A SPECTACLE FRAME IN WHICH THE HINGE SCREW CANNOT WORK LOOSE

Abstract: The frame comprises lens (L) mounting means (7) that form a first eyelet (7B), two arms (1), each of which forms a second eyelet (1A), and hinges (9) for connecting said arms (1) to the mounting means (7), said hinges each comprising a hinge pin (21) which passes through said first and said second eyelet; the hinge pin (21) has a head (21D) and a shank with a transverse hole through which the wire forming the corresponding arm (1) passes, and the two eyelets (7B, 1A) are located between the head (21D) of the pin and the transverse hole.

Description: "A spectacle frame in which the hinge screw cannot work loose" Description Technical Field The present invention relates to spectacle frames of the type comprising lens mounting means and two arms that are hinged to the lens mounting means by means of associated hinges. Prior Art Various types of spectacle frames are currently available which are made from metal wire in order to reduce the weight of the frames - aesthetically as well as literally - thereby making the glasses more practical and comfortable to wear. Patent US-A-5,073,020 describes a pair of frames made entirely from metal wire in which the hinges between each arm and the front of the frames (where the lenses are attached) are each formed by helically winding the terminal end of the relevant arm and inserting a pin, constituted by the terminal end of the wire forming the lens mounting means, into this winding. This hinge system has significant disadvantages, not least of which is the fact that it is rather unreliable and tricky to assemble since, in order to prevent the arm from slipping out of the hinge, the metal wire forming the hinge pin needs to be deformed. WO 96/02014 describes various hinge systems for metal-wire frames. Some of these envisage using a hinge pin which is inserted into three coaxial eyelets, two of which are formed by the metal wire constituting the arm and (the intermediate) one of which is formed by the wire forming the lens mounting means, or vice versa. Objects and Summary of the Invention The general object of the present invention is to produce a spectacle frame that is more reliable, simpler and lighter than known frames. More specifically, one object of the present invention is to produce a hinge that ensures a secure and reliable attachment between the arm and the front of the frame, where the lenses are mounted. A further object of the present invention is to produce a frame that is even lighter and less obtrusive than known frames. These and other objects and advantages, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art on reading the following text, are achieved by means of a frame comprising lens mounting means that form a first eyelet on either side of the frame, two arms made at least partly of wire and each forming a second eyelet, and hinges for connecting said arms to the mounting means, formed by the two eyelets and by a hinge pin. Typically, according to the invention, each hinge pin has a head and a shank with a transverse hole through which the wire forming the corresponding arm passes; the two eyelets are located between the head of the pin and the transverse hole in the pin shank and are thus held in place between the head and the wire forming the corresponding arm. In this way a hinge is produced which completely eliminates the risk of the pins commonly used in hinges working loose and also dispenses with the nut needed to clamp down the screw that forms the hinge pin, thereby producing a frame that are lighter and less obtrusive. In order to facilitate assembly of the hinges, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pin consists of two elements fastened together (for example screwed together) : a first element with the transverse hole and a second element with the head. It is thus possible firstly to bend the wire forming the arm and the lens mounting means, thereby making the relevant eyelets, and then slip the first of the two elements forming the pin shank on to the arm wire, position the eyelets and then screw in the second pin element which forms the head. However, it would also be possible for the pin to be formed in a single piece, in which case the eyelets would be formed first, then positioned coaxially so that the pin could be inserted, and finally the wire forming the arm would be bent so that it could be passed through the transverse hole. In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the application of a hinge according to the invention in rimless frames made entirely of metal wire and without any welding. However, this embodiment should not be interpreted as being the only one possible since the frame can be of any type and not necessarily made entirely of metal wire. In fact, the relevant eyelets in the lens mounting means in particular can, for example, be cast or made in some other way, while the arm should be made, at least partly, of metal wire so that it can pass through the transverse hole formed in the hinge pin. Further advantageous characteristics of the frame according to the invention are described in the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings A better understanding of the invention will be gained by following the description and attached drawing which shows a non-limiting practical embodiment of said invention. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a front view of a pair of spectacles in which the frame has hinges according to the invention; Figs 2 and 3 show two plan views of the parts of a hinge; Figs 4 and 5 show two side views of the hinge parts in two intermediate positions during the assembly stage; Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a subsequent assembly stage; Fig. 7 shows a view in partial cross-section on VII-VII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the hinge parts in the final stage of assembly; Fig. 9 shows a view in partial cross-section on IX-IX in Fig. 8; Figs 10 and 11 show two plan views of the hinge and of the arm in closed and opened positions, respectively; and Fig. 12 shows a side view on XII- XII in Fig. 11. Detailed Description of an Embodiment Fig. 1 shows a front view of a pair of spectacles with a frame according to the invention. The spectacles described in this particular example have what is known as rimless frame, in other words the lens mounting means are inserted in holes made in the lenses themselves. As will be apparent from the following description, however, the present invention may be applied to other types of frames, for example to frames with full rims or with half-moon rims around the lenses. This is because the hinge according to the invention can be produced in combination with any type of lens mounting system. In principle, the hinge according to the invention can also be applied to frames which are not made entirely of metal wire, although in the latter case especially significant advantages can be achieved in terms of lightness and aesthetics. The frame in Fig. 1 is attached to a pair of lenses L and has two arms 1 (not shown in Fig. 1) , a bridge 5 joining the two lenses L together, and means 7 for mounting the lenses and connecting the arms 1 by means of two hinges, denoted overall by the reference 9. The reference 15 denotes screw means for fastening the lenses to the mounting means 7, while the reference 23 denotes the screws for connecting the bridge 5 and the reference 31 denotes the small plates or pads via which the frame rest on the wearer's nose. In the example illustrated the lens mounting means 7 consist of two brackets made of metal wire, each of which has a straight portion 7A (Figs 10 and 11) which engages in a corresponding transverse hole in the associated screw means 15. The opposite end of each bracket 7 forms an eyelet 7B which constitutes one of the elements of the hinge 9 (cf. Figs 6, 8) . The other element of the hinge 9 is formed by an eyelet 1A formed by the terminal portion of the metal wire making up the arm 1. Between the eyelet 1A and the straight portion of the arm 1 the metal wire forms a loop IB defining an abutment surface which limits the maximum extent to which the arm 1 can open with respect to the bracket 7 (cf. Fig. 11) . A pin 21 consisting of two elements 21A and 2IB screwed together completes the hinge. The element 21A has a blind threaded axial hole 21C and a transverse through- hole 22 (Fig. 4) , allowing the element 21A to be slipped on to the wire forming the arm 1, as can be seen in Figs 4 to 9. The element 2IB, which consists of a clamping screw with a head 2ID, is screwed into the blind axial hole 21C in the element 21A. Figs 4 to 9 clearly illustrate the stages involved in mounting the arm 1 on to the bracket 7. Firstly, the lower element 21A of the pin 21 is slipped on to the wire forming the arm 1 (Figs 4 and 5) and pushed close to the eyelet 1A. The eyelet 7B formed by the bracket 7 is then slipped around the element 21A (cf. Figs 6 and 7) , and then the eyelet 1A is positioned coaxially over the eyelet 7B and the element 21A (Fig. 8) by sliding the latter along the arm 1. Lastly, the screw 2IB is inserted (Fig. 9) , thereby holding the eyelets 1A and 7B in place between the head 2ID of the pin 21 and the arm 1 wire which has been inserted into the transverse hole 22. A hinge is thus produced which has a nutless screw clamping system and is therefore especially lightweight. The screw 2IB is in contact with the wire forming the arm 1 and, as the arm opens and closes with respect to the frame, there is no relative movement between the components 1, 1A, 21A and 2IB, so that there is no risk of the screw working loose. The arrangement could be reversed: i.e. the wire passing through the hole 22 of the pin 21 could be the wire forming the mounting means 7 rather than the wire forming the arm 1. In this case the abutment limiting the maximum aperture of the arm is formed by the wire which form the mounting means 7. The reversed arrangement is equivalent to the one described above. It should be understood that the drawing shows only one example which is given solely by way of practical demonstration of the invention and that the forms and arrangements of the latter may vary without thereby departing from the scope of the underlying concept of the invention. The presence of any reference numerals in the appended claims has the purpose of facilitating the reading of the claims with reference to the description and the drawing and does not limit the scope of protection offered by the claims.

Claims: Claims 1. A spectacle frame comprising lens mounting means (7) that form a first eyelet (7B) , two arms (1) made at least partly of wire and each forming a second eyelet (1A) , and hinges (9) for connecting said arms (1) to the mounting means (7) , said hinges each comprising a hinge pin (21) which passes through said first and said second eyelet, characterized in that said hinge pin (21) has a head (2ID) and a shank with a transverse hole (22) through which the wire forming the corresponding arm (1) or the corresponding mounting element (7) passes, said first and said second eyelet (7B, 1A) being located between said head (2ID) and said transverse hole (22) . 2. The frame according to Claim 1, characterized in that said pin (21) is made from two elements (21A, 2IB) that are fastened together: a first element (21A) with said transverse hole (22) and a second element (2IB) with said head (2ID) . 3. A frame according to Claim 2, characterized in that said two elements (21A, 21B) are screwed together. 4. A frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wire forming the arm (1) has a loop (IB) forming an abutment surface which limits the maximum extent to which the arm (1) can open. 5. Spectacles comprising a pair of lenses (L) and a frame according to one or more of the preceding claims.

Inventors: FORTINI PAOLO, FORTINI, PAOLO
Applicants: BOTTEGA ARTE FIRENZE SRL, FORTINI PAOLO, BOTTEGA D'ARTE IN FIRENZE S.R.L., FORTINI, PAOLO
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G02C1
IPC codes: G02C1, G02C5