Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
  • G02C1/00—Assemblies of lenses with bridges or browbars
  • G02C1/02—Bridge or browbar secured to lenses without the use of rims
  • G02C1/023—Bridge or browbar secured to lenses without the use of rims with lenses secured to the fixing parts by clamping, luting, soldering, gluing without holes or recesses in the lenses
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
  • G02C1/00—Assemblies of lenses with bridges or browbars
  • G02C1/02—Bridge or browbar secured to lenses without the use of rims

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the fabrication of eyeglasses having structurally co-operating frame and lenses and further relates to a method and a device for connecting directly to the lenses the various elements of the frame, such as the temples and/or the bow and, possibly, also the nose supports.
• eyeglasses with structurally co-operating frame and lenses has become widespread due to their lightness and safety, which make them preferable to conventional eyeglasses.
• a fabrication method is known, substantially according to the preamble to Claim 1 , which entails the mutual connection of the lenses and of the frame elements by means of particular fastening devices comprising mutually complementary, removable connecting elements, whereof one is secured to the lenses associating itself to through holes that are obtained on the lenses in well defined positions.
• the holes which are obviously cylindrical, do not prevent the connecting elements housed therein from rotating about an axis transverse to the surface of the lens. Since such freedom of rotation could bring about, with usage, the loss of the correct relative positioning between lens and frame, on the edges of the lens grooves are obtained which, engaging corresponding temple or bow segments, maintain the proper positioning between the lenses and the frame elements.
• drilling the lenses represents the most critical operating phase for the purposes of the rapidity and cost-effectiveness of the fabrication process.
• the holes are obtained with successive passes of tips having progressively larger diameters, in order to reduce the risk that the lenses, often very expensive by virtue of their dioptric characteristics, may be chipped or otherwise damaged during the drilling operation.
• a method for connecting eyeglass lenses directly with frame elements in eyeglasses having lenses and frames that co-operate structurally with each other and comprising mutually complementary, removable, connecting elements, respectively connecting the lenses and the frame elements, method characterised in that it comprises a phase whereby one of the connecting elements is heated to an appropriately selected temperature with respect to the characteristic softening temperature of the material constituting the lens; a phase whereby the heated connecting element is compressed against a first face of the lens until causing the sinking and incorporation of the connecting element into said material constituting the lens; and lastly a cooling phase to cause the solidification of the softened material of the lens and the consequent definitive fastening of the connecting element to the lens.
• a fastening device for connecting eyeglass lenses and frame elements in eyeglasses having lenses and frame structurally co-operating with each other, device which comprises a first and a second connecting element shaped complementarily to be able to fastened securely but removably one to the other, characterised in that a said connecting element is so shaped as to be able to be incorporated in the material constituting the lens in a condition of rotation-proof fastening with respect to an axis of rotation transverse to the lens.
• the method according to the invention allows totally to eliminate the risk of damaging the lenses and to eliminate the machining operations on the edges of the lenses for the positioning grooves: all this allows drastic reductions in mounting time, to the benefit of work processing costs which are extremely reduced. Moreover, inasmuch as the fastening element secured to the lens projects externally therefrom, involving only one of the two faces of the lens, the method allows to obtain eyeglasses that have greater aesthetic value and are easier to clean.
• the connecting device is so shaped as to be rotation-proof in itself without the use of other elements, and to maintain this condition stable over time once it has been associated to the lens.
• the connecting device can be constructed in such a way as totally to hide the connecting element incorporated in the lens from view; and it can advantageously constitute also a support for decorative elements of the frame.
• Figure 1 is an overall view of eyeglasses having structurally co-operating lenses and frame, realised according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a view of the eyeglasses of Figure 1 sectioned according to the line II-II and shown in highly enlarged scale;
• Figure 3 shows a first embodiment variation of an element of a connecting device comprised in the invention, seen from the top, from the front and from one side and shown in plan view, in perspective and from the side, in enlarged scale;
• Figures 4A and 4B are respectively a section view and a partial front view of the eyeglasses of Figure 1, whereto the connecting device of Figure 3 has been applied.
• Figure 1 shows eyeglasses 1 of the type comprising lenses 2 and frame element (temples 3, bow 4; nose supports
• the connecting devices 12 are embodied by two functionally complementary connecting elements 7,8, mutually removable from each other, and preferably made of metallic material.
• a first connecting element 7 is provided with a tubular body 7a, internally threaded, having a head 7 and fitted with peripherally protruding projections 7b.
• the projections 7b can be embodied for instance by one or more tips extending from the body 7a, or from the head 7e, whereto an appropriate polygonal shape has been given, or by an equivalent toothing (knurling) obtained on the body 7a or on the head 7e itself.
• the first connecting element 7 is destined to be secured to the material constituting the lens 2 in the manner that shall be described farther on, being stably incapable of rotation therein.
• the second connecting element 8 is instead embodied by a screw, preferably with hexagonal head, provided with a thread complementary to that of the tubular body 7a, whereby the screw 8 is associated directly and securely to the tubular body.
• One of the two connecting elements 7 is fastened to the lens 2, in practice, with a method which comprises a phase whereby the connecting element 7; 8 is heated to a temperature appropriately selected with respect to the characteristic softening temperature of the material constituting the lens 2, material which in order to meet the safety characteristics required for this type of eyeglasses is normally constituted by a thermoplastic resin; a phase whereby the heated connecting element 7; 8 is compressed against a first face 2e of the lens 2 until causing the sinking and incorporation of the connecting element 7; 8 into the material constituting the lens 2, and lastly an air cooling phase to cause the solidification of the softened material of the lens 2 which has flowed around the head 7e during the compression phase, and the consequent definitive fastening of the connecting element 7;8 to the lens 2.
• the compression phase must preferably be interrupted before reaching the complete sinking of the connecting element 7; 8 into the material constituting the lens 2.
• This allows advantageously to effect a sort of gripping of the end 1 1 of the frame element 3;4;5 involved between the first and the second connecting element 7; 8 mutually coupled; and subsequently to tighten the connecting device 12 fully onto the frame element 3,4,5, avoiding direct contact between the latter and the surface 2e of the lens 2; contact which could damage the lens 2 in case of excessively intense tightening force.
• the phase whereby the connecting element 7; 8 is compressed is preferably carried out in such a way as to involve the outer face 2e of the lenses 2. Since most lenses present similar curvatures of the outer faces 2e, this allows to establish nearly constant positional references which enable to minimise the operative times required correctly to position and orient the connecting element 7 with respect to the lens 2, before the later is sunk into the lens 2 itself.
• the connecting device 12 can be constructed in numerous other embodiments.
• a first embodiment variation of the device 12 shown in Figures 3, 4 A and 4B provides for the adoption of an arm 7c integral with the body 7a of the connecting element 7; 8 which is secured to the lens 2.
• the arm 7c is elongated in such a way as to be able to fold back against a first peripheral edge 9a of the lens 2, thereby being itself able to serve, aiding or replacing the projections 7b, as an obstacle to the rotation of the connecting element 7 about an axis of rotation 10 transverse to the lens 2.
• the arm 7c of the connecting element 7 is of suitable length, it is possible to fold it a second time against a second peripheral edge 9b of the lens 2 and, approaching it to a face 2i of the lens opposite to the face 2e involved by the first connecting element 7; 8, it is possible to hide from view the area of the lens 2 involved with the connection.
• the use of the arm 7c allows for other advantages, amongst them that of enabling the fastening of the frame element 3,4,5 in a position lateral to the lens 2, for instance using a support 7d for coupling the frame element: whether it is constituted by the temple 3; by the bow 4 or by the nasal support 5.
• the arm 7c can also provide an effective support for sustaining decorative elements 13 of the frame, to the advantage of a greater aesthetic value of the eyeglasses 1 themselves.
• a possible embodiment of such variations can pertain to the connecting system operating between the first and the second connecting element 7 and 8.
• the tubular body 7a of the first connecting element 7 can have a smooth inner surface. Similar smooth surface can be possessed by the corresponding complementary part of the second connecting element 8.
• deformable plastic material such as an easily deformed metal like lead or even an equally deformable plastic material

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 1998
  • 1998-10-30 IT IT1998RN000041 patent/IT1306001B1/it active
• 1999
  • 1999-10-26 AU AU61178/99A patent/AU6117899A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-10-26 EP EP99947816A patent/EP1125158A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-10-26 WO PCT/IB1999/001736 patent/WO2000026715A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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