WO2006024221A1

WO2006024221A1 - A spring hinge for eyeglasses

Info

Publication number: WO2006024221A1
Application number: PCT/CN2005/001309
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hinyu Chan
Original assignee: Tecno Italiana (Hong Kong) Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-09-01
Filing date: 2005-08-22
Publication date: 2006-03-09
Also published as: CN1743900A; CN100374909C

Abstract

A spring hinge for eyeglasses includes a box, a joint at least partially received in the box and projecting out of an end of the box, at least one spring placed in the box and a closing element fixed at the end of the box for confining the joint and the spring in the box. The present spring hinge has dimensions particularly reduced, and thus can be applied as some miniature spring hinge. Besides, the elements can be assembled separately without preassembly by machine, and in fact can be conveniently and easily assembled manually. Due to a closed bottom of the box, the soldering operation becomes very easy, and avoids problems caused during plastic injection or galvanic treatment that the hot liquid plastic or the galvanic solution can filter into the box. The box can be made of any possible material because it has no friction with other elements.

Description

A SPRING HINGE FOR EYEGLASSES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a spring hinge, and

more particularly, to a spring hinge for eyeglasses, by which a temple

is connected with a lens frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The spring hinge for eyeglasses is generally used to

pivotally connect a temple with a lens frame, which allows rotating

the temple to approach the lens frame when the eyeglasses are not

used. In this way, the eyeglasses can be conveniently kept and carried.

While the eyeglasses are used, the spring hinge helps the temple

spread out with a biasing force, which makes the eyeglasses

comfortable to wear.

[0003] International Publication WO97/41482 discloses a

type of spring hinge for eyeglasses, as shown in Fig. 1, which

comprises a small box 100, a T-shaped tie-rod 110 housed in the box

and two springs 120 each at respective side of the tie-rod 100. A

fixing side of the box is provided with an opening 101 allowing

movement of the tie-rod. One end of the spring is in abutment of the

end of the tie-rod and the other end is in abutment on the bottom

of the small box 100. Three points of exceeding material 102 are provided on the fixing side, allowing a spot welding to fix the spring

hinge onto the temple . However, the spring hinge must be preassembled

before it is secured to the temple by spot welding. Yet, the assembling

operation is so complicated that it can be carried out only by

automatic machining, not manually. Because the fixing side of the

box is not closed, during welding operation, plastic injection or

galvanic treatment, the welding material, the plastic (liquid) or

the galvanic solution can filter into the box, which affects the

movement performance of the spring and the tie-rod in the box;

consequently the spring hinge can not achieve its top performance.

[0004] European Patent EP95106184.5 discloses another type

of spring hinge for eyeglasses, which comprises a spring element,

a hinge element and a box. A welding lug is provided on the box to

weld the box onto the temple. Similar to the Patent WO97/41482, an

opening is also provided on one side of the box. The deformation of

the spring caused by the welding heat was reliefed through the method

to thicken the portions of the box wall where welding lugs are

provided.

[0005] US Patent 5, 755, 010 discloses a further type of spring

hinge for eyeglasses, as shown in Fig. 2, which comprises a hinge

member 210 co-axial with a spring member 220, a housing 200 receiving

the hinge member, with walls of approximately the same thickness,

and a closing member 230 fixedly retainable in the housing and having an end surface for closing the open end surface of the housing and

an opening 210 for receiving the hinge member, the opening 210 running

through the closing member 230 and having a guide surface to guide

the hinge member 210 accurately. The housing 200 has a bottom 201

generally opened. In addition, a recess 202 is provided on the wall

of the box to snap-lock a catch nose 231 of the closing member. In

this spring hinge structure, the specially designed structure of the

closing member has a function to guide the hinge member and close

the open end of the housing, however the housing, the closing member,

the spring member and the hinge member must be preassembled in a unit

because the spring member is co-axial with the hinge member and the

closing member is inserted embedded in the housing. Before it is

assembled with a temple of the eyeglasses, the spring hinge is

preassembled, which has very high requirement on the make-up

machinery and is finished by special machine ingeneral . Furthermore,

because an opened bottom and a recess are provided in the housing,

only spot welding can be used to connect the spring hinge with the

temple. In this way they turn into an entire body. In order to avoid

affecting the performance of the spring pre-fixed in the housing,

it is not appropriate to use a braze welding to connect the temple

with the housing. Besides the assemblyoperation is very complicated,

which needs to preassemble the spring mechanism (springs + hinged) ,

guide and snap-lock the closing member. Because the bottom of the housing in this spring hinge structure is not closed, the liquid

plastic or galvanic solution can filter into the housing during

soldering operation andgalvanic treatments, like plastic injection,

electrocladding, spray paint, coating etc., which has negative

effect on the movement performance of the spring and the hinge member

in the housing. Furthermore, the length of the spring hinge is

relatively longer, which is nonadvantageous to reduce its

dimensions .

[0006] Among the methods to connect the spring hinge with

the temple of eyeglasses, spot welding is presently used in general.

Because only several points are welded together in this method,

sometimes some points are not firmly welded, the problems like flaw

welding, unstable, getting loose and clearance etc. occur, which

further reduces the firm of connection and increases filtering.

Braze welding is another good connecting method, which connect the

whole surface, thereby the connection is very firm. Braze welding

operation is easy and does not have above-mentionedproblems. However,

the prior art adopting braze welding in spring hinge has the following

problems : due to the high temperature of braze welding and the whole

connection surface as theweldedarea, theperformance of the elements

preassembled in the box will be affected greatly by the high

temperature.

[0007] With the improvement of our daily life and increase of the consuming capacity, the requirement for the material of

eyeglasses and its accessories become higher. In general, the

material like nickel silver is used to produce the hinge and its front

hinge element, but now the material like titanium is used in most

case. Some problems occur when such new materials used, for example,

high friction exists during spreading out and closing of the temple,

which makes the elements worn quickly and broken sometimes. The

previouslydiscussed spring hinge structure inprior art cannot solve

this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is

to provide a spring hinge for eyeglasses, which has a simple structure

and has its dimensions particularly reduced.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide

a spring hinge for eyeglasses, which has a simple structure and can

be connected with a temple of eyeglasses without a preassembly of

all elements of the spring hinge. Therefore, it is very convenient

for assembly.

[0010] One more object of the present invention is to provide

a spring hinge for eyeglasses, which has a closed box. Therefore,

during soldering operation, plastic injection or galvanic treatment

the welding material, the liquid plastic or the galvanic solution can not filter into the box, which avoids the negative effect on the

movement performance of a spring and a joint in the box

[0011] One more object of the present invention is to provide

a spring hinge for eyeglasses, in which a closing element is provided

not only to support a spring, but also to be a buffer between a hinge

and its hinged element when contacting. Therefore, the box can be

made of any possible material and the overall performance of the

eyeglasses frame is improved.

[0012] One more object of the present invention is to provide

a spring hinge for eyeglasses, in which a guide structure is designed

in a box interior to perform the guiding function, which makes it

very convenient to assemble and position the joint without special

guiding element .

[0013] To achieve these and other objects and in accordance

with the purpose of the present invention, a spring hinge for

eyeglasses includes a box, a joint at least partially received in

the box and partially projecting out of an end of the box, at least

one spring placed in the box, and a closing element secured to the

end of the box for confining the joint and the spring in the box.

[0014] In particular, according to a preferred embodiment

of the present invention, the spring hinge is provided with one or

more longitudinal spring holder lodgements to hold the springs

separately, and one longitudinal guide communicating with the spring holder lodgements to guide the joint . At one end of the box is provided

an opening with one pair of slots at both sides thereof for engaging

with the closing element to close the box. And, the spring hinge is

paced between the closing element and the joint.

[0015] In order to connect the spring hinge with a temple,

the box is provided with an assembling bottom. Specifically, the

assembling bottom can be a flat surface fixed to the temple by braze

welding or can be provided with a plurality of juts, whereby it is

fixed to the temple by spot welding.

[0016] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general

description and the following detailed description of the present

invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide

further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are included to

provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated

in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment (s)

of the invention and together with the description serve to explain

the principle of the invention, in which,

[0018] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a spring hinge in prior

art;

[0019] Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another spring hinge in prior art;

[0020] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a spring

hinge according to the present invention;

[0021] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a

box according to the present invention;

[0022] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment

of a box according to the present invention;

[0023] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a closing element

according to the present invention;

[0024] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an assembled spring

hinge of Fig.3, with a partial sectioned to show an interior of the

box;

[0025] Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the spring

hinge mounted onto a temple; and

[0026] Fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a joint of

the spring hinge connects with a front hinge element after the spring

hinge is mounted onto the temple.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments

of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the

accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers

will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, a spring hinge for eyeglasses

according to the present invention comprises a box 2, a joint 4, a

pair of springs 6 and a closing element 8. With reference to Fig.

4, the box 2 can be made of different material like nickel silver,

titanium or bronze, and be produced from a profiled bar, which is

provided with a pair of longitudinal spring holder lodgements 22 to

hold the pair of springs 6, a latitudinal guide 24 provided between

the spring holder lodgements and intercommunicating with the spring

holder lodgements 22, to guide the joint 4, an opening 26 provided

at its end intercommunicating with the spring holder lodgements 22

and the guide 24, and a pair of slots 28 provide at both sides of

the opening 26. The box has an assembling bottom 30, which can be

mounted onto a temple 10 of the eyeglasses. In the present embodiment,

the assembling bottom 30 is a flat surface and can be mounted onto

the temple 10 by braze welding. With reference to Fig. 5, in another

embodiment of the box 2' of the present invention, the assembling

bottom 30' is provided with a plurality of juts 32' that can be fixed

onto the temple 10 by spot welding.

[0029] With reference to Fig. 3, the joint 4 is provided with

an eyelet 42 at one end, and a pair of supporting portions 44 extending

outside at the other end. The pair of supporting portions 44 can be

inserted into the spring holder lodgements 22.The joint 4 can be made of different materials like nickel silver, stainless steel, etc.

[0030] As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, the closing element

8 comprises a closing plate 82 to be secured onto the end surface

of the box 2 which has the opening 26, an extension 84 extending from

the closing plate 82 to be inserted into the opening 26, and a rabbet

86 running through a partial height of the closing plate 82 and the

extension 84 and the entire thickness thereof. The extension 84 is

provided with a pair of engaging blocks 88 extending outside at both

sides, which can be inserted into the slots 28 of the box 2, so that

the connection of the closing element 8 and the box 2 is steadily

retained.

[0031] As illustrated in Figs. 3,7 and 8, in the assembled

condition, the joint 4 is inserted into the guide 24 of the box 2

while its supporting portions 44 are inserted into the spring holder

lodgements 22 separately; the springs 6 are placed into the spring

holder lodgements 22, with one end supported by the supporting

portions 44 of the joint 4; in the direction of the rabbet 86 and

facing the joint 4, the closing element 8 inserts the engaging block

88 into the slots 28 to secure onto the box 2; the rabbet 86 canprovide

a space for the joint 4 to pass through; and the other end of the

spring 6 is supported on the extension 84 of the closing element,

as a result the springs 6 are closed in the spring holder lodgements

22 of the box 2 by the closing element 8. [0032] The structure of the spring hinge of the present

invention is very simple, which is advantageous to particularly

reduce its dimensions. As far the assembly, since the spring and joint

are arranged separately and guided by the guide structure formed by

the internal part of the box, the joint canbe assembledandpositioned

very conveniently without special guide elements, therefore it is

very convenient to assemble with or without preassembly. The

components of the present invention can be provided to the assembly

company directly, and the spring mechanism (spring + joint) will not

come into shape until they are assembled, which is more flexible and

reduces the production cost. Thereby the components of the eyeglasses

can be assembled by very simple equipments. The spring hinge is

integratedwith the temple of the eyeglasses by spot or braze welding.

The soldering operation can be determined by the material of the box,

such as a spot welding for bronze or titanium and a braze welding

for nickel silver. Correspondingly, the spring mechanism (spring +

joint) can be preassembled before soldering operation when spot

welding is applied, while the spring and the joint are put into the

box after soldering operation when braze welding is applied, in this

way the performance of the springs preassembled in the box will not

be affected by the heat produced in braze welding. Therefore, two

kinds of soldering operation will neither affect the performance of

the spring hinge. [0033] Since the spring hinge of the eyeglasses has a closed

structure and a closing element is used to seal the box, it avoids

any problems caused during the plastic injections or galvanic

treatment when the hot plastic (liquid) or the galvanic solution can

filter into the spring hinge, which, therefore, avoids the negative

effect on the performance of the spring and the joint in the box.

[0034] With reference to Fig. 9, the spring hinge is then

connected with a hinge element (front hinge) 12 through the eyelet

42 of the joint 4 after it is fixed on the temple. Since the closing

element 8 is arranged between the spring hinge and the front hinge

12, it has a buffering effect, which avoids frictionbetween the hinge

and the front hinge 12. Through selecting proper material for the

closing element, the spring hinge with any material is feasible. For

example, a spring hinge of titanium, when both the front hinge and

the spring hinge are made of titanium, it is infeasible to have them

contact directly without buffering because the hinges will be worn

not touse anymore. Accordingly, by the design of the closing element,

the box and the front hinge can be made of any material, and the

friction or the wearing is reduced to improve the entire performance

of the eyeglasses.

[0035] Of course, in the present invention, the spring hinge

can use only one or more than two springs 6, correspondingly, the

design of the box 2 and the joint 4 should be changed. [0036] It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various

modifications and variations can be made in the present invention

without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,

it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications

and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope

of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A spring hinge for eyeglasses, comprising:

a box;

a joint at least partially received in the box and partially

projecting out of an end of the box;

at least one spring placed in the box; and

a closing element secured to said end of the box for confining

the joint and the spring in the box.

2. The spring hinge according to claim 1, wherein the box is

provided with

at least one or more longitudinal spring holder lodgements

to hold said at least one spring respectively; and

a longitudinal guide communicating with the spring holder

lodgements to guide the joint.

3. The spring hinge according to claim 2, wherein said end

of the box is formed with an opening communicating with the spring

holder lodgements and the guide, and a pair of slots at both sides

of the opening.

4. The spring hinge according to claim 1, wherein the box has

an assembling bottom to fix to a temple of the eyeglasses.

5. The spring hinge according to claim 4, wherein the

assembling bottom is formed as a flat surface fixed to the temple by braze welding.

6. The spring hinge according to claim 4, wherein the

assembling bottom is provided with a plurality of juts, whereby the

assembling bottom is fixed to the temple by spot welding.

7. The spring hinge according to claim 2, wherein an end of

the joint is formed with an eyelet while other end is formed with

two supporting portions extending outside to insert into the spring

holder lodgements respectively, and an end of the spring is supported

against the respective supporting portion.

8. The spring hinge according to claim 3, wherein the closing

element comprises a closing plate to secure to the end of the box

having said opening and an extension from the closing plate to insert

into the opening.

9. The spring hinge according to claim 8, wherein the closing

element is further formed with a rabbet running through the closing

plate and the extension, at two laterals of the extension are provided

a pair of engaging blocks extending outside, the engaging blocks

engaged with the slots of the box, and other end of the spring is

supported against the extension of the closing element .

10. The spring hinge according to claim 1, wherein the spring

is located between the closing element and the joint.