Turning method and turning mechanism in eyeglasses

A turning method and a turning mechanism in eyeglasses capable of turning a temple with respect to a bracket with a simplified mechanism without using joints or bolts. The turning mechanism comprises a bracket having a main trunk and a hook, and a temple being turnable with respect to the bracket, wherein the hook has a first part for supporting an end of the temple so that the temple is turned about the first part, and a second part for stopping turning of the temple. The turning mechanism can be made very light weight and dispense with additional parts such as bolts and nuts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to eyeglasses, more particularly, to a 
turning method and a turning mechanism in the eyeglasses. 
2. Prior Art 
Eyeglasses having an excellent feeling of wearing such as fitness and 
aesthetical appearance have been desired so far. 
The eyeglasses have been developed in view of manufacturing technique and 
their materials, and improved in their designs. As a result, the 
eyeglasses having a very excellent design and feeling of wearing have been 
recently available in a market. In view of diversity of need and 
development of individuality of a customer, the customer has pursued 
better feeling of wearing of the eyeglasses such as fitness-type 
eyeglasses. However, the customer has not been satisfied with the feeling 
of wearing of the conventional eyeglasses. Particularly, in view of 
inherent function of the eyeglasses, rimless eyeglasses which are very 
bright in visual field, light in weight, and fashionable are becoming 
popular. 
The rimless eyeglasses have no frame body surrounding lenses and engage 
with side surfaces of the lenses, so that the customer is not prevented 
from being obstructed in a visual field. 
The rimless eyeglasses have a bridge and brackets (so-called lugs) which 
are directly attached to lenses, whereas normal eyeglasses have brackets, 
on which a bridge and temples are attached, attached to each rim. The 
bridge, the temples and the brackets of the rimless eyeglasses are linear 
and very light weighted. A turning mechanism such as joints, screws or 
bolts has been still employed so as to turn the temples with respect to 
the brackets. 
FIG. 7 is a prior art turning mechanism comprising a temple and a bracket 
coupled by joints, wherein FIG. 7(a) is a plan view and FIG. 7(b) is a 
side view. The bracket (usually called a lug) has two joints for receiving 
one end of the temple. When one end of the temple is inserted into the two 
joints and it is retained by a fixing member such as screws or bolts, the 
temple can be turned about the fixing member. Such a prior art turning 
mechanism using joints is called a "three piece hinge". 
When using the fixing member such as the screws or the bolts, the bracket 
and the temple become complex in their structures and heavy in their 
weight. 
If the temple is frequently turned about the fixing member in the prior art 
turning mechanism, the fixing member such as the screws or the bolts is 
loosened. Accordingly, such fixing member must be fixed periodically using 
an exclusive driver, etc., which has been very troublesome. 
Further, the turning mechanism comprising the joints, screws or the bolts 
requires many parts and complicated manufacturing process, which hinders 
the reduction of manufacturing cost. Accordingly, it has been important to 
simplify the turning mechanism using the joints for developing lightweight 
rimless eyeglasses. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention meets such requirements and solves the aforementioned 
problems. That is, the inventors have devoted themselves to solve the 
problems of the prior art turning mechanism and found the fact that 
temples can be fixed to brackets without using the prior art turning 
mechanism such as screws or bolts by merely supporting each end of the 
temple arms by shaft supporters which are parts of the brackets. The 
inventors have completed the present invention based on this fact. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a turning method and a 
turning mechanism in eyeglasses capable of turning temple arms with 
respect to brackets without using joints and fixing member such as screws 
or bolts as employed in the prior art turning mechanism. 
To achieve the above objects, it is a first aspect of the invention to 
provide a turning method in eyeglasses comprising a step of supporting a 
shaft provided at an end of a temple arm by a shaft supporter of a bracket 
so that the temple arm is attached to the bracket A so as to be turnable 
about the shaft supporter of the bracket. 
In the first aspect of the invention, the method further comprises a step 
of pressing the shaft of the temple arm on the bracket so as to give 
resistance force to turning motion of the temple (B). 
Further, in the first aspect of the invention, the method further comprises 
a step of stopping turning of the temple arm by a part of the bracket. 
It is a second aspect of the invention to provide a turning mechanism of 
eyeglasses comprising a bracket having a main trunk and a hook and a 
temple arm being turnable with respect to the bracket, wherein the hook 
has a first part for supporting an end of the temple arm so that the 
temple arm is turned about the first part, and a second part for stopping 
turning of the temple arm. 
In the second aspect of the invention, the first part is a shaft supporter 
for supporting the end of the temple arm, and the second part is a 
downward directed part provided between the shaft supporter and the main 
trunk for stopping turning of the temple arm. 5 Further, in the second 
aspect of the invention, the first part is a shaft supporter for 
supporting the end of the temple arm, and wherein the end of the temple 
arm is pressed on the shaft supporter and the main trunk of the bracket so 
as to give resistance force to turning motion of the temple arm. 
Still further, it is a third aspect of the invention to provide a turning 
mechanism of eyeglasses comprising a bracket having a main trunk and a 
hook and a temple arm being turnable with respect to the bracket, wherein 
the temple arm has a shaft provided at an end of the temple arm, and the 
hook includes a shaft supporter for supporting the shaft of the temple 
arm, and a stop part provided between the shaft supporter and the trunk of 
the bracket for stopping turning of the temple arm supported by the shaft 
supporter so as to be turned about the shaft supporter, and wherein the 
end of the temple arm is pressed between the shaft supporter and the main 
trunk of the bracket so as to give resistance force to turning motion of 
the temple arm. 
Since the turning method and the turning mechanism in eyeglasses are 
structured as mentioned above, each end of the temple arm is supported by 
and turnable about each shaft portion of the bracket.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
First Embodiment (FIG. 1) 
Elements which are described in first to fifth embodiments as illustrated 
in FIGS. 1 to 5 and in a modification as illustrated in FIG. 6 are denoted 
at the same numerals. 
A first embodiment of the invention will be now described with reference to 
FIG. 1 showing a turning mechanism provided between a temple B and a 
bracket A. FIG. 1(a) is a side view of the turning mechanism showing a 
state before a cylindrical shaft 3 of the temple B is attached to a shaft 
supporter 13 of the bracket A, FIG. 1(b) is the same side view showing a 
state after the shaft 3 is attached to the shaft supporter 13, and FIG. 
1(c) is a plan view of the turning mechanism showing a state before the 
temple B is turned with respect to the bracket A (solid line), and a state 
after the temple B is turned with respect to the bracket A (two dot broken 
line). 
Each bracket A is attached to each lens of the eyeglasses and is normally 
called as "lug". 
The bracket A preferably employs a linear material which is made of metal 
such as stainless steel, iron, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, aluminum, 
manganese, gold, titanium, cobalt, or alloy comprising a group selected 
from the group comprising the aforementioned metals, and plastic material 
such as cellulose, acetate, polyamide, and epoxy. 
The bracket A comprises a main trunk 2 and a hook 1 at an end portion 
thereof, wherein the other end of the main trunk 2 is fixed to the lens 
and the hook 1 is attached to the temple B. 
The hook 1 has a U-shaped configuration and comprises a downward directed 
part 11 which is bent downward from the main trunk 2, a laterally directed 
part 12 which is bent laterally from the downward directed part 11, and a 
shaft supporter 13 which is bent upwardly from the downward directed part 
11. 
Accordingly, the shaft supporter 13 is integrally coupled with the main 
trunk 2 by way of the downward directed part 11 and the laterally directed 
part 12 (these two parts are hereinafter referred to as a coupled part of 
the main trunk 2 and the shaft supporter 13). 
The temple B has an end cover, not shown, to be hooked by an ear at one end 
and the shaft part 3 at the other end, wherein an inserting hole 31 is 
defined on the shaft 3. 
The shaft 3 of the temple B is inserted onto the shaft supporter 13 of the 
bracket A with the hole 31 of the shaft 3 receiving the shaft supporter 
13, so that the temple B is supported by the shaft supporter 13 so as to 
be turnable or pivotable about the shaft supporter 13. 
Since the coupled part exists between the shaft supporter 13 and the main 
trunk 2, the turning of the temple B is stopped when the temple B is 
pressed on the coupled part although the temple B can be freely turned 
with respect to the bracket A. 
When the shaft supporter 13 and the main trunk are disposed on the same 
plane as illustrated in solid line of FIG. 1(c), the temple B is in a 
state to be substantially linear with the bracket A, so that the temple B 
is not turned further beyond the coupled part, namely, a stop part or the 
downward directed part 11 and the laterally directed part 12. That is, 
when the temple B strikes against the downward directed part 11 of the 
bracket A, it is not turned further when the shaft 3 of the temple B is 
coupled to the shaft supporter 13 of the bracket A. The stop portion may 
have such a shape that it presses on the temple B when the temple B turns 
about the shaft supporter 13 and stops the turning of the temple B. 
With such a turning mechanism, the temple B supported by the shaft 
supporter 13 of the bracket A can be freely turnable without using the 
joints, screws or bolts. 
Second Embodiment (FIG. 2) 
A turning mechanism according to a second embodiment of the invention will 
be described with refer to FIG. 2. 
FIG. 2(a) is a side view of the turning mechanism showing a state before 
the shaft 3 of the temple B is attached to the shaft supporter 13 of the 
bracket A, FIG. 2(b) is the same side view showing a state after the shaft 
3 is attached to the shaft supporter 13, and FIG. 2(c) is a plan view of 
the turning mechanism showing a state before the temple B is turned with 
respect to the bracket A (solid line) and a state after the temple B is 
turned with respect to the bracket A (two dot broken line). 
The second embodiment is different form the first embodiment as follows. 
That is, the downward directed part 11 of the hook 1 of the second 
embodiment is curved to form a so-called curved part 11B and the shaft 3 
of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in 
an external appearance thereof. 
The temple B supported by the shaft supporter 13 of the bracket A is turned 
without receiving any resistance in the first and second embodiments. 
However, a customer wearing the eyeglasses does not feel any resistance, 
i.e., moderation in his hands unless resistance force is given to some 
extent to the temple B when the temple B is turned about the shaft 
supporter 13, which causes the customer to feel as if he wore the 
eyeglasses of very coarse temples B. The following third embodiment solved 
this problem. 
Third Embodiment (FIG. 3) 
FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment which enables the customer to feel 
moderation when resistance force is given to the turning mechanism of FIG. 
1. 
FIG. 3(a) is a side view of the turning mechanism showing a state before 
the shaft 3 of the temple B is attached to the shaft supporter 13 of the 
bracket A, FIG. 3(b) is the same side view showing a state after the shaft 
3 is attached to the shaft supporter 13, and FIG. 3(c) is a plan view of 
the turning mechanism showing a state before the temple B is turned with 
respect to the bracket A (solid line), and a state after the temple B is 
turned with respect to the bracket A (two dot broken line). 
Since the shaft supporter 13 is strongly pressed on the main trunk 2 from 
the lower side thereof toward the upward direction, when the shaft 3 of 
the temple B is inserted into the shaft supporter 13 of the bracket A, the 
shaft 3 is strongly pressed between the shaft supporter 13 and the main 
trunk 2 of the bracket A, which gives resistance force to the turning 
motion of the temple B. More in detail, a side surface 33 of the shaft 3 
is strongly pressed on the main trunk 2, so that frictional resistance is 
produced between the side surface 33 and the main trunk 2. 
When the customer turns the temple B, the temple B is turned heavily due to 
the resistance force caused by the frictional resistance, so that the 
customer feels moderation. 
Fourth Embodiment (FIG. 4) 
FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment which gives resistance force to the 
turning mechanism of the temple B in a manner different from the manner in 
the third embodiment. 
FIG. 4(a) is a side view of the turning mechanism showing a state before 
the shaft 3 of the temple B is attached to the shaft supporter 13 of the 
bracket A, FIG. 4(b) is the same side view showing a state after the shaft 
3 is attached to the shaft supporter 13, and FIG. 4(c) is a plan view of 
the turning mechanism showing a state before the temple B is turned with 
respect to the bracket A (solid line), and a state after the temple B is 
turned with respect to the bracket A (two dot broken line). 
When the shaft 3 of the temple B is inserted into the shaft supporter 13 of 
the bracket A, while the shaft supporter 13 of the bracket A is strongly 
pressed on the main trunk 2 from the lateral direction, the shaft 
supporter 13 is strongly pressed between the shaft supporter 13 of the 
bracket A and the main trunk 2 of the bracket A, which gives resistance 
force to turning motion of the temple. More in detail, a peripheral 
surface 32 of the shaft 3 is strongly pressed on the main trunk 2, so that 
frictional resistance is produced between the peripheral surface 32 and 
the main trunk 2. 
When the customer turns the temple B, the temple B is turned heavily due to 
the resistance force caused by the frictional resistance, so that the 
customer feels moderation. 
Fifth Embodiment (FIG. 5) 
FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention wherein the downward 
directed part 11 of the coupled part in the third embodiment has an 
inclined part 11A. 
FIG. 5(a) is a side view of the turning mechanism showing a state before 
the shaft 3 of the temple B is attached to the shaft supporter 13 of the 
bracket A, FIG. 5(b) is the same side view showing a state after the shaft 
3 is attached to the shaft supporter 13, and FIG. 5(c) is a plan view of 
the turning mechanism showing a state before the temple B is turned with 
respect to the bracket A (solid line), and a state after the temple B is 
turned with respect to the bracket A (two dot broken line). 
Although the temple B can be freely turned with respect to the bracket A, 
because of the presence of the inclined part 11A of the coupled part, the 
temple B strikes against the inclined part 11A, which prevents the temple 
B from being further turned. 
When the customer wears eyeglasses, the temples B are supported by his 
ears, so that the temples B always receive force in an upward direction 
about the shaft supporters 13, and hence much load is applied to the shaft 
supporters 13. 
In FIG. 5, since the temple B per se is slightly elastic, the temple B is 
operated to get over the inclined part 11A of the coupled part and move 
along the inclined part 11A when the temple B is likely to open or to be 
turned, so that downward repulsive force is applied to the temple B in a 
downward direction. 
As a result, a reverse force is applied to the temple B in the direction to 
cancel the upward force which is always applied to the temple B, so that 
the load to be applied to the shaft supporter 13 is lessened. 
Modification (FIG. 6) 
FIG. 6 show a modification of the coupled part in the first to fifth 
embodiments. The downward directed part 11, the inclined part 11A or the 
curved part 11B of the coupled part of the bracket A has a recess S at a 
portion where the temple B contacts. 
The recess S has various shaped such as triangular, round, square shapes, 
etc. In a dynamic point of view, no excessive load is applied to the 
turning mechanism since the shaft 3 of the temple B engages in the recess 
S, and the force supporting the temple B is dispersed to the downward 
directed part 11, the inclined part 11A or the curved part 11B. 
Although the invention is described with reference to first to fifth 
embodiments and the modification thereof, it is a matter of fact that the 
invention is not limited to those embodiments and modification but it can 
be variously modified unless deviating from the scope of protection. 
For example, the coupled part, namely, stop part provided at the hook 1 is 
not limited to the downward directed part 11, the inclined part 11A and 
the curved part 11B but it may have any shape if it can stop the turning 
of the temple B. 
The shaft 3 of the temple B may have any shape if it can be inserted into 
the shaft supporter 13 of the bracket A so as to be turnable about the 
shaft supporter 13. 
Although the hook 1 is provided on the bracket A and the shaft 3 is 
provided on the temple B, it is a matter of course that the hook 1 and the 
shaft 3 are provided reversely, namely, the hook 1 is provided on the 
temple B and the shaft 3 is provided on the bracket A. 
With such an arrangement of the invention, the turning mechanism per se can 
be made very light because the joints are not used, and it can dispense 
with additional parts such as bolts and nuts. 
When the shaft 3 of the temple B is pressed between the shaft supporter 13 
and the main trunk 2 of the bracket A, resistance force is given to the 
turning motion of the temple B, and hence the customer feels moderation 
when turning the temple B.