Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Temples
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2001-06-05
Dang, Hung Xuan (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Temples
C351S153000, C016S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241354
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a spring hinge for spectacles, having a housing, a hinge part, which is arranged such that it can be displaced at least partially within the housing, a closure part, which is arranged in the housing, and a spring, which is supported on the hinge part, on the one hand, and on the closure part, on the other hand, and having a stop device which has two stop elements.
Spring hinges for spectacles have been known for some time now. They have a housing in which a hinge part is arranged such that it can be displaced counter to the force of a spring. If the side piece of the spectacles on which the housing is positioned is pivoted further outward from the swung-open position, the spring is compressed. There is often the problem in this case of the spring being compressed to the full extent. This means that the spring has reached its minimum spring length and cannot be compressed further. However, this adversely affects the spring properties. In the worst case, the spring may be destroyed as a result.
In order to solve this problem, the prior art has provided stop elements which are to prevent the spring from being compressed to its minimum length. Thus, for example, DE 91 14 917 U1 discloses a stop device which is provided externally, that is to say outside the spring-hinge housing. It comprises a first stop element, which is provided in the region of the hinge eyelet, and a second stop element, which is formed by the central part, which is connected to the side piece of the spectacles via the hinge. The functioning of the stop device thus depends essentially on how the hinge part connected to the side piece of the spectacles is positioned on the central part. Since this work is carried out by the manufacturer of the spectacle frame, the manufacturer of the spring hinge thus has no influence on the satisfactory functioning of the stop device.
EP 0 426 947 discloses a stop device which is arranged within the spring-hinge housing. In this case, the first stop element is formed by a pin serving for guiding the spring, while the second stop element is in the form of an extension which is provided on the hinge part and extends virtually over the entire length of the hinge housing. This arrangement has the disadvantage that it involves high outlay and is thus expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention thus consists in providing a spring hinge for spectacles which has a cost-effective stop device which is easy to produce.
This object is achieved by a spring hinge which has the features of claim
1
. Since one of the two stop elements is arranged on the hinge part, and the other stop element is arranged on the housing or on the closure part, it is possible to provide a cost-effective stop device which is easy to produce and is located within the housing. The closure part is to be understood in this context as that part which serves as fixed abutment for the spring. This closure part may either be formed integrally with the housing or be a part which is to be introduced separately into the housing.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the closure part has an elastic tongue which has a free end, is bent toward the hinge part and engages in a cutout on the hinge part and interacts, as the second stop element, with the first stop element. The elastic tongue of the closure part thus results in a double function. On the one hand, it forms the stop element by way of its free end, with the result that the capacity of the hinge part for displacement counter to the spring force is limited to a predetermined distance; on the other hand, it forms a loss-prevention means for the hinge part since it is bent toward said hinge part and engages in the cutout formed on the hinge part. This provides a latching device which prevents the hinge part, once inserted into the closure part, from being able to slide out again. This simplifies the assembly of the spring hinge to a considerable extent since there is now no need to ensure that any part is located in the predetermined position during closure of the housing. Moreover, the hinge part is locked in the closure part itself, with the result that particularly straightforward assembly of the spring hinge can take place. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the hinge part and closure part to be provided as a preassembled unit. All that is then required for the assembly of the spring hinge is for the unit preassembled from the hinge part, spring and closure part to be introduced or pushed into the housing, with the result that it may then be closed off by a side piece of the spectacles. Of course, however, it is also possible to use a closed housing which merely has an opening on the end side, the preassembled unit being pushed through said opening.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the hinge part has a groove which extends in the longitudinal direction, the second stop element engaging in said groove. A wall of said groove serves as the first stop element in this case. This development is particularly advantageous because the groove has already been provided for other reasons in the prior-art hinge parts. Thus, all that is required to provide the stop device according to the invention is to provide the second stop element.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the closure part encloses at least one longitudinal section of the hinge part and thus serves as a guide.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the locking element has a closure part which interacts with locking action with a cutout in the housing.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the groove is provided on that side of the hinge part which is directed toward the underside of the housing. The side referred to as the underside of the housing is that which is directed toward the side piece of the spectacles.
In an advantageous development of the invention, a protrusion is provided on the housing, and the protrusion serves as the second stop element and engages in the groove of the hinge part. For production reasons, this embodiment is advantageous when the underside of the housing is formed by the side piece of the spectacles. The underside of the spring-hinge housing itself is open.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the closure part and the tongue, serving as the second stop element, are designed in one piece.
Further advantageous configurations are specified in the subclaims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4244081 (1981-01-01), Beyer et al.
patent: 4306779 (1981-12-01), Rege
patent: 4818093 (1989-04-01), Tabacchi
patent: 5657107 (1997-08-01), Wagner et al.
patent: 5953791 (1999-09-01), Da Forno
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patent: 19511167 (1996-10-01), None
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patent: 0679920 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 2268282 (1994-01-01), None
Schuchard Klaus
Wagner Reiner
Dang Hung Xuan
OBE Ohnmacht & Baumgartner GmbH & Co. KG
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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