WO2007119255A1

WO2007119255A1 - Spectacles with interchangeable lenses

Info

Publication number: WO2007119255A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000261
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Tabacchi
Original assignee: Safilo Societa Azionaria Fabbrica
Priority date: 2006-04-19
Filing date: 2006-04-19
Publication date: 2007-10-25

Abstract

Spectacles are described which comprise a front frame (2) with respective rims (3) for holding lenses (4) and which are connected to a central bridge (5) of the frame, means for the retention of the lenses (4), provided along each lens-holding rim (3), for removably retaining each lens (4) on the corresponding rim, the retention means comprising first hook formations (9) fixed to the frame (2) and defining respective seats (10) for localised retention of the corresponding lens (4), and second hook formations (11) provided on a checking member (12) mounted so as to be movable on the central bridge (5) between a first position, in which the second hook formations (11) are distanced from the corresponding rim (3) in order to permit the extraction or insertion of the lens in the first hook formations (9), and a second position in which, with the lens inserted, the second formations (11) define, together with the corresponding rim, respective second seats (13) for retention of the lens, so that each of the lenses (4) is retained in a stable manner on the corresponding lens-holding rim (3) by the whole of the first and second hook formations (9, 11) provided on the rim. The checking member (12) having the second hook formations (11) is mounted in an articulated manner on the central bridge (5) so as to be pivotable between the first and the second position, and means (16) are provided for the removable locking, in the second position, of the checking member (12) with the bridge (5), in order selectively to secure the second hook formations (11) firmly to the frame (2) and guarantee the retention of each lens (4) in the corresponding second seats (13).

Description

Spectacles with interchangeable lenses

Technical field

The present invention concerns spectacles with interchangeable lenses having the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of the main claim.

Technological background

In the specific technical field there is a need to produce spectacles provided with lenses of the interchangeable type, such as to be easily substituted by the user. Spectacles of this type, in particular those typically directed towards protection from solar radiation, in fact advantageously allow the substitution of the lenses so as to adapt the same pair of spectacles to the different requirements of the user. There is thus the advantage of being able to interchange, in the same spectacle mount, sun lenses of different colour for greater adaptation to the different light conditions or in order to guarantee optimum visibility conditions in the most varied activities or in the practice of different sporting disciplines. An example of spectacles with interchangeable lenses of the type which is indicated is known from US Patent No. 4799781. The spectacles described therein provide for the mount to be equipped with a lens-holding frame having, for each lens, a respective pair of opposed peripheral grooves or pockets, capable of receiving peripheral portions of the lens, and also to be provided with hook formations for localised retention of the lens on the frame. Provision is also made for there to be provided in the central bridge region a member having a pair of such hook formations slidingly mounted thereon and resiliency urged into an operating position in which they define, with the opposed mount frame, corresponding seats for retention of the lens. This solution, while guaranteeing the interchangeability of the lenses, proves to be of a certain structural complexity in addition to requiring a certain number of components assembled to one another, including a biased spring, in order to perform the required function of retention. Description of the invention

The present invention has as its primary aim the structural and functional improvement of spectacles with interchangeable lenses in relation to the aspects mentioned above. This and other aims identified hereinafter are achieved by the invention by means of spectacles produced in accordance with the attached claims. 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 perspective view of a pair of spectacles produced according to the present invention, - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the spectacles of Figure 1, with lenses removed from the front frame,

Figures 3 and 4 are partial perspective views of a detail of the spectacles of the preceding figures, in different operative states thereof, - Figure 5 is a view of a lens arranged to be interchangeably mounted on the spectacles of the preceding figures,

Figures 6 and 7 are partial perspective views of respective details of the lens of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 2 in an alternative embodiment of the invention,

Figure 9 is a view in partial section of the region of the articulation lug of the variant of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a view in front elevation of a detail of the spectacles of the preceding figures, - Figure 11 is a plan view from above of the detail of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a view in section along the line XII-XII in Figure 10, Figure 13 is a view in side elevation of a pair of details of the spectacles according to the invention in the assembled state, Figure 14 is a view in front elevation of the details of Figure 13, in the state assembled to one another,

Figures 15 and 16 are views, respectively in side and front elevation, of an alternative embodiment of the detail of Figure 13, Figure 17 is a view in section along the line XVII-XVII in Figure 15, Figures 18 and 19 are views, respectively in side and front elevation, of a further alternative embodiment of the detail of Figure 13,

Figure 20 is a view in section along the line XX-XX in Figure 18. Preferred way of implementing the invention

With reference to the drawings mentioned, the reference 1 indicates as a whole a pair of spectacles produced according to the present invention. The spectacles shown in the aforesaid drawings are equipped with a front frame 2 including respective lens-holding rims 3 for respective lenses 4. The lens-holding rims are connected at a central region of the frame by means of a bridge, indicated as a whole by 5, while at the opposite lateral ends the frame 2 is hinged to respective arms 6. More particularly, the central bridge comprises an upper cross-piece 7 and a lower cross-piece 8 for connection between the rims, being spaced from each other and extending transversely in directions substantially parallel to each other.

In the spectacles according to the invention, means are provided for retention the lenses 4 on the respective lens-holding rims 3, so as to render said lenses easily replaceable interchangeably, also by the final user himself, as will become clear in the continuation of the description.

The means for removable retention comprise, in each rim, a respective pair of hook formations 9, defining seats 10 for localised retention of the corresponding lens. More particularly, in each rim provision is made for a hook formation to be disposed in the upper arch (eyebrow arch) region, offset in proximity to the lateral region hinged onto the arm, and for the other hook formation to be disposed in the opposed lower arch of the rim, in a corresponding position, in proximity to the region hinged onto the arm.

It is understood that the hook formations are provided on the frame in symmetrical mirror-image positions with respect to a median plane of symmetry passing through the central bridge region.

Each hook formation is provided with a first portion 9a, protruding from the lens-holding rim, and which is extended substantially at right- angles in a second portion 9b, the dimension of the portion 9a being selected in correlation to the lens thickness so that the seat 10 defined by said portions guarantees an action of stable retention of the lens on the rim, without however inducing stresses on the lens surfaces such as to

5 compromise the lens structure or to alter the optical properties thereof.

The hook formations 9 are designed to co-operate with further hook formations 11 provided in the region of the central bridge 5, such that the hook formations 9 and 11 of each rim, as a whole, guarantee the stable retention of the corresponding lens on the front frame. io In detail, the retention means comprise a first and a second hook formation 11, each co-operating with the respective lens-holding rim, and which are provided on a latching member, indicated as a whole by 12, mounted to be movable on the central bridge 5, between a first position in which the hook formations 11 are distanced from the corresponding rim (in i5 order to permit the extraction or insertion of the lens in the hook formations 9), and a second position in which, with the lenses inserted, the hook formations 11 define, together with the corresponding rim 3, respective seats 13 for retention of the lens.

The latching member 12 is mounted in an articulated manner on the

2o upper crosspiece 7 of the central bridge, so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation X extending in the longitudinal direction of the crosspiece 7, between the first and the second position.

For this purpose, the latching member comprises a main body 12a with an axial end having an eyelet 14 for hinging to the crosspiece 7 and an

25 opposed axial end having, on transversely opposite sides, the hook formations 11. Said formations extend, in alignment with one another, in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the body 12a, each comprising a first and a second portion substantially at right angles to each other, analogously to the provision made for the hook formations 9. At the end having the hook formations, the body 12a also defines a surface 15 constituting a locating means for abutment against the lower crosspiece 8, in the second pivoted position.

According to the invention, means are also provided for the removable locking of the latching member 12 on the bridge 5, when it is pivoted into the second operating position, which means are capable of selectively securing the hook formations 11 firmly to the frame 2 and of guaranteeing the stable retention of the lenses in the corresponding seats 13, preventing accidental disengagement from said seats, owing to the fact that only by means of voluntary intervention by the user is it possible to remove the relative locking of the latching member with the bridge, as will be described hereinafter.

The means for removable locking comprise a slider member 16 slidingly mounted in the latching member 12, the slider being movable to a limited extent away from and towards an operating state in which an end 16a thereof is capable of defining, together with the locating surface 15, a seat 17 for the retention of the lower crosspiece 8, in order to secure the bridge mutually with the latching member, as clearly illustrated in Figure 13.

The slider member 16 comprises a central portion 18 slidingly engaged in a through opening 19 elongate in the longitudinal direction of the body 12a. In said portion there is also provided a through eyelet 20 and this is also elongate in the longitudinal direction of the body 12a, is received in the opening 19 and is capable of being slidingly engaged by a cylindrical pin 21 fitted in the body 12a and passing through the opening 19. In this way the pin 21 constitutes a limiting means for limiting the travel of the slider 16 relative to the checking member, in addition to the fact that it ensures the relative locking between the slider and the checking member. Extending on transversely opposed sides from the central portion 18 are a first and a second appendage 22, 23, the first of which constitutes an operating appendage for the sliding movement of the slider 16. Also defined on the appendage 22 is the end 16a, capable of locking the bridge in the second operating position, as mentioned above. The appendage 22 is also provided with a surface which is knurled or has similar surface corrugations, capable of facilitating the grip in the sliding movement induced in the slider. The second appendage 23 comprises a plate-like region co-operating with the body 12a of the checking member such as to constitute means for guiding same in the sliding travel of the slider.

Anti-slip means are also provided between the checking member 12 and the upper crosspiece 7, in the direction of the axis of rotation, for example produced by means of localised deformation of the body 12a in the region of the hinging eyelet 14.

In a variant of the invention, provision may also be made for each lens-holding rim 3 to comprise a further respective hook formation 24, provided at the lug 26 for articulation of the corresponding arm, as shown in Figure 8. The hook formation 24 may conveniently be produced in one piece with the lug 26, by means of a portion protruding from one end of the lug itself, defining, together with the rim, the seat for retention of the lens.

Provision may also be made for the lenses to be equipped with recesses 27 in the regions intended to engage the seats of the hook formations 9 and 11. By means of the portions 9a, 11a being received in the corresponding recesses, the relative positioning between the lens and the corresponding lens-holding rim is guaranteed in a stable manner. It should also be noted that the recesses 27 involve the entire thickness of the lens, but it is however possible to provide surface depressions 28 on the lens, which are illustrated in Figure 5 with reference to the retention region of the hook formation 24, in the region of the lug. By means of such a depression, which involves only part of the thickness of the lens, the terminal portion of the hook formation may be at least partially received therein, guaranteeing stability of coupling and reducing the protrusion of the hook from the surface profile of the lens.

In operation, for the fitting of the lenses on the front frame, the checking member is first pivoted into the open position of Figure 2, in which the hook formations thereof are distanced from the respective rims, in order to permit the insertion of the lenses with retaining engagement thereof in the seats defined by the hook formations 9. The checking member is then pivoted into the closed position of Figure 4, in which it abuts against the lower crosspiece 8 of the central bridge. From this position, by means of sliding of the slider 16, the end 16a of same is moved into the position of Figure 3 in which, co-operating with the body 12a of the checking member, it defines the seat for retention of the lower crosspiece 8, effecting the relative locking between the crosspiece and the checking member. In this state the retention of the lens is ensured by the hook formations 11 cooperating with the portions, facing them, of the corresponding lens-holding rims. Only by means of voluntary action on the part of the user, directed at sliding the slider 16 in the opposite direction, is it possible to free the pivoting of the checking member. This operation is required whenever it is desired to remove the lenses from the frame to replace them with others of interchangeable type.

Figures 15 to 17 illustrate a first alternative embodiment of the checking member 12 and of the corresponding slider 16 associated therewith, in which details analogous to those of the preceding example are designated by the same reference numbers.

This variant differs mainly in that the slider member 16 is slidingly mounted in the body 12a by means of a dovetail coupling, produced between the central portion 18 and the body 12a, as shown in Figure 17. Provision is also made for the pin 21 to be slidingly engaged in a cavity 29 of the portion 18, which performs the function of limit means for the permitted travel of the slider.

It should be noted that this alternative embodiment does not require any appendage protruding from the portion 18, on the opposite side from the slider 16, and consequently the opening 19 does not have to pass right through the body 12a.

Figures 18 to 20 illustrate a second alternative embodiment of the checking member 12 and of the corresponding slider 16 associated therewith, in which details analogous to those of the preceding examples are designated by the same reference numbers.

This variant differs mainly from those of the preceding examples in that it comprises a resilient means, such as a helical spring 30, interposed between the body 12a and the slider member 16 and capable of resiliently urging the latter into the position in Figure 8, in which the bridge and the checking member are mutually locked. For this purpose, provision is made for the slider member to have in it a cylindrical blind seat 31, facing the open end of which is a surface locating means 32 of the body 12a. In the seat 31 is housed the spring 30, the axial ends of which act respectively on the bottom of the seat 31 and on the locating means 32. By means of biasing induced in the spring 30, a resilient urging action on the slider 16 is therefore obtained. It should be noted that, according to this variant, the action of locking the slider 16 is effected by means of sliding of same in opposition to the resilient action of the spring 30, away from the bridge. The invention thus achieves the aims proposed, obtaining the advantages claimed with respect to the known solutions.

Among these are, in particular, an improved reliability in the system for removable locking of the lenses on corresponding lens-holding rims, accompanied by constructional simplification with consequent improved handling in the operations of removal and/or insertion of the lenses, in particular directed at the final user, for the interchangeability of the lenses.

Claims

C L A I M S 1. Spectacles comprising: a front frame (2) with respective rims (3) for holding lenses (4) and connected to a central bridge (5) of said frame, - retention means for retention of the lenses (4), provided along each lens-holding rim (3) for removably retaining each lens (4) on the corresponding rim, said retention means comprising first hook formations (9) fixed to the frame (2) and defining respective seats (10) for localised retention of the corresponding lens (4), and second hook formations

(11) provided on a checking member (12) mounted so as to be movable on the central bridge (5) between a first position in which the second hook formations (11) are distanced from the corresponding rim (3) in order to permit the extraction or insertion of the lens in the first hook formations (9), and a second position in which, with the lens inserted, said second formations (11) define, together with the corresponding rim, respective second seats (13) for retention of the lens, such that each of said lenses (4) is retained in a stable manner on the corresponding lens-holding rim (3) by the whole of said first and second hook formations (9, 11) provided on said rim, characterized in that said checking member (12) having said second hook formations (11) is mounted in an articulated manner on said central bridge (5) so as to be pivotable between said first and second position, and in that it comprises means (16) for removable locking, in the second position, of said checking member (12) with said bridge (5), in order selectively to secure said second hook formations (11) firmly to the frame (2) and guarantee the retention of each lens (4) in the corresponding second seats (13).

2. Spectacles according to claim 1, wherein said means for removable locking comprise a slider member (16) slidingly mounted in said checking member (12), said slider being movable to a limited extent away from and towards an operating state in which one end thereof (16a) is capable of defining, together with a surface (15) of said member (12), a seat (17) for retention of said bridge (5), in order to secure said central bridge mutually with said checking member.

3. Spectacles according to claim 2, wherein said central bridge (5) comprises a first upper crosspiece (7) and a second lower crosspiece (8) for connection between said lens-holding rims (3), being spaced from one another, the checking member (12) being articulated on said upper crosspiece (7), the slider member (16) defining, in said operating state, with the checking member, the retention seat (17) for a portion of the lower crosspiece (8) of said bridge.

4. Spectacles according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the slider member (16) is slidable in an axial direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of articulation of the checking member (12) on the central bridge

(5).

5. Spectacles according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein on said checking member (12) a pair of said second hook formations (11) are provided, each co-operating with the respective lens-holding rim (3) and extending on opposite sides of said checking member (12), in a direction transverse to said axial direction.

6. Spectacles according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said checking member (12) comprises a body (12a) extending in said axial direction and provided with a through opening (19) elongate in said direction and capable of being slidingly engaged by a portion

(18) of said slider member (16).

7. Spectacles according to claim 6, wherein said portion (18) of the slider member comprises a through eyelet (20) elongate in said axial direction and capable of being slidingly engaged by a cylindrical pin (21) fitted in said body (12a) and passing through said opening (19), such that said pin (21) constitutes a limiting means for limiting the travel of said slider member (16) relative to the checking member (12).

8. Spectacles according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said slider member (16) comprises an operating appendage (22) extending from said central portion (18), there being provided on said appendage an end (16a) capable of defining the seat (17) for retention of the central bridge (5).

9. Spectacles according to claim 8, wherein said appendage (22) comprises a surface which is knurled or has similar machining capable of facilitating its grip in the sliding movement of the slider.

10. Spectacles according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein anti-slip means are provided between the checking member (12) and the upper crosspiece (7) of said bridge for opposing the relative axial sliding along said crosspiece.

11. Spectacles according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said first hook formations comprise, for each lens, a pair of hook formations (9), provided respectively along the upper arch and the opposed lower arch of the lens-holding rim (3), both disposed in proximity to the lateral region of the rim in which the articulation of the corresponding spectacle arm (6) is provided.

12. Spectacles according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a further first hook formation (24) is provided at the lateral lug (26) for the articulation of the arm (6).

13. Spectacles according to claim 12, wherein said further first hook formation (24) is obtained in one piece with the articulation lug (26).

14. Spectacles according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein recesses (27) are provided on each lens (4) at said first and/or second hook formations (9, 11), defining seats for at least partially receiving said formations.

15. Spectacles according to claim 14, wherein, in said recesses, depressions (28) of the lens surface thickness are provided, capable of allowing said hook formations to be at least partially housed in the transverse thickness of said surface depressions.

16. Spectacles according to one or more of claims 1 to 15, wherein said slider member (16) comprises a second appendage (23), extending from said body, on the opposite side from the operating appendage (22) and also constituting a guide means for the sliding retention of the slider in the body of said checking member.

17. Spectacles according to one or more of claims 1 to 15, wherein said slider member (16) is slidingly mounted in said checking member (12) by means of a dovetail coupling.

18. Spectacles according to one or more of claims 1 to 15, wherein resilient means are provided between said checking member (12) and said slider (16) for resiliency urging the latter into the operating state in which said bridge (5) and said checking member (12) are mutually secured.

19. Spectacles according to claim 18, wherein said resilient means comprise a helical spring (30) having axial ends acting respectively between a surface locating means (32) of said checking member (12) and said slider member (16).

20. Spectacles according to claim 19, wherein said spring (30) is at least partially housed in a blind seat (31) provided in the slider member (16), said seat being open in a position facing said surface locating means.