Eyeglass hinge

The invention relates to a hinge connection between an eyeglass temple and a frame for eyeglass lenses. The eyeglass temple possesses at its end to be connected to the frame a joint element (1) which can be directly coupled to the frame without any snapping effect with a corresponding mounting element (7). The joint element (1) possesses a prolongation, which is connected to the eyeglass frame, with a pin (4) where the ends (5,6) of the pin (4) protrude beyond the prolongation on opposite sides of it. The mounting element (7) possesses two spaced arms (8,) which each surround one of the ends (5,6) of the pin (4) protruding beyond the prolongation of the joint element (1). At least one of the arms (9) surrounds the pin end (5) only partially while forming an introduction aperture (12). When inserting the pin (4) in the pin mounting apertures by pushing the pin (4) in the direction of its longitudinal axis, the prolongation is guided through the introduction aperture (12). The introduction aperture (12) is outside the swivel range of the prolongation (3) resulting from the swiveling of the eyeglass temple between the temple open position and the temple closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a hinge connection between an eyeglass temple and 
a frame for eyeglass lenses. 
Hinge connections of the above type have the advantage that when they are 
used, hinge screws or other loose connecting parts or additional spring 
elements of conventional hinges can be dispensed with. With conventional 
hinges it is difficult to fasten the hinge screw in such a way that, on 
the one hand, the hinge does not have too stiff a motion and, on the other 
hand, that the hinge screw does not become loose so that the hinge no 
longer has any motion regulation. 
Hinge connections are more simple which can do without hinge screw or other 
loose connection parts or additional spring elements. 
The U.S. Pat. No. 1,504,212 reveals a hinge connection for an eyeglass 
frame where a joint element and a mounting element can be coupled 
directly. To allow coupling a pin, from which a prolongation protrudes 
laterally for the fixation of an eyeglass temple, can be introduced into 
the mounting element by pushing in the direction of its longitudinal axis. 
To allow introduction of the pin together with the prolongation into the 
mounting element, the mounting element possesses a T-shaped slit. The 
introduction aperture for the prolongation is positioned within the swivel 
range of the prolongation results from the swiveling of the eyeglass 
temple between the temple opening position and the temple closing 
position. This known hinge connection has the disadvantage that a holding 
nut is required to secure the connection. 
The German A1 34 04 511 reveals a hinge with two meshing hinge parts which 
are connected to each other in a swiveling fashion. The eyeglass temples 
possess on each end which is to be connected to the frame a hinge part 
designed as a joint element which can be directly coupled with a further 
hinge part on the eyeglass frame where said hinge part is designed as a 
mounting element. 
The screw securing of replaced with this hinge by a snapping, clicking or 
trapping of one hinge part into the other ("snapping effect"). Here, it is 
necessary to expand parts of the mounting element. The material must 
therefore possess very high inherent elasticity in order to allow the 
required elastic shaping (the clear width of the "attachment channel" is, 
for example, 20% smaller than the diameter of the pin which is snapped 
in). However, there are hardly any materials which additionally also 
possess the stability and connectability with other materials required for 
an eyeglass hinge. 
In order to obtain sufficient stability, the hinge part designed as a 
mounting element must additionally be so large in size that it is not 
suitable for narrow lugs and eyeglass temples. Finally, the eyeglass 
temple can be dismantled not only in the spectacle closing position, but 
also in the spectacle opening position and in any intermediate position. 
This is, however, a disadvantage for safety reasons. 
The object of FR PS 1126049 is also a hinge connection with a "snapping 
effect". Here, the introduction aperture for a joint element is positioned 
in such a way that the part to be introduced does not fit into the 
introduction aperture in the swivel range produced. The hinge connection 
is unsuitable for hinges with the smallest possible dimensions and 
particularly for metal frames with small dimensions. The hinge material 
must also have the material properties specified in DE-A1 34 04 511. 
With the hinge connection revealed by DE-A1 42 14 531 the hinge part of the 
eyeglass temple can also be directly coupled with a hinge part on the 
frame. According to one of the embodiments, which is, however, suitable 
for plastic frames, a pin is fixed to the eyeglass temple which possesses 
a radially protruding elongation at its free end. The pin is inserted into 
a borehole on the frame whereby for assembly the elongation is guided by a 
groove on the internal circumference of the borehole. 
With this hinge the connection between pin and eyeglass temple is subject 
to high strain. This means either a less stable joint connection or that 
not only the frame has to be designed in a reinforced manner in the 
vicinity of the side edges, but also the pin. The use of the known hinge 
is therefore restricted to plastic frames with a relatively large hinge 
and so wide temples. The hinge part of the frame (front hinge) is 
transposed against the temple with the known frame. As a result the known 
hinge is not suitable, for example, for temple/lug combinations. Finally, 
the friction resistance required for a motion regulation is not ensured 
with the known hinge connection. The proposed humps or ribs on the cone 
lead to high wear of ribs and grooves and so to a rapid deterioration of 
the desired motion regulation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to give a hinge of the type described above 
which can be used not only for special hinge types, but with practically 
all eyeglass hinge types. The hinge should in addition possess the 
smallest possible dimensions while nevertheless allowing a stable and easy 
to assemble connection of the hinge parts. 
This object is solved according to the invention by the providing a hinge 
having an introduction aperture outside the swivel range of a prolongation 
resulting from the swiveling of the eyeglass temple between the temple 
open position and the temple closed position. 
With the proposed hinge, a snapping in of the joint element into the 
mounting element is avoided. The proposed hinge has the advantage over the 
hinges which have to be assembled with "snapping effect" that the mounting 
element does not need to possess any extreme elasticity properties. The 
assembly or dismantling is performed by moving the temple into a position 
relative to the mounting element in which the joint element can be pushed 
into the mounting element by moving over the pin mounting apertures and 
the introduction aperture in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the 
pin. During the introduction the prolongation is moved through the 
introduction aperture. The prolongation accordingly has a shape which 
allows it to be guided through the introduction aperture and which allows 
it to be swiveled within the two arms after said introduction. Here the 
prolongation has dimensions such that it can be moved essentially without 
friction with the arms of the mounting element while nevertheless still 
forming an axial motion security for the pin. 
The proposed hinge thus comprises only one joint element and one mounting 
element which can be coupled directly, that is without any further 
connecting parts such as hinge screws. Naturally, the assembly or 
dismantling can be performed in a simple manner, that is using at best 
simple aids. 
With the proposed hinge pin ends protrude from the prolongation on both 
sides. The longitudinal axis of the pin is simultaneously the swivel axis 
of the eyeglass temple. As the two pin ends are each surrounded by one arm 
of the mounting element, the connection between frame and eyeglass temple 
is stable. Also due to this reason, among others, the dimensions of the 
proposed hinge can be kept very small. The hinge is thus also 
exceptionally suitable for metal frames whose temples possess very small 
cross-section areas. As the prolongation and thus the temple is fixed in 
the pin center, eyeglass temples and the frame hinge part are not 
positioned in transposition to each other, but are located at the same 
height. 
The proposed hinge connection can be utilized with practically all frame or 
hinge types when suitably redesigned. Among others also with spring loaded 
joints. Of especial significance is also the possibility of being able to 
obtain in a simple manner a motion regulation which possesses an 
essentially constant brake torque over a long period. With the proposed 
hinge the pin mounting apertures are adapted to the pin ends, that is they 
are matched to each other as regards their diameters. As one of the arms 
only partially surrounds the pin end while forming an introduction 
aperture for the prolongation, it is possible in a simple manner that 
through this arm initial stress is exerted on the corresponding pin end in 
a radial direction. 
Normally, with an eyeglass frame a limitation of the eyeglass temple swivel 
range is provided by the frame (the eyeglass front) or by the hinges 
(hinge impact areas). If, now, the introduction aperture is located 
outside the swivel range for the prolongation given in claim 1, then any 
unintentional loosening of the eyeglass temple from the frame of the 
eyeglass lenses, that is from the front of the eyeglasses, is not 
possible. The introduction aperture can be provided at a position which 
the prolongation assumes when the eyeglass temple contacts the frame and 
is slightly bent, that is when it is moved toward the frame beyond the 
temple closing position. 
In principle, it is possible that the second arm completely surrounds the 
corresponding pin end. 
In a preferred embodiment, however, the second arm can also surround the 
corresponding pin arm only partially while forming a gap. 
In a further variation of the invention it is advantageous (claim 3) when 
at least one of the arms contacts the corresponding pin end under initial 
tension and thus exerts friction torque (motion regulation). In 
particular, it is possible that both arms contact the correspond pin ends 
under initial tension. 
In a further simply produced variation of the hinge in accordance with the 
invention, the pin is connected to the prolongation and this to a base 
part. The base part can, for example, be connected to the temple by 
soldering or welding. Preferably, the prolongation and the base part are 
produced from one piece. 
In a further embodiment of the invention it has proven to be of advantage 
if the prolongation is integrated in such a way in the end of the eyeglass 
temple to be connected to the frame that the eyeglass temple possesses at 
its end to be connected to the frame merely one pin whose longitudinal 
axis is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the temple. 
In this version, a particularly delicate temple can be used. The 
prolongation can, for example, be continued without any great change in 
its cross-sectional shape in the temple with roughly the same 
cross-sectional shape. Temple and pin can, however, for example, also have 
different diameters or cross-sectional areas. In these cases, the pin is 
fixed more or less directly to the temple end with the two longitudinal 
axes being essentially perpendicular to each other. 
To simplify the assembly and the dismantling, it has proven to be favorable 
if the pin ends have different diameters. During assembly the pin end with 
the smaller diameter can be led more easily through the pin mounting 
aperture provided for the pin end with the larger diameter. 
Naturally, a version where the joint element possessing the pin is not 
positioned at the temple, but at the eyeglass front (frame) or the lug and 
where the taking element is positioned at the temple also forms part of 
the claimed hinge connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the figures parts with the same function have been given the same 
reference number. 
FIG. 1 shows a front view, FIG. 2 a side view, FIG. 3 a top view and FIGS. 
4 and 5 an oblique view of a left and right hinge element 1 respectively. 
On a base part 2 a prolongation 3 is formed on whose end opposite the base 
part 2 a pin 4 is fixed. The base part 2 can, for example, by welding at a 
temple not shown here be welded at its end to be connected to the frame. 
For the welding, weld projections 21 can, for example, be used. The two 
ends 5, 6 of the pin protrude over the prolongation 3 on opposite sides of 
it. Reference number 13 refers to the longitudinal axis of the pin. 
Reference numbers 18 and 19 refer to the diameters of the pin ends 5, 6 
which may be different to simplify assembly and dismantling. The eyeglass 
temple not shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is thus designed as a joint element at 
its end to be connected to the frame. The corresponding mounting element 7 
on the frame, with which the joint element 1 can be directly coupled 
without any snapping, is shown in FIGS. 6 to 10. FIG. 6 shows a front 
view, FIG. 7 a side view, FIG. 8 a top view and FIGS. 9 and 10 an oblique 
view of a left and a right mounting element. On a base part 23 arms 8a, 8b 
and 9 are formed. The arms 8a, 8b on the one hand and arm 9, on the other, 
are positioned at distances to each other in roughly parallel planes. Arm 
9 surrounds a pin mounting aperture 10. The arms 8a and 8b surround a pin 
mounting aperture 11. The mounting element 7 can, for example, be fixed to 
the frame by welding. Weld projections 22 are used for this purpose. 
In FIG. 11 joint element 1 and mounting element 7 are shown in their 
functional position. It can be seen that the end 5 of the pin 4 which 
protrudes over the prolongation 3 of the joint element 1 is surrounded by 
arm 9 while the end 6 of the pin 4 is surrounded by the arms 8a, 8b. Arm 9 
surrounds pin end 5 only partially while forming an introduction aperture 
12. The second arm 8a, 8b surrounds the corresponding pin end 6 also only 
partially while forming a gap 16. Due to the gap 16 and the introduction 
aperture 12 it is possible that the arms 8a, 8b, 9 contact the relevant 
pin end 5,6 under initial tension. In this way, motion regulation is 
ensured. 
FIG. 22 shows different positions of the eyeglass temple schematically. 
The temple open position is referred to with reference number 24, the 
temple closed position with reference number 25 and the assembly or 
dismantling position of the temple with reference number 26. The assembly 
or dismantling of the eyeglass temple is achieved by a slight bending of 
the eyeglass temple in the direction of the frame 28 and by a pushing 
movement. This movement is intended to be described using FIG. 23 in which 
a schematically simplified representation of the joint element in 
accordance with FIGS. 1 to 5 and the mounting element in accordance with 
Figures to 10 is presented. The joint element 1 is represented in the 
temple open position 24 and in the position of assembly and dismantling 
26. By the light bending of the eyeglass temple 14 the joint element 1 is 
pushed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 13 of the pin 4; thus the 
pin first moves through the pin mounting aperture 10 with the pin end with 
the smaller diameter, whereas then the prolongation 3 is moved through the 
introduction aperture 12. The prolongation 3 possesses a shape which 
allows, on the one hand, it to be guided through the introduction aperture 
12 and, on the other hand, allows it to be able to be swiveled within the 
arms 8, 9 after the introduction of the joint element into the mounting 
element. The prolongation thus forms an axial motion security for the pin 
4. 
The introduction aperture 12 is located outside the swivel range of the 
prolongation 3 resulting from the swiveling of the eyeglass temple between 
the temple open position 24 and the temple closed position 25. Reference 
number 27 refers to a lug. As already explained, it is just as possible to 
fix the joint element 1 to the lug 27 and the mounting element 7 to the 
eyeglass temple 14. 
FIGS. 12 to 15 show a further embodiment of a joint element in a top view 
(FIG. 14), side view (FIG. 13) and front view (FIG. 12). With this 
embodiment, the prolongation 3 is integrated in the end 17 of the eyeglass 
temple 14 to be connected to the frame. The eyeglass temple 14 possesses 
at its end to be connected to the frame only one pin 4 whose longitudinal 
axis 13 is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 15 of the 
temple. 
FIG. 16 to 20 show an embodiment of a mounting element for a joint element 
presented in the FIGS. 12 to 15. 
In the embodiment examples, only one mounting element shape is presented. 
Naturally, other shapes of the mounting element are also covered by the 
claimed hinge connection. It is, for example, possible that the mounting 
element possesses an essentially cylindrical external shape with the 
mounting element being able, for example, to be connected to the eyeglass 
front (frame) by a wire-shaped connecting part.