WO2000005614A1

WO2000005614A1 - Manufacturing method for spectacles and spectacles obtained with such a method

Info

Publication number: WO2000005614A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/005253
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Cargnel
Original assignee: Giuseppe Cargnel
Priority date: 1998-07-24
Filing date: 1999-07-22
Publication date: 2000-02-03
Also published as: AU5506599A; IT1305271B1; ITPN980056A1

Abstract

Manufacturing method for spectacles, by utilizing at least a fluted wire (23) of preferably metallic material, and to submit said fluted wire (23) in succession to different operational phases in which it is wound like a spiral around shaped winding means (18, 19), the so obtained windings are firstly separated from each other by means of cutting means (26) and then extracted from said winding means (18, 19), the frame half-sections (40, 41) are firstly applied on and then shaped around the templates or patterns (30, 31), corresponding to the lenses, screens, filters and the like, which will be used for the respective spectacles, the frame half-sections (40, 41) are submitted to a meniscus-shaping operation and then joined with the respective bars (48), through articulation means (49, 50), which are fitted to the corresponding frame half-sections, submitted to any possible chemical treatment and the frame half-sections (40, 41) are applied on to said lenses, screens, filters and the like, and the bars (48) are provided with the relative terminal pieces.

Description

"MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR SPECTACLES AND SPECTACLES OBTAINED WITH SUCH A METHOD"

The invention refers to a manufacturing method for spectacles, which is

5 capable of producing the component parts of a spectacles frame ofa particular construction, enabling the support bars to be applied thereto by means of a quick snap-on system, and assembling the lenses in said frame while making use of the nosepiece, ie. that part of the frame which is intended to rest on the nose, as a locking key for the frame-and-lenses assembly.

10 Spectacle manufacturing is a process that is currently carried out by preliminarily preparing the frame, usually made of either plastic material moulded with some appropriate process such as injection moulding or the like or cut from sheet stock, or metal from either sheet or wire stock, and then assembling the same frame by adding the lenses, the support bers and the

15 nosepiece. Such a kind of manufacturing procedure involves a number of labour intensive, ie. manual working phases for both preparing the above cited frame and the assembling, adjusting and setting the lenses, the bars and the nosepiece in the same frame. It additionally implies the need for expensive tools and machinery to be used along with adequately skilled and trained workforce for

20 carrying out each particular working phase in the process. It further is very time consuming and involves a considerable usage of materials. Such a kind of manufacturing method therefore turns out to be quite complicated and expensive, while also implying the use of considerable amounts of material for making the various component parts required by the particular construction. It therefore is a purpose of the present invention to do away with all of the above cited drawbacks in the spectacle manufacturing process by providing a spectacle manufacturing method of a semi-automated type that is capable of producing spectacles of different kind, shape and size with a) just a few simple working phases, b) a reduced use of workforce, c) considerably shorter working times, d) lower usage of raw materials, auxiliary and secondary materials and products, e) minimization of any possible type of waste and scrap. This manufacturing method is obtained with the operational phases that are substantially described with particular reference to the appended claims. Features and advantages of the invention will anyway be more readily understood from the description that is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figures 1 and 2 are schematical perspective views synthetizing some of the operational phases of the spectacle manufacturing method according to the present invention, alon with the tools used in the same phases;

- Figures 3 and 4 are schematical front views of further operational phases of the spectacle manufacturing method according to the present invention, along with the tools used in the same phases, as well as an intermediate product obtained therewith;

- Figure 5 is a schematical plan view of a tool used to carry out the subsequent operational phase of the method according to the present invention; - Figure 6 is a schematical front view of a further operational phase of the method according to the present invention, along with the final product obtained therewith;

- Figure 7 is a schematical view of an operational variant of the manufacturing method according to the present invention;

- Figure 8 is a schematical front view of an intermediate product obtained with the manufacturing method according to the present invention, in a different embodiment thereof;

- Figure 9 is a schematical plan view of a tool used to manufacture the intermediate product illustrated in Figure 8;

- Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a component part of spectacles obtained with the manufacturing method according to the present invention, in a different embodiment thereof;

- Figure 1 1 is a front view of the component part illustrated in Figure 10; - Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the same component part illustrated in figure 10, in a further different embodiment thereof;

- Figure 13 is a perspective view of the association of the various component parts of each spectacle unit obtained with the manufacturing method according to the present invention. The above listed Figures illustrate schematically the various operational phases of the spectacle manufacturing method according to the present invention, which is capable of producing in a semi-automated manner spectacles of both innovative and traditional type that are as usual formed by a frame, a pair of viewing lenses (in the case of sight glasses) or darkened lenses (in the case of sun glasses), a pair of particular or treated viewing lenses (in the case of protective or sports glasses), as well as a pair of bars or other spectacle

supporting elements provided on the sides or on top of the frame so as to be able to rest on the ears or the head of each person, along with a single element, or even two or more elements, acting as the nosepiece and intended to enable the spectacles to rest on the nose of each person.

In view of producing the above mentioned component parts of spectacles of different type, form and size, according to the present invention use can be made of different materials which in the herein described example are in the shape of at least a thin fluted wire having a round, square or any other suitable cross-section and preferably made of any suitable metal, such as aluminium, copper or other per se known metal alloys, whose fluting may either have already been made with traditional processing techniques in the same position or be produced on the spot with any suitable processing technique, and extends rectilinearly all over the whole lenght of the wire, said fluted wire being available in the form of continuous wire wound on a respective reel 15 (see Figs. 1 and 2) that is appropriately supported on a fixed rotation axis 16 and rotatably driven by an electric motor 17. Furthermore, the method calls also for the bars (arms) and the nose resting elements to be produced separetely each time according to the particular models, ie. special or standard, to be manufactured in accordance with market requirements, in view of being then able to subsequently apply them on to each spectacle frame forepart manufactured with the considered method in the manner that will be described below. The manufacturing method according to the present invention is carried out by performing a sequence of operational phases in which said fluted wire is progressively unwound from its reel 15 and wound on a particular coiling tool which can best be seen in Figures 1 and 2 and is formed by a pair of equally sized fixed elongated cylinders 18 whose size can be varied in accordance with the type and model of spectacles to be produced, and whose longitudinal axes are parallel and axially displaceable with respect to each other into various adjustment positions, so as to cause said cylinders to be displaced apart from or closer to each other, said cylinders being further covered with an elastic structure 19 formed by elastic material strecthed around the same cylinders and capable of adapting around them in any of the positions into which said cylinders can be adjusted, so as to provide an effective support for the fluted wire, thereby forming a pattern on the outer surface of which the fluted wire is wound. Such a pattern is furthermore provided with a rotation and support axis 20 extending centrally in the longitudinal direction thereof and parallelly to the axes of the cylinders 18, said rotation axis being connected to an electric motor 21 and being rotatably driven at pre-determined intervals by the same motor, thereby causing the fluted wire to be wound around the pattern and, at the same time, to be unwound from the reel 15. At the same time, said axis 20 is arranged so as to be capable of being caused by the motor 21 to slowly translate in a single advancement direction A, which is orthogonal to the winding direction of the fluted wire around the pattern, with a synchronized movement with respect to the rotational one, thereby causing the pattern itself to correspondingly advance in the same direction. The afore cited pattern is additionally provided with at least an upper groove 22 provided centrally in an intermediate position between said two cylinders 18 and extending parallelly thereto all along their lenght to perform a task that will be described in greater detail further on. Referring now to Figure 1, this can be noticed to schematically illustrate the first operational phase of the method according to the present invention, wherein a fluted metal wire 23 can be seen to be supported by the reel 15 and to have its free end fixed in advance to appropriate retaining means 24 situated on the outer surface of the pattern, which is at a standstill, ie. motionless, upon letting said wire first pass through a pair of mutually opposing friction clutches 25 or similar means that are actuated in such a manner as to cause the feeding movement of the wire from the reel to the pattern to be enabled or stopped accordingly. Furthermore, under these conditions the cylinders 18 are axially displaced in advance with respect to each other so as to move into a determined fixed adjustement position thereof, which corresponds to the distance between the lenses of the spectacles and, as a result, to the size of the frame of the same spectacles, and are held in this adjustement position until the desired number of spectacles of this type is eventually reached. Subsequently, the respective electric motors 17 and 21 of the reel 15 and the pattern are energized at the same time, thereby causing the fluted wire 23 to unwind from the reel and to be wound on the outer surface of the pattern. In this manner, owing to said pattern being also caused to move progressively forward in the direction A at a given rate as it at the same time rotates, it ensues that the fluted wire winds in a spiral form over the whole length of the same pattern.

After a programmed number of revolutions, corresponding to the fluted wire winding completely over the whole outer surface of the pattern, both electric motors 17 and 21 are deenergized, thereby bringing the rotation of the reel 15 and the pattern to a standstill, while the pair of friction clutches 25 are actuated so as to stop the wire 23 from moving forward in its feed direction, considering that, without such an actuation of the clutches, the same wire would of course continue under its own inertia to wind around said pattern. Said friction clutches, therefore, perform also the task of ensuring a correct tensioning of the fluted wire, wherei at least a power brake may therefore be also used advantageously to perform said task instead of said clutches. Instead of doing it in the above described manner, the fluted wire can also be caused to spirally wind round the pattern by rotatably driving the same pattern while however avoiding to displace it in the advancement direction A and displacing the reel 15 in the same advancement direction instead, without this meaning a departure from the scope of the present invention. This first operational phase, therefore, requires the rotational speed of both the reel and the pattern to be controlled along with the advancement rate of either the pattern or the reel, as the case may be, and the rate (ie. rpm) at which the fluted wire is unwound from the reel and wound on the pattern, the possibility being of course given for all these control tasks to be performed through one or more electronic control modules, a processor or a computer. In the second operational phase of the method according to the present

invention, when reference is made particularly to Figure 2 it can be noticed that the pattern, with the fluted wire so wound in a spiral form round it, is kept at a standstill and said spiral formed by the wound wire is subdivided into single coils through the use of appropriate cutting means of a per se known type, such as for instance a slitting disk-type saw 26 or any other suitable tool of a per se known type that is displaced with a relative movement with respect to the pattern, ie in the particular case being considered here by causing it to move forward along the upper groove 22 over the whole lenght thereof, thereby causing the afore mentioned wire spiral to be cut into a set of separate, mutually parallel coils, the zone at which said coils are cut being arranged in correspondence of the linking bridge between the frame half-sections supporting the lenses. This cutting operation may also be carried out by keeeping the slitting saw or other similar tool at a standstill and causing the pattern to move along the same direction of advancement instead, while eliminating the groove 22 and replacing it with a corresponding guide (not shown) to be separately applied on or above the cylinders 18 in order to enable the saw or similar tool to slide thereon, without this involving a departure from the scope of the present invention. After having been so cut, the single coils, thanks to their inherent elasticity, are able to remain in their own seat on the pattern, while also maintaining the shape acquired by them when the wire is coiled on the same pattern. Subsequently, these coils are removed from the pattern in any of a variety of applicable manual methods or by making possibly use of any appropriate automated mechanical means of a per se known kind which, upon removing said coils from the patterns, is capable of also preparing them for the subsequent operational phase that will be described further on, wherein each one of said coils substantially constitutes now the actual frame of the spectacles with an approximately elliptical shape and such a lenght as to be able to enclose the lenses duly spaced from each other as required by the actual spectacle size, ie. by the correct extent, as this is most clearly illustrated in Figure 7. The elasticity acquired by the coils is such as to enable their respective free ends 27 and 28 to collimate. Said free ends can then be joined with each other in any of a variety of suitable joining methods, such as for instance by means of a single electric autogenous butt welding operation, so that the material of the frame turns out to be even, homogeneous, with a single welding spot; they may possibly also be joined to each other with the use ofa metal bracing or stiffening element 29, suitably welded on to them (see Figure 7), in accordance with the aesthetical requirements that have to be coped with or the desired design that has to be obtained, wherein said bracing or stiffening element may also be an integral part of the bridge that links to each other the frame half-sections supporting the lenses, and may further be used as a support for the elements forming the nosepiece, ie. that part of the frame which is intended to rest on the nose.

In the subsequent third operational phase of the method according to the present invention, when reference is made particularly to Figure 3 it can be noticed that each such coil is then placed on the templates (patterns) indicated at 30 and 31, respectively, that reproduce shape and size of the lenses that are going to be an integral part of the spectacles, said templates being sustained by a respective support (not indicated) so as to be able to each time adjust in advance the axial distance between them to the desired extent, this adjustment being performed by causing the support of each template to alternately slide along a corresponding rectilinear, horizontally extending slot 32 and 33, respectively, in the example being considered here. It will however be appreciate that this may also occur in any of a variety of other manners that are effective in letting the same function to be obtained as specified. In particular, the coil of fluted wire is applied automatically around the templates 30 and 31 in correspondence of the curved portions 34 and 35 of the same coil, wherein this application occurs by either partially or totally inserting the edge of each template in the fluting of the wire, in such a manner as to prevent such a coil from being able to move away from both templates and thereby making it possible for the subsequent shaping phase to take place. The latter is brought about by the action of mutually opposing pressing members 36 and 37 of variable size that are actuated in a per se known manner and are arranged externally with respect to the coil itself in a mutually aligned position in correspondence of the upper median zone (close to the respective free ends 27 and 28) and lower median zone of said coil; furthermore, they are sized to such a width as to prevent them from interfering with the templates during the displacement thereof. These pressing members are driven simultaneously to first move closer to each other, so as to cause the associated median zones 38 and 39 to be compressed against each other and thereby producing the bridge linking together the frame half-sections 40 and 41, so as this can be seen in Figure 4 illustrating the intermediate product emerging from this operational

phase of the method, and then move away from each other so as to bring again

said pressing members in the position in which they are ready to carry out in the same way the compression of the next spectacle frame. The subsequent fourth operational phase of the method according to the present invention is carried out using at least a tool as shown in Figure 5 or, alternatively, a tool as shown in Figure 9, in view of causing the rectlinear contour of the frame to adapt to the convex contour of the lenses on to which the same frame will be subsequently applied, such an operation being called "meniscus-shaping". In Figure 5, which illustrates a first embodiment of the tool used to carry out such a meniscus-shaping operation, it can be noticed that such a tool is constituted by a die formed by a first and a second die-halves 45 and 46

arranged in a mutually opposing and mutually coinciding position in correspondence of the two opposing longitudinal sides of the frame, generally indicated at 47 here, and made with complementary profiles that are not only perfectly tallying with each other, but are also identical to both the profile of the lenses, the screens, the filters or the like, and the profile of the middle linking bridge. Furthermore, said die-halves 45 and 46 are formed by movable component parts that are adapted to vary the distance beween the lenses, screens, filters or the like, and are capable of being adapted to lenses, screens, filters or the like of different and variable size and shape. The above mentioned die is driven to switch from an opened position, visible in Figure 5, in which said two die-halves 45 and 46 are opened and arranged so as to receive a respective frame 47 therebetween, to a closed position (not shown) in which said frame is clamped between said die-halves so that the same frame is therefore shaped to the desired profile, and vice-versa.

If a closer look is taken now at Figures 8 and 9, which illustrate a different embodiment of said intermediate product and a tool used to manufacture said

5 intermediate product, respectively, it can be noticed that this intermediate

product is shaped to feature frame half-sections adapted to accomodate lenses of different shape (in this case, of an approximately trapezoidal shape, instead of the elliptical one considered in the above described case). It can further be noticed that the tool used is again constituted by a die that is installed on a press

10 and whose die-halves are again shaped to show the same profile as the frame and are further positined and driven in the same manner as described in connection with the afore mentioned die.

It will of course be appreciated that, according to the present invention, in order to bring about the desired deformation and shaping of the fluted wire the

15 possibility is also gien for tools of a type differing from the one described above merely by way of example, provided that such different tools anyway involve the carrying out of the operational phases that are identical or similar to the ones described and claimed in connection with the manufacturing method according to the present invention.

20 In the subsequent fifth operational phase of the method in accordance with the present invention the operation is carried out with which the bars (arms) 48 are attached to the spectacle frame produced in the preceding, afore described phases. This is done by using a pair of hinging blocks 49 and 50, or even simple hinges of a traditional type or some appropriate linkage or articulation members of a per se known type (not shown), which are adapted to sustain the arms so that the same bars are capable of folding with differing adjustment widths. In particular, said bars or arms 48 are shaped to feature an elongated rectilinear portion 51 that is bent to form a curl-like configuration 52 at its linkage end for the reasons that will be better explained further on, wherein said bars are manufactured to differing shapes, topologies and sizes by means of tools that may be either of a traditional or a dedicated type. Said hinging blocks are in turn manufactured and shaped in the manner that will be described in greater detail further on, again through the use of tools that may be either of a traditional or a dedicated type, and they shall anyway be in all cases such as to be capable of receiving and accomodating the corresponding tenon of the bar.

In the example illustrated here, said hinging blocks, or such other similar means that may be used instead, are attached by means of bonding, welding or other appropriate joining techniques to the curved portions 34 and 35 of the frame, or they may also be attached to such a frame at such other positions thereof as to anyway enable the bars, or any other possible support means used, to correctly perform their function consisting in supporting the spectacles. Referring now to the Figures 10 to 12, these can be noticed to illustrate two different embodiments of such hinging blocks for application to spectacle frames according to the present invention.

In particular, from the illustrations in Figures 10 and 11 it can be noticed that each hinging block for the articulated joint of the spectacle frame bar 48 is welded on to the frame 47 constituting the seat in which the lenses or glasses or plastics or any other materials are to be accomodated.

Furthermore, each hinging block can be seen to extend towards the face of the person wearing the spectacles, thereby forming a U-shaped configuration,

wherein the bottom 53 of said U-shaped configuration is facing outwardly and is slightly bent inwardly at this free end 54 so as to form an abuttal against which the bar can therefore stop when folded into its fully open position. The numeral 55 is used to indicate a pin in the form of a tenon that is fixed by riveting at its ends on the two wings of the U-shaped configuration. The curl 52 of the bar is then hoooked pivotably on around said pin with the manoeuvre indicated in Figure 10 which enables the bar to move from the position 10b, as indicated with dotted lines in the cited Figure, and as made possible by the frame 47 before the lenses, glasses or the like are mounted therein, through the position 10a, through the forepart of the spectacle frame, again indicated with dotted lines, up to the position 10c indicated with continuous lines, by means of a rotation according to the arrow B.

A dowel 56 fills the U-shaped cavity 57 of the hinging block, thereby reconstituting the convex surface of the curl 52 and adhering thereto, in such a manner as to enable the bar to continuously maintain the position that is each time imparted to it, in particular the position in which it is due to adhere to the temples of the person who wears the spectacles, thereby ensuring that the spectacles themselves remain well-fitting on the head and do not slip down the nose, and furthermore to prevent the same bar from possibility breaking down or breaking loose, even after a prolonged period of use, as this on the contrary tends to occur rather frequently with spectacles of traditional type. This is effective in enabling the well-known drawback encountered with spectacle bars of usual design, in which the articulated joint thereof can be noticed to gradually work itself slack and loose so that the bars, left in a loosely hanging condition, are no longer able to keep any stable position and start oscillating freely, to be effectively avoided.

To the purposes of the present invention, the material which the dowel is made of shall substantially be a rigid one. Figure 12 illustrates another embodiment, wherein the dowel 56, instead of being made of a substantially rigid material, uses an elastic material, such as rubber, buna, synthetic resins or the like, so that the bar, when the spectacles are applied on the face of the person wearing them, is able to move elastically from the position 12a (full lines) to the position 12b (dashed lines), while it is the elastic pressure of the now visibly deformed dowel 56, which acts as a shock absorber, that keeps the bar adhering against the head and, therefore, improves the adaptability thereof to the head of the single users, thereby considerably adding to the wearing comfort of the spectacles without having to make use of expensive elastic hinges to reach that aim. As compared to prior-art elastic spectacle bars, which make use of springs, levers, screws and similar means, the solution according to the present invention has the advantage of being much simpler and lower in cost. It further ensures a much longer life duration.

Thanks to their peculiar feature of failing to require any use of screws, which are largely known to constitute usual break-down points causing the bars and the lenses to possibly fall off accidentally, said break-down points proving further to be quite critical when the spectacles are used to protective purposes in working and sports environments, the spectacles obtained with the

manufacturing method in accordance with the present invention are capable of assuring an absolutely safe use, thereby ruling out the possibility of any connected situation that might lead to accidents or dangerous events. A further feature of the present invention calls for the metal spectacle frame is obtained from an innerly fluted profile section that is made continuous by means of a single electricn autogenous butt welding operation. It ensues that the material constituting the frame is homogeneous and has a single welded spot. By selecting an appropriate material, therefore, this enables the continuous profiled section in a closed-loop configuration to be imparted any desired form, thereby creating the possibility of working out, ie, providing proper seats for the lenses and the linking bridge with a single operation, while at the same time preventing possible crackings from forming in correspondence of bending points, and, as result, avoiding scraps and rejects.

This particular feature of the present invention at the same time enables manufacturing costs to be lowered and general economy of the operations to be improved thanks to tower scraps and more efficient utilization of the material. Then, after the hinging blocks have been attached in the afore described manner, the bars 48 are in turn attached to said hinging blocks, thereby completing the process of fabrication of the frame and bars assembly of each spectacle unit. Said bars 48 are applied in position either in the manner illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, in the case of bars made as illustrated in the same Figures, or by attaching them by means of daps and pins or similar articulation means in the case that the frame is provided with hinges of a traditional type, or again by means of linkage or articulation members or joints of per se known type. The operations needed to so apply the bars to the respective frames may be carried out either manually or by means of appropriate automated equipment.

In the subsequent sixth operational phase of the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the so mutually assembled bars and frame are caused to undergo appropriate chemical treatment processes of a per se known type to protective, cleaning and surface-finishing purposes, said processes being adapted to confer the necessary anticorrosion and resistance properties to the materials used, so as to above all enable them to comply with the existing sanitation and health regulations, as well as to produce the colour, decorating, finishing and general aesthetic effects desired. In this case it is also possible for said protective and finishing treatments to be eliminated from the actual spectacle manufacturing process, preferably by using, during this operational phase of the process, materials that have been subjected to these treatments directly by the suppliers of the same materials, and therefore supplied in such a prefinished condition to the spectacle manufacturers. In the subsequent seventh phase of the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the lenses used for the spectacles are then inserted in each respective frame either manually or automatically by means of appropriate automated equipment. Upon the lenses having been so inserted, the whole set is pressed tightly together in an appropriate manner, thereby completing the assembly of each type of spectacles. In this case use can be made, according to actual needs and utilization scopes, of lenses of various types, shades and hues for either viewing glasses or sunglasses, presentation or advertising lenses, etc., as well as protective lenses and/or screens of various kind, filters, etc., for use in the most varied areas of application, such as for instance factory shop floors, offices, sports and leisure,

etc.

Furthermore, the bars are equipped with the related terminal pieces that are available separately and are to this purpose slipped on the same bars, again manually or by means of appropriate automated equipment. The tightening together of each such frame, under resulting locking in position of the lenses, screens, filters or the like used to so complete the spectacles, is carried out by preferably using an appropriate separate clamping piece 58 that is made of plastic material (see Figure 13) in the form of a central body 59 provided with a rectilinear recess 60 capable of being snap-fitted on to the linking bridge 61 of the related frame and fastened on the same bridge by means of a counterclamp 62, said clamping piece 58 being further so formed as to feature two side shanks 63 and 64 which extend downwards from said central body and are so shaped as to be capable of fitting on the nose of each person.

It will be appreciated that, instead of using said separate clamping piece 58 to act as a single nose-resting piece, the possibility also exists for two or more nose-resting pieces of various type, either readily available on the market or specially designed for the application, to be used to this purpose, which are anyway capable of tightening together and locking in position the various parts of the spectacle frame either in a similar manner as described above or even through the use of other possible fastening means of a per se known type,

without departing from the scope of the present invention.

At this point, the advantages of the spectacle manufacturing method according

to the present invention are fully clear and can be summarized as follows: 1 - minimization of possible break-down points;

2- spectacle construction requiring no use of screws and just a maximum of three welding spots;

3- utilization of raw materials that have never or, at most , scarcely been used before in spectacle manufacturing (such as aluminium, copper and various alloys, natural products, etc.);

4- use of an articulation joint (tenon) that is totally different from the joints used hitherto;

5- simplified assembly of the various component parts of the spectacles;

6- modular construction of the spectacles allowing for all of the elements thereof to be easily interchageable, ie. replaced in a simple, elementary manner

(owing to either breakages, adjustments, etc. or even to adaption to changing fashions or personal requirements);

7- drastic reduction in manufacturing costs of each component part of the spectacles; 8- elimination of the dependence on particular people for repairs, service or the like, thanks to the easy manner in which the various elements can be replaced

(direct assembly by the same user);

9- variation of the models, either for the same or for other utilization scopes, by simply interchanging different component parts of the spectacles; 10- reduction in time and labour requirements, as well as in the operational

phases needed;

11 - improved structural strength of the spectacles, thanks to the drastic

reduction in the number of welds required; 12- lower usage and, therefore, greater savings of the materials used, owing to the utilization of fluted wire that is used integrally in each frame so produced, so that eliminating scraps and off-cuts;

13- greater safety assured in the various situations and under the various conditions in which the spectacles can be used, as pointed out earlier in the above description;

14- use of pre-treated, ie. pre-finished materials, thereby doing away with the need for corresponding surface protection and finishing treatments of any kind

to be carried out at the factory.

Claims

1. Manufacturing method for spectacles, each one of which comprising a continuous frame formed by a first and a second frame half-section linked with each other through a ridge, a pair of lenses, screens, filters or the like that are

respectively enclosed by said first and said second frame half-section, a pair of support bars and at least a possible nosepiece element applied on to the same frame, characterized in that it makes use of at least a fluted wire (23), preferably made of metal, such as for instance aluminium, copper or per se known metal alloys, and available in the form of continuous wire, and that it calls for said fluted wire (23) to undergo in sequence a first phase in which it is wound in the form of a spiral around appropriately shaped coiling means (18, 1 ) so as to obtain a plurality of adjacent coils, each one of which is intended to form said first and said second frame half-section (40, 41); a second phase in which said coils are first separated from each other by means of cutting means (26) and then removed from said coiling means (18, 19); a third phase in which said first and said second frame half-sections (40, 41) are first applied around the templates or pattwerns (30, 31) corresponding to the lenses, screns, filters or the like that will be used in the respective spectacles to be manufactured, by either partially or totally inserting the edge of said templates or patterns (30, 31) in the fluting of said fluted wire (23) and then preliminarily shaped around said templates or patterns (30, 31) by means of compression means (36, 37), thereby obtaining said first and said second frame half-sections (40, 41) and said linking bridge (61); a fourth phase (generally referred as meniscus-shaping phase in the art) in which said first and said second frame half-sections (40, 41) are shaped

around said templates or patterns (30, 31) by means of further compression

means (45, 46) to eventually acquire the same profile as the lenses; a fifth phase

in which said first and said second frame half-sections (40, 41) are joined to

their respective bars (48) through articulation means (49, 50) that are attached to the corresponding frame half-sections; a sixth phase in which said first and said second frame half-sections (40, 41) and said bars (48) are caused to undergo possibly required chemical treatments to surface protection, cleaning, finishing and similar purposes in view of conferring them the desired aesthetical and decorating effects; and a seventh phase in which said first and said second frame half-sections (40, 41 ) are applied on to said lenses, screens, filters or the like, and said bars (48) are equipped with their terminal elements, said nosepiece element (58) being subsequently applied on the assembly so formed by said frame half-sections (40, 41) and said lenses, screens, filters or the like to clamp 15 and tighten it together.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said fluted wire (23) is wound on a corresponding reel (15) that is rotatably driven by motor means (17) so as to cause said wire (23) to wind on said coiling means (18, 19).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said coiling means comprise a pair of similarly sized fixed elongated cylinders (18), the longitudinal axes of which are parallel to each other and axially displaceable with respect to each other into different adjustment positions according to the desired size and spacing of said first and said first and said second frame half-sections (40, 41), as well as an elastic structure (19) covering said cylinders (18) and formed by an elastic material capable of perfectly fitting therearound in any position which they are actually adjusted to, thereby constituting a pattern adapted to support said fluted wire (23), said pattern being provided with at least a rotation and support axis (20) that extends centrally in the longitudinal direction of the same pattern and parallelly to the axis of said cylinders (18) and is driven by motor means (21) so as to be able to be actuated with a movement of rotation and unidirectional translation, in a direction that is orthogonal to the feeding direction of said fluted wire (23) unwinding from said reel (15), in synchronism with the rotational movement of said reel (15), in synchronism with the rotational movement of said reel (15) as the latter is so rotatably driven during coiling of said fluted wire (23) on said pattern, and to be stopped at the end of said coiling with the aid of braking means such as mutually opposing friction clutches (25), or the like, acting on said fluted wire (23).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that said pattern is provided with at least an upper groove (22) situated in a central, intermediate position between said cylinders (18) and extending parallelly to said cylinders over the whole length thereof.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said cutting means comprise at least a motor-driven rotating disk saw (26), or any other appropriate cutting tool of a per se known type, which is displaceable with a relative movement with respect to said pattern along the whole length of said upper groove (22) thereof or along other guiding means that may possibly be provided on said cylinders (18).

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free ends (27, 28) of said coils can possibly be joined together by means of at least a metal reinforcement (29) attached to them in a per se known manner.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said templates or patterns (30, 31) are sustained by suppport means so as to enable the axial distance from each other to be varied, by an extent corresponding to the desired axial distance between each pair of lenses, screens, filters or the like, before said third operational phase is carried out.

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compression means comprise first and second mutually opposing pressure means (36, 37), which are arranged in a mutually aligned position coinciding with said linking bridge (61) and are sized so as to prevent them from interfering with said templates or patterns (30, 31), said first and second pressure means (36, 37) being simultaneously actuated so as to first move closer to each other, so as to thereby form said linking bridge (61) through a squeezing action, and then to move apart from each other so as to get them ready for the next processing cycle.

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said further compression means comprise at least a die, formed by a first and a second die-half (45, 46) arranged in a mutually opposing and mutually coinciding position in correspondence of the two opposed longitudinal sides of said frame (47), and made with complementary profiles fitting perfectly with each other and identical to both the profile of the lenses and the profile of said linking bridge (61), said first and second die-halves (45, 46) being actuatable from an open position thereof, in which they are ready to receive said frame (47) between them, to a closed position for giving said frame (47) its ultimate

shape, and vice-versa.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that said first and second die-halves (45, 46) are arranged so as to enable the distance between said lenses, screens, filters or the like to be varied in accordance with the required or desired shapes and sizes thereof.

1 1. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said articulation means comprise first and second hinging block means (49, 50), or other hinging or linking means either of a per se known type or of a dedicated type, that are attached to said first and second frame half-sections (40, 41) by means of bonding, welding or other joining techniques or means of a per se known type.

12. Method according to claim 1 1, characterized in that each such hinging block (49, 50) extends towards the face of the person wearing the spectacles with a

U-shaped configuration, the bottom (53) of which faces outwardly and is slightly bent inwardly at its free end (54), thereby forming an abutment for the corresponding bar (48) to stop against when folded into its fully opened position, said hinging block being provided with a tenon (pin) (55) for the related bar (48) to be hooked on to, as well as a filling dowel (56) for each bar to be enabled to stay in the position imparted to it each time.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that said dowel (56) is made either of a rigid material or of an elastic material such as rubber, buna, synthetic resins or the like.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that said first and second hinging blocks (49, 50) are manufactured with tools that may be either of a traditional or a dedicated type.

15. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that each bar (48) is formed with an elongated rectilinear portion (51 ), which is bent into a curl-like configuration (52) at its end where it forms an articulated joint with said tenon (55) of said frame (47), and is manufactured to different sizes, topologies and shapes with the use of tools that may be either of a traditional or a dedicated type.

16. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said nosepiece element is formed by a separate clamping piece (58) that is made of plastic material in the form of a central body (59) provided with a rectilinear recess (60) capable of being fitted on to the linking bridge (61) fastened thereon by means of a counterclamp (62), said clamping piece (58) being further so formed as to feature two side shanks (63, 64) which extend downwards from said central body (59) and are so shaped as to be capable of fitting on the nose of each person.

17. Spectacles comprising a continuous frame formed by a first and a second frame half-section linked with each other through a bridge, a pair of lenses, screens, filters or the like that are respectively enclosed by said first and said second frame half-section, a pair of support bars and at least a possible nosepiece element applied on to the same frame, characterized in that they are obtained with the manufacturing method according to the preceding claims 1 to 16.