WO2015159222A1

WO2015159222A1 - Frames for spectacles

Info

Publication number: WO2015159222A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/052717
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ruggero MONTAGNESE
Original assignee: Montagnese Ruggero
Priority date: 2014-04-14
Filing date: 2015-04-14
Publication date: 2015-10-22

Abstract

Frames for spectacles, comprising a front component (11) and two nose pads (14) associated to the front component (11). The frames for spectacles also comprise two support elements (15; 115) attached to the front component (11). The support elements (15; 115) are configured to support each nose pad (14) in a mobile manner in order to take them selectively to at least a first position of use and at least a second position of use angularly offset with respect to the first position of use.

Description

"FRAMES FOR SPECTACLES"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns frames for spectacles with nose pads adjustable between at least two positions of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Frames for spectacles are known, which comprise a front component or lug that has shape and size such as to support two lenses in order to keep them aligned with respect to the user's face according to an optimal optical axis. Known frames for spectacles also comprise nose pads, fixed to the front component, that allow the frames to rest comfortably on the user's nose. The nose pads in question can advantageously be shaped according to known shapes that follow the conformation of the user's nose.

Moreover, the nose pads can be made of a soft material and/or covered so that they rest comfortably on the user's nose.

The nose pads can be attached to the front component by means of support elements made in a single body or separately with respect to the front component. The connection mode between the nose pads and the support elements can be by jointing, threaded couplings, snap-in attachment or other possible known variants. These connection modes, even though releasable, do not generally allow to alter the position of the nose pad with respect to the support element, but only a minimum adjustment that requires the use of professional dedicated instruments not always available to the general public.

Further, the operations to adjust the nose pads with respect to the lug by positioning the support elements are also provided to adjust the position of the optical axis of the lenses with respect to the user's eyes.

Nose pads are also known attached to the fixed part of the frames and with minimum degrees of freedom. For example document DE-A-35.37.217 describes a nose pad for spectacles with a small plate that can be positioned during use on the user's nose. The nose pad comprises an insert protruding from the small plate and having a spherical portion. The insert is also provided with a stem protruding from the spherical portion and which develops along an axis orthogonal to the support plane of the small plate on the user's nose. The insert can be housed in a cavity with an insertion aperture and made in a seating, of a deformable material, connected to the frames of the spectacles. Between the insert and the cavity there are means able to allow limited rotations of the spherical portion around two orthogonal axes and contained in a normal plane to the stem, and to prevent rotation around the axis of the stem. This solution is particularly complex and even though it allows some degrees of freedom for the nose pad it does not allow to alleviate the effect of pressure of the spectacles on the user's nose in the event of prolonged use.

Document DE-U-297.18.937 on the other hand describes a nose pad for spectacles provided with a spherical joint connected between a fixed support part that is connected to the lug, and a part that is connected to the small plate, and which rests during use on the user's nose. This solution, even though it allows an easy adjustment of the small plate to the nose, is not able to define a precise positioning of the spectacles on the user's nose. The spherical joint described above is not controlled and adjusted and can cause undesired positioning of the spectacles on the nose, with movements of the optical axis of the lenses and therefore consequent problems for the user's vision. Moreover, a spherical joint is not able to ensure positioning over time of the nose pad with respect to the frames, but possible movements of the user can cause alterations in the position of the nose pad with respect to the frames.

Another solution of frames with orientable nose pads is also known from document US-A-1.784.013. In this solution, the nose pad is provided with a hinging portion that pivots on a corresponding hinging portion attached to the frames. The pivoting axis is located distanced with respect to the support plane of the small plate and allows the latter to be able to rotate around the pivoting axis as a function of the particular conformation of the user's nose. Although it allows the nose pads to be adjusted to the user's nose, this solution is also not able to alleviate the pressure that the spectacles can cause for the user during prolonged use. A solution for spectacle frames is also known from document A-2.843.115 provided with a plurality of adjustment means associated with the nose pads and provided to adjust their position with respect to the frames.

In particular the adjustment means comprise a spherical joint configured to adjust the orientation of the support small plates with respect to the frames. With the spherical joint it is possible to obtain adjustments of the orientation of the support plate in all directions, that is, to allow an adjustment of the rotation of the plate around the center of the joint sphere. The positioning of the small plate is then constrained, with respect to the frames, with the help of screws. These positioning operations, although allowing an ample possibility of adjustment, must be done by an expert operator to avoid altering the optical axis of the lenses of the frames. Therefore, with this solution, once the precise positioning has been defined of the nose pad with respect to the frames the user can no longer alter the positioning of the nose pad with respect to the frames simply and rapidly, except by having recourse to specific instruments and a specialized operator. Moreover, the solution described in this document is particularly complex and costly to implement.

It is also known that a prolonged use of spectacles by a user, for example the whole day, can cause inflammation such as irritation or bruising, which can develop in the area where the nose pads rest on the user's nose. For this reason the user can feel the need, at some points during the day, to alter the position of the nose pads so as to alleviate the pressure of the frames on the portion of nose particularly effected. However, this need must take into account the necessity of keeping the optical axis of the lenses unchanged with respect to the user's face. Apparatuses are also known that allow to alter the position of the nose pad with respect to the housing seating that use systems with water bubbles. However, these apparatuses are still too costly and not suitable for mass production.

One purpose of the present invention is to make frames for spectacles in which the position of the nose pads can be altered without the help of external instruments, such as screwdrivers and pincers.

Another purpose of the present invention is to make frames for spectacles in which the movement of the nose pad does not alter the optical axis of the lenses with respect to the user's vision.

A further objective of the present invention is to make frames for spectacles that can be produced and sold at competitive prices.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, frames for spectacles comprise a front support component for two lenses.

The frames for spectacles also comprise two support elements attached to the front component and two nose pads each provided with a first portion with a support surface disposed, during use, in contact with the user's nose, and a second portion solidly attached to the first portion. Further, connection means are provided to connect one of the second portions to one of the support elements, in this way defining the connection between the nose pads and the front component. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the connection means comprise guide elements made on the second portion and on the support element and configured to allow a rotation of the second portion with respect to the support element only around an axis of rotation incident with respect to the support surface of the first portion, to selectively take the nose pad to at least a first position of use and at least a second position of use angularly offset with respect to the first position of use. The axis of rotation of the nose pads is positioned, with respect to the front component, so that the rotation of the nose pads does not alter the position of the optical axis of alignment of the lenses with respect to the user.

With this solution a series of operating advantages are obtained, connected to the possibility of altering the position of the nose pads between at least two positions. This allows to alleviate pressure exerted by the frames on the user's nose. Indeed, this mechanism is suited to daily use and does not require the use of other tools such as screwdrivers and pincers for example, and the adjustment action can be done with a simple action of the user's fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some forms of embodiment, given as a non- restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: - fig. 1 is a perspective view of frames for spectacles with adjustable nose pads;

- fig. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of fig. 1 in accordance with a possible form of embodiment;

- fig. 3 is a front section of fig. 2;

- fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of fig. 1 in accordance with a possible second form of embodiment;

- fig. 5 is a perspective view of a possible variant of fig. 4;

- fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a possible variant of fig. 2;

- fig. 7 is a section view of a possible variant of the present invention;

- fig. 8 is another enlarged perspective view of a possible variant of the present invention;

- fig. 9 is another enlarged perspective view of a possible variant of the present invention;

- fig. 10 is a partly sectioned perspective view of a possible variant of the present invention;

- fig. 1 1 is a section view of a possible variant of the present invention;

- fig. 12 is a view in section from XII to XII of fig. 1 1.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall comprise all such modifications and variants.

Figs. 1-4 are used to describe forms of embodiment of frames 10 for spectacles comprising a front component 1 1 that supports two lenses 12, for example for sunglasses, spectacles, safety eye wear or similar.

The frames 10 can also comprise support elements 15 attached to the front component 1 1 and each configured to support a respective nose pad 14.

The support element 15 can be made in a single body with the front component 1 1 , or connected to it by known techniques, such as for example welding, thermal coupling, threaded coupling, fixed joint or a combination thereof.

Each nose pad 14 can be mounted in a releasable manner on the support element 15.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention each support element 15 is configured to support selectively mobile each of the nose pads 14 between a first position of use and at least a second position of use that is angularly offset with respect to the first position of use.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention each nose pad 14 is selectively rotatable on the support element 15 at least around an axis of rotation X in order to pass from the first to the second position of use.

The nose pad 14 and the support element 15 are configured so that during the rotation of the nose pad 14 between the first and second position of use the alignment of the frames 10 on the user's face remains unaltered. The correct alignment and therefore the position of the frames 10 for spectacles with respect to the user's face is indicated by an optical axis Y which, shown for example in fig. 1 , is horizontal during use.

In accordance with a possible solution the optical axis Y is located in correspondence to the conjunction of the focuses of the two lenses 12.

Each of the nose pads 14 is provided with a support surface 29 disposed during use in contact with the user's nose.

In accordance with the present invention, the axis of rotation X of the nose pads 14 is incident, that is, it intersects the support surface 29.

In accordance with a possible solution, the axis of rotation X is orthogonal to the support surface 29. This condition ensures that no matter how the nose pads 14 are rotated, the correct positioning of the optical axis Y on the user's face is ensured.

In accordance with the present invention, the nose pad 14 can comprise a first portion 20 that, during use, can be in contact with the user's nose, and a second portion 21 solidly attached to the first portion 20, and that, during use, can be associated with the support element 15.

The first portion 20 and the second portion 21 can be made in a single body or made as separate elements and subsequently connected to each other.

According to possible solutions, shown for example in figs. 6 and 10 the first portion 20 and the second portion 21 are integrated with each other in a single component.

The first portion 20 and the second portion 21 can be made of a material suitable to be in contact with the skin. Merely by way of example the material with which the nose pad 14 is made can be chosen from a group comprising a polymer material, a silicone material, a composite or a combination thereof.

The first portion 20 can have a substantially flat shape that mainly extends along an axis of extension Z. In accordance with a possible form of embodiment, the axis of extension Z lies on the support surface 29 of the nose pad 14 and is disposed transversally to the axis of rotation X.

The first portion 20 can be shaped ergonomically to rest on the user's nose.

The first portion 20 can have an oval, ellipsoidal, rectangular or irregular curved shape.

The first portion 20 is provided with the support surface 29.

According to a possible solution, the first portion 20 is provided with at least two axes of symmetry of the support surface 29. Moreover, the two axes of symmetry are orthogonal with respect to each other and in their turn to the axis of rotation X that is located through for the intersection of the two axes of symmetry.

In accordance with a first solution shown for example with reference to figs. 2, 3, 9, 1 1 and 12, the support element 15 comprises a support body 30 provided with a housing seating 16 configured to house at least part of the nose pad 14.

In accordance with the forms of embodiment in figs. 2, 3, 1 1 and 12, the housing seating 16 of the support body 30 can have a shape and size mating with the second portion 21.

The housing seating 16 is made open toward the outside by means of an aperture 17 and develops axially along the axis of rotation X. In accordance with the form of embodiment in fig. 2 the housing seating 16 has a cylindrical shape, mating with the cylindrical shape of the second portion 21.

Connection means 31 are provided between each nose pad 14 and the respective support element 15, in order to connect one of the second portions 21 to one of the support elements 15.

In accordance with a possible solution, the connection means 31 are configured to prevent the axial translation, in both directions, of the nose pad 14 along the axis of rotation X.

The connection means 31 can be chosen from a group comprising coupling elements by interference, snap-in coupling elements, threaded elements, interference pins or similar or comparable elements suitable to the purpose.

In accordance with the present invention, the connection means 31 comprise guide elements 28 configured to guide the rotation of the nose pad 14 in the respective support element 15 and with respect to the axis of rotation X.

According to the invention, the guide elements 28 are made on the second portion 21 and on the support element 15, and are configured to allow a rotation of the second portion 21 with respect to the support element 15, only around the axis of rotation X.

This solution allows to alter the position that the first portion 20 assumes on the user's nose, in this way altering the pressure that the frames 10 exert on the user's nose. Moreover, the rotation around the axis of rotation X alone guarantees lhat the optical axis Y remains substantially unchanged with respect to the user's eyes, not altering in this way the corrective action of the lenses 12 on the user. In accordance with some forms of embodiment, combinable with all the forms of embodiment described here, the guide elements 28 are configured to generate a geometric and/or dimensional interference, that is, without the help of threaded components, between the second portion 21 and the support element 15, in order to define stable positions in rotation of the nose pad 14 with respect to the support element 15. This avoids having to use dedicated attachment elements, and the action of adjustment occurs only with the action of the user's fingers.

According to possible solutions shown for example in figs. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, the guide elements 28 comprise angular limiting elements 54 configured to limit the excursion of the angular rotation of the second portion 21 with respect to the support element 15 around the axis of rotation X. Merely by way of example the angular limiting elements 54 can allow an angular rotation of an amplitude comprised between 45° and 135°, preferably between 70° and 1 10°, more preferably about 90°.

According to possible solutions, the guide elements 28 can be chosen from a group comprising pegs, protuberances, shaped seatings, grooves, bayonet couplings, holes, pins, abutment elements, or possible combinations thereof.

In accordance with a possible solution shown in fig. 2, the guide elements 28 comprise a hole 22 and a groove 18 made on the support body 30 and respectively on the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14. The guide elements 28 also comprise a slider element 19 which can be inserted in the hole 22 and in the groove 18.

The slider element 19 can comprise, merely by way of example, at least either a pin or a screw.

In accordance with the form of embodiment shown in figs. 2 and 3, the second portion 21 has a substantially axial symmetric shape and is provided on its circumferential surface with the hole 22 made transversely to the axis of rotation X.

The hole 22, as shown in fig. 2, can be a blind hole for example and its internal walls can be threaded.

In accordance with the form of embodiment shown in figs. 2 and 3, the support body 30 is provided with a groove 18 made through in the thickness of the walls of the support body 30 and toward the housing seating 16.

The groove 18 is made transversely to the axis of rotation X and has a circumferential development in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation X.

The groove 18 can extend angularly for an angle of aperture a, which can be comprised between 45° and 135°, preferably between 70° and 1 10°, more preferably about 90°. In this way the groove 18 defines the angular limiting elements 54.

During use, the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 is inserted in the housing seating 16 of the support element 15, so as to position the hole 22 in correspondence to the groove 18. In accordance with the form of embodiment shown in fig. 3, the slider element 19 can be inserted through the groove 18 to be disposed fixed in the hole 22 made in the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14.

The slider element 19 constrains the axial translation of the nose pad 14 in the housing seating 16, that is, along the axis of rotation X. The particular configuration of the housing seating 16 allows the controlled rotation of the nose pad 14 only around the axis of rotation X for the angle of aperture a.

In accordance with a variant of the solutions shown in figs. 2 and 3, not shown in the drawings, it can be provided that the hole 22 and the groove 18 are respectively made on the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 and, respectively on the support body 30, according to a substantially dual configuration to that described with reference to figs. 2 and 3.

In this case the slider element 19 is constrained in a through hole made in the support element 15 and is located protruding toward the inside of the housing seating 16 of the latter. The second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 is provided with a circumferential groove made on its surface and that allows the controlled rotation of the slider element 19.

Fig. 9 shows a possible variant to the solution in figs. 2 and 3, in which the support body 30 has a tubular cylindrical shape provided in the housing seating 16 in which the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 is inserted, during use.

In the same way as described above, the second portion 21 is provided on its circumferential surface with a circumferential cavity 51 partly made in the thickness of the second portion 21.

The support body 30 is also provided with an incision 52, or engraving, protruding toward the inside of the housing seating 16 and which, during use, is disposed inside the circumferential cavity 51.

The incision 52 in practice defines a pointer for the guided rotation of the second portion 21 around the axis of rotation X, and together with the circumferential cavity 51 defines the guide elements 28.

The circumferential cavity 51 can also be configured to define the angular limiting elements 54.

In accordance with a second possible form of embodiment (see figs. 4 and 5 for example) the frames 10 comprise a support element 1 15 provided with a first disk 123 attached to the front component 1 1, while a second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 comprises a second disk 127 coupled, during use, to the first disk 123 and selectively rotatable around the axis of rotation X.

The first disk 123 and the second disk 127 can be disposed resting one on the other and coaxial to each other.

The first disk 123 can be made in a single body with the front component 1 1, or be a separate component and connected to it.

The second disk 127 can be made in a single body with the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14.

The first disk 123 and the second disk 127 can be connected to each other by means of the connection means 31 to constrain them with respect to each other and allow the rotation of the second disk 127 with respect to the first disk 123. The connection means 31 in this case can comprise bearings, complementary joints, hinging elements.

In accordance with possible solutions, the guide elements 28 of the connection means 31 are connected to the first disk 123 and to the second disk 127.

In accordance with the form of embodiment in fig. 5, the guide elements 28 can comprise a groove 1 18 made in the first disk 123 and with a circular sector shape with an amplitude equal to an angle of aperture a that can be comprised between 45° and 135°, preferably between 70° and 1 10°, more preferably about 90°. The groove 1 18 thus defines also the angular limiting elements 54.

The second disk 127 comprises a surface 124 facing the first disk 123 during use and on which the second disk 127 rotates resting.

The guide elements 28 can also comprise a protuberance 125 (figs. 4 and 5), such as a hook, which is disposed, during use, in the groove 1 18.

In accordance with a possible solution, shown with reference to fig. 5, the protuberance 125 is made on the surface 124 of the second disk 127.

The protuberance 125 (fig. 5) can comprise a first segment 132 that extends parallel with respect to the axis of rotation X.

The first segment 132 can be connected by one of its ends to the surface 124, and the other end can be free.

The protuberance 125 can comprise a second segment 133 that can be extended orthogonally with respect to the first segment 132 and toward the center of the second disk 127.

The second segment 133 is attached to the first segment 132 in correspondence to the free end of the latter. The groove 1 18 and the first segment 132 of the protuberance 125 limit, or rather define a control of, the rotation of the second disk 127 with respect to the first disk 123. In particular, during the rotation of the nose pad 1 14, the first segment 132 of the protuberance 125 can go into abutment on the lateral walls of the groove 1 18 defining the first and the second positions of use of the nose pad 114.

During use, the second segment 133 prevents the axial de-coupling of the first disk 123 with respect to the second disk 127, contacting the surface of the first disk 123.

In particular, the second segment 133, during use, is disposed resting against the first disk 123 to constrain the reciprocal axial position of the first disk 123 with respect to the second disk 127.

In accordance with the solutions in figs. 4 and 5, the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 can comprise a connection segment 126 to connect the first portion 20 of the nose pad 14 to the second disk 127. The connection segment 126 can extend longitudinally according to the axis of rotation X of the nose pads 1 14. The first portion 20, the second disk 127 and the connection segment 126 can be made in a single body, separately or finally as a combination of the latter.

In accordance with the form of embodiment in fig. 4, the connection segment

126 is configured to reciprocally connect the first disk 123 with the second disk

127 allowing the reciprocal rotation only around the axis of rotation X, and preventing the axial decoupling along the latter.

In accordance with another form of embodiment shown for example in fig. 4, the groove 1 18 can be made on the second disk 127 and the protuberance 125 on the first disk 123.

Fig. 6 shows another form of embodiment of the present invention in which the first portion 20 and the second portion 21 are made in a single body with each other.

The connection means 31 comprise a shaped seating 35 provided with an undercut cavity 36 made in the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 and in which the support element 15 can be inserted. The support element 15 is provided with a stem 37 attachable to or made in a single body with the front component 1 1. The stem 37 is provided with a head 38, which can be inserted, during use, in the undercut cavity 36 and configured to define a connection between the support element 15 and the nose pad 14.

The head 38 has a bigger cross section size than that of the stem 37.

In particular the second portion 21 is provided with an access aperture 39 of a reduced size with respect to the undercut cavity 36, and defined by a first zone 40 of a size substantially equal to that of the head 38 and through which the latter can pass, and by a second zone 41, without a break in continuity with the first zone 40, of a reduced size compared to the first zone 40 and in which, during use, the stem 37 is positioned through.

Between the first zone 40 and the second zone 41 holding teeth 42 can be provided, which are elastically yielding and define a passage zone for the stem 37, smaller in size than the cross section of the latter.

During assembly, the nose pad 14 is inserted, with the first zone 40 of the shaped seating 35, in the head 38 of the stem 37, positioning the latter inside the undercut cavity 36.

Subsequently, the nose pad 14 is moved so as to position the stem 37 in the second zone 41 of the access aperture 39, leaving the head 38 inside the undercut cavity 36.

The holding teeth 42 prevent the stem 37 from returning toward the first zone 40 of the access aperture 39, causing an involuntary decoupling of the nose pad 14 from the support element 15.

The conformation of the stem 37 and the conformation of the second zone 41 of the access aperture 39 define the guide elements 28. In particular, the second zone 41 is such as to allow a rotation of the stem 37 around the second zone 41 of the access aperture 39 and around the axis of rotation X.

The head 38 acts as a constraint element to the axial translation of the nose pad 14 along the axis of rotation X.

With reference to fig. 7, another form of embodiment of the invention is shown in which the support element 15 comprises, as described above, a stem 37 and a head 38 with cross section size bigger than that of the stem 37.

The second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 is provided with a through housing seating 43, in which the stem 37 is positioned during use.

The through housing seating 43 and the stem 37 together define the connection means 31.

In particular, the through housing seating 43 has a substantially axial- symmetric shape around the axis of rotation X.

The through housing seating 43 is provided with a first part 44 in which, during use, the head 38 of the stem 37 is disposed and a second part 45 in which the stem 37 is disposed through.

The first part 44 of the through housing seating 43 is substantially the same size as that of the cross section of the head 38 while the second part 45 is substantially the same size as that of the cross section of the stem 37.

The stem 37 of the support element 15 can be inserted in the through housing seating 43, positioning the head 38 housed in the first part 44 of the latter and the stem 37 through in the second part 45.

The through housing seating 43 is closed, on the side of its first part 44, with the first portion 20 of the nose pad 14. The first portion 20 prevents the stem 37 from being able to decouple from the through housing seating 43 and thus defines a constraint to the axial sliding of the stem 37 with respect to the nose pad 14 in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation X.

The first portion 20 can be integrated in the second portion 21 , for example by drowning. In accordance with a variant form of embodiment, the first portion 20 couples like a cuff and embraces the second portion 21.

The second portion 21 and therefore also the first portion 20 connected to it, can rotate around the stem 37 which is disposed with its oblong development incident with respect to the support surface 29, that is, according to the orientation of the axis of rotation X described above.

In the form of embodiment shown in fig. 8, the support element 15 comprises a thread-like segment 46 that at least partly winds around the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 defining the connection of the nose pad 14 to the support element 15.

Between the second portion 21 and the first portion 20 of the nose pad 14 there is a housing seating 47 in which the thread-like segment 46 winds.

The housing seating 47 has a substantially axial-symmetric shape with respect to the axis of rotation X, and the thread-like segment 46 winds inside the housing seating 47.

The housing seating 47 and the thread-like segment 46 together define the connection means 31 and the guide elements 28 in order to control the rotation of the nose pad 14 around the axis of rotation X.

In accordance with this form of embodiment, the second portion 21 can also be provided with a circular guide sector 48 having a circumferential development with an amplitude equal to an angle of aperture a that can be comprised between 45° and 135°, preferably between 70° and 1 10°, more preferably about 90°. The circular guide sector 48 in this case has the function of the angular limiting elements 54.

The circular guide sector 48 is provided with two abutment walls 50 with a substantially radial development with respect to the axis of rotation X and defining respective constraints to the rotation of the nose pad 14.

The circular guide sector 48 cooperates with an end-of-travel portion 49 of the thread-like segment 46. During the rotation of the nose pad 14, the end-of-travel portion 49 of the thread-like segment 46 is located in the circular guide sector 48 which, with its abutment walls 50, defines the maximum angular rotation to which the nose pad 14 can be subjected, during use, around the axis of rotation X.

Another form of embodiment of the present invention is shown in fig. 10 in which the support element 15 is directly integrated in the thickness of the front component 1 1 , and is made for example in a portion with a lowered thickness than the latter.

In this case too, the support element 15 comprises a housing seating 16 with a substantially cylindrical shape and suitable to receive the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14. The second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 also has a substantially cylindrical shape mating both in shape and size to that of the housing seating 16 of the support element 15.

The connection means 31 comprise permanent magnets 53 respectively associated to the housing seating 16 and to the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 and configured to connect the nose pad 14 to the support element 15 by magnetic attraction. The permanent magnets 53 define a constraint element to the axial sliding of the nose pad 14 along the axis of rotation X, in this way preventing an involuntary detachment of the latter from the support element 15.

The geometric configurations of the housing seating 16 and of the second portion 21 together define the guide elements 28 for a guided sliding of the second portion 21 only around the axis of rotation X.

In figs. 11 and 12 another form of embodiment of the present invention is described in which the second portion 21 has a substantially polygonal cross section shape, possibly with rounded edges and with an oblong development in a direction incident with respect to the support surface 29 which, during use, corresponds with the axis of rotation X. The second portion 21 of the nose pad 14 is made of an elastically deformable material.

The support element 15 has a substantially tubular shape and is provided with the housing seating 16.

The housing seating 16 has a polygonal cross section shape, in this case squared with rounded edges, with sizes suitable to house the second portion 21 with slight play.

During use, the second portion 21 is inserted in the housing seating 16. The second portion 21 has slight play, for example 0.5- lmm between its linear walls and the linear walls of the housing seating 16, and a slight interference between the edges of the second portion 21 and the linear walls of the housing seating 16.

In this way, it is possible to define a partly stable position, in rotation between the second portion 21 and the support element 15. When, exerting a slight pressure of the fingers, the second portion 21 is rotated in the housing seating 16 around the axis of rotation X, it is elastically deformed allowing to control the rotation of the nose pad 14 with respect to the support element 15.

The connection means 31 can also comprise a holding element 55, in this case a screw, connected between the support element 15 and the second portion 21 of the nose pad 14, configured to hold the latter inside the housing seating 16 of the support element 15 preventing any axial sliding along the axis of rotation X.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the frames for spectacles with adjustable nose pads as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of frames for spectacles with adjustable nose pads, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Frames for spectacles, comprising a front component (1 1), two support elements (15; 1 15) attached to the front component (1 1) and two nose pads (14) each provided with a first portion (20; 120) equipped with a support surface (29) disposed, during use, in contact with the user's nose, and a second portion (21) solidly attached to the first portion (20; 120), connection means (31) being provided to connect one of said second portions (21 ; 121) to one of said support elements (15; 1 15), characterized in that said connection means (31) comprise guide elements (28) made on said second portion (21 ; 121) and on said support element (15; 1 15) and configured to allow a rotation of said second portion (21 ; 121) with respect to said support element (15; 1 15) only around an axis of rotation (X) incident with respect to the support surface (29) of said first portion (20; 120), to selectively take said nose pad (14) into at least a first position of use and at least a second position of use angularly offset with respect to said first position of use.

2. Frames as in claim 1, characterized in that said axis of rotation (X) is orthogonal to said support surface (29).

3. Frames as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said connection means (31) are configured to prevent an axial translation, in both directions, of the nose pad (14) along said axis of rotation (X).

4. Frames as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said guide elements (28) are configured to generate a geometric and/or dimensional interference, that is, without the help of threaded components, between said second portion (21) and said support element (15), in order to define stable positions in rotation of the nose pad (14) with respect to the support element (15).

5. Frames as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first portion (20) has a substantially flat shape that extends mainly along an axis of extension (Z), and in that said axis of extension (Z) is disposed transverse to said axis of rotation (X).

6. Frames as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said guide elements (28) comprise angular limiting elements (54) configured to limit the angular rotation of the second portion (21) with respect to the support element (15) around said axis of rotation (X).

7. Frames as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that each of said support elements (15) comprises a support body (30) provided with a housing seating (16) made open toward the outside by means of an aperture (17), and in that said housing seating (16) develops axially along said axis of rotation (X) and is configured to house at least the second portion (21) of the respective nose pad (14).

8. Frames as in claim 7, characterized in that said housing seating (16) has a cylindrical shape, mating with the cylindrical shape of the second portion (21).

9. Frames as in claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said guide elements (28) comprise a hole (22) and a groove (18) made on said support body (30) and respectively on said second portion (21) of said nose pad (14), or vice versa, and a slider element (19) insertable in said hole (22) and in said groove (18).

10. Frames as in any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said support element (15) comprises a support body (30) of a tubular cylindrical shape provided with a housing seating (16) in which said second portion (21) of the nose pad (14) is inserted during use, in that the second portion (21) is provided, on its circumferential surface, with a circumferential cavity (51) made partly in the thickness of the second portion (21), and in that the support body (30) is provided with an incision (52) protruding toward the inside of the housing seating (16) and which, during use, is disposed inside the circumferential cavity (51).

1 1. Frames as in any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said connection means (31) comprise a shaped seating (35) provided with an undercut cavity (36) made in the second portion (21) of the nose pad (14) and in which the support element (15) can be inserted, in that the support element (15) is provided with a stem (37) attachable to, or made in a single body with, said front component (1 1), and in that said stem (37) is provided with a head (38) insertable, during use, in the undercut cavity (36) and configured to define a connection between said support element (15) and said nose pad (14).

12. Frames as in any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said support element (15) comprises a thread-like segment (46), and in that between said second portion (21) and said first portion (20) of said nose pad (14) there is a housing seating (47) in which said thread-like segment (46) is wound to define the connection of the nose pad (14) to the support element (15), said housing seating (47) and said thread-like segment (46) together defining said connection means (31) and said guide elements (28).

13. Frames as in any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said support element (15) is directly integrated in the thickness of the front component

(1 1), and comprises a housing seating (16) of a substantially cylindrical shape and suitable to receive said second portion (21) of said nose-pad (14), in that said second portion (21) also has a substantially cylindrical shape mating with the housing seating (16) of the support element (15) in both shape and size, and in that said connection means (31) comprise permanent magnets (53) associated respectively to the housing seating (16) and to the second portion (21) of the nose pad (14) and configured to connect the nose pad (14) to the support element (15) by magnetic attraction.

14. Frames as in any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said second portion (21) has a substantially polygonal cross section shape, and an oblong development, in a direction incident with respect to said support surface (29), in that said second portion (21) of the nose pad (14) is made of an elastically deformable material, in that said support element (15) has a substantially tubular shape and is provided with a housing seating (16) with a polygonal cross section shape, of sizes suitable to house said second portion (21) with slight play, and in that, during use, the second portion (21) is inserted in said housing seating (16).

15. Frames as in any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said support element (1 15) comprises a first disk (123) attached to said front component (1 1) and said second portion (121) of the nose pad (14) comprises a second disk (127) coupled to said first disk (123) and selectively rotatable around said axis of rotation (X).

16. Frames as in claim 15, characterized in that said guide elements (28) are associated to said first disk (123) and to said second disk (127) and are configured to allow the rotation of said second portion (121) only around said axis of rotation (X).