Optics: eye examining – vision testing and correcting – Spectacles and eyeglasses – Connectors
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-26
2001-12-25
Mai, Huy (Department: 2873)
Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting
Spectacles and eyeglasses
Connectors
C351S121000, C351S141000, C016S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332682
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge structure for use in joining a temple and a front rim in eyeglasses, particularly for use in an attractively slim front-and-temple combination.
2. Related Arts
Referring to
FIGS. 5
a
and
5
b
, a conventional hinge structure for eyeglasses has two semicolon-like rotary metal pieces “a” and “b” interleaved and rotatably joined together by a pivot screw “c”. One of the semicolon-like rotary metal pieces “a” has parallel circular extensions “k” integrally connected to its triangular block, leaving a circular space therebetween. The other semicolon-like rotary metal piece “b” has a cantilever-like circular extension “i” integrally connected to its triangular block, and the cantilever-like circular extension “i” can be fitted in the circular space of the semicolon-like rotary metal piece “a”. Each circular extension has a through hole made therein.
One of rotary metal pieces can be soldered at its flat bottom “d” to the side joint piece (not shown) of the front whereas the other rotary metal piece can be soldered to the temple (not shown). Thus, the temple can be folded toward the front of the frame.
After being used for a long period such hinge structure is apt to get loosened because of frictional wear in the confronting surfaces of the rotary metal pieces. Also, the pivot screw is apt to be loosened, and accordingly the hinge is loosened. In any event the eyeglasses are not stable on one's face. When loosened, the pivot screw must be tightened. In the hope of preventing the frictional wear of the confronting surfaces of the rotary metal pieces “a” and “b” washers “e” are used, as seen from FIG.
6
.
Referring to
FIGS. 7
a
and
7
b
, the washer “e” comprises an eyelet disk “f” having an annular collar “g” integrally connected thereto. A screw “c” can be inserted in the center hole “h” of the washer “e”. Referring to
FIG. 6
, washers “e” are laid between the confronting surfaces of the interleaved circular extensions “i” and “k” of the rotary metal pieces “a” and “b”. Specifically the annular collar “g” of rotary metal piece “i” with its eyelet disk “f” sandwiched between the confronting surfaces of the interleaved circular extensions “i” and “k” of the joined rotary metal pieces “a” and “b”, thus preventing the confronting surfaces from being worn.
As seen from
FIG. 6
, the cantilever-like circular extension “i” of the semicolon-like rotary metal piece is inserted in the circular space between the parallel circular extensions “k” of the counter semicolon-like rotary metal piece. This interdigitation prevents flat washers from being held between the confronting surfaces of the circular extensions of the opposite rotary metal pieces, requiring use of collared washers such as shown in
FIGS. 7
a
and
7
b
. Use of such collared washers necessitates the enlarging of the through hole “j” of each circular extension, and accordingly the circular extension need to be increased in diameter because otherwise, the rotary piece cannot have a required strength.
As a recent tendency a very thin wire is used in making the frame of eyeglasses. The conventional hinge structure of
FIGS. 5
a
and
5
b
, if used in joining the temple to the front rim, would appear above the thin wire temple on its upper and lower sides because the height H of the hinge structure is higher than the vertical size of the thin wire. The conventional hinge structure has an increasing width because of use of collared washers, and therefore, it projects outward from the temple-to-front joint unpleasantly. As a result the appearance of eyeglasses is less attractive.
Also disadvantageously, the number of manufacturing steps required in producing collared washers is larger than that in producing flat washers. In hinging the temple to the front rim of the frame, first, two small-sized collared washers are fitted in the through hole of the cantilever-like circular extension of one rotary piece, and then, the cantilever-like circular extension having the collared washers fitted in its through hole is inserted in the circular space between the parallel circular extensions of the other rotary part. These require time-consuming, tedious work.
One object of the present invention is to provide a hinge structure which is so small that it may fit the attractive slim frame of eyeglasses well, and can be easily assembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hinge structure for joining a temple and a front or lens rim together in eyeglasses is improved according to the present invention in that it comprises: two semicolon-like rotary pieces each having a step-like circular extension integrally connected to its triangular block, the step-like circular extension having a through hole made therein; a pivot pin; two flat washers and an outward-curved resilient washer, the semicolon-like rotary pieces being so combined that their step-like circular extensions are laid on each other, with one of the flat washers sandwiched therebetween, and the semicolon-like rotary pieces being joined together by inserting the pivot pin in the through holes of the step-like extensions with the other flat washer laid on one side of the so combined rotary pieces, and with the outward-curved resilient washer laid on the other side of the so combined rotary pieces, the pivot pin being swaged against the so combined rotary pieces, the triangular blocks of the rotary pieces being to be fixed to the temple and the front or lens rim of the frame.
The pivot pin may be a headed pin whose shank has male threads formed on its end length, and the step-like extension of one of the two rotary pieces may have female threads formed in its through hole, thereby permitting the male-threaded end of the pivot pin to be meshed with the female threads of the through hole of the step-like extension.
The outward-curved resilient washer may have a number of radial bulges formed on its annular surface.
A hinge structure for joining a temple and a front or lens rim together in eyeglasses is improved according to the present invention in that it comprises: two semicolon-like rotary pieces each having a step-like circular extension integrally connected to its triangular block, each step-like circular extension having a through hole made therein, the through hole of the step-like extension of one of the semicolon-like rotary pieces having female threads formed therein; a headed pivot pin whose shank has male threads formed on its end length; and two flat washers, the semicolon-like rotary pieces being so combined that their step-like circular extensions are laid on each other, with one of the flat washers sandwiched therebetween, and with the other flat washer sandwiched between the head of the headed pivot pin and the counter surface of the step-like extension of the other semicolon-like rotary piece, the semicolon-like rotary pieces being joined together by inserting the pivot pin in the through holes of the step-like extensions and by swaging the end of the headed pivot pin against the counter surface of the step-like extension of the one semicolon-like rotary piece, the triangular blocks of the rotary pieces being to be fixed to the temple and the front or lens rim of the frame.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description of hinge structures according to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are shown in accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3025762 (1962-03-01), Vigano
patent: 3609018 (1971-09-01), Marolla
patent: 5011274 (1991-04-01), Wagner
patent: 5764337 (1998-06-01), Petignat
Mai Huy
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Yoshida Industry Co. Ltd.
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