Patent ID: 7422323

Claim:
A hinge system for eyewear with a lens frame and a pair of temples on lateral ends of said lens frame, said hinge system comprising: a pivotable hinge element for connecting one of said pair of temples to a corresponding one of said lateral ends of said lens frame, said pivotable hinge element having one end pivotably connected to said lateral end of said lens frame and an other end arranged to allow said temple to be pivotably moved between a wearing position wherein said temple is opened and a folded position wherein said temple is closed; a first magnet provided in said lateral end of said lens frame and having a confronting surface; and a second magnet provided in said pivotable hinge element and having a confronting surface, said confronting surfaces of said first and second magnets being arranged to face against each other when said temple is in said wearing position, said confronting surfaces of said first and second magnets having an identical polarity, so that said first and second magnets are operatively associated to urge said temple toward said folded position when said temple is moved to said wearing position.