WO2000029897A1

WO2000029897A1 - Glasses

Info

Publication number: WO2000029897A1
Application number: PCT/KR1998/000416
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ji Moon Chang
Original assignee: Ji Moon Chang
Priority date: 1998-11-14
Filing date: 1998-12-08
Publication date: 2000-05-25
Also published as: KR19990008023U; KR200209003Y1; AU1510499A

Abstract

Glasses, designed to allow a user who cannot easily use one's fingers to easily open the arms prior to wearing the glasses in front of the eyes, is disclosed. The glasses have two lenses (1) used for improving sight or protecting the eyes. Two lens frames (2) respectively hold the two lenses (1). A bracket (3) extends from the outside portion of each of the lens frames (2) to a predetermined length. An arm (4) is hinged to the bracket (3) at a hinged joint and is selectively opened prior to being held on each ear of a user, thus holding the glasses in front of the eyes. A hinge unit (5) is provided at the hinged joint and allows the arm (4) to be rotatable relative to an associated lens frame (2) at a predetermined angle, thus opening or closing the arm (4) relative to the lens frame (2). The glasses also have a means (6) for levering the arm (4) in either direction relative to an associated lens frame (2) by actuating the hinge unit (5), thus selectively opening or closing the arm (4) relative to the lens frame. The levering means (6) is coupled to either the arm (4, 8) or the hinge unit.

Description

GLASSES

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to spectacles or glasses worn in front of the eyes to improve sight or protect the eyes from bright light and, more particularly, to glasses designed to allow a user, who cannot easily use one's fingers, to easily open the two arms prior to wearing the glasses in front of the eyes.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, spectacles or glasses are two small lenses in a frame worn in front of the eyes to improve sight of a long-sighted, shortsighted or astigmatic person or to protect the eyes from bright light from the sun. Such glasses comprise two lenses individually having a focus length and a magnification. The two lenses are held by two lens frames, with two arms being respectively hinged to the outside corners of the two lens frames and individually having an earpiece at the outside end. The glasses thus have two hinged joints at the junctions between the lens frames and the arms. The two arms are rotatable around the hinged joints, thus being selectively opened or closed relative to the lens frames. That is, when it is necessary to put the glasses into a case, the two arms have to be closed relative to the lens frames. On the other hand, the two arms are opened before the glasses are worn in front of the eyes with the earpieces of the two arms being hung on the ears. In such glasses, the hinged joints are fixed to the brackets provided at the outside corners of the two lens frames and rotatably hold the two arms.

When the two arms of glasses are closed relative to the lens frames, the position of the two arms may be in a so-called "closed position". Meanwhile, when the two arms are opened relative to the lens frames, the position of the arms may be in a so-called "open position". In order to open or close the two arms relative to the lens frames, it is necessary to rotate the arms around the hinged joints in either direction.

Glasses, having two arms capable of being automatically and elastically returned from the open position to the closed position when there is no external force acting on the arms, have been proposed and used. In the above glasses, the hinged joints for the arms are designed to allow the arms to be normally biased to the closed position, thus forcing the two arms to be automatically closed when the arms are free from external force after being opened. In a detailed description, a hinge sleeve, having a circular cross-section, is fixed to the bracket of each lens frame of the glasses, while two mutually biased hinge pins are commonly fixed to an end of each arm so as to be integrated into a single body at the end of the arm. The two mutually biased hinge pins, designed to be elastically biased away from each other, are bent upwardly and downwardly at their outside ends, thus being rotatably set in the hinge sleeve. In order to receive the hinge pins while allowing the hinge pins to be rotatable at angle of about 90°, each of the sleeves has a cutout. The cutout of each sleeve has a longitudinal and generally trapezoidal configuration, with the top and bottom edges being specifically inclined at a predetermined angle of inclination to allow the arms to be elastically rotatable between the closed and open positions.

As described above, the two hinge pins of each arm are designed to be mutually, biased, thus having an elasticity. Therefore, when external force is removed from the two arms after the two hinge pins of each arm are rotated in an associated sleeve to allow the two arms to be fully opened relative to the lens frames, the two hinge pins of each arm elastically move down along the inclined top and bottom edges, thus elastically returning the opened arms to the closed position. Therefore, the two arms of a pair of glasses are normally closed where there is no external force acting on the arms.

It is, thus, necessary for users to repeatedly open the arms relative to the lens frames every time they wear the glasses in front of the eyes. Therefore, the above glasses are inconvenient to users, particularly users who cannot easily use one's fingers, since it is not easy to open the arms prior to wearing the glasses in front of the eyes.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide glasses, which are designed to allow a user, who cannot easily use one's fingers, to easily open the arms prior to wearing the glasses in front of the eyes.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides glasses, comprising two lenses used for improving sight or protecting the eyes, and two lens frames respectively holding the lenses, further comprising: a bracket extending from an outside portion of each of the lens frames to a predetermined length; an arm hinged to the bracket at a hinged joint and selectively opened prior to being held on each ear of a user, thus holding the glasses in front of the eyes; a hinge unit provided at the hinged joint and allowing the arm to be rotatable relative to an associated lens frame at a predetermined angle, thus opening or closing the arm relative to the lens frame; and a means for levering the arm in either direction relative to an associated lens frame by actuating the hinge unit, thus selectively opening or closing the arm relative to the lens frame, the levering means being coupled to either the arm or the hinge unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a hinge unit included in the glasses of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a hinge sleeve provided at the hinge unit of Fig. 2, showing the fully opened and closed positions of a mutually biased hinge pin of each arm with the hinge pin being shown in a cross- sectional view;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the glasses provided with a levering means in accordance with the first modification of the primary embodiment of this invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a levering means included in the glasses of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the fourth embodiment of this invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a hinge unit included in the glasses of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a hinge sleeve provided at the hinge unit of Fig. 2, showing the fully opened and closed positions of a mutually biased hinge pin of each arm with the hinge pin being shown in a cross-sectional view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the glasses provided with a levering means in accordance with the first modification of the primary embodiment of this invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the glasses of this invention comprise two small lenses 1, which are set in an eye glass frame worn in front of the eyes to improve sight of a long-sighted, short-sighted or astigmatic person or to protect the eyes from bright light from the sun. In the eye glass frame, the two lenses 1 are appropriately held by two lens frames 2 which are integrated with each other into a single body by a bridge 2a. The two lens frames 2 are also provided with nose guards 2b at opposite portions around the bridge 2a. The two nose guards 2b rest on both sides of the nose, thus supporting the lens frames 2 in front of the eyes without allowing the lens frames 2 to slide down on the nose. A bracket 3 extends from each lens frame 2 at a portion almost completely opposite to the bridge 2a. The two brackets 3 individually extend to a predetermined length prior to being bent at generally right angles. The eye glass frame is further provided with two arms 4. The two arms 4 are respectively hinged to the outside ends of the brackets

3 at hinged joints. When using the glasses, the lens frames 2 are worn in front of the eyes of a user with the two nose guards 2b being seated on both sides of the nose and the earpieces of the two arms 4 being hung on the ears. In such a case, the two lenses 1 are appropriately positioned in front of the two eyes to effectively improve sight or protect the eyes from bright light from the sun.

A hinge unit 5 is provided at the hinged joint between each bracket 3 and an associated arm 4 and allows the arm 4 to be rotatable relative to an associated lens frame 2 at a predetermined angle, thus opening or closing the arm 4 relative to the lens frame 2. That is, the two arms 4 of the glasses are rotatable at the hinge units 5 between the open position and the closed position relative to the lens frames 2.

The glasses of this invention also have a levering means 6 which is used for levering an arm 4 in either direction relative to the lens frame 2 by actuating the hinge unit 5, thus selectively opening or closing the arm

4 relative to the lens frame 2. The above levering means 6 is coupled to either the arm 4 or the hinge unit 5 and has a shape suitable for being easily operable by a user.

The levering means 6 allows a user to more easily open the arms 4 prior to wearing the glasses in front of the eyes.

In a detailed description, the hinge unit 5 comprises a hinge pin 8 and a hinge sleeve 9. As shown in Fig. 2, the hinge pin 8 integrally extends from the arm 4 in an axial direction and diverges at its outside end, thus having upper and lower ends 7 aligned on a vertical line. The two ends 7 are spaced out at a predetermined interval and are respectively bent upwardly and downwardly. On the other hand, the hinge sleeve 9 comprises a cylindrical member, which is fixed to the bracket 3 and rotatably receives the upper and lower ends 7 of the hinge pin 8, thus allowing the hinge pin 8 along with the arm 4 to be rotatable between the open position and the closed position. The upper and lower ends 7 of the hinge pin 8 are respectively and normally biased upwardly and downwardly, thus being normally and elastically retained in the hinge sleeve 9. In the primary embodiment, the levering means 6 is integrated with the upper end 7 of the hinge pin 8.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cylindrical member of the hinge sleeve 9 has a specifically designed cutout 12a at its sidewall, thus having upper and lower openings 10 respectively and rotatably receiving the upper and lower ends 7 of the hinge pin 8. The above cutout 12a is specifically curved at its top and bottom edges 11 in a way such that the interval between the top and bottom edges 11 is reduced in a direction from a first seat for the closed position to a second seat for the open position. Each of the top and bottom edges 11 of the cutout 12a comprises a ridge portion 12 provided at an intermediate portion between the first and second seats, thus retaining the hinge pin 8 in either the first or second seat. An inclined portion 13 is provided at a position between the ridge portion 12 and the first seat, thus allowing the arm 4 to be elastically returned from the open position to the closed position due to an elasticity of the hinge pin 8.

In the primary embodiment of this invention, the levering means 6 is integrated with either one of the upper and lower ends 7 of the hinge pin 8 into a single body, thus actuating the hinge pin 8 relative to the hinge sleeve 9. In accordance with the first modification of the primary embodiment of this invention, the levering means 6 comprises an extension part 14 integrally extending from either end 7 of the hinge pin 8 as shown in Fig. 4. The extension part 14 is bent into a specifically bent configuration. A lever 15 integrally extends from the extension part 14 and is adapted for actuating the hinge pin 8 along with the arm 4 relative to the hinge sleeve 9. In the present invention, it is preferable to form the lever 15 using a plastic material. The above lever 15 is also preferably designed to have a good appearance.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a levering means included in the glasses of Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 5, the levering means 15 according to the second embodiment of this invention has a construction and configuration similar to that of the hinge unit 5 according to the primary embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4. That is, in the glasses of the second embodiment, two sleeves 9 and 19 are provided abreast at the hinged joint between each bracket 3 and an associated arm 4. Of the two sleeves 9 and 19, one sleeve 9 is for rotatably receiving the two ends 7 of the hinge pin 8 in the same manner as that described for the primary embodiment, while the other sleeve 19 is for rotatably receiving two ends 16 of a lever 18 as will be described hereinbelow.

That is, the levering means 15 according to the second embodiment comprises a lever 18 and a lever sleeve 19 as best seen in Fig. 6. The lever 18 diverges at its end, thus having upper and lower ends 16 aligned on a vertical line. The two ends 16 of the lever 18 are respectively bent and normally biased upwardly and downwardly. A grip 17 is provided at the outside end of the lever 18, thus allowing a user to more easily operate the lever 18. The lever sleeve 19 comprises a cylindrical member which rotatably receives the upper and lower ends 16 of the lever 18, thus allowing the lever 18 along with the arm 4 to be rotatable between the open position and the closed position. Since the two ends 16 of the lever 18 are respectively and normally biased upwardly and downwardly, the two ends 16 are somewhat stably retained in the lever sleeve 19.

The lever sleeve 19 is integrated with either end 7 of the hinge pin 8, fixed to the arm 4, and has a specifically designed second cutout 20 at its sidewall. The upper and lower openings of the lever sleeve 19 respectively and rotatably receive the upper and lower ends 16 of the lever 18. The second cutout 20 is specifically shaped at its top and bottom edges 21 in a way such that the lever 18 is elastically and normally returned from an open position to a closed position due to an elasticity of the upper and lower ends 16 of the lever 18.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 7, the glasses according to the third embodiment comprise two small lenses 1, which are set in an eye glass frame worn in front of the eyes to i prove sight of a long-sighted, short-sighted or astigmatic person or to protect the eyes from bright light from the sun. In the eye glass frame, the two lenses 1 are appropriately held by two lens frames 2 which are integrated with each other into a single body by a bridge 2a. The two lens frames 2 are also provided with nose guards 2b at opposite portions around the bridge 2a. The two nose guards 2b rest on both sides of the nose, thus supporting the lens frames 2 in front of the eyes without allowing the lens frames 2 to slide down on the nose.

A bracket 3 extends from each lens frame 2 to a predetermined length at a portion almost completely opposite to the bridge 2a. The eye glass frame is further provided with two arms 4. The two arms 4 are respectively hinged to the outside ends of the brackets 3 at hinged joints. When using the glasses, the lens frames 2 are worn in front of the eyes of a user with the two nose guards 2b being seated on both sides of the nose and the earpieces of the two arms 4 being hung on the ears. In such a case, the two lenses 1 are appropriately positioned in front of the two eyes to effectively improve sight or protect the eyes from bright light from the sun.

In addition, a locking member 22 outwardly extends from the outside wall of each arm 4 to a length in a direction to the opening position of the arm 4. The above locking member 22 is operated to rotate the arm 4 between the open and closed positions, and so the locking member 22 performs an operational function which can be expected from the lever 18 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of glasses in accordance with the fourth embodiment of this invention.

In the fourth embodiment of this invention, the levering means is provided at the outside wall of each arm 4 for levering the arm 4 between the open and closed positions. The above levering means comprises a lever 22 which diverges at its end, thus having upper and lower ends aligned on a vertical line. The two ends of the lever 22 are respectively bent and normally biased upwardly and downwardly. A lever sleeve 23 is provided at the outside wall of each arm 4 and rotatably receives the upper and lower ends of the lever 22, thus allowing the lever 22 along with the arm 4 to be rotatable between the open position and the closed position relative to an associated lens frame 2. The lever sleeve 23 has a specifically designed cutout 24 at its sidewall, thus having upper and lower openings respectively and rotatably receiving the upper and lower ends of the lever 22. The above cutout 24 is specifically shaped at its top and bottom edges in a way such that the lever 22 is elastically and normally returned from the open position to the closed position due to an elasticity of the upper and lower ends of the lever 22.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides glasses, which are designed to allow a user, who cannot easily use one's fingers, to easily open the arms prior to wearing the glasses in front of the eyes. The glasses of this invention have a hinge unit, which is provided at the hinged joint between each lens frame and an associated arm. The hinge unit allows an arm to be rotatable relative to the lens frame at a predetermined angle, thus opening or closing the arm relative to the lens frame. The glasses also have a means for levering an arm in either direction relative to the lens frame by actuating the hinge unit. The levering means, coupled to either the arm or the hinge unit, thus selectively opens or closes the arm relative to the lens frame.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims :

1. Glasses, comprising two lenses used for improving sight or protecting the eyes, and two lens frames respectively holding the lenses, further comprising: a bracket extending from an outside portion of each of the lens frames to a predetermined length; an arm hinged to said bracket at a hinged joint and selectively opened prior to being held on each ear of a user, thus holding the glasses in front of the eyes; a hinge unit provided at said hinged joint and allowing the arm to be rotatable relative to an associated lens frame at a predetermined angle, thus opening or closing the arm relative to the lens frame; and means for levering the arm in either direction relative to an associated lens frame by actuating the hinge unit, thus selectively opening or closing the arm relative to the lens frame, said levering means being coupled to either the arm or the hinge unit.

2. The glasses according to claim 1, wherein said hinge unit comprises: a hinge pin integrally extending from said arm in an axial direction and diverging at its outside end, thus having upper and lower ends aligned on a vertical line, said two ends being spaced out at a predetermined interval and being respectively bent upwardly and downwardly; and a hinge sleeve rotatably receiving said upper and lower ends of the hinge pin, thus allowing the hinge pin along with the arm to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position.

3. The glasses according to claim 2, wherein said upper and lower ends of the hinge pin are respectively and normally biased upwardly and downwardly, thus being normally and elastically retained in said hinge sleeve.

4. The glasses according to claim 2, wherein said hinge sleeve comprises: a cylindrical member having a specifically designed cutout at its sidewall, thus having upper and lower openings respectively and rotatably receiving the upper and lower ends of the hinge pin, said cutout being specifically curved at its top and bottom edges in a way such that the interval between the top and bottom edges is reduced in a direction from a first seat for the closed position to a second seat for the open position.

5. The glasses according to claim 4, wherein each of said top and bottom edges of the cutout comprises: a ridge portion provided at an intermediate portion between the first and second seats, thus retaining the hinge pin in either the first or second seat; and an inclined portion provided at a position between the ridge portion and the first seat, thus allowing the arm to be elastically and normally returned from the open position to the closed position due to an elasticity of the hinge pin.

6. The glasses according to claim 2, wherein said levering means is integrated with either one of the upper and lower ends of said hinge pin into a single body, thus actuating the hinge pin relative to the hinge sleeve.

7. The glasses according to claim 6, wherein said levering means comprises: an extension part integrally extending from a selected end of said hinge pin, said extension part being bent into a specifically bent configuration; and a lever integrally extending from said extension part and adapted for actuating said hinge pin along with the arm relative to the hinge sleeve.

8. The glasses according to claim 6, wherein said levering means comprises: a lever diverging at its end, thus having upper and lower ends aligned on a vertical line, said two ends of the lever being respectively bent and normally biased upwardly and downwardly; and a lever sleeve rotatably receiving said upper and lower ends of the lever, thus allowing the lever along with the arm to be rotatable between the open position and the closed position.

9. The glasses according to claim 8, wherein said lever sleeve comprises: a second cylindrical member integrated with the hinge pin and having a specifically designed second cutout at its sidewall, thus having upper and lower openings respectively and rotatably receiving the upper and lower ends of the lever, said second cutout being specifically shaped at its top and bottom edges in a way such that the lever is elastically and normally returned from an open position to a closed position due to an elasticity of the upper and lower ends of said lever.

10. The glasses according to claim 1, wherein said levering means comprises: an actuating protrusion outwardly extending from an outside wall of said arm to a length in a direction to the opening position of the arm.

11. The glasses according to claim 1, wherein said levering means comprises: a lever diverging at its end, thus having upper and lower ends aligned on a vertical line, said two ends of the lever being respectively bent and normally biased upwardly and downwardly; and a lever sleeve provided at an outside wall of said arm and rotatably receiving the upper and lower ends of said lever, thus allowing the lever along with the arm to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position relative to an associated lens frame.

12. The glasses according to claim 11, wherein said lever sleeve comprises: a cylindrical member having a specifically designed cutout at its sidewall, thus having upper and lower openings respectively and rotatably receiving the upper and lower ends of said lever, said cutout being specifically shaped at its top and bottom edges in a way such that the lever is elastically and normally returned from the open position to the closed position due to an elasticity of the upper and lower ends of said lever.