US2433483A - Spectacle case - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1947. M. J. ROOT, JR

SPECTACLE CASE Filed Feb. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. OZ, J1:

Dec. 30, 1947. M. J. ROOT, JR 2,433,483

SPECTACLE CASE Filed Feb. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a J a J 0 J md Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPECTACLE CASE Marshall J. Root, Jr., Geneva, N. Y., assignor to Shuron Optical Company, Inc., Geneva, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 9, 1944, Serial No. 521,615

4 Claims. 1

, ceptacles and more particularly to eye glass cases the same being box-like containers commonly used for holding ophthalmic mountings. The invention concerns such a construction of eye glass or spectacle cases in which, as a. product, the case will be neat and attractive and can be assembled easily at relatively low manufacturing cost. The improvements relate primarily to the association of a body portion with a hinged lid so articulated thereon that the combination of the two parts will provide a smooth and uninterrupted hinge line on the exterior and corresponding facilities on the interior.

In the manufacture of articles of this kind the just mentioned considerations bring up the problem of covering a sheet steel or similarly formed pair of body and lid parts with a layer of leather, imitation leather or fabric or like soft covering on the xterior thereof, the same being brought into the hinge region to also adequately cover the knuckles thereof while still not interfering with a free hinge movement. The object of the present invention is to devise very simple means, consistent with the general plan of assembly, for

accomplishing these results in such manner that.

at the hinge line particularly, the covering there will still be inconspicuous both exteriorly and interiorly with respect to the raw edges necessarily terminating at this point.

As a simplification of the general object stated in both applications this invention is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in the pending companion application of Carl R. Jerry, Ser. No. 447.695 filed June 19, 1942 (now Patent No.

2,376,487, issued May 22, 1945) and assigned to the same interest as is this invention and application.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combination of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a spectacle case constructed in accordance with and illustrating Y one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a much enlarged transverse section thereof taken on theline 2-2 of Figure 1, the

thereof. the same showing the interiorrear wall of the detached lid in front elevation;

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary transverse section through the hinge portion the same constitutlng an enlargement of a partof the showing of Figure 2;

Figure '6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of a modified hinge formation of the knuckle and pintle of one of the elements, namely,

the lid;

Figure 7 is a detail section taken on the line of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a detail section similar to Figure 7 but taken through hinge knuckle elements of both lid and body;

Figure 10 is a similar section of the knuckle element of the body only before it is formed around the pintle;

Figure 11 is a detail section similar to Figure 7 of a further modification; and

Figure 12 is a detail section similar to Figure 9 of the modification of Figure 11.

Similar reference numerals in the several views indicate the same parts.

The spectacle or similar case of this invention comprises a body portion and an articulated lid both stamped out of sheet metal. The hinge line is at the rear and a problem resides in so constructing this hinge that it will have a neat appearance on the exterior, and can be rapidly assembled in connection with an actuating spring to hold the lid in either opened or closed position and yet will in general avoid the provision of fastening means or parts projecting inside the case. Such spectacle cases are usually produced with a leather, fabric or similar covering and another consideration involved in my present invention is combining the rear raw edges of these coverings on both the body and lid so that they are not only concealed at the hinge line but are secured or clamped in and by the hinge assembly itself. In other words, in the practice of my invention, the body portion and the lid portion of the spectacle case are first produced with this covering material or outer lamination attached,

they are assembled in this condition and, finally, such hinge connection is completed and the before mentioned actuating spring added. But all of these operations are conducted in a way that does not lead to the covering or finishing material being scratched or marred by the assembly tools and the assembly operations, yet the awkward procedure of assembling the steel case and then attaching the covering is avoided.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I indicates generally the sheet metal body and 2 the sheet metal lid of a spectacle case of the usual Or any desired contour. At the front side the body has a reentrant lip 3 over which the bent down forward edge 4 of the lid engages. In general, the case assumes the closed position of Fig ure 2 or an open position on a swing of a little over degrees, as usual, in either of which posi-- tions it is selectively held by the actuating spring arrangements hereinafter described.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 (referring momentarily more particularly toFigure 3) the rear edge of lid 2 is divided integral'lyinto a plurality oi projecting spaced tongues.

The spaces between the tongues are indicated at 6 and the center tongue 5a: is wider than-the others for a reason that will appear later. I, All oi the tongues are bent intoeyes constituting knuckles that enclose a hinge 'pintle Band in this embodiment they are rolled from the inside out so that the terminals 1 thereof will be on th'e outside or rear of the case, but neither the loops or hence the pintle projects rearwardly beyond the plane of the rear wall 9 hi the lid and the rear wall 10 0f the body portion.

Preferably before assemblage with thepintle, the leather fabric or other similar finishing covering material H is applied as by cementingit on. Its rear raw edge is slit to also constitute alternated long and short tongues but not necessaril'y with spaces between. The covering tongues that coincide with the intervals 6 between the tongues 5 are the longer ones and are carried therethrough, around the raw metal edges and cemented securely relatively highfon the inside as indicated at 12 particularly in Figure The other tongues [2:12 that coincide with the knuckle tongues are shortened to a length whereby they reach only to the pi'ntle' 8 and they are applied be 1' fore the knuckles or the eyes thereof are closed so that when the knuckles are closed their terminals pinch the covering and clamp its raw edges firmly in an enclosed manner, whereby the raw edges are concealedand protected against the i scutfing damage that so often results from an exposed edge no matter how good the adhesive used may be. I

The body portion [with its covering 13 is sirnilarly formed and assembled in a complementary manner. The knuckles are indicated at M alter hating in the openings 6 and the long covering tongues intermediate the knuckles M are indicated at IS in Figures 2 and 5.

The mode of constructing and assembling lends i 1 itself 'to the application of the actuating spring that .holds the case securely, selectively, in the customary open or closed positions. The spring proper is constituted by'a bar or resilient wire [5 located on the inside of wall iii of the body el'ei merit and extending generally longitudinally of the pintle 8; Its ends are anchored in angular offsets or Dockets I! on such rear wall ill of body element I. Hooked over the center of the spring is a lower lip 18 on a bowed clip [9 that spans the pintle 8 and the hinge connection in general. Its other similar lip 2'il'is hooked over a ledge portion 2i on a bracket plate 22 spot welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall 9 of lid portion 2. It becomes obvious that, as the eye glass case is opened and closed, the resultant line of force exerted by the spring [6 and the clip i9 (which in itself may also have spring action) passes through the center of the hinge and hence holds the lid and body in either of said positions.

The structure shown in Figures 6 to 10 is an elaboration of that of Figures 1 tot; vtor again the knuckle tongues 5e are rolled .rearwardly or: from the inside out, theopening being outside.- The tips, insteadof abutting the covering tongue 12c edgewise of the metal are extended parallel with it at 29 but still clamp it although along a broader surface. Figure 10 .shows the greater length of atknuckle tongue (on the bodyelementl) before 4 it is finally formed and clamped against the cor responding cover tongue.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12, the knuckle tongues 5 are rolled inward, so that "the knuckle tongues are looped from the outside 'of th'e case toward the inside.

The covering tongues 12f are wrapped around the knuckle tongues 5 through the spaces 61 to the inside also and. are gripped by the knuckle terminals 3| which are doubled "back on themselves. This is a departure-from the idea of terminating the covering tongues on the exterior but retains the feature-of securing and protecting their tips in the hinge knuckles themselves.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a sheet metal spectacle case or the like, embodying anarticulated lid and'a bodyp'o'rtion hinged together by'ineans of a'pintle and integral alternately spaced knuckle tongues proceeding from the rear walls of said elements and grasping the 'pintle', of outer flexible covering material on the lid and body portion having-certain. alternated portions of its rear raw edgesIcon'cea-Ied: and clamped by the free ends of 'theiknuckle tongues.

2'. The-combination with a'sheet metal -spectaclepase for the like, embodying an articulated lid and a body portion hinged together by; means of apintl e and integral alternately spaced knuckle tongues proceeding from the rear walls of said elementsand' grasping the piritl'e, of outer flexible coveringmaterial onthe' lid an'd body portion havingcertainal-ternated portidnso'f its rear raw edges-concealed andi'clamped-by the free ends of. the knuckle tongues on the exterior of the case.

3.. The. combinationwith a sheet metal case or the like, embodying'an articulated lid and a bodypor'ti'onhinged together bymeans of a pintl'e andintegral alternately' spaced knuckle tongues proceeding from the rear walls of said elements andgra'sping'the pintl'dcf outer flexible covering material. on the lid'and body'porti'on having 'certainalternated'portions of its rear rawedges concealed and clamped by the ire'e ends of the knuckleton'gues' on the interiorof the case.

4'. In ashinged" spectaclecase orthe' like, com prising a lid and a bo'dyportion' hinged together by apintle, the combination with integral alternately-spaced knuckle tongues on said lid and body portion proceeding" fromtne rear walls Number Name Date 1,364,594: Thomas Jan. 4, 1921 1522 473 Kisling July 30', 1929 2,376,487 Jerry- May 22, 1945 'FQREIGNw PATENTS Number Country Date

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