WO2005033781A1

WO2005033781A1 - Attachment of a device to a spectacle lens

Info

Publication number: WO2005033781A1
Application number: PCT/DK2004/000694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jørgen VESTERBY
Original assignee: Eye Eye Denmark A/S
Priority date: 2003-10-09
Filing date: 2004-10-11
Publication date: 2005-04-14

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of attaching a device, including an end element for a spectacle bar, to a spectacle lens. The invention also relates to such device. Novel aspects of the method comprises that the device comprises at least one protrusion and two seizing faces that are arranged in an essentially acute angle of less than three degrees, including approximately in parallel, in relation to each other, wherein the method comprises the steps of: establishing at least two essentially parallel holding faces in the spectacle lens which are adapted to cooperate with the seizing faces; and relatively displacing the seizing faces relative to the holding faces until engagement between the device and the spectacle lens. The acute angle entails a wedging effect, which corresponds to an exchange or gearing between the contact pressure and the pressure applied to the device for the relative displacement between holding faces and seizing faces. Hereby it is accomplished that the device is able to engage securely with the spectacle lens; said device being wedged firmly and secured by adequate friction against the holding faces.

Description

Attachment of a device to a spectacle lens

The invention relates to a method of attaching a device, including one or more parts of a spectacle frame, to a spectacle lens. The invention also relates to such device.

Various methods are already known for attaching eg end elements and nose elements onto spectacle lenses in connection with the so-called frameless spectacles. Such method is known from US 2439357, wherein two spectacle lenses are each on opposite sides provided with peripheral recesses, and wherein a spectacle frame is configured for seizing the spectacle lenses at the recesses for attachment thereof. That method is associated with the drawback that pins are to be folded around the rim of the lens. Such folding involves an imminent risk of the lens being scratched, and likewise there is a risk of the pins breaking if the lens is to be exhanged. Other methods by which frames or end elements are eg snap-locked into position or kept between spring-loaded arms, however, are typically vitiated by the weakness that the spectacle lenses may drop out or that the connection between eg frame and spectacle lens is not very strong.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of attaching a device to a spectacle lens which is not associated with the above-referenced drawbacks. It is a further object to produce an uncomplicated attachment which is simple to perform.

Novel aspects of the method according to the invention comprises that the device comprises at least one protrusion and two seizing faces that are arranged in an essentially acute angle of less than three degrees, including approximately in parallel, relative to each other, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: - establishing at least two essentially parallel holding faces in the spectacle lens which are adapted to cooperate with the seizing faces; and - relatively displacing the seizing faces relative to the holding faces until engagement is accomplished between the device and the spectacle lens.

The acute angle entails a wedging effect, which corresponds to an exchange or gearing between the contact pressure and the pressure applied to the device for the relative displacement between holding faces and seizing faces. Hereby it is accomplished that the device can be engaged reliably with the spectacle lens, the device being wedged securely in position and secured with adequate friction against the holder faces. Moreover, small tolerances, if any, can be absorbed - also due to the acute angle. Thus, the seizing faces cannot be caused by random forces to let go of its engagement with the holding faces. There is also the option of having more than two holding faces thereby further enhancing the engagement. The method is simple to exercise; all it takes is establishment of two holding faces in the spectacle lens, following which the device can be attached without the use of tools, thereby obviating the risk of scratching the spectacle lens.

According to a further embodiment the method may comprise that at least one seizing face comprises a number of serrations. The serrations may act as barbs and hence enhance attachment of the device.

According to a preferred embodiment the method may comprise that at least one plastics tube is arranged between the seizing faces and the holding faces, including preferably by at least one seizing face being enshrouded by the plastics tube prior to the seizing faces being engaged by the holding faces. The plastics tube is deformable, including in particular at the peaks of the serrations, and are thus able to absorb deviations in tolerances between the holding faces and the seizing faces and to adapt, as the peaks of the serrations can be pressed into the tube wall and material is able to deflect towards the lows between the peaks of the serrations. Hereby the method can be exercised without particularly high demands to tolerances on holding faces and seizing faces.

According to a preferred embodiment the holding faces may comprise to apertures in the spectacle lens which can readily be provided accurately, eg by means of a drilling machine and a drill jig.

According to a preferred embodiment the holding faces may comprise an aperture in the spectacle lens and a recess in the rim of the spectacle lens, which are also relatively easy to configure and enable arrangement very close to the rim of the spectacle lens where the field of vision is affected least possible.

According to an alternative embodiment the holding faces may comprise two opposed ends of an elongate aperture. This is also a relatively simple embodiment that can be exercised eg in a milling process.

According to yet an alternative embodiment, the holding faces can be produced by drilling of two apertures in such a manner that the apertures overlap.

According to yet an alternative embodiment the holding faces may comprise two essentially oppositely oriented recesses in the rim of the spectacle lens. Hereby particular allowance is made for the field of vision.

According to an alternative embodiment the method may comprise that at least one plastics tube is arranged between seizing faces and holding faces in at least one aperture, including preferably by at least one seizing face being enshrouded in the plastics tube prior to engagement according to step b). The plastics tube is able to deform and hence to assist in the absorption of larger tolerances, if any. Moreover, the plastics tube may increase the friction to enhance the attachment of the device. When the seizing faces comprise serrations, the plastics tube may be particularly useful, since the plastics tube will be much deformed at the peaks of the serrations and thus be able to absorb more comprehensive tolerance deviations between the holding faces and the seizing faces and to adapt as the peaks of the serrations can be pressed into the tube wall and material is able to deflect towards the lows between the peaks of the serrations. Hereby the method can be exercised without particularly high demands to tolerances on holding faces and seizing faces.

According to a preferred embodiment the method may comprise that UV glue is arranged between seizing faces and holding faces in at least one aperture prior to engagement according to step b), following which the glue is cured. Hereby the device can be fixated by means of the glue. The glue has the positive property that, even if a drop spills on the spectacle lens, it may be removed without the lens coating being affected - eg merely by being wiped off with a cloth. Simultaneously the gluing is no more powerful than to allow the device from being released from the spectacle lens by a determined pull. For instance, the UV-glue can be UV/VIS-adhesive which is based on methacrylant glue which cures upon irradiation with ultraviolet light.

According to yet a preferred embodiment of the method the spectacle lens may be manufactured from high-index glass or polycarbonate.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment the device may be configured to correspond to, in one piece, two end elements and a nose element; and wherein the device is manufactured from a sheet material in processes that comprise laser cutting and folding. Hereby the device can be manufactured without use of soldering, thereby obviating weak connections. It also enables colouring of a device manufactured from tita nium with the same colour throughout as the solderings otherwise applied are omitted.

According to yet a preferred embodiment the device can be configured to receive at least one sub-element. The sub-element can be used for decorating the device and may eg be exchangeable so as to enable changing between different colours, eg to math the colour of hair, jewellery, clothing, etc.

Furthermore the invention relates to a device as defined in cla im 13. By that device it is possible to achieve correspondingly advantageous effects as was outlined above within the context of the method according to the invention.

According to one embodiment at least one seizing face may comprise serrations. The serrations may act as barbs and increase the engagement of the device with the spectacle lens.

According to a preferred embodiment the protrusion may com prise two pins on which the seizing faces are arranged. The pins will possess a certain degree of resilience thereby enabling them to a certain extent to adapt to small irregularities in the holding faces.

According to a preferred embodiment the protrusion may preferably have a length that exceeds three millimetres and preferably exceeds five millimetres. Hereby the device can be used for different lens thicknesses. Hereby the lens can also be used if it is desired to reuse the device in connection with eg new spectacle lenses that may have another thickness.

According to a preferred embodiment the pins may have essentially the same lengths. Preferably the device can be an end element for a spectacle bar and/or a spectacle frame and/or a nose element for interconnecting two spectacle lenses.

In the following the invention is described in closer detail by means of figures that illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1a shows a device and a spectacle lens, seen from above; Figure 1 b shows a device attached to a spectacle lens, seen from above, where the spectacle lens is depicted in a sectional view;

Figure 2 shows a device and a spectacle lens, seen from above; Figure 3 shows an alternative device and a spectacle lens, seen from above; Figures 4a-17a show embodiments of devices attached to spectacle lenses, seen from the front;

Figures 4b-17b show embodiments of holding faces in spectacle lenses, seen from the front, wherein Figure 4 be corresponds to Figure 4a, Figure 5b to Figure 5a, and so on; Figure 18 shows yet an alternative device and a spectacle lens, seen from above;

Figures 19a,b show a further device seen from above and from the front, respectively; Figures 20a, 20b show a device during manufacture;

Figures 21a-c show a device in one piece, seen from above, from the front and laterally, respectively;

Figure 21 d shows also a detail A of Figure 21a;

Figure 22 shows yet a device, seen obliquely from above and laterally; Figure 23 is a sectional view of a detail of one embodiment; see Figure 22, seen obliquely from above and laterally; Figure 24 is a sectional view of a detail of a device, see Figures 22 and 23, seen in inclined views from above and laterally. Figure 1a shows a device 1 configured for being attached on a spectacle lens 3. In this context, the device is an end element 12 being, via a joint 13 connected to a spectacle bar 11. The device 1 comprises protrusions which are, in this embodiment, in the form of two pins 6 that comprise seizing faces 2 arranged in an acute angle relative to each other. The angle is so acute that the seizing faces 2 are approximately in parallel with each other, whereby a favourable wedging effect is accomplished. The spectacle lens 3 comprises holding faces 4 in the form of a recess 7 at the rim of the spectacle lens 3 and an aperture 8 in the spectacle lens. The holding faces 4 are arranged to be approximately perpendicular to the surfaces of the spectacle lens; however, they may also be angled a limited distance depending on the curvature of the spectacle lens. Figure 1 b shows a device 1 configured for attachment on a spectacle lens 3. The device is an end element 12 which is, via a joint 13, connected to a spectacle bar 11. The device 1 comprises protrusions that are, in this embodiment, two pins 6 that comprise seizing faces 2 that are engaged with holding faces 4 on a recess 7 and an aperture 8 in the spectacle lens. The protrusions 2 are securely wedged both in the aperture 8 and by cooperation between the two protrusions 2 against the recess 7.

Figure 2 shows a device 1 and a spectacle lens 3 with holding faces 4 in the form of a recess 7 and an aperture 8. The device 1 comprises a pin 6 with seizing faces 2 that are provided with serrations 5. Preferably, the serrations 5 are configured with a height from top to bottom of less than one millimetre and even more preferably of between 0.1 and 0.3 millimetres. Preferably the serrations 5 are sitting close to each other. A plastics tube 10 can be arranged above the pin 6 prior to its introduction into the aperture 8 for engagement with of the holding face 4 in the aperture. In this manner the plastics tube 10 can contribute to evening out tolerances between the aperture 8 and the seizing face 2 and improving the distribution from the serrations 5 to the holding face 4 in order to thereby reduce the tension level. Figure 3 shows a device 1 and a spectacle lens 3 with holding faces 4 in the form of opposite ends 16 of an elongate aperture 9. The device 1 comprises two pins 6 with oppositely oriented seizing faces 2 that are configured with serrations 5 for engagement of the holding faces 4.

Figures 4a-17a show various embodiments, where devices 1 are attached to spectacle lenses 3. The devices 1 comprise both end elements 12 and nose elements 14 and spectacle frames 15, ie wherein nose element and end element are configured integrally, including optionally also spectacle bars.

In Figure 4a, the devices 1 are secured in holding faces that comprise a combination of an aperture 8 and a recess 4 at the rim of the spectacle lens 3 which is shown in Figure 4b.

In Figure 5a the devices 1 are secured in holding faces that comprise two essentially vertically situated apertures 8 in the spectacle lens 3 as shown in Figure 5b.

In Figure 6a the devices 1 are secured in holding faces that comprise two essentially horizontally situated apertures 8 in the spectacle lens 3 as shown in Figure 6b.

In Figure 7a the device 1 is secured to holding faces that comprise two apertures 8 that are shown in Figure 7b.

In Figure 8a the device is secured to holding faces that comprise two apertures 8 that are shown in Figure 8b.

In Figure 9a the device 1 is secured to holding faces that comprise two recesses 7 that are shown in Figure 9b. In Figure 10a the device 1 is secured to holding faces that comprise two recesses 7 that are shown in Figure 10b.

In Figure 11a the device 1 is secured to holding faces that comprise a recess 7 and an aperture that is shown in Figure 11 b.

In Figure 12a the device 1 is secured to holding faces that comprise a recess 7 and an aperture 8 that is shown in Figure 12b.

In Figure 13a the device 1 is secured to holding faces that comprise a recess 7 and an aperture 8 that is shown in Figure 13b.

In Figure 14a the device 1 is secured to holding faces that comprise a recess 7 and an aperture 8 that is shown in Figure 14b.

In Figure 15a the devices 1 are each secured to holding faces that comprise two apertures 8 that are shown in Figure 15b. In that embodiment pins 6 are concealed when the devices are viewed from the front.

In Figure 16a the devices 1 are each secured to holding faces that comprise two apertures 8 that are shown in Figure 15b. In that embodiment pins 6 are partially concealed when the devices are viewed from the front.

In Figure 17a the devices 1 are secured in holding faces that comprise two essentially vertically and horizontally situated, respectively, apertures 8 in the spectacle lens 3 that is shown in Figure 17b.

In Figure 18 a devices 1 and a spectacle lens 3 with holding faces 4 in the form of two apertures 8 are shown. The device 1 comprises two pins 6 with oppositely oriented seizing faces 2 which are provided with serrations 5 for engagement of the holding faces 4. In figures 19a and 19b a device 1 is shown that comprises a frame 15 configured to correspond, in one piece, to two end elements and a nose element. The frame 15 comprises pins 6 and holding means 19 for not shown nose pads. Figure 19b shows that spectacle lenses 3 comprise two apertures 8. At the lower part of the lenses 2 sub-elements 17 are mounted that are secured to the frame 15.

Figures 20a and 20b show a device 1 comprising a frame 1 5. Figure 20a will show that the frame 15 can be cut in one piece from a sheet 18. Figure 20b will show that pins 6 and holding means 19 are cut in one and the same operation. A preferred embodiment may comprise laser-cutting of a sheet- shaped starting material having a thickness of about 0.5 - 2 millimetres.

Figures 21a-d show a device 1 corresponding to the one shown in Figure 20a and 20b, wherein pins 6 and holding means 19 are configured by folding. Hereby solderings are avoided that may entail weaknesses in the frame 15. Figure 21 d shows that the frame 15 may comprise a recess 20.

Figure 22 shows a device 1 corresponding to the one shown in Figures 20a-b and Figures 21a-d that is secured to spectacle lenses 3 and wherein two sub-elements 17 are ready for mounting.

Figure 23 will show that the sub-element 17 may comprise a recess 21 which is configured for cooperating with a recess 20 in the device 1. Figure 24 shows the sub-element 17 in its mounted state on the device 1.

Preferably the device 1 can be manufactured from titanium, but metals, including steel, can also be used, and likewise various plastics materials can be used, including polycarbonate and polyvinylchloride. It will be understood that the invention as disclosed in the present description and figures can be modified or changed, while continuing to be comprised by the protective scope of the following claims.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A method of attaching a device, including one or more parts of a spectacle frame, to a spectacle lens, said device comprising at least one protrusion and two seizing faces that are arranged in an essentially acute angle of less than three degrees, including approximately in parallel, relative to each other, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

a) establishing at least two essentially parallel holding faces in the spectacle lens which are adapted to cooperate with the seizing faces; and

b) relatively displacing the seizing faces relative to the holding faces until engagement is accomplished between the device and the spectacle lens.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one seizing face is provided with a number of serrations.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding faces comprise two apertures in the spectacle lens.

4. a Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding faces comprise an aperture in the spectacle lens and a recess in the rim of the spectacle lens.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding faces comprise to opposed ends of an elongate aperture.

6. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding faces are manufactured by drilling of two apertures in such a manner that the apertures overlap each other.

7. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding faces comprise two essentially oppositely oriented recesses in the rim of the spectacle lens.

8. A method according to any one of claims 3-6, wherein at least one plastics tube is arranged between seizing faces and holding faces in at least one aperture, including preferably by at least one seizing face being enshrouded by the plastics tube prior to engagement according to step b).

9. A method according to any one of claims 3-6, wherein UV glue is applied between seizing faces and holding faces in at least one aperture, prior to engagement according to step b); following which the glue is cured.

10. A method according to one or more of claims 1-9, wherein the spectacle lens is manufactured from high-index glass or of polycarbonate.

11. A method according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the device is configured to correspond to, in one piece, two end elements and a nose element; and wherein the device is manufactured from a sheet-shaped material in processes that comprise laser-cutting and folding.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1-11 , wherein the device is adapted to receive at least one sub-element.

13. A device intended for attachment to at least one spectacle lens, said device comprising at least one protrusion and two seizing faces that are arranged in an acute angle of less than three degrees, including approximately in parallel, relative to each other, wherein the seizing faces are adapted to cooperate with at least two essentially parallel holding faces in the spectacle lens; and wherein the protrusion is configured for being attached by engagement of the seizing faces with the holding faces.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein at least one seizing face comprises serrations.

15. A device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the protrusion comprises two pins on which the seizing faces are arranged.

16. A device according to one of claims 13-15, wherein the protrusion preferably has a length greater than 3 millimetres and preferably greater than 5 millimetres.

17. A device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the pins have essentially the same length.

18. A device according to any one of claims 13-17, wherein the device is an end element for a spectacle bar and/or a spectacle frame and/or a nose element for interconnecting two spectacle lenses.