GB2034072A

GB2034072A - Spectacle frames

Info

Publication number: GB2034072A
Application number: GB7936457A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Les Must de Cartier France
Current assignee: Les Must de Cartier France
Priority date: 1978-10-20
Filing date: 1979-10-19
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: BE879515R; DE2941798A1; IT1125530B; ES246286U; JPS5559424A; IT7926665A0; FR2439412A2; IL58504A0; ES246286Y; ZA795594B; NL7907726A; BR7906779A

Abstract

The lenses of spectacles are held by rims 1, which are split at the side opposite the nose-bridge and formed with lugs 7, 8 formed with holes 12 (only one shown). The temple has arms 5, 6 sprung apart, but brought together by a grooved sliding piece 9, so that pins 10, 11 enter the holes 12, to bring lugs 7, 8 together and to form a hinge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spectacle frame The main patent application describes and claims a spectacle frame of the type comprising two encircling elements which surround and hold in place the lenses, the two encircling elements being joined by a bridge which rests on the nose of the wearer, each encircling element being provided with a detachable articulated side which rests on the upper part of the start of the outer ear in such a way as to maintain the spectacles in position without tilting, wherein each encircling element is open on the outside, i.e. on the side opposite to that having the said bridge, the open ends of each encircling element being radially curved in such a way that each forms an outer lateral tab, each side of the frame has on the side where it is connected to the encircling element an end shaped like a two toothed fork, the outer lateral tabs are inserted into the fork in such a way that the outer face of each lateral tab and the inner face of the corresponding tooth of the fork are pressed against one another and the outer faces of the outer lateral tabs and the inner faces of the teeth of the fork have complementary fixing and articulating members ensuring both the fixing of the lateral tabs within the fork whilst maintaining the encircling elements in a lens locking position and the articulation of the sides of the spectacle frame.

In order to simplify the description it is accepted that the two spectacle lenses and the two encircling elements are in a vertical plane facing the wearer of the spectacles, who is assumed to be standing and that the sides are essentially directed in accordance with a horizontal line marked on a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of the encircling elements. The part of the spectacle frame sides adjacent to the junction point with the encircling elements will be called the front end or part, whilst the free part of the sides will be called the rear end or part.

The present invention relates to a spectacle frame of the type comprising two encircling elements for surrounding and holding in place the lenses, the two encircling elements being joined by a bridge which rests on the nose of the wearer, each encircling element being provided with a side, whose front portion is articulated and whose rear portion rests on the upper part of the start of the outer ear, said encircling elements being open on the outside, i.e. on the side opposite to the side having the bridge, the open ends of each encircling element being radially curved in such a way as to form in each case a lateral tab, wherein each side of the spectacle frame has two side elements made from a semi-rigid, elastically deformable material which diverge from one another towards the front, i.e. towards the encircling element as from a fixed point, said two side elements being located, in the normal position of use with the wearer standing, in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lenses, the front end of each side element has a portion which is in contact with the outer face of the corresponding lateral tab of an encircling element, the front end of the side elements and the lateral tabs being provided with complementary fixing and articulating marks for the sides with respect to the encircling elements and each side has a clamping slide means whose operation in one direction brings about by elastic deformation the bringing together of the two side elements towards a fixing position with articulation of the side elements on the corresponding lateral tabs whilst maintaining the encircling elements in the lens locking position and whose operation in the other direction makes it possible for the side elements and consequently the outer lateral tabs of the encircling elements by elastic return and to thus free the spectacle lenses.

Thus, the spectacle frame side described hereinbefore has a single rear element between the rear end and the fixed joining point of the side elements. Between the fixed point and the front end the spectacle frame side is subdivided into two side elements diverge from one another in the manner indicated hereinbefore and form a two toothed fork.

According to embodiments of the invention the spectacle frame can have the following features, taken singly or in combination: the two elements of each side diverge from one another towards the front, as indicated hereinbefore, up to a maximum divergence point and then approach one another again without joining from their maximum divergence point up to their front end; the elements of the branches diverge from one another symmetrically with respect to the horizontal; the side elements approach one another, from their maximum divergence point, symmetrically with respect to the horizontal; the side elements become parallel between their maximum divergence point and their front end; when the side elements approach one another or become substantially parallel from their maximum divergence point, the latter is located in the vicinity of the front end of the spectacle frame side;; the sliding clamping means, which has a random. shape compatible with its use, has two grooves for the passage of the two side elements; the two grooves of the sliding clamping means are substantially parallel to the general direction of the spectacle frame side; each of the two grooves wholly or partly surround a side element over part of the length thereof; the complementary fixing and articulating means for the sides with respect to the encircling elements are complementary systems of projecting pins and holes; the complementary fixing and articulating means are constituted by a pin passing through holes made in the external lateral tabs and in the front end of the side elements.

The invention will described in greater detail hereinafter relative to non-limitative embodiments of the spectacle frame according to the invention, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein show: Fig. 1 a partial perspective view of a pair of spectacles having a frame according to the invention.

Fig. 2 a partial perspective, larger scale view of the system for clamping the lenses in the closed position.

Fig. 3 a partial perspective and enlarged scale view of the system for clamping the lenses in the open position.

Fig. 4 a perspective view of a special embodiment of the lens clamping slide.

Fig. 5 a partial view in lateral elevation and on a larger scale of another system for clamping the lenses in the closed position.

Fig. 6 a partial view in lateral elevation and on a larger scale of said other system for clamping the lenses in the open position.

The thus defined pair of spectacles has a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the planes of the encircling elements 1 , said plane passing through the centre of the bridge 3.

The encircling elements are shaped like spectacle lenses which, as is known, can vary greatly.

Reference will be made hereinafter to a circuiar shape for the encircling elements, solely for reasons of simplification.

As can be seen in Fig. 3 the encircling elements, such as 1 are open on the outer side, i.e.

on the side opposite to that having the bridge 3. In other words the encircling element 1 is in the form of an incomplete circle, whose open ends, which are relatively close to one another, are radially curved, i.e. in accordance with a radius of a circle which theoretically represents the encircling element in such a way that each forms an external lateral tab 7, 8.

Obviously it is possible to give the external lateral tabs any random configuration compatible with their use.

In particular said external tabs can be extended rearwardly at their end (for the observer wearing the spectacles) as shown in particular in Figs. 5 and 6.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 it can be seen that the inner faces 5a, 6a of the front ends of the side elements 5, 6 are provided in each case with an inwardly directed pin 10, 1 1. The outer faces 7a, 8a of the external lateral tabs 7, 8 have in each case a hole such as 12 visible on the external lateral tab 7 (the identical hole on outer tab 8 is not visible in Fig. 3).

This system of complementary pins and holes makes it possible to fix the spectacle frame side on the external lateral tabs in an articulated manner.

The clamping slide 9 has two grooves 13, 14 passing through the side elements 5, 6 (Figs. 2and 4).

In Fig. 2 the lens clamping slide is in the closed position. Examination of Fig. 3 makes it possible to see how the lens clamping slide is locked. On moving slide 9 in the direction of arrow F1 the locking in the clamped position of the lenses is brought about when the slide has reached or passed slightly beyond the point of maximum divergence of sides 5, 6. This maximum divergence point is located on the vertical line passing through points 5b, 6b.

In Figs. 2 and 3 sides 5 and 6 move towards one another between the maximum divergence point and their front end. However, such a configuration is not obligatory. It is merely necessary that at the maximum divergence point the side elements have an end portion which is substantially parallel to the general direction of the spectacle frame side, such as portions Sc and 6c.

It is in fact possible to give the front end of the side elements any random configuration which is compatible with the present invention.

it is also possible, for example, to provide the front end of the side elements 5, 6 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, with a lateral cover 15, 16 which is placed over an outer lateral tab 7, 8, formed by the radial bending of each end of the encircling element 1 or 1', which makes it possible to ensure the articulation of the sides by means of pins 1 7 and 18.

As can be seen from Fig. 6 the front end of the lower inner face of groove 13 is widened at 1 3a in such a way that in the clamping position face 1 3a is applied to the lower face Sc of the front end of side element 5. This face Sc and the corresponding face 6c of the lower side element 6 thus constitute an abutment for the clamping slide 9 in the lens locking position.

On unlocking the clamping slide 9 in the direction of arrow F2 (cf Fig. 2) side elements 5 and 6 are moved apart, which brings about the opening of the encircling element 1 or 1' permitting the removal of lens 2 or 2'.

After fitting a new lens it is merely necessary to slide slide 9 in the opposite direction until the latter is clamped by the front end of side elements 5 and 6.

Claims

1. A spectacle frame of the type comprising two encircling elements for surrounding and holding in place the lenses, the two encircling elements being joined by a bridge which rests on the nose of the wearer, each encircling element being provided with a side, whose front portion is articulated and whose rear portion rests on the upper part of the start of the outer ear, said encircling elements being open on the outside, i.e.

on the side opposite to the side having the bridge, the open ends of each encircling element being radially curved in such a way as to form in each case a lateral tab, wherein each side of the spectacle frame has two side elements made from a semi-rigid, elastically deformable material which diverge from one another towards the front, i.e.

towards the encircling element as from a fixed point, said two side elements being located, in the normal position of use with the wearer standing, in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lenses, the front end of each side element has a portion which is in contact with the outer face of the corresponding lateral tab of an encircling element, the front end of the side elements and the lateral tabs being provided with complementary fixing and articulating marks for the sides with respect to the encircling elements and each side has a clamping slide means whose operation in one direction brings about by elastic deformation the bringing together of the two side elements towards a fixing position with articulation of the side elements on the corresponding lateral tabs whilst maintaining the encircling elements in the lens locking position and whose operation in the other direction makes it possible for the side elements and consequently the outer lateral tabs of the encircling elements by elastic return and to thus free the spectacle lenses.

2. A spectacle frame according to claim 1, wherein the two elements of one side diverge from one another towards the front from a fixed point and up to a maximum divergence point, then approach one another without joining from their maximum divergence point up to their front end.

3. A spectacle frame according to claim 1, wherein the side elements diverge towards the front up to a maximum divergence point and then become substantially parallel between their maximum divergence point and their front end.

4. A spectacle frame according to either of the claims 2 and 3, wherein the maximum divergence point is located in the vicinity of the front end of the side.

5. A spectacle frame according to one or more of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the side elements diverge from one another symmetrically with respect to the horizontal.

6. A spectacle frame according to claim 2, wherein the side elements approach one another symmetrically with respect to the horizontal.

7. A spectacle frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding clamping means has two grooves for the passage of the two side elements.

8. A spectacle frame according to claim 7, wherein the two grooves of the sliding clamping means are substantially parallel to the general direction of the spectacle frame side.

9. A spectacle frame according to either of the claims 7 and 8, wherein each of the two grooves partly or wholly surrounds a side element over part of its length.

10. A spectacle frame substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the drawings.