Patent Description:
In the selling of spectacles and spectacle frames in the retail trade use is often made of columns for presenting the spectacle frames thereon. Such columns are embodied partially as secured columns and partially as unsecured columns. The security measures in the columns are intended to limit removal of the spectacle frame from the column at the retail trade selling location to situations where salespersons are present. <CIT> discloses a spectacle frame presentation known in the art.

The manufacture of the prior art presentation columns imposes complex requirements and is labour-intensive since the columns are provided with supporting elements for carrying the spectacle frames and since existing security measures require complex constructions.

In order to improve this prior art the present invention relates to a spectacle frame presentation device as defined in claim <NUM>.

An advantage of a spectacle frame presentation device according to the present invention is that it can be embodied in highly compact dimensions, such as so narrow that it fits between the nosepads of a pair of glasses or between the lenses at the edges of the lenses. The spectacle frame can hereby be arranged in the recesses made in the column.

A further result of such a column compared to the prior art is that it can have a very sleek appearance and thereby forms an attractive display in itself. Also an advantage is that such a column, without external features such as support elements for carrying the spectacle frame or visible elements for securing the spectacle frame, places greater emphasis on the spectacle frame to be presented.

A further advantage is that, with a small size of the column such as with the relatively narrow front aspect, a comparatively great stiffness can be realized.

Within the context of the present invention an internal space is defined as the circumscribed space in any aspect of the column body or within continuous maximum dimensional lines of the column body, wherein the volume of the recesses forms part of the internal space.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the spectacle frame presentation device comprises a lock-in assembly, such as a security assembly, for locking the spectacle frame in the recesses, wherein the lock-in assembly comprises a movable lock-in member wherein the lock-in member is movable from a closed position to an opened position via intermediate positions forming a path of movement and wherein at any position the lock-in member is arranged inside the internal space of the elongate body.

A conspicuous advantage of such a preferred embodiment is that a locking is realized for the spectacle frame while no components of the lock-in assembly are visible in the opened position. A significant drawback of columns with prior art security measures is hereby obviated, i.e. that attention is distracted from the presented spectacle frames by visible parts of the security.

A further advantage of such a column according to the present invention is that the security assembly, in particular the lock-in member, because it is invisible does not form a physical obstruction when the spectacle frame is picked up and replaced. This is particularly advantageous for the persons to which the spectacle frame is being presented during comparison of different spectacle frames.

In a further preferred embodiment the internal space in the spectacle frame presentation device is defined as being arranged within circumscribed lines in any aspect of the elongate body. Explicitly defined hereby is that the security assembly and the lock-in member visible in the closed situation are arranged inside the body, thereby achieving the stated advantages.

The column member is according to the invention formed by means of an extrusion process, preferably from a metal suitable therefor such as aluminium or a plastic suitable therefor. A column member is hereby realized in advantageous manner which is manufactured from attractive materials imparting a high degree of stiffness in the form of a uni-body, or a hollow. It is a particular insight of the present inventor that, with the exception of the recesses, a body enclosed in top view for the purpose of a column member for the present application particularly imparts an advantageous stiffness, while assembled columns are subject to friction between parts forming the assembly. A further advantage of such a process is that guide elements for guiding for instance the security assembly can be manufactured applying a suitable mould without additional operations.

According to the invention, the recesses are manufactured by means of milling, more preferably sawing or cutting. A specific advantage of milling is that by means of one operation, when laid flat, all parts to be removed are removed uniformly, whereby the recesses in both side walls are the same.

The column body more preferably forms substantially a rectangle or an oval in top view. A column of such a desired form is hereby provided which has a great stiffness.

A spectacle frame presentation device according to the invention more preferably comprises a rear side attaching member, preferably embodied as a channel or groove, for attaching sidepiece holders thereto, preferably by means of a rotation snap coupling or bayonet coupling, and/or for attaching a wall connection thereto and/or for attaching a control assembly thereto.

An advantage hereof is that such a provision can be manufactured in suitable manner without additional operations while during regular use it is out of sight and while the stated functionalities are therefore provided in unobtrusive manner.

In a further preferred embodiment the column body comprises coupling means for coupling to a control assembly. Hereby realized is that different forms of operation can be coupled in advantageous manner to one and the same column by means of the coupling means. Great advantages can hereby be gained in production efficiency, stock control and in the marketing chain.

The control assembly is therefore preferably suitable for manual operation or for motorized operation of the spectacle frame presentation device. Manual operation can be controlled by means of a key with an actuating handle, while a motorized operation can be controlled by means of pushbutton control or by means of a remote control.

Such methods of control for columns for presenting spectacle frames are per se known, although the present invention adds to the prior art that the control assembly can be manufactured, distributed and later mounted independently of the column. It is also possible according to the present invention to convert a column initially supplied as manually operated column to a remotely controllable column by means of relatively simple replacement of the control assembly.

Drive means preferably integrated into the control assembly are more preferably arranged outside the column body for driving the lock-in assembly.

The spectacle frame presentation device according to the present invention comprises preferably a lock-in assembly comprising:.

Using such a lock-in assembly it becomes possible to apply an array of such lock-in assemblies in a column member according to the present invention, wherein it is only necessary to provide an actuation for the movement from one side. Repair or replacement of a lock-in assembly is relatively simple because the array of lock-in assemblies can be easily removed from the column.

According to a preferred embodiment the lock-in assembly comprises positioning means for relative positioning of lock-in assemblies arrangeable adjacently relative to each other. A precise relative orientation of the displacing members can be realized by means of such positioning means.

The lock-in assembly more preferably comprises fixation coupling means for fixing the lock-in assembly relative to the column body and/or a recess thereof by means of coupling with a lock-in assembly fixation member. Simple fixation of the lock-in assembly relative to the column body can hereby be realized in advantageous manner. A method of assembly hereby also becomes possible wherein, by means of simple snap-in of the fixation coupling means following correct positioning of the lock-in assembly, a lock-in assembly or a complete array of lock-in assemblies can be fixed in simple manner.

The lock-in assembly more preferably comprises guide means, such as guide openings, for guiding and supporting the lock-in member. Reliable operation is on the one hand hereby realized by means of movement of the displacing member. High security is on the other hand hereby realized in that in the closed position thereof the lock-in assembly is held on the underside and the upper side in firm manner in the guide openings. The spectacle frames are hereby located securely in the spectacle frame position when the lock-in member is in the closed position.

For the purpose of manufacturing the displacing member in advantageous and sturdy manner a forming process such as injection moulding is more preferably applied, wherein during and/or by means of the forming process the lock-in member is preferably fixed to the displacing member. The displacing member with the lock-in member arranged and fixed therein can hereby be provided as a component during assembly of the lock-in assembly. A firm mounting of the lock-in member on the displacing member can also hereby be realized.

In a further preferred embodiment the coupling means of a lower or upper lock-in assembly are connectable to the control assembly. Hereby made possible in advantageous manner is that the control assembly is coupled functionally to the column body with the lock-in assemblies arranged therein. The stated advantage of the interchangeability of manually operated or motor-operated control assemblies is hereby also realized.

Damping means are more preferably provided for damping a movement in the path of movement. It hereby becomes possible to apply a biasing member so that a manually operated column can also open or close in controlled manner.

The spectacle frame presentation device more preferably comprises releasable cylinder lock holding means. It is envisaged here that the user of the device can him/herself easily arrange a cylinder. This provides very great advantages because cylinders can be supplied separately of the rest of the device, whereby individual keys can be applied or advantageous key closing plans can be applied instead of simply a standard key for stock control of per se known built-in cylinders. In the case of an incident calling for this measure, such as loss or theft of a key, the user can hereby also replace one or more cylinders. It also becomes possible for instance by means of a key closing plan to give determined employees access to determined columns and to give determined employees access to other columns or all columns.

A further preferred embodiment comprises a lock-in assembly fixation member for fixing a lock-in assembly relative to a respective recess.

The spectacle frame presentation device more preferably comprises a spectacle frame support member arrangeable relative to a recess, wherein the spectacle frame support member is preferably integrated with the lock-in assembly fixation member.

Using these latter preferred embodiments a lock-in assembly can be fixed in advantageous manner during assembly. It is also possible to change the shape of the spectacle frame support member by placing a different one. By replacing one or more spectacle frame support members a distinction can be made between different columns in a shop, or a shop as a whole can be provided with a distinctive character while the advantages of the spectacle frame presentation device according to the present invention are retained.

A further aspect according to the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a spectacle frame presentation device according to one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for:.

Advantages of this aspect relate to the realizing of a compact but very stiff column member construction as well as realizing many advantages of other aspects according to the invention as described in the foregoing.

According to a further preferred embodiment the method comprises steps for:.

Following the forming, steps are more preferably implemented for performing a surface treatment such as lacquering, enamelling, anodizing, this step preferably being performed prior to arranging of the recesses.

Hereby realized in advantageous manner is that it is not necessary to take into account the later positioning of the recesses when the surface treatment is carried out.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow on the basis of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Similar, though not necessarily identical, components of different preferred embodiments are designated with the same reference numerals.

A first preferred embodiment (<FIG>) according to the present invention relates to a spectacle frame presentation device <NUM>. This comprises a column body <NUM> provided with a recesses <NUM> for receiving spectacle frames (not shown). Arranged for each recess <NUM> on the rear side of the column body is a sidepiece support <NUM> for supporting the sidepieces of the spectacle frames to be presented. Arranged on the underside of column body <NUM> is a control assembly which, depending on the preferred embodiment, is a manually operated assembly (<FIG>) or a motor-operated assembly (<FIG>). The control assemblies are described in greater detail hereinbelow. Arrangeable in the column body is an array of lock-in assemblies <NUM> which are described in greater detail with reference to <FIG>.

The column body is manufactured by means of an extrusion which realizes an inner space enclosed by walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Realized on walls <NUM>, <NUM> in the inner space is a guide edge <NUM> for the purpose of guiding and/or positioning a lock-in assembly or an array thereof. A mounting channel is realized on the rear side of column body <NUM> by means of wall extensions <NUM>', <NUM>' and edges or wall parts <NUM>, <NUM> extending substantially perpendicularly thereof. This mounting channel serves for mounting of sidepiece supports <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a modified arrangement of an array of a number of lock-in assemblies <NUM> with omission of the column body. The mounting channel also functions for the purpose of fixing the control assembly by means of a mounting block <NUM> comprising a screw opening and a screw <NUM>. This mounting method functions for both the manual and the motor variant. A further point of attachment of the control assembly is by means of a screw in screw openings <NUM> in wall <NUM>, the screw extending in mounting opening <NUM>'.

<FIG> shows three situations of the lock-in assemblies in combination with the motor variant of the control assembly. <FIG> shows a closed position of the lock-in assembly. <FIG> shows an intermediate position between the closed position and the opened position. <FIG> shows an opened position of the lock-in assembly. <FIG> shows another view of the situation of <FIG>.

A drive member <NUM> for driving the lower lock-in assembly is shown in Fig. A, D while being omitted in <FIG> and <FIG>. This drive member serves to couple the spindle <NUM> to the lower lock-in assembly. Drive member <NUM> comprises for this purpose a frame <NUM>, a coupling opening <NUM> on the upper side thereof and a spindle coupling block <NUM> provided internally with thread. Motor <NUM>, which is mounted on printed circuit board <NUM>, is coupled to the spindle by means of a gear assembly <NUM>, <NUM>. The motor is also provided with a transmission <NUM>.

Frame <NUM> is provided with an actuator arm <NUM> which extends through a slot <NUM> of printed circuit board <NUM>. Sensors <NUM>, <NUM> for the purpose of controlling the motor are provided at the ends of slot <NUM>. The distance between the locations of the sensors corresponds to the distance the lock-in members <NUM> move.

Lock-in assembly <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG> in greater detail) comprises a frame, i.e. a frame part <NUM>, and a displacing member, i.e. a moving part <NUM>. Frame part <NUM> serves for the purpose of arranging lock-in assembly <NUM> in column body <NUM>. The frame part comprises a vertical element <NUM> with supports <NUM>, <NUM>' extending therefrom for supporting a lower side of a substantially C-shaped frame element <NUM>. Situated on the upper side of vertical element <NUM> are substantially horizontally arranged supports <NUM>, <NUM>' for forming a connection to substantially the upper side of the substantially C-shaped frame element <NUM>.

The substantially C-shaped frame element <NUM> has two lock-in member guide openings <NUM>, <NUM>' arranged respectively on the lower side and the upper side. The strength of a locking is realized by the lock-in member <NUM> engaging in the closed situation on both the lower guide opening <NUM> and the upper guide opening <NUM>'. The locking is further improved in that the lock-in member engages in the closed situation on guide openings <NUM>, <NUM>' of fixation element <NUM>.

Provided for co-action with the lock-in assembly fixation member <NUM> are coupling slots <NUM>, <NUM>' which co-act with coupling protrusions <NUM> thereof. Also provided are guide grooves <NUM>, <NUM>' for co-action with guide edges <NUM> arranged on the inner side of walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the column body.

Vertical element <NUM>, a vertical part of the C-shaped element, supports <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>, <NUM>' form in top view a guide channel for a vertical element <NUM> of the moving part <NUM>. This vertical element <NUM> has a stop <NUM> protrusion which for the purpose of assembly can be moved or pressed aside by means of a bridge <NUM>. This stop protrusion <NUM> co-acts with stop spaces <NUM>, <NUM>' of supports <NUM>', <NUM>'.

The moving part <NUM> also comprises an arm <NUM> which is horizontal during use and has a mounting block <NUM> with an opening <NUM> for holding lock-in member <NUM>. The moving part comprises a coupling protrusion <NUM> at the bottom and a coupling opening <NUM> at the top. A coupling protrusion <NUM> of a moving part arranged higher in the column body co-acts when assembled with a coupling opening <NUM> of an adjacent moving part arranged in lower position. Coupling protrusion <NUM> of the lower moving part in a column body co-acts with opening <NUM>' of drive member <NUM>. It is envisaged in alternative manner that a coupling opening <NUM> can co-act with a drive assembly arranged above the column.

The control assemblies arranged on the underside of the column each have an outer housing <NUM> and a frame <NUM> arranged inside this outer housing. This frame serves to support the components of the control assemblies and for coupling thereof to column body <NUM> by means of the described means <NUM>, <NUM> and opening <NUM>'. The outer housing is slidable forward off the frame <NUM> and has for this purpose an open rear side not visible during use. A fixation bolt <NUM> co-acting with an opening (not shown) in the underside of the outer housing serves for fixation of the outer housing.

<FIG> shows frame <NUM> for the hand-operated variant which has a cylinder housing <NUM> for placing therein of the cylinder lock <NUM> with a cylinder housing <NUM>. This cylinder housing has a rotation-limiting protrusion <NUM> on the underside thereof for co-action with a rotation-limiting slot <NUM> on the underside of cylinder housing <NUM> of the frame. Arranged substantially close to the rear side of cylinder housing <NUM> are two throughfeed channels <NUM> for placing therethrough fixation parts <NUM>, <NUM>' of a mounting spring <NUM>. When mounting spring <NUM> is arranged with fixation parts <NUM>, <NUM>' in throughfeed channels <NUM>, the cylinder lock can be placed and immediately fixed by sliding the cylinder housing in the cylinder housing. During this operation the chamfered spring-displacing surfaces <NUM> urge the fixation parts <NUM>, <NUM>' of the spring outward, wherein fixation parts <NUM>, <NUM>', when slid further, snap into the respective slots of the cylinder housing to complete the mounting of the cylinder locks. The cylinder locks can then only be removed after removal of the outer housing and after the fixation parts <NUM>, <NUM>' held under bias have been urged apart mechanically. Hereby realized is that cylinders can be easily placed and can be replaced or exchanged as required.

The control assembly according to <FIG> also comprises a drive member <NUM> for driving the lock-in assembly by means of coupling to protrusion <NUM>' of the lower moving part <NUM> by means of opening <NUM>'. Drive member <NUM> is connected for this purpose to handle <NUM> by means of a coupling frame <NUM>. When the key of the cylinder lock is rotated the cylinder actuator <NUM> is retracted, whereby drive member <NUM> can move freely up and downward. Push spring <NUM> then pushes frame part <NUM>' downward in the direction of arrow A, whereby the lock-in assemblies open and each respective lock-in member moves downward. This movement is braked by the rotating decelerating assembly <NUM> which is coupled by means of a gear wheel to a linear toothing (not shown) on drive member <NUM>. When handle <NUM> is moved manually upward, the assembly moves in the direction of arrow A' and the spring is once again placed under bias.

Within the understanding of the skilled person and in the context of the present invention a uni-body is a fused unit which cannot be separated into individual mountable components.

Claim 1:
Spectacle frame presentation device (<NUM>) for presenting spectacle frames in a predetermined number of presentation positions in a presentation environment, such as in a shop or at a fair, wherein the device (<NUM>) is suitable for an attractive presentation and easy removability of the spectacle frame, the device (<NUM>) comprising:
- a column body (<NUM>) wherein the column body (<NUM>) has an elongate form and in a position of use has a relatively narrow front aspect relative to a relatively wide side aspect,
- a predetermined number of recesses (<NUM>), such as cut-away portions, for forming respective presentation positions therein, wherein the recesses (<NUM>) are formed as side portions cut out of the column body (<NUM>),
- wherein the column body (<NUM>) is a uni-body, formed by means of manufacturing processes for forming an internal space,
wherein the column body is formed by means of an extrusion process, preferably from a metal suitable therefor such as aluminium or a plastic suitable therefor, and
wherein the recesses (<NUM>) are manufactured by means of milling, sawing or cutting.