WO2007148352A1

WO2007148352A1 - Additional nose-rest device that can be applied to spectacles frames fitted with nose pads

Info

Publication number: WO2007148352A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000471
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Tabacchi
Original assignee: Safilo Società Azionaria Fabbrica
Priority date: 2006-06-21
Filing date: 2006-06-21
Publication date: 2007-12-27

Abstract

An additional nose-rest device for frames (2) of spectacles fitted with nose pads (4), comprising a pair of nose-rest elements (5) connecting with the respective pads (4) of the frame and including respective nose-rest contact surfaces (5a), the said elements (5) being connected together by a connecting bridge (6) coming into contact with the nose when the spectacles are worn to form an additional nose-rest area, each of the said elements comprising a respective seat (7), defined by the opposite part of contact surface (5a) and arranged to house the corresponding nose pad (4) of the frame. Each seat (7) is delimited by a respective cavity (8) including a first opening (9) through which the pad (4) is inserted into and extracted from the corresponding seat, at least one lip formation (10) being provided in each of the seats (7) to retain the respective pad (4) engaged in the corresponding seat. The at least one lip formation (10) is developed around the contour of the opening (9) and projects into the cavity (8) as well as being elastically yielding to enable the pad to be inserted into or extracted from its seat, with an elastic return such as to constitute a locating means for the pad capable of keeping the pad (4) inserted in its seat (7) resisting extraction thereof from the said seat.

Description

Additional nose-rest device that can be applied to spectacles frames fitted with nose pads

Technical field

The present invention concerns an additional nose-rest device that can be applied to spectacles frames fitted with nose pads having the characteristics described in the preamble of the Main Claim. Technological background

Within this specific technical field, nose-rest elements, otherwise described as "nose pads", the main function of which is centrally to support the spectacles frames on the nose, are known to be fitted to conventional spectacles frames. Typically frames are fitted with a pair of pads secured to the frame in a limited articulated way so as better to adapt to the shape of the face. In this regard problems connected with the presence of these rest elements are known, particularly those due both to sliding of the latter on the nose as a result of sweating of the skin, which tends to distance the spectacles from the optimum-fit position on the face, and to the irritation that they can cause in their direct interaction with the skin. In fact, these pads are often a cause of irritation in the area of contact with the nose, particularly noticeable during prolonged use of the spectacles, due both to the localised pressure on the nose and to the poor ventilation of the skin subject to this contact. To this is added the further irritation which may be caused by the continuous movement to which the spectacles may be subjected during use, particularly if used when practising sport. Description of the invention The main object of the invention is to provide an additional nose-rest device, which can be applied removably to the nose pads of spectacles and is structurally and functionally designed to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, improving in particular the capacity to maintain the optimum-fit position of the spectacles on the face, preventing them from sliding and at the same time ensuring adequate ventilation and comfortable resting so as to achieve greater wearing comfort of the spectacles and better perspiration of the skin, particularly during prolonged use of the spectacles. This and other objects that will emerge below are achieved by the invention by means of an additional nose-rest device made in accordance with the accompany claims. Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description of some of its preferred embodiments which are shown, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an additional nose-rest device applied to a spectacles frame only partially shown; - Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 2A is a partial cross-section of a detail of the device shown in Figure 1 fitted to a spectacles frame nose pad; Figure 3 is a cross-section along Line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top plan view of a first variation of the device shown in the preceding figures; Figure 5 is a cross-section along Line V-V in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a second variation of the device shown in the preceding figures;

Figure 7 is a cross-section along Line VII-VII in Figure 6; - Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third variation of the device according to the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3, 1 shows as a whole a first example of the additional nose-rest device made according to the invention. This device is specially designed to be removably connected to a frame 2 of a pair of spectacles 3, only partially shown, fitted with a pair of nose pads 4, secured in a limited articulated way to the frame.

As illustrated in further detail in Figures 2 and 3, the device 1 comprises a pair of nose-rest elements, both shown by 5, each of which can be connected to one of the respective pads 4 and includes a surface 5a for resting in contact with the nose.

Elements 5 are reciprocally connected to a connecting bridge 6 that comes into contact with the nose when the spectacles are worn (Fig. 1), so as to form an additional nose-rest area. Each element 5 also comprises a respective seat 7, defined by the opposite part of surface 5a, which is arranged to house and retain the corresponding nose pad 4 of the frame. Each seat 7 is delimited by a respective blind cavity 8 including an opening 9 through which the corresponding pad 4 engaged within it is inserted or extracted. As shown in Figure 2, the rest elements 5 have an ovalized plan and are connected to the bridge 6 at one of their ends extending in the direction of the major axes of the oval shape. Preferably the said major axes are inclined in relation to each other at an angle of 90°. The device 1 is also made with a flat shape, in its undeformed condition, in which the elements 5 and the connecting bridge 6 are substantially coplanar with each other.

In order to retain each pad 4 in its corresponding seat 7, each element 5 has a respective lip formation 10, which is developed around the contour of the opening 9 and projects into the cavity 8. Each lip formation 10 extends around the corresponding opening 9 with a closed-contour ovalized perimeter profile, as shown in Figure 2. The transverse section of the lip formation 10 is also substantially uniform around the development of the perimeter profile with the definition of a surface with an undercut edge 11 constituting a locating means for the pad 4 inserted in its seat, capable of resisting extraction thereof thus guaranteeing the relative connection. Each lip formation 10, like the corresponding element 5 on which it is provided, is made of a flexible, soft material having an elastic yield such as to enable the pad, by deformation, to be inserted into its seat, and having an appropriate elastic return to restore the lip formation to the condition whereby the pad is located in the surface 11 and kept engaged in its seat. By contrast, in order to extract the pad, the elastic yield of the element and the corresponding lip allows the pad to be released from its engagement in the seat allowing its relative disengagement. Figure 1 shows the device 1 in the condition in which it is connected to the pads 4 of the frame, in which the said pads are held in the respective seats 7 of the device and the connecting bridge 6 assumes the curved configuration shown. In this condition, the surfaces 5a of each element constitute the nose-rest areas and to these are added the surface of the bridge 6 facing the nose, this surface thus constituting an additional rest area of the device on the nose.

Figures 4 and 5 show a first variation of device 1, in which similar parts to those referred to in the preceding example are indicated by the same reference numerals.

This variation differs mainly in that each lip formation 10 has a plurality of incisions, all shown by 12, around the perimeter of the profile, which are provided to facilitate the deformation of the lip when inserting or extracting the pad. Incisions 12 may also be made to pass through the transverse thickness of the lip formation or may affect only part of that thickness. Figures 6 and 7 show a second variation of the device according to the invention, which differs mainly in that the lip formations 10 are made of a material with characteristics of greater softness and flexibility compared to the material with which the corresponding nose-rest element 5 is made, thus improving the elastic properties of each part, guaranteeing adequate consistency for the seat of the element and at the same time increasing the ease of deformation of the pad-retaining lip. Advantageously, each lip formation 10 is provided on the corresponding rest element by means of overinjection onto the latter. Lastly, Figure 8 shows a third variation of the device shown in Figure 1, in which the main difference lies in the fact that each seat 7 has openings 13 passing through the surface 5a of each nose-rest element 5. In the example shown, each seat 7 has a pair of openings 13 made from longitudinally opposing parts along the direction of the major axes of development of the oval shape, but a different number of openings (even just one opening) may be made passing transversely through the seat, to create preferred nose-rest area ventilation openings. Each opening 13 extends through the transverse thickness of the seat 7 in the contact surface 5a that rests on the nose and has an enclosed-contour cross- section.

The through-openings 13 can therefore vary in number, position and size compared to those shown in the example illustrated in order to meet specific structural and functional requirements and also to obtain shapes that are particularly aesthetically pleasing, all falling within the scope of the same inventive idea.

For instance, one or more incisions may be made passing through the transverse thickness of seat 7, on the surface 5a, these incisions, also in the form of cracks, guaranteeing ventilation, without however substantially limiting the rest-surface in contact with the skin.

Advantageously, device 1 containing the ventilation openings 13 may also be connected to frames with ventilated pads 4, in other words also having ventilation through-holes, such as those described in Internationa) Patent Application PCT/IT2005/000221, in the name of the same applicant. In order to achieve a greater ventilating effect, the through-openings 13 of the additional device 1 may also substantially coincide with the through-holes made in the pads 4 of the frame, when each pad is engaged in its corresponding seat. The invention thus achieves the proposed objects offering numerous advantages in comparison to known solutions.

A first advantage lies in the fact that the additional nose-rest device according to the invention offers a much greater resting surface than that offered by conventional nose pads provided on spectacles frames. As a result, the weight of the frame may be more widely distributed, with a consequent reduction in the pressure localised in the resting points, thus achieving better comfort when wearing the spectacles. Another advantage is that the elastic yield of the device makes it easier to adapt the fit of the frame to the specific morphology of each user's face. Another advantage lies in the fact that the additional nose-rest device performs an anti-slide function, preventing the frame from moving from the optimum fit position, a phenomenon that frequently occurs with conventional nose pads. Yet another advantage is that the removability of the additional device enables it to be used when desired since the user can chose whether or not to fit it in those cases and conditions where the benefits deriving from its use are particularly required.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Additional nose-rest device for frames (2) of spectacles fitted with nose pads (4), this device comprising a pair of nose-rest elements (5) connecting with the respective pads (4) of the frame and

5 including respective nose-rest contact surfaces (5a), the said elements (5) being connected together by a connecting bridge (6) coming into contact with the nose when the spectacles are worn to form an additional nose-rest area, each of the said elements comprising a respective seat (7), defined by the opposite part of o contact surface (5a) and arranged to house the corresponding nose pad (4) of the frame, each seat (7) being delimited by a respective cavity (8) including a first opening (9) through which the pad (4) is inserted into and extracted from the corresponding seat, retaining means being provided in each of the said seats (7) to retain the s respective pad (4) engaged in the corresponding seat, characterised in that the said retaining means comprise at least one lip formation (10) developed around the contour of the said opening (9) and projecting into the cavity (8), the said lip formation (10) being elastically yielding to enable the pad to be inserted into or extracted o from its seat, with an elastic return such as to constitute a locating means for the pad capable of keeping the pad (4) inserted in its seat (7) resisting extraction thereof from the said seat.

2. Device according to claim 1, in which the said lip formation (10) extends around the said opening (9) with a closed-contour 5 perimeter profile.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the said perimeter profile has an ovalized plan.

4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the said lip formation (10) has a substantially uniform cross-section

5 around the development of the said perimeter profile.

5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the said lip formation (10) has one or more incisions (12) around the perimeter development of the profile to facilitate the deformation of the lip (10) when inserting or extracting the pad. o

6. Device according to claim 5, in which the said incisions (12) are made to pass through the transverse thickness of the lip formation (10).

7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the lip formation (10) of each of the said elements (5) is made of a s material with characteristics of greater softness and flexibility compared to the material with which the corresponding rest element (5) is made.

8. Device according to claim 7, in which the said lip formations (10) are applied to the respective rest elements (5) by means of an o overinjection process.

9. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which each rest element (5) has at least one second opening (13) passing through the respective nose contact surface (5a), so as to limit the nose-rest contact area of the additional nose-rest element and 5 guarantee ventilation of the skin at the said opening.

10. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, in which each rest element (5) has one or more incisions passing through the respective nose-contact surface (5a), so as to guarantee ventilation of the skin at the said incisions.