of wire received in the groove and shaped for peripherally engaging the glass. This solution involves -a plastic deformation of the wires, thus exchanging the glasses involves repeated deformation of the wire with a risk of adversely affecting the wire structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention, in a first aspect, provides an eyeglass frame comprising a frame front with front end pieces for the attachment of temple bars and with a pair of strap members, each strap member providing a loop adapted for peripheral engagement around a respective glass and closure means for interconnecting respective opposing strap member ends in generally abutting relationship in order to close said loop, at least one of said strap members comprising a resilient member adapted for resiliently tensioning said one strap member around the glass, the closure means of said one strap member comprising a first and a second opposing hook member, formed integrally with said respective strap member adjacent respective opposing ends thereof, said closure means being adapted for allowing selective release of the engagement by displacing said first hook member, against a bias by said resilient member, in a direction substantially along the plane of the glass and away from the edge of the glass, while restraining said second hook member in a stationary position relative to the glass.
In this eyeglass frame the resilient member may be provided by suitable forming of the strap member or by the provision of dedicated resilient means. The resilient member should be adapted to allow a resilient yielding of the strap engagement, sufficient for permitting disconnecting the cooperating pairs of hook means, without any plastic deformation. The strap retains the glass by resiliently tensioned interengaging hook means, thus the frame keeps a firm engagement of the glass. The resilient tensioning also allows for some variation in the size of the glass and the groove while still achieving a good fit.
According to a preferred embodiment, the frame front is formed with a respective second hook means being situated adjacent a respective front end piece. Since opening of the rim involves lifting away the first hook means, any lift of the second hook means, such as might occur by occasional pulling in the front end piece, will affect the pair of interacting hook means in the direction towards closing the hook engagement, i.e. there is no danger of loosening the hook engagement by such accidental loading.
According to a preferred embodiment, the front end pieces comprise respective lateral extension strips and the respective opposing strap ends of each strap member are joined in abutting relations so as to create the visual impression, as seen from the front of the frame, of a narrow slit extending along the direction of an edge of the respective extension strip. Thus the slit in the rim visually continues an edge line present in the frame, which creates a harmonic visual appearance.
According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the hook means comprises a sheet member with a part that is resilient in bending. Hereby suitable resilient properties are designed into the product by suitable shaping of the integral hook means in order that the resilience is provided without requiring the addition of dedicated components.
According to a preferred embodiment, the frame front including the hook means as well as the front end pieces and arms for securing nose pads, are formed essentially by cutting and bending operations from a single piece of sheet material. This simplifies manufacturing and assembly while still permitting a wide variety of designs by suitably adapting the cutting and bending operations. The first hook means may according to one embodiment be provided by cutting a projecting tongue and by bending this tongue away from the plane of the sheet member and into a U-shape, while the second hook means is provided by cutting and joggling a hook extension. Joggling the hook extension compensates for the offset in the point of hook interengagement relative to the plane of the sheet member created by the simple bending of a U-shaped tongue.
According to the preferred embodiment, each of the resilient members comprises a compressible body, adapted for being inserted between the strap member and the glass. The compressible body may be used in combination with other resilient means in order that the degree of resilience required will be added up by contributions from different resilient means, or the resilient body may on its own provide all of the resilience required in respect of one strap member.
According to a preferred embodiment, the compressible body comprises an O-ring placed in peripheral contact with the glass. This is a simple way of providing resilience without impairing the visual appearance of the eyeglass. This embodiment has particular advantage in combination with a glass with a peripheral groove adapted for receiving the O-ring in the bottom of the groove, and adapted for receiving an edge of the strap member inside the groove on top of the O-ring.
The invention, in a second aspect, provides an eyeglass comprising an eyeglass frame, which frame comprises a frame front with front end pieces for the attachment of temple bars and with a pair of strap members, each strap member providing a loop adapted for peripheral engagement around a respective glass and closure means for interconnecting respective opposing strap member ends in generally abutting relationship in order to close said loop, at least one of said strap members comprising a resilient member adapted for resiliently tensioning said one strap member around the glass, the closure means of said one strap member comprising a first and a second opposing hook member, formed integrally with said respective strap member adjacent respective opposing ends thereof, said closure means being adapted for allowing select
Jensen Lars Bojvad
Lindberg Poul-Jørn
Lindberg A/S
Mai Huy
Vigil Thomas R.
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