WO2000067067A1

WO2000067067A1 - Eyeglasses frame and method of preparing and assembling same

Info

Publication number: WO2000067067A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/003986
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Schievenin
Original assignee: Angelo Schievenin
Priority date: 1999-05-04
Filing date: 2000-05-04
Publication date: 2000-11-09
Also published as: EP1175637A1

Abstract

A frame for eyeglasses, comprising a front (F') to which at least one lens (L; 50) of the eyeglasses and/or side parts (5) are attachable, and means (1-3; 5a, 6a) for attaching the lens (L; 50) and/or the side parts (5) to the front (F'). The attachment means (1-3; 5a, 6a) comprises at least a pair of prongs (1, 2; 11, 12) which are linked by a base (3; 13) and which are elastically deformable so as to allow putting the lens (L; 50) or the side part (5) into an attachment position, and which are capable of holding the lens (L; 50) or the side part (5) in the attachment position after having returned to their initial position.

Description

Eyeglasses frame and method of preparing and assembling same

The present invention relates to a frame for eyeglasses according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a method of producing a frame for eyeglasses according to the preamble of claim 14.

A usual frame of eyeglasses is notoriously comprised of a front, which supports the lenses, and a couple of side parts which are linked to the front end, which support and position the goggles on the head of the user. The front of the eyeglasses is usually formed by a pair of rims linked together by a bridge or nose piece, said rims being provided with a bevelling for the stable housing of the ophthalmic or protective lenses .

If the front is made of metal or is otherwise made stiff, it is necessary to make a notch on the rims to insert the lenses into the two rims .

This usual constructive solution presents the well-known drawback of presenting the necessity of making first of all the loop, to which a bush is thereafter welded, only one end of said bush being linked to an end of the end piece or to the end of the front, said bush being cut transversely, thereby accomplishing a loop on one side of it and a thread hole on the other, a small closing screw being applied on said bush for the locking of the rim on the lens, in positions which are often hard to reach.

The same constructive solution involves also the anaesthetic presence of the above-mentioned locking bushes and of their linking screw.

According to a recent and innovative manufacturing technique for spectacles frames, some of their parts and/or especially their front are advantageously provided by photoengraving or photoshearing, from a sheet of steel, aluminum or other material fit for being bent and finished off afterwards, without the countless preparations foreseen for the several components, their finishing and their assembling to form a spectacles frame . However, since also this technique provides the radial opening of the two rims of the front to enable the placement of the lenses, it therefore requires clamps and clamping screws of the same rims, beside the fact that screws or hinging pivots for the side parts have to be provided.

Thanks to the increasingly better quality of the materials and the gradual improvement of the machines put at disposal by the latest technology, the eye wear industry has recently overcome the traditional way of proceeding which is based on the connection and hinge of a couple of side parts with a front for the support of the lenses by means of screws or hinging pivots of the side parts, and based on the use of screws and clips for the closing of the rims after the insertion of the lenses.

Particularly, the use of drawn products or profiles in titanium-alloys has allowed the accomplishment of light and solid eyeglasses frames both of the kind with the front with rims for the support of the lenses, and of the kind with a bridge and self-supporting nose pieces.

The current technique of laser shearing and cutting the fronts and the side pieces of eyeglasses made out of metal plates has considerably simplified the traditional technique of construction of the front and side parts of eyeglasses, eliminating many and complex workings for the construction and assembling of the single parts of the eyeglasses.

The above-mentioned techniques used recently to obtain eyeglasses frames from plates and wires of any kind of material present some drawbacks as regards the construction and the functionality of the frame itself, making the use of the traditional technique still favorite.

The first drawback verifiable in the accomplishment of eyeglasses frames with wires in titanium-alloys is that this kind of material is not very weldable and therefore the use of this kind of alloys involves the use of elements for the linking of the fronts to the side parts, said elements presenting often complicated forms difficult to accomplish and unaesthetic.

Apart from said alloys being difficult to be welded, they should not be welded because through the heating they will lose the non-allergic and non-toxic properties which make them particularly usable in the field of eye wear.

As regards the technique of the laser shearing and cutting of the fronts and side parts of eyeglasses, the main drawback is that of presenting the necessity of making a notch on the rims in order to insert the lenses, with the consequent necessity of successive workings to weld the elements for the locking of the rims and for the application of screws or other blocking systems .

Moreover, in case of use of titanium-alloys or of other materials scarcely weldable or that alter their properties with the heat, the application of closing devices for the lenses has to be performed with mechanical means, which makes the aesthetic and functional aspect still worse, besides making the construction of the eyeglasses complicated. The general aim of the present invention is to provide a way of applying the lenses on metal frames or rigid frames through a procedure which allows the elimination of bushes, their welding, engraving and boring and threading on the rim, and the elimination of the procedure of closing screws.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate any anaesthetic protrusions on the line of the rim of the front for eyeglasses .

Another object of this invention is to confer a proper bump and vibration resistance, eliminating the actual problem of loosening of the screw, with the consequence that the lens closed in the rim can get lost.

Another object of the invention is that of optimizing the time and cost of production of the eyeglasses frames, and the time and cost of application of the lenses.

Another object is to attain easy interchangeability of the lenses and facilitating the work of the optician.

Another main object of the present invention is to provide spectacles frames using the advantageously photoengraving or photoshearing technique to the utmost, in order to reach an assembly of the side parts to the front and of the lenses to their rims, without support or seats for the housing of screws or hinging pivots of the side parts or clamping screws of the lenses to the rims . Another object of the invention is to guarantee the utmost manufacturing easiness in placing the lenses and in hinging the side parts, making simple to the optician or anybody else both the assembly and changing of any spectacles parts.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate a large number of workings currently required to produce the several components of the traditional spectacles frames, but also of the present frames with photoengraved or photosheared fronts, reducing to a minimum stages, times and costs for the manufacturing and assembling of spectacles.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide eyeglasses frames having the front free from notches for the insertion of the lenses, avoiding therefore also clips and screws for the fixing and blocking of the lenses, and a further purpose is to hinge the side parts to the ends of the front without using blocking screws.

Another object is to attain the hinging of the side parts such as to assure the stability of the conditions of rotation of the side parts themselves, also with the passing of time, by the constant pressing action with which they are applied to the front.

A further object of the invention is to guarantee or maintain the properties of non-toxicity and non-allergical characteristics of the spectacles material, avoiding heat treatments that could alter its structure. At least one of the above objects is solved by the inventive frame for eyeglasses in accordance with claim 1, and by the inventive method of producing a frame for eyeglasses according to claim 14.

In general and in accordance with one aspect, the invention deals with a new method of resiliently closing the lens in one of the two rims that form the front of the eyeglasses.

One of the main features of the invention is that frames for eyeglasses are provided which can have any construction, are functional and aesthetic, and present an opening of the rims linked to resilient prongs of a lateral fork, whose shank is preferably linked to the hinging part of the side part of the eyeglasses.

Preferably, the present invention concerns a new model of spectacles frame, obtained using a front with special shaping of its ends, and/or of two ends of side parts, these parts being provided mostly through photoshearing or etching or engraving techniques, in order to guarantee their assembly without screws to fix the lenses to the rims and/or without hinging pivots or screws to fix the side parts to the ends of the front.

According to this preferred embodiment, a main feature is to provide a fork-shaping of the two ends of the front, which confers them a resilience such to allow the insertion of the lenses into their rims of the front, as well as a pair of bored wings on the base of each fork of the front, which, after having been bent approximately orthogonally, enable the elasti- cized slotting and hinging of side part prongs provided on the hinging ends of the respective side parts, which are, therefore, fork-shaped, too.

The knowledge of the new technique of photoengraving or photoshearing of the front, through which it is made directly out of a metal sheet, make it possible to accomplish fronts and hinging ends of the sides directly by photoengraving and photoshearing from metallic sheet, with forked lateral portions which enable a sufficient resilience to insert the lenses into the rims and to clutch the side parts to the front, without clamping and hinging screws.

The present invention basically provides the preparation of a frame of eyeglasses with a front made particularly but not exclusively of wire in titanium-alloy, having the ends of the rims fork-shaped with a couple of prongs that can be opened out and that converge on a shank that is linked to a hinging element of the side part, allowing said prongs, thanks to their converting, to close the ends of the rim and therefore to hold and block the lens therein inserted.

It is further preferred if the frame is made by cutting or shearing the front and/or the side parts, which are preferably made of titanium-alloy, the hinging ends of the front and/or the side parts being fork-shaped both for the hold of the lenses and for the linking and hinging of the ends of the side parts to the end of the front. In general, it is an aim of the present invention to allow the provision of eyeglasses frames free from elements to weld and screw to apply, avoiding also the complicated and difficult work to perform folding and bending of the ends of the side parts and of the front used currently for eyeglasses frames in titanium-alloy.

The above and further objects and advantages as well as features of the present invention can be taken from the description of preferred embodiments, given by way of example only not in a limitative way, in combination with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical perspective view of a metal rim for the front of eyeglasses, at the end of which the prongs of an elastic fork are fixed, said fork being accomplished according to the invention, said rim being represented in the usual closed position;

Fig. 2 represents a vertical perspective view of the rim of Fig. 1, being represented in its opening position for the housing of a lens;

Fig. 3 represents a vertical view of the eyeglasses front comprising a couple of rims provided with an elastic fork, according to Fig. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 represents a vertical view of the front for eyeglasses accomplished according to a first constructive variation of the solution of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 represents a vertical view of a front of eyeglasses accomplished according to a further variation of the constructive solution of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 represents a vertical view of a part of a front of spectacles or eyeglasses, accomplished by photoengraving or photoshearing, with special wings, according to the invention;

Fig. 7 represents a vertical inner view of a part of an end of the same front as in Fig. 6, after the wings have been bent;

Fig. 8 represents a sectional view, along the plane III-III of the end of the front of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 represents the shaping of the hinging end of a side part of the spectacles, accomplished by photoengraving or photoshearing, according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 represents a vertical inner view of the end of the front, as in Fig. 7, with the side part with an end as in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 represents an axial sectional view, along the plane VI-VI of the front with the side part as in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 represents a view similar to that in Fig. 11, according to a first manufacturing variation of the invention; Fig. 13 represents an enlarged vertical view of an end of a front for eyeglasses, obtained from a plate of proper metal, according to an improvement of the constructive solution presented in Fig. 6;

Fig. 14 represents a vertical view of the same end of the front for eyeglasses of Fig. 13, illustrated after the bending of its wings;

Fig. 15 represents a vertical view of the same end, along the sectional plane III-III in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 represents a vertical view of a part of a front for eyeglasses obtained for example by means of shearing, it being represented with the end of the front still to be bent and with shearings of the hinging elements for the side part;

Fig. 17 represents a top view of the end of the front of Fig. 16, along the sectional plane V-V of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 represents a top view similar to the view of the end of the front of Fig. 17, said end being represented in its final folded condition;

Fig. 19 represents a vertical view of a part of a front provided with a double fork on the bridge and on the end piece for a suspension of the lens, as a broadening of the solution described with respect to Fig. 6 to 12; Fig. 20 represents a second constructive variation of the front for eyeglasses with respect to the solution described in Figs. 1 to 5, said front being as a matter of fact comprised only of the upper bow of the rim, with a locking fork and pip on the edge of the lens and with a second pip on the opposite end of the bow;

Fig. 21 represents a vertical view of a lens for eyeglasses, according to a casual constructive form accomplished according to the model of bow of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 represents a vertical view of the bow of the front of Fig. 20 linked to the lens of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 represents an external vertical view of a part of a front for eyeglasses accomplished in a similar way to the solution given in Fig. 22, but provided also with a fork near the bridge, besides the fork on the end piece of the solution of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 represents an external vertical view of a part of a front for eyeglasses accomplished with a double fork, according to the solution of Fig. 23, but with a whole rim that encircles the respective lens, a fork being formed in an indicatively orthogonal way with respect to the supporting plane of the lens, being provided also with a loop for the housing of the support of pads of the nose piece; Fig. 25 represents an external vertical view of a part of a front for eyeglasses, accomplished in a similar way to that given in Fig. 24, but the inner fork being accomplished on the same plane of the rim of the eyeglasses, so that it has to be properly bent into a position to house the pads of the nose piece;

Fig. 26 represents a fork-shaped element having a loop for the support of the pads, said element being usually being able to be welded or anyway fixed to any rim provided with a notch for the housing of the lenses;

Fig. 27 represents a perspective view of the single main parts necessary for a way of application of the fork-shaped side parts directly to the lenses for the accomplishment of eyeglasses of a kind without frame;

Fig. 28 represents a transverse sectional view of the lens and of the elements of Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 represents an axial sectional view of the same lens of Fig. 28 assembled with the side part of Fig. 27 by means of a different hinging device;

Fig. 30 represents an axial sectional view of a constructive detail of the device of Fig. 29.

In the figures, the same details are represented or are understood as represented by the same reference numerals . According to the constructive solutions of Fig. 1 to 3, the present method foresees the provision of a rim C made of a usual proper metal profile, so that it takes the most proper form to hold the lens in the desired form, said rim having an opening or notch A, according to the known technique.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the present invention foresees to weld or otherwise fix the ends of two prongs 1 and 2 of a fork F at the ends of the rim profile C, which forms the opening A.

The fork F comprises a shank or basic body 3 to which the opposite ends of the prongs 1 and 2 are welded or otherwise fixed, so that said prongs 1 and 2 are aligned and parallel one to the other, as represented in Fig. 1.

The fork F is characterized also by the fact that the two prongs 1 and 2 are obtained from pieces of profile or drawn product in proper harmonic steel or other material, provided with a proper resilience and with a sufficient weldability.

Of course, the shank 3 of each fork F can be fixed to a side part 5 in any way, through the interposition of one of the usual or particular hinges 4 for the articulation of the side parts 5.

The method at issue, besides the provision of a particular forked form F of the rim C, foresees also a simplified cause of stages for the assembling and the interchanging of the lenses. According to the first stage of this method, a lens which presents its edge identical to the edge of the rim C, is applied into the rim C, simply by broadening of the opening A, thereby straddling the two prongs 1 and 2 as represented in Fig. 2.

The same lens L positions into the bevelling of the rim C or adjusts its bevelling to the rim C, by means of a light frontal pressure and adjustment of its edge.

In a second stage, ceasing the action of straddling, the prongs 1 and 2 tend to come together again, as represented in Fig. 1, closing the lens L in a stable and safe way, without the necessity of applying bushes or closing screws and without using any part protruding from the line of the eyeglasses, and with the best simplicity of application and changeability, according to the objects mentioned above.

Of course, the constructive solution described herein is an example only and illustrates also similar possible constructive solutions .

As a matter of fact, the ends of the prongs 1 and 2 can be, for example, fixed to the ends of the opening A of the rim C by means of screws, pivots, joints or other known mechanical systems, allowing the application of the invention also to rims made of a material different than metal.

The ends of the prongs 1 and 2 can be also fixed or welded externally or internally or on the side of the ends of the rims C, and it is also possible to weld or fix the opposite ends of the same prongs 1 and 2 , both one to the other and to the end of the side piece 5, also without using a proper linking body 3. Said linking body 3 can present a cylindrical form or a form of any other pipe.

Finally, it is possible to apply ends of the prongs 1 and 2 into proper holes provided on the edge or on the surface of the lenses L, also with frames which do not present rims C, since these prongs 1 and 2 may be provided with a threading or other known system for the locking of the lenses L on the prongs 1 and 2.

With respect to Fig. 4, it can be noted that, with the method at issue, the opening A of the rim C can also be accomplished near the bridge P of the front, said bridge P being made of two couples of fork prongs 1 ' and 2 ' , which are opposite to the linking body 3 ' , allowing the accomplishment of the resilient opening A" of the rims C at their inner side, or, in other words, on the side of the bridge P.

With reference to Fig. 5, it can be noted that this method also foresees the provision of rims C provided with end prongs 1 and 2, which are fork-shaped, at the linking point 3, particularly for frames made of wire, for example titanium wire, since the lenses L can be in this case provided with a bevelling in order to house the shape of the rims C.

From Figs . 3 and 4 , it can be inferred that with this method there is also the possibility of providing front pieces of eyeglasses which are elastically formed both at the bridge P and at the ends of the lateral forks F, with lateral openings A and central openings A", in order to get the best elasticity and to get the highest variety of forms for the front pieces.

According to the embodiments shown in Fig. 6 to 12, the front F' of spectacles or eyeglasses is provided by photoengraving or photoshearing from a sheet of a material which is sufficiently resilient, as an example from (metallic) alloys and particularly from titanium-alloy, and anyway such that it guarantees a possible minimum divergence (divarication) of prongs 1 and 2 of an end piece (or base or shank) 3 of the rim C of the whole front F', said prongs 1 and 2 being divided by a blind notch 4a.

The end piece 3 is also provided with a pair of opposite wings 5a and 6a forming loops 7 and 8 aligned with and preferably equidistant from the axis of the end piece 3 and a tail 9. The tail 9 forms an extension of the end piece 3, with said wings 5a and 6a extending from said end piece 3 from somewhere between said blind notch 4a and said tail 9.

According to the well-known photoengraving technique, the front F' is also advantageously provided with a bridge P that links the two rims C, as well as with supports for a nose piece N.

With reference to Figs. 7 and 8, it is inferred, that, after having photoengraved the front F', the wings 5a and 6a are bent orthogonally, so that the loops 7 and 8 are coaxial to each other .

A side part 5, preferably provided by photoengraving from a sheet of similar or different material than that of the front F', presents his hinging end fork shaped, with side part prongs 11 and 12 extending from its base 13 forming a blind notch 14. As shown in Fig. 9, the ends 15 and 16 are bent such that said ends 15 and 16 being apt to be placed into the loops 7 and 8 of the wings 5a and 6a.

Through the simple manufacturing of a front F' and of a pair of side parts 5, according to what has been described up to now, the assembly of functional and efficient spectacles is possible without making use of screws and other devices, according to one of the specified objects.

With reference to Fig. 6, it is inferred the possibility to force and diverge the prongs 1 and 2 sufficiently to insert in the rim C the desired lens. When the divergence strain of the prongs 1 and 2 ceases, the width of the blind notch 4a is reduced, forcing the rim C to hold the lens, without closing screws or any further device .

Likewise, with reference to Figs. 10 and 11, in order to insert the ends 15 and 16 between the wings 5a and 6a and into the loops 7 , 8 of the rim C and in order to hinge the side part 5 to the rim C of the front F', it is sufficient to press the side part prongs 11 and 12, thereby reducing the width of the notch 14.

When the pressing strain on the side part prongs 11 and 12 is stopped, their ends 15 and 16 are resiliently pushed in their respective loops 7 and 8 of the wings 5a and 6a, with normal divergence of the notch 14, so as to hinge the side part 5 to the rim C. The presence of the tail 9 delimits the largest opening rotation of the side part 5, since it impedes its excessive rotation, while no obstacle is given to the normal closing of the same side part, as it can be inferred particularly from Fig. 11.

Through what has been so far been described and illustrated, it can be inferred the extreme constructive easiness and maximum practical functionality of the proposed solution, with the maximum checking of the workings, times and costs of production, according to other objects specified.

With reference to Fig. 12, it is intended to show a first constructive variation of the invention, given by the insertion or joint, between the two wings 5a and 6a, of an elastic plate 21 which, when the side part 5 is moved, gets into contact with the ends 15 and 16 of the side part, acting as a release, when it goes from closed to open and vice versa.

As yet mentioned, of course, the proposed constructive solution and the first indicated variation can be further modified and adapted to particular situations. As an example, it is therefore possible to invert the conditions of hinging of the side part 5 to the front F, providing the prongs 11 and 12 on the end of the front F", while on the end of the side parts 5 are provided the wings 5a and 6a. Furthermore, it is possible to shape the side part prongs 11 and 12 with a notch 14 such that the ends 15 and 16 can be inserted from the outside part of the wings 5a and 6a, after these have been previously opened out. It is furthermore possible to associate fronts F' accomplished by photoengraving or photoshearing, or even, as an example, by micromelting or by normal shearing, according to what has been indicated, with ends of side part 5 accomplished by the same technique, but using traditional materials and methods, so as to facilitate to associate fronts F' accomplished also according to the features of the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 5, with side parts 5 accomplished as has been described with respect to Figs. 6 to 12.

According to what has been described with respect to Figs. 6 to 12, a constructive solution for a hinge of the side parts foresees that a resilient fork 4b comprises a couple of prongs 1 and 2 that start from an end piece 3, said end piece 3 being provided with a couple of wings 5a and 5b having loops 7 and 8, and an end tail 9 acting also as limit for the opening out of the side parts of the eyeglasses.

With reference to Figs. 13 to 15, an improvement of this type of hinge already described is constituted on the basis of the presence of proper unloading throats 10, which allow a better folding of the wings 5a and 6a for the accomplishment of the solution proposed in Figs. 6 to 12.

According to a further improving technical expedient, during the application of the ends 15, 16 of the side parts 5 on the hinging loops 7 and 8, a couple of rings made of anti-seizure and anti-wear material is interposed between the loops 7 and 8 and the base of the ends 15 and 16 of the side part 5, as represented in Fig. 9. With respect to Fig. 16, it can be inferred that with the shearing of the plate it is possible to accomplish also fronts for eyeglasses of the "wrapping" kind, which are characterized by the wide width or height of the front end piece 113. Of course, fronts of this kind can be still accomplished with the front 113 being provided with the fork 114, with the prongs 111 and 112, forming the single rim C, which closes onto the bevelling of the edge of the lens to support same. As represented in Figs. 16 and 17, during the stage of the shearing or cutting, the rim 10 is obtained from the plate, which is thereafter properly folded, as illustrated in Fig. 18.

According to the invention, on the final part of the front end piece 113, it is possible to shear or otherwise provide a couple of loops 115 and 116 with respective holes 117 and 118, wherein provisions are made of not cutting also their base or adjacent and opposite linking side of the same loops 115 and 116, through which they are linked to the front end piece 113.

With reference to the attached Fig. 17, both the sheared loops 115 and 116 are thereafter folded towards the inner side of the rim C such that they are parallel to each other and form a couple of wings for the insertion of the end of the side part, according to what has already been described with respect to Figs. 6 to 12.

Still in the context of a possible broadening of the solution proposed in Fig. 6, a front F' is accomplished, for example, by shearing, without the lower bows, but still able to contain and stably support the lens L, as represented in Fig. 19. Said front F', since it is provided with the front end piece (shank) 3 and with the bridge-nose piece P with the arm 2', it forms a couple of forks 4b and 4b' able to support said lens L, which are so shaped that they present corresponding shoulders LI and L2, and a proper bevelling L3 at least on its upper part, in order to allow the hold or support of said lens L in the seat of the fork 4b and 4b", besides against the back of the front F ' .

The same front F ' is therefore provided with a hinging end tail 9, with wings 5a and 6a that can be folded, according to what has already been described with reference to Figs. 13 to 15.

A further broadening of the constructive solutions described up to now, is constituted by the accomplishment of a front F' provided only with upper bows 21a linked to the bridge piece P and to the front end piece 3, as shown in Fig. 20.

According to this constructive solution of the front F ' , besides a usual or particular support 22 for the application of the pads of the nose piece, a pip (or tongue) 23 is provided near the same bridge P, while a second pip 24 is provided on the piece of bow 25 linked to the prong 2 of the fork 4b.

A lens L, shaped with casual profile and to which the form of the bow 21a of the front F' is fitted, is provided with two proper holes 26 and 27 so placed and sized that they can house the pips 23 and 24 of the front F', while a bevelling 28 is accomplished at least on the upper part of the edge of the lens L. With reference to Fig. 22, it is clear that with initially placing the lens L, for example, vertically and the front F' horizontally, the insertion of the pipe 23 into the hole 26 is easy to obtain, and with a little strain of opening out, also the pip 24 can be pulled into the hole 27.

When rotating the front F', the bow 21a is moved toward the bevelling 28 and under a little stress, the prongs 1 and 2 of the front end piece 3 open enough to make said bow 21a house itself into the bevelling 28 of the lens L, so that the lens is stably held, even without the use of screws or nylon threads or other fixing systems currently used for the lenses, according to one object of this invention.

With reference to Fig. 23, as mentioned above, the same solution illustrated in the Figs. 20, 21, 22 is further improved, providing two different forks 4b and 4b', which are respectively linked to the bridge P and to the front end piece 3, in the same way of the solution of Fig. 19, but provided with pips 23 and 24 linked to pieces of bow 25 and 29, applied to the prongs 2 of the forks 4b and 4b', and acting on the edge of the lens L.

With reference to Fig. 24, a further broadening of the solution of Fig. 6 is presented, being characterized not only by the presence of a front end piece 3 with fork 4b, but also by the presence of a second fork 4b' near the bridge P, said second fork 4b' being accomplished with two prongs or arms 1' and 2' turned indicatively in an orthogonal way towards the inner side of the front F', said prongs 1' and 2' being linked together by means of a ring 22' able to support the pads of the nose piece. With reference to Fig. 25, another variation of the solution of Fig. 24 is shown, wherein a fork 4b' ' is accomplished on the same plane of the front F ' , the prongs 1 ' ' and 2 ' ' being meant to be adequately bent, so that their linking ring 22'' can be used to support the pads of the nose piece.

According to what has been described and illustrated so far, as an improvement and broadening of the solutions presented in Figs. 1 to 12, a series of constructional and functional expedience makes possible the accomplishment of the assembling method of the lenses and the side parts onto the front F ' for eyeglasses without using welding, particularly in case of frames made of titanium-alloys or other materials that cannot be easily welded or that are subject to structural modifications, and also without using screws for the closing of the lenses or for the hinging of the side parts, according to several objects mentioned above.

In case of eyeglasses frames made of weldable materials, the closing of the lenses in their rims without using the current complicated closing systems is a assured by using the piece of fork 4b' ' of Fig. 26.

Said fork 4b'", as already illustrated particularly in Fig. 25, comprises a couple of prongs 1'' and 2'' having one of their ends free and the opposite end linked to a ring (ring portion) 22 ' ' , which is also used for the fixing and support of the pads of the nose piece of the eyeglasses to be accomplished.

Also in this case, the free ends of the prongs 1' ' and 2' ', after being welded or otherwise fixed to the rim of the eye- glasses, preferably near the bridge and in a position corresponding to the position of the notch accomplished for the insertion of the lenses, will be adequately folded to reach the desired position for the connection of the pads of the nose piece, attaining the aim of closing the lenses in the rim without using screws or other locking systems, according to some of the pursued objects.

In Fig. 27 to 30, a further use of the fork-shaped side part with the notch 14, illustrated in Fig. 9, is described, said fork-shaped side part being exploited to accomplish eyeglasses of the kind with a self-supporting frame without rims for the support of the lenses .

Said side part is identically shaped with two side part prongs 11 and 12 of the base 13 to form the notch 14 of a fork, and it is provided with identical pivot ends 15 and 16 and is again bent with a width changeable according to the eyeglasses model.

According to the constructive solutions proposed in Figs. 27 and 28, a lens 50 which has to be linked to the side part 5, is provided with a couple of holes 51 and 52 gauged in order to hold the corners of the sides 61 and 62 of a clamp 60.

Said clamp 60 presents holes 63 and 64 on the sides 61 and 62, said holes being loops or otherwise provided at the inner opposite surfaces of the sides 61 and 62.

A packing or elastic element 70 is provided with different thickness and with loops 71 and 72 to be inserted onto the sides 61 and 62 of the clamp 60 and to place itself between the base of said clamp 60 and the lens 50, in order to avoid cracks of the lens 50 and to fit the clamp 60 to lenses having different thicknesses.

With reference to Fig. 28, it can be inferred that in a first stage the sides 61 and 62 of the clamp 60 are inserted into the holes 51 and 52 of the lens 50. Thereafter, one has to properly press the prongs 11 and 12 one against the other in order to insert them in the seat between the sides 61 and 62 of the clamp 60.

The application of the side part prongs 11 and 12 to the sides 61 and 62 with engagement of the pivot ends 15 and 16 into their holes 63 and 64 makes the contraction of the clamp 60 possible, assuring in this way the best stability in the connection of the lens 50 with the side part 5.

As it can be inferred from Fig. 28, the side part 5 can rotate on its pivot ends 15 and 16, moving from its position of usual opening to its closing position, wherein its largest opening is defined by its contacts with an edge of the lens 50.

Figs. 29 and 30 illustrate a possible solution alternative to that with the use of the clamp, wherein it is for example possible to apply in the holes 51 and 52 of the lens 50 a corresponding number of bushes 80 provided with holes 81 for the housing of the pivot ends 15 and 16, and being provided with an axial thread 82, on which the screw 83 supplied to close the bush 80 and to hold the packing element 70. Of course, the constructive solutions described herein have to be understood as changeable and adjustable one to the other, besides being further improvable. As a matter of fact, another possibility is given only by way of example, wherein it is possible to accomplish the bows 21a on the lower side of the front F' with the consequence of positioning the pieces of bows 25 and 29 on the upper side of the lens to link same, as well as it is possible to accomplish open or closed fronts provided only with a single fork 4b placed near the bridge or near the end pieces for every kind of double fork described herein.

These and other similar modifications for adjustments have to be understood as belonging to the originality of the invention.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A frame for eyeglasses, comprising

a front (F') to which at least one lens (L; 50) of the eyeglasses and/or side parts (5) are attachable, and

means (1-3; 5a, 6a) for attaching the lens (L; 50) and/or the side parts (5) to the front (F'),

characterized in that

said attachment means (1-3; 5a, 6a) comprises at least a pair of prongs (1, 2; 11, 12) which are linked by a base (3; 13) and which are elastically deformable so as to allow putting the lens (L; 50) or the side part (5) into an attachment position, and which are capable of holding the lens (L; 50) or the side part (5) in the attachment position after having returned to their initial position.

2. The frame of claim 1, characterized in that the front comprises a rim (C) which is shaped so as to at least partially surround said lens (L; 50) and that the rim (C) comprises said at least one pair of prongs (1, 2; 1', 2'; 1'', 2''), so as to allow insertion of the lens (L; 50) into the attachment position after the prongs (1, 2; 1', 2'; 1'', 2'') have been elastically diverged, and fixing the lens (L; 50) in the attachment position by releasing the prongs (1, 2; 1', 2"; 1'', 2'').

3. The frame of claim 2, characterized in that the prongs (1, 2) of the rim (C) are extensions of opposed ends of the rim (C) .

4. The frame of any of claims 1 - 3 , characterized in that the base ( 3 ) of the attachment means ( 1-3 ) comprises a tail (9) for restricting opening movement of the side parts (5) with respect to the front (F').

5. The frame of any of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the attachment means comprises two loops (7, 8) into which ends (15, 16) of prongs (11, 12) can be inserted, for pivotably attaching the side parts (5) to the front (F').

6. The frame of any of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the front (F') and/or the side parts (5) are photosheared or photoengraved elements .

7. The frame of claim 1, for the assembly without screws, characterized by the fact that the frame is manufactured, preferably by photoengraving or photoshearing, from sheets of proper metallic alloys, of the front (F') and/ or of the ends of the side parts (5) , the hinging ends of the front (F¹) and of the side parts (5) being fork- -shaped, with prongs (1, 2) and (11, 12), respectively, in order to allow their appropriate translation such that it allows the placement and the fixing of the lenses (L; 50) in the rims (C) and the insertion and the movement of the side parts (5) into the two ends of the front (F¹ ) .

8. The frame of claim 7, characterized in that the rims (C) of the front (F') present hinging ends provided with prongs (1, 2) divided by a blind notch (4a) and linked by a base or end piece (3), from whose extension or tail (9) emerge two wings (5a, 6a) provided with loops (7, 8), aligned to each other and made coaxial from the bending of the same wings (5a, 6a).

9. The frame of claim 8, characterized in that the hinging ends of the side parts (5) are fork-shaped, with prongs (11, 12) linked by a base (13) and divided by a blind notch (14), the same prongs being provided with shaped ends (15, 16), fit for being placed into the loops (7, 8) of the wings (5a, 6a) of the front (F').

10. The frame of claim 9, characterized in that the prongs (11, 12) of the side parts (5) and/or the tail (9) of the front (F') are provided with an appropriate inclination, to determine the maximum divergence (or divarication) of the side parts (5) with respect to the rim (C) .

11. The frame of any of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the front (F¹) is provided by photoengraving or photoshearing, or with traditional materials and techniques, as an example with titanium wire, provided that it is provided with an end or end piece (3), having elasticized prongs (1, 2), besides rims (C) or orthogonal wings (5a, 6a) and tail (9), and that the front (F¹) can be associated to the ends of the side parts ( 5 ) accomplished by photoengraving or photoshearing, or through traditional techniques, as an example with titanium wire, provided that they are provided with prongs (11, 12) with ends (15, 16) clutchable to the mentioned wings (5a, 6a).

12. The frame of any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the end of the side parts (5) can be provided with wings, while the end of the rim, besides the prongs for attaching the lens, can be provided with further prongs to engage the wings provided on the ends of the side parts.

13. The frame of any of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the prongs (11, 12) can be divided from a minimum notch (14), for their placement by means of compression, or with a huge notch, for their placement to the loops (5, 6) by means of their straddling.

14. A method of producing a frame for eyeglasses, comprising the steps of:

providing a front (F') to which at least one lens (L; 50) of the eyeglasses and/or side parts (5) are attachable, and

providing means (1-3; 5a, 6a) for attaching the lens (L; 50) and/or the side parts (5) to the front (F'),

characterized in that

said attachment means (1-3; 5a, 6a) comprises a pair of prongs (1, 2; 11, 12) which are linked by a base (3; 13) and which are elastically deformable so as to allow insertion of the lens or the side part into an attachment position, and which are capable of holding the lens or the side part in the attachment position after having returned to their initial position, and that

the method includes the steps of elastically deforming the prongs (1, 2; 11, 12), inserting the lens (L; 50) or the side part (5) into the attachment position, and releasing the prongs (1, 2; 11, 12) so as to attach the lens (L; 50) or the side part (5) to the frame (F').

15. The method of claim 14, for resiliently closing the lenses (L; 50) on the rims (C) of an eyeglasses' front (F'), characterized by providing a front (F') having an end of a rim (C) or an end for the fixing of the lens (L; 50), which can be adjusted in order to support said lens (L; 50), which can therefore be of any kind and of any form, said ends comprising a couple of prongs (1, 2) which can be opened out and converge on a shank or base ( 3 ) in order to form a fork (F) made of resilient material, which allows by straddling an opening (A) of the single rim (C) and/or of the prongs (1, 2) insertion of the lens (L; 50), and which, upon ceasing the strain of opening out, closes and blocks therefore the lens (L; 50) with its bevelling or with the bevelling provided on the lens (L; 50).

16. The method of claim 15, characterized in that this method can be applied to a rim (C) provided with a lateral opening (A), at the ends of which the two straddling ends (1, 2) of a fork (F) can be welded or otherwise fixed, the shank (3) of the fork (F) being linked with a part of a hinge (4) for the application of the side part ( 5 ) .

17. The method of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the prongs (1, 2) of the fork (F) are provided with a proper elasticity in order to reduce to the minimum the opening (A) of the rim (C), to which they are fixed.

18. The method of claim 16, characterized in that the shank (3) can be of any form, provided that it links stably the two prongs (1, 2) and that it helps the return from any straddling.

19. The method of claim 15, presenting also the possibility of being provided as an alternative or as a completion, also with the application of two prongs ( 1 ' , 2 ' ) having the function of a bridge (P) in which an element (3') works as a shank.

20. The method of claim 15, characterized by the possibility of being applied also in case of frames without rims (C), the ends ( 1 , 2 ) having proper hooks or direct fixing systems to the edge or to the superficial ends of the lens.

21. The method of any of claims 15 to 20, characterized by the possibility of being provided also if the ends (1, 2, and, possibly, 1', 2') of the fork (F) of the bridge (3') are the projection of a wire or elastic profile which constitutes the two pieces of each rim (C), and being anyway able to form the openings (A and/or A' ) for straddling.

22. The method of claim 14, for a resilient closing of the lenses (L; 50) onto the rims (C) of the front (F') for eyeglasses, characterized by the fact of providing a series of constructive solutions of the front (F') and the hinging ends of the side parts (5) that are provided with fork- shaped elements (4b, 4b') with prongs (1, 2) able to be properly opened out to hold a lens (L; 50), a piece of lens or another part of the frame (F') for eyeglasses, or with prongs (11, 12) that can be forced to move one towards the other in order to be housed and hinged in holding seats ( 7 , 8; 61, 62) accomplished on the lenses (50) or on another part (5a, 6a) of the frame (F') for eyeglasses.

23. The method of claim 22, characterized by providing a front (F') for eyeglasses with rims (C) with external ends linked to two prongs ( 1 , 2 ) that converge on a linking body or front end piece (3), said prongs (1, 2) being able to open elastically to allow a proper opening of the rim (C) in which the lens (L; 50) has to be inserted.

24. The method of claim 22 or claim 23, characterized by providing a front (F') with only one upper or lower bow (21a) that is linked to the bridge (P) and to a prong (1) of an external fork part (4b) of the front (F'), said front (F') being provided with a pip (23) placed near the bridge (P) as well as with an opposite pip (24) on the piece of a bow (25) linked to the other prong of the fork part (4b) in order to house the inner edge of the bows (21, 25) in a groove (28) of the lens (L) , while the pips (23, 24) are inserted into seats (26, 27) of the lens (L), which is thereby immovably blocked.

25. The method of any of claims 22 to 24, characterized by providing a front (F') with only an upper or a lower bow (21a) that is linked to the bridge (P) and to a prong (1) of an end piece (3), said front (F') being provided with a couple of forks (4b, 4b'), one fork (4b) being placed on the side of the end piece (3) and linked to one of the ends of the bow (21a) as well as to a piece of a bow (25) which supports a pip (24), while the other fork (4b') is placed on the side of the bridge (P) and is provided with a piece of bow (29), which supports the pip (23).

26. The method of claim 25, characterized by providing a lens (L) with seats (26, 27) to house the respective pips (23, 24) as well as with a bevelling (28) to house the inner part of the bow (21a) and of the pieces of bows (25, 29), with the consequent stably and immovably hold of the lens (L).

27. The method of claim 22, characterized by providing a front (F') with a double fork (4b, 4b"), one fork (4b) being provided near an end piece ( 3 ) and another fork ( 4b ' ) being provided near the bridge (P) and formed by two pieces (1', 2') of the rim (C) of the front (F' ) arranged orthogonally with respect to the plane of the front (F') and being linked to a loop (22') placed in such a position that they can house the pads of the nose piece.

28. The method of claim 27, characterized by the fact that the front (F') is provided with a fork (4b) placed near the end piece (3) and with a fork (4b'') comprised of a couple of prongs (1'', 2'') linked to a loop (22''), said fork (4b'') being placed near the bridge (P) and accomplished on the same plane of the front (F') to be adequately folded in order to allow the loop (22'') to support the pad of a nose piece.

29. The method of claim 22, characterized by providing the possibility to make the rims (C) of eyeglasses able to be opened out with the application, on their notch, of a fork ( 4b ' ' ) to be welded or otherwise fixed to the free end of the pieces (1'', 2'') linked to the ring (22'') used for the application of the pads of eyeglasses.

30. The method of claim 25, characterized by the fact that a couple of forks (4b, 4b') is provided with prongs (2'') able to be inserted into proper seats (LI, L2 ) provided on the lens (L) , while the inner back of the bow (21a) is housed in a bevelling (L3) of the lens (L) .

31. The method of claim 22, characterized by the fact that the hinging end tail (9) of the front (F') is provided with loops (5a, 6a) linked to an end piece (3) with the presence of unloading throats (10).

32. The method of claims 22 and 31, characterized by the fact of providing the possibility of using the fork (14) of the side parts (5) to form ophthalmic eyeglasses, in which the lenses (50) are provided with loops (51, 52), where shanks (61, 62) or bushes (80) are engaged, said shanks (61, 62) or bushes (80) being provided with holes (63, 64; 81) to house pivots (15, 16) linked to prongs (11, 12) of the forks (14) of the side parts (5).