GB2177811A

GB2177811A - Spectacles having sidepiece retractable into frame

Info

Publication number: GB2177811A
Application number: GB08518101A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Margaret Ma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-07-18
Filing date: 1985-07-18
Publication date: 1987-01-28
Also published as: FR2585142A1; GB8518101D0

Abstract

A pair of spectacles, preferably in the form of a card bearing advertising, decorative or promotional material (Fig. 1) has a channel (48) formed in the frame (40) and receiving a pair of sidepieces (51) which can be extended and swung into a position in which they lie transverse to the frame to bring them into the position of use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to spectacles THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in or relating to spectacles and, in particular, to eyeglasses, sunglasses, stereoscopic viewing glasses, polarizing lens glasses, protective glasses, goggles and the like, hereinafter referred to generally as spectacles, comprising durable or short-lived materials for repeated or single-use applications, for retention or disposal, and utilizing glass or synthetic resin (plastics) lenses, which spectacles can be supplied or stored in a compact form.

Conventional spectacles comprise a frame having a bridgepiece interconnecting a pair of lens supporting portions and a respective sidepiece pivotally connected to each portion and formed with an earpiece. In use, the frame is supported on the nose of the wearer by the bridgepiece, the lenses are located in front of the eyes, and the sidepieces extend rearwardly along the sides of the head and engage, by means of the earpieces, behind the ears of the wearer.

Spectacles have been provided for a wide variety of purposes only some of which need be alluded to here. For example, they may be provided as ordinary eyeglasses with corrective lenses or lenses intended to assist in normal vision, either made especially for the user or to provide magnification or some other special effect. Sunglasses, for example, may be used as filters or attenuators to protect the eyes from the sun, while stereoscopic glasses may be used to produce a three-dimensional effect when viewing a display in which two distinct images are created by polarized light or colour effects. Spectacles may also be used to protect the eyes against vapours, the spattering of liquids and flying particles. For conventional frames, synthetic resin materials may be used and other materials such as wire and metal can be employed in whole or in part.Disposable or single-use spectacles, for example as sunglasses or for viewing threedimensional motion pictures may be distributed widely at low cost and may utilise materials such as cardboard or paper.

In recent years a compact construction has been desired. Conventionally, the sidepieces of a pair of spectacles are permanently hinged to the outer ends of the frame to allow the sidepieces to be swung inwardiy and enable the folded pair of spectacles to be inserted into a standard sleeve, into a pocket or otherwise stored. Sometimes a hinge or flexible connection is provided at the bridgepiece to enable the spectacles to be even more compact.

Folding spectacles are described in the following U.S. Patents: 1,926,649; 2,032, 139; 2,322,393; 2,323,518, 2,714,448; 2,824,308; 3,441,341 and 3,689,136. Whilst these previously proposed arrangements have proved to be relatively compact, they are invariably somewhat bulky and it is desirable in some cases to provide a very slim flat construction.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a pair of spectacles, comprising a frame, which frame comprises, or is capable of supporting, at least one lens, and at least one sidepiece which is at least partially retractable into the frame.

In a particular aspect of the invention, the spectacles are provided in a flat-card form enabling legible matter to be placed thereon, for example as a novelty item.

The present invention thus enables the provision of an improved spectacle structure which has a flatter configuration than previously proposed spectacles but which nevertheless has greater versatility.

The invention further enables the provision of a simple, flat, compact spectacle construction which avoids some disadvantages of prior art arrangements.

The invention still further enables the provision of a readily printabie novelty item which can be utilized at low cost to enable spectacle use.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, a flattened spectacle frame is provided with at least one longitudinal channel extending across the lens supporting portion of the frame and through the bridgepiece thereof and opening at one end of the frame to enable a sidepiece to be at least in part withdrawn from the channel and swung into a position of use in which the sidepiece lies substantially transverse to the plane of the frame and the channel.

The channel will normally accommodate two such sidepieces, each of which can be extended from the channel in a respective, generally linear, direction before being swung into its use position. This arrangement has the advantage that the sidepieces are largely received within the frame while the latter retains its preferred flat and planar construction, without requiring folding of the sidepieces or even telescoping of various sections of a sidepiece into one another, systems which increase the complexity of manufacture and use. While the invention is applicable to the use of any material, it can be carried out utilizing sidepieces of plastics material, wire and other materia s which are commonly utilized in spectacles.

The invention especially enables paper or cardboard to be used as will be apparent below.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, each sidepiece is provided with an earpiece which may continue to project when the sidepiece is otherwise received in the (respective) channel so that the earpiece can serve as graspable means enabling the sidepiece to be extended from the channel. Alternatively, the earpiece may be partly received within the frame in a more compact construction. The end of the sidepiece remote from the earpiece can be shaped, for example with a head or transverse formation, to prevent the shank of the sidepiece from being fully removed from the channel.

According to another aspect of the invention, the spectacles are formed as a card or sheet from which the frame can be separated, for example along perforations or score lines, with the sidepieces likewise comprising a sheet material which is then withdrawn from the frame to bend and fit around the head of the wearer. This card can bear conventional indicia. For example, if it is to popularize some aspect of an event such as, for example, the Olympic Games, the spectacles can be sunglasses provided with ultraviolet-absorbing or other light-absorbing lenses which may be light-polarizing filters, if desired, and the spectacles may bear some symbol of the Olympic Games or of some aspect thereof. This symbol can be exposed when the spectacles are worn.The other side of the card and, possibly, other side of the spectacles, can bear other indicia such as symbols for message, address and stamp, if the card is intended for use as a postcard. The card itself can be formed by folding a paper or cardboard sheet to define the channel receiving the sidepieces.

The sidep-eces and the card, including the openings over which transparent acetate foils or the like are fixed to form the lenses, can be formed by die stamping or cutting in a conventional manner.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a card from which spectacles according to the invention can be separated; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ll-ll of Figure 1; FIGURE 2A is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 2 and showing another embodiment; FIGURE 3 is a view of the other side of the spectacles after they have been separated from the card; FIGURE 4 is a top view of the spectacles showing the bending of the sidepieces after they have been withdrawn from the channel; FIGURE 5 is a top view of another pair of spectacles in accordance with the invention showing the sidepieces retracted in solid lines and extended in dot-dash lines;; FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of the spectacles of Figure 5; and FIGURE 7 is a detailed view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 6.

Referring now to Figure 1, a pair of spectacles is defined in a card 10 by scoring 11 delineating a frame 12. The card 10 is formed by folding a sheet of stiff paper or thin card after die cutting thereof, so that a pair of layers 12 and 13 lie parallel to one another and extend codirectionally from a fold 14. The layers are held together by sealing points 15 and are provided with windows 16 and 17, each of which is closed internally by a panel 18 of coloured transparent acetate foil to form a sunglasses lens.

The folded over sheet defines a channel 19 in which a pair of sidepieces 20, 21 can be disposed one behind the other, each of these sidepieces being formed with an enlarged head 22, 23 which is prevented from being fully removed from the channel by a pair of sealing points 24, 25 at the respective side of the frame 12.

The exposed surface of the card 10 seen in Figure 1 can be provided with indicia, such as a printed field 26 for a postage stamp, a printed field 27 for an address, and a printed field 28 for an appropriate message. When the card is used as a postcard, the recipient can simply separate the spectacles from the remainder of the card along the score lines or perforations 11 and utilize the spectacles for the intended purpose, that is for sunglasses in the case illustrated.

Naturally, instead of the printed indicia represented in Figure 1, the card can be provided with advertising messages or the like.

The reverse field of the card can also bear indicia, for example as shown at 29, which can serve as a symbolic representation of an event, a place or some reminder which can remain on the frame 15 of the sunglasses and can be displayed, for example, as an advertising message carried by the wearer or merely for decorative purposes.

The sidepieces 20, 21 can be provided with earpieces 30, 31 which may be lodged between the leaves of the folded product as shown in Figure 1.

When the spectacles have been separated from the rest of the card (see Figure 3), the sidepieces can be drawn out into the position shown and then bent rearwardly as shown in Figure 4 to the normal position of such sidepieces embracing the head of the user.

Figures 5 to 7 show another embodiment in which the generally flat character of the spectacles is retained. In this embodiment, the frame 40 comprises a pair of lens supporting portions 41, 42 interconnected by a bridgepiece 43 which is rigid therewith. The portions 41, 42 are provided with windows 44, 45 each of which receives a lens 46, 47. A channel 48 is provided in the linear rigid member formed by the upper parts of the portions 41, 42 and by the bridgepiece 43. Whilst a com mon channel is utilized to receive the two sidepieces 50, 51 (only one of which is shown in Figures 6 and 7), it will be understood that separate channels can also be employed, if desired.Each of the sidepieces 50, 51 is formed with an earpiece 52 and projects through a passage 53 at the respective end of the frame so that the sidepiece can be withdrawn through this passage and swung into a rearwardly open slot 54 (see Figure 7), the withdrawal being limited by an enlarged head 55 at the end of the sidepiece.

Thus, in the retracted position shown in Figures 5 and 6 in solid lines, the sidepieces are practically completely received within the channel and only the earpieces 52 remain exposed and are substantially coplanar with the rest of the frame. When, however, the sidepieces are extended, they can be swung into the normal use position shown in dot-dash lines at 56 and 57 to engage the head of the wearer. It is also possible in both of the embodiments described to form the channels from a tubular member 81 (see Figure 2A) which can be appiied to the frame element 80 by heat sealing, adhesive bonding or other conventional means.

Claims

1. A pair of spectacles, comprising a frame, which frame comprises, or is capable of supporting, at least one lens, and at least one sidepiece which is at least partially retractable into the frame.

2. A pair of spectacles according to Claim 1, wherein the or each sidepiece is slidable into a channel which extends across the frame.

3. A pair of spectacles according to Claim 2, wherein the or each sidepiece is pivotable with respect to the frame between a position in which the sidepiece extends substantially transversely of the plane of the frame and a position in which the sidepiece is slidable into the channel.

4. A pair of spectacles according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the or each sidepiece comprises an enlarged portion to prevent complete withdrawal of the sidepiece from the channel.

5. A pair of spectacles according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the frame comprises a frame member and a channel member bonded to the frame member and defining the channel.

6. A pair of spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of two sidepieces is retractable into the frame.

7. A pair of spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each sidepiece comprises an earpiece engageable behind the ear of a wearer.

8. A pair of spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising decorative indicia printed on the frame.

9. A pair of spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each sidepiece comprises sheet material.

10. A pair of spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame comprises sheet material.

11. A pair of spectacles according to Claims 2 and 10, wherein the channel is formed by folding over the sheet material.

12. A pair of spectacles according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the frame is separable by means of scoring or perforations from the rest of a card of the sheet material and is provided with plastics lenses.

13. A pair of spectacles according to Claim 12, wherein the card bears indicia for use in postal services.

14. A pair of spectacles, comprising a frame having a pair of lens supporting portions rigidly interconnected by a bridgepiece, the frame being provided with a channel extending across the said portions and the bridgepiece, and a pair of sidepieces mounted on the frame, at least one of the sidepieces being receivable in the channel and, upon extension from the channel, being swingable into a position wherein the said sidepiece lies generally transversely of a plane of the frame and the channel.

15. A pair of spectacles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A pair of spectacles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 2A, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A pair of spectacles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A pair of spectacles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 5, 6, 7 and 2A of the accompanying drawings.

19. A postcard, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A postcard, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2A of the accompanying drawings.

21. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.