Connection hinge for spectacles frames of the type adapted to connect the lateral sidearm of a spectacles frame to the front part of the same spectacles frame; the connection hinge being characterized by comprising: a cup-shaped body, which is structured so as to be fixed cantilevered in a rigid manner onto the lateral side of the front part of a spectacles frame, and is provided with a central cavity of substantially cylindrical shape and with a transversal, oblong, pass-through slot or cut, which extends along the lateral side of the cup-shaped body while remaining on a lying plane locally substantially perpendicular to the reference axis of the central cavity, and penetrates in the cup-shaped body up to said central recess; a central pin which has a cylindrical shape substantially complementary to that of the central cavity of the cup-shaped body, and is inserted in axially rotatable manner in the central cavity of the cup-shaped body; and a transverse locking plug which has an end rigidly fixed to the body of the central pin, and is structured so as to protrude cantilevered from the cup-shaped body engaging in pass-through and sliding manner the pass-through slot or cut present on the lateral side of the cup-shaped body, and to be rigidly fixed or incorporated on the proximal end of the lateral sidearm of the spectacles.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application PCT/IB2014/060654 filed on Apr. 11, 2014, which claims priority to Italian Application No. TV2013A000051, filed on Apr. 11, 2013, each of which is incorporated by reference as if expressly set forth in their respective entireties herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a spectacles frames hinge and to a spectacles frame provided with said hinge.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a spectacles or sunglasses frame hinge made of plastic and/or metal material, to which the following discussion will make explicit reference without loss of generality.

BACKGROUND ART

As known, spectacles are optical devices consisting of a pair of lenses made of transparent material, and of a support frame, traditionally called “spectacles frame”, which is structured so as to stably hold the lenses, and to position the above mentioned lenses in front of the user eyes when the user wears the spectacles.

Normally, the spectacles frame is formed by a front part which is structured so as to support the two lenses, and is adapted to be arranged straddling the nose, at the height of the eyes; and by two lateral sidearms which protrude cantilevered from the front part of the spectacles frame, on opposite sides of the same, while remaining locally parallel and spaced apart and substantially perpendicular to the lying plane of the front part, so as to be able to rest on the ears of the person who wears the spectacles to give lateral stability to the front part.

More in detail, the proximal end of each lateral sidearm is usually fixed to the front part of the spectacles frame by a connection hinge of metal material, which allows the sidearm to rotate with respect to the front part about a reference axis that is locally substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sidearm and also locally substantially parallel to the lying plane of the front part of the spectacles frame. The rotation axes of the two lateral sidearms are also substantially locally parallel and facing each other.

Each connection hinge, in particular, is composed of two anchoring elements in metal material, which are structured so as to be rigidly fixed one on the lateral side of the front part of the spectacles frame, and the other on the proximal end of the sidearm; and by a connection pin made of metal material, which is pass-through and axially rotatable within a series of pass-through holes especially made in the two anchoring elements, so as to allow the two anchoring elements to rotate one with respect to the other, about the longitudinal axis of the pin.

More in detail, in most of the spectacles-frame hinges currently on the market, the connection pin consists of a cylindrical shank screw, which has the shank end threaded so as to be screwed directly into the body of one of the two anchoring elements, and the remaining part of the shank perfectly smooth so as to allow the other anchoring element to rotate freely about the connection pin.

Although it is extremely simple and economical to produce, this type of spectacles hinge requires the user to periodically tighten the screw that serves as a connection pin, so as to ensure the correct long run operation of the hinge.

The rotation of the anchoring elements about the shank of the screw, in fact, tends to loosen the screw progressively up to cause the complete detachment of the shank from the corresponding anchoring element, with all the drawbacks that this entails on the functionality of the hinge.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide spectacles-frame hinges that can obviate the above mentioned drawbacks, and which is also inexpensive to produce.

In accordance with said objectives, according to the present invention a spectacles-frame hinge as defined in claim1and preferably, but not necessarily, in any one of the dependent claims is provided.

According to the present invention a spectacles frame as defined in claim15is also obtained.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, number1indicates as a whole a connection hinge specifically structured to be able to connect the sidearm of a spectacles to the front part of the spectacles frame of the same spectacles.

The spectacles frame100of a spectacles, in fact, usually comprises a front portion101which is structured so to accommodate/support, side by side, a pair of corrective or shielded lenses of known type (not illustrated), and is adapted to be arranged straddling the nose, at the eye level, so as to place the two lenses one in front of each eye; and two lateral sidearms102which protrude cantilevered from the front part101, on opposite sides of the same, while remaining substantially locally parallel and spaced apart and substantially perpendicular to the laying plane of the front part101, so as to be arranged resting on the ears of the person that wears the spectacles frame100to provide lateral stability to the front part101.

More in detail, the proximal end of each lateral sidearm102is fixed to the front part101of the spectacles frame by way of corresponding connection hinge1that is structured so as to enable the lateral sidearm102to rotate freely, with respect to the front part101of the spectacles frame, about a rotation axis A which is preferably locally substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the sidearm, and locally substantially parallel to the lying plane of the front part of the frame101. The two connection hinges1are also preferably oriented so that the rotation axes A of the two lateral sidearms102are locally substantially parallel to each other.

In other words, the proximal end of each lateral sidearm102is rigidly fixed to a lateral side of the front part101of the spectacles frame by way of respective connection hinge1, so that each lateral sidearm102can freely rotate about the corresponding rotation axis A, between an upright position (seeFIG. 1) wherein the lateral sidearm102extends cantilevered from the front side101of the spectacles frame while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the lying plane of the front part101itself, and a folded position wherein the lateral sidearm102lies on the front side101of the spectacles frame, while remaining locally substantially parallel to the lying plane of the latter.

With reference toFIG. 1, in the example illustrated, in particular, the front part of the spectacles frame101is preferably formed by a central bridge or arch103which is structured so as to be arranged straddling the nose, resting on the same; and by two lateral lens holding rims104that are arranged on opposite sides of the bridge103, so as to be aligned each to a respective user eye, are fixed at the two ends of the bridge103so as to form a rigid structure, and are finally structured so as to stably retain in their inside a respective corrective/protective lens (not shown) of the spectacles.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the bridge103and the two lens holding rims104are preferably made in a single piece of plastic material, preferably, but not necessarily, by an injection molding process.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, in the illustrated example, therefore, the two lateral sidearms102protrude cantilevered from the external lateral sides104aof the two lens holder rims104, traditionally called “frontal piece”104aof the frame, and are connected to the front side101of the spectacles frame100by way of two connection hinges positioned in correspondence with one of the aforementioned external lateral sides104a.

In other words, the proximal end of each lateral sidearm102is rigidly fixed to the left outer side or “frontal piece”104aof a corresponding lens holder rim104by way of a respective connection hinge1.

Also the two lateral sidearms102are preferably made of plastic material, preferably, but not necessarily, by an injection molding process.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, each connection hinge1comprises essentially:a cup-shaped body2, which is provided with a central cavity3of substantially cylindrical shape, and is structured so as to be fixed cantilevered in a rigid manner onto the lateral side of the front part101of the spectacles frame100, or better on the left outer side or “frontal piece”104aof the lens holder rim104, with the central cavity3locally substantially coaxial with the rotation axis A of the sidearm; anda central pin4, which has a cylindrical shape substantially complementary to that of the central cavity3of the cup-shaped body2, and is inserted in axially rotatable manner in the central cavity3of the cup-shaped body2.

In other words, when the cup-shaped body2is integral with the lateral side of the front part101of the spectacles frame100, or better to the left outer side or “frontal piece”104aof the lens holder rim104, the reference axis C of the central cavity3of the cup-shaped body2is to coincide with the rotation axis A of the sidearm.

More in detail, in the example shown the cup-shaped body2is preferably provided with a protruding tailpiece2athat is structured so as to be embedded or otherwise fixed in rigid manner to the lateral side of the front part101of the spectacles frame100, or better on the left outer side or “frontal piece”104aof the lens holder rim104, simultaneously arranging the central cavity3locally substantially coaxial with the rotation axis A of the sidearm.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 4, furthermore the cup-shaped body2is provided with a transversal, oblong, pass-through slot or cut5, which extends along the lateral side of the cup-shaped body2while remaining on a lying plane locally substantially perpendicular to the reference axis C of the central cavity3of the cup-shaped body2, and penetrates in the cup-shaped body2, perpendicularly to the reference axis C, to reach the central cavity3; and the connection hinge1also comprises a transversal oblong, locking plug6, which has one end6arigidly fixed to the body of the central pin4, and is structured so as to protrude cantilevered from the cup-shaped body2engaging in pass-through and sliding manner the pass-through slot or cut5present on the lateral side of the cup-shaped body2, and so as to be rigidly fixed on the proximal end of the lateral sidearm102.

More in detail, the transversal locking plug6is preferably structured so as to be embedded, incorporated or otherwise rigidly fixed on the proximal end of the lateral sidearm102.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the pass-through slot or cut5formed on the lateral side of the cup-shaped body2, has an opening angle β preferably greater than 90°, and preferably, but not necessarily, comprised between 95° and 115°.

In addition to what written above, with reference toFIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, in the example shown the cup-shaped body2is preferably also provided with one or more lateral niches or recesses7which are made on the lateral surface of the cylindrical central cavity3, angularly spaced to one another; and the connection hinge1is also provided with a bolt lock mechanism8, which is housed inside the central pin4, and is structured so as to protrude elastically from the body of the central pin4to be able to engage/drive into any one of the niches or recesses7present on the lateral cylindrical surface of the central cavity3, so as to prevent rotation of the pin4within the central cavity3.

More in detail, in the example shown the cup-shaped body2is preferably provided with at least two lateral niches or recesses7, and said lateral niches or recesses7are preferably made on the lateral cylindrical surface of the central cavity3angularly spaced about the reference axis C by an angle preferably, but not necessarily, equal to approximately 90°.

With particular reference toFIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the central pin4is instead preferably provided with a diametrical pass-through hole9which extends through the body of the central pin4, while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pin, i.e. while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the axis C of the central cavity3.

The end6aof the transversal locking plug6is preferably structured so as to be fitted and keyed in a rigid manner inside a first end of the diametrical pass-through hole9of the central pin4; while the bolt lock mechanism8is housed inside the diametrical pass-through hole9of the central pin4, and is structured so as to protrude from the body of the central pin4through the second end of the same diametrical pass-through hole9of the central pin4.

More in detail, with particular reference toFIGS. 2 and 5, in the illustrated example, the bolt lock mechanism8preferably comprises:a mobile pawl10which is placed inside the diametrical pass-through hole9of the central pin4with the possibility to move axially inside the same hole9, and is structured so as to protrude outside of the central pin4through one of the two ends of the diametrical pass-through hole9, so as to be engage/drive into any one of the niches or recesses7present on the lateral cylindrical surface of the central cavity3, in order to prevent rotation of the pin4inside the central cavity3; andan elastic element11which is interposed between the mobile pawl10and the end6aof the locking plug6, and is structured so as to elastically push the mobile pawl10outside of the central pin4, through the mouth of the diametrical pass-through hole9not occupied by the end6aof the locking plug6.

In other words, the end6aof the transversal locking plug6is structured so as to be inserted and keyed in a rigid manner within the diametrical pass-through hole9of the central pin4, close to the mobile pawl10; while the remaining part of the transversal locking plug6is structured so as to protrude cantilevered from the cup-shaped body2engaging in pass-through and sliding manner the pass-through slot or cut5present on the lateral side of the cup-shaped body2, and so to be embedded, incorporated or otherwise rigidly fixed on the proximal end side of the sidearm102.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the cup-shaped body2and/or the central pin4and/or the locking plug6and/or the mobile pawl10and/or the elastic element11is/are preferably made of a metal material.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, in the illustrated example, moreover, the cup-shaped body2is preferably formed of a cylindrical bushing21, which extends coaxial to the reference axis C and is provided with a central circular-section pass-through hole which is divided into three consecutive segments with nominal diameter decreasing relative to one another; and a plate-shaped winglet22which cantilevered protrudes from the cylindrical bushing21in a substantially radial and locally substantially coplanar direction to the reference axis C of the cylindrical bushing21, and is structured so as to be embedded and/or otherwise rigidly fixed onto the lateral side of the front part101of the spectacles frame100, or better, on the left outer side or “frontal piece”104aof the lens holder rim104, simultaneously arranging the central cavity3coaxial with the rotation axis A of the sidearm.

The cylindrical bushing21is also provided with an oblong, pass-through slot or cut, which extends along the lateral side of the cylindrical bushing21while remaining on a lying plane locally substantially perpendicular to the reference axis C of the bushing, and penetrates inside the body of the bushing21orthogonally to the reference axis C until reaching the central portion of the central pass-through hole of the cylindrical bushing21; and preferably also with two lateral niches or recesses that are formed on the lateral cylindrical surface of the central portion of the central circular-section pass-through hole of the cylindrical bushing21.

Preferably, the cylindrical bushing21is finally made of metal material and in one piece with the plate-shaped winglet preferably, but not necessarily, by means of a metal material injection molding process traditionally called MIM (acronym of Metal Injection Molding).

In other words, the cup-shaped body2is preferably made of metal material by means of a metal material injection molding process, traditionally called MIM (acronym of Metal Injection Molding).

The central pin4is instead preferably formed by a cylindrical body4made of metal material, having a shape complementary to that of the central pass-through hole of the cylindrical bushing21, so as to be simply fitted inside the central pass-through hole of the cylindrical bushing21through the port with a larger diameter; and is provided with a circular, diametrical pass-through hole, which crosses the central segment of the cylindrical body4from one side to the other while remaining locally substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body4, which is locally substantially perpendicular to the reference axis C.

Preferably, the diametrical pass-through hole of the cylindrical body4is also divided into two consecutive segments with decreasing nominal diameter, and the end6aof the locking plug6is adapted to engage the portion of the diametrical pass-through hole with larger diameter.

Preferably, the cylindrical body4, i.e. the central pin4, is finally obtained by a method of injection molding of metal material, traditionally called MIM (acronym of Metal Injection Molding).

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 5, in the illustrated example, moreover, the mobile pawl10is preferably constituted by a ball10of metal material, which has a diameter approximated by defect to the diameter of the segment of the diametrical pass-through hole9of the cylindrical body4not engaged by the locking plug6.

The transversal locking plug6is instead preferably constituted by a circular, straight rod or shank6made of metal material, which extends coaxially to a longitudinal axis D which appears to be locally substantially perpendicular to the reference axis C of the cup-shaped body2, and has the ends6aprovided with thread so as to be screwed inside the portion with larger diameter of the diametrical pass-through hole9of the cylindrical body4.

The elastic element11is finally preferably, but not necessarily, constituted by a helical spring11made of metal material, which is positioned at least partially within the diametrical pass-through hole9of the cylindrical body4, with a first end in abutment on the mobile pawl10, or better on the ball10, and with a second end in abutment on the body of the locking plug6, so as to push in an elastic manner the mobile pawl10, namely the ball10, outside of the central pin4and in abutment against the lateral cylindrical surface of the central cavity3, through the port of the diametrical pass-through hole9not occupied by the shank6.

More in detail, with reference toFIGS. 2 and 5, in the illustrated example the end6aof the shank6is preferably provided with a cylindrical blind hole6c, which extends inside the body of the shank6coaxial with the longitudinal axis D; and the helical spring11is at least partially housed within the cylindrical blind hole6c, with the second end in abutment on the bottom of the cylindrical blind hole6c.

The operation of the connection hinge1is easily deducible from the foregoing description, and does not require further explanation; if not to state that the transversal locking plug6, when inserted and locked inside the diametrical hole9of the central pin4, prevents the extraction of the central pin4from the cup-shaped body2, but allows the central pin4to rotate freely with respect to the cup-shaped body2to a maximum amplitude corresponding to the opening angle β of the pass-through slot or cut5formed on the lateral side of the cup-shaped body2.

The advantages deriving from the particular connection structure1are numerous.

In the first place, during normal operation of the hinge, the locking plug6is no longer subject to torques that can cause the unscrewing of the plug6from the central pin4, thus eliminating any need for periodic tightening of the components.

Furthermore, the locking plug6can be obtained directly on the distal end of the lateral sidearm102, greatly simplifying the assembly operations of the spectacles frame100.

Finally it is clear that the connection hinge1and the spectacles frame100described above can be modified and varied without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, instead of being provided with threading, the end6aof the rod or shank6, namely the end of the locking plug6, may be structured so as to be keyed by force, welded or glued to the body of the central pin4at the mouth of the diametrical hole9, if present, so as to prevent the disassembly of the connection hinge1.