Improvements in Folding Eye Glasses or Pince-nez.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
Improvements in Folding Eye Glasses or Pince-nez.
I, RICHARD WILLIAMS of 82, Rodney Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in folding eye glasses or
pince-nez.
In carrying the same into effect, I form the bridge piece which connects the eye
pieces or bows of rigid material, instead of a springy substance as heretofore.
At or about the centre of this bridge piece, I form it with a hinge or pivot in such
a manner that the two eye pieces will swing or fold together laterally instead of
edgewise as heretofore. One great advantage of this arrangement is that the eye
glasses always retain their relative position when unfolded, because the bridge
piece, being of rigid material, is not flexible like a springy bridge piece would be
the elasticity of which is liable to vary with wear and tear.
Hitherto in certain classes of pince-nez the spring devices for nipping the nose
are connected at the bottom to the bows, but at the top work loosely in eye pieces
projecting from the bows. I propose to reverse this arrangement, connecting the
spring nippers to a convenient point at or near the top of the bows, while the
bottom of the spring nippers easily adjust themselves to the width of the wearer's
nose by being mounted in eye pieces in which the spring nippers have easy
movement. wish it to be understood however that I do not limit my folding
bridge piece to any special kind of eye glass or pince-nez, as it is applicable for
practically all or nearly all kinds.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Folding Eye Glasses or Pince-nez.
I, RICHARD WILLIAMS of 82, Rodney Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in folding eye glasses or
pince-nez.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a front elevation;
Figure 2 a plan of the eye glasses partly folded;
Figure 3 a detail view of the slot in the spring; and,
Figure 4 enlarged detail views in elevation and plan, of the pivoted bridge
niece

page_text: Referring to these figures, I form the bridge piece A which connects the eye-
pieces or bows B of rigid material instead of a springy substance as heretofore.
At or about the centre of this bridge piece, I form it with a hinge or pivot C in
such a manner that the two eyepieces B will swing or fold together laterally
face to face instead of edgewise as heretofore. One great advantage of this
arrangement is that the eye glasses always retain their relative position when
unfolded, because the bridge piece A being of rigid material, is not flexible like a
springy bridge piece would be, the elasticity of which is liable to vary with wear
and tear. The adjacent ends of the bridge piece A where they are pivoted, overlap
somewhat, as clearly depicted in Figure 4. D is a spring fixed to one half of the
bridge piece and adapted to engage the overlapping end of the other half, and so
lock the two eye pieces when unfolded in substantially the same plane whereby
they always retain their relative. positions when in use. This spring however is of
such strength that in folding the eye pieces the exertion of a little force will easily.
disengage the projecting end of the bridge piece from the spring D, and similarly
the exertion of a little force will engage the said projecting end with the spring
when required for use again. This spring on the bridge D may be repeated
underneath on the other side of the pivot.
Hitherto in certain classes of pince nez the plaquet spring E for nipping the
nose is connected at the bottom to the bows but at the top works loosely in eve
pieces projecting from the bows. I propose to reverse this arrangement connecting
the plaquet springs E to a convenient point near the top of the bows or at the
sides, while the bottoms easily adjust themselves to the width of the wearer's nose
by being mounted in eyes, or by sliding on pins F by means of which the plaquet
springs have easy movement. I wish it to be understood however that I do not
confine my folding bridge piece to any special kind of eyeglass or pince nez, as it
is applicable to practically all or nearly all kinds. The plaquet springs may be
mounted on the edge of the frame or eyeglasses, so as to throw the glasses forward
to clear the wearer's eyelashes. G is the slot in the ends of the plaquet springs
for receiving the pins E these slots allowing the springs easy movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is..to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvement in folding eyeglasses or pince nez, which consists in
forming the bridge piece which connects the two eye pieces with a hinge or pivot
at or about the centre thereof, in such a manner that the two eyepieces will
fold laterally face to face instead of edgewise as heretofore, substantially as
described.
2. In a folding eyeglass or pince nez of the kind set forth in Claim 1, forming
the adjacent ends of the bridge piece where they are pivoted to overlap somewhat,
in combination with one or more springs fixed to the bridge piece and arranged in
such a manner as to engage the overlapping ends when the eyepieces are unfolded,
and lock the latter in their proper relative positions when required for actual use,
substantially as described.
3. In folding eyeglasses or pince nez, fixing the upper ends of the plaquet
springs to the bows or eyepieces, and coupling the lower extremities thereof in
such a manner as to easily adjust themselves to the width of the wearer's nose
substantially as set forth.
4. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved folding eyeglasses or pince nez substantially as set forth.
Doted this gond 1
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.