Improvements in Folding Eyeglasses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
Improvements in Folding Eyeglasses.
I, ALEX WIENRICH, of 183, Oranien-Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Merchant, 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:-
Eyeglasses of ordinary construction are too bulky to be carried in the pocket
of the waist-coat or the coat with ease. This defect has to some extent been
overcome by folding the glasses one over the other but this causes a heavy strain
on, the spring and renders them untrue. Again the spring has been divided in
the middle and provided with a hinge-joint so as to enable the lenses to be
turned one against the other but this arrangement has not met with general
favour.
My
According to my invention I neither divide the spring nor do I cause the same
to be submitted to undue stress or to any stress whatever for folding.
invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing
in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation of the folders when ready for use.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same when folded.
Figure 3 is a modified construction in which both glasses are adapted to fold
over.
Figure 4 shows the same in its folded position.
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4 drawn to an enlarged scale and
Figure 6 is a section taken on the line of Figure 1.
The frame a of the glass b, Figures 1 and 2, is furnished with two pins or
pivots cc arranged in a straight line. The ends of these pins are each mounted
in a bearing in blocks d d which latter are both fixed to the branch e¹ of the
main-spring e. From a glance at the drawing it will at once be clear that
the folding operation presents no difficulties and that the space occupied by the
eyeglasses arranged as in Figure 2, is much less than that in Figure 1.
The glass is held in its extended position by a block f, shown separately in
Figure 6, which is attached to the frame. This block f is formed on its under-
side with a groove i into which the frame of the glass slips and in which it is
retained by the action of the spring e, see Figure 6. A slight downward pressure
with the finger upon the frame a releases the glass from the block f and allows
the glass to be folded.
The block f for retaining or locking the glass in its position for use may
however be replaced by any other suitable device.
The arrangement may be modified so as to render both glasses foldable and so
enable the folder to be folded into a still smaller compass and thus more easily
carried in the pocket.
This last arrangement is shown in the position for use in Figure 3 and folded
in Figure 4 while Figure 5 shows a plan thereof.
The means for the folding of the glasses are the same as that described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 but naturally the glasses must be constructed to

page_text: swing in opposite direction as indicated at Figure 5 so as to enable them when
folded to lie side by side. This is effected by placing the pivots c c and c* c*
at the opposite sides of the spring e instead of in the centre plane of such spring.
I do not intend to claim any means for keeping the glasses in their folded
position as naturally any means suitable for the purpose may be adopted.
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. Folding eyeglasses characterized by one of the glasses being mounted on
pivots cc carried in block bearings dd attached to the main spring e e¹ in
such a manner as to enable the glass to be folded upon or against the other
glass b¹.
2. Folding eye-glasses characterized by the two glasses being mounted on
pivots in blocks & fixed to the main spring e so as to allow of both glasses
being folded against each other by turning them upon their pivots.
Dated this 5th day of August 1999.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant
c