GB2178864A - Spectacle front frames - Google Patents

Abstract

A pair of spectacles (2) has a frame (4) which incorporates upper and lower portions (10, 12) with a gap 32 between them. The portions can be drawn together at the bridge of the frame, compressing the gap 32, in order to adjust resiliently the parts (20, 26, 22, 28) surrounding the respective lens apertures (14, 16) and thereby reduce the sizes of the apertures and retain therein the lenses (38, 40). A clip (42) retains the frame (4) in its adjusted condition and serves the additional function of supporting the spectacles on the wearer's nose. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spectacles This invention relates to spectacles, and is particularly although not exclusively applicable to sunglasses.

Itwould be desirable to provide spectacles having frames which incorporate a small number of parts and which are inexpensive and simple to manufacture, and which enable easy assembly of lenses within the lens apertures oftheframe. This is particularly desirable for enabling the sale of inexpensive sunglasses. However, itwould also bedesirableto make the frames attractive and stylish, which imposes certain restrictions on the construction of the frames. By way of example, metal and particularly aluminium frames would be desirable, although not essential, and this generally increases the complexity of the construction and the difficulty of assembling the lenses within the frames, particularly as the frames cannot be shrunk into the lenses as with cellulose acetate frames.

According to one aspect ofthe invention there is provided a pair of spectacles in which at least one of the parts oftheframe extending aroundthelens apertures can be resiliently adjusted to alterthe size ofthe respective aperture so that in a first condition a lens can be inserted in the aperture and in a second condition the lens is retained in the aperture,the spectacles having a clip for retaining that part in its second condition.

In another aspect ofthe invention, a pair ofspecta cles has a member which serves both to supportthe spectacles on the nose of the wearer and to retain one, or preferably both, lenses within the frame.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, a spectacle frame comprises upper and lower portions for carrying therebetween the lenses ofthe spectacles, the portions having respective central bridge parts which can be moved relative to each other so as to allowthe lenses to be inserted in and then held between the portions. Preferably a clip is provided to gripthecentral bridge partsto preventthe upperand lower portions separating after insertion ofthe lenses. Preferablythis clip also serves the function of engaging the wearer's nose so asto supportthespectacles in use. In the particular embodiment described below, the central bridge parts are moved apart to allow insertion of the lenses and together to reduce the size of a gap therebetween to retain the lenses.As an alternative the upper and lower portions could cross over at their central regions, so that the central bridge part ofthe lower portion would actually be disposed above the central bridge part ofthe upper portion, and consequently the parts would be moved together and apart to permit respectively insertion and retention ofthe lenses.

Other preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying claims.

Itwil I be appreciated that the term "lens" is used herein in a generic sense to cover not only optically corrective lenses but also non-corrective (plano) lenses, such as the tinted lenses commonly used in sunglasses. The lenses may in fact simply be tinted plastics films. They may alternatively be made of polarising material. They could also be made of glass, and be either plain, tinted or photochromatic.

An arrangement embodying the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa rear perspective view of a pair of sunglasses in accordance with the invention, show- ing the frame thereof in the condition adopted before the fitting ofthe lenses, Figure2is a similarview ofthe sunglasses with the lenses fitted therein, and Figure 3is a perspective view of a clip of the sunglasses.

Referring to Figure 1 ,the sunglasses 2 have a main frame4formed of a single, stamped piece ofalumi- nium. A pair of temples 6 is hingedly attached to the frame 4 using conventional hinges 8.

The frame 4 has upper and lower portions 10 and 12 between which are lens apertures 14 and 16. The upper portion 10 comprises a central bridge part 18 and side parts 20 and 22, whereas the lower portion 12 comprises a central bridge part 24 and side parts 26 and 28. Thus, the frame part encircling the aperture 14 is formed oftheside parts 20 and 26, which are separated by a gap 30 which extends circumferential lyaboutthe lens aperture 14. Similarly, the lensaper- ture 16 is encircled byaframe partformed by side parts 22 and 28 separated by a gap 32, the gaps 30 and 32 being interconnected across the bridge ofthe frame4which is formed bythecentral parts 18and 24.

The parts 20,22,26 and 28 are machined on their inner sides so that each ofthe lens apertures 14 and 16 is surrounded by a "V"-shaped recess 34 and 36 for receiving the edge of a respective one of a pair of lenses 38 and 40 (see also Figure2).

Each lens can be fitted within a respective aperture with theframe4 in the condition shown in Figure 1, if necessary by separating the upper and lowerpor- tions 10 and 12 as slightly to widen the gaps 30 and 32. The gaps can be widened by moving the parts 18 and24awayfrom each other in directionsapproxi- matelywithin the plane oftheframe 4, in directions normal to the plane or in intermediate directions. The resiliencyofthe material forming theframe 4 issuch as to restore the frame to the condition shown in Figure 1 once the lenses 38 and 40 have been located within the apertures 14and 16.

The lenses are then retained within the respective apertures by drawing together the central parts 18 and 24,thus slightly reducing the sizes ofthe gaps 30 and 32 are the overall sizes of the lens apertures 14 and 16. A plastics clip 42 is provided for retaining the parts 18 and 24 intheiradjusted positions (see Figures 2 and 3). The clip 42 has a central portion 44 with upper and lower hook-like extensions 46 and 48 which locate over and underthe parts 18 and 24, respectively, to hold them together. The portion 44 in use rests over the wearer's nose. The clip 42 has side portions 50 and 52 depending from the central por tion44and,in use, extending alongsidethe user's nose. Each is formed with a respective pad part 54 and 56 for engaging the sides of the nose and thus supporting the spectacles.

If desired, the clip 42 can be detached in orderto enable removal and replacement ofthe lenses 38 and 40. If thins is not desired, arrangements can be provided forensuring thatthe clip 42 cannot be removed; for example, adhesive could be applied after it is initially fitted.

It is possible that the clip 42 could be an integral part of the frame 4, so as to permit the latching together of the parts 18 and 24.

In the arrangement described above the frame has to be resiliently deformed to retain the lenses in posi tion, and possibly also to permit insertion ofthe lenses. This is not essential. The frame could be arranged so that in its non-deformed condition insertion ofthe lenses is permitted, or so that in its nondeformed condition the lenses are retained, in which case a clip is not absolutely essential.

The arrangements described above have the additionai advantagethatthey provide a sepctacle frame which is of a distinctive and attractive appearance. If desired, the aluminium frame can be coloured, e.g. by anodisation.

The invention could also be applied to spectacles having plastics frames, in which case it may be particularly useful forframes made ofa material which does not have the shrink characteristics often relied upon forfitting lenses into plastics frames.

Claims (12)

1. Apairofspectacles in which at least one ofthe parts oftheframe extending around the lens apertures can be resiliently adjusted to alterthe size ofthe respective aperture so that in a first condition a lens can be inserted in the aperture and in a second condition the lens is retained in the aperture, the spectacles having a clip for retaining that part in its second condition.

2. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the part has a gap which extends circumferentially ofthe lens aperture and the width of which is reduced when the part is in its second condition.

3. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clip has a surfaceforengaging a wearer's nose in order to support the spectacles during use.

4. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim, in which both said parts of the frame can be resiliently adjusted to alterthe sizes of both apertures, each ofthe parts being retainable in a condition in which a lens is retained in the respective aperture by a clip.

5. Apairofspectaclesasclaimed in claim 4, wherein the parts are retainable by a common clip.

6. A pairofspectacles as claimed in claim Swhen dependent upon claim 3, wherein the clip has side portions which in use are disposed along respective sidesofthewearer'snoseandwhich areintercon- nected by a central portion which in use extends over the wearer's nose.

7. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any one of claims 4to 6 when dependent upon claim 2, wherein each of said parts has a circumferentially extending gap, and wherein thetwo gaps arse linked acrossthe bridge ofthe frame.

8. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at leastsaid parts of the frame are made of metal.

9. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 8, in which the metal is aluminium.

10. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the clip is formed of plastics material.

11. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim, including tinted, non-corrective lenses retained in the lens apertures.

12. A pair of spectacles substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.