WO2014013451A1

WO2014013451A1 - Spring hinge for spectacles

Info

Publication number: WO2014013451A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/055879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Gorza
Original assignee: Ideal Srl
Priority date: 2012-07-18
Filing date: 2013-07-17
Publication date: 2014-01-23
Also published as: EP2875399A1; ITTV20120133A1

Abstract

A spring hinge for spectacles comprises a casing (11, 311) which slidably houses a hinge element (13, 113, 313, 413, 513, 613, 713, 813, 913) which has a front pivoting end (14, 114, 214, 314, 514, 614, 714, 814, 914) and extends inside the casing in the sliding direction as far as a rear end thereof (16, 116, 216, 316, 516, 616, 716, 816, 916). Resilient means (17, 317, 417, 817, 917) contained inside the casing act against this rear end so as to resiliently push the hinge element. At least one section of the hinge element which terminates in the rear end is formed by elements arranged adjacent and in lateral contact with each other (13a,b;. 113a,b; 313a,b; 413a,b; 513a,b; 613a,b; 713a,b; 813a,b; 913a,b). A manufacturing method is also described.

Description

SPRING HINGE FOR SPECTACLES

The present invention relates to a spring hinge for spectacles, of the type having a hinge element which slides inside a casing against the action of a spring.

In the prior art hinges for spectacles are known where the hinge element has an elongated form with a rear part which forms or has a bearing surface for a first end of at least one thrust spring. The spring is arranged (coaxial inserted or at the side of the extension of the hinge element) so as to react with the other end against the casing of the hinge so as to push the hinge element resiliently backwards. In this way a hinge which, once mounted in the spectacles, may keep the side-arm of the spectacles resiliendy open and, if required, provide a possibility of a slight resilient over-opening of the side-arm is obtained.

Embodiments of such hinge types are for example described in EP0896692, EP0902908 and EP0679920.

It has been found that in these hinges breakages due to mechanical stress of the hinge element may occur, especially in the part contained in the casing and alongside the springs. The applicant of the present application has found that these breakages are due mainly to flexural forces produced by the hinging action on the hinge element during use of the spectacles.

Another type of hinge comprises a hinge element which is U-shaped with the ends of the arms of the U which form the pivoting end and the bottom of the U which forms a bearing surface for the spring which is thus seated inside the U. This type of hinge is for example illustrated in EP2274647 and WO2011/121522. This hinge has, however, larger dimensions in order to avoid a weakness of the pivoting system due to the thin nature of the material used for the hinge element. Moreover, the rear U-shaped form, with the ends of the arms of the U which form pivoting ends of the hinge and the bottom of the U which acts as a bearing surface for the spring, however results in an excessive rigidity of the pivoting element with possible further breakage problems. Attempts to increase the strength using special materials, reinforcing ribs or similar measures come up against the problem of an excessive cost and machining difficulties. The general object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method and a hinge for spectacles which has an improve strength, in particular with less probability of breakage due to mechanical flexural stresses. A further object is to provide a hinge which is strong but may be manufactured easily and at relatively little cost.

In view of these objects the idea which has occurred is to provide, according to the invention, a spring hinge for spectacles, comprising a casing which slidably houses a hich has a front pivoting end and extends inside the casing in the sliding direction as far as its rear end against which resilient means contained inside the casing act, characterized in that at least one section of the hinge element which terminates in the said rear end is formed by elements arranged adjacent and in lateral contact with each other.

Furthermore the idea which has occurred is to provide, again according to the invention, a method for manufacturing a spring hinge for spectacles, comprising a casing which slidably houses a hinge element which has a front pivoting end and which extends inside the casing in the sliding direction as far as its rear end against which resilient means contained in the casing act, the method comprising the step of designing the hinge element, at least along a section which terminates in the said rear end, by arranging elements cut from a metal sheet, adjacent and in lateral contact with each other.

In order to illustrate more clearly the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared to the prior art, an example of embodiment applying these principles will be described below, with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinally sectioned view of a hinge according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a view, from below, of the hinge according to Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the hinge according to Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 shows a schematic side elevation view of a hinge element according to the invention;

- Figure 5 and 6 show two possible variants of the element shown in Figure 4 cross- sectioned along the line V-V of Figure 4.

- Figure 7 shows a schematic side elevation view of a another hinge element according to the invention;

- Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

- Figure 9 shows a schematic view of another hinge element according to the invention;

- Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view along the line X-X of Figure 9;

- Figure 11 shows a partial schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a hinge according to the invention;

- Figure 12 shows a schematic perspective view of another hinge element according to the invention;

- Figure 13 shows a schematic perspective view of another hinge element according to the invention;

- Figure 14 shows a schematic perspective view of another hinge element according to - Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view along the line XV-XV of Figure 14;

- Figure 16 shows a plan view of a constructional variant of the hinge element according to Figure 14;

- Figure 17 shows a plan view of another hinge element according to the invention;

- Figure 8 shows an exploded perspective view of the hinge element according to Figure 17;

- Figure 19 shows a plan view of another hinge element according to the invention;

- Figure 20 shows an exploded perspective view of the hinge element according to Figure 19;

- Figure 21 shows a cross-sectional view along the line XXI -XXI of Figure 20.

With reference to the figures, Figure 1 shows, denoted generically by 10, a first spring hinge for spectacles made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The hinge 10 comprises a casing 11 which defines internally a cavity 12 which slidably houses a hinge element 13 which has a front pivoting end 14 advantageously provided with an eyelet or hole 15 for the pivoting system (not shown since it belongs per se to the prior art and may be easily imagined by the person skilled in the art) for example in the form of a screw.

The hinge element 13 extends inside the casing in the sliding direction and has a rear opposite end 16 against which resilient means 17 contained inside the casing act. The resilient means 17 advantageously react between the rear end 16, formed in the manner of a projection 22 acting as a bearing surface for the spring means, and the casing. In particular, the resilient means may advantageously push with a first thrusting end thereof against the rear end 16 of the hinge element and react with an opposite second reaction end against a bearing surface 18 inside the casing.

The resilient means may be advantageously formed with one or more helical springs 17 which are arranged parallel to the extension of the hinge element. Figure 2 shows for example two parallel helical springs. Advantageously, a guiding and end-of-travel pin 19 may be inserted inside the helical spring.

In order to fix the hinge 10, the casing 11 may advantageously comprise at the bottom support feet 20, 21 intended for known fixing by means of electric spot welding. Two of these feet are advantageously close and at the sides of the exit slot 23 of the hinge element from the casing, while the third foot is advantageously situated close to the rear end of the casing. Other known fixing systems may in any case be provided according to needs.

The hinge element may also advantageously comprise a shoe 24 for guiding and sliding on the surface to which the hinge is fixed. the casing is in the example advantageously formed so as to be open downwards (regarded here as being the bearing direction to the fixing surface of the hinge). The casing may, however, be formed with a bottom closing lid or have a cavity open in an other direction (for example at the front) for introduction of the hinge element.

At least the section of the hinge element which terminates at the rear end is formed by elements arranged adjacent (in particular parallel) and in lateral contact with each other. In this section the elements are advantageously independent, namely are not rigidly fastened to each other towards the rear part.

For the purposes of the present invention the adjacent elements which form the hinge element are regarded as being arranged in contact with each other even though there is minimum play between them.

As can be clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3, the adjacent elements which form part of the hinge element may extend as far as the front end of the hinge element, thus forming two or more elements with the same profile (for example, also completely identical or a mirror image) and arranged entirely adjacent over the whole of their length.

The front part of the hinge element forms a wing which is generally intended to be pivoted with or between corresponding wings of a part (not shown) for connecting the hinge to an element which is to be hingeably mounted, as may be easily imagined by the person skilled in the art. For example, the casing 11 is usually intended to be fastened to a side-arm (not shown) so as to form a hinged articulation between the side-arm and spectacles provided with the said part for connection to the hinge element.

Below, for the sake of simplicity, in general only the hinge elements of the various embodiments according to the invention are shown and described in detail, since the corresponding casings and the associated resilient means may be easily imagined by the person skilled in the art on the basis of the description provided herein.

The number of adjacent elements may vary. Figure 5 shows, for example, the case where the adjacent elements which form the hinge element are two in number (denoted genetically by 13a and 13b). Figure 6 shows the case where they are four in number (denoted genetically by 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d). All or only some of the adjacent elements may form with their rear end a bearing surface 22 for the resilient means. The adjacent elements may be connected together in the vicinity of the front end 14 of the element. This connection may be performed in various ways, for example by fixing the same pivot pin (not shown) passing inside the hole 15, gluing, mechanical fixing, cutting of the adjacent parts from a single block of material left intact in the region of the front end 14. Fixing together of the adjacent elements may also be performed by means of one or more connection elements which are inserted transversely between For the sake of clarity, in the various embodiments according to the invention, similar parts will be indicated by the same numbering increased in each case by steps of 100. Figures 7 and 8 therefore show an embodiment of the hinge element, denoted generically by 113, in which a locking pin or rivet 126 is used as transverse connecting element, being inserted transversely between the adjacent elements 113a, 113b forming the hinge element. The connection is advantageously close to the front end 114. The rear end 116 has the bearing surface 122 for the spring.

Figure 9 shows another embodiment of the hinge element, denoted generically by 213, which is formed by shearing a metal sheet so as to obtain two parts 213a and 213b in a mirror arrangement with respect to a mid-line 230 parallel to the direction of extension of the hinge element. The two parts are joined together in a zone close to the front end. The part thus obtained is folded along the line 230 such that the two parts 213a and 213b are arranged adjacent and in contact with each other, with the folded joining zone 224 (as shown clearly in Figure 10) advantageously forming a sliding shoe similar to the sliding shoe 24 of the embodiment shown in Figure 4. Where necessary, stamping of the sliding shoe may also be performed.

Figure 11 shows a further embodiment of the hinge, denoted generically by 310. The hinge 310 comprises a casing 311 which defines a cavity 312 which slidably houses a hinge element 313 with a front end 314 thereof which projects at the front from the casing so as to form the pivot of the hinge.

The hinge element 313 is formed by two elements 313a and 313b arranged adjacent and in contact with each other and having their rear ends 316 folded at right angles in opposite lateral directions so as to form bearing ends 322, each for a respective spring 317 arranged on one of the two sides of the hinge element so as to react against a bearing surface 318 on the sides of the exit slot 323 of the hinge element from the casing.

Figure 12 shows a variation of the hinge element, denoted generically by 413, in which the spring 417 is fitted onto the hinge element along its rear section with adjacent elements, where essentially an elongated pin which axially receives the spring is formed. The two elements 413a and 4 3b arranged adjacent and in contact with each other have respective rear ends 416 which are folded at right angles after insertion of the spring so as to form bearing ends 422 for the spring. Alternatively the ends may be enlarged by means of riveting.

It will be easy for the person skilled in the art to imagine how the whole assembly may be designed with dimensions so as to be inserted inside a casing similar to that shown, for example, in Figure 11 , such that the single spring 417 is able to react at the front ;ponding bearing surfaces of the casing.

Figure 13 shows a further variant of the hinge element, denoted by 513, whereby the hinge element comprises two elements 513a and 513b which are arranged adjacent and in lateral contact with each other and one (513a) of which also forms the hinging end 5 4, while the other one terminates beforehand at the front.

Advantageously, the element 5 3a has a front part with a greater thickness so as to receive flush the element 513b. A screw 523 forms the transverse connection element for fastening together the two adjacent elements. Both the elements terminate at the rear end 516 with downwardly directed projections 522 for forming the bearing surface for the spring, in a manner similar to the preceding embodiments.

Although it has been found to be advantageous for the adjacent elements to be in lateral contact with each other with rr inimum play, it is also possible to imagine the adjacent elements being close together, but separated from each other as far as the front end. Advantageously the distance between the two adjacent elements may not be greater than twice the thickness of the adjacent elements and, preferably, in the region of this thickness.

Figures 14 and 15 show, for example, a hinge element 613 in which the two adjacent elements 613a and 613b are substantially identical to each other, with a spacing element 641 which surrounds the pivoting hole 615 of the pivoting end 614. The ends 616 of the two adjacent elements are thus spaced from each other.

Figure 16 shows a variant 713 of the hinging element where the spacer element is formed as one piece with the element 713a, by means of an increased thickness zone of the front end 714 of the element against which the element 713b bears.

Figures 17 and 18 show a variant of the hinge element, denoted genetically by 813, in which the two elements 813a and 81b arranged adjacent and in lateral contact with each other are substantially identical to each other.

The front sections of these adjacent elements 813a and 813b form the pivoting end 814 of the hinge element 813. The pivoting hole 815 is arranged in this pivoting end 814. The rear sections of these adjacent elements 813a and 813b form an elongated pin onto which the spring 817 is axially fitted.

A locking ring 822, which forms a first bearing end for the spring 817, is mounted on the respective rear ends 816 of the elements 813a and 813b. Preferably, fixing of the ring 822 is performed by deforming by means of compression the outer circumference of the ring 822 around the respective rear ends of the elements 813a and 813b.

In a known manner, the hinge element 813 may be slidably locked inside the casing of the hinge by means of a fastener 823.

This fastener 823, on the one hand, allows the elements 813a and 813b to be guided cements and, on the other hand, forms a second bearing end for the spring 817.

The sections of the adjacent elements 813a and 813b onto which the spring is fitted has a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section.

Figures 19-21 show a further variant of the hinge element denoted genetically by 913. This variant differs from the variant shown in Figures 17 and 18 in that the sections of the adjacent elements 913a and 913b onto which the spring 917 is fitted have a substantially semi-circular shaped cross-section (see Figure 21).

The semi-circular cross-section is obtained by means of stamping. Advantageously, owing to the semi-circular cross-section of the portion of the elements 913a and 913b onto which the spring is fitted, it is possible to obtain stronger hinge elements, making optimum use of the space available inside the spring 917.

At this point it is clear how the predefined objects have been achieved. It has been found that the hinge element of a hinge according to the present invention is stronger and less subject to breakage during use.

Moreover, the hinge element is easy to manufacture for example by means of shearing of the various parts from a sheet of suitable metallic material. A metal sheet of suitable small thickness may be easily used for example. The use of a metal sheet of suitable material may also increase the lateral resilient flexibility properties of the hinge element along its rear section. Owing to the greater strength it is also possible to obtain hinges which are lighter and/ or have smaller dimensions.

Obviously, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovative principles of the present invention is provided by way of example of these innovative principles and must therefore not be regarded as limiting the scope of the rights claimed herein. For example, the technical features of the various solutions shown here may be combined with each other depending on the specific needs and requirements. For example, the screw-type fixing system shown in Figure 3 as well as the pin or rivet type fixing system shown in Figure 7 may be used in the other embodiments shown, as may be easily imagined by the person skilled in the art. Similarly the solution of obtaining the hinge element from a single sheet from which it is cut and folded, as shown in Figure 9 and 10, may be used also in the other embodiments shown (for example in the embodiment of Figure 12). In addition to obtaining the adjacent elements by means of shearing operations alone, shaping stamping operations may also be performed, as may now be easily imagined by the person skilled in the art. Finally, the exact forms and proportions of the various parts may vary depending on the specific practical requirements.

Claims

1. Spring hinge for spectacles comprising a casing (11, 311) which slidably houses a hinge element (13, 113, 313, 413, 513, 613, 713, 813, 913) which has a front pivoting end (14, 114, 214, 314, 514, 614, 714, 814, 914) and extends inside the casing in the sliding direction as far as a rear end thereof (16, 116, 216, 316, 516, 616, 716, 816, 916) against which resilient means (17, 317, 417, 817, 917) contained inside the casing act, characterized in that at least one section of the hinge element which terminates in the said rear end is formed by elements (13a,b; 113a,b; 313a,b; 413a,b; 513a,b; 613a,b; 713a,b; 813a,b; 913a,b) arranged adjacent and in lateral contact with each other.

2. Spring hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the adjacent elements terminate at their rear end with an own bearing part for the resilient means.

3. Spring hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two adjacent elements extend as far as the front end (14, 114, 214, 314, 614, 714, 814, 914) of the hinge element.

4. Spring hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent elements are connected together in the vicinity of the front end.

5. Spring hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent elements are at least two in number.

6. Spring hinge according to Claim 5, characterized in that the adjacent elements (213a, 213b) are formed by a single sheet folded along a joining section of the two elements.

7. Spring hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the resilient means (17, 317, 417) have a first rear thrusting end which acts on the said rear end of the hinge element and an opposite second front reaction end which reacts against the casing.

8. Spring hinge according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the resilient means comprise at least one helical spring (17, 317, 417, 817, 917).

9. Spring hinge according to Claim 8, characterized in that the rear ends of the adjacent elements (313a, 313b) are oppositely directed laterally to form bearing surfaces (322) for respective springs (317) arranged on the sides of the hinge element.

10. Spring hinge according to Claim 8, characterized in that the adjacent elements (413a, 413b; 813a, 813b; 913a, 913b) form along a section an elongated pin onto which the helical spring (417, 817, 917) is axially fitted.

11. Spring hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent elements have the same profile.

12. Spring hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent elements are connected together by means of a transverse connecting element (126, 522) close to the pivoting end.

13. Spring hinge according to Claim 8, characterized in that a locking ring (822, 922) for ; (817, 917) is mounted on the rear ends (816, 916) of the elements (813a,b; 913a,b) arranged adjacent and in lateral contact with each other.

14. Method for manufacturing a spring hinge for spectacles comprising a casing (11, 311) which slidably houses a hinge element (13, 113, 313, 413, 513, 613, 713, 813, 913) which has a front pivoting end (14, 114, 214, 314, 514, 614, 714, 814, 914) and extends inside the casing in the sliding direction as far as a rear end thereof (16, 116, 216, 316, 516, 616, 716, 816, 916) against which resilient means (17, 317, 417, 817, 917) contained inside the casing act, the method comprising the step of manufacturing the hinge element, at least along a section which terminates in the said rear end, by means of the adjacent arrangement and positioning with lateral contact of elements which are cut from a metal sheet.

15. Method according to Claim 14, wherein, following the shearing step and before the adjacent arrangement and positioning with lateral contact, at least one section of the elements forming the hinge element (813, 913) undergoes a stamping operation in order to obtain semi-circular shaped surfaces.