Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Connectors
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2001-04-03
Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Connectors
C351S121000, C016S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210004
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to eyeglasses, more particularly to a turning mechanism of a temple with respect to a bracket having no hinge.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been hitherto employed in eyeglasses a hinge serving as a turning mechanism for pivotally coupling between a bracket integrated with a front frame and a temple.
However, screws, bolts and the like serving as shafts of the hinge of the eyeglasses of this type have been loosened by frequently pivoting the temple with respect to the temple with respect to the bracket, so that the temple has been rickety. Further, there has been a case where bolts which were loosened inadvertently were lost.
Accordingly, it was necessary to fasten screws periodically using a driver for exclusive use, which has been however very troublesome.
To this end, there have been developed turning mechanisms which are different from the turning mechanism using the hinge, namely, developed several kinds of turning mechanisms each having a simple construction having no screw, bolt, and the like.
Among them, there are some turning mechanisms each having an engagement construction wherein a bracket and a temple are pivotally engaged with each other. For example, there is a turning mechanism having a hinge construction as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3031979, which comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft supporting housing fixed to a lug (so-called bracket) and a shaft fitted to a temple wherein the shaft supporting housing pivotally supports the shaft of the temple.
A friction member in coated onto the inner surface of the shaft supporting housing so that a user feels moderation when turning the temple, thereby preventing the temple from falling down, namely, freely turning toward the bracket because the shaft receives a resistance force.
On the contrary, a friction member fitted to a base end of the temple contacts the inner surface of the shaft supporting housing, thereby preventing the temple from freely tuning toward the bracket likewise.
In these cases, there is an advantage that resistance force is applied to the temple for presenting the free turning of the temple with respect to the lug or bracket. Since the friction member is worn when the temple is repetitively turned with respect to the lug, there is a drawback that the friction force is gradually decreases, resulting in the hindrance of free turning prevention function of the temple with respect to the bracket.
Further, there is another drawback that if a friction force is applied to the temple for recovering the free turning prevention function, the lug and the temple have to be replaced with another lug or temple, which costs much. It is needless to say that it was impossible to regulated a resistance force applied to the temple.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been made in view of the foregoing technical background, and solves the drawbacks of the prior turning mechanism and to provide a turning mechanism of eyeglasses capable of always applying resistance force to the temple, namely, against the turning of a temple with respect to a lug without using a hinge and capable of regulating the resistance force.
The inventors have devoted themselves to solve drawbacks of the prior art turning mechanism and found the fact that a temple is formed hollow and an expansion member is press-fitted in the hollow temple due to wedge-like operation, thereby solving the foregoing drawbacks.
To achieve the above object, the turning mechanism of a temple with respect to a bracket and eyeglasses using the same is constructed as follows.
That is, the turning mechanism according to a first aspect of the invention comprises a shaft supporting portion provided on the bracket and having a hollow hole section therein, a shaft portion provided on the temple and having a hollow hole section therein, and an expansion member, wherein the expansion member is press-fitted in the hollow hole section of the shaft portion in a state where the shaft portion is fitted in the shaft supporting portion to produce a friction force due to a pressing force of the expansion member, thereby applying a resistance force against the turning of the temple.
The turning mechanism according to a second aspect of the invention comprises a shaft supporting portion provided on the bracket and having a hollow hole section therein, a shaft portion provided on the temple and having a hollow hole section therein, and an expansion member, and the shaft supporting portion having a notched portion for guiding the turning of the temple, wherein the expansion member is press-fitted in the hollow hole section of the shaft portion of the shaft portion in a state where the shaft portion is fitted in the shaft supporting portion through a notched portion to produce a friction force between the shaft supporting portion and shaft portion due to a pressing force of the expansion member, thereby applying a resistance force against the turning of the temple.
The turning mechanism according to a third subject of the invention comprises a shaft supporting portion provided on the bracket and having a hollow hole section therein, a shaft portion provided on the temple and having a hollow hole section therein, and an expansion member, and the shaft supporting portion having a notched portion for guiding the turning of the temple and a guide groove in which the shaft portion
2
is engaged, wherein the expansion member is press-fitted into the hollow hole section of the shaft portion in a state where the shaft portion is fitted in the shaft supporting portion through the notched portion to produce a friction force between the shaft supporting portion and shaft portion due to a pressing force of the expansion member, thereby applying a resistance force against the turning of the temple T.
The turning mechanism according to a fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the expansion member in the third aspect of the invention has a longitudinal groove and the shaft portion has a projection, and the projection is engaged in the longitudinal groove to turn the expansion member and shaft portion together.
The turning mechanism according to a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the shaft portion in the third aspect of the invention has a projection and the projection bites into the expansion member to turn the expansion member and shaft portion together.
The turning mechanism according to a sixth aspect of the invention comprises a shaft supporting portion provided on the bracket and having a hollow hole section therein, a shaft portion provided on the temple and having a hollow hole section therein; an expansion member; and the shaft supporting portion having a notched portion for guiding the turning of the temple, wherein a first expansion body and a second expansion body split by the expansion member are press-fitted into the hole section of the shaft portion while interposing the shaft portion therebetween in a state where the shaft portion is fitted in the shaft supporting portion through the notched portion to produce a friction force between the shaft supporting portion and shaft portion due to a pressing force of the expansion member, thereby applying a resistance force against the turning of the temple.
The turning mechanism according to a seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that the first expansion body in the sixth aspect of the invention has a longitudinal groove at a convex portion thereof and the shaft portion has a projection wherein the projection is engaged in the longitudinal groove to turn the first expansion body and shaft portion together.
The turning mechanism according to an eighth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the first expansion body and the second expansion body in the sixth aspect of the invention are coupled with each other by interference fit.
The turning mechanism according to a ninth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the shaft portion in the fourth aspect of the
Horikawa Kaoru
Yoshimura Kazue
Charmant Co., Ltd.
Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
Mai Huy
LandOfFree
Turning mechanism of a temple with respect to a bracket and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Turning mechanism of a temple with respect to a bracket and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Turning mechanism of a temple with respect to a bracket and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2507156