WO2007043073A1

WO2007043073A1 - Improved spectacles and method for manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: WO2007043073A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000604
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Tabacchi
Original assignee: SAFILO, Società Azionaria Fabbrica Italiana Lavorazione Occhiali S.p.A.
Priority date: 2005-10-14
Filing date: 2005-10-14
Publication date: 2007-04-19
Also published as: WO2007043073A8

Abstract

Spectacles are described which comprise at least one lens (20) provided with at least one aperture (7) passing through the thickness of same, at least one mounting member (4; 6) bearing an appendage (8) in which a threaded blind5 hole (9) is provided, the appendage (8) being capable of being at least partially received in the aperture (7), screw connection means between the appendage (8) of the mounting member and the lens (2) for locking the lens to the mounting member, wherein the connection means comprise, associated with the at least one mounting member (4; 6), a corresponding externally threaded pin (10), capable of being inserted into the through aperture (7) and of being removably secured to the appendage (8) by means of screwing into the threaded blind hole (9) and at least one corresponding clamping nut (11) capable of being screwed onto the pin (10), on the opposite side from the appendage (8), in order to lock the lens relative to the mounting member, and wherein the pin (10) is capable of being trimmed, by means of removal of its excess length with respect to the clamping nut (11), so as to be substantially flush with the nut, once the nut (11) has been tightened on the pin (10) for relative locking between the lens (2) and the mounting member (4; 6). A method for manufacturing spectacles of the aforesaid type is also described.

Description

Improved spectacles and method for manufacturing same Technical field

The present invention relates to improved spectacles of the type including the characteristics specified in the preamble of main claim 1. The invention also concerns a method for manufacturing the spectacles of the aforesaid type. Technological background

The invention lies particularly in the field of so-called "rimless" spectacles, or those devoid of lens-holding rims, in which the lenses are fixed directly to the lugs for articulation of the arms or to the central connecting bridge for nasal support (termed generally hereinafter "mounting members").

The known solutions typically provide holes or slot-like apertures passing through the lens thickness, at the opposed lateral ends of same, and arranged to be engaged by screw clamping means so as to fix the mounting members to the corresponding lens. A solution known from EP 953862 provides for the mounting member to be provided with an appendage capable of being at least partially received in the hole passing through the lens, a blind threaded hole being provided in the appendage for locking the lens by means of a clamping screw engaged by screwing in the threaded hole. In this application the lens is held tightly between the head of the screw and the mounting member by means of abutment of their respective surfaces on the opposed surfaces of the lens. A further solution known from WO97/21133 provides for the mounting member to be provided with a threaded pin, obtained integrally with the mounting member, and capable of being inserted in the through hole of the lens for locking by means of a nut or similar locking means and consequent fixing of the lens relative to the mounting member.

In this specific technical field there has been a need to produce spectacles in which the components relating to the system for fixing the lens are almost wholly re-usable following replacement of the lens, without therefore involving the need to substitute such components, except for a possible limited number of same.

The problem is encountered particularly in the field of mounts for spectacles of the ophthalmic type, for which a variation in the visual capacity, both quantitative (worsening of the pre-existing defect of vision) and qualitative (occurrence of fresh defects of vision), involves an adjustment of the corrective lenses, which often has the effect of requiring replacement of the existing lenses with new corrective lenses of different thickness. Such differences in thickness in most cases necessitate the partial or total substitution of the details of the system for fixing the lens to the mounting member, this being substantially due to the fact that the majority of such details were selected or adapted dimensionally to the lenses mounted previously, in a non-reversible manner. In the case of the use of clamping screws, the differences in thickness may involve the need to substitute the entire set of screws provided for the locking of the new corrective lenses to the respective mounting members, while in the case of mounting members with pins provided integrally on same, the fitting of new lenses of greater thickness generally involves the need for substitution of the entire mounting member. In this case, in fact, since the pins, after clamping, are typically trimmed of their excess length, in order to be brought flush with the clamping members provided (for example locking nuts), it is clear that with new lenses of greater thickness they are no longer of an adequate length to allow tightening of the nut, and it is therefore necessary to provide for the substitution of all the mounting members. Description of the invention

The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of providing spectacles structurally and functionally designed so as to remedy the limits mentioned with reference to the prior art cited.

This problem is solved by the invention by means of spectacles, and a method for manufacturing same, produced according to the claims which follow. Brief description of the drawings The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial view of spectacles produced according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a view in partial section corresponding to Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the details of the spectacles of the preceding figures,

Figures 4 to 7 are views in front elevation of respective alternative embodiments of a detail of the spectacles according to the invention,

Figures 8 to 11 are views in front elevation of respective alternative embodiments of a further detail of the spectacles according to the invention,

Figures 12 to 15 are views in front elevation of respective alternative embodiments of a further detail of the spectacles according to the invention,

Figures 16 and 17 are views in axial section of a detail of the spectacles of the invention.

Preferred way of implementing the invention With initial reference to Figure 1, the reference 1 indicates, as a whole, spectacles of the type devoid of lens-holding rims, and of which are partially shown a lens 2, an arm 3 and a mounting member 4, also known by the term "lug" in the specific technical field, and by means of which the arm is h inged on at an eyelet 5. It is to be understood that the spectacles comprise a further lens and a further arm with related articulation lug, which are identical but arranged in a symmetrical mirror-image position. Of the arm 3, only the end section closest to the lens 2 is shown, it being understood that the intermediate section and the opposed end are produced with a conventional configuration. For the mutual central connection of the lenses, a nasal support bridge is provided, indicated by 6 and shown in Figures 8 to 11. For convenience of explanation, the lug 4 and the bridge 6 of the spectacles are also indicated as a whole hereinafter by the term "mounting member", the present invention relating to the common system for locking such members directly on to the corresponding lens of the spectacles.

A description will be given in particular of the system for connection of the lug 4 to the lens 2, it being understood that an identical system distinguishes the connection of the bridge 6 to the lens. In this regard, analogous details of the systems will be designated by the same reference numbers.

For the aforesaid connection, the lens 2 is provided with an aperture 7 passing through the lens thickness, configured for example as a hole of circular or slot- like cross-section, inside which an appendage 8 protruding from the lug 4 is capable of being at least partially received. More particularly, the appendage 8 is provided in the form of a bush provided centrally with a cavity or blind hole 9 with internal thread. Screw connection means are further provided, including an externally threaded pin 10 capable of being inserted into the aperture 7 and of being removably secured to the appendage 8 by screwing into the nut screw of the blind hole 9. The reference 11 indicates a clamping nut capable of being screwed on to the pin 10, on the opposite side from the appendage 8, in order to lock the lens 2 relative to the lug 4. According to a further principal characteristic of the invention, the pin 10 is arranged with a length substantially exceeding the region of clamping with the nut in order to be trimmed, once the clamping of the lens is completed, by removal of its excess length with respect to the clamping nut, so as to be substantially flush with the nut, once the relative locking between the lens 2 and the lug 4 is obtained. In this way, as will become clearly apparent in the continuation of the description, a subsequent replacement of the lens 2 with a lens of greater thickness requires only the substitution of the pin 10 with a new pin, again to be trimmed to size in the manner described, once the clamping of the lens is completed, with the advantage of being able to re-use the whole of the remaining details of the fixing system, including the lug 4 and with it the appendage 8 and also the nut and other possible components of the system that are described in detail hereinafter.

In particular, the pin 10 is configured with a first end 10a, of smaller diameter and devoid of external thread, capable of being inserted into the hole 9 of the appendage 8. The configuration with reduced diameter has the principal function of facilitating the operation of assembly by acting as a kind of guiding and centring member during the insertion of the pin into the blind hole 9 of the bush-like appendage 8. It further performs the function of a limit means during the screwing of the pin into the hole 9 until it meets the bottom of said hole.

At the opposite axial end 10b of the pin, the latter has a transverse configuration of the cross-section with a profile suitable for co-operating with a spanner or other similar implement, so as to facilitate the operation of screwing the pin 10 into the hole 9 of the appendage prior to the tightening of the nut 11 and the subsequent trimming to size of the pin itself. In this regard, polygonal profiles of the end 10b are provided, such as, for example, square (Figure 13) or hexagonal (Figure 14) or toothed (Figure 15) in shape, or with a simple slot (Figure 12) for the engagement of a screwdriver. The bush-like appendage 8 may conveniently be provided separately from the mounting member (lug 4 - bridge 6), to be firmly connected thereto, for example by means of soldering, in the case of metal mounts. Alternatively, the appendage may be obtained integrally with the mounting member, in particular in mounts made of plastics material. As a further alternative, it may be produced of metallic material separately from the mounting member, produced instead from plastics material, so that the appendage may be firmly connected by adhesive means to the mounting element or by means of at least partial embedding therein. The reference 12 designates a bushing, preferably made of plastics material and designed to be received in the through aperture 7 of the lens and to constitute in its turn a suitable seating for the bush-like appendage 8, conveniently produced of metallic material. The bushing 12 serves principally as a damping means in the clamping of the lens to the mounting member. The bushing is further advantageously provided with a lip 12a protruding annularly at an axial end thereof, and capable of remaining interposed between the lens surface and the surface of the lug facing same. With specific reference to the means for clamping the lens, provision is made for associating with the nut 11 a first washer 13 of plastics material (placed in contact with the lens surface facing the nut) and a second washer 14 of metallic material.

Also provided are further anti-unscrewing means between the bush-like appendage 8 and the pin 10, produced for example by means of a coating of "Teflon" (TPFE polymer) resin at the threaded section close to the end 10a. Alternatively, provision may be made for the use of a knurled or toothed washer. As a further alternative, provision is made for the use of an insert 15, preferably of rubber, capable of being fitted to the end 10a of the pin (Figure 15). The insert 15 may be attached to the pin by adhesive securing or by resilient engagement. The anti-unscrewing effect obtained with the insert 15 is due to the pressure exerted thereby on the pin 10, once the pin is screwed into the bush-like appendage 8 until it compresses the insert itself, and which pressure tends to increase the mutual friction between the threads of the screw-thread of the pin and those of the nut screw of the bush.

In an alternative embodiment of the aforesaid insert 15, provision is made for the latter to be constituted by a rubbery member independent of the pin 10 (not integral with the pin), for example spherical in shape and capable of being housed at the bottom of the blind cavity of the hole 9, prior to the screwing of the pin into same. The compression of the spherical insert 15, resulting from the screwing in of the pin 10, explains the anti-unscrewing effect mentioned above.

Further provided are suitable means for preventing rotation of the mounting member relative to the lens, preferably comprising for each mounting member a respective second appendage 16, extending in the same direction as the appendage 8 and also capable of being inserted into a second blind or through hole (not shown) provided in the lens thickness. The rotation-preventing appendage 16 may be obtained integrally with the mounting member or firmly connected to same by soldering or adhesive. With reference to Figure 3, a method for manufacturing spectacles according to the present invention provides for a first step in which the components described above, suitable for producing the system for fixing the lens to the mounting element, are provided. In particular, the pin 10 is provided, having a preselected length substantially greater than that required for the clamping of the nut, in a range of possible variable lens thicknesses, and provided with the ends 10a and 10b. In other words, the length of the pin 10 is such as to ensure the clamping of the nut for all the lens thicknesses generally provided for the correction of defects of vision. A further step of the method provides for the screwing of the pin 10 into the bush-like appendage 8, the insertion of the bushing 12 into the through aperture 7 of the lens, and the subsequent insertion of the appendage/pin assembly into the bushing with clamping of the nut 11 on the pin, on the opposite side from the appendage, subject to the washers 13 and 14 being interposed. Once the clamping of the nut (Figure 1) is completed, the pin is trimmed (cut) with removal of the excess length beyond the nut, such that it is flush with the nut itself, as illustrated in Figure 2. The operation of fixing the lens is carried out for each mounting member provided in the spectacles by means of clamping and subsequent cutting to size of the corresponding pin. Typically, each lens will be involved in being fixed to the lug and opposed lateral fixing to the central nasal support bridge. Whenever subsequent replacement of the lenses 2 with new lenses of different thickness, in particular of greater thickness, is required, all the details of the fixing system may be re-used, with the exclusive exception of the pins 10. For a mounting of the aforesaid type, the pins to be replaced may be up to four in number (two for each lens). In that event, the simple unscrewing of each pin and relevant substitution with a new pin (capable of being clamped and trimmed) will be required for the clamping of the new lenses to the respective mounting members.

Figures 8 to 11 illustrate possible configurations of the central connecting bridge 6 for the lenses. This may be produced from metallic material onto which are soldered the pairs of opposed appendages 8 and 16 (Figure 8) . As an alternative, it may be obtained from metallic material (Figure 9) with integral appendages 8, 16, or be produced integrally of plastics material (Figure 10). As a further alternative, it may be produced from plastics material with appendages 16 integral with the bridge 6 and appendages 8 provided separately and capable of being firmly connected to the bridge. Figures 4 to 7 illustrate possible configurations of the lug 4 for articulation of the arms 3. Said lug may be produced from metallic material on to which are fixed, for example by soldering, the appendages 8 and 16 and also the eyelet- type hinge 5 (Figure 4). As an alternative, it may be obtained from metallic material with appendages 8, 16 and eyelet-type hinge provided integrally (Figure 5) or be integrally obtained from plastics material (Figure 6). As a further alternative, the lug may be obtained from plastics material with appendage 16 and eyelet-type hinge 5 integral with the lug and appendages 8 produced separately (for example from metallic material) and capable of being firmly connected to the lug.

It should finally be noted that although in the appended drawings the mounting member is shown assembled in such a way that it has the actual end for fixing to the lens on the front face of the lens (opposed to the inner surface turned towards the user's face), and consequently the pin is inserted from the inner side of the lens (the side turned towards the user's face), it is to be understood that the possibility is also envisaged of reverse mounting, that is to say, with the mounting member disposed on the inner face of the lens and the pin inserted from the outer lens face side. The invention thus solves the problem posed and achieves the aims set, obtaining the advantages claimed above with respect to the known solutions.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Improved spectacles comprising: at least one lens (2) provided with at least one aperture (7) passing through the thickness of same, - at least one mounting member (4; 6) bearing an appendage (8) in which a threaded blind hole (9) is provided, said appendage (8) being capable of being at least partially received in said aperture (7), screw connection means between the appendage (8) of said mounting member and said lens (2) for locking the lens to the mounting member, characterized in that said connection means comprise, associated with said at least one mounting member (4; 6), a corresponding externally threaded pin (10), capable of being inserted into said through aperture (7) and of being removably secured to said appendage (8) by means of screwing into said threaded blind hole (9) and at least one corresponding clamping nut (11) capable of being screwed on to said pin (10), on the opposite side from said appendage (8), in order to lock the lens relative to the mounting member, and in that said pin (10) is capable of being trimmed, by means of removal of its excess length with respect to the clamping nut (11), so as to be substantially flush with said nut, once the nut (11) has been tightened on the pin (10) for relative locking between the lens (2) and the mounting member (4; 6).

2. Spectacles according to claim 1, wherein said pin (10) comprises, at an axial end (10b) thereof, a profile of the cross-section that is suitable for cooperating with a spanner for screwing the pin (10) into the threaded hole (9) of said appendage (8).

3. Spectacles according to claim 2, wherein said profile has a polygonal configuration or a toothed contour.

4. Spectacles according to claim 2, wherein said end (10b) comprises a slot suitable for the engagement of a screwdriver.

5. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising anti-unscrewing means between the threaded pin (10) and the nut screw of the hole (9) of said appendage (8).

6. Spectacles according to claim 5, wherein said anti-unscrewing means comprise a coating of resin on a threaded section of pin (10) close to its axial end (10a) capable of being inserted into the hole (9) of the appendage (8).

7. Spectacles according to claim 5, wherein said anti-unscrewing means comprise an insert (15) of resilient material interposed between the end (10a) of the pin capable of being inserted into the appendage (8) and the bottom of the blind hole (9) of said appendage.

8. Spectacles according to claim 7, wherein said insert (15) is capable of being fitted to the corresponding axial end (10a) of the pin.

9. Spectacles according to claim 8, wherein said insert (15) is fixed to said end (10a) of the pin (10) by adhesive securing or by resilient engagement.

10. Spectacles according to claim 7, wherein said insert (15) is structurally independent of said pin (10) and has a substantially spherical configuration.

11. Spectacles according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said insert (15) is made of rubbery material.

12. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for preventing rotation between the mounting member (4; 6) and the corresponding lens (2) fixed to said member, said rotation-preventing means comprising at least a second appendage (16) protruding from said mounting member, parallel to, and spaced from, the appendage (8) co-operating with said pin (10), said second appendage (16) being capable of engaging a respective aperture formed in the lens.

13. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a bushing (12) capable of being inserted into the aperture (7) passing through the lens (2), in a position interposed between said aperture and the appendage (8) that can be firmly connected with the pin (10).

14. Spectacles according to claim 13, wherein said bushing (12) is made of material having resilient characteristics.

15. Spectacles according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein said bushing (12) comprises an annular lip (12a) protruding at an axial end thereof, and capable of being interposed between one of the opposed lens surfaces (2) and the portion of mounting member (4; 6) facing said lens surface.

16. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said appendage (8) that can be firmly connected to the pin (10) by screwing is obtained integrally with the mounting member (4; 6) or is able to be firmly connected to said member by soldering or adhesive securing or partial embedding in the mounting member.

17. Spectacles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mounting member comprises a lug member (4) for articulation of the arms or a bridge member (6) for the central connection of the lens in a nasal support region.

18. A method for manufacturing spectacles comprising the steps of providing at least one aperture (7) passing through the lens thickness (2), of providing at least one mounting member (4; 6) bearing an appendage (8) in which a threaded blind hole (9) is provided, the appendage being capable of ^' being at least partially received in said aperture, and of providing screw connection means between said appendage (8) and said lens (2) for locking the lens to the mounting member, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: - providing, for each mounting member, a corresponding externally threaded pin (10), inserting said pin (10) into said aperture (7) and firmly connecting same to said appendage (8) by screwing into said blind hole (9), clamping the pin (10), on the opposite side from the appendage (8), by means of a clamping nut (11), for locking the lens relative to the mounting member, trimming said pin (10), by means of cutting with the removal of its excess length with respect to the clamping nut, so as to be substantially flush with said nut, once the nut has been tightened on the pin for relative locking between the lens and the mounting member.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said pin (10) is provided with an axial length such as to permit the tightening of the nut (11) and the subsequent removal of its length exceeding the nut, in a preselected range of variable lens thicknesses.

20. A method according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said pin (10) is produced, in the part intended to be removed after clamping with said nut (11), with one end (10b) thereof configured with a profile suitable for co- operating with a spanner or similar implement for screwing the pin (10) into the hole (9) of the appendage firmly connected to the mounting member.

1/6

Rg. 1 2/6

Rg. 2 3/6

Fig. 3

4/6

Fig. 4 Fig. 5

5/6

6/6

Fig. 12 Fig. 13 Fig. 14 Fig. 15

Fig. 16 Fig. 17