Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Eyeglass hinge
Patent
1997-11-05
1999-09-21
Knight, Anthony
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Eyeglass hinge
16298, 351153, 351113, G02C 522, G02C 514
Patent
active
059537914
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention pertains to a new type of earpiece for eyeglass frames which makes it possible to adjust the angular opening with respect to the front piece to which it is associated; it works by effect of the compensation action of a built-in elastic mechanism compressed during flexing.
The innovative feature is substantially that of having the end of the earpiece, which already has a normal eyelet hinging to the front piece, fitted with a cursor normally pressed against the hinge-bend or hinge end of the front piece by a suitable elastic means abutting against the threaded base of a sleeve, the position of which may be translated by turning it on the screw-thread on the earpiece in order to adjust the length of the travel of the cursor when striking the hinge-bend, thus varying the flexing (flection) of the earpiece.
To improve the conditions for a stable positioning of the glasses on the nose, different elasticized hinging solutions of the earpieces on the front piece were adopted, so as to force it into a light but adequate pressure against the temples, to prevent the glasses from slipping from the nose.
Most of the present known systems are based on the use of an elasticized mechanism, generally a spiral spring, opened by compression or tension on the hinge or on the hinge-bend of the front piece. Sometimes the spiral spring is replaced by a flat spring or other flexing elastic mechanism.
Such known systems, however, are characterized by a certain structural complexity, not to mention their relative weakness, due to the small sizes which the various parts must have, to the point that many people are induced in preferring normal earpieces, which, because of their simple structure, can have larger sizes and are sturdier.
Moreover such known elastic hinge systems do not permit adjusting the width of the opening of the earpieces, thereby exerting increasing and bothersome pressure on the temples, with the increase of flexing due to the individual constitution of the person.
The prior art documents EP-A-96 928 and EP-A-306 446 disclose how to realize an earpiece for eyeglasses that has an adequate elasticized opening system, for the desired effect of eyeglass removing, but with the possibility of this opening being adjustable and variable in relation to the morphological structure of the face, to ensure the correct earpiece pressure for each opening width. These documents, however, are silent regarding the above mentioned innovative feature.
The object achieved by the present invention can be gathered from the following description of one of its constructional solutions, which is to be understood only by way of example and not limiting. With the invention an extremely simple and functional system of elasticization of the earpiece, to assure maximum solidity of its parts and, therefore, long-lasting action, is achieved.
Furthermore, the innovation can be improved such that a cylindrical or polygonal surface is created along the hinging zone of the earpiece for embellishment and decoration that could give the eyeglasses further aesthetic value.
According to the invention the opening of the earpiece is adjustable so that it can be adapted to any shape of the head without exerting excessive pressure. The degree of pre-charging of the elastic means can be adjusted. It is possible to define the axial flexing of the cursor and the subsequent angular opening of the earpiece relatively to the normal opening angle on the front piece of the hinge-bend.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated with the help of four schematic drawings reproduced in the enclosed table in which
FIG. 1 represents a plan view, with an axial section of the hinge end of an earpiece for eyeglasses, built according to the invention and preset to act without any flexing relative to the normal opening of the front piece;
FIG. 2 represents a plan view of the same earpiece as at FIG. 1, with an analogous axial section, but preset for a possible adjustable flexing;
FIG. 3 represents a plan view of the same earpiece as at FIG. 1, with a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3644023 (1972-02-01), Villani
patent: 4534628 (1985-08-01), Morel
patent: 5155507 (1992-10-01), Ford
patent: 5165060 (1992-11-01), Huang
Gurley Donald M.
Knight Anthony
Marcolin S.p.A.
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