Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – With decoration or ornamentation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-24
2001-07-24
Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
With decoration or ornamentation
C351S044000, C351S158000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264324
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a spectacle frame and more particularly to a frame having an esthetic and/or amusing character because of a mobile decorative part.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The shape of a spectacle frame has become very important to the wearer. All kinds of more or less expressive and esthetic frames have been proposed, some even having an intentionally provocative and/or amusing character.
For example, PCT document WO 98/23994 describes a frame in which each surround or “rim”, i.e. the part in which the lens is mounted, incorporates an ornamental flat ring surrounding and emphasizing the lens. The ring is mounted so that it can be turned in a groove on the surround. Some parts of the ring are hidden from the front. The ring has a number of areas of different color or appearance. Adjusting the position of the ring relative to the concealing parts of the surround changes the esthetic effect of the frame.
However, the ring merely emphasizes the lens that it surrounds and the variations in appearance that can be obtained in this way are therefore somewhat limited. This system does not provide a truly “expressive” frame whose appearance can be modified within wide limits. The invention achieves this objective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To be more precise, the invention consists in a spectacle frame including two surrounds joined by a bridge, each surround having an opening, at least one mobile element having a decorative part and a transparent optical part covering one of the openings, and mounting means whereby the element is rotatably mounted in front of the opening.
The transparent optical part can form a lens, i.e. a non-correcting lens, for example a solar protection lens, and/or a correcting lens, for example a single-vision lens.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the decorative part and the optical part cannot be dissociated from each other; they are made in one piece from the same transparent material.
Embodiments of the invention include particularly noteworthy ones having a particularly strong esthetic and amusing character, for example when the mobile element has a non-circular shape, accounting for at least part of its decorative character. This is because the non-circular element can be oriented in any direction, independently of the adjacent element. A highly unusual effect is obtained if the mobile element has an ovoid contour profile. In this case, if the elongate part of the ovoid contour profile element extends the surround laterally, i.e. globally horizontally, the frame takes on a relatively conventional and unremarkable appearance. On the other hand, as soon as at least one element is turned relative to this “neutral” position the frame takes on a provocative and/or amusing appearance. The expressive possibilities can be varied by modifying the orientation of either element whenever required.
The aforementioned mounting means may comprise a ring defined on the rear face of the mobile element. The ring has an annular groove in it in which said element is mounted so that it can turn inside the opening of the corresponding surround.
The invention will be more clearly understood and other advantageous details of the invention will become more clearly apparent in the light of the following description of a spectacle frame in accordance with the invention, which description is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2565362 (1951-08-01), Eloranta
patent: 3867020 (1975-02-01), Braunhut
patent: 3981569 (1976-09-01), Morgan
patent: 4848889 (1989-07-01), Shaw
patent: 5652635 (1997-07-01), Kirschner
patent: 6102540 (2000-08-01), Chen
patent: 3-238418 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 9823994 (1998-06-01), None
LOGO
Mai Huy
Young & Thompson
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