WO2005081041A2

WO2005081041A2 - A pair of glasses, a method of handling a pair of glasses, and a hinge

Info

Publication number: WO2005081041A2
Application number: PCT/DK2005/000105
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Reipur
Original assignee: Safeway A/S
Priority date: 2004-02-20
Filing date: 2005-02-17
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Also published as: WO2005081041A3; TW200537161A

Abstract

A method of deterring theft of pairs of glasses, where one original temple is replaced by a temporary temple which is easily discernible from the other temple of the pair of glasses. All original left or all original right temples are replaced in a plurality of glasses with at least identical temples in order to signal that these temples are not original. A hinge comprising convex parts lockable into a locked position may be used in these temples.

Description

A PAIR OF GLASSES, A METHOD OF HANDLING A PAIR OF GLASSES, AND A HINGE

The present invention relates to theft prevention or theft deterrence in relation to glasses. Also, the invention relates to a hinge which may a.o. be used in the glasses.

In general, a large number of especially more expensive models of glasses, such as sunglasses, are stolen each year. In order to prevent or reduce the thefts, shops provide the sunglasses with bulky alarm tags. Alternatively, the more expensive models are locked into glass show cases preventing the customers from handling and evaluating the glasses. To gain access to the glasses, an employee of the shop attends to the customer and supervises the customer evaluating the glasses. This, however is requires more personnel in the shop, and the customer is required to only evaluate the glasses when the employee watches.

The alternative, alarm tags, makes evaluation and trying of the glasses unpleasant, and it is difficult to evaluate how the glasses fit the face and the looks of the person, when the bulky tag is fitted to the glasses.

In WO01/71413 as well as US-A-4,331,394, 4,806,008, 5,359,370, 5,980,039, 3,744,887, 2,210,507 and US DES 351,396 a number of manners of assembling pairs of glasses are described, but none of these references relate to theft deterrence or theft prevention of this type of product.

One aspect of the invention relates to a manner of rendering it possible for also the more expensive glasses to be freely handled by customers in shops without requiring the additional alarm tags and without requiring the attention of an employee of the shop.

The overall idea is to not directly prevent removal of the glasses from the shop but to render wearing of the glasses unpleasant to the thief outside the shop in that it is visible from the glasses that the glasses may be stolen.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a pair of glasses comprising a frame and a first and a second temple, wherein: the first temple comprises information provided on a surface thereof visible when the pair of glasses are worn by a person, the information identifying a shop, an organization, or a company that owns the pair of glasses, and in addition to the information, a major part of the first temple is clearly discernible from a major part of the second temple.

Thus, the two temples are different. Normally, temples are identical or at least resemble each other to a very large degree. One temple may have information as to the manufacturer of the glasses, and US-A-4,806,008 describes a manner of introducing (removable) information relating to the owner of the glasses.

In the present aspect, information relating to the rightful owner of the glasses is visible, and as well it is clear that one temple is different from the other temple.

Thus, a customer may wear the glasses and fit these, evaluate the looks of the glasses and of the customer while wearing the glasses. No tags or employees are required in order to safeguard the glasses, and as long as one of the original temples is attached to the glasses, the customer is actually able to evaluate the overall looks of the glasses on his/her face (also from one side).

Preferably, the discernible major parts of the first and second temples are corresponding parts of the temples. In this respect, temples of glasses are normally especially adapted as left and right temples, whereby a mirroring of a right temple will bring about at least the predominant shape of a left temple. Thus, corresponding parts may require a mirroring of a temple in order to correlate the major part of one temple to the major part of the other temple.

Thus, a major part of a temple may be more than 40%, such as more than 50%, preferably more than 60%, such as more than 75% of the area thereof when projected onto a plane (normally a vertical plane extending between the temples when the glasses are worn normally by a user). Also, the major part is preferably one visible when a user wears the glasses.

In one embodiment (see below), the first temple is used in order to render theft of the glasses undesirable in that this temple illustrates to the surroundings that the glasses do not belong to the wearer. Subsequent to payment of the glasses, the first temple may be replaced with a temple (normally the original temple of the glasses) resembling the second temple. After that, the glasses have the desired looks and may be removed from the shop and worn without attracting negative attention.

The first and second temples may differ in a number of ways, such as: the major part of the first temple may have a colour or a texture different from the colour or texture of the major part of the second temple, or a shape of the major part of the first temple is different from a shape of the major part of the second temple.

A difference in shape may be a difference in curvature, thickness, and/or area. Again, preferably the shape and differences are determined in a plane extending between the temples and through the middle of the head of a person wearing the glasses.

In one embodiment, the first temple is adapted to be removed from the frame only by an irreversible action, such as an action where the temple is severed, destroyed, or the like. In that situation, in case of unauthorized removal, the glasses will only have a single temple and then basically be useless.

It may be desired to provide the first temple with wireless theft preventing means (such as a conventional wireless alarm) so that an attempt to remove the glasses from a shop is revealed. Also, special tools may be required in order to remove the first temple without damage to the frame. This further makes theft of the glasses undesired.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a combination of a pair of glasses according to the first aspect and a third temple, wherein the second and third temples are at least substantially identical. Normally, the third temple will be the temple actually designed for the frame and the second temple. Thus, the frame and the second and third temples constitute the actual pair of glasses, as they will be assembled e.g. subsequent to payment of the glasses. Then, the first temple may be removed and e.g. discarded.

An interesting, third aspect of the invention relates to a plurality of pairs of glasses, wherein: major parts of one of the left and the right temple of each of the pairs of glasses are easily discernible from each other and major parts of the other of the left and the right temple of each of the pairs of glasses are at least substantially identical.

Such a plurality of glasses may be used in e.g. a shop, where all original left or all original right temples have been replaced with temples which are identifiable as non-original temples in order to make it possible for a customer to try the glasses on but which makes it undesirable to steal and wear the glasses in public. If all shops selling a given pair of glasses use this theft preventing feature, and especially if all shops replace the same (left or right) temple, a thief will not be able to steal two pairs of glasses and thereby be able to assemble a full pair of glasses. The same temple will be removed in all pairs of glasses.

As mentioned above, two temples are "easily discernible" from each other, if a major part of each of the temples differs. This difference may be a difference in colour, texture and/or shape. Also, the identical (or substantially identical) temples may comprise visible (when the glasses are worn by a user) information which the user does not wish to wear in public. Such information may be information as to the glasses not belonging to the person (but instead to e.g. a shop, company or organization) or that the glasses are stolen.

The at least substantially identical temples may differ in shape, colour or the like. The overall idea is that the temples all give the impression that they are not designed for the glasses and that the glasses belong to a given owner which normally is not a person evaluating whether to e.g. buy the glasses. However, a common feature, such as a shape, a printing, a logo, a colour, or the like is normally desired. Each given shop/company/organization may provide its own features on the temples in order to not only make it obvious that the glasses do not belong to a person wearing them but also who the glasses actually belong to.

It may be desired to provide more than one type or design of the replacement (at least substantially identical) temples in order to make sure that the replacement temple does not resemble the original temple too much. A too high resemblance may tempt a person to actually steal and wear the glasses.

The "at least substantially identical" temples may all have the same visible information that the glasses are owned by a company/shop/organization, and/or that the glasses are not rightfully worn outside a predetermined area (such as a shop or display area).

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of handling a pair of glasses, the method comprising the steps of:

- replacing a first temple of the glasses with a temporary temple different from the first temple, displaying the glasses to one or more persons, and replacing the temporary temple with the first temple. That one temple is different from another temple may be due to its shape, texture, colour or overall appearance. Also, the difference may be due to an imprint, a logo, or information provided thereon, such as that glasses with the temporary temple belongs to a shop/organization/company, as is described above.

Then, the displaying step may comprise providing access for the one or more persons to the glasses. This is now less risky in that the glasses have been changed.

Also, due to the fact that the glasses still may have one original temple, the user wearing the glasses may turn his/her head to view the frame and the original temple in order to evaluate the looks of the glasses and the looks of the person wearing the glasses. Naturally, the other temple may also be removed in order to make it even more undesired to steal the glasses.

In an interesting embodiment, the removing step comprises rendering the temporary temple useless. This step may comprise having to sever the temporary temple in order to remove it - or having to cut it in two. In this manner, a thief removing the temple will end up having a pair of glasses with only one useful temple.

In addition, the replacing step may comprise replacing the temple with a temporary temple comprising information indicating that the temporary temple is not the first temple. This information may be an ID on a shop/organization/company being the rightful owner of the glasses, information that the glasses are stolen or the like. Also, the temple may comprise wireless information for use in standard alarm systems as they are already known.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a hinge comprising: a first part having two opposite, concave parts and a second part having: a first element having a concave part, a second element having two convex parts adapted to be introduced into the concave parts of the first part, the second element being adapted to be at least partly introduced into the concave part of the first element, the second element being adapted to transform (such as by a displacement) from a first position, where the convex parts are positionable into the concave parts of the first part, and a second position, wherein the two convex parts are positioned in the concave parts,

the first element comprises means for preventing the second element from taking the first position, when the second element is at least partly introduced into the first element,

the second part having means for preventing removal of the second element from the concave part of the first element.

Naturally, this hinge is well suited for use in e.g. the above temporary temples. In that situation, normally, the first part of the hinge will be a part of the glasses and the other part will be part of the temporary temple.

However, the hinge may also be used for a number other purposes in that it is simple to assemble and that it may automatically lock itself. This will be clear further below.

The second element is adapted to be moved between the first and second positions. In the first position, the concave parts of the first part may be moved between the convex parts of the second element. In the second position, the convex parts are positioned in the concave parts, whereby the first part and the second element can no longer be disengaged (as long as the second element is in the second position).

In one embodiment, the concave parts extend toward each other, where the second position is one where the distance between the convex parts is lower than the distance in the first position. Alternatively, the concave parts may extend away from each other, where the distance then is lower in the first position.

Naturally, the concave parts will have a height corresponding to the distance which one convex part is introduced into a concave part. Normally, the difference in distance between the first and second positions is higher than twice this height in order to allow the introduction of the convex parts into the concave parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinge has a plurality of second elements, each second element having convex parts having dimensions different from the second parts of the other second elements. These different dimensions of the second elements make the hinge more generally applicable in that the second elements may then be fitted to the concave parts of the first part. Different first parts may have different cross sections or depths of the concave parts or different distances between the concave parts. Different second elements may be provided for engagement with different first parts. Thus, the convex parts may have different diameters at their bases (where abutting the remainder of the second element) and/or different heights.

When the second element has been introduced into the first element, the first element will prevent the second element from taking the first position and thereby be able to release the first part. Thus, when the second element is introduced into the first element, the hinge can no longer be disassembled.

Finally, the second part has means for preventing removal of the second element from the first element and thereby means effectively preventing disengagement of the first and second parts.

Referring to the height of the convex parts, disengagement is prevented, if a movement larger than or equal to twice this height is prevented.

Naturally, the convex and concave parts of the first part and the second element may be interchanged. This alters nothing in the overall functionality of the present hinge.

Also, the convex and concave build of the first and second elements may be interchanged with no adverse effect to the invention.

Preferably, the second element comprises two arms interconnected at one end and each having, respectively, one of the convex parts at the other end, the first position being a position where the other ends of the arms are at a first distance, and the second position being a position where the other ends of the arms are at a second distance, the first element comprising the preventing means adapted to bias the arms toward the second distance.

Thus, when assembled, the arms may extend out of the concave part of the first element so that the other ends of the arms are positioned outside the first element and are adapted to engage the first part outside of the first element. Also, the preventing means may be an internal surface of the concave part of the first element. This surface may have dimensions compared to the outer dimensions of the second element (the arms), so that the arms are biased toward each other so as to maintain the arms in the second position when the second distance is smaller than the first distance.

The first position of the arms may require a first minimum distance, thickness, area or diameter of the preventing means and the second position a second, lower minimum distance, thickness, area, or diameter. These measures are determined by the overall cross section of the second element (the arms), the position on the arms, and the first and second positions of the ends thereof.

In one embodiment, the preventing means of the second part are adapted to act between the first and the second elements inside the concave part of the first element. This acting may be due to friction, toothed surfaces, glue, magnets or the like. It may be desired that the preventing means are not able to be released without destroying the second part. In this manner, glue and toothed surfaces may be desired.

A preferred embodiment is one wherein the concave part of the first element has an opening, and wherein the preventing means are positioned at least a predetermined distance from the opening. This is especially advantageous in that the second part may then be adapted to be severed or divided at a position closer to the opening than the predetermined distance. In this manner, the second part may be severed, where after the second element (the part closer to the first part) is no longer prevented from leaving the remaining part of the first element, whereby these parts of the second element may be removed from the first element, the first part may be disengaged from the remaining parts of the second part, and the first part may be reused.

Yet another aspect relates to a temple for use as the first temple or as one of the at least substantially identical temples in the first three aspects. This temple may form part of the hinge according to the fourth aspect of the invention.

A final aspect of the invention relates to a method of assembling the above hinge, the method comprising the steps of:

1. providing the convex parts of the second element into the concave parts of the first part, 2. providing the second element into the concavity of the first element so as to prevent the convex parts of the second element from taking the second position, and 3. preventing removal of the second element from the first element.

Then, the second element may, again, comprise two arms interconnected at one end and each having, respectively, one of the convex parts at the other end, where step 1. comprises firstly providing a first distance between the convex parts of the second element and, secondly and after providing the convex parts of the second element into the concave parts of the first part, providing a second, lower distance between the convex parts of the second element, and wherein step 3. comprises biasing the arms toward each other. In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates an assembled hinge forming part of a pair of glasses, Figure 2 illustrates part of the frame, Figure 3 illustrates part of the hinge and temple,

Figure 4 illustrates another part of the hinge and temple, and Figure 5 illustrates different dimensions of the part 20.

Figure 1 illustrates a pair of glasses 10 comprising a hinge 12 interconnecting a frame 14 and a temple 16. The hinge 12 comprises a part 18 (see figure 2) of the frame 14, the part 18 comprising two opposite concave parts which may be defined by a single through hole thereof. A part, 20, of the hinge 12 and temple 16 comprises (see also figure 3) two convex parts 22, here in the form of parts of a sphere. These parts 22 are directed toward each other and are adapted to be introduced into the concave parts of the part 18 and to be rotated while introduced therein.

The parts 22 are provided on arms 30 of the part 20 in order to be able to displace the convex parts 22 and facilitate introduction of the part 18 and thereby introduce the convex parts 22 into the concave parts of the frame 14. It is clear that once the convex parts 22 have been provided into the concave parts, biasing the two arms 30 toward each other will lock the convex parts 22 in the concave parts and thereby prevent or make difficult disassembly of the hinge 12.

Alternatively, the concave parts may extend away from each other, whereby the convex parts are biased away from each other (into the concave parts) in order to prevent removal thereof.

The part 20 is adapted to be introduced into a remaining part, 24, of the temple 16. In Figure 4, the end of the temple 16 closest to the frame 14 is seen. This end of the temple 16 has a concavity in the form of an oblong channel 32 having an opening 34 into which the part 20 may be translated.

In the figure, an opening is provided into the side of the channel 32. This is, of course, not required and it may actually be preferred not to have this opening in order to make difficult disassembly of the hinge.

The channel 32 has inner dimensions preventing translation of the arms 30 away from each other to a degree that the part 18 may be removed from engagement with the convex parts 22. The opening 34 or the channel 32 has an inner distance D which corresponds to (or is at the most e.g. 10% larger than) the outer distance, d, of the part 20. The important factor is that the convex parts 20 should not be able to be removed from the part 18, whereby the arms should not be able to separate to a degree corresponding to twice the height (the distance a convex part 20 moves into the part 18) of a part 20.

Inside the channel 32 is also means 40 for preventing removal of the part 20 once introduced therein. These means are preferably indentations or teeth 40 adapted to interact with ribs or teeth 42 present on the outer surface of the part 20. These ribs 40 and 42 are angled so that introduction of the part 20 into the channel 32 is easier than removal is.

Naturally, the means 40/42 may be replaced with any other type of restraining means, such as glue, soldering, welding (such as laser welding), friction or the like.

It is seen that the means 40/42 is present a predetermined distance from the opening 34 of the channel 34. In this manner, the temple 16 may be cut at a position C, where C is positioned closer to the opening 34 than the means 40/42. Thus, once cut, the remaining parts of the part 20, including part of the arms 30 and the convex parts 22, may be removed from the remaining part of the temple 16 without interference by the means 40/42.

It is clear that the length of the means 40/42 will facilitate different lengths of the arms 30 extending outside the opening 34 which again facilitates different distances between the parts 20. This makes the present design able to attach to different thicknesses of the part 18. In addition, different parts 20 may be provided for adapting to parts 18 with different thicknesses or different distances between the concave parts or different sizes of concave parts. In addition, another design of the part 20 may be adapted to engage with a frame with two concave parts extending toward each other, whereby the convex parts 20 must be positioned on the outer sides of the arms 30. In the latter situation, a different method of biasing the arms is required in that the arms should then be biased away from each other.

In addition, the concave/convex functions and interactions between the means 20, 24 and 18 may be interchanged so that e.g. the means 18 comprises two opposite concave parts and the arms 30 comprise concave parts instead. This has absolutely no effect on the overall performance of the present hinge.

In figure 5, two different parts 20 are illustrated where the convex parts 22 have different dimensions (heights and diameters at their bases 22') in order to be used with means 18 with different thicknesses and different hole diameters. The remainder of the parts 20 are the same in order to fit into and be fixed in the same temples 16. Naturally, the temple 16 may have any design, colour, printed information or the like. Preferably, this is presented at a surface, O, visible when the person wears the glasses.

Below is a specific use, where the temple is very useful. Also, the hinge described is a multipurpose temple which may also be used for all other hinge purposes than in glasses.

A particular example of the use of the present hinge is for use in theft deterrence of glasses. In a shop, all glasses, or all pairs of glasses above a certain price, from a certain producer or the like, have one original temple removed, and a temple of the present type is provided. All temporary temples may be identical or have identical features (colour, information, shape, texture) which make it clear that the temples are not designed for the glasses. Preferably, all right or all left temples are replaced in order to make it impossible to assemble one full pair of glasses from two pairs of glasses with replaced temples.

Then, the glasses may be freely available for the customers in the shop, who may handle the glasses and try them on without requiring an employee of the shop. Due to the fact that one of the temples is still the original temple, the customer may turn his/her head in front of a mirror and be able to evaluate the true looks of the glasses on the face of the customer.

However, it is not desired to steal the glasses in that the replacement temple is still on the glasses, and that this is not removed and replaced with the other original temple, before the glasses have been bought by the customer.

Thus, upon purchase, the temporary temple is removed, such as by the above cutting at the position C, where after the other original temple is replaced and the glasses are handed over to the customer.

The temple 16 may have a particular design or colour which makes it clear that this temple is not designed for the frame 14 or the glasses in general - or that the glasses belong to somebody else than the wearer. This is not a problem to the wearer inside the shop, but it will be outside the shop.

A major part of the temple, normally a major part of the side, O, is normally different from the other temple of the glasses.

The temple 16 may have a particularly non-desired shape or even information printed on a side, O, thereof visible, when the glasses are worn by a user, illustrating that the glasses are stolen or that they belong to e.g. a shop/company/organization or the like. Also, naturally, the temple 16 may have wireless means (as are known from shops today) forming part of an alarm system which acts, when the temple 16 is removed from a predetermined area, such as a shop. These means may be moulded into the temple in order to prevent removal thereof to facilitate unnoticed removal from the shop or the like.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses comprising a frame and a first and a second temple, wherein: the first temple comprises information provided on a surface thereof visible when the pair of glasses are worn by a person, the information identifying a shop, an organization, or a company owning the pair of glasses, and in addition to the information, a major part of the first temple is clearly discernible from a major part of the second temple.

2. A pair of glasses according to claim 1, wherein: the major part of the first temple has a colour or a texture different from the colour or texture of the major part of the second temple, or a shape of the major part of the first temple is different from a shape of the major part of the second temple.

3. A combination of a pair of glasses according to claim 1 or 2 and a third temple, wherein the second and third temples are at least substantially identical.

4. A plurality of pairs of glasses, wherein: major parts of one of the left and the right temple of the each of the pairs of glasses are easily discernible from each other and major parts of the other of the left and the right temple of the each of the pairs of glasses are at least substantially identical.

5. A method of handling a pair of glasses, the method comprising the steps of: replacing a first temple of the glasses with a temporary temple different from the first temple, displaying the glasses to one or more persons, and

- replacing the temporary temple with the first temple.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the displaying step comprises providing access for the one or more persons to the glasses.

7. A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the removing step comprises rendering the temporary temple useless.

8. A method according to any of claims 5-7, wherein the replacing step comprises replacing the temple with a temporary temple comprising information indicating that the temporary temple is not the first temple.

9. A hinge comprising: a first part having two opposite, concave parts and

- a second part having: a first element having a concave part, a second element having two convex parts adapted to be introduced into the concave parts of the first part, the second element being adapted to be at least partly introduced into the concave part of the first element,

the second element being adapted to be deformed from a first position, where the convex parts are positionable into the concave parts of the first part, and a second position, wherein the two convex parts are positioned in the concave parts,

10. A hinge according to claim 9, wherein the second element comprises two arms interconnected at one end and each having, respectively, one of the convex parts at the other end, the first position being a position where the other ends of the arms are at a first distance, and the second position being a position where the other ends of the arms are at a second distance, the first element comprising the preventing means adapted to bias the arms toward the second position.

11. A hinge according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the preventing means of the second part are adapted to act between the first and the second elements inside the concave part of the first element.

12. A hinge according to claim 11, wherein the concave part of the first element has an opening, and wherein the preventing means are positioned at least a predetermined distance from the opening.

13. A hinge according to claim 12, wherein the second part is adapted to be severed or divided at a position closer to the opening than the predetermined distance.

14. A hinge according to any of claims 9-13, comprising a plurality of second elements, each second element having convex parts having dimensions different from the second parts of the other second elements.

15. A method of assembling a hinge according to any of claims 9-13, the method comprising the steps of:

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the second element comprises two arms interconnected at one end and each having, respectively, one of the convex parts at the other end, where step 1. comprises firstly providing a first distance between the convex parts of the second element and, secondly and after providing the convex parts of the second element into the concave parts of the first part, providing a second, lower distance between the convex parts of the second element and wherein step 3. comprises biasing the arms toward each other.

17. A temple for use as the first temple in any of claims 1-3 and 5-8 and/or as one of the at least substantially identical temples in claim 4.