WO2008010246A1

WO2008010246A1 - Resilient hinge device for spectacles, and spectacles comprising said device

Info

Publication number: WO2008010246A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Tabacchi
Original assignee: SAFILO SOCIETÀ AZIONARIA FABBRICA ITALIANA LAVORAZIONE OCCHIALI S.p.A.
Priority date: 2006-07-20
Filing date: 2006-07-20
Publication date: 2008-01-24

Abstract

A resilient hinge device for connecting the arms (3) to a front frame (2) of spectacles comprises a tie-rod (10) capable of being hinged to a lug (8) of the front frame (2) and slidingly associated with the arm (3), at least one spring means (16a, 16b) acting between the arm (3) and the tie-rod (10) to urge the arm towards the lug, a box-like support (13) for at least partial housing of the tie-rod (10) and the spring means (16a, 16b), and a cover member (22) for the removable closure of the support (13) and the consequent retention of the tie-rod (10) ih the support. The support (13) also comprises guide means (14a, 14b) for slidingly guiding the tie-rod (10), and a pair of locating- surfaces (17, 18) for respectively meeting the spring means and the tie-rod, such that the tie-rod (10) is slidingly associated with the support (13), in opposition to the action of the spring means (16a, 16b), independently of the cover member (22).

Description

Resilient hinge device for spectacles, and spectacles comprising said device. Technical field

The present invention concerns a resilient hinge device for spectacles, having the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of the main claim 1. Technological background

In the technical field of reference of the present invention, resilient hinge devices are known for the articulation of the arms to the front frame of the spectacle mounts, wherein a sprjng mechanism is provided which allows the resilient return of the arm to preferred angular positions. In a known type, provision is made for the spring mechanism to be held on the arm of the spectacles, involving in this case a certain additional bulk of the arm.

A device having the aforesaid characteristics is described in US Patent 4818093. In the solution described therein, provision is made for the tie- rod of the spring mechanism to be held and slidingly guided by means of a cover member clamped removably on the arm by screw locking means. Provision is also made for the location in abutment for one end of the spring to be provided by a separate and distinct component, which is arranged to be held in position following the assembly of the spring mechanism, by the tightening of the cover member. In this solution, accessibility to the spring mechanism, principally for reasons of maintenance, for example for the replacement of the spring means, does not prove to be particularly easy and convenient, both in that the removal of the cover member involves the disengagement of the tie-rod from its axial guide (with disconnection of all the components of the hinge), and because of the number of components which are released and must be re-positioned^' in the subsequent assembly of the device.

Description of the invention

A principal aim of the present invention is that of providing a hinge device structurally and functionally designed to remedy the limitations identified with reference to the prior art cited, such as to allow rapid and easier access to the spring mechanism and also with a reduced number of components, with more limited overall dimensions of the hinge device.

These and other aims which will become clear hereinafter are achieved by the invention by means of a hinge device produced according to the attached claims. Brief description of the drawings

Further 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 spectacles including resilient hinge devices according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective and on an enlarged scale of the device of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a partial plan view from above of a detail of the device of Figure 2,

Figure 3A is a view from above of the device of the preceding figures, Figure 4 is a view in section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, - Figure 5 is a view in front elevatior^ of the detail of Figure 3, Figure 6 is a plan view from above of the device according to the invention in a partially assembled state, Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the device of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 6 with the device of the invention in the assembled state.

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 6 of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention. Preferred way of implementing the invention

With reference to the drawings mentioned, the reference 1 indicates, as a whole, spectacles shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 and comprising a front mount frame 2, a pair of side arms 3 and, for each arm, a respective resilient hinge device 4 for the articulation of the corresponding arm to the frame, and which is produced according to the present invention. Only one of the hinge devices will be described, by reason of their identical structure. Each resilient hinge device 4 comprises a first and a second hinge member 5, 6 connected respectively to the front frame 4 of the mount and to the arm 3, and which are capable of pivoting relative to one another about a hinge axis, indicated by X in the drawings.

The first hinge member 5 comprises an eyelet formation 7 provided on a lug 8 rigidly connected to the front frame, while the second hinge member 6 comprises a pair of eyelet formations 9a, 9b provided in a tie-rod member, indicated as a whole by 10 and slidingly associated with the arm, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

In more detail, the tie-rod 10 is in the shape of a fork with opposed branches 10a, 10b, at the respective free ends of which the eyelet formations 9a, 9b are provided. The reference 11 indicates a cross-member connecting the fork branches 10a, 10b, and extending between their corresponding ends facing each other and opposed to those having the aforesaid eyelet formations. The lug 8 is articulated, by means of the eyelet formation 7, between the fork branches 10a, 10b of the tie-rod and the articulation is conveniently produced by means of a screw or pin 12 coaxial with the axis X, passing through the eyelet 7 and the eyelet formations 9a, 9b, coaxial with each other, provided in the tie-rod. The hinge device 4 also comprises a box-like support 13 in which the tie-rod 10 is slidingly housed. Said support comprises a partially hollow plate-like base in which a pair of grooves 14a, 14b are provided, parallel to, and spaced from, each other and also extending in the longitudinal direction, perpendicularly to the hinge axis X. Each groove 14a, 14b is open at one end and has a cross-section; such as to receive, in sliding engagement and with limited coupling play, the corresponding fork branch 10a, 10b of the tie-rod. By means of that coupling, the tie-rod 10 is slidingly guided in the support. The grooves are conveniently obtained by means of a milling operation carried out with a pair of spaced milling cutters, with which precise dimensions of the grooving amplitude can be obtained, such as to permit coupling within tolerance of the corresponding fork branches.

Also provided in the support is a seat 15 for a spring means, for example^' including a pair of springs 16a, 16b, disposed parallel to each other and acting between the support and the fork, in order to urge the resilient return of the tie-rod in the relative sliding movement with respect to the support.

The seat 15 is defined by a cavity of the support, partially intersecting the grooves, and in which opposed surfaces 17, 18 are formed, constituting locating surfaces, the first surface 17 being suitable for meeting corresponding ends of the springs 16a, 16b, the second opposed surface 18 being suitable for meeting the connecting cross-member 11 of the fork. Oh said cross-member there are in turn formed a pair of opposed surfaces 11a, lib, the pair of springs 16a, 16b acting on the surface 11a and the surface lib being capable of abutting against theisurface 18 of the support.

The references 10c, 1Od indicate shoulder surfaces defined respectively in the branches 10a, 10b, at a change in cross-section of each corresponding fork branch, and which are capable of abutting against the surface 17 of the support, that surface therefore functioning as a limiting means for the axial travel of the tie-rod.

The locating surface 17 further defines one side of a raised portion 19 integral with the support 13 and which is laterally delimited by the grooves, so as to be interposed between same in the coupling with the tie-rod. Also provided on the raised portion is a threaded blind hole 20 suitable, together with a second threaded blind hole 21 provided on the axially opposed side with respect to the seat 15, for screw tightening of a cover member 22, which is arranged to removably close the box-like support and hold the tie- rod and the spring means in position when assembled with the support. In this respect, the opposed grooves 14a, 14b define respective profiles 25a, 25b for coupling with corresponding opposed peripheral portions 26a, 26b of the cover, in order to facilitate the centred tightening of the cover on the support. A pair of through holes 27 are provided in the cover for the removable tightening of same, by means of respective screws 28a, 28b, engaged for screwing in the corresponding holes 20, 21. The profiles 25a, 25b are further connected, at one of their ends, by a profile 29 capable of being coupled with the corresponding peripheral profile of the cover.

The reference 30 indicates a relief rising from the support 13, in proximity to the raised portion 19 and beyond the apex of the latter, the relief defining a lateral surface 30a suitable for co-operating with the corresponding surface 31 of a cam provided in the frontal lug 8, and the configuration of which is such as to return the arm to preselected angular positions, when pivoting about the hinge axis.

The reference 32 indicates a plate-like end of the support capable of meeting a corresponding surface of the lug when the arm is opened beyond the normal open state. When the arm is pivoted beyond the normal open position, as a result of the end 32 meeting the lug 8, relative sliding occurs between the arm and the tie-rod, with consequent further elongation of the spring which induces a resilient return action such as to return the arm to the normal open position when the arm is released.

It should be noted that the device of the invention makes it possible to associate the tie-rod slidingly with the support, also providing for the insertion of the spring means between the support and the tie-rod, quite independently of the cover member, which therefore does not function as a guide means for the sliding of the tie-rod, that function being required exclusively of the support. The result is that the removal of the cover permits easy access to the spring mechanism, that is to say, to the tie-rod and the spring means associated therewith. Such access makes it possible to carry out maintenance operations easily on the device, for example it makes it possible to replace the spring means easily. This prerogative turns out to be particularly advantageous when it is decided to render the spring means interchangeable with other spring means having different resilient characteristics, selected according to the mounts and the arms combined therewith. Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which a pair of helical springs are provided, with a profile in plan view of the turns having a circular configuration. As an alternative, with reference to Figure 9, it is possible to provide for a single helical spring, with turns having an oblong configuration, for example elongate in one or two directions, in particular perpendicular to each other (also including profiles of elliptical shape), capable of exerting a different resilient return action, the dimensions and number of the springs being selected on the basis of the specific requirements correlated principally with the masses and the overall dimensions in play in the preselected mount.

In both cases, the single spring or the group of springs selected are mounted in the device with a slight resilient bias such as to guarantee stability in the retention of the spring means between the locating surfaces 17, 11a.

It should be noted that the device provides for a limited number of components to be assembled, reduced in practice to three main components: the tie-rod, the support and the spring, which may be fitted in a preassembled state, as a unit that can be handled individually, and only subsequently completed by the tightening of the cover, such configuration rendering the assembly and disassembly of the device easier compared with the known solutions. Finally, provision is made for the support to be able to be axially extended in a pin formation 35, shown only partially in the drawings, which constitutes the core of an arm end-piece 36 extending to cover the core (and obtained for example by means of over-moulding on the core). The pin formation 35 may be obtained in one piece with the support, preferably from metallic material. In this case the support 13 with the related cover 22 constitutes the actual arm section next to the lug for hinging to the frame.

As an alternative, provision may be made for the pin formation 35 to be fixed to the support, for example by soldering. As a further alternative, provision may be made for the support 13 to be fixed to an arm structure, for example by means of jointing, which arm may in this case also be produced from; plastics material or other similar non-metallic materials, for example from acetate.

The invention thus achieves the aims proposed, obtaining the advantages mentioned with respect to the known solutions.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A resilient hinge device for connecting the arms (3) to a front frame (2) of spectacles, the device comprising: a tie-rod (10) capable of being hinged to a lug (8) of the front frame (2) and slidingly associated with the arm (3), at least one spring means (16a, 16b) acting between the arm (3) and the tie-rod (10) to urge the arm towards the lug, a box-like support (13) for at least partial housing of the tie- rod (10) and the spring means (16a, 16b), - a cover member (22) for the removable closure of the support

(13) and the consequent retention of the tie-rod (10) in said support, characterized in that said support (13) comprises guide means (14a, 14b) for slidingly guiding the tie-rod (10), and a pair of locating surfaces (17, 18) for meeting respectively the spring means and the tie-rod, such that the tie-rod (10) is slidingly associated with the support (13), in opposition to the action of the spring means (16a, 16b), independently of the cover member (22).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tie-rod (10) is configured as a fork with two opposed branches (10a, 10b) at the respective free ends of which respective eyelet formations (9a, 9b) are provided for hinging to the lug (8), and said guide means comprise a pair of respective grooves (14a, 14b) in said support (13), parallel to, and spaced from each other, each groove being capable of receiving the corresponding fork branch (10a, 10b) of the tie-rod (10) in sliding engagement.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said support (13) comprises a seat (15) for at least partial housing of said spring means (16a, 16b), said locating surfaces (17, 18) being defined in respective opposed ends of said seat.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the branches (10a, 10b) of said fork are connected to each other by a cross-member (11), at the respective ends opposed to the eyelet formations (9a, 9b), said cross-member (11) having a first and a second opposed surface (11a, lib), one end of the spring means acting on one (lla) of said surfaces, the other surface (lib) being capable of abutting against one (18) of the locating surfaces of said seat (15).

5. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said grooves (14a, 14b) define opposed profiles (25a, 25b) for coupling with corresponding peripheral portions (26a, 26b) of said cover member (22).

6. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said support (13), on axially opposed sides with respect to the seat (15), is provided with a first and a second threaded blind hole (20, 21) for the tightening, with screw means, of the cover member (22), such that said seat (15) and predominant parts of said grooves (14a, 14b) are closed by said cover member (22) for retention of the tie-rod (10) and the spring means (16a, 16b) in position in the support (13).

7. . A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said support (13) is axially extended in a pin formation (35) constituting the core of an arm end-piece (36).

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said pin formation (35) is obtained in one piece with said support (13).

9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said support (13) constitutes the arm section (3) next to the lug (8) for hinging with the front frame (2).

10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said support_. (13) is capable of being fixed to an arm body (3) structurally independent of said support (13).

11. Spectacles comprising a front mount frame (2), respective arms (3) and at least one resilient hinge device for the articulated connection of the arms (3) to the front frame (2), the device being produced according to one or more of the preceding claims.