Work holders – Operator supported
Patent
1996-01-16
1998-07-07
Watson, Robert C.
Work holders
Operator supported
269 6, 269131, 269202, B25B 120
Patent
active
057756783
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a tool or implement and more particularly, relates to a tool or implement for use in repairing eye glasses.
The repair and adjustment of eye glasses is well known in the art and practiced by most opticians and optometrists. Most eye glasses comprise a frame having the lenses retained therein, nose pieces being secured to the frame by means of screws, and legs or temples attached to the frame at the end piece, also by means of screws.
The process of attachment of the temples to the frame consists of placing in registry apertures in both the frame and temple and inserting a screw therein. While this is normally a relatively straightforward operation, in some instances the temples have a spring member incorporated therein in order to permit flexing of the temple. The spring can either be in a state of compression or extension. In both cases, it becomes much more difficult to place the apertures in registry and retain them in this position while inserting the screw, especially considering the small size of the screws. To date, this has required a great deal of manual dexterity on the part of the optician or optometrist doing the repair.
Another problem associated with eye glasses is that various portions of the frame and/or temple tend to become bent over a period of time. Attempts to straighten these components can often lead to breakage if sufficient care is not taken. One particular weak point is where the end piece joins the main frame portion. Breakage here normally cannot be repaired.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi purpose tool to assist in the repair and adjustment of eye glasses.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tool adapted to permit the attachment of spring loaded temples to the main body of the eye glasses.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool suitable for use in repairing eye glasses, the tool having a body portion, a thin wire like clamping member adapted to move into and out of a clamping relationship with the body portion, and means for retaining the clamping member in a clamped relationship with the body.
In greater detail, the body portion and the clamp member are designed such that the clamping member will retain a clamped portion in a desired position. The clamping member which operates in conjunction with the body must enter some relatively small areas and therefore must be sized accordingly. In a preferred embodiment, a wire or cable member is utilized although it will be understood that other suitable members, appropriately sized, could be used. For example, one could employ a moulded plastic. When a wire is used, preferably it has a diameter of less than 1 mm and more preferably less than 0.70 mm.
In the preferred embodiment, the clamping member forms a loop such that the portion to be clamped passes through the loop and when the clamping member is moved into a clamping relationship, it is securely held between the clamping member and the body. Other like configurations could be used particularly when the clamping member has a certain degree of rigidity--i.e. a generally J-shaped configuration is one alternative embodiment.
The device will include means for moving the clamping member into and out of a clamping relationship with the body and to this end, several different alternatives could be employed with a preferred one involving the use of a lever or arm which is pivotably mounted with respect to the body and which is suitably secured to the clamping member. Thus, a pivotable movement of the lever will function to move the clamping member into and out of the clamping relationship previously described. In connection with this lever or arm, there may be provided means for locking the clamping member in the desired position.
The device could be manufactured of various different materials with plastic being a preferred material from the point of view of ease of manufacture--i.e. the various components can be moulded and assembled.
Having thus generally described
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patent: 433973 (1890-08-01), Armstrong
patent: 1277324 (1918-08-01), Larsson
patent: 1812096 (1931-06-01), Jameson
patent: 1897644 (1933-02-01), Rothamel
patent: 2427353 (1947-09-01), Gagesteyn
patent: 2451702 (1948-10-01), Weigand
patent: 4171799 (1979-10-01), Elko
patent: 4527784 (1985-07-01), Schwab
Fincham Eric
Watson Robert C.
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