WO2008001398A1

WO2008001398A1 - Spectacles frame with resiliently openable arms

Info

Publication number: WO2008001398A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Tabacchi
Original assignee: SAFILO SOCIETÀ AZIONARIA FABBRICA ITALIANA LAVORAZIONE OCCHIALI S.p.A.
Priority date: 2006-06-28
Filing date: 2006-06-28
Publication date: 2008-01-03

Abstract

Spectacles frame with resiliently openable arms, comprising at least one attachment piece (3) and at least one arm (2) articulated on the said attachment piece by tie means hinged to the attachment piece and connected sliding to the arm, resilient means being active between the said arm and the said tie means in order to stress the arm towards the attachment piece. The frame comprises in each arm (2), a pair of ties (5) spaced apart and articulated to the attachment piece (3) around a common hinge axis (Y), a pair of helical springs (12), each spring being active between the arm (2) and one of the ties (5), the springs developing in a chiefly longitudinal direction (K) corresponding to the direction of application of the resilient stress, axes (L) of the coils (12a) of the springs (12) being inclined in relation to the longitudinal direction, so as to confer upon the springs a substantially flattened configuration transversely to the said longitudinal direction, a pair of tubular housings (13), each spring (12) being respectively accommodated in one of the said housings (13) in which the corresponding tie (5) is guided sliding, a distance piece (19) interposed between the said tubular housings (13), onto which are connected corresponding end pieces of each of the springs (12) and from which extends an end piece of the arm.

Description

Spectacles frame with resiliently openable arms

Technical field

The object of the present invention is a spectacles frame with resiliently openable arms according to the preamble of the main claim. Technological background

This invention concerns the specific field of spectacles frames fitted with arm- articulation systems thanks to which the said arms can be swung beyond the normal opening position, although returned back to that position when they are released. In this field frames are known that typically have a tie hinged to the articulation attachment piece of the arms and linked sliding to the arm, and have a spring, which is active between the tie and the arm.

One of the limitations of some known solutions lies in the remarkable amount of space occupied by the arm, due to the presence of the sprung articulation device, which is unsuited to demands for slender profiles that are typical of light frames with thin arms.

To solve this problem, International Patent Application WO 2006/035461, in the name of the present Applicant, has proposed a spectacles frame in which the spring device on each arm comprises a helical spring with a configuration which is flattened transversely in the direction of the arm's longitudinal development. Although this technical solution on the one hand enables very slim and light arms to be obtained, on the other hand it is unsuited to the demand for greater strength and mechanical resistance as well as longevity of the hinge element, these characteristics being desired in frames with larger and heavier arms, although with fairly slim profiles, at least as regards one of the dimensions of the arm's cross-section.

Description of the invention

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a spectacles frame with resiliently openable arms that is structurally and functionally designed to overcome the above-mentioned limitations, and in particular to achieve greater resilient resistance in the arm together with adequate strength and longevity of the hinge.

This object and others described below are achieved by the invention by means of a spectacles frame made in accordance with the accompanying claims. Brief description of the drawings

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

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example of a frame made according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of the frame shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a detail shown in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of some details shown in Figure 3 partially assembled;

- Figure 5 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 4 in an assembled condition;

- Figure 6 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, along Line VI-VI in Figure 2; - Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a further detail shown in Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a detail shown in Figure 3; Figure 9 is a view corresponding to that shown in Figure 2 in a second example of a frame according to the invention; - Figure 10 is a side elevation of a detail shown in Figure 9;

- Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of a detail shown in Figure 9;

- Figure 12 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, along Line XII-XII in Figure 10;

- Figures 13 and 14 are plan and side elevation views respectively of a spring used in the examples of frames shown in the preceding figures.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 8, 1 shows as a whole a first example of spectacles frames with resiliently openable arms made according to the present invention. The frame 1 comprises arms 2 with a longitudinal axis X, articulated on respective attachment pieces 3 of a front frame, shown as a whole by 4. There now follows a description of the resilient hinge system of one of the arms 2, on the understanding that the other arm, which is a symmetrical mirror image, is articulated in a structurally and functionally identical way. Each arm 2 has a pair of tie elements, both indicated by 5, spaced apart and parallel to each other along direction X, as well as articulated with respect to the attachment piece 3 around a common hinge axis Y, substantially perpendicular to axis X, by means of a respective screw pin 6. Each tie forms part of a respective resilient return device of the arm, both active on the same arm, of which only one shall be described in detail since the constructional parts are common to both devices.

Each tie 5 comprises a head 7 with a through-hole 8 to accommodate the pin 6 and a stem 9 extending axially from the head 7. The stem has an elongated shape with a rectangular section and is connected slidably to the arm 2, as will emerge in greater detail below.

To enable the hinged articulation of each tie 5 by means of the respective pin 6, the attachment piece is provided with respective pairs of elongated wings 3a, extending parallel and spaced apart from the attachment piece to accommodate between them the respective head 7. The said pair of wings have respective through-holes which are coaxial with each other and with the hole 8 in the head when hinged to the attachment piece. One of the holes may advantageously be threaded to engage the screw pin 6 by screwing. Wings 3a may also form one piece with the front frame 4 or be part of a separate hinge element to be fixed to the front frame. At the end of stem 9 axially opposite the head, each tie 5 has a pin formation 11 to hook onto one axial end of a respective helical spring, shown by 12, whose opposite end is connected to the arm 2.

Each spring 12 is of the helical type and extends in a chiefly longitudinal direction K, substantially parallel to axis X. Each spring 12 is preferably made of metal wire and comprises a plurality of coils 12a which have, according to a characteristic of the invention, respective coil axes, which are parallel to each other and all shown by L, inclined in relation to axis K, defining an angle A between directions K and L. Due to the effect of this inclination, the coils 12a confer upon the spring 12 a substantially flattened overall configuration, as can be clearly seen in Figures 13 and 14, transversely to direction K. Each spring 12 therefore appears "squashed" in a sideways direction so as to assume, in this direction, a smaller transverse size compared to a conventional helical spring having the same diameter of wire and same diameter of coils. At the opposite axial ends of the spring 12, the corresponding coils are bent over to assume the configuration of a portion of an open eyelet 12b capable of engaging in the respective hook formations in the tie and the arm. Note that the axes of the eyelet portions 12b are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the direction K of the longitudinal development of the spring. The frame 1 also comprises, for each arm 2, a pair of tubular housings, both shown by 13, in each of which are housed the respective spring 12 and the corresponding tie 5, sliding guided in the internal cavity of the housing. More particularly, the housings 13 containing the respective spring devices have a tubular conformation with a substantially rectangular cross-section, of an appropriate size to accommodate with a small clearance, the corresponding spring 12 having the flattened configuration described above. The axial end of each spring 12 furthest from the attachment piece is hooked onto a pin formation 15 protruding from a spring support 16 arranged so as to be accommodated sliding in the tubular cavity of the corresponding housing 13, and connected to thereto, in a pre-selected position during assembly of the frame. Advantageously, a threaded through-hole 17 is made in each support to engage a screw whereby the support 16 is connected to the corresponding tubular housing 13. In a portion 16a of the support, extending from the part that is longitudinally opposite the pin 15, there is also a pair of through-holes 18, suitable for screwing the pair of supports 16 to a distance piece 19, interposed between the tubular housings 13, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7. The said distance piece is in the shape of a parallelepiped body and has opposing surface faces 19a, 19b on each of which is placed the corresponding spring hook-support 16, to achieve removable fixing of the said supports to the distance piece. A pair of through-holes 19c is provided in the distance piece body that are coaxial with holes 18.

Note how portion 16a of each support 16 protrudes beyond the corresponding tubular housing 13, after the spring device has been fitted and pre-loaded inside the housing, firstly by tightening the screw in hole 17. In order to fix the supports 16 to the distance piece 19, one of the pairs of holes 18 of each support is threaded in order to engage the corresponding screws 20.

Numeral 21 shows a tubular element with a substantially rectangular cross- section of a size such as to be able to be axially fitted over the assembly comprising the supports 16 and the distance piece 19 connected to them, in order to envelope this assembly with substantial matching of shape, as shown in Figures 2 and 7. Element 21 has a pair of holes 22, passing through one of its walls, enabling the passage of fixing screws 20.

Numeral 23 shows a bar-shaped element extending in a predominantly longitudinal direction, which axially extends from the distance piece 19, on the opposite side to the housings 13. The said element 23, preferably pin-shaped, constitutes the core of the end part of arm 2 and can advantageously be covered by an arm end piece 24, connected to the internal core by overinjection for example.

Returning to tie 5, the pin formation 11 is made in a first portion 5a of the tie guided sliding in the tubular cavity of the housing 13, which extends into a second portion 5b with a cross-section which is also rectangular but smaller than the cross-section of portion 5a. The second portion 5b terminates in a suitably rounded end containing a through-hole 8 for hinging to the attachment piece 3. The second portion 5b of the tie is also engaged in an axially sliding way, a guide element 32 with a U cross-section having opposing wings 32a, 32b between which the second portion of the tie is housed. Opposing surface projections, extending from the same part of portion 5b and shown by 34a, 34b, are positioned so as to interfere with a section 32c of the guide 32 that connects the wings 32a, 32b. The projections thus constitute means for limiting the relative axial slide between the guide 32 and the tie. An appendix 35 also axially extends from the guide 32, in continuation of section 32c, towards a corresponding surface abutting against the attachment piece and serves to locate the latter when the arm 2 is swung out beyond the normal opening position. The guide element 32 also has a projection 37 rising transversely from wing 32b, which can engage in a respective seat 38 at the end of the arm 2 near the attachment piece, in order to retain and centrally fix the guide 32 on the arm. The latter is also shaped at the above-mentioned end to include a projecting portion 39 to accommodate with substantial matching of shape the appendix 35. On assembling the frame 1, the guide 32 is first connected sliding on the tie, the spring 12 is hooked onto the pin 11 of the tie and onto the pin 15 of the support and the assembly of these elements is inserted into the corresponding tubular housing 13.

The spring 12 is then pre-loaded in elongation by axially moving the support 16 in relation to the housing and then reciprocally securing them, by screwing a screw into hole 17. This operation is performed for each of the arm's resilient return devices. The supports 16 are then connected to the distance piece 19, by means of the screws 20, which also secure the tubular covering element 21. The end piece 24 of the arm is then fitted onto the pin 23.

The arm 2, complete with the pair of ties, guides, springs, supports and distance piece is connected to the front frame 4 by inserting the hinge pins 6 into the arm-articulation devices. Each guide 32 is also connected to the corresponding tubular casing 13. In this condition each guide 32 is abutted against the respective projection 34a of the corresponding tie and the resilient preloading induced in each spring gives the corresponding device its resilient behaviour. The resilient return of the springs 12 required to assume the initial at-rest length is transferred via the hinged articulation and the arm is capable of resiliently opening beyond the normal opening position by rotating through an additional angle whose extent is determined by the relative axial travel between each guide and the respective tie towards the opposite projection 34b which then acts as a limiter of the arm's additional swing. In fact, when the arm 2 is swung beyond the normal opening position, as a result of each appendix 35 locating in the attachment piece 3, relative sliding occurs between each tie and its guide (and consequently between the tie and the arm) resulting in further lengthening of the corresponding spring 12 which induces an additional resilient return action of the arm to the normal opening position when the latter is released.

Note that the arm 2, around the spring devices, has an extremely small side dimension which is chiefly due to the squashed configuration of the springs 12. Furthermore, thanks to the tubular configuration of the housings containing the above-mentioned devices, the assembly of all the components of each resilient hinging device can be accommodated inside the corresponding tubular housing, thus limiting the external dimensions to the benefit of the thinness of the arm. Not the least is the advantage of achieving high overall lightness of the arm due in particular to its tubular structure. Thanks to the pair of springs, greater resilient resistance is achieved in the return device, and furthermore mechanical resistance of the hinges is obtained, which translates into greater overall strength of the hinged articulation, with consequent greater longevity. With reference to Figures 9 to 12, a second example of a frame, only partially shown, is indicated by Ia, in which parts similar to those described in the preceding example bear the same reference numerals. Frame Ia differs in that the tubular housings 13 of each arm are directly connected, together with their supports 16 for the springs 12, to the distance piece 19. Each support 16 is completely housed inside its own corresponding housing 13 and is connected thereto by tightening a screw in hole 17. Each housing is therefore engaged against the corresponding surface 19a, 19b of distance piece 19 and the latter is connected to the tubular housings 13 by means of screws 20, passing through the corresponding holes made coaxially in the distance piece (holes 19c), in the housings and in the supports (holes 18), as shown in Figure 11. In this case no additional distance-piece covering element is provided, unlike in the previous example. The invention thus achieves the proposed objects, offering the above-mentioned advantages in relation to known solutions.

In particular, such advantages include greater mechanical resistance (strength) of the hinges, longevity and greater resilient resistance (force) of the resilient return mechanism of the arm. Not least is the advantage of being able to change the design of the frames to suit current styles, thanks to the greater versatility of the resilient hinges according to the invention, which lend themselves to being fitted, in a reliable and long-lasting way, also on heavier and larger arms, although still affording overall slender and light geometries.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Spectacles frame with resiliently openable arms, comprising at least one attachment piece (3) and at least one arm (2) articulated on the said attachment piece by tie means hinged to the attachment piece and

5 connected sliding to the arm, resilient means being active between the said arm and the said tie means in order to stress the arm towards the attachment piece, characterised in that it comprises, in each arm: a pair of ties (5) spaced apart and articulated to the attachment piece (3) around a common hinge axis (Y); io - a pair of helical springs (12), each spring being active between the arm (2) and one of the said ties (5), the said springs developing in a chiefly longitudinal direction (K) corresponding to the direction of application of the resilient stress, axes (L) of the coils (12a) of the said springs (12) being inclined in relation to the said longitudinal i5 direction, so as to confer upon the springs a substantially flattened configuration transversely to the said longitudinal direction; a pair of tubular housings (13), each spring (12) being respectively accommodated in one of the said housings (13) in which the corresponding tie (5) is guided sliding;

20 - a distance piece (19) interposed between the said tubular housings

(13), onto which are connected corresponding end pieces of each of the said springs (12) and from which extends an end piece of the arm.

2. Frame according to claim 1, in which the longitudinal directions (K) of 25 development of the respective springs (12) are parallel to each other and to the direction of axial extension of the corresponding arm (2).

3. Frame according to either claim 1 or claim 2, comprising, in each arm (2), a pair of supports (16) that hook onto the respective ends of the springs (12) furthest from the attachment piece (3), each support (16) being connected removably to the said distance piece (19).

4. Frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said distance piece (19) comprises a body with opposing surfaces (19a, 19b), on each of which is engaged the corresponding support (16) hooking onto the respective spring (12), being reciprocally and removably secured.

5. Frame according to claim 4, in which the said supports (16) are fixed to the body of distance piece (19) by means of screws (20) passing through the said body.

6. Frame according to claim 5, which has a tubular element (21) that can fit onto the said distance piece (19) so that the portions (16a) of the said supports (16), connected to the distance piece, are housed inside the said element (21).

7. Frame according to any one of the preceding claims, which has means for reciprocally securing each support (16) to the corresponding tubular housing (13).

8. Frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each tubular housing (13) is axially extended to fully accommodate the corresponding support (16), the distance piece (19) being interposed between the said housings (13) and being connected thereto by means of screws (2) passing through the body of the distance piece and through each pair of housings (13) and relative supports (16), being reciprocally connected.

9. Frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, in each arm (2), each of the said springs (12) has opposing axial ends in the shape of parts of an eyelet (12b) capable of engaging with respective hook formations (11, 15) made in the respective tie (5) and the respective support (16).

10. Frame according to claim 9, in which the axes of the said- parts of an eyelet (12b) are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal development (K) of the said springs.

11. Frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which each spring (12) of the said pair is made of metal wire.

12. Frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the said springs (12) have a flattened configuration in the transverse direction to the hinge axis (Y) of the arm (2) to the attachment piece (3).

13. Frame according to one the preceding claims, in which each tie (5) of the said pair of ties comprises a respective portion (5b) engaged in a limited sliding way in a corresponding guide element (32) connected to the arm.

14. Frame according to claim 13, in which the said portion (5b) of each tie

(5) has a pair of axially opposite projections (34a, 34b) capable of interfering with the said guide element (32) so as to constitute means for limiting the relative axial slide between each tie (5) and the corresponding guide element (32).