AU2001100628A4

AU2001100628A4 - Pantometer

Info

Publication number: AU2001100628A4
Application number: AU2001100628A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stephen Balaza; Peter Edward Pickering
Original assignee: Sola International Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision Australia Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-10
Filing date: 2001-12-10
Publication date: 2002-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-10

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: PANTOMETER Applicant: SOLA INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -2- Pantometer Field of the Invention The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the pantoscopic tilt of a frame of a pair of spectacles. Such an apparatus is called a pantometer.

Background of the Invention With new developments with lens design and manufacture there is a need to provide an apparatus that can accurately and repeatedly measure pantoscopic tilt. Pantoscopic tilt is a measure of the angle between the lens receiving portion of the frame (called the rim) of a pair of spectacles and each arm (called the temple) of the spectacles. The present invention seeks to provide such an apparatus.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a pantometer including a first member pivotally attached to a second member which includes an angle measurement means, said first member being arranged so that in use it can be aligned with an arm of a frame of a pair of spectacles and wherein the angle of a lens receiving portion of the frame relative to said arm can be measured by aligning the first member with the arm, aligning a portion of the second member with the lens receiving portion of the frame and determining a measurement of the pantoscopic tilt using the angle measurement means.

Preferably, the first member is elongate and includes first and second ends.

The first member is preferably pivotally attached to the second member at a distance spaced from the first end of the first member.

-3- Preferably, the first member includes a reference line for aligning the arm. The reference line preferably extends from or adjacent to the first end of the first member to from or adjacent to the second end of the first member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the second member adopts the form of a protractor having angle graduations marked or formed thereon. The pivotal connection between the first and the second members is spaced from the first end of the first member a sufficient distance so that the reference line on the first member can be aligned on the angle graduations of the protractor to enable the pantoscopic tilt angle to be accurately determined.

Preferably, both the first and the second member are made of a transparent material. The first and second members are preferably made of a lightweight material such as a plastics material.

The first member is preferably of a width that enables it to be comfortably held by the user and readily aligned to an elongate axis of the arm of the frame. The first member is preferably of a width of 10 20mm and of a length of 15 Brief Description of the Drawing An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figure that illustrates a plan view of a preferred pantometer.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The Figure illustrates a pantometer 10 which includes a first member 12 and a second member 14. The first and second members 12, 14 are pivotally connected together at a pivot point 16 via a pin type connection.

-4- The first member 12 is elongate and has a first end 18 and a second end The first member 12 has a reference line 22 marked substantially centrally thereon which extends from the first end 18 to the second end The second member 14 adopts the configuration of a protractor and has angle graduations 24 marked thereon. The second member has a rear straight edge 26.

The pivot point 16 is spaced from the first end 18 of the first member 12 a sufficient distance so that the first end 18 of the first member 12 is substantially coincident with the angle graduations 24 marked on the second member 14.

In accordance with this embodiment, the first and second members 12,14 are made from a transparent plastics material.

In order to measure the pantoscopic tilt of a frame of a pair of spectacles, the reference line 22 on the first member 12 is aligned with one of the arms of the pair of spectacles. The second member is then pivoted so that the rear straight edge 26 aligns with and preferably contacts the front portion of the frame which would normally hold the lens. The pantoscopic tilt angle of the frame can then be determined by calculating the angle between the reference line 22 and the rear straight edge 26. This angle can readily be determined by the user because of the angle graduations 24 marked on the second member 14. It is envisaged that the accuracy of the pantoscopic tilt measurement could be within 0.5 degree.

The invention is advantageous because it provides a simple but yet very effective device for measuring the pantoscopic tilt of a spectacle frame. The device can be used for all types of frames and can measure the pantoscopic tilt relative to each arm of the frame.

The invention enables measurements to be taken at a pupil position within the frame and thus the measurement is of an "as worn" angle.

The embodiment has been described by way of example only and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention are envisaged.

Claims

1. A pantometer including a first member pivotally attached to a second member which includes an angle measurement means, said first member being arranged so that in use it can be aligned with an arm of a frame of a pair of spectacles and wherein the angle of a lens receiving portion of the frame relative to said arm can be measured by aligning the first member with the arm, aligning a portion of the second member with the lens receiving portion of the frame and determining a measurement of the pantoscopic tilt using the angle measurement means.

2. A pantometer according to claim 1 wherein the first member is elongate and the second member adopts the form of a protractor having angle graduations marked or formed thereon.

3. A pantometer according to claim 2 wherein the first member includes a reference line for aligning the arm during use.

4. A pantometer according to claim 3 wherein the first member is pivotally attached to the second member at a distance spaced from a first end of the first member and so that a portion of the reference line of the first member is substantially coincident with the angle graduations on the second member.

5. A pantometer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 10 December 2001 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: 4for :4' SOLA INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED