STEM DEVICE FOR EYEGLASSES FRAMES AND THE LIKE

Abstract: The stem device (1) comprises a hollow body (2) having an end (4) and which can be removably associated with a tubular element (3). Between the body (2) and element (5), members (8-15) are provided to afford axial rotation with an elastic return bias (13) acting therebetween. The stem device includes a peg (10) located in an oblique slot (11) for restrict­ ing the translatory and rotatory movements of the end (4) with respect to the element (5). The stem device is also effective to be snap-closed and elastically opened to an extra-open angle with respect to the front of a pair of eyeglasses.

Description: This invention relates to a temple device for eyeglass frames and the like. Currently known are eyeglass frames which have a temple, or stem or leg, associated with a hinge attached to a front piece which houses lenses, wherein the temple is positioned, in normal use, at a smaller angle than 90° with respect to the front piece. Thus, the temples are made to lie close against the user's temples for holding the eyeglasses at an optimum position even in the event of jerky movements of the head. Also known nowadays are eyeglass frames which incorporate hinges, adapted for providing elastic over-center spreading and snap-closing features. A drawback of such prior frames is the disturbing action of the pressure exerted by the temples on the user's temples for holding the eyeglasses in position. Such prior frame types also have disadvantages that due to their complex construction, they are consequently vulnerable to jamming due to their complex operation, and to wear occuring in relatively movable and contacting parts. EP-A-0003928 shows an elastic hinge for mounting on spectacles in which an element with a pivot hole is connected to a threaded stem inserted into a casing which is connectable to a temple. A washer, spring, and screw nut assembly is provided for elastically loading the stem. It is a primary aim of this invention to obviate such drawbacks affecting prior types, by providing a stem device which enables eyeglasses to be held close in correct position on the head of a person without exerting pressure on the user's temples or causing any inconvenience. Within the above aim, it is a further important object of the invention to provide a temple device which allows the temple or leg to be opened beyond its position of normal use, and a snap-action return movement of the same to its position of normal use. This aim, the cited object and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a temple device for eyeglass frames and the like, as defined in the claims. Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of this temple device, with reference to the accompanying illustrative and not limitative drawings, where: Figure 1 is a three-quarter perspective view of the temple device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view thereof; Figure 3 is a partly sectional plan view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a partly sectional plan view showing another embodiment of the temple device according to the invention; Figure 5 is a lateral view of the temple device of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further embodiment of the temple device according to the invention; Figures 7 and 8 are partly sectional front and three-quarter perspective detail views respectively, of means for allowing axial rotation in the temple device of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing a portion of a further embodiment of the temple device; Figures 10 and 11 are partly sectional front and perspective detail views respectively showing rotation means of the temple device of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a further embodiment of the temple device; Figure 13 is a partly sectional plan view similar to the view of Figure 3, showing another embodiment of the temple device according to the invention; Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of Figure 13; Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of Figure 13; Figure 17 is a three-quarter perspective view of yet another embodiment of the temple device according to the invention; Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the temple device of Figure 17; Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX of Figure 17; Figure 20 is a sectional view taken along the line XX-XX of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI of Figure 19; Figure 22 is an exploded three-quarter perspective view of a further embodiment of the temple device according to the invention; Figure 23 is a longitudinal sectional view of the temple device; Figure 24 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line XXIV-XXIV of Figure 23; Figure 25 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the inventive temple device; and Figure 26 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the operation of the embodiment shown in Figure 17 to achieve an overcenter spreading movement. With reference to the cited drawing figures, the temple device particularly for eyeglasses frames, comprises a body 2 having a portion defining a substantially cylindrical shape with a cavity 3 at one of its ends, the other end, indicated at 4, being arcuately shaped for location rearward of the ear auricle of a user. Externally of the body 2, and lying substantially concentrically thereto, there is provided, at the end formed with the cavity 3, a tubular element 5 which merges at one end with the peripheral edge of the body 2 and at the other with a cam or hinge 6 rigid with the front piece 7 of eyeglasses. At the blind end of the cavity 3, there is formed a seat 8 for locking, guide, and return means 9 composed of a small peg having a concave side surface at the cavity 3, that peg having a head 10 of essentially parallelepipedal shape protruding from the seat 8 at an opening 11, having slightly greater width and length dimensions than the corresponding length and width dimensions of the head 10 of the peg 9 and being formed at the side surface of the tubular element 5. That opening has an inclined longitudinal axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body 2 and the tubular element 5, the intersection of the head 10 of the peg with the edges of the opening 11 guiding, once a rotation has been imparted to the body 2, the axial displacement of the same. The tubular element 5 is further formed internally with a step-like abutment 12 adapted to limit the axial travel of the end of the body 2 contained therein. Inside the cavity 3 and the element 5, means 13 are accommodated which afford elastic return between the same once an axial rotation has been applied, such means comprising two balls 14 and 15 interacting respectively with the lateral surface of the peg and a cam 16 comprising the hinge 6. Between said balls 14 and 15, an elastic means intervenes which is formed of a cylindrical coil compression spring 17 which forces the ball 89 towards the matingly shaped lateral surface of the peg 10, and the other ball 15 towards the cam 16. The temple device 1 is assembled by successively fitting into the tubular element 5 associated with the hinge 6 the ball 15, spring 17 and ball 14; thereafter, the end of the body 2 will be introduced at the end formed with the cavity 3. After aligning the opening of the seat 8 with the opening 11, one may then introduce the peg 9 which is locked within the seat by the action of the spring 13 causing the ball 14 to engage therewith, the head 10 of the peg 9 thereby holding the body 2 and element 5 in mutual association. A twisting effect of the end 4 of the body 2 relatively to the tubular element 5 occurs by virtue of the axial thrust of the spring 17 which acts on the ball 14 which in turn transfers the force to the peg 9, causing the same to slide along the oblique opening 11 untill it comes to rest by being pushed against the end thereof which is most distant from the ball 15. By moving said end 4 rotatively in the direction of the arrow A (Figure 2) the head 10 of the peg slides downwardly along the oblique opening 11 and hence nearer to the ball 15, the lateral surface of the peg pushing the ball 14 towards the ball 15 and resultantly compressing the spring 17. That position being one of unstable equilibrium, on releasing the end 4 of the stem, the head 10 of the peg 9 will slide along the oblique slot and return to the position shown in Figure 2, thereby re-positioning the end to its original position by causing it to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the sum with respect to the tubular element 5. The spring 17 cooperating with the ball 15, also permits elastic overcenter spreading and snap-closing of the temple device 1 is achieved, the former being limited by the presence of an abutment element 18 formed, for example, of a cylindrical pin placed inside the spring 17, the latter by the configuration of the cam 16 cooperating with the ball 15. It has thus been shown how the invention achieves its aim and objects, it being possible to obtain an axial rotation, with elastic return with respect to the tubular element associated with the hinge 6, it being possible for the end 4 to have at rest an inclination such as to ensure close fitting of the legs or stems of eyeglasses against a person's head without causing any inconvenience thereto. The use of the means 13 in conjunction with the cam 16 further allow a temple device to be obtained which effects the elastic overcenter spreading and snap-closing with respect to the front piece 7. A further advantage achievable by the invention resides in the fact that a temple device is provided which, while satisfying all the previously described characteristics, is of very compact size. Of course, the invention is susceptible to many modifications and changes without departing from the scope of the same inventive concept. Thus, as an example, in Figures 4 and 5, there is shown another embodiment of the temple device 101 having a body 102 of essentially cylindrical shape, formed at one end with a cavity 103, that body being inserted, in correspondence with the latter, into a tubular concentric element 105 which is slidable axially relatively to the body 102 and associated with one end with a hinge 106 rigid with the front piece 107. At the closed end of the cavity 103, the element 102 has a seat 108 for a locking, guide end return means 109 comprising a small peg having one end 110 a with a larger diameter than the width of an opening 111 formed in the lateral surface of the element 105 and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the same; that peg has, protruding with respect to the end 110 a , a head 110 b of essentially parallelepipedal shape, and having smaller dimensions than the width end length of the openings 111. The longitudinal extension of the peg is, moreover, shorter than the corresponding extension of the seat 108, the seat 108 allowing the whole peg to be removably accommodated therein. The element 105 has a first cavity 119 in communication with the cavity 103 and a second cavity 120, not in communication with the first, also axial and confronting the hinge 106. Inside the cavity 119, there is accommodated a first left-handed coil spring whose ends rest on the blind end of the cavity 119 and the peripheral edges of the end of the body 102. Coaxially with the spring 117 a there is placed inside a second right-hated coil spring 117 b whose ends interact with the closed ends of the cavity 119 and the surface of a ball 114 interacting with the lateral surface of the peg. Within the cavity 120, there is instead a spring 117 c cooperating with a ball 115 in turn interacting with the cam 106. Also in this variation, the twisting effect occurs under the thrusts of the two springs 117a and 117b, the former urging the body 102 directly, and the latter urging the ball 114 and peg. In the element 105 there are formed, parallel to one another, several openings 111, which afford an extensible leg. The means 109 is in fact fully insertable into the seat 108, this allowing, by virtue of the presence of the spring 117a, its head 110b to be positioned at the selected opening 111. The shape of the end 110a will prevent the peg itself from coming out of its seat, the use of two separate springs (right- and left-handed in order that they can slide relatively to each other) enabling the user to impart a weaker force to the head 110a of the peg to change the length of the leg 101. Accomplishment of the elastic overcenter spreading and snap-closing is similar to what has been described for the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the presence of the spring 117 c allowing an independent action of the axial rotation which may be imparted to the body 102. In Figures 6,7 and 8, there is shown a variation of a temple device 201 comprising a substantially cylindrical body 202 which has one end 221a, having the same shape but a slightly greater diameter, inserted into a tubular element 205, the latter being associated at one end, through a set screw 222, with the end 221 b , identical to the end 221 a , of a hinge 206. The element 205 has inwardly, at the opposed end from that associated with the 221 b ,a step-like discontinuity 212, between the latter and the flat annular base 223 of the end 221 a there being interposed a helical coil spring 217. At the confronting surfaces of the ends 221a and 221b there are secured, in pre-arranged seats 208a and 208b, two balls 214 and 215. The latter are put in contact with each other owing to the presence of the spring 217, imparting a rotation to the body 202 the ball 214 which slides on the ball 215 imposes then an axial translation on the body 202, the spring 217 being compressed. On releasing the body 202 re-positioning to the original condition will be ensured by the force applied by the spring 217 to the ball 214. Of course, the balls may be provided in any numbers, depending on requirements. In Figures 9,10 and 11, there is shown another embodiment of a temple device 301, comprising an essentially cylindrical body 302 which has an end 321a, having a slightly larger diameter, placed within a tubular element 305 associable with one end, through a set screw 322, at the 321b of a hinge 306. Also in this case, the tubular element 305 has a step-like discontinuity 312, between the latter and the flat annular base 323 of the end 321a there intervening a helical coil spring 317. The confronting surfaces of the end 321a and 321b are matingly shaped to each other, the former having the shape of a male V-like wedge, the latter of a female wedge. The particular V-like shape enables the side thrusts and hence the negative moments to be eliminated. In Figure 12 there is shown a further embodiment of a temple device the body 402 whereof has a terminating end 421 a which interacts with a matingly shaped end 421b of a hinge 406. The confronting surfaces of that end have an involute profile which permits of a 360-degree mutual rotation. That profile could, of course, be a double involute design in order to allow a maximum rotation of 180°. In Figures 13,14,15 and 16 there is shown yet another embodiment of a temple device 501 comprising a body 502 which has a cylindrical end to which a tubular element 505 is externally attached, at said end the body 502 having a diametrical cavity 503a, the seat for the end of a steel blade or torsion-machined coil spring 517a, its other end being inserted into a diametrical cavity 503b, identical to the diametrical cavity 503 a , formed at the end 521 b of the body 524 c associated with the hinge 506. Rearwardly of the cavity 503b there is formed a seat 508 for a locking means, guide and return means 509 comprising a peg having an outward protruding head 510 from an opening 511 formed in the lateral surface of the element 505, that peg also having the function of a torsional travel limiter for the element 505 relatively to the body 524. The peg's lateral surface has an annular groove 525, the seat for the end of a pin 526 accommodated within the longitudinal cavity 527 in communication with the seat 508, that end being held partway within the groove by the interposition between it and a ball 515, cooperating with a cam of the hinge 506, of a cylindrical helical coil spring 517 b by compression. The pin 526 has a cylindrical rod or shank 528 of such length as to permit the end-of-travel of the ball 515 cooperating with the cam 529 of the elastic hinge 506. The position of the cam is fixed with respect to the body 524 by the interposition of a screw 530. In this solution the means 509 provides the anchoring between the body 502 and tubular element 505 limiting the rotation of the latter relatively to the body 524. In Figures 17,18,19,20,21 and 26 there is illustrated a further embodiment of a temple device 601 comprising a tubular element 605 which may expediently be of metal, having a parallelepipedal shape preferably with a substantially square or rectangular cross-section, which has in the forward area 631 a longitudinal milling 632 defining two substantially identical wings 633 slightly bevelled on the front. On the surface 634 of the element 605, at the mid-longitudinal axis and affecting the wings 633, there is formed a through hole 635 along a perpendicular axis. A similar hole 611 is formed, again in the surface 634 but proximate the other end 636 and slightly deviated from the mid-longitudinal axis. The tubular element 605 defines moreover, the seat for a hollow body 602 forming a rotating pin, insertable from the end 636, having a shorter length and a slightly smaller diameter than the internal side of the element 605. With that body 602, made hollow inside, there is rigid, on one side, a leg 604 whose end merges with the end 636 and, on the same side, with an elastic torque means 617a comprising a wire. The latter has the same longitudinal axis as the body 602, comes out of it, and ends with a half-eye 637 the maximum bulk whereof is somewhat less than the internal side of the element 605 and the diameter whereof is much smaller than that of the body 602 itself; the length of the wire is such that the half-eye 637 does not protrude from the element 605 once the body 602 is inserted thereinto. On the lateral surface 638 of the body 602 there is formed a milling on a plane extending substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis defining a seat 608, that seat being formed at the hole 611 provided in the element 605, both of them forming a housing for a small peg 609 adapted to prevent mutual displacement between the element 605 and the body 602 and also to limit the rotation of the latter. The tubular element 605 is also the seat for a matingly shaped slide 639 insertable from the forward area 631, that slide having a milling 640 made perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis to a depth and width suitable to accommodate the half-eye 637 without the latter interacting with the step 641 formed at the end of the same but only with the two wings 642. The end 643 of the slide 639 is cam-shaped, with a substantially parallelepipedal shape and has a side projection 644 which interacts with the step 645 formed at the base of the milling 632. Between the body 620 and the wings 642 of the slide 639 there is a cylindrical coil compression spring 617 b , of such a diameter as to be contained in the element 605 and not to interact with the elastic means 617a. The end 643 of the hinge 601 is coupled with a cam 646 having the same bulk and dimensions but with a hole 647 with a perpendicular axis to the longitudinal one formed in the hinge element 606 rigid with the front piece of a frame, the hinges 601 and 606 being associated by interposing a screw 622 inserted through the holes 635 and 647. Both cams 643 and 646 are partly covered by a wear-preventing sheet 648 while, on the opposed side to that having the projection 644, there may be placed, laterally to the element 605 and at the forward area 632, an aesthetic decoration 649. The operation will be now illustrated: the means 617a is inserted into the element 605 to position the half-eye 637 between the wings 642; this means imposing on it a torque, it being, at rest, in a perpendicular position to this. That torque causes, as shown in Figure 26, the leg ends placed behind the ears of the wearer of the eyeglasses, to be applied a moment which bring them to gently press onto the head, preventing incidental loss of the eyeglasses without creating inconvenience or disturbance due to pressures exerted on the temples of the wearer of the eyeglasses by the stems themselves. The rotation of the latter is facilitated by the shape of the body 602, the peg 609 in conjunction with the seat 608 restricting the rotation, preventing any loss of the wire forming the means 617a and at the same time preventing the leg 604 from slipping out of the element 605. The overcenter spread condition is shown in Figure 26: on the cam 646 there rests the cam 643, thereby by acting on the stem one forces the slide 639 to translate; the latter compresses, with the bases of the wings 642, the spring 617b which tends therefore to restore the cam 643 to a condition of stable equilibrium with respect to the cam 646. On closing, the same operation takes place while the snap-action is imparted by the shape of the cam 646 which affords a second position of stable equilibrium with the cam 643, which position is perpendicular to that of normal opening. In Figures 22,23 and 24 there is shown a further embodiment of a temple device 701 according to the invention, wherein, for simplicity, only the aspect of the twisting action imparted to the leg 704 has been considered. In this case we still have a tubular element 705, the seat for a hollow body 702 having the function of a pivot, with which are made rigid on the one side the leg 704 and on the other an elastic torque means 717a comprising a wire ending in an eye 737 whose diameter is slightly smaller than the internal diagonal of the element 705. In this different form, one can put, and lock, under torque the element 717a, that torque being in any case limited by the peg 709 in conjunction with the seat 708, the hinge 701 being associated through an eyed head 750 with a matingly shaped hinge 706 rigid with the front piece of a frame. Of course, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be any selected ones to meet individual requirements.

Claims: A temple device for eyeglasses comprising: a rearward body (2;102;202;302;502;602;702) extending along a predetermined longitudinal axis and having a first end to which is connected an arcuately shaped portion of the temple device for location behind a user's ear and having a second end opposite to said first end thereof; a frontward tubular element (5;105;205;305;605;705) extending along said longitudinal axis and having a first end connected to a hinge element (6;106;206;306;406;506;606;706) for connection to a front portion of the eyeglasses and having a second end opposite to said first end thereof, said temple device being characterized in that said second end of said body is rotatably connected concentrically to said second end of said tubular element in such a way that said body is rotatable about said longitudinal axis with respect to said tubular element, said temple device further comprising elastic biasing return means (17;117;217;317;517;617;717) interconnected between said second end of said body and said second end of said tubular element for biasing said body, in the absence of contrary moment forces, into a preset rest position with respect to said tubular element, said temple device further comprising means (9-12;109-111;214,215;321a,321b;421a,421b; 508-511;608-611;708-711) for limiting axial translation and axial rotation of said body with respect to said tubular element. Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end of said body (2) is provided with a cylindrical cavity (3) open towards said tubular element (5) and with a seat (8) which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said second end of said tubular element (5) merging over said second end of said body (2) and being provided with an opening (11) arranged in line with said seat (8), said opening (11) being essentially parallelepipedal and having a longitudinally extending axis which is slightly inclined with respect to a perpendicular of said longitudinal axis of said temple device, said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation comprising a peg (9) which has an essentially parallelepipedal shaped head (10) having a width and length slightly smaller than said opening (11), said peg (9) being inserted through said opening (11) into said seat (8) such that said head (10) of said peg (9) is engaged and is slidably guided in said opening (11) upon a relative rotation of said body (2) with respect to said tubular element (5), and further a step like abutment (12) being provided inside said tubular element (5) for stopping engagement with said second end of said body (2), said peg (9) having a concave side surface which is arranged inside said cavity (3) of said second end of said body (2), said hinge (6) defining a cam (16) which is pivoted to said first end of said tubular element (5), said elastic biasing return means comprising a cylindrical compression coil spring (17) extending along said longitudinal axis partially inside said cylindrical cavity (3) and partially inside said tubular element (5), and a first ball (14) and a second ball (15) are provided, said first ball (14) being arranged inside said cavity (3) and interacting between a first end of said spring (17) and said concave side surface of said peg (9), said second ball (15) being arranged in said tubular element (5) and interacting between a second end of said spring (17) and a curved cam surface defined on said cam (16), and finally in order to permit elastic overcenter spreading said temple device further comprising an abutment element which is constituted by a cylindrical pin (18) arranged inside said spring (17). Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end of said body (102) is provided with a cylindrical cavity (103) open towards said tubular element (105) and with a seat (108) which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said second end of said tubular element (105) merging over said second end of said body (102) and being provided with a plurality of openings (111) one of which is arranged in line with said seat (108), each said opening (111) being essentially parallelepipedal and having a longitudinally extending axis which is slightly inclined with respect to a perpendicular of said longitudinal axis of said temple device, said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation comprising a peg (109) which has an end (110a) having a diameter larger than a width of said openings (111) and a head (110b) protruding from said end (110a) which has an essentially parallelepipedal shape having a width and length slightly smaller than said openings (111), said peg (109) being inserted into said seat (108) such that said end (110a) is arranged inside said tubular element (105) and said head (110b) is engaged and is slidably guided in said one of said openings (111) upon a relative rotation of said body (102) with respect to said tubular element (105), said peg (109) having a length which is smaller than a corresponding length of said seat (108) thereby allowing, upon pushing said peg (109) fully into said seat (108), for repositioning of said peg (109) in a desired one of said openings (111), said tubular element (105) being provided with a first cavity (119) in communication with said cavity (103) of said second end of said body (102) and a second cavity (120) open towards said hinge (106) and closed oppositely thereto, said hinge (106) defining a cam which is pivoted to said first end of said tubular element (105), a spring (117c) being provided in said second cavity (120) which interacts between the closed end of said second cavity (120) and a first ball (115) arranged at a curved cam surface defined on said cam, said elastic biasing return means comprising a first left-handed coil spring (117a) which extends along said longitudinal axis inside said tubular element (105) and which interacts between said second end of said body (102) and a closed end of said second cavity (120), a second right-handed coil spring (117b) which extends along said longitudinal axis partially inside said cavity (103) and partially inside said tubular element, said second coil spring (117b) being arranged coaxially to and inside said first coil spring (117a), and a second ball (114) being provided, said second ball (114) being arranged inside said cavity (103) and interacting between a first end of said second coil spring (117b) and said peg (109), said second coil spring (117b) having a second end which rests against said closed end of said second cavity (120). Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end (221a) of said body (202) has a similar shape but larger diameter than said body (202), said second end (221a) being inserted in said tubular element (205) whose said first end is connected, by means of a set screw (222), to an end (221b) of said hinge (206), said second end (221a) of said body (202) defining a flat annular base (223) facing away from said hinge (206), said tubular element (205) defining a step like discontinuity (212) facing towards said hinge (206), said elastic biasing return means comprising a helical coil spring (217) being arranged around said body (202) and inside said tubular element (205), and said coil spring (217) interacting between said flat annular base (223) and said step like discontinuity (212), said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation comprising at least two balls (214,215) being oppositely arranged in seats (208a,208b) provided in confronting surfaces defined on said second end (221a) of said body (202) and said end (221b) of said hinge (206) thereby said balls being spring-loaded by said spring (217), said balls (214,215) being in half-contact during a full extension of said coil spring (217) and a rotation of said body (202) causes a full-contact of said balls (214,215) to thereby compress said spring (217). Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end (321a) of said body (302) has a similar shape but larger diameter than said body (302), said second end (321a) being inserted in said tubular element (305) whose said first end is connected, by means of a set screw (322), to an end (321b) of said hinge (306), said second end (321a) of said body (302) defining a flat annular base (323) facing away from said hinge (306), said tubular element (305) defining a step like discontinuity (312) facing towards said hinge (306), said elastic biasing return means comprising a helical coil spring (317) being arranged around said body (302) and inside said tubular element (305), and said coil spring (317) interacting between said flat annular base (323) and said step like discontinuity (312), said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation comprising a female wedge V-like wedge defined on said end (321b) of said hinge (306) and facing away from said hinge (306), and a male V-like wedge defined on said second end (321a) of said body and facing towards said hinge (306) thereby said female wedge and said male wedge being spring-loaded into mutual engagement contact by said coil spring (317). Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end (421a) of said body (402) has a similar shape but larger diameter than said body, said second end (421a) being inserted in said tubular element whose said first end is connected, by means of a set screw, to an end of said hinge (406), said second end (421a) of said body defining a flat annular base facing away from said hinge (406), said tubular element defining a step like discontinuity facing towards said hinge (406), said elastic biasing return means comprising a helical coil spring being arranged around said body and inside said tubular element, and said coil spring interacting between said flat annular base and said step like discontinuity, said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation comprising an involute profile defined on said end (421b) of said hinge (406) and facing away from said hinge (406), and a corresponding involute profile defined on said second end (421a) of said body and facing towards said hinge (406) thereby said involute profiles being spring-loaded into mutual engagement contact by said coil spring. Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end of said body (502) is provided with a diametrical cavity (503a) open towards said tubular body (505), said second end of said tubular element (505) merging over said second end of said body (502) and being provided with a cavity (503b) which is identical to said diametrical cavity (503a), said elastic biasing return means comprising a steel blade (517a) arranged inside said tubular element (505) between said diametrical cavity (503a) of said second end of said body (502) and said cavity (503b) of said tubular element (505), said tubular body (505) being further provided, arranged towards said hinge (506) with respect to said cavity (503b), with a seat (508) which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and with a longitudinal cavity (527) in communication with said seat (508), said tubular element (505) being provided with an opening (511) arranged in line with said seat (508), said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation comprising a peg (509) which is inserted into said seat (508) and which has an outward protruding head (510) from said opening (511) , said peg (509) having an annular groove (525) which acts as a seat for a pointed end of a pin (526) accommodated within said longitudinal cavity (527), said pointed end of said pin (526) being held partway within said groove by a cylindrical helical coil spring (517b) arranged around said pin (526), said spring (517b) being in contact at an end opposite to said pointed end of said pin (526) with a ball (515) which cooperates with a curved cam surface (529) defined on said hinge (506). Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tubular element (605) has a parallelepipedal shape with a substantially square or rectangular cross section, said first end (631) of said tubular element (605) having a longitudinal milling (632) which defines two substantially identical wings (633) slightly bevelled towards said hinge (606), said wings (633) being provided with holes (635) along an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a matingly shaped slide (639) being inserted between said wings (633), said slide (639) having a first end which is a cam end (643) with a substantially parallelepipedal shape defining a side projection (644) which interacts with an inner step (645) defined at a base of said milling (632), said first cam end (643) being arranged on the opposite side of said holes (635) of said wings (633) with respect to said hinge (606) which has a cam end (646) interacting with said cam (643) and defining a hole (647) for pivoting said cam end (646) to said wings (633) by means of a pin (622) inserted through said hole (647) and said holes (635), said slide (639) having a second end with a milling (640) defined perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis, said body defining a rotating pin (602) which is insertable into a seat defined in the second end (636) of said tubular element, said elastic biasing return means comprising a spring-loaded wire (617a) projecting from said rotating pin (602) into said tubular element (605), said wire (617a) having a half-eye end (637) which is inserted in said milling (640) of said slide (639), said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation comprising a peg (609) inserted in a hole (611) provided at a slightly deviated position from said longitudinal axis in said second end (636) of said tubular element (605), said peg (609) further being accommodated in a seat (608) defined on a lateral surface (638) of said rotating pin (602), a cylindrical coil compression spring (617b) being furthermore provided around said wire (617a) between said rotating pin (602) and said second end with said milling (640) of said slide (639). Temple device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end of said body defines a cylindrical pivot (702) inserted longitudinally into a seat with a substantially parallelepipedal cross section of said tubular element (705), said elastic biasing return means comprising a spring-loaded wire (717a) protruding from said cylindrical pivot (702) into said seat of said tubular element (705) and ending in an eye (737) having a diameter slightly smaller that an internal diagonal of said seat of said tubular element (705) so as to fit therein, said means for limiting axial translation and axial rotation of said pivot (702) with respect to said tubular element (705) comprising a peg (709) accommodated through a hole (711) provided off-center in said tubular element (705) and accommodated in a seat (708) provided on a lateral surface of said pivot (702), said first end of said tubular element (705) being provided with an eyed-head (750) pivotally connected to said hinge element (706).

Inventors: SARTOR, RINO
Applicants: PIVETTA, INNOCENTE, SARTOR, RINO
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G02C5
IPC codes: G02C5