Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Connectors
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-07-17
Dang, Hung Xuan (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Connectors
C016S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260965
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 frame. More specifically the invention relates to an eyeglass frame comprising a pair of temple bars pivotally connected with a frame front of the eyeglass frame. In particular the invention relates to eyeglass frames comprising hinge means fitted with friction members.
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, where the user can look straight forward with both eyes and with parallel lines of sight through the respective lenses.
It is well known to provide such eyeglass frames with a frame front for holding the glasses and with a pair of temple bars for supporting the frame, which temple bars are connected to the frame front by means of hinges so as to allow the eyeglass to be folded up when not in use.
Even though a variety of eyeglasses are available, development is still taking place in order to find new solutions which might gain market shares, e.g. by offering particular features or cost benefits or through offering new aesthetic features.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,132 describes an eyeglass frame comprising a hinge with an eyelet on the temple bar for insertion between a pair of eyelets on the frame front and for fixation with a hinge pivot. The patent teaches a solution comprising a coil spring for axial biasing of the hinge in connection with the hinge pivot in order to ensure a firm hold of the temple bar. The hinge part is relatively bulky and implies a relatively delicate shaping and assembly of several different components.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,889 shows an eyeglass frame wherein a pair of coaxial hinge pivots on each one of the temple bars engage in respective openings in eyelets on the frame front of the eyeglass frame, and wherein a respective blade spring imparts a transverse bias force onto the hinge pivots of each one of the temple bars. The purpose of this bias force is to counteract spurious movements of the temple bar when in other positions than fully opened. A solution of this kind is considered complicated to manufacture and to assemble. With this solution the hinge pivots are subjected to loading and local wear in one side. The friction retention of the temple bar by means of the blade spring will hardly be able to completely avoid noticeable play. This play will likely vary dependent on the manufacturing tolerances and wear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention, in a first aspect, provides an eyeglass frame comprising a frame front, a pair of temple bars and a pair of hinge means, each of said hinge means being adapted to provide a pivotal connection of a respective temple bar with said frame front, each hinge means comprising a pivot and a barrel with an axial slit, adapted for pivotal cooperation, said barrel comprising resilient spring means, adapted for urging said barrel and said pivot into frictional interaction by applying radial biasing forces onto at least part of said pivot, and by said pivot comprising a pintie core and a pivot member, said pivot member comprising at least two pivot inserts, which pivot inserts are adapted to be assembled about said pintle core into a service position in which they provide a consolidated pivot exterior surface, effectively providing a generally cylindrical outer surface.
This eyeglass frame offers a friction retention of the temple bars in all positions without localized wear of the hinge means by the biasing forces relied on for providing the friction. The radial biasing on the pivot contributes to eliminate any sense of play in the hinge means proper.
According to the invention, the hinge means comprises an axially slit barrel of a resilient material. The barrel provides a generally cylindrical component, suitable for cooperating with the pivot onto which the barrel applies an inward bias.
In other embodiments, the barrel could provide the pivot in which case the barrel would be received in a sleeve inside which the barrel would be outwardly biased. In either case, the slit barrel will adapt its effective diameter within a suitable range, as appropriate, while still providing a generally cylindrical component.
The barrel ensures that radially directed forces are distributed over a range of directions around the circumference in a way so as ensure a completely balanced result of the forces, and to prevent play in the hinge means due to the ability of the resilient spring means to take up any mismatch as might in practice occur due to manufacturing tolerances and wear.
Preferably, the hinge means comprises a pivot member received in rotatable fashion by the slit barrel. This makes optimum use of the materials in terms of reducing the size of the hinge, as the resilient component, which typically will comprise a component of a small thickness, is located peripherally.
In expedient embodiments the pivot member divided by a substantially axial section surface into at least two pivot inserts. These pivot inserts may be expediently kept together by the radial biasing forces, and the two pivot inserts may optionally be provided with mating protrusions adapted for cooperation with the adjacent part of the eyeglass frame. By arranging the parts in this way and by utilizing the resilient barrel for securing the constituent parts, an easy assembly and an effective securing are obtained without any need for further fixation components.
In an expedient embodiment, the barrel comprises a strip extension, which extension has been wrapped to provide the barrel in the form of a sleeve with an axial slit.
This provides a solution which offers an attractive appearance while permitting a simple method of manufacturing and assembly.
The pivot member may comprise a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and the barrel may comprise a corresponding cylindrical inner surface only broken by the slit. However, the invention may also be implemented in other ways, e.g. with an oval shape of the pivot member and a corresponding shape of the barrel, with the purpose of securing different degrees of friction resistance in different angles, or optionally with the purpose of utilizing the spring force of the barrel for biasing the temple bar to swing towards a particular direction.
The invention, in a second aspect, provides an eyeglass comprising an eyeglass frame front, a pair of glasses, mounted by said frame front, a pair of temple bars and a pair of hinge means, each of said hinge means being adapted to provide a pivotal connection of a respective temple bar with said frame front, each hinge means comprising a pivot and a barrel with an axial slit, adapted for pivotal cooperation, said barrel comprising resilient spring means, adapted for urging parts of said barrel into frictional interaction with said pivot by applying radial biasing forces onto at least part of said pivot.
This provides an eyeglass which may be manufactured by a simple set of operations with a minimum of different components, and which has an aesthetically very agreeable appearance.
The invention, in a third aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a hinge for linking a temple bar to a front.
The invention, in a third aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a hinge for linking a temple bar to a front of an eyeglass frame, said hinge comprising a first hinge part connected to one of said temple bar or said front and a second hinge part connected to the other one of said temple bar or said front, comprising the steps of providing a sheet of resilient material, providing from said sheet a plate with a plate extension, wrapping said plate extension into the shape of a barrel with an axial slit, which bar
Jensen Lars Bøjvad
Kroman Flemming
Dang Hung Xuan
Lindberg A/S
Vigil Thomas R.
LandOfFree
Eyeglass frame, an eyeglass, and a method of manufacturing a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Eyeglass frame, an eyeglass, and a method of manufacturing a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Eyeglass frame, an eyeglass, and a method of manufacturing a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2444340