Eye wear with interlocking frame sections

A set of spectacles has a lens frame formed of a pair of releasably interlocking lens holding sections. Each lens holding section is adapted to hold a single lens and has a hinge connection on one side and a set of knuckles on the other side. The knuckles in each of the lens sections interlock with the knuckles in the other lens section to releasably join the lens sections together. A pair of primary hinge pin members couple the temple pieces to the lens holding sections. The primary hinge pin members are removable. The spectacles also include at least one spare hinge pin member removably seated in a receptacle defined in one of the temple pieces. At least one of the hinge pin members is provided with a decorative, exposed shield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an improved form of eyeglass construction. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the past, various configurations of eye wear construction have been 
devised. Different types of eye wear frames have been configured to allow 
the eye wear to fold and to separate both at hinge connections between the 
temple pieces and the lens frame, and between adjacent sections of the 
lens frame itself. However, all of these prior systems have been unduly 
complex and have failed to provide modular, interchangeable eyeglass parts 
that are mechanically simple in construction, while remaining extremely 
versatile in function and which are also safe for the user to wear. 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,455 discloses user configurable novelty 
sunglasses comprised of detachable frame holding sections for each lens 
and separable temple pieces. While the sunglasses so formed do employ 
modular components, the interlocking mechanism employed on both sides of 
each lens section presents sharp edges and corners which could cause 
severe eye injury to a wearer resulting from sudden separation of the 
component pieces. For example, serious injury to a person's eye could 
easily result if a person wearing such sunglasses were to be struck in the 
face by a volleyball or beach ball. Also, the temple pieces of these prior 
art glasses are not joined to the eye frames by means of hinged 
connections, thus requiring total disassembly of the sunglasses into 
separate pieces for convenient transport and storage. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,612 is directed to a detachable eyeglass or sunglass 
assembly having left and right frame members for the left and right 
lenses. One of the frame members is provided with projecting pins which 
frictionally engage corresponding holes in the other frame member. Again, 
however, the pins or prongs are of such a sharp, projecting nature as to 
present a risk of serious eye injury in the event of an impact against the 
glasses that causes separation of the lens holding sections. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,362 discloses a pair of glasses having left and right 
lens holding portions which are joined by a nose piece that includes a 
male portion sized to be snugly received within a female socket. The 
single, prong-like male portion does present a safety hazard to the eyes 
of a wearer. 
Conventional prior art eyeglasses or sunglasses of the type described also 
do not provide any replacement hinge pin members. Due to the repeated 
stress exerted upon the hinge pin members that join the eyeglass lens 
sections to the temple pieces, hinge pin members were for many years 
constructed of steel, even though such a construction adds considerably to 
the cost of eye wear. This is because the steel hinge elements must be 
physically secured to the frame members and to temple pieces, which are 
often constructed of plastic. 
On the other hand, in those spectacles and eyeglass which employ plastic 
hinge pins, shearing of the hinge pins frequently occurs and the glasses 
cannot be used until replacement constructural components containing 
substitute hinge pin members have been procured and assembled with the 
remaining portions of the spectacles or sunglasses. That is, in 
conventional eyeglass and sunglasses which employ plastic pin stubs on the 
temple pieces that fit into corresponding sockets on the eye frame pieces, 
failure of the small, hinge pin stubs requires the replacement of the 
entire temple piece. A user cannot utilize the eyeglasses or sunglasses 
until a substitute temple piece has been purchased. Thus, the hinge pin 
members of conventional eyeglasses or sunglasses that are constructed 
entirely of plastic are both prone to failure and are not immediately 
repairable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a form of eyeglass construction in 
which the eyeglass parts are formed with interleaved couplings, including 
especially an interlocking construction at the center of the frame across 
the bridge of the wearer's nose. The eyeglasses are each formed of four 
main separate pieces plus a pair of primary hinge pin members which are 
assembled by the user following purchase. Specifically, these pieces will 
include left and right-hand temples or bows and left and right-hand 
eyepiece holding sections. The two eyepiece holding sections are joined 
across the bridge of the nose by sets of knuckles in interleaved 
engagement. The interleaved engagement is preferably interlocking and 
includes a tight, rigid, friction fit. 
The eye wear of the invention provides for the modular replacement of any 
broken portion of the frame. For example, if a left eyepiece frame were to 
become broken, the user would not have to purchase an entirely new set of 
eyeglass frames. Rather, the user could merely purchase a modular 
replacement left eyepiece frame. The broken eyepiece frame could then be 
disengaged from the interlocking connections and the new replacement left 
eyepiece frame could be inserted in place thereof. 
Apart from the convenience of modular replacement of parts, the eye wear 
construction of the invention allows a user to choose from among 
alternative, modular parts in initially choosing a set of sunglasses or 
eye wear on the basis of fashion. While a complete set of left and right 
temple pieces and left and right lens sections can be sold as a unit, the 
component parts can also be marketed separately in different colors and 
styles. The components can be assembled in all one color to provide the 
user with a refined look, yet the user still has the advantage of readily 
replaceable parts. On the other hand, components of different colors can 
be chosen to compliment different clothing worn by the user. The eye wear 
components can be color coordinated to achieve both economy of purchase 
and fashion consciousness. 
The lens sections of the eye wear of the invention preferably employ lenses 
of optical quality which will minimize distortion and offer a full range 
of ultraviolet protection. Because the lenses are of relative high 
quality, the interchangeability of the eye wear components offers a 
significant economic advantage to the user. The configuration of the 
components is mechanically simple and the overall shape is of a classical 
design with a broad appeal to the general public. 
An important aspect of the construction of the lens sections is the knuckle 
configuration by which the lens sections are connected together. The 
knuckles are interleaved and preferably have an interlocking 
configuration, but are rounded at their tips. Therefore, these knuckles 
are potentially less injurious than connecting arrangements used in prior 
art devices. Those conventional lens holding section connectors employ 
sharply projecting appendages for interconnection. On the other hand, even 
if the lens holding sections of the invention are separated by the impact 
of a ball or by incidental contact with another person or object, the 
smooth rounded configuration of the tips of the knuckles creates a low 
likelihood of eye injury to the wearer. 
Also, the sets of knuckles which interconnect the lens holding sections 
together are preferably recessed slightly from the arcuate curve of the 
portions of the lens holding sections that pass over the eyes. That is, 
the bridge between the lens holding sections formed by the interconnecting 
knuckles is slightly concave upwardly for both comfort and extended 
wearability. 
Another aspect of the invention is the use of a combination hinge pin and 
decorative shield or medallion as either a primary hinge pin member for 
joining a temple to a lens section or as a spare hinge pin member. The 
spare hinge pin is seated in a recess in the bow or temple portion of the 
eye wear. Both the primary hinge pin members and the spare hinge pin are 
preferably constructed of plastic and are formed with a relatively broad 
base from which a cylindrical pin or axle extends downwardly. The 
projecting pin of the spare hinge pin member extends vertically downwardly 
into an opening in the structure of the eyeglass temple piece. That is, 
the eyeglass temple piece is provided with two recesses in its upper 
surface. One of the recesses receives the base of the primary hinge pin 
members while the other recess receives the base of the spare hinge pin 
member. The rod or pin of the primary hinge pin member extends downwardly 
through openings in the knuckles on the temple piece and through openings 
in the knuckles that extend rearwardly from the lens frame. 
Any or all of the hinge pin members may be formed with a decorative shield 
and a cross connecting piece that carries the shield alongside the outside 
surface of the temple. The cross connecting piece for such a hinge pin 
member connects the pin of the hinge pin member to the decorative shield 
and also serves as the hinge pin base. The cross connecting piece seats in 
the recesses in the temple piece. The cross connecting piece carries a 
flat, plate-like shield structure that faces outwardly away from the 
temples and away from the eye wear in general. The edges of the shield may 
be configured to achieve a desired decorative effect. A logo or decorative 
design may be imprinted or molded onto the flat, shield. 
An important feature of the eye wear of the invention is that the spare 
hinge pin member can be carried in the temple piece, seemingly forming a 
part thereof. However, the spare hinge pin member can be substituted for 
the functioning hinge pin portion of one of the primary hinge pin members, 
if that structure should break. The spare hinge pin has a base which seats 
in the other recess in the temple, to the rear of the primary hinge pin 
member. The spare hinge pin has a hinge pin rod that extends vertically 
downwardly into a cylindrical well defined in the structure of the temple 
or bow. 
Should the primary hinge pin member break, the spare hinge pin member can 
be removed from its position and seated in the corresponding recess 
intended for the primary hinge pin member directly over the knuckles of 
the joint between the lens section frame and the temple piece. The user is 
thus provided with a spare hinge pin. The base of the broken primary hinge 
pin member can thereupon be seated in the recess in the temple originally 
designed to accommodate the spare hinge pin, thus preserving the aesthetic 
appearance of the eye wear. The invention thus provides a spare hinge pin 
which is carried in the temple piece, virtually indistinguishable 
therefrom during normal use. However, the spare hinge pin member can be 
interchanged with a primary hinge pin member in the event that a primary 
hinge pin member breaks. 
In one broad aspect the present invention is an article of eye wear 
comprising a lens frame formed of a pair of eyepiece sections which define 
mutually engageable knuckles that are releasably coupled together in 
interleaved fashion. The eyepiece sections are of modular design. That is, 
an eyepiece section designed for wear in front of a right eye can be 
modularly interchanged with any number of different eyepiece sections 
which are also adapted for placement in front of the right eye. 
Each of the eyepiece sections includes a hinge connection remote from the 
knuckles that join the eyepiece sections together. A pair of temple pieces 
having hinge pin connectors are provided for the two eyepiece sections. At 
least one of the temple pieces defines a receptacle for accommodating a 
spare hinge pin remote from the primary hinge pin connector thereof. A 
pair of primary hinge pin members engage the hinge pin connectors of the 
temple pieces and the eyepiece sections together. A replacement hinge pin 
is releasably carried in the receptacle in the temple piece and is adapted 
for coupling a hinge pin connection of an eyepiece section to a hinge pin 
connection of a temple piece. 
The knuckles joining the lens sections together are secured by a tight, 
friction fit, preferably in mutually interlocking engagement. The knuckle 
elements are formed with enlarged, rounded tips which prevent the 
interengaging mating knuckle elements from being pulled apart by tensile 
forces exerted laterally upon the lens sections. The lens sections are 
assembled together by aligning the sets of knuckles in different, parallel 
planes, and by moving the lens sections relative to each other into a 
common plane. The rounded tips of the knuckle elements present a minimal 
hazard to the eyes of the wearer should a lens section be abruptly forced 
toward the eye of the wearer, as might occur should the wearer be 
accidentally struck in the face. 
In another aspect the invention may be considered to be an improvement in a 
set of spectacles. According to the improvement of the invention a pair of 
eyepiece sections are formed with sets of knuckles that are releasably 
interleaved to join the eyepiece sections together to form a lens frame. 
The knuckles preferably have knuckle elements with enlarged, rounded tips 
having smooth surfaces to effectuate mutually interlocking engagement 
between the pair of eyepiece sections. Each of the sets of knuckles 
includes upper knuckle elements and lower knuckle elements located beneath 
the upper knuckle elements. The lower knuckle elements are shorter in 
length than the upper knuckle elements. That is, the lower knuckle 
elements rest atop the bridge of the nose and are shorter in length than 
the knuckle elements which reside immediately beneath the brow of the 
wearer. The lengths of the knuckle elements decrease proceeding downwardly 
from the upper portion of the lens frame near the brow to the region of 
the lens frame at the bridge of the nose. 
The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity with 
reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates an article of eye wear according to the invention 
indicated generally at 10. The eye wear 10 is a set of spectacles 
comprising a lens frame indicated generally at 12 formed of a pair of 
releasably interlocking lens sections 14 and 16. Each of the lens sections 
14 and 16 is adapted to hold a single lens 18. Each lens section 14 and 16 
has a rearwardly extending hinge connection 20, one of which is visible in 
FIG. 3. Each lens section 14 and 16 is provided with a set of interleaved 
knuckle elements. The knuckle elements of the lens section 14 are 
indicated at 22, 24 and 26, while the knuckle elements of the lens section 
16 are indicated at 23, 25 and 27. The knuckles of each lens section 
releasably interlock with the knuckles in the other lens section to 
releasably join the lens sections 14 and 16 together, as depicted in FIGS. 
1, 2, 8 and 9. 
The eye wear 10 is also formed with a pair of temple pieces or bows 28 and 
30. Each of the bows 28 and 30 has a hinge connection 32 for mating hinged 
engagement with the hinge connections 20 of the lens holding sections 14 
and 16. A pair of primary hinge pin members 34 and 36 are provided for 
engaging the hinge connections 32 of the temple pieces 28 and 30 to the 
hinge connections 20 of their associated eyepiece sections 14 and 16, 
respectively. That is, one primary hinge pin member 34 is used to couple 
the hinge pin connector 32 of the temple piece 28 to the hinge pin 
connector 20 of the lens section 14. The other primary hinge pin member 36 
is used to engage the hinge pin connector 32 of the temple piece 30 to the 
hinge connector 20 of the lens section 16, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The 
primary hinge pin members 34 and 36 join the temple pieces 28 and 30 to 
the lens frame 12 at releasable hinge connections so that the temple 
pieces 28 and 30 can be folded back against the rear side of the lens 
frame 12 in a conventional manner. 
The set of knuckles on the lens section 14 includes the laterally 
projecting knuckle elements 22, 24 and 26, while the set of knuckles on 
the lens section 16 includes the laterally projecting knuckle elements 23, 
25 and 27. The lowermost knuckle elements 26 and 27 in each set are 
shorter in length than the knuckle elements 24 and 25 located immediately 
thereabove, which in turn are shorter than the uppermost knuckle elements 
22 and 23. 
The knuckle elements in each set are formed with bulbous, enlarged tips 64 
which are held at the ends of interleavable arms 66. As best illustrated 
in FIG. 8, the arms 66 in each of the sets of knuckles are formed in 
different lengths. The knuckle elements in each set decrease in length 
proceeding downwardly from the upper edge 68 of the lens frame 12 which 
resides against the brow of the wearer toward the lower edge 70 thereof, 
which rests atop the bridge of the nose of the wearer. The bulbous tips 64 
are of a circular arcuate configuration extending through an arc of about 
two hundred fifteen degrees. 
The modular lens sections 14 and 16 are joined together by knuckle sets in 
interlocking engagement by positioning the lens sections 14 and 16 in 
alignment with each other in parallel but transversely separate planes, as 
illustrated in FIG. 9, and by then moving the lens sections 14 and 16 
transversely into a common plane. The bulbous tips 64 of the knuckle 
elements 22-27 projecting from each lens section are entrapped and locked 
into the structure of the other lens section. The lens sections 14 and 16 
thereby cannot be separated from each other by lateral tensile forces 
acting toward the hinge connections 20 in directions parallel to the arms 
66 of the knuckle elements. 
The knuckle elements are sized so as to be held tightly together by a 
frictional fit. Nevertheless, if it is desired to replace a lens sections 
14 or 16, the adjacent lens sections can be separated by transverse forces 
which move the lens sections 14 and 16 into different but parallel planes, 
as illustrated in FIG. 9. The primary hinge pin member 34 or 36 associated 
with the lens section to be replaced is then removed. A substitute lens 
section is then installed in the manner previously described. The 
substitute lens section may be of the same or a different color. The sets 
of knuckles are then aligned in interleaved fashion and forced into the 
same plane from the alignment of FIG. 9 to the alignment of FIG. 1. The 
hinge pin 34 or 36 that was removed is then replaced. 
Because the tips 64 of the knuckle elements 22-27 do not present any sharp 
corners or edges and are smooth and rounded, they do not present a hazard 
to the eyes of a wearer. Potential damage to the eyes of a wearer is 
thereby minimized should the knuckle elements suddenly separate, as might 
occur if the wearer is hit in the face with a volleyball, or other object. 
The primary hinge pin members 34 and 36 are identical in structure. The 
hinge pin member 34 is depicted in isolation in FIG. 6. Each primary hinge 
pin member 34 and 36 is constructed of molded plastic and has an enlarged 
base 38 at its top and a cylindrical hinge pin shank or rod 40 that 
extends downwardly from the base 38. The base 38 is of uniform oblong 
cross section throughout its length and has rounded front and back edges 
42 and 43, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The configuration and finish of the 
exposed surfaces of the bases 38 of the primary hinge pins 34 and 36 
matches the surface configuration and finish of the temple pieces 28 and 
30, so that the presence of the primary hinge pin connectors 34 and 36 in 
the temple pieces 28 and 30 is not easily detected. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the temple pieces 28 and 30 are both formed 
with seats 46 at the hinge pin connectors 32 to receive the bases 38 of 
the primary hinge pin members 34 and 36. Vertically aligned cylindrical 
openings 48 extend downwardly from the seats 46 through the hinge pin 
connectors 20 and 32 to receive the hinge pin shanks 40 of the primary 
hinge pin members 34 and 36. 
In addition to the seats 46, each of the temple pieces 28 and 30 is formed 
with a receptacle 50 for accommodating a hinge pin remote from the hinge 
pin connector 32 thereof. Each receptacle 50 is formed as a recessed seat 
52 that is identical in configuration to the seat 46. From the bottom of 
the seat 52 a cylindrical opening 54 extends downwardly from the seat 52 
through the structure of the temple piece to accommodate a shank 62 of a 
spare hinge pin member 56 or 58. The diameter of the opening 54 is 
identical to the diameter of the openings 48. 
The eye wear of the invention is provided with a least one spare or 
replacement hinge pin. In the embodiment illustrated, the eye wear 10 is 
provided with a pair of replacement hinge pins 56 and 58 which are of 
identical size and geometric configuration. The replacement hinge pins 56 
and 58 are releasably carried in the receptacles 50 in the temple pieces 
28 and 30. The replacement hinge pins 56 and 58 are adapted for coupling a 
hinge connector 20 of an eyepiece section to a hinge connector 32 of a 
temple piece in place of one of the primary hinge pin members 34 or 36, 
should one of those primary hinge pin members become broken. Until 
required as a replacement, however, the replacement hinge connectors 56 
and 58 serve as spare hinge pins and are carried in the spare hinge pin 
receptacles 50. 
Each of the replacement hinge pin connectors 56 and 58 has an enlarged base 
60 and a hinge pin shank 62 that extends downwardly from the base 38. The 
height and longitudinal dimension of the bases 60 of the replacement hinge 
pin connectors 56 and 58 are identical to those of the bases 38 of the 
primary hinge pin members 34 and 36. That is, the cross section of the 
head 60 of each replacement hinge pin connector 56 and 58, illustrated in 
FIG. 5, is identical to the cross section of each head 38 of the primary 
hinge pin members 34 and 36, illustrated in FIG. 7. The primary hinge pin 
members 34 and 36 and the replacement or spare hinge pin members 56 and 58 
are therefore all adapted to be received interchangeably in the seats 46 
and 50 in the temple pieces 28 and 30. 
The end of the base 60 of each hinge pin member 56 and 58 remote from the 
hinge pin shank 40 serves as a cross piece to which a flat, decorate 
shield 65 is attached, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The decorative shield 65 
may contain any manufacturer's design or logo, or any other desired 
decoration, either molded or painted or otherwise impressed on its 
outwardly facing surface. The decorative shield 65 is attached at its 
upper region to the replacement hinge pin base 60 and resides in a 
vertical plane parallel to the hinge pin shank 62. As illustrated in FIGS. 
1 and 8 the decorative shields 65 of the replacement hinge pin members 34 
and 36 are both adapted to reside in disposition against the outside 
surfaces of the temple pieces 28 and 30 in which they are seated. The back 
sides of the shields 65 are disposed against the outwardly facing surfaces 
of the temple pieces 28 and 30. 
Each spare hinge pin member 56 and 58 is available for use to replace any 
primary hinge pin member 34 or 36 should one of the primary hinge pin 
members 34 or 36 become broken. Until required for use, however, the spare 
replacement hinge pin connectors 56 and 58 are carried tightly but 
removably seated in the seats 50 in the temple pieces 28 and 30. 
In the event of a fracture of the cylindrical hinge pin shank 40 of the 
primary hinge pin element 34, for example, the broken portions of the 
primary hinge pin member 34 are first removed from the seat 46 and from 
the connector 32 of the temple piece 28 and the hinge connector 20 of the 
lens section 14. The replacement hinge pin member 56 is then lifted from 
the seat 50. Because the head 60 of the replacement hinge pin member 56 
conforms so closely to the contour of the seat 52 of the spare hinge pin 
receptacle 50, it may be necessary to use a sharp bladed instrument, such 
as a small screw driver, to pry the spare hinge pin member 56 out of the 
seat 50 in the temple piece 28. 
The spare hinge pin member 56 is then inserted into the seat 46 in the 
temple piece 28. The shank 62 of the replacement hinge pin member 56 is 
forced downwardly into the openings 48 in the connectors 32 and 20 of the 
temple piece 28 and lens section 14, respectively. Because the cross 
sections of the bases 38 and 60 of the primary and spare hinge pin members 
are identical, the base 60 of the spare hinge pin member 56 will reside 
snugly in contact with the seat 46 in the temple piece 28. 
Once the hinge has been repaired, any projecting stub portion of the shank 
40 of the broken primary hinge pin member 34 is then inserted downwardly 
into the opening 54 in the receptacle 50 of the temple piece 28. The base 
38 is thereupon pressed downwardly so as to rest snugly in the seat 52 of 
the receptacle 50. The base 38 of the remnant of the primary hinge pin 
member 34 thereby fills the cavity of the receptacle 50 to preserve the 
aesthetical appearance of the eye wear 10. Repair of the eye wear 10 can 
thus be completed in a matter of moments without the necessity of 
purchasing an additional replacement parts. 
Lens sections 14 and 16 and temple pieces 28 and 30 of different colors and 
designs can be combined to form the eye wear article 10 to suit the 
wearer. These pieces may be sold together as a unit, or purchased 
individually. The wearer thus has a wide option of choices of styles and 
colors from which to choose. 
Undoubtedly, numerous variations and modifications of the invention will 
become readily apparent to those familiar with eye wear. Accordingly, the 
scope of the invention should not be construed as limited to the specific 
embodiment thereof depicted and described herein, but rather is defined in 
the claims appended hereto.