AU669589B2

AU669589B2 - Eyeglass frame

Info

Publication number: AU669589B2
Application number: AU53800/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gerhard Fuchs; Herbert Hofmaier
Original assignee: Silhouette International GmbH
Current assignee: Silhouette International GmbH
Priority date: 1993-01-15
Filing date: 1994-01-14
Publication date: 1996-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-01-14
Also published as: KR940018681A; JPH06347727A; CN1033878C; AU5380094A; ATA5493A; DE59401284D1; EP0607114B1; EP0607114A1; JP3561806B2; AT401828B; CN1091836A

Description

-1-669 583

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Silhouette International Gesellschaft m.b.H.

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "Eyeglass frame" The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:ri i; -r BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an eyeglass frame, particularly to a hinge connecting two parts S of the eyeglass frame, namely, a uow and a uow holder, which hinge comprises a hinge plate, which is mounted on one of said two memoers and protrudes toward the other member and extends into a receiving pocket of said other memuer and carries stuu pins, which define a hinge axis, Ko wherein circularly cyliudrical oearing holes extend from the receiving pocket and have entrance openings for holding the stuo pins as iu a snap lock.

2. Background of the Invention To establish a simple connection between the Dow of an eyeglass frame and the Dow holder oy a hinge provided De-weeL said parts, it has oeen disclosed in EP-A-O 495 767 to provide on the oow holder a hinge plate, which protrudes toward the oow and carries upwardly and downwardly protruding stuo pins, which define the hinge axis, whereas the oow is formed with a 'O pocket for receiving the hinge plate. The stuo pins of the hinge plates exzend into mating oearing holes, which consist of olind holes, which extend from the receiving pocket. To permit the stub pins to oe inserted into said ulind holes 'the receiving pocket is provided with guiding grooves, which extend from the inside surface of the bow as far as to the ulind holes so that the stuo pins which have oeen inserted over a sloping uottom of the guiding grooves will snap into the olind holes when the stuo pins have reached the blind holes. In such designs r I i I I -e -2there is a risk that the stuu pins may oe forced out of the ueariug holes when the uow is pivotallymoved ueyond the stop-defined position in which the hinge is fully open. In that case the oow will oe separated from the remaining parts of the eyeglass frame because the length to which the stuD pins extend into the ulind holes is necessarily limited oecause the suap lock Dy which the stuD pins are held in the ulind holes necessitates a resilieut axial deflection of the stuu pins or of the wall which defines the holes and that length is uot sufficient for high loads. Whereas it is possiole to mount the oow on the hinge plate which i-nounted oni the Dow holder and the stuo pins can ue caused to snap into the olind holes, a repeated separation of the I parts of the hinge will inevitably wear out the hinge so that a proper use of the eyeglasses may no longer oe possible.

To improve the retention of the stab pins in the oearing holes it has already been suggested in J FR-3-1 126 049 to provide radially open bearing openings for receiving the stub pins. But in that case the stu, pins are not held in the Dearing holes as oy a snap lock but are flattened on ooth sides to form a joint like a bayonet joint, so that the insertion of the stub A' pins into the bearing openings requires the oow to oe elastically deflected to such an extent that conventional plastics cannot De used although such plastics are required for the desired snap lock.

It is also known from FR-A-2 626 682 o that the hinge plate which extends into a receiving pocket of the bow holder is carried by a spring-elastic tongue, which is disposed on the inside of the bow sothat the

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L In i Il-l i I I I i II I I i i I I 3 bow holder is resiliently gripped between the spring-elastic tongue and the bow. But the provision of spring tongues is expensive and involves the risk of a fracture of the spring tongue.

SU MARY OF THE INVENTION For this reason the invention seeks to provide eyeglasses comprising hinges which are of the kind described first hereinbefore and comprise simple structural means which prevent an undesired separation of the parts of the hinge.

Thus according to the present invention there is provided an eyeglass frame, comprising a hinge connecting two parts of the eyeglass frame namely, an elongate bow and a bow holder, which hinge comprises a hinge plate, which is mounted on one of said two parts and protrudes toward the other part and extends into a receiving pocket of said other part and carries stub pins, which define a hinge axis, wherein cylindrical bearing holes extend from the receiving pocket and have entrance openings for holding the stub pins as in a snap lock, characterised in that the bearing holes are open in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bow, out to an inside surface of the bow and define the entrance openings and permit the snap-in movement, the bow holder comprises on its end face a stop, which is engaged by the bow when the hinge is in its extended position, and the stop has a stop face, which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bow.

Because the bearing openings define an entrance opening for the stub pins adjacent to a peripheral portion which faces the inside surface of the bow, the stub pins can be radially forced into the bearing openings, which constitute bearing sockets, which extend over an angle that is slightly in excess of 1800. As contrasted with an axial snap-in movement of the stub pins, the radial snapping into open bearing sockets affords the advantage that the length of the stub pins can be selected independently of the conditions required for t -4the snap-in movement so that the longer stub pins can sufficiently be supported on the walls of the bearing holes and an unintended separation of the bow from the bow carrier can trus be prevented, provided that care S is taken that the stub pins cannot move out of the entrance opening of the bearing holes when the bow is deflected beyond the position corresponding to the fully open position of the hinge. For this purpose the bow holder is provided with a stop, which has a i0 surface that is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bow and is engageable by the bow when the hinge is fully open and the bow tends to turn the hinge beyond its fully open position so that that stop constitutes a fulcrum for the bow as its opening movement is continued.

Because the radius of the pivotal movement of the stub pins with respect to said fulcrum on the stop for the bow includes an angle in excess of 900 with the direction in which the stub pins extend out of the bearing openings, to the stub pins could move out of the bearing holes only if the bow could be displaced relative to the bow holder in the longitudinal direction of the bow. But such a displacement of the bow in its longitudinal direction is prevented by the engagement of the bow with the stop surface which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bow. For this reason a bending of the bow beyond the position corresponding to the fully open position of the hinge will not move the stub pins out of the bearing openings unless the hinge is destroyed in that the stub pins are broken off are Sforcibly broken out of the bearing openings.

Various designs may be adopted for the stop which is/provided on the bow holder and engageable by the bow. Particularly desirable conditions will be obtained if the bow carries on the outside i i a stop lug, which protrudes toward the bow holder and extends into a lateral recess formed in the bow holder and that lateral recess has a peripheral surface which extends around the stop lug ad constitutes the stop S for engagement by the bow. The stop lug covers the butt joint between the bow holder and the bow toward the outside. This will be of special importance if the bow can be adjsted to an inclined position because in that case a wedge gap between the bow and the bow holder will, not [O be visible if the stop lug has a circular contour and cooperates with a mating recess in the bow holder. The bow can simply be adjusted to an inclined position in that the hinge p~L;e is bent about an axis which is transverse to the stub pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a bow holder of a hinge of an eyeglass frame in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional d> view which is taken on a plane that is at right angles to the axis of the hinge and shows that end of the bow which is adjacent to the hinge.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on a plane which is normal to the hinge axis and shows the r L i. -6assembled hinge.

Figure 6 is an elevation showing the hinge, partly torn open, as viewed from the inside of the bow.

S DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will now be described more in detail and by way of example with reference to the drawing.

In the illustrative embodiment shown (0 a hinge of an eyeglass frame comprises a hinge plate 2, which is mounted, on a bow holder 1 and carries two axially aligned stub pins 3, which define the axis Qf the hinge. The hinge also comprises a pocket which is formed in the elongate bow 4 and receives the hinge plate 2. Two bearing holes 6 for receiving the stub pins 3 extend from the pocket 5. In a peripheral portion which is adjacent to that surface of the bow which faces the hinge each bearing hole 6 is open to define a radial entrance opening 7 so that the stub pins o 3 will radially snap into the bearing holes 6 as the parts of the hinge are assembled. As a result, the bearing holes constitute bearing sockets, which extend around an angle that is slightly in excess of 1800 to ensure that the stub pins 3 will be held in the bearing holes 6 as by a snap lock. For this purpose the diameter of the stub pins 3 must be slightly in excess of the clear width of the constricted entrance opening 7 and at least those wall portibns of the bow 4 which define the entrance holes 7 must be made of a plastic which is 2 sufficiently elastic to hold the stub pins 3 in the bearing holes 6 as by a snap lock. To facilitate the assembling of the parts of the hinge the entrance opening

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-7- 7 may be preceded by an entrance slot 8, although this is not essential.

When it is desired to assemble the parts of the hinge the bow 4 is forced in the direction c, of the entrance slot 8 onto the hinge plate 2, which is provided with the stub pins 3. As a result, the stub pins 3 snap into the bearing holes 6, which constitute bearing sockets, and the stub pins 3 are held in the bearing holes 6 as by a snap lock. The stub pins 3 are o axially held in position because the hinge plate 2 is held in the pocket 5, as is particularly apparent from Figure 6.

i When the bow is bent beyond the defined p,osition which corresponds to the fully open position of the hinge, shown in Figure 5, a movement of the stub pins 3 out of the bearing holes 6 should be prevented.

For that purpose the bow holder 1 comprises on the side which faces away from the hinge a stop 9, which has a i; stop surface 10, which is transverse to the longitudinal Q.0° ^Q direction of he bov vhen it in -;hat defined position and cooperates with a stop lug 11 that is provided on the -bow on its outside surface, which faces away from the hinge. 'That stop lug 11 has the contour of an arc of a circle and extends in a mating recess 12 of the bow holder 1. The stop surface 10 is constituted by the peripheral surface of the recess 12.

7hen the bow 4 is stressed in the direction indicated by the arrow 13 to deflect it beyond the defined position corresponding to the fully open posi- 2O tion of the hinge the stop 9 would constitute a fulcrum for the bow 4 if the stub pins 3 could mae out of the bearing holes 6. But the associated radius 14 for i

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8 such pivotal movement of the stub pins 3 includes an angle that is larger than 90 with the direction 15, in which the stub pins could move out through the entrance openings 7 of the bearing holes 6; that direction is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bow. For this reason the stub pins could move out of the associated bearing holes only if the stop lug 11 could be bent outwards relative to the bow. This deformation of the stop lug is only possible if the stop lug could be displaced relative to the bow holder 1 in the longitudinal direction of the bow. The stop surface 10, which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bow prevents this and thus prevents the stub pins from moving out of the bearing holes. Thus the parts of the hinge cannot be separated, particularly because the stub pins are relatively long and for this reason are sufficiently supported by the surfaces which define the bearing holes. For this reason the entrance openings 7 and the entrance slots 8 may be transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bow so that such a bow can be made in a particularly simple mold.

The inclination of the bow 4 relative to the bow holder 1 can be adjusted because the cross-section of the hinge plate 2 is constricted to r define a hinge 16, the axis of which is at right angles to the axis defined by S 20 the stub pins 3 and defines the center of the circular periphery of the stop S" lug 11 and of the recess 12 formed in the bow holder 1. For this reason the o adjustment of the inclination of the bow 4 cannot cause an edge gap to be 0 o formed between the stop lug 11 and the recess 12.

7S o u o -o 7,, j! -_IrrUC-rjY -9- It will be understood that the invention is not retricted to the embodiment shown by example. In that embodiment the bow holder 1 may be made of plastic and molded around a metallic hinge plate 2 or the hinge S plate may consist of plastic and may be integrally molded with the bow holder 1. Alternatively, the bow 4 may be integrally formed with a hinge plate and in that case the pocket 5 and the bearing holes 6 will be formed in the bow holder on that side thereof which faces the hinge.

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Claims

1. An eyeglass frame comprising a hinge connecting two parts of the eyeglass frame, namely, an elongate bow and a bow holder, which hinge comprises a hinge plate, which is mounted on one of said two parts and protrudes toward the other part and extends into a receiving pot. ket of said other part and carries stub pins, which define a hinge axis, wherein cylindrical bearing holes extend from the receiving pocket and have entrance openings for holding the stub pins as in a snap lock, characterised in that the bearing holes are open in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bow, out to an inside surface of the bow and define the entrance openings and permit the snap-in movement, the bow holder comprises on its end face a stop, which is engaged by the bow when the hinge is in its extended position, and the stop has a stop face, which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bow.

2. An eyeglass frame according to claim 1, wherein the bow carries on the outside a stop lug.. which protrudes towards the bow holder and extends into a lateral recess formed in the bow holder and that lateral recess has a peripheral surface which extends around the stop lug and constitutes the stop for engagement by the bow.

3. An eyeglass frame substantially as heireinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the drawings. o 0 4DATED this tenth day of April 1996 o 0 0 SILHOUETITE INTERNATIONAL 0 0 0 GESSELLSCHAFT M.B.I1 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. ABSTRACT EYEGLASS FRAME A hinge is provided between two parts of an eyeglass frame, namely, a bow and a bow holder. The hinge comprises a hinge plate, which is mounted on one of said two members and protrudes toward the other Smember and extends into a receiving pocket of said other member and carries stub pins, which define a hinge axis, wherein circularly cylindrical bearing holes extend from the receiving pocket and have entrance openings for holding the stub pins as in a snap lock. The bearing holes are open in a peripheral portion which faces the inside surface of the bow and thus define the entrance openings and permit the snap-in movement, the bow carrier comprises on its end face a stop, which is engaged by The bow when the hinge is in its extended Is position, and the stop has a stop face, which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bow. a 0 r