GB2152228A - A metal frame for spectacles made of steel wire - Google Patents

Abstract

A metal spectacle frame wherein the lens mounts 1, a brow-bar 3, a bridge 6 and hinged temples 11, 12 are made principally of steel piano wire. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A metal frame for spectacles made of steel wire The invention relates to a metal frame for spectacles, more particularly for sun-glasses.

Metal frames for spectacles are known in general but have the fundamental disadvantage of being fairly heavy and rigid, thus limiting their use in the case of sun-glasses, which are used more particularly in the hot season.

During this season, as is known, there is a special requirement for light clothing and accessories such as sun-glasses which are correspondingly light and, if required, flexible so that they can easily fit into the small space available in pockets in summer clothing.

This however, must not reduce the resistance to impact, crushing, or falling, which is particularly likely to happen to spectacles during sports activity.

In addition, known metal frames iimit the choice of lens shape, even though sun-glasses in particular need to be shaped in a wide variety of styles to meet aesthetic and dress requirements.

The object of the present invention therefore is to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of known metal frames by providing a frame which is light, strong, resilient and adapted to fit a wide number of styles and shapes of lenses.

According to the invention, this object is attained by a metal frame characterised in that the lens mounts, or at least the cross-member transversely connecting the mounts, and the sides, are made of steel piano wire The features of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to an embodiment given by way of non-limitative illustration in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame constructed according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partial cross-section along the line 11-11 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a cross-section to a side piece along line Ill-Ill in Figure 1.

The drawings show mounts 1 bearing lenses 2 and connected by a cross-member 3.

Member 3 is e.g. welded to mounts 1 at points 4 and 5. Reference 6 denotes a bridge, which is also secured e.g. by welding to mounts 1 and has projections 7, 8 for nose pads 9 and 1 0. The frame also has sides 11 and 12, which are connected to the mounts 1 by conventional hinges 1 3, 1 4.

According to the invention, members 1, 3, 6, 11 and 1 2 are made of steel piano wire having a cross-section which is preferably circular as illustrated in Figure 2 in the case of mounts 1.

In the case of side pieces 11 and 12, the piano-wire cross-section is advantageously flattened at a part adjacent hinges 1 3 and 14, as shown in Figure 3.

In the remaining part of the sides towards the curved free ends, the wire has a circular cross-section and can be partly covered by a coating of plastics (15 and 16 in Figure 1).

The structure according to the invention therefore provides the advantages inherent in a metal frame which is extremely light, flexible, resilient and adaptable to a very wide range of lens shapes.

1. A metal frame for spectacles, characterised in that the lens mounts, or at least the cross-member transversely connecting the mounts, and the sides, are made of steel piano wire.

2. A frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the bridge and the associated attachments bearing nose-pads are made of steel piano wire.

3. A frame according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the steel piano wire has a circular cross-section.

4. A frame according to claims 1-3, characterised in that the sides have a flattened cross-section in the part adjacent the hinges connected to the lens mounts.

5. A frame according to claims 1-4, characterised in that the end parts of the sides have a circular cross-section and are coated with plastics.

6. A frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A metal frame for spectacles made of steel wire The invention relates to a metal frame for spectacles, more particularly for sun-glasses. Metal frames for spectacles are known in general but have the fundamental disadvantage of being fairly heavy and rigid, thus limiting their use in the case of sun-glasses, which are used more particularly in the hot season. During this season, as is known, there is a special requirement for light clothing and accessories such as sun-glasses which are correspondingly light and, if required, flexible so that they can easily fit into the small space available in pockets in summer clothing. This however, must not reduce the resistance to impact, crushing, or falling, which is particularly likely to happen to spectacles during sports activity. In addition, known metal frames iimit the choice of lens shape, even though sun-glasses in particular need to be shaped in a wide variety of styles to meet aesthetic and dress requirements. The object of the present invention therefore is to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of known metal frames by providing a frame which is light, strong, resilient and adapted to fit a wide number of styles and shapes of lenses. According to the invention, this object is attained by a metal frame characterised in that the lens mounts, or at least the cross-member transversely connecting the mounts, and the sides, are made of steel piano wire The features of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to an embodiment given by way of non-limitative illustration in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame constructed according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partial cross-section along the line 11-11 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a cross-section to a side piece along line Ill-Ill in Figure 1. The drawings show mounts 1 bearing lenses 2 and connected by a cross-member 3. Member 3 is e.g. welded to mounts 1 at points 4 and 5. Reference 6 denotes a bridge, which is also secured e.g. by welding to mounts 1 and has projections 7, 8 for nose pads 9 and 1 0. The frame also has sides 11 and 12, which are connected to the mounts 1 by conventional hinges 1 3, 1 4. According to the invention, members 1, 3, 6, 11 and 1 2 are made of steel piano wire having a cross-section which is preferably circular as illustrated in Figure 2 in the case of mounts 1. In the case of side pieces 11 and 12, the piano-wire cross-section is advantageously flattened at a part adjacent hinges 1 3 and 14, as shown in Figure 3. In the remaining part of the sides towards the curved free ends, the wire has a circular cross-section and can be partly covered by a coating of plastics (15 and 16 in Figure 1). The structure according to the invention therefore provides the advantages inherent in a metal frame which is extremely light, flexible, resilient and adaptable to a very wide range of lens shapes. CLAIMS

1. A metal frame for spectacles, characterised in that the lens mounts, or at least the cross-member transversely connecting the mounts, and the sides, are made of steel piano wire.

2. A frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the bridge and the associated attachments bearing nose-pads are made of steel piano wire.

3. A frame according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the steel piano wire has a circular cross-section.

4. A frame according to claims 1-3, characterised in that the sides have a flattened cross-section in the part adjacent the hinges connected to the lens mounts.

5. A frame according to claims 1-4, characterised in that the end parts of the sides have a circular cross-section and are coated with plastics.

6. A frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.