FR2646247A1 - Spectacle frame - Google Patents

Abstract

Impact-resistance spectacle frame. According to the invention, the frame is provided with a front bar 18 made of relatively flexable material, preferably arranged parallel to an upper bridge 15a and set back in relation to the latter.

Description

"Eyeglass frame"
The invention relates to a spectacle frame and relates more particularly to an improvement aimed at protecting the user in the event of an impact.

 A wearer of glasses risks cuts or bruises of certain parts of the face, in the event of an impact on the glasses. This is particularly the case during the practice of certain sports. Injuries can be significant when the frames are made of metal and have more or less sharp edges.

 The object of the invention is more particularly to absorb shocks at the forehead and the eyebrow arches.

 In this spirit, the invention therefore essentially relates to a spectacle frame comprising two circles and two articulated branches, said circles being connected by at least one bridge element, characterized in that it comprises a front bar made of relatively flexible material, s extending on either side and in the vicinity of the upper part of said bridge element and fixed by its ends to said frame or to a rigid element integral with the latter.

 The front bar is set back relative to the frame, that is to say closer to the front of the user.

Thus, in the event of an impact, it is mainly the lateral surface, advantageously rounded, of the flexible bar which comes to bear against the forehead. The shock is therefore distributed over a larger contact surface, the strip of flexible material also constituting an element which is not very blunt in itself.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear better in the light of the following description of several examples of frames conforming to its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a spectacle frame according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is an exploded perspective detail view showing the assembly of the bar of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a top view with cutaway of a possible variant;
- Figure 4 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of a part of the frame of Figure 3;
- Figure 5 is an exploded perspective detail view showing a variant; and
- Figure 6 is a cross section of the elements of Figure 5, assembled.

 The spectacle frame 11 shown in FIG. 1 conventionally comprises two "circles" 12a, 12b capable of carrying glasses and two branches 13a, 13b respectively articulated to the circles by hinges 14. The two circles, here metallic, are connected by at least one bridge element, 15; the example described comprises an upper bridge 15a and a lower bridge 15k. These two bridges are here rigid, elongated metal elements, welded to the circles.

 According to the invention, the frame also includes a front bar 18 made of relatively flexible material (for example at least partly made of flexible plastic) extending on either side and in the vicinity of the upper part of the element forming bridge 15. In the example, this bar extends substantially parallel to the upper bridge 15a and over practically the entire length thereof. The bar 18 is fixed at its ends to the frame or to a rigid element integral with the latter. In the example described, the bar is fixed to the ends of the upper bridge 15a itself. The latter comprises, for this purpose, two end portions 20a-20b making an angle (here practically a right angle with its central part. As a result, the front bar 18 extends substantially parallel to the upper bridge and is set back by in relation to it and to the frame as a whole. When the user wears his glasses, said front bar is therefore closer to the forehead than the rest of the frame and is therefore able to effectively protect the user against impact reaching the frame.

 FIG. 2 more particularly illustrates the structure and the mounting of the front bar 18. The end portions 20a, 20 of the upper deck are elements forming yokes, respectively attached, here welded, at the ends of a straight rod 19 constituting the central part of the upper deck 15a. The latter is welded to the circles 12a, 12. The front bar 18 is composed of a relatively flat metal core 22 and a part 23 made of flexible plastic or similar material, overmolded so as to coat most of the core 22. Part 23 comprises a edge rounded in the thickness direction, of the caté of the forehead of the user. It further comprises, at each of its ends, a notch 24 releasing the corresponding end of the core 22, in which a hole is made 25. Each yoke conventionally comprises two aligned holes 26, 27, defined on either side of a recess capable of accommodating one of the uncovered ends of the core 22. The hole 27 is tapped. The assembly is ensured by a screw 28 engaged in the holes 25 and 26 and screwed in the hole 27. The core 22 could be made of rigid plastic.

 In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the end portions 30a, 30b of the upper bridge are cylindrical elements attached to each end of a straight rod forming the central part of said upper bridge.

Each end of the rod is engaged in a transverse hole of such a cylindrical element and welded or otherwise fixed in this hole. Each cylindrical element forming such an extreme portion 30a 30b is necked at its end so as to define a shoulder 32 extended by an interlocking end piece 34, approximately conical.

This socket fitting is forcibly engaged in a cavity 35, of corresponding shape, defined in an enlarged end of the flexible front bar 18b.

 According to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper bridge 15A is produced by a profile element 39 with an approximately U-shaped section, at the ends of which said end portions 40a, 40b are welded; these are here constituted by small cylindrical elements. The profile element is arranged so that its longitudinal opening 41 is located on the side of the front of the user. The front bar 18c is a molded piece of flexible plastic material having a concave edge facing the front of the user. This edge is also rounded in the thickness direction. The other edge 42 of the front bar 18c is shaped so as to be able to engage in said longitudinal opening 41 (the profile of this edge is clearly visible in FIG. 61 and the bar 18c is glued in said profile element 39.

Claims (7)

 1- Spectacle frame comprising two circles (12a, 12k) and two articulated arms (13a, 13b), said circles being connected by at least one bridge element (15), characterized in that it comprises a front bar (18 > relatively flexible material extending on either side and in the vicinity of the upper part of the bridge element and fixed by its ends to said frame or to a rigid element integral with it.  2- Spectacle frame according to claim 1, of the type comprising an elongated rigid element forming an upper bridge (15a). fixed, preferably welded, to the two circles, characterized in that said front bar (18) is mounted at the ends of this rigid element forming an upper bridge.  3- spectacle frame according to claim 2, characterized in that said rigid element forming upper bridge (15a) has two end portions (20a 20k) making an angle with its central part so that said front bar extends substantially parallel to said bridge superior.  4- spectacle frame according to claim 3, characterized in that the end portions (20a, 20b) each form a yoke and in that the ends of said front bar (18) are engaged and fixed in these yokes, respectively.  5- spectacle frame according to claim 4, characterized in that said front bar (18) comprises a central core (22) and a part of flexible plastic or similar material, overmolded so as to coat said core with the exception of its ends in which holes are made (25> for assembly to said yokes.  6- spectacle frame according to claim 3, characterized in that each end portion (30a, 30b) has a shoulder (32) extended by a fitting end piece (34), the latter being force-fitted into a shape cavity corresponding defined in one end of said front bar (18b>.  7- Spectacle frame according to claim 3, characterized in that said upper bridge (15a) comprises a profile element with approximately U-shaped section and in that said front bar (18c) is fixed, for example glued, in this element profile.