Patent ID: 6019467
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G02C,Y10T

Abstract:
A hinge for pivotally connecting a lens frame to a temple member of a pair of eyeglasses and permitting the temple to pivot outwardly from the lens frame, the hinge comprising:a) the lens frame including a spring hole formed therein, a projection having an elongated hole formed therein, a first end having a first outer edge, a leaf spring having a first portion disposed within the spring hole and a second portion extending outwardly of the spring hole and extending across the longitudinal center axis of the elongated hole when the spring is not under tension;b) the temple including a thick part having a recess formed therein, a second end having a second outer edge, the projection of the lens frame being disposed within the recess, a rotary stem extending through the thick part and the elongated hole, the stem being disposed at a first end of the elongated hole and bending the second portion of the spring outwardly to impart a preliminary tension thereto for urging the first and second ends and outer edges into engagement with each other; andc) when the temple is pivoted outwardly from the lens frame, the rotary stem is caused to move along the elongated hole to a second end thereof and impose further tension to the spring, thereby causing the first and second ends to disengage from each other while maintaining the first and second outer edges in engagement with each other to define a pivot point forming the center of a circle partially defined by the locus of the longitudinal axis of the elongated hole and providing a restoring force for pivoting the temple back inwardly to its original position.