GB2413857A

GB2413857A - Spectacles frames comprising adjustable side arms or nose bridge

Info

Publication number: GB2413857A
Application number: GB0407056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Valentina Semenenko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-29
Filing date: 2004-03-29
Publication date: 2005-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-29
Also published as: GB0407056D0; GB2413857B8; GB2413857B

Abstract

A pair of spectacles 1 comprises means 2, such as side arms or a nose bridge, associated with the eyepieces 3, which means are adapted to be extensible. Telecopic side arms and a telescopic nose bridge are described. A spring or similar resilient member may be used to bias the telescopic parts apart. Locking means may also be provided and may take the form of interlocking ball and socket connections.

Description

241 3857

WEARING APPAREL

The invention relates to wearing apparel, particularly to spectacles and/or sunglasses, hereinafter termed spectacles for simplicity.

Spectacles are usually balanced on the ears of a user, but are generally of a standard size which does not permit of flexibility in use.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

According to the invention there is provided a pair of spectacles, comprising means associated with the eye pieces which are adapted to be extensible.

The means may suitably comprise the side arms of the spectacles, and for a particularly simple and efficient construction, those side arms may each comprise a telescopic element. Alternatively, the nose bridge may comprise a telescopic element.

For simplicity the element may comprise a set of telescopic tubes.

One tube of the set may be connected with an immediately adjacent tube by a flexible extensible device. This provides for positive operation.

The device may comprise a coil spring, suitably a steel coil spring, which may be secured at each end interiorly of ends of facing tubes.

Alternatively, the device may comprise an elastic member, which suitably may comprise an elongate rubber elastic member. Suitably the elongate rubber elastic member may comprise a member secured at each end exteriorly of ends of facing tubes.

In a further construction the device may comprise a device part secured internally of facing ends of adjacent tubes and a device part secured exteriorly of facing ends of adjacent tubes.

The first mentioned part may comprise a coil spring and the second mentioned part may comprise a rubber elastic member.

For preference the tubes may be held in an extended position by locking means.

The locking means may comprise a ball and socket arrangement, which itself may comprise a spring mounted roller ball in one tube and a hole in an adjacent tube mounted telescopically therewith.

For positive engagement of the ball on the hole, the roller ball may be mounted on a leaf spring.

To provide for adjustment, there may be a series of spaced apart holes in one tube.

There may be a clasp member which may connect the free ends of the side arms whereby to pull the arms up to sit on a respective ear of a user when grasped and pulled.

Spectacles embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of spectacles according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of part of an anm of a pair of spectacles according to the invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of another and of a pair of spectacles; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of spectacles according to the invention; and Figs. 5 to 8 are views of a further embodiment of side arm of a pair of spectacles according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a pair of spectacles 1 comprising means 2 associated with the eye pieces 3 which are adapted to be extensible.

The means 2 may be the side arms (Figs. 1 to 3, 5 to 7) or the nose bridge (Fig. 4), or both.

The side arms 2 are each in the form of a set of telescopically arranged tubes, as is the nose bridge.

The tubes 4, 5, 6 are mounted one inside the other in a generally longitudinally extending array to form a telescopic arrangement. The facing ends of adjacent tubes are connected by a flexible extensible device 7 in the form of an interiorly secured spring such as a metal coil spring (Fig. 2), or an exteriorly mounted device in the form of an elongate rubber elastic or metal or plastic member 9 (Fig. 4).

In a further embodiment, there may be a combination of the coil spring and flexible rubber member (Fig. 3).

The part 9 of the device 7 on the exterior rides in slots or grooves lo through which a tongue part of the member extends for sliding motion to adjust the length.

The spring 8 and rubber members maintain the tension of the arms 2 (or nose bridge), which are tending to be pulled in the direction in which the spring is set. The means 7 thus provides for telescopically adjustable arms 2 which are held in tension, this being achieved by the spring 8 and/or rubber element 9.

In the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7, the means 7 comprise a ball and socket arrangement l 1, the ball 12 being a roller ball mounted in one tube part on a leaf spring 13 or an arch, which ball can be received in a hole 14, or one of a series of holes, in an adjacent telescopic part when the tube parts are moved telescopically one with respect to another. The ends of the arch or spring 13 are mounted in slots 15 so that the tension of the spring can be adjusted.

The leaf spring 13 provides for positive holding of the ball 12 in a hole 14, for positive adjusted length of the arms 2. To release the ball 12, it is merely depressed manually so that it is below the surface of the part below the hole so that the tubes can be moved to a new adjusted position.

There may be a clasp which is secured to the arms and passes round the neck of a user so that on clasping and pulling the clasp, the spectacles ride up on to the ears of the wearer, in the correct, adjusted, size. l

Thus spectacles embodying the invention are adjustable in "length" and "width" to an comfortable configuration to be used by a user with a particular facial width and depth.

In a further embodiment, not shown, the spectacles can be pushed under the collar of a shirt of which bridge on the nose piece is extendable (Fig. 4) in the same way as the arms, so it may conveniently be removed from behind the collar, it being secluded, and placed on the bridge of the nose, the bridge then "collapses" inwards, shortening the length along the bridge, and springs back to a wearable version, to allow for comfort in reading. This embodiment is for those requiring to attend functions such as, conference dinners whereby the only reading would be minimal, e.g. to read the menu, or glance at notes.

Claims

1. A pair of spectacles, comprising means associated with the eye pieces which are adapted to be extensible.

2. A pair of spectacles, the means comprising the side arms of the spectacles.

3. A pair of spectacles according to claim 2, the side arms each comprising a telescopic element.

4. A pair of spectacles according to claim 2, the nose bridge comprising a telescopic element.

5. A pair of spectacles according to claim 3 or claim 4, the element comprising a set of telescopic tubes. l

6. A pair of spectacles according to claim 5, one tube of the set being connected with an immediately adjacent tube by a flexible, extensible device.

7. A pair of spectacles according to claim 6, the device comprising a coil spring.

8. A pair of spectacles according to claim 7, the device spring comprising a steel coil spring.

9. A pair of spectacles according to claim 8, the coil/spring being secured at each end interiorly of ends of facing tubes.

10. A pair of spectacles according to claim 6, the device comprising an elastic member.

A pair of spectacles according to claim 1O, the member comprising an elongate rubber elastic member.

12. A pair of spectacles according to claim 11, the elongate rubber elastic member comprising a member secured at each end exteriorly of ends of facing tubes.

13. A pair of spectacles according to claim 6, the device comprising a device part secured internally of facing ends of adjacent tubes and a device part secured exteriorly of facing ends of adjacent tubes.

14. A pair of spectacles according to claim 1, the first mentioned part comprising a coil spring and the second mentioned part a rubber elastic member.

15. A pair of spectacles according to any of preceding claims 3 to 14, the tubes being held in an extended position by locking means.

16. A pair of spectacles according to claim 15, the locking means comprising a ball and socket arrangement.

17. A pair of spectacles according to claim 16, the ball and socket arrangement comprising a spring mounted roller ball in one tube and a hole in an adjacent tube mounted telescopically therewith.

18. A pair of spectacles according to claim 17, the roller ball being mounted on a leaf spring.

19. A pair of spectacles according to claim 17 or claim 18, there being a series of spaced apart holes in one tube.

20. A pair of spectacles according to any of claims 3 to 19, comprising a clasp member which connects the free ends of the side arms whereby to pull the arms up to set on a respective ear of a user when grasped and pulled.

21. A pair of spectacles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.