WO2015044253A1

WO2015044253A1 - Spectacles frame

Info

Publication number: WO2015044253A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/070461
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Bovo; Sylvain LAMY QUIQUE
Original assignee: Code Adn
Priority date: 2013-09-27
Filing date: 2014-09-25
Publication date: 2015-04-02
Also published as: FR3011343A1; FR3011343B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a spectacles frame comprising a front (1) for receiving the lenses and two temples (2a, 2b) articulated on two lugs (1a, 1b) of the front by a hinge (3), characterised in that each hinge (3) comprises: - a first part comprising two coaxial knuckles (300), - a second part comprising three knuckles (310, 320), two first knuckles (310) being coaxial and the third knuckle (320) having an axis parallel to but not coincident with the axis of the first two knuckles (310), - a pin (33) inserted in the respective knuckles of the first and second part of the hinge, the third knuckle (320) of the second part of the hinge exerting a frictional force on the pin (33). The invention also relates to a pair of spectacles comprising said frame and an assembly comprising said pair of spectacles and a case suitable for storing it.

Description

MOUNT OF GLASSES FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spectacle frame, a pair of spectacles comprising said frame and an assembly formed of such a pair of spectacles and a case specially adapted for storing this pair of spectacles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For casual eyeglass wearers, it is useful to have a frame that is compact enough to fit in a case when the glasses are not worn.

The requirement of compactness also applies to the case, to allow the user to keep it easily accessible, for example in a pocket or a purse, especially during a trip.

This case is further intended to ensure the protection of the pair of glasses against shock or crushing, and must therefore be sufficiently rigid.

On the other hand, insofar as the pair of glasses is intended to be frequently worn and then stored, it is desirable that the hinge connecting the branches to the face of the frame is not likely to disassemble and retains an opening effort and closing substantially constant over time.

However, the screw hinges are not satisfactory on these aspects and there is frequently a loosening of the screw after a certain period of use, which, on the one hand, reduces the quality perceived by the user, the friction hinge becoming weaker, and secondly, can lead to the loss of the screw, thus making the pair of glasses unusable.

Moreover, given the requirements of compactness described above, the hinge must have the smallest possible footprint.

An object of the invention is therefore to design an eyeglass frame which has a great compactness while having a hinge which is reliable and whose friction remains stable over time.

Another object of the invention is to design a case specially adapted to store such a pair of glasses, said case to have a small footprint while providing protection for the pair of glasses it contains. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an eyeglass frame comprising a face for receiving lenses and two branches articulated on two tenons of the face by a hinge, characterized in that each hinge comprises: a first part comprising two coaxial knuckles,

a second portion comprising three knuckles, two first knuckles being coaxial and the third knuckle having an axis parallel to and not coincident with the axis of the first two knuckles,

- A pin inserted in the respective knuckles of the first and second part of the hinge, the third knuckle of the second part of the hinge exerting a frictional force on the pin.

Particularly advantageously, the distance between the axis of the third knuckle of the second portion of the hinge and the axis of the first two knuckles of said second portion is between 30 and 100% of the diameter of the pin.

According to one embodiment, each tenon comprises the first part of the hinge and one end of each branch comprises the second part of the hinge.

Preferably, the tenons and the branches are made of metal and the pins are made of metal or ceramic.

According to an advantageous embodiment, each branch comprises a retractable sleeve at its end opposite the hinge, said sleeve being slidably movable along the branch between an extended position in which the frame is adapted to be worn by a user, each sleeve resting on an ear of the user, and a retracted position in which the frame is intended to be folded and stored, the distance between the hinge and the end of the sleeve being less than the width of the face

According to one embodiment, said sleeve comprises an outer casing made of plastic material intended to be in contact with the user's ear and a metal insert inside said casing.

Advantageously, the metal insert has a mass chosen to balance the total mass of the frame between the nose and the ears of the user.

Each branch advantageously comprises a retaining lug of the sleeve, said lug cooperating with an opening of the sleeve to lock the sleeve in the deployed position.

Preferably, said lug is retractable between a free position in which it extends at least partially in said opening of the sleeve when said sleeve is in the extended position and a retracted position in which it is constrained inside the sleeve when said sleeve is in the retracted position.

In the case where the sleeve comprises the aforementioned metal insert, said insert cooperates with the retractable lug.

Another object relates to a pair of spectacles comprising a frame as described above and glasses assembled on said frame. Finally, another subject of the invention relates to an assembly comprising a pair of spectacles as described above and a case adapted to store said pair of spectacles, characterized in that said case is in the form of a parallelepipedal case whose a bottom is covered with a mat, the dimensions of the case being adapted to receive the pair of glasses in a position in which the glasses are in contact with said mat.

Particularly advantageously, the surface of the mat in contact with the glasses is provided with a plurality of flexible pins.

The mat is preferably an elastomeric material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame according to the invention, in a partially folded position,

FIG. 2 is a top view of the elements forming the hinge, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled hinge,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a frame comprising a sleeve in a deployed position on a branch,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the components of the retractable sleeve, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sleeve respectively in the deployed position (top) and in the retracted position (bottom) on a branch,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a case according to the invention,

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the housing and the mat of said case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame according to the invention, in the partially folded position.

In a manner known per se, said frame comprises a face 1 for receiving optical or solar glasses and two branches 2a, 2b articulated on two tenons 1a, 1b of the face by a hinge 3.

The hinge 3 is a hinge without screws, which avoids the risk of reducing the perceived quality of the frame due to loosening of the screws.

More precisely, as illustrated in FIG. 2 (right-hand diagram), pin 1a has two coaxial knuckles 300, said knuckles being each arranged in a respective blade 30 which extends from stud 2a in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face 1. The branch 2a has three knuckles: two coaxial knuckles 310 and a knuckle 320 whose axis is parallel to but not coincidental with the axis of the two knuckles 310.

Each of said knuckles is arranged in a respective blade 31, 32 which extends to the end of the branch 2a.

The distance between the axis of the knuckle 320 and the axis of the knuckles 310 is chosen so as to allow the insertion of a pin through all of said knuckles while benefiting from the elasticity of the blade 32 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the knuckle 320, the knuckle 320 also exerting, due to its offset, a frictional force on the pin.

For example, an eccentricity (that is to say a distance between the axis of the knuckle 320 and the axis of the knuckles 310) is chosen between 30 and 100% of the diameter of the pin 33.

For information only, for a pin of 1 mm in diameter, it is possible to choose an eccentricity of 0.55 mm.

The distance between the blades 30 of the pin 1a and the distance between the blades 31, 32 of the branch 2a, and the thickness of the blades 30, 31, 32 are chosen so that the blades 30 of the pin 1a can be inserted between the blades 31, 32 of the branch 2a to assemble the hinge, as shown in the middle diagram of Figure 2.

The hinge further comprises a pin 33 inserted into the knuckles 30, 31,

32 (left diagram of Figure 2).

Due to the shift of the axis of the knuckle 320 relative to the axis of the other knuckles, a friction force is applied to the pin 33.

This design of the hinge therefore, as a function of the offset imposed on the axis of the knuckle 320 and the elasticity of the blade 32 in which it is arranged, to regulate the friction of the hinge and consequently the effort required to open and fold the branches of the mount.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembled hinge 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the first part of the hinge, consisting of two knuckles 300, belongs to the post 1a while the second part of the hinge, consisting of the three knuckles 310, 320, belongs to branch 2a.

It goes without saying, however, that the first and the second part of the hinge could be reversed, that is to say the three knuckles 310, 320 should be provided on the post and the two tenons 300 on the branch, without however depart from the scope of the present invention.

Particularly advantageously, the tenons and the branches are metal while the pins are metal, ceramic or any other material mechanically resistant, so that the hinges are robust, substantially indestructible and the friction force remains stable over time.

On the other hand, another advantage of said hinges is that they have a very small footprint, especially compared to a conventional screw hinge.

As an illustration, we can consider that the dimensions of the hinges is reduced by half: for a screw head diameter of 2 mm in a screw hinge, a pin of 1 mm diameter is sufficient for a hinge compliant with the 'invention.

This small footprint of the hinges helps to minimize the size of the frame, in combination with an advantageous embodiment of the branches described below.

According to this embodiment, each branch comprises a retractable sleeve at its end opposite the hinge, said sleeve being slidably movable along the branch between a deployed position in which the frame is adapted to be worn by a user, the sleeve then resting on an ear of the user, and a retracted position in which the frame is intended to be folded and stored, the distance between the hinge and the end of the sleeve then being less than the width of the face.

Figure 4 illustrates a frame comprising such a sleeve 206, shown in the deployed position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the various components of said sleeve. On the right part of the figure are shown the two main parts of the sleeve 206, namely an outer envelope comprising two substantially parallel faces 202, 203 and an insert 204 intended to be arranged inside said envelope.

The envelope is in an elongated form, with an inner housing sized to allow the insertion of the branch 2a.

The envelope has the function of ensuring contact with the ear of the user and is therefore made of a material that is pleasant to the touch and / or hypoallergenic, preferably with a low slip surface state, and possibly having a certain elasticity. .

The length of the envelope is typically of the order of a few centimeters. The envelope may in particular be made of a plastic or elastomeric material (for example cellulose acetate or cellulose propionate).

The purpose of the insert 204 is to stiffen the sleeve 206.

It has for this purpose an elongated shape having a length substantially equal to that of the envelope.

Advantageously, the insert further allows, by its mass, to balance the weight of the pair of glasses to the rear, so as to compensate for the weight of the glasses.

This provides a balancing of the weight of the pair of glasses between the nose and the ears of the user, which ensures a better comfort for the latter. The insert is advantageously metallic, its dimensions (and in particular its thickness) being chosen to give it the desired mass to balance the weight of the pair of glasses.

The insert 204 is assembled inside the envelope by any appropriate means, such as glue, for example.

Once assembled, as illustrated in the middle of Figure 5, it is presented vis-à-vis the branch 2a and the end 200 of said branch is introduced.

The sleeve assembled on the branch is illustrated on the left part of Figure 5. Figure 6 shows sectional views of the sleeve 206 on the branch 2a in the deployed position (top figure) and in the retracted position (bottom figure).

To ensure the retention of the sleeve 206 on the branch 2a, said branch advantageously comprises a retractable lug 201 which cooperates with an opening 205 provided in the insert 204.

At rest, the retractable lug 201 is shaped so as to extend beyond the plane of the branch.

In this case, as illustrated in the top view, the lug extends into the opening 205 of the insert, thus preventing any movement of the sleeve towards the rear of the branch, which may lead to a separation of the sleeve. vis-à-vis the branch.

In other words, the lug 201 constitutes a rear stop limiting the sliding of the sleeve along the branch.

The respective positions of the lug 201 and the opening 205 are designed so that, when the lug is in said opening, the sleeve is positioned at a user's ear.

The lug 201 is, however, sufficiently flexible to be able to be stressed during a sliding of the sleeve 206 forwards (arrow F) and to be retracted against the insert 204.

It is thus possible to return the sleeve 206 to a retracted position (bottom figure) in which the distance between the hinge and the end of the sleeve is less than the width of the face, which provides a small bulk of the frame a folded.

In this case, it is the end 200 of the branch which provides a stop against the movement of the sleeve towards the face.

Although only two positions of the sleeve with respect to the branch are shown in FIG. 6, it will be noted that it is quite possible to provide more positions for retaining the sleeve with respect to the branch, in order, for example, to provide different sleeve settings.

These intermediate retaining positions can be obtained by the existence of several retractable lugs on the branch and / or several openings in the insert. Furthermore, as mentioned above, if the branch 2a is metallic, it may present, in wearing situation by a user, a certain curve oriented outwards, this curve ensuring a better comfort for the user but can be decreased even canceled by the constraint imposed by the sleeve 206 when it is returned to the retracted position.

In this second situation, the limited curve of the branch reduces its size and thus facilitates its storage.

On the other hand, even if the sleeve does not completely cancel the curve of the branch, it can be designed flexible enough to be flattened when the frame is stored in a case whose height is less than the thickness folded mount.

According to another aspect of the invention, the pair of spectacles which has just been described can be stored in a particularly compact protective and transport case.

Said case is shown in perspective in FIG.

This case 4 is in the form of a parallelepipedal casing 40, a bottom 400 is covered with a carpet 42.

The housing is closed by a cover 41, which is for example hinged by a hinge. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to this particular embodiment but applies to any lid, whether it is integral with the housing or not.

The entire housing and the lid is advantageously rigid, which protects the pair of glasses from shocks and / or the risk of crushing.

In addition, the rigidity of the cover and the housing can possibly slightly constrain the branches of the frame if they are curved and sufficiently flexible.

The housing and the cover are for example made of plastic and / or metal. Unlike conventional cases in which it is sought to avoid contact between the glasses and the inside of the case to avoid the risk of scratches, especially due to impurities that have deposited on the walls of the case, the The dimensions of the case 4 are chosen to receive the pair of glasses in a position in which the lenses are in contact with the carpet 42.

This positioning of the pair of glasses minimizes the size of the case, which can be worn in a pocket of the user, in the manner of a mobile phone, or in a small bag.

Thus, the thickness of the case can be reduced to about 16 mm.

The mat material is also chosen to limit the slippage of the glasses on the carpet and has antistatic properties to prevent dust from adhering to it.

The scratches of the glasses are avoided by the fact that the carpet surface is provided with a plurality of flexible pins 420 (see FIG. 8) in contact with the glasses. Said pins are made of a material that is not likely to scratch the lenses.

Another function of said pins is to provide a distance between the glasses and the bottom of the case in which dust would have accumulated, thus avoiding that these dust do not come dirty or scratch the glasses.

The carpet 42 may advantageously be made by molding an elastomeric material.

In addition to the bottom of the housing, the mat can cover the walls of the housing, or be nested on the periphery of the housing for better holding.

Naturally, the invention applies to both corrective glasses and sunglasses.

The user who has two pairs of glasses can then use the case to store the pair of glasses that he does not wear.

Claims

1. Eyeglass frame comprising a face (1) for receiving lenses and two arms (2a, 2b) articulated on two tenons (1a, 1b) of the face by a hinge (3), characterized in that each hinge (3 ) includes:

a first part comprising two coaxial knuckles (300),

- a second part comprising three knuckles (310, 320), two first knuckles (310) being coaxial and the third knuckle (320) having an axis parallel to and not coincident with the axis of the two first knuckles (310),

- A pin (33) inserted into the respective knuckles of the first and second part of the hinge, the third knuckle (320) of the second part of the hinge exerting a frictional force on the pin (33).

2. Mount according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the axis of the third knuckle (320) of the second part of the hinge and the axis of the first two knuckles (310) of said second part is between 30 and 100% of the diameter of the pin (33).

3. Frame according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each post (1a) comprises the first part of the hinge (3) and that one end of each branch (2a, 2b) comprises the second part of the hinge (3).

4. Mount according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tenons and the branches are metal and that the pins are metal or ceramic.

5. Mount according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each leg (2a, 2b) comprises a sleeve (206) retractable at its end opposite the hinge, said sleeve (206) being slidably movable along of the limb (2a, 2b) between an extended position in which the frame is adapted to be worn by a user, each sleeve (206) resting on an ear of the user, and a retracted position in which the frame is intended for be folded and stored, the distance between the hinge and the end of the sleeve being less than the width of the face (1).

6. Mount according to claim 5, characterized in that the sleeve (206) comprises an outer casing (202, 203) of plastic material intended to be in contact with the ear of the user and a metal insert (204) to inside said envelope.

7. Mount according to claim 6, characterized in that the metal insert (204) has a mass selected to balance the total mass of the frame between the nose and the ears of the user.

8. Mount according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that each branch (2a, 2b) comprises a lug (201) for retaining the sleeve (206), said lug (201) cooperating with an opening (205) the sleeve (206) for locking the sleeve in the extended position.

9. Mount according to claim 8, characterized in that said pin (201) is retractable between a free position in which it extends at least partially in said opening (205) of the sleeve (206) when said sleeve is in the deployed position and a retracted position in which it is constrained within the sleeve (206) when said sleeve is in the retracted position.

10. Frame according to claim 9 in combination with claim 6, characterized in that the metal insert (204) cooperates with the retractable lug (201).

1 1. Pair of spectacles comprising a frame according to one of claims 1 to

10 and glasses assembled on said mount.

12. A set comprising a pair of spectacles according to claim 1 1 and a case (4) adapted to store said pair of spectacles, characterized in that said case (4) is in the form of a parallelepipedal case (40) which a bottom (400) is covered with a mat (42), the dimensions of the case being adapted to receive the pair of glasses in a position in which the glasses are in contact with said mat (42).

13. The assembly of claim 12, characterized in that the surface of the mat (42) in contact with the glasses is provided with a plurality of flexible pins (420).

14. Assembly according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the carpet (42) is an elastomeric material.