WO2007148356A1

WO2007148356A1 - Improved spectacles

Info

Publication number: WO2007148356A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000480
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Tabacchi
Original assignee: Safilo Societa Azionaria Fabbrica
Priority date: 2006-06-22
Filing date: 2006-06-22
Publication date: 2007-12-27

Abstract

Spectacles are described comprising at least one lens (2) and a pair of arms (5) to provide the spectacles with side support, in which, for each of the said arms (5), a respective device (6) is provided to at least partially wind up the arm (5), so that each arm can be moved between a non-operating position in which the arm (5) is at least partially wound up inside the said device and an operating position in which the arm (5) is unwound to support the spectacles.

Description

Improved spectacles

Technical field

The present invention concerns spectacles according to the preamble of the Main Claim. Technological background

This invention particularly concerns the specific sector of protective spectacles, such as those designed to protect against sunlight, commonly referred to a "goggles", or equipped with lenses with a marked front and side wraparound design. These spectacles may have a pair of separate lenses, right and left, generally without any front supporting frame that surrounds the lens, or may have a pronounced wraparound single front lens structure, extending beyond the opposing and respective side areas. These types of spectacles, usually designed and intended for sports use, have now assumed a marked stylistic connotation, being widely used by the public also as fashion accessories with a high aesthetic impact.

These types of spectacles usually have side supporting arms to keep them on the face that connect to the end wraparound area of the lens(es) and may be hinged or rigidly connected to the front frame without any hinged joint, in the latter case, however, having considerable overall dimensions. Description of the invention

In this specific field of spectacles, the main object of the invention is to provide spectacles which are structurally and functionally designed to overcome the drawbacks referred to and at the same time offer solutions that afford adequate wearing comfort and at the time have considerable aesthetic impact, an aspect of no little importance within this sector. These and yet other objects which will be discussed below are achieved by the invention by means of spectacles made in accordance with the accompanying claims. Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment which is shown, by way of a non-limiting example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are front and birds-eye plan views of spectacles made according to the invention;

Figures 3 and 4 are side views of the spectacles shown in the preceding figures in two separate operating conditions;

Figures 5 and 6 are exploded perspective views of a detail of the spectacles shown in the preceding figures; - Figure 7 is a view of the detail shown in Figures 5 and 6, illustrating separate parts in an axial cross-section;

Figure 8 is a view of the detail shown in Figure 7, illustrated in an assembled condition and in an axial cross-section;

Figure 9 is an axial cross-section of a detail in Figure 7, as a variation thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the said figures, 1 shows as a whole spectacles made according to the present invention.

The spectacles 1 have a wraparound lens structure 2, preferably made in two portions of lens 2a, 2b, abutting in the middle against each other, and joined by a connecting element 3. Alternatively, the lens may also be made as a single mono-lens structure. Numeral 4 shows a nose-rest element mounted in the middle of the lens in the nose area. The spectacles 1 also comprise a pair of side supporting arms 5 and, for each of these arms, a respective arm winding device, both shown as a whole by 6, only one of which will be described in detail below. Each device 6 comprises a winding disc 7, contained rotating and supported, around an axis of rotation X, in a containing case 8. The case 8, made as a cylindrical box-shaped housing, has a bottom surface 9 from which a cylindrical projection 10 protrudes onto which the winding disc 7 is fitted rotatably, by engaging the projection, with radial clearance, in a central hole 10b that passes through the disc. Numeral 11 shows a cover element that can be locked onto case 8, when securing the latter, by means of screws 12 passing through the cover and screwed into the projection 10.

In the annular space defined between the perimeter edge 7a of the winding disc 7 and the cylindrical wall of case 8 facing the latter, arm 5 is housed, when wound up inside the corresponding device 6. In particular each arm 5 comprises a filiform or ribbon-like body 5a, preferably made of a metal material, which has a curved shape, as shown in Figure 5, and is also elastically deformable so as to be wound round the winding disc 7, superimposed on the perimeter edge of the disc, during the winding stage. The arm body 5a has an elastic return such as to assume the undeformed curved condition, when it is unwound by the device in the extracted position, so as to perform a supporting function for the spectacles.

Advantageously, the arm body 5a may be made of circular- or four- sided-section metal wire, or made of a flattened sheet or strip which is typically rectangular in section. At one end 5b of the arm is a head 5c or other enlargement capable of engaging, with substantial coupling of shape, in a recess 7b formed in the perimeter edge of the disc 7, so that the end 5b is held in a removable way by the winding disc. At the opposite end 5d of the arm is an end piece 13 made of a soft material suitable for the arm to rest in contact with the ear area.

Preferably the end piece 13 is fitted onto the body 5a of the arm. The winding disc 7 is also capable of limited rotation, around axis X, in relation to case 8. For this purpose rotation travel stops are provided, the latter comprising a groove 14 made in the surface of the disc 7 facing the bottom 9 of the case, and an appendix 15 projecting from the bottom 9 of the case and engaged sliding in the groove between the opposite ends 14a, 14b of the latter. The groove 14 has a curved profile concentric with axis X and its angular extension determines the permitted rotational travel for the winding disc 7. Numeral 16 indicates a gap in the cylindrical side wall of the case 8, through which arm 5 is extracted from or inserted into case 8 during winding and unwinding of the latter respectively.

Figure 3 shows the operating condition of the arm, in the position of extraction from the device, after unwinding the arm, performed by rotating the disc 7 in an anti-clockwise direction (looking at the figure). By contrast, Figure 4 shows the non-operating condition of the arm, in the inserted and wound up position, achieved after winding up the arm, performed by rotating the disc in a clockwise direction (looking at the figure).

Note that both the winding and the unwinding movement is performed by working the arm, pushing or pulling respectively, in order to insert or extract the latter from the winding device. Case 8 of the device is directly attached to the corresponding portion of lens, in the side area thereof. A ring 17, which can be secured onto the case 8, is used as a fixing device, the lens being interposed between them. Screws 18 pass through holes 19 in the bottom of the case and corresponding openings in the lens, in order to screw into threaded bushes 21 protruding from the ring 17. On assembly, as can be clearly seen in Figures 6 and 7, the case 8 remains against the inner surface of the lens, the surface facing the wearer's face, when the spectacles are worn, whereas the ring 17 remains against the opposite outer surface of the lens, thus being visible from the front (Fig. 1). To position and centre the case 8 on the lens 2, raised elements 22 protruding from the case 8 and capable of engaging in respective seats in the lens are provided. These seats comprise a pair of through-slots 24 and a gap 25 on the perimeter edge of the lens. These seats are preferably shaped to be engaged by three curved-profile raised elements spaced evenly apart at 120°, extending from the bottom of the case, from the side facing the lens. Advantageously, the surface of the bottom facing the lens has a curved profile so as to marry up with the surface profile of the lens during reciprocal connection so that one will be superimposed on the other. Figure 9 shows a variation of the cover element 11, arranged for removable closing of case 8. In this variation, the cover has one or more toothed formations 11a capable of engaging in respective recesses or gaps (not shown) made in the case, to assist, together with the screws 12, in holding the cover on the case. This holding action prevents the cover from undergoing deformations due to the thrust exerted from the inside by the wound arm, subject to the elastic return to its original form. If the cover 11 is made of a plastic material, it is more likely that it would deform when the arm is in the retracted position, the toothed formations 11a thus exerting an additional holding action capable of resisting such deformation. If, however, the cover 11 is made of a metal material, the overall stiffness of the component will presumably be such as not to require such additional holding action. It is understood that the number and arrangement of the toothed formations 11a (and of the corresponding recesses in the case) may vary depending on the specific embodiments chosen.

The invention thus achieves the proposed objects offering the above- mentioned advantages in comparison to known solutions.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Spectacles comprising at least one lens (2) and a pair of arms (5) to provide the spectacles with side support, characterised in that they comprise, for each of the said arms (5), a respective device (6) to at least partially wind up the arm (5), so that each arm can be moved between a non-operating position in which the arm (5) is at least partially wound up inside the said device and an operating position in which the arm (5) is unwound to support the spectacles.

2. Spectacles according to claim 1, in which the winding device (6) of each arm (5) comprises a case (8) containing a winding element (7) supported rotating in the said case (8) around an axis (X).

3. Spectacles according to claim 2, in which between the case (8) and the winding element (7) an annular space is defined to house the arm (5) when it is wound up in the corresponding winding device (6) .

4. Spectacles according to claim 3, in which each arm (5) has a body (5a) with a mainly longitudinal development having at least one filiform or ribbon-like section capable of winding round the said winding element.

5. Spectacles according to one of claims 2 to 4, in which each of the arms (5) comprises a respective end (5b) capable of being held by the winding element (7) so that the rotation of the said element (7) round the said axis (X) causes, in one direction, the winding up of the arm (5) and, in the opposite direction, the unwinding of the arm (5) by the said device.

6. Spectacles according to claim 5, in which the said end (5b) of the arm is held in a removable way by the corresponding winding element (7).

7. Spectacles according to one of claims 2 to 6, in which the winding element (7) is disc-shaped with a circular perimeter edge (7a) onto which the corresponding arm (5) can be wound.

8. Spectacles according to one of claims 2 to 7, in which the winding element (7) is capable of limited rotation in relation to the containing case (8), around the said winding axis (X).

9. Spectacles according to claim 8, comprising means to limit the rotation of the said winding element (7), the said means comprising at least one groove (14) made in one of the said case (8) and winding element (7), and at least one appendix (15) on the other said case and winding element, the appendix (15) being engaged sliding in the groove (14) between the opposite ends of the latter.

10. Spectacles according to claim 9, in which the said groove (14) has a curved profile concentric with axis (X) of the winding element (7).

11. Spectacles according to claim 9 or 10, in which the said groove (14) is made on the winding element (7).

12. Spectacles according to claim 4, in which at least the filiform or ribbon-like section of the said arm (5) is made of metal material.

13. Spectacles according to claim 12, in which at least the said section of the arm (5) has a curved profile capable of deforming itself on winding round the winding element (7) with an elastic return in the undeformed condition when the arm (5) is unwound by the device.

14. Spectacles according to one of the preceding claims, in which the arm (5) comprises, at its opposite end (5d), an end piece (13) made of a soft material.

15. Spectacles according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the winding device (6) of each arm (5) is fixed in a removable way to the lens (2).

16. Spectacles according to claim 15, comprising for each device (6), a respective ring (17) fixing the case (8) to the lens with screws (18) passing through the lens (2) in order to hold the ring (17) against the case (8) with the lens being interposed.

17. Spectacles according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cover element (11) for closing the case (8), capable of removable closing on the said case (8).