EP1057071A1

EP1057071A1 - Eyeglasses with metal wire frame

Info

Publication number: EP1057071A1
Application number: EP99908807A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Silvio Vecellio Reane
Original assignee: ALLISON SpA
Current assignee: ALLISON SpA
Priority date: 1998-02-17
Filing date: 1999-01-20
Publication date: 2000-12-06
Also published as: WO1999042890A1; ITPD980032A1; AU2828999A

Abstract

Eyeglasses (10) comprising lenses (11), along whose rim there is a groove (16), a frame (12) which has parts shaped complementarily to the grooves, and temples (14). The frame (12) is constituted by a single metal wire (17) which is shaped so as to run along the grooves (16) formed in the lenses. The wire (17) forms eyelets (22) in an outward region, each eyelet constituting a hinge component (15) for the articulation of the temples (14).

Description

EYEGLASSES WITH METAL WIRE FRAME Technical Field

The present invention relates to eyeglasses with metal wire frame. Background Art

It is well-known that currently commercially available eyeglasses have frames made using a wide variety of shapes, materials and models.

Rimless frame eyeglasses are currently very popular; they are characterized in that the frame is practically invisible since it is reduced to a simple set of connections between the lenses, the temples and the bridge. in these eyeglasses, said simple connections are obtained by using suitably shaped metal wire: spring steel, titanium or other metals having eguivalent characteristics are usually used.

Unfortunately, these eyeglasses entail an unpleasant drawback related to the assembly of the various components, which usually requires the provision of holes on each lens, at the region for connection to the temple and blending with a groove.

In this manner, assembly is performed by means of screws: the shank of each one of the screws passes in succession through one of the holes and an eyelet formed with a portion of wire which is rigidly coupled to the hinges or to the bridge and wound in a coil, in order to be fixed to a locking nut. Unfortunately, however, slight movements produced by the rotations of the hinges are transmitted to the screws in the course of time and accordingly tend to loosen the 2

coupling to the nut.

In this manner, the loosening of the screws causes mutual rotations of the lenses and of the parts that are rigidly coupled to the temples and/or to the bridge, making the configuration of the eyeglasses unstable.

Additionally, it must be noted that the hole formed in the lenses must be positioned perfectly, on penalty of the risk of producing defective eyeglasses in which the points for coupling to the temples and/or to the bridge are misaligned.

An attempt has been made to solve these drawbacks by providing eyeglasses with metal wire frame which are provided with lenses on each one of which there is a groove along the entire perimetric edge; the groove accommodates metal wire components which are conveniently shaped so as to form eyewires surrounding each lens, so as to constitute a sort of frame.

Eyeglasses in which the frame is constituted by the assembly of three metal wires are commercially available in this constructive type.

A first wire runs along the upper grooves of both lenses, thus forming the upper parts of the two eyewires, and an intermediate portion of the first wire forms a bridge which connects the two eyewires. In the first wire the two ends that are located at the region connecting each lens to the temples are further shaped like an eyelet.

Two second wires instead form the lower parts of the two eyewires. Each one of the second wires is shaped, starting from 3

a first end, so as to form a hook to engage a lug, a portion which occupies the lower groove of each lens, and a final portion which is claw-shaped.

The eyeglasses are assembled by turning around the first wire, proximate to the bridge between the two lenses, the hook-shaped end of each one of the second wires and then engaging each claw-shaped end thereof in the eyelets formed at the ends of the first wire.

The resulting eyeglasses do ensure effective retention of the lenses, which in fact cannot disengage from the eyewires formed by the wires, but at the same time they have the drawback that they are constituted by a plurality of components which must be appropriately associated with each other. In this case the mutual engagement of the wires so as to form the two eyewires must in fact be performed simultaneously with the placement of each lens and accordingly requires rather troublesome operations. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide eyeglasses with a metal wire frame which can be produced with a simpler structural configuration than conventional types.

Within the scope of this aim, a particular object of the present invention is to provide eyeglasses with a metal wire frame whose components can be assembled very easily and quickly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide eyeglasses with a metal wire frame which can be obtained at very low costs with respect to currently available 4 eyeglasses.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide eyeglasses which can be manufactured in practice without requiring any particular process or the use of special tools.

Another object of the present invention is to provide eyeglasses which do not require the provision of holes in the lenses or the execution of welds.

This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by eyeglasses comprising lenses, along the rim of which there is a groove, a frame which has parts shaped complementarily to said grooves, and temples, characterized in that said frame is constituted by a single metal wire which is shaped so as to run along said grooves formed in the lenses, said wire forming eyelets in an outward region, each eyelet constituting a hinge component for the articulation of the temples. Brief Description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of eyeglasses according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the eyeglasses according to the invention during preassembly;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the detail shown in Figure 2 during assembly;

Figure 4 is a side view of the detail of Figure 3; 5

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of the eyeglasses of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top view of the detail of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the detail of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a detail of the eyeglasses according to the invention;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a different embodiment of a detail of eyeglasses according to the invention.

Ways of carrying out the Invention

With particular reference to figures 1 to 8 , a pair of eyeglasses according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises lenses 11 supported by a frame which is generally designated by the reference numeral 12, forms two eyewires 13 and is associated with temples 14 in hinges 15.

A groove 16 is formed in each lens 11 along the entire rim.

The frame 12 is a single piece of metal wire 17 which is shaped appropriately with a symmetrical configuration and has, starting from each end 18, a hook 19 and a U- shaped bend 20.

Continuing along the wire 17 from each end 18, the wire has a lower portion 21 which is conveniently shaped so as to run along the corresponding groove 16 of each lens 11 and thus form the lower part of the eyewire 13, and then form a first eyelet 22 proximate to the region for coupling to the hinge 15.

In particular, the first eyelet 22 protrudes outward 6

and lies substantially parallel to the front of the frame 12.

Continuing along the wire 17, said wire is shaped so as to have an upper portion 23 which is suitable to run along the corresponding groove 16 of the lens 11 and thus form the upper part of the eyewire 13.

The wire 17 has, in its central part, a bridge-like portion 24 for connecting the two eyewires 13 which is separated from them by means of V-shaped bends 25. The frame 12 is obtained by placing each one of the U- shaped bends 20 formed at the ends 18 that form a hook 19 so that it straddles each V-shaped bend 25 that connects the eyewires 13 and the bridge-like portion 24.

In equivalent constructive solutions it is possible to weld the wire 17 in each one of said V-shaped bends, so as to make the frame 12 even more stable.

The frame 12 is completed by twisting each one of the first eyelets 22 in the directions indicated by the arrows 26 in Figure 2 so that their plane of arrangement lies at right angles to the articulation of the hinges 15.

In order to fit each lens 11 in the frame 12 it is sufficient to conveniently widen the eyewire 13 that must support it at the only yielding point, which is constituted by said first eyelet 22. Each one of the first eyelets 22 constitutes the component of the hinge 15 that is rigidly coupled to the frame 12.

In this constructive configuration, each temple 14 is also made of metal wire and a retainer 27 protrudes monolithically from it; the retainer is formed by means of 7

a U-shaped portion which is directed inward on a plane of arrangement which is substantially parallel to the front of the frame 12.

Continuing along its extension, the end of the U- shaped portion is shaped so as to form a second eyelet 28 which lies at right angles to the articulation of the hinge

15 and is therefore parallel to the first eyelet 22, constituting the second component of the hinge 15.

The hinge is obtained, in this embodiment, through the assembly ensured by a screw 29 which has an enlarged head 30 and a shank 31 by means of which it engages so as to pass in succession through the second eyelet 28, a washer 32, the first eyelet 22 and then engage a female component 33. The female component has a bush-shaped body which forms an enlarged head 34 and an internally threaded seat 35 whose dimensions are complementary to those of the shank 31.

In this manner, in the hinge 15 the first eyelet 22 is in effect interposed between the two wings of the retainer 27.

In particular, the shank 31 has, at its tip, a V- shaped recess 36 by means of which it is possible to perform riveting or punching after it has engaged the seat 35, taking care to make the tip protrude from the head 34 of the female component 33.

In this manner, the tip of the shank 31, by deforming, widens and prevents any disengagement of the screw 29.

Usually, in order to assemble the eyeglasses 10 the lenses 11 are prepared in the eyewires 13 and then the 8

screws 29 are engaged in order to form the hinges 15.

Finally, in order to complete the eyeglasses 10 described with the present invention, a nose pad 37 is associated on each hook-shaped end 19 for resting the eyeglasses on the user's nose.

In practice it has been observed that the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and all its objects.

An important advantage is achieved in that eyeglasses with a metal wire frame have been provided which can be produced in an extremely simple manner by means of a single appropriately shaped metal wire which forms the lens supporting eyewires and the means for engaging the hinges of the temples and the bridge. Another advantage is achieved with the present invention in that eyeglasses have been provided which have an extremely simple structural configuration.

Another important advantage is achieved in view of the fact that eyeglasses with a metal wire frame have been devised which can be manufactured in practice without any special process and with extremely low costs with respect to conventional eyeglasses.

Another object of the present invention is that eyeglasses have been provided for which the operations for assembling the lenses to the temples can be performed very rapidly.

The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept. With particular reference to Figure 9, eyeglasses 9

according to the invention have, in this case, hinges 115 which are interposed between temples 111 and a frame which is fully equivalent to the preceding frame 12 and, like the preceding frame, is obtained by means of a metal wire 117 which is shaped conveniently so as to form two eyewires and forms, at each region where the lenses are connected to the temples 111, a first eyelet, now designated by the reference numeral 122.

The temple 111 has, in a manner which is fully similar to the previously described temple 11, a retainer 127 which is obtained by means of a U-shaped portion directed inward with a plane of arrangement which is substantially parallel to the front of the frame.

The end of the U-shaped portion is contoured so as to form a second eyelet 128 which is parallel to the first eyelet 122 and which, like said eyelet, has a plane of arrangement which is perpendicular to the articulation of the hinge 115.

The hinge 115 is obtained through the assembly ensured by a screw 129 whose shank 130 passes in succession through a first bush 131, the second eyelet 128, a washer 132, the first eyelet 122 and a second bush 133 and is then finally fixed in a lock nut 134.

In this hinge 115, the first and second bushes 131 and 133 in effect prevent the mutual rotations of the temple 111 and the frame from being transmitted to the screw 129, which might loosen its coupling with respect to the nut 134.

All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 10

The materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD98A000032 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

11CLAIMS

1. Eyeglasses comprising lenses, along whose rim there is a groove, a frame which has parts shaped complementarily to said grooves, and temples, characterized in that said frame is constituted by a single metal wire which is shaped so as to run along said grooves formed in the lenses, said wire forming eyelets in an outward region, each eyelet constituting a hinge component for the articulation of the temples.

2. Eyeglasses with metal wire frame according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of said eyelets is formed with said wire arranged at right angles to the articulation of each hinge.

3. Eyeglasses with metal wire frame according to claim 2, characterized in that said wire has, proximate to each one of its ends, a U-shaped bend which is suitable to be arranged so as to straddle at a portion of the same wire which connects upper portions of the grooves of the two lenses.

4. Eyeglasses with metal wire frame according to claim 3, characterized in that each end of said wire is shaped like a hook and is adapted to engage a nose pad.

5. Eyeglasses with metal wire frame according to claim 4, characterized in that each one of said eyelets is interposed between a portion of said wire which is shaped so as to run along the lower portion of the groove of a lens and a portion of the same wire which is shaped so as to run along the upper portion of the groove of the same lens. 12

6. Eyeglasses with metal wire frame according to claim 5, characterized in that said wire is shaped so as to have a bridge-like portion which connects said portions shaped so as to run along the upper portions of the grooves of the lenses, said bridge-like portion being separated from them by means of V-shaped bends.

7. Eyeglasses with metal wire frame according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of the hinges for association with the temples has a screw whose shank passes through a first eyelet and a second eyelet, which are rigidly coupled to the frame and to said temple respectively, before engaging a complementarily threaded seat of a bush-shaped female component.

8. Eyeglasses with metal wire frame according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of the hinges for association with the temples has a screw whose shank passes through a first bush, a first eyelet which is rigidly coupled to the frame, a washer, a second eyelet which is rigidly coupled to the temple, and a second bush before screwing into a nut.

9. Eyeglasses according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said screw has, on the tip of its shank, a V-shaped recess for punching it.