DK176941B1 - Flexible zone glasses - Google Patents

Description

DK 176941 B1

GLASSES WITH FLEXIBLE ZONE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pair of glasses comprising a flexible zone which is obtained by machining the glasses material in a flexible region, thereby increasing the flexibility of the material in said region, so that the side pieces can be moved in a direction towards and away from the glasses, and where the frame is connected to the side pieces in at least two connection points.

BACKGROUND

For many years it has been possible to get glasses with many different designs. The designs have varied with regard to the spectacle parts such as the frame, the side pieces (also called temples), the glasses, the bridges (also called bridges) and have also been produced in hingeless versions. Despite this, the manufacture of glasses is still burdened by a large number of technical processes. Skilled people are also needed when fitting the glasses to the specific user, such as when inserting the glasses. Many glasses also require continuous maintenance, e.g. fitting joints and tightening screws.

SUMMARY AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.

The present invention provides a pair of glasses comprising a frame member comprising two connected frames for holding spectacle lenses and wherein the glass frames are connected to each other via a bridge; the frames are further connected to side pieces to secure the glasses to a user, wherein the glasses are characterized by comprising a flexible zone of metal which is obtained by working the metal in said flexible zone and thereby increasing the flexibility of the metal in said flexible zone, so that the side pieces can be moved in a direction towards and away from the glasses and wherein the frames are connected to the side pieces at least two connection points. The advantage of these glasses is that they eliminate the need for hinges - as well as the drawbacks of having these like. when adjusting screws. Also, by omitting hinges, greater design freedom is provided. These glasses are further advantageous, since the side pieces are connected via the flexible zone to the frame part in at least two connection points. This 35 increases the stiffness of the glasses, which strengthens the construction and improves the robustness of the glasses.

In another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the side pieces and frame part are in one piece of metal. This is advantageous as the number of operations, both manual and machine operations, is reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. This embodiment can further enhance the desired aesthetics of the glasses.

In a further embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the flexible zone is included in the side piece. The flexible or flexible properties obtained by this treatment are an advantage as they allow the side pieces to be moved back and forth without the risk of fatigue fracture.

In another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the flexible zone is included in the frame. Again, the flexible or flexible properties obtained by this treatment are an advantage, as they allow the side pieces to be moved back and forth without risk of fatigue fracture.

In yet another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the flexible zone is included in the side pieces and frame. Here are the benefits as mentioned above.

In another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the frame comprises an upper and a lower frame part held together at the bridge by means of bridge assembly. The advantage of these glasses is that the number of assembly points is minimized to only one, which is the bridge. Furthermore, by opening the frame in the bridge assembly, the glasses can easily be placed and secured in the frame. The complex process of inserting the glasses into the spectacle frame is therefore significantly reduced.

In a further embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the bridge assembly means is a screw. Here are the benefits as mentioned above.

In another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the bridge assembly means is a hook. Here are the benefits as mentioned above. In yet another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the bridge assembly means is a slider. This is an advantage as the slider is integrated into the glasses, which allows a bridge to be split when the slider is pushed aside.

In yet another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the bridge assembly means is a clamp. This is advantageous as the clamp can be easily clamped on the two bridge parts, thereby holding them together. The clamp can be made in many different materials such as metal, titanium, plastic, rubber, ceramics or the like. Furthermore, the staple is advantageous in that it can be designed in a way that gives it a certain expression.

In a further embodiment of the spectacles of the present invention, the spectacle frame comprises only an upper frame member. The glasses are fixed in this embodiment in the upper frame part with e.g. wire which is known in the art. This embodiment gives the spectacle designer an advantageously greater degree of freedom.

In one embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the metal is titanium. The low density of the metal is very advantageous for providing lightweight glasses.

15 Titanium is also suitable for plastic deformation.

In yet another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, the metal is a beta titanium alloy. In addition to the advantages of ordinary titanium, the beta titanium alloy is generally weldable and has excellent formability. The latter is particularly advantageous when the glasses are made of e.g. a plate of the particular alloy. The former is advantageous if the glasses are manufactured in more than one piece and subsequently assembled, e.g. by means of welding.

In yet another embodiment of the glasses of the present invention, metal is light steel. This is an advantageous material as it is suitable for most of the manufacturing techniques such as rolling, punching, deep drawing, welding or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

30 In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the figures, wherein Figure 1 shows a pair of glasses of the present invention in perspective; Figure 2 is a front view of a pair of glasses according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows the bridge of a pair of glasses according to the present invention in front view in detail; Figure 4 is a top view of a pair of glasses according to the present invention, showing the side pieces in two different states; Figure 5 is a side view of a pair of glasses according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of glasses according to the present invention. The glasses 100 comprise a pair of glasses 102 attached to the frame (also referred to as the front) comprised of the lower frame 110 and the upper frame 104. One end of the side pieces 112 (also called temples) is attached to the frame comprising the frame 104, 110. The second of the side pieces 112 end comprises an earpiece 114 (also referred to as tip). The side panels 112 15 include a flexible zone 116 such that the ear piece 114 of the side panel 112 can be moved in a direction towards and away from the glasses 102. When the side pieces 112 are rotated against the glasses 102 and held in this position, the glasses 100 can be fitted into a case ( not shown). Furthermore, when the side pieces are directed opposite (away from the glasses), the distance between the ear pieces 114 can be adjusted to match a user's face shape 20. The glasses 100 may e.g. are manufactured in one piece of metal, preferably titanium or beta-titanium. When the glasses are made of one piece of metal, this can be done in only one process by, e.g. rolling, punching, deep drawing or the like. Thus, the glasses 100 could e.g. manufactured by stamping the glasses of a metal plate.

The flexible zone 116 is provided by machining the material in this region, thereby providing flexible properties. This can be done by reducing the thickness of the material or by otherwise deforming the material in this area, e.g. by plastic deformation by rolling, punching, deep drawing or the like. Providing the flexible properties of the flexible zone 116 can be integrated into the one process of producing the glasses 100. However, the parts comprising the glasses 100 may also be manufactured individually and subsequently assembled. The flexible or flexible properties obtained in the treatment of the flexible zone 116 allow the side pieces 112 to be moved back and forth without the risk of fatigue fracture. By replacing the traditional hinges with these flexible zones 116, the designer is given greater freedom to obtain a desired shape or expression. The nose pad holder 109 may also be manufactured as part of the glasses 100 and by the same simple process.

5 GB 176941 B1 When preparing the glasses for a specific user, the nose pad holder 109 can easily be adjusted to fit that user exactly. Since the nose pad holder 109 is manufactured as an integral part of the glasses 100, further cost-increasing processes such as welding or screwing processes. The glasses 100 can also be worn without the earpiece 114. This is possible without going beyond the actual use of the glasses 100, since the flexible zone 116 via the side pieces 112 provides sufficient pressure on the user's face. Due to this pressure, the traditional layer, e.g. plastic or rubber layer on the earpiece (or end tip), on the side pieces. Thus, the fastening of the glasses by the earpiece 114 and the layer thereon is not necessary in this embodiment. The various parts, e.g. frames, side pieces, flexible zone and nose clamp holder, on glasses 100 may also be manufactured separately and subsequently assembled by e.g. soldering or welding. Thus, the glasses 100 may be comprised of two flexible zones 116, two side panels (temples) 112 and a frame 104, 110, the side panels 112 being soldered or welded to one end of flexible zone 15 116 and the other end of flexible zone 116 on the frames 104, 110. On the glasses 100 as shown in Figure 1, the side pieces 112 are connected to the frame part 104, 110 at two connection points. This is an advantage as the glasses achieve a more rigid and thus stronger construction compared to the more used one-hinge connection point. The side pieces can also be connected to the frame 104, 20 110 at two or more connection points via the flexible zone 116. The frames 104, 110 of the glasses 100 may also frame only a portion of the glasses 102. Thus, the upper frame 104 may end at one point in the flexible zone 116 and the lower frame 110 may end at another point in the flexible zone 116.

Figure 2 is a front view of a pair of glasses according to the present invention. In order to illustrate the means for bridge assembly 105, a partial section is made in the bridge 106. The upper frame 104 can be separated from the lower frame 110 by the bridge 106. The upper frame 104 and the lower frame 110 are held together by the means for the bridge assembly 105 , such as a screw joint or hook. The bridge 106 can be opened by loosening the bridging assembly 105 and 30 moving the upper frame 104 away from the lower frame 110. The hole created by this process provides enough space to insert the glasses 102 between the frames 104, 110. The glasses 102 can then be secured and held between the frames 104,110 by closing the bridge 106 by means of the bridge assembly 105. By only having to open the bridge 106 to insert the glasses 102, this process is greatly simplified, both in terms of the necessary skills and the necessary time to complete the process. Maintenance of the glasses 100, e.g. Furthermore, adjustment of hinges or other resilient parts is completely avoided. The number of bridge assembly means 105 may differ from those shown in Figure 2 and thus comprise one, three or more bridge assembly means. The bridge assembly 105 may be a screw, a hook, a slider, or a clamp.

Figure 3 is a front view of the bridge in detail on a pair of glasses according to the present invention. In this figure, bridge 106 is assembled.

Figure 4 shows a pair of top view glasses according to the present invention, wherein the side pieces 112 are shown in two different states. In the relaxed state, each side piece 112 bends inwardly, whereby the ear piece 114 on each side piece 112 of this figure intersects approximately at the center line of the bridge (not shown). In the second mode, the side pieces 112 bend outward to fit a user's face shape. Located on the user's face we! the nasal pad 108 rests on the bridge of the nose, and the earpiece 114 on the sidepiece 112 will rest on the ear. Furthermore, due to the elastic properties of the flexible zone 116, the side pieces 112 are pressed against the side of the user's face. The magnitude of this pressure is provided by the plastic deformation of the flexible zone 116 and is thereby determined during manufacture to meet the desired properties of the user.

Figure 5 shows a pair of side glasses of the present invention.

DK 176941 B1 7

REFERENCES

100 glasses (also known as Frame) 102 glass 5,104 upper frame (also commercially referred to as Upper Rim) 105 means for bridge assembly (also known as Rim lock) 106 bridge 108 nose pad 109 nose pad holder 10 110 lower frame (also commercially referred to as Lower Rim) 112 sidepieces (also known as Tempies) 114 earpieces (also known as End Tip) 116 flexible zone

Claims (14)

Glasses comprising a frame member comprising two connected frames for holding the glasses and wherein said frame is connected to each other via a bridge; said five frames are further connected to side pieces to hold the glasses to a user, wherein said glasses are characterized by comprising a flexible zone of metal which is obtained by working the metal in said flexible zone and thereby increasing the flexibility of the metal. said flexible zone, so that the side pieces can be moved in a direction towards and away from said glass, and wherein said frame is connected to said side pieces at (at least) two connection points. Glasses according to claim 1, wherein said side pieces, said flexible zone and said frame part are in one piece of metal. Glasses according to claims 1-2, wherein said flexible zone is included in said side piece. Glasses according to claims 1-2, wherein said flexible zone is included in said frame. Glasses according to claims 1-4, wherein said flexible zone is comprised in said side pieces and said frame. Glasses according to claims 1-5, wherein said frame comprises an upper and a lower frame part held together by said bridge by means of bridge assembly. 25 Glasses according to claims 1-6, wherein said bridge assembly means is a screw. The glasses of claims 1-6, wherein said bridge assembly means is a hook. Glasses according to claims 1-6, wherein said bridging means is a sliding device. The glasses of claims 1-6, wherein said bridge assembly means is a clamp. The glasses of claims 1-5, wherein said frame comprises an upper frame member. The glasses of claims 1-11, wherein said metal is titanium. 9 DK 176941 B1 9 The glasses of claims 1-11, wherein said metal is beta titanium alloy. Glasses according to claims 1-11, wherein said metal is steel.