GB2158961A

GB2158961A - Metal spectacle frame

Info

Publication number: GB2158961A
Application number: GB08430475A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vittorio Tabacchi; Vincenzo Viel
Original assignee: Safilo SpA
Current assignee: Safilo SpA
Priority date: 1984-05-16
Filing date: 1984-12-03
Publication date: 1985-11-20
Also published as: JPS6220528B2; SE8502081L; FR2564604A1; JPS60244923A; GB8430475D0; SE8502081D0; GB2158961B; ES282821U; FR2564604B1; CH661988A5; ES282821Y; DE3442969A1; IT8420946A0; IT1173778B

Abstract

A metal spectacle frame comprises a facepiece with a pair of lens-holding rims (3) to the outermost part of each of which is fixed a lug (6) for the hinging of an earpiece. Each lug (6) is constituted by a one-piece block and each rim (3) is cut in correspondence with its lug (6) to form two arms (3a, 3b), one (3a) fixed to the lug (6) and the other (3b) connected thereto by a screw tie (18). The rims 3 may be connected by a nose-bridge 33 (Fig. 7) having similar lugs 33a, 33b. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Metal spectacle frame The present invention relates to a metal spectacle frame of the type comprising a facepiece with a pair of lens-holding rims to the outermost part of each of which is fixed a lug for the hinging of the earpiece.

In metal spectacle frames of the type specified above, and particularly in flexible frames, the most critical zone is the portion of the facepiece connected to the lug.

In the conventional art, the lug is in fact welded to the lens-holding rim, with the consequent heating of this zone of the facepiece and hence the possibility of causing permanent deformation in this zone during use of the frame.

Previous studies by the present Applicants have suggested the cutting of the lens-holding rim in correspondence with the zone of attachment of the lug and the fixing, by form coupling, of the cut ends of the rim to a pair of plates which are clamped together to form a hinge seat for the earpiece and at the same time close the lens-holding rim.

However, this technical solution is not free from disadvantages; in particular, because of the need to clamp one plate against the other, it is not possible to make up for any small errors in cutting and/or chamfering of the lenses whereby it is necessary to change the dimensions of the lens-holding rim. The risk of wastage of lenses or of obtaining lenses insufficiently-firmly mounted in the frame thus remains.

The problem behind the present invention is that of providing a metal spectacle frame which overcomes the disadvantages complained of above with reference to the prior art.

This problem is solved by the invention by means of a spectacle frame of the type specified above, which is characterised in that each of the lugs is constituted by a one-piece block and each rim is cut in correspondence with its lug to form two arms, one fixed to the lug and the other connected thereto by a screw tie.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of three preferred, but not exclusive embodiments of metal spectacle frames according to the invention illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a metal spectacle frame according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Figure 3 and 4 are schematic side elevational views of two successive steps in the attachment of a lug to the frame of Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lug of the preceding Figures fixed to its corresponding rim, partially showing an earpiece of the spectacles; Figure 6 illustrates a variant of the lug of the preceding Figures; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a further variant of a frame according to the invention.

With reference to the drawings, a spectacle frame, generally indicated 1, comprises a facepiece 2 with rims 3 surrounding corresponding lenses 4.

Earpieces 5 are hinged to the facepiece 2 by means of lugs 6 fixed to the rims 3.

Each lug is fixed to the outermost part of the facepiece and consists of a one-piece block of substantially prismatic shape and predominantly longitudinal development. In correspondence with the respective lug 6, each rim 3 is cut into two arms 3a, 3b with end portions 1 0a, 1 0b bent into eyelets.

The eyelets 1 0a, 1 Ob are then bent in a plane substantially perpendicular to the corresponding arms 3a, 3b of the rim.

The lug 6 has a hinge seat 11 at one end for the corresponding earpiece 5, the seat 11 being defined between opposing cheeks 11 a, 1 b extending longitudinally of the lug and suitably spaced to receive a hinge end 1 2 of the ear piece 5, which is of conventional shape.

A screw 1 3 passes through the cheeks 11 a, 11 b and constitutes a hinge pin for the end 12.

The lug 6 also forms, on the outermost part of the facepiece 2 adjacent the cheeks 11 a, 11 b, a shoulder 1 4 extending parallel to the axis of the screw 1 3 and constituting a stop for the opening of the earpiece 5.

Close to the end longitudinally opposite the seat 11, a substantially circular-sectioned recess 1 6 is formed in the lug 6 with its axis substantially transverse the lug and parallel to the hinge axis of the earpiece 5. The remaining part of the lug has a threaded hole 1 7 which is coaxial with the recess 1 6 and is engaged by a screw 1 8 passing through the eyelets 1 Oa, 1 Ob.

More precisely, the recess 1 6 is provided in an intermediate position with an annular lip 21 which gives the recess a substantially trapezoidal section near its bottom.

During the assembly of the lug on the corresponding rim of the frame 1, the eyelet 1 0a is placed at the bottom of the recess 1 6 and the lip 21 is upset to fix the lug 6 to the arm 3a of the rim 3, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The side of the lug facing the rim 3 has a recess 1 9 extending transversely and substantially parallel to the axis of the recess 1 6 and the hole 17; the recess 1 9 opens into the recess 1 6 to house the arms 3a, 3b of the rim 3.

Fig. 6 shows a detail of a first variant of the frame according to the invention, in which similar parts are given the same numerals as used previously.

This differs from the previous embodiment in that the arm 3a of the rim 3 has an end 26 bent at right angles and inserted in a hole 27 in the lug 25, the hole passing through the lug longitudinally starting from the recess 1 9.

The end 26 of the arm 3a is retained in the hole 27 by forcing, gluing, or other equivalent methods.

In this case, the seat 1 6 does not have a lip since it only has to receive and retain the bent eyelet-shaped end lOb of the arm 3b by means of the screw 18.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a facepiece of a spectacle frame, generally indicated 30.

The facepiece 30 includes a pair of lensholding rims 31 having lugs 32 on their outermost parts and a central nose bridge 33 interconnecting the rims 31.

By way of example, the lugs 32 are of the type illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 to which reference should be made for a detailed description thereof.

Each rim 31 is made from a pair of bows 31 a, 31 b bent at opposite ends to form respective eyelets 34a, 35a on the bow 31a and 34b, 35b on the bow 31b.

Both the eyelets 34a, 34b and the eyelets 35a, 35b have the same shape as that described previously with reference to the con,- nection of the lugs 6, 25.

The bridge 33 has seats at opposite ends 33a, 33b, which are exactly the same as those described previously with reference to the lugs 6, 25 to which reference should be made for constructional details.

The assembly of the frame according to the invention is as follows: the lug 6, 25 is fixed to the arm 3a of the corresponding lensholding rim. The fixing is effected in the first case by upsetting the lip 21 over the eyelet 1 Oa, and in the second by the force-fitting of the end 26 in the hole 27.

The lens 4 is then placed in the corresponding rim 3 and the screw 1 8 is engaged in the hole 1 7 after having passed through the eyelet lOb.

The screw 1 8 is tightened and acts as a tie for the arm 3b, tightening the rim 3 around the lens 4.

Any slight play of the lens 4 in the rim 3 is thus taken up without altering the quality of the hinged connection between the lug 6, 25 and the earpiece 5.

The same adjustment may be achieved in a frame using the facepiece shown in Fig. 7, in which the lugs 32 may be of a conventional type and the adjustment of the play between the lenses and the rims 31 is delegated to the coupling between the ends 34a, 34b thereof and the bridge 33.

Claims

1. A metal spectacle frame comprising a facepiece with a pair of lens-holding rims to the outermost part of each of which is fixed a lug for the hinging of an earpiece, in which each of the lugs is constituted by a one-piece block and each ring is cut in correspondence with its lug to form two arms, one fixed to the lug and the other connected thereto by a screw tie.

2. A metal spectacle frame comprising a facepiece with a pair of lens-holding rims to the outermost part of each of which is fixed a lug for the hinging of an earpiece, and further including a bridge between the rims, in which each rim is a cut in correspondence with the bridge to form two arms, one fixed to the bridge and the other connected thereto by a screw tie.

3. A metal spectacle frame substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.