GB2398131A

GB2398131A - Spectacle frame with clamp for detachable lens

Info

Publication number: GB2398131A
Application number: GB0302871A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi Wai Lau
Original assignee: GREAT CHAMP ASIA Ltd
Current assignee: GREAT CHAMP ASIA Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-10
Filing date: 2003-02-10
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Also published as: GB0302871D0

Abstract

A spectacle frame 10 has at least one, preferably a pair of, clamp(s)12, each attached to the frame at an outer edge of each lens by a U-shaped resiliently deformable member 25. Each clamp is movable against resilience of the deformable member to enable a user to attach or detach an edge portion of a detachable lens 13 to the spectacle frame. Each lens 13 may have a recess (19, Fig 5) that fits under lip 17.

Description

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SPECTACLE FRAME

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to spectacle frames. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to sunglasses having special clamps for attaching a tinted lens to its frame.

It is known to attach tinted lenses to spectacles in front of the prescription lenses of the spectacles. One known method is to provide the auxiliary lenses on a sub- frame, wherein the sub-frame includes wires that extend over the upper edge of the spectacles and engage with the prescription lenses to secure the exterior lenses in place. This is a cumbersome and unreliable attachment method.

Some spectacles are provided with an integrated flip-up sub-frame on which the tinted lenses are mounted.

However, these may not suit many purchasers taste.

Another method of attaching a tinted lens to spectacle frames has been to incorporate powerful magnets into the spectacles outboard of the prescription lenses. However, in order to achieve a reliable interengagement between the spectacles and the sub-frame, quite expensive magnets are necessary.

ee:: À e: ::e : Objects of the invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide a spectacle frame having a convenient clamp arrangement by which a lens can be affixed thereto.

It is a further, more general object of the present invention to provide improved spectacles or sunglasses.

Disclosure of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a spectacle frame comprising: a clamp attached to the frame by a resiliently deformable member, the clamp being movable against resilience of the deformable member to enable a user to attach or detach an edge portion of a detachable lens to the spectacle frame.

Preferably, the resiliently deformable member is U-shaped having one leg thereof attached to the clamp and another leg thereof attached to the spectacle frame.

Preferably, the resiliently deformable member is metallic.

Preferably the clamp includes a lip that fits over an edge :: Aft; ce:e or the lens.

Preferably there is a force-application region of the clamp adjacent to a distal end of said one leg and the lip is adjacent to a proximal end of said one leg.

Preferably the frame includes a fixed peg against which an edge of the lens opposite the clamp bears.

Preferably the lens includes a clamp recess in one edge adjacent to the clamp.

Preferably the lens includes a peg recess in the opposite edge adjacent to the peg.

Preferably the clamp is positioned at an outer position of the spectacle frame.

Preferably the spectacle frame further comprises: a pair of said lenses, a nose bridge between the lenses, a pair of arms each extending from a respective outer position of the spectacle frame adjacent to the lenses, one said clamp for each lens adjacent a respective one of the arms, and one said pin adjacent to nose bridge for engagement with a respective said lens.

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Brie, Description of the Drawings

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a spectacle frame with two detachable lenses attached thereto, Figure 2 is a schematic plan view the spectacle frame of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the spectacle frame of Figures 1 and 2, Figure is a schematic illustration of a clamp and resilient member by which the clamp is attached to the spectacle frame, and Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the clamp.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a spectacle frame lo. Frame lo includes a pair of lens frames 11 outboard of each of which there is formed a hinge 20. Each one of a pair of arms 14 is attached pivotally to a respective one of the hinges 20.

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The lens frames ll are mutually connected by a nose bridge 27. There are nose pads 26 attached behind the nose bridge 27 by a pair of nose pad arms 21. There is a pair of pins 2 at either edge of the nose bridge 27 and these might be formed integrally with the nose pad arms 21.

A pair of lenses 13 is attached in front of each lens frame 11. Each lens 13 is fixed in place by one of the lo pins 24 and a clamp 12 situated at an outboard position of each lens.

Clamp 12 is attached to the lens frame 11 forward of the hinge 20 by a resilient member 25. Member 25 is typically made of spring steel or stainless-steel for example, whereas other components of the spectacle frame can be metallic, plastics or other strong material.

Each resilient member is substantially U-shaped comprising a leg 15 to which the clamp 12 is attached.

I'o this end, the clamp 12 includes a leg mount 18 through which the leg 15 extends. The opposing leg 16 is attached to the lens frame 11 by spot welding for example at 22.

The clamp 12 has a lip 17 that fits over an edge of the lens 13. The edge of the lens 13 has a recess 19 that fits under the lip 17 and bears against the resilient ;e member 25.

In order to attach a lens 13 to the spectacles, a recess 23 at the inside edge of each lens is placed against one of the pins 24. The outer edge of the lens can then be snapped past the lip 17 either with or without the application of finger-force F to the clamp 12 at the position indicated in Figure A. To facilitate easy attachment of the lens without the need of finger force F. the upper edge or the lip 17 and/or the lower edge of recess 19 can be chamfered. As the lens is being attached, the clamp 12 will deflect downwardly so as to elastically deform the resilient member 25. To attach the lens 13, one simply applies finger force F at the position shown in Figure 4 to thereby raise the lip 17 and the lens can be released.

As can be appreciated from the above description, it is a simple matter to interchange ophthalmic lenses (with or without tint) or filters of differing colour or purpose.

For example, a dark coloured shade filter might be interchanged with a polarising filter or a mirrored- finish filter for example. In the situation where there are prescription lenses fixed permanently to the spectacle frame, interchangeable filters can be readily attached in front of them. The spectacle frame might simply be used as sunglasses with no prescription lenses permanently affixed to the frame, but providing ease of c: If. :' ee: : À e. À: . À À À À 1À :. '. À À. ce.: interchangeability or shade rilters.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the frame might have prescription lenses affixed permanently within the lens frames 11 and shade lenses could be attached by the disclosed clamp arrangement over the prescription lenses. Furthermore, the clamps could be mounted inboard of the lenses and the pins 24 could be positioned outboard thereof. Also, special U-shaped clamps of different size (i.e. different spacing between legs 15 and 16) might be provided to enable the attachment of prescription lenses of different edge thickness in front of the frame.

Claims

::e eee.e ac:e CLAlMS: 1. A spectacle frame comprising: a clamp attached

to the frame by a resiliently deformable member, the clamp being movable against resilience of the deformable member to enable a user to attach or detach an edge portion of a detachable lens to the spectacle frame. .
2. The spectacle frame of Claim 1 wherein the resiliently deformable member is U-shaped having one leg thereof attached to the clamp and another leg thereof attached to the spectacle frame.
3. The spectacle frame of Claim 2 wherein the resiliently deformable member is metallic.
4. The spectacle frame of Claim 2 wherein the clamp includes a lip that fits over an edge of the lens.
5. The spectacle Frame of Claim 4 wherein there is a force-application region of the clamp adjacent to a distal end of said one leg and the lip is adjacent to a proximal end of said one leg.
6. The spectacle frame of Claim 1 further comprising a fixed peg against which an edge of the lens opposite the clamp bears.

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7. The spectacle frame of Claim 1 wherein the lens includes a clamp recess in one edge adjacent to the clamp.
S 8. The spectacle frame of Claim 7 wherein the lens includes a peg recess in the opposite edge adjacent to the peg.
9. The spectacle frame of Claim 1 wherein the clamp is positioned at an outer position or the spectacle frame.
10. The spectacle frame of Claim 1 further comprising: a pair of said lenses, a nose bridge between the lenses, a pair of arms each extending from a respective outer position of the spectacle frame adjacent to the lenses, one said clamp for each lens adjacent a respective one of the arms, and one said pin adjacent to nose bridge for engagement with a respective said lens.