Hinge for the shafts of spectacles having a cam insert provided with at least two substantially perpendicular adjacent surfaces

Abstract: Hinge for connecting a shaft (11) to the corresponding end part (A) of a frame (C) for spectacles, in which said end is made of metal wire and folded in the form of at least one first arm (2) and one second arm (3), lying in different planes and splayed with respect to one another, one (3) of said arms having the free end folded so as to form a pin (4) on which there is inserted a cam element (13) fixed to one end (12) of said shaft (11), wherein said cam element (13) has at least two adjacent surfaces (13a, 13b) substantially perpendicular to one another and defining at least one first corner (13c) and at least one second corner (13d), said surfaces (13a, 13b) and corners (13c, 13d) acting in sequence on said pin and on said first arm (2) of the end (A) of the support frame (C) of the spectacles so as to cause an elastic recall reaction on said pin (4) both during opening/closing of the shaft and in the event of forced splaying from the open position thereof.

Description: The present invention relates to a hinge for connecting a temple to a frame for spectacles, which has a cam insert provided with at least two substantially perpendicular surfaces and at least two corners acting in sequence on one end of said frame so as to produce an elastic recall effect of the temple both during opening/closing of the temple and in the event of forced splaying from the open position thereof. It is known in the technical sector relating to the production of frames for spectacles, of the need to hinge at the opposite ends of the frame supporting the lenses a temple resting on the ears of the user. It is also known that a particular form of hinge used for this connection is made of metal wire both in the part fixed to the lens support frame and in the end of the temple to be joined to the frame itself. More particularly, in said type of known hinge, a portion of suitably folded metal wire has a first end soldered or in any case fixed to the lens support frame or to the lens itself and a second end folded so as to form a pin for engaging and hinging the associated temple, which is in turn made of metal wire and, at the end for hinging on the frame, has an eyelet or more advantageously an axially holed cylinder which is soldered or fixed to the eyelet of the shaft. According to the current art, in this type of hinge for spectacles, the end pin of the wire of the support frame is inserted, with a slight forcing action, into the hole of the eyelet or the cylinder arranged at the end of the temple, so that the suitably shaped portion of metal wire mounted on the frame enters into engagement with the cylinder or with the eyelet of the temple, ensuring hinging thereof and preventing disengaging thereof. Exemple of the prior art is disclosed into EP 0 695 962. While offering undisputed advantages in terms of low production costs, as well as rapid assembly and simple operation, this hinge, however, has the drawback that it does not possess any elasticity during splaying of the temple beyond the normal opening angle, which elasticity, however, is required in order to prevent deformation and/or breakage in the event of forcing, as well as cause pre-stressing thereof, representing the pressure with which the temple presses against the user's temple. In addition to this, the lack of elasticity of the hinge does not provide the temple with any stability both in the open position for use and in the position involving folding thereof in order to put the spectacles back in their case. The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing a hinge for connecting a lens support frame of spectacles and the associated temple, both of which are made with a metal wire, which hinge is designed to exert a suitable recall reaction on the temple in the event of forced splaying of the latter with respect to the normal angle of use. Within the scope of this problem a further need is that said hinge should be designed to provide a snap action which favours opening/closing of the temple from/into the normal closed position in addition to keeping the temple stable both in the closed position and in the open position. Said technical problems are solved according to the present invention by a hinge according to the characteristic features of Claim 1. Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention, provided with reference to the accompanying illustrative plates, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the temple carrying the cam element according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the temple along the section II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the portion of the metal wire mounted on the frame of the spectacles, folded so as to form the hinging end; Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinging end, along the section IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the temple according to Fig. 1, hinged at the end of Fig. 3, shown in a normally open position with respect to the frame; Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the temple hinged at the end, along the section VI-VI of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the hinged temple, as in Fig. 5, but shown in the maximum splayed position; Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the hinged temple, as in Fig. 5, but shown in the closed position; and Figs. 9a, 9b: show two partially sectioned views of variations of embodiments of the connection between temple and insert respectively. In all the figures the same details are indicated, or understood as being indicated, by the same reference numbers. As already mentioned, ends A of front frames C of spectacles are known, which ends are formed by a portion of metal wire, one end 1 of which is soldered or fixed to the said front frame C, in a suitable position. Said portion has two sections 2 and 3, arranged relative to one another approximately in the form of a "V", the arms of which lie in different planes. The free end of the section 3 is folded so as to form a vertical pin 4 forming the axis of rotation of the temple 11 to be mounted. The temple 11 has the end for hinging on the frame in the form of an eyelet 12, which encloses a quadrangular insert 13 with an axial central hole 14. Said insert has two adjacent surfaces 13a, 13b intersecting at a corner 13c, and a second corner 13d, and in its entirety forms a cam element, operation of which will emerge more clearly below. As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, association and hinging of the temple 11 with the pin 4 is easily achieved by positioning the hole 14 of the insert 13 above the pin 4 of the end A and exerting a slight pressure so that the pin 4 is seated in the hole 14. From the same Figs. 5 and 8, it can be seen how the horizontal side 2 of the end A of the frame C alternately makes contact with one of the two adjacent sides 13a, 13b of the quadrangular insert 13, ensuring stability of the temple 11 in both the normally open or closed positions. With reference to Fig. 7, it is obvious that forced splaying of the temple 11 tends to cause the diagonal of the two adjacent sides of the body 13 to be arranged alongside the side 2 of the end A, with consequent forcing of the structure A, splaying of the sides 2 and 3, due to the thrusting action exerted by the corner 13d of the insert 13, and consequent displacement of the pin 4. The tension existing between the two V-shaped parts 2 and 3 of the end A results in an elastic reaction on the pin 4, which tends to retract and rotate the insert 13 so as to cause the temple 11 to return to its normally open position, as shown in Fig. 5. This reaction constitutes the pressure exerted on the temples, so as to ensure better conditions of use of spectacles. In the constructional solution illustrated in Fig. 7, the temple 11 and the end A ensure a maximum splayed position which is well-defined and in any case such that it prevents overcoming of the contact between the end part 2 and the diagonal of the two adjacent sides 13a, 13b of the insert 13, thus avoiding reactions in the opposite direction to that of closing of the temple 11. With reference to Fig. 8 it is equally clear that, in order to reach its closed position on the front frame C, the temple 11 must be able to change over from one to the other the sides 13a, 13b of the insert 13 making contact with the frame section 2 and, during this change-over, the corner 13c defined by the two adjacent sides 13a, 13b causes splaying of the pin 4, owing to the effect of the passing movement of the diagonal of the two said sides of the insert 13. This thus ensures snap-action closing of the temple. It is obvious that an identical result is achieved even if the insert has only two sides perpendicular to one another, these sides being those which are intended to make contact in succession with the side 2 of the end A. Obviously, in the case of a different embodiment of the end A of the frame C, it is possible to provide the eyelet 12 with a different shape, so as to ensure in any case the desired splaying of the temple 11. Other similar modifications or adaptations both of the insert and of the frame are understood in any case as falling within the protective scope of the invention as defined by the claims which follow. In particular, the eyelet of the temple 11 may be inserted elastically into a perimetral seat 13f of the insert 13 (Fig. 9a). Alternatively, the end of the temple may be straight and inserted into a corresponding hole 13g (Fig. 9b) of the insert 13. In this case it is nevertheless possible to provide the insert 13 with the perimetral seat 13f into which a small ring 112 is inserted, being designed to interfere with the section 2 of the end A so as to prevent the temple from disengaging from the pin 4. In a further applicational embodiment, the seat 13f may be arranged so as to come into contact with the section 2 of the end A in order to engage with therewith and prevent the aforementioned disengagement. In all cases the temple may be soldered to the insert.

Claims: Elastic hinge for spectacles comprising a first hinge portion (A) arranged to be connected to the front of a pair of spectacles (C) and a second hinge portion (13) aranged to be connected to a temple (11) of a pair of spectacles, said first hinge portion being made of metal wire and being bent to form a first portion (2) arranged to be joined to said spectacle front, a second portion (3) joined to said first portion, and a pin (4) joined to said second portion, said first (2) and second (3) portions lying in different planes said second portion being positioned such that said pin (4) extends substantially in parallel to said front of the spectacles at a distance from said first portion said second hinge portion comprising a sleeve (13), and said pin being inserted into said sleeve characterised in that said sleeve (13) is formed as a cam element having three outer surfaces of which a first and a second surface (13a,13b), which are substantially perpendicular to one another, define a first corner (13c) and of which said second and a third surface define a second corner (13d), said three surfaces and two corners cooperating with said first portion (2) of said first hinge portion (A) and said pin (4) so as to elastically deform said first hinge portion during pivoting of the temple from the folded to an open position and when pivoting the temple beyond the opened position, thus generating an elastic force urging the temple towards either the folded or opened position. Hinge according to claim 1 characterized in that said cam element has an axial hole (14) for insertion of said pin (4). Hinge according to claim 1 characterized in that said cam element (13) has a perimetral groove. Hinge according to claim 1 characterized in that the end of said temple (11) is bent in the manner of an eyelet 812) for engagement with said cam element. Hinge according to claim 1 characterized in that said cam element has a hole (13g) substantially perpendicular to the hole for engagement with the pin for connection with said temple. Hinge according to Claim 5, characterized in that the end of said temple is straight. Hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that said cam element (13) is soldered to the temple (11). Hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that said cam element has a substantially triangular cross-section. Hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that said cam element has a substantially quadrangular cross-section. Hinge according to Claim 1, chaarcterized in that said cam element has a substantially polygonal cross-section.

Inventors: BALDISSARUTTI WALTER, BALDISSARUTTI, WALTER
Applicants: G B S R L, G. B. S.R.L.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G02C5
IPC codes: G02C5