Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
  • G02C5/00—Constructions of non-optical parts
  • G02C5/22—Hinges
  • G02C5/2218—Resilient hinges
  • G02C5/2236—Resilient hinges comprising a sliding hinge member and a coil spring
  • G02C5/2245—Resilient hinges comprising a sliding hinge member and a coil spring comprising a sliding box containing a spring
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
  • G02C2200/00—Generic mechanical aspects applicable to one or more of the groups G02C1/00 - G02C5/00 and G02C9/00 - G02C13/00 and their subgroups
  • G02C2200/06—Locking elements

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a hinge for spectacles, in particular a so-called flexible hinge.
• a hinge for spectacles in particular a so-called flexible hinge.
• hinges for spectacles are composed of a series of components and mechanisms which enable the two lateral temples to be mounted in an articulated way on the front frame of the pair of spectacles.
• Spectacle hinges come in wide variety of different shapes, depending on both their function and the aesthetic appearance which they are to give the spectacles. Some of the most widely used hinges nowadays are the so-called flexible hinges.
• Flexible hinges normally consist of a box-like housing body, mounted on each temple, within which a slider or carriage is slidable, being provided with a projecting part with an eyelet designed to be coupled, by means of an articulation pivot, with a female fork provided on the end piece or front frame of the spectacles.
• the sliding movement of the carriage in the boxlike housing is opposed by an elastic component, normally in the form of one or more helical springs, which provide the so-called flexible movement.
• the retaining clip of the spring is normally in the form of a catch body or of an elastic fork, which is designed to bend only when it is moved in a longitudinal direction of insertion of the carriage into its housing.
• the carriage with the spring and the clip can be freely inserted into the box-like housing (flexion of the elastic fork takes place in the direction of insertion) , but they can no longer be completely withdrawn in the opposite direction (the fork digs into seats inside the housing and blocks itself with respect to the housing and abuts against the spring, producing the desired elastic deformation thereof) .
• the portion of the carriage on which the spring is mounted cannot be produced with precise tolerances, another guide portion is provided, in order to guide the carriage into the housing correctly.
• the portion of the carriage between the eyelet and the retaining clip is machined with good tolerances and acts as a guide along the internal, lateral walls of the housing.
• the pin with spring portion, plus the clip assembly portion, plus the guide and eyelet portions add up to a length of not less than 10 mm.
• hinges pose some problems relating to the thinness of the pin which supports the spring (which must sustain the entire traction load on the sliding element), and manufacturing difficulties.
• hinges have already been proposed in which the helical spring is not fitted onto a elongated pin, but is rather contained between the two lateral portions of a U-shaped body of the slide component. Examples of such hinges are described in FR2741459 and EP615149.
• hinges however, still use retaining clips which take up a certain amount of space in a longitudinal direction and which dig in near the mouth of the housing. Therefore, in addition to the fact that they still take up a lot of room, they stress the area of the mouth of the housing, which is in fact the most delicate part of the hinge. Where, on the other hand, it was provided not to have autonomous retention components, as in US20030147045 and FR2206513, it is necessary to provide complex assembly systems.
• EP0822438 also shows another elastic hinge solution in which the helical spring is contained inside the body of the hinge.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to solve the aforesaid problems, by providing a shorter, stronger, flexible hinge with few components, which can be easily and perma- nently interlinked.
• ⁇ further object is to provide a flexible hinge in which the retaining clip of the spring, despite blocking the outermost (proximal) end of the spring, can act within the housing in a position which is far away from the mouth, or deep within the housing.
• a flexible hinge for spectacles of the type comprising a female component and a male component which are reciprocally articulated, the latter having at least one housing with a slide cavity and a carriage, which is slidable in said housing, being in a U-shape and provided with two terminal heads with eyelets defining a hinge axis, also being provided with an elastic ele- ment, which is held between a U-shaped carriage base portion and retention means, which can be coupled to said slide cavity, and which is capable of producing an elastic reaction which opposes withdrawal of said carriage from the housing, in which said retention means consist of a cage-like clip inserted between two arms of said U-shaped carriage, the clip having a base portion, located between said arms of the carriage and abutting onto said elastic element, from which two pairs of tines project, extending in the direction of said elastic element, the terminal ends of said tines being provided with hooks to be engaged in corresponding retention recesses in said slide cavity.
• At least one pair of tines of said clip is arranged adjacent to the edges or to lowerings of the edges of said arms.
• both pairs of tines are ar- ranged adjacent to the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the arms of said U-shaped carriage.
• the tines are provided with a projection intended to engage with a corresponding step on the edge of said arms, which establishes a stop means of the clip in relation to the carriage.
• At least one projecting tooth is provided from the edge of the base portion of the U-shaped carriage, which can be inserted between a pair of said tines, in order to prevent them from getting too close to each other.
• At least the hook-shaped extremity of said tines when the U-shaped carriage is mounted stably in said slide cavity, abuts onto the two opposite sides of said tooth, so that the clip establishes as a transversely-rigid component between the two lateral arms of said U-shaped carriage.
• said hooks protrude from the lateral profile of said arms of the U-shaped carriage.
• said clip has a pair of tabs projecting from said base portion, apt to engage, slidingly, with corresponding slots in said arms of the U-shaped carriage.
• said carriage has capture means in which said hooks of the tines may be held in a condition disengaged from said retention recesses in the slide cavity.
• the capture means are in the form of a notch in a tooth, the carriage housing further comprising wedge-shaped projections designed to drive said hooks into said notch, following a movement of the clip in the direction of the base portion of the U-shaped carriage.
• the two pairs of tines of said cage-like clip project according to the longitudinal axis of said elastic element in the form of a spring, on either side of the same spring.
• a method of assembly of a hinge as described above in which a group is first assembled, consisting of said U-shaped carriage onto which said clip and said elastic component are installed, said group is then inserted into said slide cavity, until said U-shaped carriage is brought to its internal end-of-stroke, and wherein it is further provided to drive said cage-like clip towards the interior, compressing said elastic element and bringing said hooks to engage said retention recesses in the slide cavity.
• the driving action of said clip towards the interior is carried out by using a pin tool, inserted between the two arms of the U-shaped carriage in such a way as to exert pressure on said base portion of the clip.
• Fig. 1 is an exploded, perspective view from above, of a first embodiment of the male hinge component according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view from below of the component in Fig. 1, assembled;
• Fig. 3 is an elevation, lateral view of a male hinge component, disassembled, according to a second embodiment of the in- vention
• Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the component in Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the component in Fig. 3;
• Fig. € is a similar view to that in Fig. 5, with the car- riage assembled in the housing;
• Fig. 7 is an elevation lateral view of the male hinge component in Fig. 6, complete with the female fork;
• Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the hinge in Fig. 7;
• Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hinge in Fig. 7;
• Fig. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of a third embodiment of the male hinge component.
• Figs. 11-13 are schematic, perspective views which illustrate the stages of assembly of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 12A represents an enlargement of a de- tail.
• a spectacle hinge is made up.
• this component is found on the spectacle temple, whereas the opposite component (usually referred to as the female component of the hinge) is an integral part of the front frame or end piece of the spectacles.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a box-like housing 1, with an internal sliding seat la for a carriage 2.
• the box-like housing is de- signed to be fixed stably to one of the reciprocally-mobile components of the frame of a pair of spectacles, for example to a temple.
• Carriage 2 extends for a certain length and has a slide portion 2a, which is placed in housing 1 (once the hinge has been assembled) and an external end portion 2b, which is designed to remain outside small box 1, and which is provided with a pivoting head with an eyelet.
• carriage 2 is in a U shape, both terminal ends of which have heads with eyelets 21a and 21b, provided with holes the axes of which are aligned.
• the U-shaped slide portion is so arranged that the two lateral arms 22a and 22b are parallel and with a finished surface such as to constitute a guide along corresponding internal wall surfaces in cavity la of housing 1.
• the two external lateral surfaces of the two lateral arms 22a and 22b therefore act as a guide in the transverse direction of the width of the hinge, i.e. in the direction in which the articulation pivot runs (only illustrated in the variant in Figs. 7-9) passing into the eyelets in heads 21a and 21b.
• the two parallel arms 22a and 22b have upper and lower edges which are manufactured in such a way as to maintain adequate parallelism: these edges are designed to slide, precisely, in corresponding guide surfaces made at least on the ceiling of internal cavity la of housing 1 and possibly also on the base of said cavity la. These opposing edges, in pairs on each lateral arm 22a and 22b, therefore act as a guide to the carriage, mainly in the direction of the height of the hinge, i.e. perpendicularly to the pivoting axis.
• the U-shaped carriage can be obtained by cold forging or punching of a sheet of suitable metal material, for example nickel silver, Monel or stainless steel. For that reason, the carriage is inherently robust and can be mass produced quickly and inexpensively.
• suitable metal material for example nickel silver, Monel or stainless steel.
• a helical spring 3 is located, laid along the longitudinal axis of car- riage 2.
• the reciprocal distance between the two arms 22a and 22b is therefore a function of the diameter of the spring, considering that it is advantageous to keep this distance as small as possible, in order for it to be as compact as possible, whilst keeping said spring as robust as possible.
• the length of the two arms 22a and 22b is the minimum indispensable in order to provide spring 3 with an internal housing space.
• the internal (or distal) end of spring 3 abuts onto the terminal (curved) end of U-shaped car- riage 2, whilst the outermost end of spring 3 is designed to abut onto a clip component 4, close to the working area of external heads 21a and 21b.
• Clip 4 is advantageously in the form of a cage, so that it embraces at least spring 3 longitudinally, and, at the same time, acts as a stop component to it.
• clip 4 is composed of a small base portion 4a, at the corners of which four tines 4b project, intended to be arranged along the longitudinal (or sliding) axis of carriage 2.
• the small base portion 4a is of a size such as to be accom- modated between the two arms of the U-shaped carriage, so that it abuts onto the external (or proximal) end of spring 3.
• Tines 4b extend towards the curved portion of the base of the carriage, for at least half the length of the guide portion 2a of carriage 2, ending in retention hooks 4b' .
• tines 4b stop protrusions 4b' ' are also devised, which are designed to form the internal end-of-stroke of the carriage on the clip.
• tines 4b also extend internally to the two arms of the U-shaped carriage, with retention hooks 4b' which, however, project slightly laterally, outwards (therefore superimposing themselves on the thickness of the two arms 22a and 22b and projecting outside from the lateral profile of carriage 2 ) .
• Hooks 4b are also preferably arranged in such a way as to arrange themselves in pairs above and below (transversely to the hinge axis) the two arms of the U-shaped carriage.
• the upper and lower edges of arms 22a and 22b have, at the rear, (i.e. the part nearest to the curved base portion), lowerings 22a' and 22b' which are designed to receive the most projecting part of tines 4b (see Fig. 2).
• Assembly of this male hinge component involves arranging spring 3 between the arms of U-shaped carriage 2 and then in- serting, from the front, the cage-shaped retention clip 4.
• tines 4b need to be slightly deformed, bringing them towards each other, in such a way as to bring projecting retention hooks 4b' closer together and enable them to be inserted between the two terminal heads 21a and 21b.
• heads 21a and 21b can be distanced from each other, causing arms 22a and 22b to bend and drawing them apart.
• Cavity la as appreciable in Fig. 2, has two parallel, internal guide walls, which have a relative distance equivalent to the width of carriage 2, therefore such as to accommodate the sliding of carriage 2 precisely.
• recesses or notches lb are designed to permit hooking of retention cage 4, as indicated below.
• Figs. 3-6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the parts which make up the assembly to be inserted into housing 1 are the same as in the previous embodiment.
• clip 40 which is also obtainable by cold forging or punching of a metal sheet, presents a different configuration.
• clip 40 has two guide tabs 41a and 41b , which depart laterally from small base portion 40a, between the two pairs of upper and lower tines. These two tabs 41a and 41b are designed to be inserted into corresponding grooves or slots 210, cut longitudinally into the two arms 202a and 202b of carriage 200. The sliding coupling of tabs 41a and 41b in grooves 210 improves the guidance of carriage 200 in relation to its housing (with which clip 40 is integral after assembly) .
• hooks 40b' of the tines of clip 40 are configured in such a way that they do not project from the lateral profile of carriage 200.
• the upper and lower edges of the two arms 202a and 202b do not have distinguishable lowerings in this case, but at least the hooked ends of clip 40 are intended to lie above and below said edges (Fig. 3).
• the engagement seat of hooks 40b' is made in as a small step on the ceiling and basal wall of the housing.
• the ceiling wall of housing 100 has a longitudinal groove, delimited by guide edges 101a, and a stepped widening 101b, obtained, for example, by milling (therefore with slight conicity, as appreciable in Figs. 3 and 4).
• the width of the longitudinal groove is such as to allow the two upper tines 40b of clip 40 to pass through it, but not their hooked ends 40b' .
• the two upper tines 40b need to be elastically deformed, one towards the other, in such a way that hooks 40b' are brought closer together and inserted into the longitudinal groove.
• the two hooks 40b' can elastically snap outwards, having overcome the small step between guide edges 101a and widening 101b, in such a way as to hold clip 40 in position, in relation to housing 100.
• the same configuration can be devised, in which case the base of housing 100 must present a closing wall.
• a similar configuration to that of the first embodiment can be devised, i.e. one with lowerings 202a' and 202b' on the two lower edges of the arms of carriage 200.
• An alternative, preferred configuration which is applicable to both of these embodiments, provides that the position of the hooks in relation to the carriage to be set quite far back, in pre-assembly mode.
• the length of the tines is such that, with the carriage completely inserted into its slide cavity, the hooks fall into a position which does not allow them to snap outwards in the respective seats of the housing.
• the hooks In order to engage the hooks in the respective seats, one needs to act on small base portion 4a or 40a, by pushing further the cage-like clip 4 or 40 within the slide cavity, until the hooks manage to snap outwards and engage with the respective seats of the housing.
• This assembly procedure which is obtainable for example by using a pin tool designed to press against small base portion 4a or 40a, has the advantage of bringing the elastic spring into compression, even when the hinge is at rest. Excellent and stable assembly of the hinge is thereby achieved, without having to allow for restricted tolerances when sizing the cavity and clip.
• said clip 40 represents a component which is basically rigid tranversely and which is interposed between the two lateral arms of the U-shaped carriage. During lateral stress, therefore, the carriage offers greater rigidity, which certainly favours good operation of the hinge.
• Figs. 7-9 the male hinge component is shown coupled to a respective female component 300.
• the latter is in the form of a fork and has two parallel slits 301, into which the two heads with eyelets of carriage 200 are inserted precisely, but with enough play to permit rotation.
• the rotational coupling is guaranteed by threaded pivot 302, inserted transversely to the arms of the carriage, along the two coaxial holes of the heads of carriage 200.
• Fig. 10 represents a third embodiment, entirely similar to the one just described.
• the length of the pair of longitudinal slots 210', in which tabs 41a are designed to run is extended for a short distance, equal to the stroke permitted for the carriage.
• the tabs are designed to act as an end-of- stroke, against the innermost extremity of the slots, even in the direction of withdrawal of the carriage from housing 100.
• the heads with eyelets of the two arms of the carriage extend rearwards of the carriage.
• Part of each head is designed to be received and partially guided in corre- sponding slots 102 made on the mouth part of housing 100.
• a tab 103 is therefore defined which, by inserting itself between the two heads of the carriage, acts both as a guide in a longitudinal direction and as a constrain against unwanted torsion of carriage 200 with respect to housing 100.
• FIGs. 11-13 illustrate a fourth embodiment which exploits the features of the hinge according to the invention to further advantage.
• each of the teeth 23' - which are designed to prevent the tines from moving too close together during normal use of the hinge - has a central groove 23a, which is preferably flared (Fig. 12A) .
• opposed inclined walls 104 are provided, which are shaped to act as a guide for hooks 40b' of clip 40.
• inclined walls 104 are arranged to act as a wedge to drive the hooks towards each other as the clip 40 moves towards the interior of housing 100.
• the hinge device according to the invention enables the objects explained in the preamble to be well achieved.
• the original conformation of the carriage and its clip enable a compact assembly to be created, with the elastic reaction spring, an assembly which can then easily be assembled in the housing of the hinge.
• the carriage+spring+clip assembly can be assembled, regardless of the presence of the housing, and then handled and distributed to the purchaser independently, as well.
• the cage-like clip which "embraces" the spring in a longi- tudinal direction, occupying a length which is related to the bulk of the spring, does not need to allow for additional longitudinal space, thereby enabling reduction of the overall length of the carriage with respect to the prior art.
• the entire length of the arms of the U-shaped carriage is usable as a guide sur- face (both laterally and on the upper and lower edges), in cooperation with the slide cavity of the housing, so that it is not necessary to allow for further carriage guide portions, which would increase its length.
• the hooks of the tines act on the base of the slide cavity, the stresses relating to traction on the carriage are discharged in the most robust area of the housing and the one where unwanted flexion and torsion can best be avoided. Furthermore, the presence of four tines provides a section resistant to traction which is much better than the one available with the hinge support pin of conventional carriages.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Hinges (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)

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Citations (10)

• 2010
  • 2010-03-30 IT ITMI2010A000529A patent/IT1399199B1/it active
• 2011
  • 2011-03-28 WO PCT/IB2011/051305 patent/WO2011121522A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-03-28 CN CN2011900004214U patent/CN203241632U/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (10)

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