WO2000005061A1 - Method of manufacturing eyewear frames - Google Patents
Method of manufacturing eyewear frames Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000005061A1 WO2000005061A1 PCT/US1998/021225 US9821225W WO0005061A1 WO 2000005061 A1 WO2000005061 A1 WO 2000005061A1 US 9821225 W US9821225 W US 9821225W WO 0005061 A1 WO0005061 A1 WO 0005061A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- stamping
- pair
- eyes
- eye
- apertures
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D12/00—Producing frames
- B29D12/02—Spectacle frames
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C5/00—Constructions of non-optical parts
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to eyewear manufacturing. More
- the present invention relates to a novel method of manufacturing eyewear
- Eyewear frames including, e.g., spectacle frames, sunglass frames, and goggle frames
- eyewear frames are made in many different styles using many different materials and manufacturing techniques.
- metal frames are typically made by bending profiled wire into a pair of looped eyewires which extend around a respective lens and are
- a bridge element interconnects the pair of eyewires and lenses to form the front frame. While this method is very common in the industry, there are limits as to the frame styles which may be achieved with this
- a first horizontal cut divides the bridge into upper and lower halves 27,28 to form a horizontal gap 29 which allows the bridge to be expanded to insert the lenses into lens rim portions 12,13. (See Col. 3, Lns. 26-36 thereof).
- a vertical cut is made in the lower segment 28 of the bridge to facilitate
- Plastic eyewear frames are typically molded as a unitary piece, although some are cut and formed from a slab of thermoplastic material (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No.
- the frame by stretching the eye openings to the point where the lenses can be "popped” into place. Stretching the frame is assisted with the application of heat which temporarily expands the plastic to allow insertion of the lenses. After the lenses are in place in the eye openings of the frame, the frame is allowed to cool whereupon the frame shrinks back to its pre-stretched shape, securing the frame around the lenses.
- Still other eyewear frame styles include a combination of materials, including both plastic and metal in a single frame (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 4,707,089).
- One presently popular eyewear frame style includes the provision of "side shields"
- Side shields may be
- finishing operations must typically occur, e.g., cutting away of excess material, which
- the present invention successfully fills the above need by providing a novel method for manufacturing eyewear frames with integral side shields. More particularly, the inventive method basically comprises the steps of: a) providing a sheet of frame material;
- the basic method outlined above forms a single "eye" in which a lens is secured.
- stamping Two such eyes would be joined with a bridge element therebetween to form a basic frame front.
- the provision of non-parallel opposite side edges in the stamping provides the ability to define a "side-shield" portion to the eye once the stamping is bent into the intended, looped configuration for holding a lens. Additional features may also be easily incorporated into the stamping which will form the eye, e.g., a nose rest or other features
- An additional coining operation may be implemented to form the groove in the stamping wherein the edge of the lens would reside. This coining operation may be performed concurrently with or following the stamping operation. Additionally, multiple grooves may be formed to accommodate more than one lens in a single eye, if desired.
- inventive method may be carried out on a variety of materials, including plastics, metals, and composites, and that the drawbacks associated
- inventive method is very accommodating to other frame treatments.
- aesthetic surface treatments may be easily formed in the sheet of frame material prior to stamping and forming.
- apertures may be easily stamped
- Figure 1 is a front, elevational view of an eyewear front employing the present method of
- Figure 2 is a side, elevational view thereof
- Figure 3 is a bottom, plan view thereof
- Figure 4 is a top, plan view of a stamping according to the present method of manufacture
- Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;
- Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 4;
- Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 4;
- Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 4;
- Figure 9 is a perspective view of an eyewear incorporating a pair of eyes manufactured according to the inventive method.
- Figure 10a is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an eyewear which utilizes a removable, auxiliary side shield;
- Figure 10b is a plan view of the stamping used to form the eyes of the frame of Fig. 10a;
- Figure 11a is a perspective view of a front frame of a third embodiment of an eyewear
- Figure 1 lb is a plan view of the stamping used to form the eyes of the frame of Fig. 1 la;
- Figure 12a is a perspective view of a front frame and temple of a fourth embodiment of an
- eyewear which incorporates a decorative surface treatment about the frame eyes
- Figure 12 b is a plan view of the stamping used to form the eyes of the frame of Fig. 12a;
- Figure 13a is a perspective view of an eyewear front frame of a fifth embodiment of an eyewear which incorporates a removable visor;
- Figure 13b is a plan view of the stamping used to form the eyes of the frame of Fig. 13a;
- Figure 14a is a perspective view of an eyewear front frame of a sixth embodiment of an eyewear which incorporates a pair of lenses in each eye of the frame;
- Figure 14b is a plan view of the stamping used to form the eyes of the frame of Fig. 14a;
- Figure 15a is a perspective view of an eyewear front frame of a seventh embodiment of an eyewear which incorporates a pair of brow bars in each eye of the frame;
- Figure 15b is a plan view of the stamping used to form the eyes of the frame of Fig. 15a;
- Figure 16a is a perspective view of an eyewear of an eighth embodiment of an eyewear which incorporates a temple hinge mechanism
- Figure 16b is a plan view of the stamping used to form the eyes of Fig. 16a.
- Figures 17a-17d are plan views of four different embodiments of a stamping.
- FIGs. 1-3 an eyewear front frame 10
- Eyes 12,14 have opposite inner and outer portions 12a, 12b and 14a, 14b,
- bridge element 16 interconnecting eyes 12,14 at the inner portions 12a, 14a thereof.
- Bridge element 16 may be secured to eyes 12,14 using any known means
- the outer portions 12b, 14b of eyes 12,14 are of a
- width Wi (as measured from front eye edges 12c, 14c to rear eye edges 12d,14d) which is larger than the corresponding width W 2 at the inner portions 12a, 14a, thereby forming what is known in the art as a "side shield".
- Side shields are useful to reduce light entering from the lateral side edges of the wearer's head, and is also considered a decorative detail of the eyewear itself.
- the present invention provides a method of manufacturing eyes 12,14 with integral side shields in a simple and cost-effective manner as discussed more
- Figs. 4-8 show a planar stamping 20, a pair of which are used to form
- stamping 20 is provided in sheet form which is cut with a die (not shown) to form a stamping 20.
- the outline of the die replicates the outline of the stamping 20 as seen in the plan view of Fig. 4.
- Stamping 20 thus includes opposite side edges which ultimately form the front and rear eye edges 12c, 14c and 12d,14d of eyes 12,14, respectively.
- 20 further includes opposite end portions 20', 20" which are brought together when forming eyes 12,14 from a pair of stampings 20. As seen in Fig. 1, opposite end portions 20', 20" are secured together using a barrel and screw 22, although other attachment means may be used as desired.
- lens-securing means other than a groove may be provided.
- the front edge 12c, 14c of stamping 20 may be crimped to form a surface extending radially inwardly toward the center of the formed eye 12,14.
- the lens would then be inserted into the eye from the back, and an adhesive and/or other securing elements (e.g., tabs) would be used to secure the lens edge to this surface.
- stamping (which ultimately form the outer portions 12b, 14b of eyes 12,14), is preferably larger than the width Wi at the end portions 20',20" (which ultimately form the inner portions 12a, 14a of eyes 12,14), which creates the side shields at the outer portions 12b, 14b upon bending a pair of stampings 20 into eyes 12, 14, respectively.
- the variation in width along the length of stamping 20 is seen clearly in the cross-sectional views of
- the front edge 12c, 14 of stamping 20 curves in the same direction as the outer edge 12d,14d thereof, most notably at approximately the center of the stamping. This curving of the opposite side edges dictates the degree of "wrapping" the eye 12,14 will have when formed. The more extreme the bend, the more extreme the wrap of the ultimate eyewear frame 10.
- Fig. 9 illustrates eyewear having the front frame 10 of Figs. 1-3 (lenses not shown in Figs. 9-16) with a pair of temples 26,28 pivotally connected to the outer portions 12b,14b of eyes 12,14, respectively.
- Bridge element 16 interconnects eyes 12,14 at the inner portions 12a, 14a thereof, and a pair of nose rests 30a,30b are attached (e.g., by
- auxiliary side shield 32 may be provided for removable attachment to the outer portions 12b, 14b of eyes 12,14.
- Attachment means may easily provided in the form of one or more apertures 36 cut in stamping 20 (Fig. 10b). This cutting operation may take place at any time during the manufacture of
- stamping 20 i.e., before, during or after either one or both of the stamping and coining
- auxiliary side shield 32 in the form of flanged bosses 38 which are aligned with the locations of the apertures 36 in eyes 12,14.
- Auxiliary side shield 32 has a forward portion 32', on which bosses 38 are formed, and a rear portion 32" which preferably flares outwardly with respect to forward portion 32'.
- auxiliary side shield 32 pop into apertures 36 in eye 12,14. Once attached to eye 12,14, auxiliary side shield 32 provides an added degree of protection from light entering from the sides of the eyewear, in addition to providing another decorative detail to the overall appearance of the
- a decorative roping may be applied to eyes 12, 14 by cutting a plurality of apertures 42 in spaced relation along the length of stamping 20, again at any desired step in the manufacturing process.
- the roping 40 is threaded back and forth
- stamping 20 may be provided with a decorative surface treatment 44. This may be easily done either prior to or after cutting of stamping 20.
- a detachable visor 46 may be provided for removable attachment to eyes 12,14.
- Attachment means may be provided, for example, by an
- elongated aperture 48 cut in stamping 20 into which a flange 50 formed on the bottom surface of visor 46 may be inserted.
- more than one groove 24a,24b may be provided in stamping 20 to accommodate more than one lens 16a, 16b (e.g., lenses having different
- a pair of removable brow bars 52a, 15b may be provided
- pivotal attachment means may be provided in the form of a pair of apertures 56a,56b formed in each stamping 20.
- a pair of temples 58 are
- each temple 58 is provided with a pair of bosses 60 located at the front end 58' of each temple 58, which
- front end 58' is preferably somewhat flexible and curved outwardly as shown such that
- bosses 60a,60b may be squeezed toward one another in the direction of the arrows, at which time the temple end 58' may be inserted into the eye 12,14 form the rear until bosses 60a,60b pop into apertures 56a,56b.
- FIGS 17a-d illustrate four additional embodiments of stampings 200-204, respectively, each of which are of substantially the same outline as stamping 20, but each
- Elements 203 ',204' are configured to provide integral nose rests once the stamping is bent into the finished eye. Since these elements are formed integrally with the stamping operation, it will be appreciated that the present method of manufacture allows for variations in frame design/features without the additional and expensive processing
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Eyeglasses (AREA)
- Microscoopes, Condenser (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2000561037A JP2002521230A (en) | 1998-07-24 | 1998-10-08 | Method of manufacturing eyewear frame |
AU97928/98A AU9792898A (en) | 1998-07-24 | 1998-10-08 | Method of manufacturing eyewear frames |
EP98952164A EP1015238A1 (en) | 1998-07-24 | 1998-10-08 | Method of manufacturing eyewear frames |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT1998MI001727A IT1301869B1 (en) | 1998-07-24 | 1998-07-24 | PROCEDURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASSES FRAMES, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF AN EYEPIECE FOR FRAMES FOR |
ITMI98A001727 | 1998-07-24 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000005061A1 true WO2000005061A1 (en) | 2000-02-03 |
Family
ID=11380520
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/021225 WO2000005061A1 (en) | 1998-07-24 | 1998-10-08 | Method of manufacturing eyewear frames |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1015238A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2002521230A (en) |
AU (1) | AU9792898A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2277740A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1301869B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000005061A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1752953A (en) * | 1927-11-18 | 1930-04-01 | Firm Theodor Kahne & Sohne | Method of manufacturing spectacle frames from tortoise-shell and similar valuable material |
US3621544A (en) * | 1969-09-02 | 1971-11-23 | Foster Grant Co Inc | Method of manufacturing an eyeglass frame |
US3868438A (en) * | 1972-06-13 | 1975-02-25 | Salottica S R L | Method for processing spectacle frames |
US4877320A (en) * | 1988-10-03 | 1989-10-31 | Holden W Bruce | Eye-shielding glasses |
WO1998023437A1 (en) * | 1996-11-29 | 1998-06-04 | Michael William Lockhart | Lightweight safety spectacles |
-
1998
- 1998-07-24 IT IT1998MI001727A patent/IT1301869B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1998-10-08 JP JP2000561037A patent/JP2002521230A/en active Pending
- 1998-10-08 AU AU97928/98A patent/AU9792898A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-10-08 EP EP98952164A patent/EP1015238A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-10-08 WO PCT/US1998/021225 patent/WO2000005061A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1999
- 1999-07-20 CA CA002277740A patent/CA2277740A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1752953A (en) * | 1927-11-18 | 1930-04-01 | Firm Theodor Kahne & Sohne | Method of manufacturing spectacle frames from tortoise-shell and similar valuable material |
US3621544A (en) * | 1969-09-02 | 1971-11-23 | Foster Grant Co Inc | Method of manufacturing an eyeglass frame |
US3868438A (en) * | 1972-06-13 | 1975-02-25 | Salottica S R L | Method for processing spectacle frames |
US4877320A (en) * | 1988-10-03 | 1989-10-31 | Holden W Bruce | Eye-shielding glasses |
WO1998023437A1 (en) * | 1996-11-29 | 1998-06-04 | Michael William Lockhart | Lightweight safety spectacles |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITMI981727A1 (en) | 2000-01-24 |
AU9792898A (en) | 2000-02-14 |
JP2002521230A (en) | 2002-07-16 |
CA2277740A1 (en) | 2000-01-24 |
ITMI981727A0 (en) | 1998-07-24 |
EP1015238A1 (en) | 2000-07-05 |
IT1301869B1 (en) | 2000-07-07 |
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