WO2009122054A2

WO2009122054A2 - Glasses frame

Info

Publication number: WO2009122054A2
Application number: PCT/FR2009/050397
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alain Boulas
Original assignee: Chamborelle
Priority date: 2008-03-27
Filing date: 2009-03-11
Publication date: 2009-10-08
Also published as: WO2009122054A3; WO2009122054A4; FR2929419A1; FR2929419B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a glasses frame comprising earpieces connected by a hinge to the endpieces of the front surface, the earpieces being foldable past the normal opening position but having an elastic drawback portion that returns them to the normal opening position. The hinge (104) connecting the earpiece (103) and the endpiece (102) is fixed and located on the inner side of the frame. The mechanism for opening past the normal position includes a compression spring (138) piston (300) built into the earpiece (103) the line of action (X1, X1) of which does not pass through the axis (ZZ) of the hinge (104) but is set off from the same to form a lever arm (d). The hinge (104) between the earpiece (103) and the endpiece (102) includes a hinge tab (121) held by the endpiece (102) and a double hinge tab (131) held by the earpiece (103), the endpiece tab (121) forming a stop (122), against which the piston (300) extends from the earpiece in an open position, and enabling movement with the elastic drawback portion past the normal opening position while exerting force on the earpiece, one torque being opposite to the one developed by the spring piston around the axis (ZZ) of the hinge.

Description

"Eyeglass frame" Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an eyeglass frame comprising branches connected by a hinge to the tenons of the face, the foldable branches passing in the over-opening position with elastic return in the open position.

Various embodiments of spectacle frames are already known, the branches of which can be moved beyond the normal open position into a so-called "over-opening" position with elastic return in the normal open position.

Thus, according to the document EP 0 266 307 which describes a frame of elastic hinged glasses, the branch is articulated to the front portion of the frame by a body embedded in the resin of the face portion. This body contains a spring with a ball and knuckles to form the hinge portion carried by the face. The other part of the hinge secured to the branch, has a cam profile to define the folded position and the normal opening position of the branch.

There is no provision for elastic return of the branch which can pass overopening position simply limited by a stop. The action line of the ball pushed by the spring and cooperating with the cam passes through the axis of the joint. The opening beyond the normal position in over-opening position is made possible in this embodiment by a crevice and a beveled surface respectively provided in the front part and in the end of the branch to determine the position of maximum opening of the branch without elastic return from the overopening position.

There is also an eyeglass frame according to EP 0 992 831 A1 comprising an elastic mechanism at the joint between the face portion and each eyeglass branch. The joint is located in the branch. This articulation is completed by a housing comprising a spring with a ball bearing against a cam surface carried by the face portion. This cam surface has two cavities defining the open position and the closed position. The action line of the spring and ball mechanism passes through the axis of articulation of the branch on the front part. The cam also has a kind of ramp supposed to create a restoring force for the overopening position. But this mechanism is of a very delicate realization because of the ball and the effort developed by the spring has practically no recall component since the line of action passes through the axis of articulation.

The over-opening movement is limited by the stop constituted by the bottom of the housing of the ball. This device is a realization and a very delicate installation. Its effectiveness for over-opening with elastic return is practically non-existent. Purpose of the invention

The object of the present invention is to develop an eyeglass frame allowing an elastic, effective, well-perceptible over-opening movement and above all ensuring the effective return of the branch from the over-opening position to the normal open position so that the position normal opening is clearly defined and allows good holding of branches. Description and advantages of the invention

For this purpose, the present invention relates to an eyeglass frame of the type defined above characterized in that A- the hinge connecting the arm and the pin is fixed and located on the inside of the frame, B- the overopening mechanism comprises a compression spring piston integrated in the branch whose line of action does not pass through the axis of the hinge but is spaced apart to form a lever arm,

C- the hinge between the branch and the tenon comprises - a hinge leg carried by the tenon,

- A double hinge leg carried by the branch, the lug of the tenon forming a stop against which the piston of the branch in the open position and allowing the movement with elastic return to the over-opening position by exerting on the arm, an opposite torque to that developed by the spring piston around the axis of the hinge.

The mount according to the invention is a simple and effective embodiment because the mechanism is integrated in the arm of the telescope and not in the post and the offset between the axis of articulation and the action line of the spring mechanism , creates an effective booster torque for the overopening motion. The return movement stops accurately when the branch is in its normal open position so that this normal open position is clearly defined and as soon as the branch deviates from this position in the direction of the over-opening, it is recalled elastically by the torque exerted by the spring mechanism about the hinge axis.

The effectiveness of this mechanism and the stroke made by the mechanism during the over-opening movement to make the mechanism insensitive to manufacturing tolerances, avoiding the need for extremely precise and therefore fragile machining of the abutment surface of the tenon paw.

According to another particularly advantageous feature,

- The arm is a wide arm having an opening occupied by a rigid plate, removable, clipped by front and rear fasteners in front and rear fasteners of the opening of the branch, - the front fastening element being a housing on either side of the slot,

the rear fastening element being an orifice extended by a housing integrated in the branch and provided with a compression spring bearing in the bottom of the housing and at the front at the orifice, the intermediate slot between the two housings at the front and the orifice with the housing and the return spring are aligned along an action line located away from the axis of articulation of the hinge,

the front fixing member is a tongue coming into the two recesses and overlapping the slot, the rear fixing member having a tongue coming into the orifice to come against the end of the spring in its housing,

- the tenon lug having an abutment surface against the edge of the tongue when the branch is in the open position, the relative movement of the abutment surface with respect to the branch and the front tongue continuing during the over-opening movement of the branch to push the wafer and thus elastically push the rear fastener by pressing against the spring to compress it, the wafer forming the transmission means of the movement. This eyeglass frame makes it possible to combine very simply and particularly effectively the over-opening reminder and the detachable snap-fastening of the wafer filling the opening of the face of the thick arm. Indeed, the same spring mechanism has the dual function, that of ensuring the return movement of the branch passing overoperture position, transmitting the movement via the plate between the rear of the branch, there where is the spring mechanism and the front of the branch near the hinge, where the branch and the tenon cooperate in the over-opening position.

However, in the over-opening position, the edge of the tenon and the edge of the branch, opposite have no contact to create this elastic return movement in the overopen position. This makes it possible to very clearly separate the edge of these two pieces to lighten the lateral aspect of this frame and to emphasize the aesthetic and / or functional effect of the wafer housed in the opening of the branch.

The wafer transmitting the return movement of the rear of the branch forward also allows to bring the front edge of the opening and consequently the wafer, very close to the joint to give, if necessary, the larger area possible to the wafer.

The movement of the wafer to transmit the torque exerted on the branch during the over-opening pivoting is imperceptible.

The mechanism of this eyeglass frame also allows disassembly by clipping of the wafer. Simply push the wafer sufficiently independent of the relative movement of the leg and the post to be able to disengage the front end out of its housing and pivot the wafer inwards (in the sense given to this orientation in this description), to then be able to pull the plate and release its rear fastener from the rear fastener to the edge of the opening of the branch. This movement of extraction of the wafer or reciprocally placing the wafer or other wafer in the opening of the wide branch is particularly simple, without the over-opening movement which also moves the wafer, is not likely to release it sufficiently so that it may escape from these fastening means in the opening.

Despite this double function provided by the wafer and the spring mechanism controlling the over-opening elastic movement and the retaining and clipping movement of the wafer, regardless of the dimensional variations related to possible manufacturing tolerances and especially to temperature variations ; insofar where some parts are metal, there is no risk that the over-opening function also causes the release of the wafer out of these fasteners in the opening of the branch of the frame. According to another characteristic, in the case of a mount which has neither opening nor plate, particularly advantageously, the piston is a rod whose front portion passes through the orifice and projects into the slot, this rod having a flange forming a stop for holding the rod in the housing against the action of the compression spring.

According to another advantageous characteristic in the case of an eyeglass frame having an opening, the rigid plate has a convex shape bordered by a periphery intended to bear against the rear of the rim of the opening of the branch, the curved portion forming the body coming into the opening, the peripheral front edge being provided with a tongue forming the front fixing member and the rear edge being provided with a tongue forming the rear fastening member for the clipping of the wafer in the opening of the branch, the curved shape being reduced relative to the contour of the opening to allow the sliding movement of the wafer relative to the opening under the effect of the thrust exerted by the coming in abutment of the tongue against the abutment surface of the tongue lug when the leg is opened from its open position by the over-opening movement, so that the rear tongue p uisse elastically push the spring in its housing and create a return torque opposing the overopening movement around the geometric axis of the joint between the branch and the tenon.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the tab of the tenon comprises a stop intended to cooperate with the edge of one of the legs of the branch to limit the over-opening movement of the branch relative to the tenon.

In summary, the effectiveness of the solution according to the invention both for the frame whose branches have neither opening nor wafer as in the more complex case of a spectacle frame whose at least one branch has an opening with a wafer, does not complicate the manufacturing which is particularly simple and effective.

Moreover, since the spring of the mechanism for returning the over-opening movement is integrated into the arm of the telescope, there is practically no no dimensional constraints on the length and efficiency of the spring. This allows on the one hand to have a spring mechanism ensuring an effective and fatigue-free recall of the over-opening movement while allowing to limit this reminder to the open position or possibly a slightly closed position, so that the elastic movement and the spring does not act on the branches of the telescope when they are normally open and are worn. drawings

The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of embodiments of an eyeglass frame shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of an eyeglass frame; spectacles represented only partly at the articulation between the tenon and the branch, by a part-sectional view, by a horizontal plane, the frame itself being placed in a horizontal position:

FIG. 1 shows the branch in normal open position with respect to the pin to which it is connected,

* Figure 2 shows the position of over-opening of the branch, * Figure 3 shows the folded position of the branch,

FIGS. 4A-4C show a second embodiment of an eyeglass frame for wide branches, these figures being limited to the presentation of the tenon and the articulated arm to the post,

FIG. 4A is a view of the inner face of the tenon and the main part of the eyeglass branch in the case of a wide branch without the wafer filling the opening of the wide branch,

FIG. 4B is an inside view of the arm of the telescope independently of the stud and the articulation means of the telescope,

FIG. 4C is a view of the outer face of the wafer intended to open the eyeglass branch of FIGS. 4A, 4b,

FIG. 4D is a view of the outer face of the branch with the tenon, without the wafer, FIGS. 5 to 8 show the second embodiment of the invention presented in sectional views similar to those used for FIGS. Figures 1 to 3, for the different positions of the hinge parts of the frame: FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the branch and the tenon at the joint, in the absence of a plate in the branch,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but with the plate placed in the opening of the branch, FIG. 7 shows the position of over-opening of the branch,

* Figure 8 shows the closing position of the branch,

FIGS. 9A-9C show in sectional view the detail of the placement of the front end of a wafer for a mounting according to FIGS. 5 to 8; FIG. 9A shows the front end of the wafer; and branch, at the beginning of the establishment of the plate in the opening of the branch,

FIG. 9B shows the second step of placing the wafer in the opening of the branch; FIG. 9C shows the end of the placement of the wafer in the opening of the branch. Description of embodiments

According to Figures 1, 2, 3, the invention relates to a spectacle frame partially shown, comprising a face portion 1, terminated on each side by a pin 2 carrying a branch 3 provided with a not shown sleeve.

The branch 3 is connected to its pin 2 by a hinge 4 formed of a lug 21 integral with the pin 2 and a double leg or two lugs 31, integral with the branch 3. These lugs 21, 31 are connected by a pivot 32 screwed into the aligned holes of the tabs to form the hinge of the hinge 4 whose axis ZZ is perpendicular to the plane of the figure. The spectacle frame described above is shown very schematically only by a part of its half since the mount is symmetrical with respect to the axis XX and the face 1 substantially corresponds to the perpendicular axis YY.

According to the orientation convention defined above, the hinge 4 is not integrated in the plane of the post 2 or the branch 3 but is located on the inner side of the spectacle frame.

The lug 21 of the post 2 comes into a slot 33 of the branch 3 between the two lugs 31. The end of the leg 3 carrying the lugs 31 is provided with an over-opening mechanism consisting of a piston 51 placed in a cylindrical housing 34 of the branch 3 and receiving a compression spring 52. The compression spring 52 bears against a flange 53 of the piston 51 and against the bottom of the housing 34 constituted by a plug 35. The flange 53 itself bears against the edge of the orifice 36 through which the piston 51 opens out of the housing and protrudes by its part before the slot 33 of the branch 3. The axis of elastic displacement of the piston 51 is XlXl reference. This axis XlXl is at the distance (d) of the axis ZZ of the hinge 4.

In the open position, the branch 3 is aligned substantially on the pin 2 (Figure 1). The front end of the piston 51 then faces the abutment surface 22 of the lug 21 without touching it or touching this surface only slightly so that the piston 51 is not pushed against the spring 52. This position is a position of balance.

FIG. 2 shows the position of over-opening of the branch 3 which can be pivoted by hand to arrive in this position considered as the limit position of over-opening, by elastically pushing the piston 51 bearing against the abutment surface 22 (this surface is assumed fixed) of the lug 21 of the pin 2, at the cost of the compression of the spring 52. The torque to be overcome is that exerted around the axis ZZ of the hinge 4 by the spring 52, for the lever arm (d ). The angle α of this over-opening position is indicated at the hinge 32 of the hinge 4. The lug 31 of the branch 3 hidden by the lug 21 has not been shown.

A mechanical stop 23 (FIG. 1) carried by the tab 21 limits the over-opening movement to the position shown in FIG. 2. It may be a small pin 23 carried by the face of the tab 21 of the tenon. 2, opposite the legs 31 of the branch and against which abuts the side 3 IA of the leg 31.

The return to normal opening position as that shown in Figure 1, is by the torque exerted by the spring 52 and the piston 51 when release the opening torque exerted by hand on the leg 3.

Figure 3 shows the folded position of the branch 3 relative to the pin 2 and the front portion of the frame.

Another development of an eyeglass frame according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 4A to 9C. This embodiment will be described hereinafter using, to describe the elements already described above, the corresponding references increased by 100. In the description of all FIGS. 4A to 9C, the expression "before" designates the side of the branch located near the hinge and the expression "rear" designates the side of the branch or the associated elements located on the side of the sleeve, that is to say opposite the side turned towards the hinge.

According to FIG. 4A, the embodiment of the eyeglass frame consists of an unrepresented face portion, carrying two lugs 102 each connected by a hinge lug 121 to the two hinge lugs 131 of the branch 103 by the intermediate of a hinge pin 132 ZZ axis.

The branch 103 is a wide branch with an opening 200 normally occupied by a plate 300 (FIG. 4C) clipped into this opening.

According to the embodiment shown, the branch 103 has a generally triangular shape. It is the same with its opening 200. This opening is delimited by a rim 201 on the outside.

The inner side of the branch 103 comprises fastening elements with which cooperate fasteners of the wafer 300, by clipping as shown in Figures 9A-9C and described below. Figure 4A is a view of the inner face of the post 102 and the branch 103 without its sleeve, the plate 300 having been removed. According to this view, the edge of the tenon 102 and that of the branch 103 are clearly separated by a frank interval, very noticeable, which is blocked only by the tab 121 coming to articulate in the slot-shaped cutout 133 on the side before 134 of the branch 103, between the two lugs 131 carried by the front side 134.

FIG. 4B shows the inner side of the branch 103 separated from the pin revealing the slot 133 and the rim 201 of the opening 200. On either side of the slot 133, in the thickness of the front side 134 behind the rim 201 there are the two housings 135 (see also Figs. 9A-9C) forming the front attachment member for the wafer 300. Each housing 135 has a depth preferably greater than the following length (a) which the front attachment member of the wafer enters (Figure 9C). The rear fastening element 136 does not appear in these figures. It is embedded in the rear side 135 and opens into the rim 201. Figure 4C is a front view of the plate 300 whose shape is complementary to that of the opening 200; the wafer has a tongue-shaped fastener 303 over a portion of the length of its front side 301, and a rear tongue 304 in the form of a tongue 302 along its rear side 302.

The body 305 of the wafer 300 is preferably curved to be rigid and form a peripheral edge 306 running over the entire periphery of the wafer to bear internally against the rim 201 of the opening 200. The front fixing member 303 is placed in the housing 135 on either side of the slot 133 by overlapping to cooperate with the abutment surface 122 of the lug 121 of the tenon 102 and the rear fixing member 304 is housed elastically in the rear fixing member 136 of the opening 200 as will be seen in detail with the aid of the following figures. While FIGS. 4A-4D are front views of the branch and the tenon, the views of FIGS. 5 to 9 are longitudinal sectional views for a plane perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 4A and with an orientation of the cuts identical to FIG. 1 to 3. These views are also on an enlarged scale to highlight the features of this embodiment.

According to FIG. 5, the branch 103 is represented in the open position, aligned with the tenon 102 but without the plate 300.

As indicated above, the opening 200 is provided, on the outside, with the rim 201. On the hinge side 104, the branch 103 is opened by a slot 133 receiving the lug 121 of the post 102 between the two lugs 131 bordering the slot 133 Behind the rim 201, the two parts of the branch located on either side of the slot 133, are provided with the housing 135 forming the front fastening element for the wafer. On the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the branch 103, the rear attachment member 136 of the wafer in the branch is constituted by an orifice 136 opening into a housing 137 provided with a spring 138 retained behind the edge of the orifice 136 and bearing against a plug 139 closing the housing backwards. The plug may be constituted by the rod on which engages the sleeve of the glasses branch.

FIG. 6 shows, in section, the plate 300 which is placed in the opening 200. According to the embodiments shown, it has a shape stiffened by a molding, projecting through the part of the opening 200 delimited by the rim 201 and bearing on the rear side, against the rim. The wafer 300 has front and rear fasteners 303, 304 as shown in FIG. 4C, on each side at the front and rear to cooperate with the housing-shaped fasteners 135, 136.

To set up the wafer 300, the rear fixing member 304 is slid, intended to come into the rear orifice-shaped housing 136 of the branch 103; the wafer 300 is pushed in the direction of the arrow A to push the spring 136 back into its housing 137 until the end of the front member 303 at the other end of the wafer can come into the housing 135 of the corresponding edge of the opening. Then, in this position, the spring 138 pushes the plate 300 forward and it takes the position shown in Figure 6. The movement of engagement of the front end of the fastener 303 of the plate also appears in detail in FIGS. 9A-9C; they show the positioning movement or the disengagement movement of the wafer 300 with respect to the opening 200 in the order in which FIGS. 9A-9C (or 9C-9A) are examined.

Starting from the position shown in Figure 9A, the rear member 304 of the plate 300 is pressed into the housing 136 by pushing the spring 138, is passed through the front edge of the fastener 303 of the plate to descend in the opening 200 (arrow B) until it is opposite the housing 135 constituting the front fastening element of the wafer (Figure 9B). Then, by releasing the plate 300, the spring 138 applied against the other end 304 of the wafer 300 pushes it into the housing 135 as shown in the position shown in Figure 9C. FIGS. 9A-9C show the front side 134 of the branch 103 around the hatched cut because this cut is made next to the slot 133 of the front of the branch 103. This representation has been chosen to highlight the shape of the front housing 135 receiving the front of the plate 300 behind the rim 201 of the opening 200. The housing 135 exists in the two parts of the branch 103 on either side of the slot 133 receiving the tab 121 of the tenon 102.

In the open position of the spectacles shown in FIG. 6, the front edge of the fastener 303 of the wafer is just in contact with the abutment surface 122 of the lug 121 of the post 102. This position is a neutral position and no force is exerted by the plate 300 on the lug 121 of the tenon.

FIG. 7 shows the over-opening position similar to that shown in FIG. 3. To arrive in this over-opening position, the branch 103 of the angle (α) is tilted in a manner similar to that described above. By this tilting movement, as the front end of the fastener 303 overlaps the slot 133, it abuts against the abutment surface 122 of the lug 121 of the supposed fixed pin; this movement elastically pushes the plate 300 because with the arm, it exerts a torque opposing the torque exerted by the plate and its compression spring 138, along the lever arm (d) relative to the axis ZZ of the articulation 104.

This over-opening movement moves the plate 300 by forced movement to the right by making its fixing member 304 enter the housing 136, 137 with compression of the spring 138; the displacement of the distance (b) is less than the displacement (a) to be applied by hand on the wafer 300 to put its fastener 303 in the position of Figure 9B. The wafer 300 thus remains in the opening 200 of the branch 103 despite its displacement caused by the overopening movement.

The wafer 300 thus transmits the reaction of the stop 122 of the pin 102 to the spring 138.

Figure 8 shows the closing position of the arm 103, which has described an angle of substantially 90 ° to the lug 121 of the post 102 which is assumed to maintain a fixed position.

The plate 300 occupies its advanced position, pushed by the spring 138 resting on its rear end 304.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T IO N S

1) Eyeglass frame comprising branches connected by a hinge to the tenons of the face, the foldable branches passing in the over-opening position with elastic return in the open position, frame characterized in that

A- the hinge (4, 104) connecting the limb (3, 103) and the tenon (2, 102) is fixed and located on the inside of the frame,

B- the overflow mechanism comprises a compression spring piston (5, 300) (52, 138) integrated in the branch (3, 103) whose action line (X1, X1) does not pass through the axis (ZZ) of the hinge (4, 104) but is spaced apart to form a lever arm (d),

C- the hinge (4, 104) between the limb (3, 103) and the stud (2, 102) comprises

- a hinge lug (21, 121) carried by the post (2, 102), - a double hinge lug (31, 131) carried by the branch (3,

103), the tab (21, 121) of the tenon forming a stop (22, 122) against which the piston (52, 300) of the branch in the open position and allowing the movement with elastic return (α) to the position of over-opening by exerting on the branch, a torque opposite to that developed by the spring piston about the axis (ZZ) of the hinge.

2) spectacle frame according to claim 1, characterized in that - the arm (103) is a wide arm having an opening (200) occupied by a rigid plate (300), removable, clipped by front fixing members and rear in front and rear fasteners of the opening (200) of the leg (103),

the front fastening element being a housing (135) on either side of the slot (133),

the rear fastening element being an orifice (136) extended by a housing (137) integrated in the branch (103) and provided with a compression spring (138) resting in the bottom of the housing (137) and the front at the orifice (138), the slot (133) intermediate between the two housings (135) at the front and the orifice (136) with the housing (137) and the return spring ( 138) are aligned along an action line (X1, X1) located at the distance (d) from the articulation axis (ZZ) of the hinge (104), the front fixing member is a tongue (303) coming into the two housings (135) and overlapping the slot (133),

a rear fixing member having a tongue (304) engaging in the orifice (136) to come against the end of the spring (138) in its housing (137),

the lug (131) of the tenon (102) having an abutment surface (122) coming against the edge of the tongue (303) when the leg (103) is in the open position, the relative movement of the abutment surface (122) relative to the branch and the front tongue (303) continuing during the over-opening movement of the branch (103) to push the plate (300) and thus elastically push the rear fastening member (304) in s' pressing against the spring (138) to compress it.

3) spectacle frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston (51) is a rod whose front portion passes through the orifice (36) and protrudes into the slot (33), this rod having a collar (51 1) forming a stop to retain the rod (512) in the housing (37) against the action of the compression spring (52).

4) spectacle frame according to claim 2, characterized in that the rigid plate (300) has a curved shape (305) bordered by a periphery (306) intended to rest against the rear of the rim (201). ) of the opening (200) of the branch (103), the curved portion (305) forming the body coming into the opening (200), the peripheral front edge (306) being provided with a tongue (303) forming the front fixing member and the rear edge being provided with a tongue (304) forming the rear fixing member for the clipping of the plate (300) in the opening of the branch, the convex shape ( 305) being reduced relative to the contour of the opening (200) to allow the sliding movement of the wafer (300) relative to the opening (200) under the effect of the thrust exerted by the abutment of the tongue (300) against the abutment surface (122) of the lug (121) of the tenon (102) when the leg (103) is open from its position d opening by the over-opening movement, so that the rear tongue (304) can elastically push the spring (138) into its housing and create a return torque opposing the overopening movement about the geometric axis (ZZ) of the hinge (132) between the leg (103) and the tenon (102).

5) spectacle frame according to claim 4, characterized in that the lug (121) of the post comprises a stop intended to cooperate with the edge (131A) of one of the legs (131) of the branch to limit the movement over-opening the branch (103) relative to the post (102).