IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPECTACLES OR EYE-GLASSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPECTACLES OR EYE-GLASSES."
A communication from abroad by Robert Alexander Carter, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.; Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SPECTACLES OR EYE-GLASSES." A communication from abroad by Robert
Alexander Carter, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
This Invention has relation to the manufacture of what are known as frameless
spectacles or eyeglasses. Its essential objects may be said to be the production of
an article of a more elegant appearance than has heretofore been made, and which
is at the same time sufficiently strong and durable. In the manufacture of this
class of articles it has long been recognized that their commercial value depends
very much upon their appearance, and it has accordingly been constantly attempted
to make improvements in that direction. It will be readily understood that so
called frameless eyeglasses, spectacles, or the like, are neither better nor worse in
point of utility than those in which frames are used; substantially the same lenses
are employed in both classes, the circumstance that in some instances the frames
are dispensed with being attributable, as hereinbefore stated, perhaps wholly to
æsthetic considerations. As a consequence the production of eyeglasses and the
like in which the metallic parts are lighter and at the same time sufficiently
strong is to be regarded as a valuable improvement and a marked advance in their
manufacture.
-
The novelty of this Invention is due to the discovery that by certain new
methods of construction I am able to dispense with the use, of screws, rivets,

page_text: solder, and analogous expedients in connecting the various parts of the glass, and
to accomplish an effectual connection by the employment of a clip having elastic
arms and provided with projections which fit into cavities in the glass in the
manner hereinafter described.
It has heretofore been customary to connect the glasses of so called frameless
spectacles, eyeglasses, and the like, by a nose piece or spring, having a clip secured
to each end by solder or otherwise. The clips have usually consisted of two arms
which have been fastened to the lens by a screw or rivet, the lens being pierced for
the purpose.
This construction has been found to be objectionable because the clips
and nose piece become after a time detached from each other, and for the reason
that the connections, which are necessarily fragile, become loosened or broken. It
is also true that piercing the glass necessarily weakens it, thus causing loss and
inconvenience, and that the clips, nose piece, and similar parts, being of separate
pieces and requiring skilled labor to connect them, the production of the article
involves many difficulties which are a source of expense, inconvenience, and loss of
material. To obviate these and other objections is the purpose of this Invention,
the exact nature of which will be readily understood from the detailed description
hereinafter set forth in connection with the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front view of a pair of spectacles embodying the said Invention,
and
Figure 2 is an edge view of one glass of the same.
Figure 3 is a detached sectional view shewing the relation of the clip to the
Figure 4 is a side view of a clip.
glass.
.
Figure 5 is a front view of a pair of eyeglasses embodying the said Invention,
and
Figure 6 is a view of a blank from which the metallic parts of the spectacle or
eyeglass are cut.
A, A, indicate the glasses; B, the nose-piece, or in the eyeglasses the spring
having the clips C. The nose-piece B, provided with the clips C, which hold the
glasses, will by preference be stamped out of thin metal, but may be constructed in
any other suitable manner; it is made in a single piece and of any appropriate
shape. The said clips C are distinctive in that they are constructed with elastic
arms a, having projections b at or near their ends, the projections being constructed
to fit into cavities in the glasses, as illustrated in Figure 3. The projections will
by preference be cylindrical and the cavities of corresponding shape, the size and
other details being such as occasion may require.
In Figure 4 is shewn a clip, which embodies this Invention in the most approved
form. This clip is formed in a single piece, having a base and the arms a, which
are elastic and have a tension, towards each other; these arms are supplied at or
near their ends with the projections or studs b, and a projection or stud h is formed
preferably on the base between the said arms a. The glass to which the clip is to
be applied is furnished with cavities corresponding with and adapted to receive
the said projections 6 and h, whereby, when the parts are united, the glass is very
securely held and prevented from moving in any direction.
D indicates the hinge-piece, to which the side wires of spectacles are secured.
The hinge-piece and clip will, according to this Invention, be made in one piece,
whereby the labor and expense of constructing them in separate pieces and
attaching them by solder or the like are entirely avoided.
It will be readily understood that this Invention may be practised in many ways
without departing from the essential features above mentioned.
In constructing the metallic parts of the spectacle or eyeglass I take preferably
a thin sheet of metal, and by appropriate dies stamp the clip hereinbefore described
with its connection or attachment out of the same in one piece. In Figure 6 is
shewn such a blank as herein described with the clip and its attachment indicated
in outline on its surface. The clips connected with the springs of eyeglasses, after
being stamped out, are given a one-quarter turn, so as to bring them into proper

page_text: relation to the glasses to clasp and hold them in a plane about parallel with that of
the spring. After the clip and its attachment have been cut out by the dies their
edges and surfaces may be smoothed and trimmed by being passed along grooved
milling wheels, such as jewellers employ, and the projections on the clip may be
reduced in size and made round by being subjected to the action of an open milling.
wheel. The metallic parts, after being thus treated, are very light and present a
neat finished appearance.
By forming the clip and attachment in one piece I not only produce a durable
article, but at the same time avoid the expense and rough appearance of the
application of solder, screws, or rivets.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
The improvements in the manufacture of frameless spectacles or eyeglasses, as
hereinbefore described, which improvements consist in forming the metallic parts
or connections in single pieces provided with elastic clips adapted to fit into
cavities in the lens or glass, and thus effect a suitable connection of the parts,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
TTYM
DADE
TYYM
RODT. LAKE.
(LS.)