Improvements in or connected with Eye-glasses or Pince-nez.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Eye-glasses or Pince-nez.
1, BRUCE GREEN, of Nos. 65 and 66 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of eye glasses or pince-nez in which the
frames are caused to approach each other by a rectilinear movement, under the
influence of a coiled spring.
In this class of eye glasses as heretofore constructed, the spring, which is
necessarily of steel, has been exposed to the action of the atmosphere and other
influences which speedily brought about the oxidation of the spring, and, in steel
frame eye glasses, of some co-acting parts.
Now, the object of the present invention is to enclose and thus protect the spring
and some other parts from atmospheric and other influences, and thereby more or
less reduce the liability to become oxidised.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement, two cylinders or tubes are
employed, each of which is closed at both ends and connected by its outer end to
one of the frames, and in the meeting ends of these tubes or cylinders are
formed small corresponding apertures through which and extending into the tubes
or cylinders, with capability of longitudinal movement with relation thereto, is
provided a bar at its ends furnished with discs or enlargements which may more or
less fit the tubes.
Upon the bar, within each tube or cylinder, is mounted a coiled spring which,
at one end, takes an abutment against the enlarged end or disc of the bar, and, at
the other end, bears against the meeting end of the cylinder, so that the ends of the
cylinders will normally be held in contact or nearly so and the frames will corre-
spondingly be drawn together with an elastic pressure, but with capability of
separation for adjustment upon the nose of the wearer.
In order to prevent the frames turning with relation to each other, the bar may
be formed of a flat section and the openings in the meeting ends of the cylinders
may be formed of a corresponding shape, or, the tubes may be formed of au
angular section, and the discs or enlarged ends of the bar are formed of a
corresponding shape, or, the parts are otherwise formed so as to prevent rotation.
In putting together eye glasses constructed in the manner hereinbefore described,
it is desirable to leave the meeting ends of the cylinders open to admit of the
insertion of the ends of the bar and of the springs into each cylinder, after which
the meeting ends may be closed by means of discs soldered in position or preferably
by screw or otherwise removeable caps so as to admit of the parts being dismounted
for repairs or for other purposes.
According to a modified arrangement of parts, one tube or cylinder is dispensed
with and the remaining tube or cylinder, which is fixed with one frame, takes up a
portion of the bar and the bar, which is fixed with the other frame, is mounted
with relation thereto in the manner hereinbefore described, the action of the spring
being to normally retract a portion of the bar within the cylinder.
According to a further modification, two tubes or cylinders telescoping one within
the other may be employed and an extension spring may be arranged in connection
therewith the bar being dispensed with.

page_text: By the means hereinbefore described, the instrument will have a neater and
more finished appearance than heretofore, the wearing parts will not normally be
exposed to view, and, to a great extent, will be preserved from atmospheric and
other influences.
Dated this 26th day of February 1894.
improvements in or connected with Eye-glasses or Pince-nez.
I, BRUCE GREEN, of Nos. 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Loudon, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:-
My said invention relates to that class of eye-glasses or pince-nez in which the
frames are caused to approach each other by a rectilinear movement, under the
influence of a coiled spring.
In this class of eye-glasses as heretofore constructed, the spring, which is
necessarily of steel, has been exposed to the action of the atmosphere and other
influences which speedily brought about the oxidation of the spring, and, in steel
frame eye-glasses, of some co-acting parts.
Now, the object of the present invention is to enclose and thus protect the spring
and some other parts from atmospheric and other influences and thereby more or
less reduce the liability to become oxidised.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement two cylinders or tubes are
employed, each of which is closed at both ends and connected by its outer end to
one of the frames, and in the meeting ends of these tubes or cylinders are formed
small corresponding apertures through which and extending into the tubes or
cylinders, with capability of longitudinal movement with relation thereto, is
provided a bar at its ends furnished with discs or enlargements which may more or
less fit the tubes.
Upon the bar, within cach tube or cylinder, is mounted a coiled spring which,
at one end, takes an abutment against the enlarged end or dise of the bar, and,
at the other end, bears against the meeting end of the cylinder, so that the ends of
the cylinders will normally be held in contact or nearly so and the frames will
correspondingly be drawn together with an elastic pressure, but with capability of
separation for adjustment upon the nose of the wearer.
In order to prevent the frames turning with relation to each other, the bar may
be formed of a flat section and the openings in the meeting ends of the cylinders
may be formed of a corresponding shape, or, the tubes may be formed of an angular
section, and the discs or enlarged ends of the bar are formed of a corresponding
shape or the parts are otherwise formed so as to prevent rotation.
In putting together eye-glasses constructed in the manner hereinbefore described,
it is desirable to leave the meeting ends of the cylinders open to admit of the
insertion of the end of the bar and of the springs into each cylinder after which the
meeting ends may be closed by means of discs soldered in position or preferably by
screw or otherwise removeable caps so as to admit of the parts being dismounted for
repairs or for other purposes.
According to a modified arrangement of parts, one tube or cylinder is dispensed
with and the remaining tube or cylinder, which is fixed with one frame takes up a
portion of the bar and the bar, which is fixed with the other frame, is mounted
with relation thereto in the manner hereinbefore described, the action of the spring
being to normally retract a portion of the bar within the cylinder.

page_text: According to a further modification, two tubes or cylinders telescoping one within
ther may be employed and an extension spring may be arranged in connection
therewith the bar being dispensed with.
By the means hereinbefore described, the instrument will have a neater and more
finished appearance than heretofore, the wearing parts will not normally be exposed
to view, and, to a great extent, will be preserved from atmospheric and other
influences.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
therewith the bar being dispensed with.
By the means hereinbefore described, the instrument will have a neater and more
finished appearance than heretofore, the wearing parts will not normally be exposed
to view, and, to a great extent, will be preserved from atmospheric and other
influences.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is an elevation partly in section representing a pair of eye-glasses
constructed according to the present invention.
Figure 2. is a plan thereof.
Figure 3. is a transverse section taken on the line 1-1. of Figure 1.
Figure 4. is a longitudinal section of one of the tubes or cylinders separately.
Figure 5. is an end view thereof.
Figure 6. is a longitudinal view of one of the bars separately, and,
Figure 7. is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2. of Figure 6.
Figure 8. is a sectional view similar to part of Figure 1. but showing one of the
springs compressed and the bar in its corresponding extended position.
Figure 9. is a longitudinal section representing a modified form of tube or
cylinder, and,
Figure 10. is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 9.
Figure 11. is a longitudinal section of parts representing a modified construction,
and,
Figure 12. is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 11.
Figure 13. is a similar view to Figure 11. representing a further modification,
and,
Figure 14. is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 13.
Figure 15. is a similar view to Figure 13. representing a further modification.
Figure 16. is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 15, and,
Figure 17. is a transverse section of the bar separately.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 4 to 17 are drawn to an enlarged scale with respect to
Figures 1., 2., and 3.
Referring to Figures 1. to 8. a. represents the frames which are of ordinary
construction.
Each of the frames a. has fixed therewith by a branch a' a tube or cylinder a²
which at that end is closed by the branch a' which enters a short distance therein,
whilst at its inner end it is closed by a cap a³ formed with a small opening a**
therein and the apertures a** in the meeting ends of the tubes * are made to
exactly correspond.
Through the apertures a** of the ends a³ of the tubes or cylinders a* is loosely
but nicely fitted a bar b. which extends into the tubes or cylinders a² with
capability of longitudinal movement with relation thereto and the bar b. is at its
ends furnished with discs or enlargements b¹ which fit the tubes a with capability
of moving freely therein.
Upon the bar b. within each tube or cylinder a² is mounted a coiled spring c.
which at one end takes an abutment against the enlarged end or disc 6 of the
bar b. and at the other end bears against the interior of the cap or meeting end a³
of the tube or cylinder a² and the springs c. are slightly in compression so that the
ends as of the cylinders a² will normally be held in contact, or nearly so, and the
frames a. will correspondingly be drawn together with an elastic pressure but with
capability of separation for adjustment upon the nose of the wearer as shown more
particularly at Figure 8.

page_text: In order to prevent the frames a. turning with relation to each other, the bar b.
is formed of a flattened section, and the openings a* in the meeting ends a² of the
tubes or cylinders a' are formed of a corresponding shape as shown more particularly
at Figures 5. and 7., or, other means might be employed to prevent the turning of
the frames a. with relation to each other and such for example as those shown with
respect to some of the examples hereinafter given.
In putting together eye-glasses constructed in the manner hereinbefore described,
it is desirable to leave the meeting ends of the tubes or cylinders a² open to admit
of the insertion of the end of the bar b. and of the spring c. into each cylinder
after which the meeting ends are preferably closed by means of screw or otherwise
removeable caps a³ so as to admit of the parts being readily dismounted for repairs
or for other purposes, or the ends of the device a³ might be closed by means of
apertured discs soldered in position, as will be readily understood.
In the example given at Figures 9. and 10. a modified device is shown for preventing
the turning of the frames a. with relation to each other and which consists in forming
tubes or cylinders a³ of rectangular section and the discs or enlarged ends of the
bar . of corresponding shape.
In this arrangement in lieu of closing the ends of the tubes or cylinders a² by means
of removeable caps a³ as herein before described, plugs a³ are inserted in the ends of
the studs a' and fixed in position by soldering.
In the example given at Figures 11. and 12., one of the tubes or cylinders a² is
dispensed with, and the remaining tube or cylinder is prolonged and at one end
is fixed with one frame a. by soldering and the bar b. is at one end fixed with the
other frame a. whilst the free end of the tube or cylinder a is provided with a
removeable cap a similar to that hereinbefore described with respect to
Figures 1. to 8. to hold in position by a set screw a** engaging a hole provided
in the tube aand in order to prevent the turning of the parts with relation to each
other, the bar . is formed of a square section whilst the aperture a** of the cap a³ is
formed of a corresponding shape.
In this example the action of the spring c is normally to retract a portion of the
bar b. within the tube or cylinder a².
In the example given at Figures 13. and 14., the bar b. is dispensed with and
two tubes or cylinders a are employed wbich tubes or cylinders are at one end
fixed with the branches a¹ of the frames a in a similar manner to that described
with respect to Figures 1. to 8., but, in this case, one tube a³ is extended in length
and the other tube a' is formed of reduced diameter so that it will telescope
within the other and an extension spring c¹ is at one end fixed to an eye al*
provided upon the end of the branch a and at the other end is fixed with a
corresponding eye a** provided at the end of the inner tube a whilst in order to
prevent the turning of the parts with relation to each other and the separation
thereof, a slot a is formed in the inner tube a which is engaged by a stud a**.
passing through the outer tube a².
In the example given at Figures 15., 16., and 17., a single tube or cylinder a² is
employed which is unconnected with the branches a' of the frames a. and the bar b.
is divided into two parts, one part being fixed with the branch a¹ of each frame a;
the enlarged ends of the bars . meeting in a central position within the tube a²,
whilst two independent springs c. coiled around the bars b. are employed, which
springs at one end take an abutment against the plugs or caps a³ and at the other end
act against the discs 64, the action being similar to that described with respect to
the previous figures.
In this example the ends of the tube a² are closed by means of apertured
plugs as screwed therein, and provided with holes or apertures a* therethrough to
receive the bars b., and in order to prevent the rotation of the parts, the tube a³ is
formed oval in section and the enlarged ends of the bars b. are correspondingly
shaped.
The examples hereinbefore given are merely intended to illustrate various modes
in which my invention can be carried into effect and I would have it understood that

page_text: I do not confine myself thereto as it is evident that the same can be further varied
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In eye-glasses, the combination of two separate frames adapted to approach
or recede from each other by a rectilinear movement, a coiled spring or springs for
causing the frames to approach each other, a tube or tubes enclosing the spring or
springs and co-acting parts and means for preventing one frame turning with
relation to the other, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
Dated this 26th day of November 1894.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.