Patent Publication Number: US-2013229616-A1

Title: Spectacles frame with arms mounting by pivoting about a hinge knuckle while applying a compression force

Description:
The present invention relates to an eyeglass frame having a frame front and two arms or “temples” mounted to pivot about respective main pivot axes in order to fold the arms out or in relative to the frame front, and to pivot about respective auxiliary pivot axes in order to mount the arms on the frame front in the position for pivoting about the main axis. 
     Document FR 2 831 677 discloses an eyeglass frame of this type in which a spherical hinge knuckle is fastened to an arm and is inserted in a endpiece of the frame front that is provided with a bearing surface of shape complementary to the knuckle in order to allow pivoting. The knuckle is held in the endpiece by a connection part having a housing for the spherical knuckle and two fastener studs that engage the endpiece by auxiliary pivoting about an axis of the connection part that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the arm. 
     Document WO 2008/129355 also discloses an eyeglass frame of this type in which a knuckle fastened to each arm carries two pivot heads defining the main pivot axis and a circular section defining the auxiliary pivot axis. The knuckle is inserted in an opening in the frame front enabling the corresponding arm to pivot about the auxiliary axis. That arrangement makes it easy to replace an arm with another and thus to offer different combinations of faces and arms for assembly by the user. 
     According to that document, the pivot heads project from the end of the arm and exert a compression force against bosses formed in the opening in the frame front. 
     The invention seeks to modify such an eyeglass frame in order to exert the compression force in a different manner in order to increase control and in order to contribute to the reliability with which the arms are mounted on the frame front. 
     To this end, the invention provides an eyeglass frame comprising a frame front and two arms pivotally mounted about respective main pivot axes to enable the arms to be folded-out or folded-in relative to the frame front, the arms also being pivotally mounted about respective auxiliary pivot axes to mount them on the frame front in the position for pivoting about their main axes, wherein knuckles fastened to the frame front or to the arms are inserted in corresponding openings formed respectively in the arms or in the frame front, the frame being characterized in that two pivot heads project into the openings formed in the arms or in the frame front, and in that each knuckle has two cam paths about the auxiliary pivot axis on which the pivot heads exert a compression force against deformation of the opening, of the pivot heads, or of the knuckle, during the auxiliary pivoting of the corresponding arm, the two cam paths being defined by two housings extending along the main pivot axis into which the pivot heads become inserted in order to maintain a compression force when the corresponding arm pivots about the main axis. 
     In this embodiment of the invention, the preferably elliptical profile of the cam paths controls the compression force when the arms pivot about their auxiliary axes. In another embodiment, control is provided by two cam paths, each defining a circular arc and a flat. The distance between the two housings extending along the main pivot axis makes it possible to determine the compression force while the arms are pivoting about the main axis. Maintaining the compression force ensures that the arms deliver a determined amount of resilient clamping on the knuckles and guarantees that mounting of the arms on the frame front is reliable and without any slack. 
     The invention also provides an eyeglass frame in accordance with the above-specified precharacterizing portion and characterized in that two pivot heads project from each knuckle and in that the corresponding opening has two cam paths about the auxiliary pivot axis on which the pivot heads exert a compression force against deformation of the opening, of the pivot heads, or of the knuckle, during the auxiliary pivoting of the corresponding arm, the two cam paths being defined by two housings extending along the main pivot axis into which the pivot heads become inserted in order to maintain a compression force when the corresponding arm pivots about the main axis. 
     This embodiment of the invention provides a functional permutation between the openings formed in each arm or in the frame front and the knuckles fastened respectively to the frame front or to each of the arms. 
     In a first variant of these embodiments of the invention, the arms or the frame front have/has recesses enabling the openings to deform in response to the compression forces exerted by the pivot heads against the cam paths. 
     In a second variant of the invention, the pivot heads are mounted on springs received in the knuckles respectively in the arms or in the frame front, which springs deform in response to the compression force exerted by the pivot heads on the cam paths of the openings or of the knuckles, respectively. 
     In a third variant of the invention, the knuckles have recesses that close in response to the compression force exerted by the pivot heads on the cam paths. 
     In a fourth variant of the invention, the knuckle is provided with an abutment preventing the corresponding arm from pivoting about the auxiliary pivot axis when the arms are in position to pivot about their main pivot axes. 
    
    
     
       Other advantages of the invention appear in the light of the description of embodiments shown in the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an arm in a first variant of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a knuckle in the first variant of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the  FIG. 2  knuckle. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the  FIG. 2  knuckle. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle in the first variant of the invention, the arm being in an initial position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle shown in  FIG. 5 , the arm being in an intermediate position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the arm and the knuckle of  FIG. 5 , the arm being in position to pivot about the main axis. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 7 , the arm being successively in a folded-out position and in a folded-in position relative to the frame front around the main pivot axis. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of an arm in the second variant of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of the second variant of the invention, the arm being in an initial position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 10 , the arm being in an intermediate position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 10 , the arm being in position to pivot about the main axis. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a knuckle in the third variant of the invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of the  FIG. 13  knuckle. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the  FIG. 13  knuckle. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of the third variant of the invention, the arm being in an initial position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 16 , the arm being in an intermediate position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 16 , the arm being in position to pivot about the main axis. 
         FIG. 19  is a front view of a knuckle in the fourth variant of the invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the  FIG. 19  knuckle. 
         FIG. 21  is a side view of the  FIG. 19  knuckle. 
         FIG. 22  is a section view of the arm and of the knuckle in a variant of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a knuckle in a first variant of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a section view of the  FIG. 23  knuckle. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a knuckle in a second variant of the second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 26  is a section view of the  FIG. 25  knuckle. 
         FIG. 27  is a front view of an arm in a variant embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a plan view of an eyeglass frame including a mask-shaped frame front. 
         FIG. 29  is a front view of  FIG. 28 . 
         FIG. 30  is a front view of an arm in a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 31  is a right-hand view of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 32  is a plan view of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 33  is a front view of a knuckle in the third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 34  is a plan view of the  FIG. 33  knuckle. 
         FIG. 35  is a side view of the  FIG. 33  knuckle. 
         FIG. 36  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of the third embodiment of the invention, the arm being in an initial position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 37  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 36 , the arm being in an intermediate position about the auxiliary pivot axis. 
         FIG. 38  is a front view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 5 , the arm being in position to pivot about the main axis. 
         FIG. 39  is a plan view of the arm and of the knuckle of  FIG. 7 , the arm being successively in a folded-out position and in a folded-in position relative to the frame front about the main pivot axis. 
     
    
    
     In  FIG. 1 , an arm  3  of an eyeglass frame carries two pivot heads  13  that project into an opening  21 . In  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a knuckle  11  carries a main pivot axis  7  and an auxiliary pivot axis  9  that are mutually perpendicular. A bridge  10  enables the knuckle  11  to be fastened to a frame endpiece  1  that can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 8 . A cam  19  formed in the knuckle  11  is provided with two cam paths  18  going around the auxiliary pivot axis  9  and defined between two housings that extend along the main pivot axis  7 . In these illustrative figures, the two cam paths  18  have two profiles that are identical. Nevertheless, the cam  19  could have two cam paths  18  with profiles that are different. 
     As can be seen more clearly in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the cam  19  is formed in the frame  11  perpendicularly to the auxiliary pivot axis  9  between a base  16  and a support  22  of the fastener bridge  10 . The support  22  presents an edge  24  projecting relative to the cam paths  18  to guide the pivot heads  13  between the edge  24  and the base  16  of the knuckle  11 . Nevertheless, it should be observed that the support  22  can follow the profile of the cam paths  18  without forming a projecting edge. Housings  14  associated with the auxiliary pivot axis  9  form two recesses in the base  16  to give the pivot heads  13  access to the two cam paths  18  when the knuckle  11  is inserted in the opening  21  in the arm  3 . 
     While mounting the arm  3  on the frame front  1  ( FIG. 5 ), the two pivot heads  13  become inserted in the two housings  14  associated with the auxiliary pivot axis  9 . In  FIG. 6 , when the arm  3  pivots about the auxiliary axis  9 , the two pivot heads  13  exert a compression force from the knuckle  11 , which force is controlled by the profile of the cam paths  18 . The arm  3  has recesses  23  that enable the opening  21  to open in response to the compression force of the pivot heads  13  on the cam  19 . In these illustrative figures, the recesses  23  open out into the opening  21 . Nevertheless, closed recesses, e.g. oblong recesses, could equally well be provided. In  FIG. 7 , the insertion of the two pivot heads  13  in the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  serve to release the compression force in part and to close the opening  21  in part. In  FIG. 8 , this corresponds to the arm  3  being in position to pivot about the main axis  7  in order to be folded-out  3   a  or folded-in  3   b  relative to the frame endpiece  1  of the frame. The main pivot axis  7  extends outwards, i.e. from a side of the knuckle  11  that is remote from the arms  3  when they are in the folded-in position  3   b  against the frame front  1 . 
     During pivoting about the auxiliary axis, the compression force of the pivot heads  13  on the knuckle  11  is controlled by the profile of the cam paths  18 . An elliptical profile having the major axis of the ellipse coinciding with the main pivot axis  7  and the minor axis coinciding with the alignment of the housing  12  giving the pivot heads  13  access to the cam paths  18  makes it possible to cause the compression force to increase continuously until the pivot heads  13  are inserted in the housings  12  that extend along the main pivot axis  7 . Insertion gives rise to partial relief while maintaining a compression force for ensuring that the knuckle  11  is clamped resiliently by the two pivot heads  13 . In  FIG. 4 , the amount of compression force that is maintained is determined by the distance D between the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7 , where D is greater than the distance d between the two pivot heads  13  projecting into the opening  21  in the arm ( FIG. 1 ). By way of example, the distance D between the two housings  12  is equal to 3.8 millimeters (mm) while the distance d between the two pivot heads  13  is equal to 3.6 mm. 
     In the second variant of the invention, the pivot heads  13  ( FIG. 9 ) are mounted on springs  25  received in housings  26  formed in the arms  3  and opening out to the opening  21 . In  FIG. 10 , while the arm  3  is being mounted on the frame front  1 , the two pivot heads  13  become inserted in the two housings  14  associated with the auxiliary pivot axis  9 . In  FIG. 11 , when the arm  3  pivots about the auxiliary axis  9 , the two pivot heads exert a compression force on the knuckle  11 , which force is controlled by the profile of the cam paths  18 . In response, the springs  25  on which the pivot heads  13  are mounted become deformed with their turns moving closer together. In  FIG. 12 , the insertion of the two pivot heads  13  in the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  serves to release the compression force in part and to relax the springs  25  in part. A compression force is maintained as a result of a distance D ( FIG. 4 ) between the two housings  12  and extending along the main pivot axis  7  that is greater than the distance d between the two pivot heads  13  mounted on the springs  25  received in the arms  3  and opening out to the opening  21  ( FIG. 9 ). 
     In the third variant of the invention ( FIGS. 13 to 15 ), the knuckle  11  has a recess  27  splitting the knuckle into two portions that are connected together by a bridge of material  28 . In  FIG. 16 , while the arm  3  is being mounted on the frame front  1 , the two pivot heads  13  become inserted in the two housings  14  associated with the auxiliary pivot axis  9 . In  FIG. 17 , when the arm  3  pivots about the auxiliary axis  9 , the two pivot heads  13  exert a compression force on the knuckle  11 , which force is controlled by the profile of the cam paths  18 . In response, the knuckle  11  closes by deformation of the bridge of material  28 . In  FIG. 18 , the insertion of the two pivot heads  13  into the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  causes the compression force to be released in part and re-opens the knuckle  11 , in part. A compression force is maintained as a result of a distance D ( FIG. 15 ) between the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  that is greater than the distance d between the two pivot heads  13  projecting from the openings  21  in the arms ( FIG. 16 ). 
     In the fourth variant of the invention ( FIGS. 19 to 21 ), the knuckle  11  is provided with an abutment  29  blocking pivoting of the arms  3  about the auxiliary pivot axis  9  when the arms  3  are in position to pivot about their main pivot axes  7 . In  FIG. 22 , two identical abutments  29  obstruct the cam paths  18  to prevent the pivot heads  13  from moving in rotation when they are inserted in the housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7 . Nevertheless, it should be observed that a single abutment  29  would suffice to prevent the pivot heads  13  from moving in rotation. This embodiment of the invention reduces the risk of the pivot heads  13  disengaging in the event of the arms  3  being forced to pivot beyond the angular position corresponding to them being inserted in the housings  12  extending along the main pivot axes  7 . This increases the reliability of the mounting of the arms  3  on the frame front  1 . 
     In the variant embodiments described above, the pivot heads are hemispherical in shape and the housings extending along the main pivot axis, such as the housings giving the pivot heads access to the cam paths, are matched to this shape. Nevertheless, the above-mentioned housings and pivot heads could have other shapes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , it is preferable to adjust the distance between the two housings  14  giving the pivot heads  13  access to the cam paths  18  to match the distance d between the two pivot heads  13  projecting into the openings  21  in the arms  3  or in the frame front  1 . Nevertheless, the two access housings  14  may be closer together than the distance d between the two pivot heads  13 , or they may be spaced apart by more than this distance, insofar as the cam paths  18  control the amount of compression force applied by the pivot heads  13  on the knuckle  11  when the arms  3  pivot about the auxiliary axis  9  and insofar as the distance D between the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  ensures that a compression force is maintained while each arm  3  pivots about its main axis  7 . 
     In  FIG. 22 , the distance e between the two access housings  14  is greater than the distance d between the two pivot heads projecting into the opening  21  in the arm  3 . The two access housings  14  are thus provided with chamfers  15  in order to space apart the pivot heads  13  while the knuckle  11  is being inserted in the opening  21  in the arm  3  and prior to the beginning of pivoting about the auxiliary axis  9 . The spacing apart may be maintained at a value that is determined by the chamfer  15  in order to create a compression force of the pivot heads  13  against the knuckle  11  prior to the beginning of pivoting about the auxiliary axis  9 . This arrangement enables the arm  3  to be held by resilient clamping on the knuckle  11 . A ledge  20  may also cause the spacing to return to a value that is less than that determined by the chamfer  15 , thereby reducing the resilient clamping but also forming a retaining catch for holding the arm  3  on the knuckle  11  prior to the beginning of pivoting about the auxiliary axis  9 . 
     The cam paths  18  may present profiles that are other than elliptical for the purpose of controlling the compression force when the arms pivot about the auxiliary pivot axis  9 . The distance D between the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  continues to constitute the means that act, for a given distance d between the pivot heads projecting into the opening  21  in the arm  3 , to maintain a compression force when the arms  3  pivot about the main axis  7 . 
     In the second embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , each of the two cam paths defines a circular arc  32  and a flat  34 . The housings  12  for inserting the pivot heads  13  along the main axis  7  are formed in the two circularly arcuate cam paths  32  defined thereby. The housings  14  giving the pivot heads  13  access to the cam paths  18  are formed in the base  16  of the knuckle facing the flats  34 . More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the base  16  and the edge  24  between which the circularly arcuate cam paths  32  run are provided with respective notches  36  and  38  in which the pivot heads  13  are received when the arm  3  is in its folded-in or folded-out position relative to the frame front  1 . The notches  36  and  38  thus impart greater stability to the arm in each of these two positions. 
     In a variant of the second embodiment of the invention, the knuckle shown in  FIGS. 25 and 26  differs from the above-described knuckle in that the two circularly arcuate cam paths  32  are closed by two abutments  29  so as to prevent the arms  3  from pivoting about the auxiliary axis  9  when the pivot heads are inserted in the housings  12  that extend along the main pivot axis  7 , i.e. when the arms are in position to pivot about said axis. 
     In  FIG. 27 , provision is made to form the opening  21  and the pivot heads  13  in a part  33  that is fitted in a corresponding housing  35  of the arm  3  or of the frame front  1 . 
     In  FIGS. 28 and 29 , provision is also made to fasten the knuckle  11  directly to the frame front itself. 
     In the third embodiment of the invention ( FIGS. 30 to 32 ), an arm  3  of an eyeglass frame includes an opening  21  provided with two cam paths  18  about an auxiliary pivot axis  9 . These cam paths are identical relative to this pivot axis  9  which is also an axis of symmetry of the opening  21 , and they are defined by two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7 . In  FIGS. 33 to 35 , a knuckle  11  has two projecting pivot heads  13 . A bridge  10  serves to fasten the knuckle  11  on a frame endpiece  1 , that can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 39 . In this illustrative example, the two cam paths are in the form of a groove or slot  41  hollowed out in the thickness of the arm along the periphery  31  of the opening  21  in order to guide the pivot heads  13  of the knuckle  11 . Housings  14  associated with the auxiliary pivot axis  9  form two recesses in the periphery  31  of the opening  21  to give the pivot heads  13  of the knuckle  11  access to the two cam paths  18  when the knuckle  11  is inserted in the opening  21  in the arm  3 . 
     While mounting the arm  3  on the frame front  1  ( FIG. 36 ), the two pivot heads  13  become inserted in the two housings  14  of the opening  21 . In  FIG. 37 , when the arm  3  pivots about the auxiliary axis  9 , the two pivot heads  13  exert a compression force on the cam paths  18  formed in the opening in the form of grooves or slots  41 . The arm  3  has recesses  23  that enable the opening  21  to deform in response to the compression force of the pivot heads  13  against the cam paths  18 . In  FIG. 38 , inserting the two pivot heads  13  into the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  serves to release the compression force in part and to reclose the opening  21  in part. In  FIG. 39 , this corresponds to the arm  3  being in position to pivot about the main axis  7 , so as to be folded-out  3   a  or folded-in  3   b  relative to the frame endpiece  1  of the frame. 
     During pivoting about the auxiliary axis  9 , the compression force of the pivot heads  13  is controlled by the profile of the cam paths  18  in the opening  21 . An elliptical profile with the minor axis of the ellipse coinciding with the main pivot axis  7  and the major axis coinciding with the alignment of the housings  14  giving the pivot heads  13  access to the cam paths  18  enables the compression force to be caused to increase continuously until the pivot heads  13  become inserted in the housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7 . Insertion gives rise to partial release while maintaining a compression force to ensure that the two pivot heads  13  are resiliently clamped in the opening  21 . As shown in  FIG. 30 , the compression force is maintained by the distance d′ between the two housings  12  extending along the main pivot axis  7  being smaller than the distance D′ between the two projecting pivot heads  13  of the knuckle  11  ( FIG. 33 ). 
     The various variations of the first and second embodiments of the invention can be applied to the third embodiment. More particularly, the two cam paths  18  formed along the periphery  31  of the opening  21  can each define a circular arc and a flat. The opening  21  may be formed in a separate part fitted to the arm or to the frame front. The pivot heads  13  of the knuckle  11  may be mounted on springs received in the knuckle  11 . 
     The closed periphery  31  of the opening  21  formed in each arm or in the frame front requires the arms to be mounted on the frame front by being pivoted about the auxiliary axis of the knuckle, while allowing for a greater compression force on the pivot heads. The cam paths formed in the knuckle or in the opening serve to control this force while the arms are pivoting about the auxiliary axis and to maintain a determined compression force when the arms pivot about the main axis.