Abstract:
A spectacle frame which has two sides each of which includes a stud connected thereto by a hinge. The spectacle frame has a magnetic element which allows the spectacle frame to be fixed on a support. This magnetic element has at least one magnet connected to at least one of the two sides of the spectacle frame. The magnet can be either molded into the frame or affixed within a hole in at least one of the sides.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a spectacle frame. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     It is understood that many spectacles, whether optical glasses worn on a daily basis or sun glasses, are already known. Now, when someone wears spectacles, it sometimes happens that he has to temporarily take them off, while he nevertheless wishes to keep them within hand reach. 
     At that occasion, one will often have a tendency to put the spectacles in the bottom of a pocket. Besides the fact that it is possible to find in the latter objects that are likely to damage the lenses of the spectacles, it sometimes proves uneasy to withdraw them. Such an operation may furthermore prove particularly difficult, e.g. when practising sports that require wearing gloves, such as ski or cycling. In addition, while doing so, it often occurs that some movements, even the mere fact of bowing down, cause these spectacles to accidentally and involuntarily slide out off the pocket. The spectacles then fall onto the floor, which often results in damaging them or, when the fall is not noticed immediately, in merely losing them. 
     It is obvious that, in all the preceding cases, it is assumed that the person wearing the spectacles has also put on a garment provided with an easily accessible pocket, which is not always the case, especially in the case of sportswear. 
     Another solution then consists in providing the frame with a string each end of which is connected to one side of the spectacles. Thus, when they are no longer needed, it is possible to take off one&#39;s spectacles, which remain hanging at one&#39;s neck, being retained by the string. Though this solution is widely spread, it is however no ideal one, since it is possible for the string to pass over one&#39;s head and for the spectacles to thus drop onto the floor. In addition, a connection between the string and a side of the spectacles is in most cases brought about by means of a running-type knot the grip of which has, in the course of time, a tendency to loosen, with the consequences one can imagine. 
     From the Japanese document JP-07 244260 it is known a spectacle frame capable of being fixed to a metallic support. Such a frame includes, on the front face, fixing means of a magnetic kind that are in the shape of one or several protrusions, either inserted against the frame or moulded during the manufacturing of the latter. These protrusions are provided with an end of a magnetic kind capable of entering into contact with a metallic support, in order to ensure the fixing of the spectacle frame on the latter. One should note that these magnetic ends are arranged in a plane substantially arranged at the front side of the curvature of the lenses, so that the latter are protected only when the spectacle frame is fixed on a metallic support providing a strictly planar surface, which is seldom the case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, this by means of a spectacle frame capable of being fixed, in particularly temporarily, on a receiving support that may be of a largely varying nature, such as a garment, a dashboard of a vehicle, a frame of a bicycle, etc. This device is of a relatively easy design and particularly efficient in use. 
     To this end, the invention relates to a spectacle frame characterized in that it is provided with means of a magnetic kind for the fixing on a support. 
     According to a first embodiment, the fixing means of a magnetic kind includes at least one magnet associated to the spectacle frame. This advantageously allows to fix the spectacles on any kind of ferrous support. 
     The invention also relates to bases for receiving such a spectacle frame, which bases are aimed at being inserted against any support, such as a garment, the frame of a bicycle, etc., such a base therefore including adequate means for the fastening to this support. 
     Finally, the magnetic fixing means can be in the shape of a combination, on the one hand, of a spectacle frame at least one of the components of which is made of a magnetic or non-magnetic ferrous metallic material or includes a part made of such a material and, on the other hand, of a magnetic base including adequate means for the fastening to a support. 
     The invention also relates, independently, to such magnetic bases for receiving spectacle frames. 
     The advantages resulting from the present invention reside in that it is possible to take off one&#39;s spectacles, in order to quickly, efficiently and strongly fix them temporarily on a support of a ferrous kind, such as a frame of a bicycle, or on a base made integral, through adequate means, with any support, such as a dashboard of a vehicle, a bicycle, a garment or the like. 
     One should note that the fixing means of a magnetic kind are so designed as to allow a particularly efficient connection between any support and the spectacle frame, so that the risks of sliding and falling on the ground, with the consequences this involves, are particularly reduced. 
     Further aims and advantages of the present invention will become clear during the following description that relates to an embodiment that is given only by way of an indicative and non-limiting example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     This description will be better understood with reference to the attached drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic and elevational view of a first embodiment of a spectacle frame according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic, partial and perspective view of a spectacle frame including a magnet or a metal part integrated into the stud; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to the foregoing one, corresponding to an embodiment in which the magnet or the metal part is integral with a side of the spectacles; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to the foregoing one, corresponding to another embodiment; 
     FIGS. 5 to  8  are schematic and partial views corresponding to the co-operation between a spectacle frame according to the invention and bases carried out according to various embodiments. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 to  4  of the attached drawing, the present invention relates to the field of the spectacle frames  1 . 
     Thus, such a spectacle frame  1  is in the shape of two frames  2 ,  2 ′ into which corrective lenses  3 ,  3 ′ are set, as shown in FIG.  1 . According to another embodiment, which more frequently occurs and is shown in FIGS. 2 to  4 , such a spectacle frame  1  may include, on both sides of the frames  2 ,  2 ′, a stud  4  to which a side  6  of the spectacles is connected through hinging means  5 . 
     According to the invention, this spectacle frame  1  is provided with means  7  of a magnetic kind for the fixing on a support  8 . 
     According to a first embodiment, these fixing means  7  have at least one magnet  9  associated to the spectacle frame  1  and advantageously authorizing its fixing on any support  8  of a ferrous metal kind. 
     One notes that such a magnet  9 , in the shape of a magnetized disc, can be associated to at least one of the frames  2 ,  2 ′ and/or to at least one of the studs  4  and/or to at least one of the sides  6  of the spectacle frame  1 , as shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 , respectively. 
     Such an association is brought about, as shown in FIG. 1, by integrating the magnet  9  into the spectacle frame  1 , such as during the operation of moulding of the latter. This magnet  9  can also be inserted against the spectacle frame  1  by adequate means, such as, through gluing, screwing, crimping or the like, as shown in FIG.  2 . In addition, it can be forced into a hole  10 , such as a through-hole or a blind hole, provided for in any of the components of the spectacle frame  1 , such as in the side  6 , as can be seen in FIG.  3 . 
     Finally, this magnet  9  can also be arranged, such as through crimping, around the side  6 , as shown in FIG. 4, or around the stud  4 . Such an embodiment will find a particularly well adapted application within the framework of a spectacle frame  1  of a metallic kind. 
     As stated above, the fixing means  7  corresponding to this first embodiment are in the shape of a magnet  9  and therefore allow to fix the frame  1  directly on a support  8  of a metallic and ferrous kind. 
     When this support  8  is not of a ferrous kind, but is made of any material whatsoever, such as a textile material as that of a garment, a bicycle frame of aluminium or the like, a dashboard of a car, etc., the fixing means  7  are advantageously completed by a base  11  being e.g. in the shape of a plate  12  of a magnetic or non-magnetic ferrous metal kind including adequate fastening means  13  allowing it to be inserted against the support  8 . 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the fixing means  7  may be in the shape of a combination of two elements, such as shown in FIGS. 5 to  8 , which will more in particular be referred to in the following description. 
     The first element of this combination is, according to a first embodiment, a spectacle frame  1  at least one component of which, viz, at least one of the frames  2 ,  2 ′, and/or at least one of the sides  6 , is made of a magnetic or non-magnetic ferrous metallic material. According to another embodiment, this first element is in the form of a metal part  9 A of a magnetic or non-magnetic ferrous kind associated to the spectacle frame  1 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, such a metal part  9 A may be associated to the spectacle frame  1  in a way similar to a magnet  9 , as described above. 
     Thus, this metal part  9 A can be integrated, as an insert, into the spectacle frame  1 . It can also be inserted, by various ways of fixing, against the spectacle frame  1 . Finally, this metal part  9 A can be crimped on the latter, e.g. in the way shown in FIG.  4 . 
     The second element of the combination is then in the shape of a base  11  of a magnetic kind, also including adequate means  13  for the fastening on a support  8 . 
     Such fastening means  13  can be of an adhesive kind and be in the shape of an adhesive strip  15 , of a two-sided kind, applied on the back face  16  of the base  11 . Such fastening means  13  are shown in FIG.  5  and can be contemplated for fixing such base  11  on a bicycle frame of aluminium, on a dashboard of a car or the like. 
     These fastening means  13  can also include a fastening strip  17  the velvet  18  or knop portion  19  of which is made integral with the back portion  16  of the base  11  and the knop  19  or velvet portion  18  of which is located on the support  8 . The latter case occurs more in particular with a textile material, a garment  20 , and has been shown in FIG.  6 . 
     In a similar application, the fastening means  13  can also be in the shape of a nail button  21 , as shown in FIG. 7, or have one or several openings  22  authorizing a connection, through sewing, with the garment  20 . Such openings  22  have been schematically shown in FIG.  8 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the installation of the base  11  because of the fastening means  13  can occur on the outer side  23  of the garment  20 . However, for aesthetical reasons, such a base  11  can also be placed in the lining  24  of this garment  20 , eventually before being made integral with it through adequate means, because of any of the above-described fastening means  13 . Such an embodiment is shown in FIG.  8 . 
     According to a feature of the invention, to the fixing means  7  of a magnetic kind are associated positioning means  25 , in particular, for limiting the sliding of the spectacle frame with respect to a support  8  or to a base  11  inserted against the latter. These positioning means  25  preferably have said magnet  9  and/or said metal part  9 A and/or the base  11  and/or the support  8  with complementary shapes allowing them to fit and/or to imbricate into each other. 
     To this end, said base  11  can include a recess  26  adjusted to receive the magnet  9  (or the metal part  9 A), as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. 
     According to another embodiment, on at least one of the surfaces  27 ,  28  in front of the base  11  or of the magnet  9  (or the metal part  9 A), respectively, as shown in FIG. 6, are provided for groves  29 , notches, points, bosses or the like. 
     One should note that particularly efficient results are achieved when on each of the surfaces  27 ,  28  of the base  11  and of the magnet  9  (or the metal part  9 A) are simultaneously provided with groves  29 , notches, points, bosses or the like, which will preferably be of a conjugated shape allowing, as a matter of fact, their imbrication. 
     In addition, in the case shown in FIG. 8, the provision of such groves  29 , notches, points, bosses or the like on the surface  28  of the magnet  9  (or the metal part  9 A) contributes to a better hooking-in of the frame  1  on a support  8 , such as a garment  20 , integrating a base  11  into its lining  24 . 
     Finally, one should note that the magnet or magnets  9  or the metal part  9 A will be arranged at the level of the frame or frames  2 ,  2 ′ of the spectacle frame  1  or even at the level of one of the sides  6 , at a location chosen so as to be capable of a co-operating, as the case may be, with any support whatsoever  8  or with a base  11 , such as when the sides are folded back. 
     Thus, the present invention allows, when one temporarily takes off one&#39;s spectacles, to keep them within hand reach and so that they are easily accessible. Such a aim is reached by bringing the spectacles into co-operation with any support whatsoever through fixing means authorizing a quick and effective connection. The use of such means advantageously allows to substantially reduce the risk of dropping and thus of losing or breaking these spectacles. 
     Accordingly, the present invention represents a considerable progress in the technical field involved.