Abstract:
A spectacle frame having an esthetic or amusing character because of a mobile decorative part includes at least one mobile element having a decorative part and a transparent optical part covering an opening and the mobile element is rotatably mounted in front of the opening. The mobile element can have an oval contour.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a spectacle frame and more particularly to a frame having an esthetic and/or amusing character because of a mobile decorative part. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The shape of a spectacle frame has become very important to the wearer. All kinds of more or less expressive and esthetic frames have been proposed, some even having an intentionally provocative and/or amusing character. 
     For example, PCT document WO 98/23994 describes a frame in which each surround or “rim”, i.e. the part in which the lens is mounted, incorporates an ornamental flat ring surrounding and emphasizing the lens. The ring is mounted so that it can be turned in a groove on the surround. Some parts of the ring are hidden from the front. The ring has a number of areas of different color or appearance. Adjusting the position of the ring relative to the concealing parts of the surround changes the esthetic effect of the frame. 
     However, the ring merely emphasizes the lens that it surrounds and the variations in appearance that can be obtained in this way are therefore somewhat limited. This system does not provide a truly “expressive” frame whose appearance can be modified within wide limits. The invention achieves this objective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To be more precise, the invention consists in a spectacle frame including two surrounds joined by a bridge, each surround having an opening, at least one mobile element having a decorative part and a transparent optical part covering one of the openings, and mounting means whereby the element is rotatably mounted in front of the opening. 
     The transparent optical part can form a lens, i.e. a non-correcting lens, for example a solar protection lens, and/or a correcting lens, for example a single-vision lens. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention the decorative part and the optical part cannot be dissociated from each other; they are made in one piece from the same transparent material. 
     Embodiments of the invention include particularly noteworthy ones having a particularly strong esthetic and amusing character, for example when the mobile element has a non-circular shape, accounting for at least part of its decorative character. This is because the non-circular element can be oriented in any direction, independently of the adjacent element. A highly unusual effect is obtained if the mobile element has an ovoid contour profile. In this case, if the elongate part of the ovoid contour profile element extends the surround laterally, i.e. globally horizontally, the frame takes on a relatively conventional and unremarkable appearance. On the other hand, as soon as at least one element is turned relative to this “neutral” position the frame takes on a provocative and/or amusing appearance. The expressive possibilities can be varied by modifying the orientation of either element whenever required. 
     The aforementioned mounting means may comprise a ring defined on the rear face of the mobile element. The ring has an annular groove in it in which said element is mounted so that it can turn inside the opening of the corresponding surround. 
     The invention will be more clearly understood and other advantageous details of the invention will become more clearly apparent in the light of the following description of a spectacle frame in accordance with the invention, which description is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a spectacle frame. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the same frame with its mobile elements in a different position. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the spectacle frame. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of one of the mobile elements. 
     FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along the line V—V in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a detail view to a larger scale showing the cooperation between a spring member fixed to the surround and the edge of the corresponding mobile element. 
     FIGS. 7 to  9  are similar detail views showing a different embodiment of the invention. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 are detail views showing other embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The spectacle frame  11  shown in the figures conventionally includes two surrounds  12 , also referred to as “rims”, for mounting the lenses, two temples  14  articulated by respective hinges  15  to the edge of said surrounds and a bridge  17 . The bridge connects the two surrounds. Each surround includes a circular opening  19 . 
     According to an important feature of the invention, the frame has two mobile elements  20  each of which has a decorative part  21  and a transparent optical part  22  which covers the corresponding circular opening  19  in the surround  12 . To be more precise, each mobile element  20  has an optical part and a decorative part and is mounted to rotate as a whole inside the corresponding circular opening  19  by appropriate mounting means. In this example, each element includes a ring  24  on the element  20 , to be more precise defined on the rear face thereof, and the ring has an annular groove  25  by means of which the mobile element  20  is mounted to rotate in the circular opening  19  of the corresponding surround. 
     In the example shown, the element  20  as a whole is made from a tinted transparent plastics material so that it forms a solar protection lens. There is obtained in this way a pair of sunglasses in which each element, which forms a solar protection lens, has a non-circular shape which accounts for at least part of its decorative character. In the example described, each element  20  has an ovoid contour profile. 
     When the elements  20  are disposed in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, they integrate into the overall shape of the frame  11  and the impression given is relatively conventional. To facilitate placing the elements in this conventional position a lateral recess  28  on each of them, within the thickness of the ring  24 , cooperates with a spring member  29  attached to the surround  12 . This simple arrangement defines a predetermined reference position for the element  20 , which is that shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In any other position, the spring member  29  bears on the edge of the ring  24  and stabilizes the latter by friction in any chosen position. It is equally possible to provide a number of lateral recesses  28  distributed around the periphery of the ring  24  to define a plurality of predetermined reference positions. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 to  9 , the arrangement can be the converse of that previously described, i.e. the ring  24  can carry a leaf spring member  30  shaped to define a projecting boss cooperating with one or more substantially semi-circular notches  32   a ,  32   b  on the inside edge of the circular opening of the surround  12 . 
     In this example there are two types of notch, with groups of shallow notches  32   a  (of which there are five, for example) between two deep notches  32   b . The cooperation of the spring member  30  with the small notches produces a soft “click” that can be heard when the ring is turned from one predetermined position to another, corresponding to engagement of the member  30  in a notch  32   b . In a position like this, the engagement of the member  30  in the notch produces a different and characteristic noise. 
     FIG. 2 shows the amusing appearance that the spectacle frame can assume as soon as one or both elements is placed in any position. 
     As indicated above, the optical part (like the decorative part, which is no more than a lateral extension of the optical part) is transparent but tinted to constitute a solar protection lens. The optical part can equally constitute a single-vision correcting lens. It can also constitute a tinted correcting lens, offering solar protection. 
     Finally, it should be noted that the surround itself can be provided with a non-circular opening  19   b , for example one with the general shape of a regular polygon such as a square (FIG. 10) or an octagon (FIG.  11 ). The mounting means can be identical and include a ring  24  rotatably mounted by means of an annular groove in the non-circular opening, for example.