Title: Eyeglass frame, a hinge, an eyeglass and a method of manufacturing a hinge
Abstract: An eyeglass frame comprises a frame front, a pair of temple bars and a hinge for each temple bar to provide a pivotal connection. The hinge comprises a coil winding of a resilient wire integral with the temple bar and a body with a threaded groove integral with the other one of the frame front or temple bar. The body comprises friction material and the coil is adapted for cooperating and pretensioned engagement with the body in order to provide a pivotal connection with a controlled friction resistance to turning of the pivot. The invention a so provides a hinge, an eyeglass and a method of manufacturing a hinge.
Patent Number: 6,948,811 Issued on 09/27/2005 to Kroman
| Inventors:
|
Kroman; Flemming (Brabrand, DK)
|
| Assignee:
|
Lindberg A/S (Åbyhøj, DK)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
476087 |
| Filed:
|
April 27, 2001 |
| PCT Filed:
|
April 27, 2001
|
| PCT NO:
|
PCT/DK01/00285
|
| 371 Date:
|
October 27, 2003
|
| 102(e) Date:
|
October 27, 2003
|
| PCT PUB.NO.:
|
WO02/08882 |
| PCT PUB. Date:
|
November 7, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
351/153; 16/228 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G02C 005/22 |
| Field of Search: |
351/153,110,111,113,114,41
16/228
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5684559 | Nov., 1997 | Lin.
| |
| 5880807 | Mar., 1999 | Devercelli.
| |
| 5903332 | May., 1999 | Devercelli.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| WO 97/2380/3 | Jul., 1997 | WO.
| |
| WO 98/4077/8 | Sep., 1998 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Dang; Hung Xuan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wray; James Creighton, Narasimhan; Meera P.
Parent Case Text
This application claims the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/DK01/00285 filed
Apr. 27, 2001.
Claims
1. An eyeglass frame apparatus comprising a frame front, a pair of temple bars,
hinges for each temple bar pivotally connecting a respective temple bar with the
frame front, each hinge comprising a coil winding of a resilient wire and a body
with a threaded groove, the body comprising a hollow member fitted about a hard
core comprising a strip of metal extending from a frame end, the body comprising
material with frictional properties, the coil comprising a winding of an end section
of the wire, and a pivot connection between the coil and the body enabling a pretensioned
engagement of the coil with the body and providing a controlled friction resistance
to turning of the pivot.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil winding with the resilient wire
is integral with the frame front.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil winding with the resilient wire
is integral with the temple bar.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body with the threaded groove is integral
with the frame front.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body with the threaded groove is integral
with the temple bar.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an abutment and an end face of
the coil wire cooperating with the abutment for constraining the turning of the pivot.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threaded grove comprises at least one
full revolution.
8. A hinge apparatus for connecting a temple bar to an eyeglass frame comprising
a coil winding of a resilient wire integral with the temple bar, a body with a
threaded groove integral with the frame front, the body comprising a hollow member
fitted about a hard core comprising a strip of metal extending from a frame end,
the body comprising material with friction properties, the coil comprising a winding
of an end section of the wire of the temple bar, and a pivot connection be ween
the coil and the body enabling a pretensioned engagement of the coil with the body
for providing a pivotal connection with a controlled friction resistance to turning
of the pivot.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an abutment and an end face of
the coil wire cooperating with the abutment for constraining the turning of the pivot.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the threaded groove comprises at least
one full revolution.
11. An eyeglass apparatus comprising an eyeglass frame front, a pair of glasses
mounted on said frame front, a pair of temple bars, a hinge for each temple bar
pivotally connecting a respective temple bar with said frame front, the hinge comprising
a coil winding of a resilient wire integral with the temple bar and a body with
a threaded groove integral with the frame front, the body comprising a hollow member
fitted about a hard core comprising a strip of metal extending from a frame end,
the body comprising material with frictional properties, the coil comprising a
winding of an end section of the wire of the temple bar, and a pivot connection
between the coil and the body enabling a pretensioned engagement of the coil with
the body for providing a pivotal connection with a controlled friction resistance
to the turning of the pivot.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an abutment and an end face
of the coil wire cooperating with the abutment for constraining the turning of
the pivot.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the threaded groove comprises at least
one full revolution.
14. A method of manufacturing a hinge for linking a temple bar to a front of
an eyeglass frame, comprising the steps of:
providing a coil winding of a resilient wire integral with the temple bar,
providing a body with a threaded groove integral with the frame front, wherein
the body comprises material having frictional properties,
selecting for the body a hollow member and fitting the member about a hard core,
selecting for the core a strip of metal extending from a frame end,
providing the coil by winding an end section of the wire of the temple bar,
fitting the coil in cooperating and pretensioned engagement with the body, and
pivotally connecting the coil and the body with a controlled friction resistance
to turning of the pivot.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing an abutment, engaging
an end face of the coil wire with the abutment, and constraining the turning of pivot.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one full revolution
of the threaded groove.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an eyeglass frame, a hinge for connecting a
temple bar to an eyeglass frame, an eyeglass, and a method of manufacturing a hinge
for linking a temple bar to an eyeglass frame. In particular the invention relates
to eyeglass frames comprising hinges fitted with friction members.
As used herein the term eyeglass relates to the well known accessory which substantially
comprises two lenses of glass or of other refractive or tinted, transparent material
intended to be worn in front of the eyes of the user enabling him to obtain a corrected
or a darkened view through the glasses, and a form of spectacle frame arranged
to keep the lenses or glasses expediently fixed in the preferred position of use,
where the user can look straight forward with both eyes and with parallel lines
of sight through the respective lenses.
It is well known to provide such eyeglass frames with a frame front for holding
the glasses and with a pair of temple bars for supporting the frame, which temple
bars are connected to the frame front by means of hinges so as to allow the eyeglass
to be folded up when not in use.
Even though a variety of eyeglasses are available, development is still taking
place in order to find new solutions which might gain market shares, e.g. by offering
particular features or cost benefits or through offering new aesthetic features.
U.S. Pat. No. Re 36 882 to Lindberg et al. discloses an eyeglass frame wherein
the temple bar comprises a wire of which one end section has been wound into a
coil for providing the exterior part of a hinge. The hinge pintle comprises a straight
section of wire integral with the frame front. End sections of the pivot wire are
angled laterally so as to provide double constraints for axial movement of the
coil. This hinge design has proven successful, however, it is associated with some
aestethical and functional limitations. Thus, in this hinge the laterally angled
sections of pintle wire protrude beyond the coil which may be undesirable. Both
hinge parts comprise metal and thus the hinge operation involves metal rubbing
against metal, a combination which gives rise to wear. Thus, it is not practically
possible to make this hinge with a predetermined level of friction.
Due to the pitch in the coil the turning of the hinge is bound to be linked with
some axial displacement, thus giving rise to wear between the lateral end portions
of the pintle wire and adjacent portions of the coil. This rubbing gives rise to
friction, however, on reversing the direction of pivoting this frictions vanishes
due to play between the lateral pintle wire sections followed by restablishment
of some degree of friction against the opposite one of the lateral pintle wire
sections. Most often friction to turning of the temples vanishes quickly leading
to a not very attractive tactile feel of the parts tending to be loose.
WO 97/23803 discloses an eyeglass with hinge means comprising double concentric
coils of wire. Thus, a wide coil basically integral with the frame provides a female
thread engaged by the exterior of a narrower coil integral with temple bar. This
solution relies on wire rubbing against wire and does not permit establishing and
maintaining any predetermined level of friction in the hinge.
WO 00/29896 discloses a hinge comprising coils in respect of each of the temples
and of the frame front, which coils have generally similar diameter and pitch in
order that they may engage about a common pin with interengaging windings. In this
solution metal rubs against metal on turning the pivot with the likely result that
friction will vary over time.
WO 98/40778 discloses a hinge for an eyeglass with coils in respect of each of
the temple bars and the frame front. The coils are mutually similar and engaged
about a common pin, one coil on top of the other. The pin comprises an enlarged
head to provide axial restraint. In this coil metal rubs on metal with the likely
result that friction may vary over time. On turning of the temple bar, there is
bound to be axial movement and separation among the parts according to the pitch
of the coil. This implies that the head of the pin must allow axial play. This
does not create an optimum tactile feel. Further, the head of the pin bears on
the top most winding of one of the coils with the danger that the coil may work
its way past the head by the screwing action.
WO 99/21046 discloses a hinge for an eyeglass comprising a strip of metal wrapped
about pivot inserts of friction material. The resilient strap of metal applies
a radially directed biasing force on the friction member so as to eliminate any
play in the hinge and to establish a controlled level of friction. Only with respect
to the axial constraint there is the danger of metal rubbing against metal, however,
the axial forces are virtually nil due to the absence of coils or other factors
that might create axial displacement. This hinge is not integrated with wire components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a desire to provide eyeglass hinges with a superior tactile feel,
i.e. without any play, with a predetermined friction resistance on turning the
pivot, which friction resistance should be completely unchanged over time, i.e.
not affected by wear, or reversal of the motion, etc. There is a desire for such
hinge means in association with eyeglass frames comprising wires. There is a desire
for small and simple hinge means that permit easy adjustment of the attitude of
the hinge axis in order to permit adapting the eyeglass frame so as to have the
temple bars folded nicely together.
The invention in a first aspect provides an eyeglass frame as recited in claim 1.
This eyeglass frame offers pivoting of the temple bars with friction retention
at all positions without localized wear of the hinge means by the biasing forces
relied on for providing the friction. The biasing on the pivot eliminates any sense
of play in the hinge means. The hinge ensures accurate guidance of the temple bar
in all positions and thus creates a tactile feel of a high quality product. The
hinge does not rely on protruding parts to axially constraint the motion and thus
offers the designer all options of creating a design of his choice. The hinge may
be implemented in a very small size and thus is unobtrusive in view.
The hinge body comprises a friction material, preferably one that cooperates
well with the resilient wire.
The hinge body comprises a hollow member fitted about a hard core. This permits
combining a comparatively soft exterior capable of adapting to the coil together
with a sturdy core for structural quality.
The core comprises a strip of metal extending from the frame end while the coil
comprises one or more windings of an end section of wire of the temple bar. This
provides easy integration of the hinge components with the eyeglass frame and with
temple bar and permits easy adjustment, e.g. for achieving proper hinge alignment.
According to a preferred embodiment an end face of the coil wire cooperates
with an abutment to provide a constraint for turning of the pivot. This provides
a positive definition of the end position while the coil serves to provide a controlled
degree of resilience so as to soften the impact on the abutment and so as to provide
a comfortable operation. Preferably the abutment restraints the outward motion
of the temple bar. In the opposite direction, i.e. in folding the temple bar against
the eyeglass frame rear side, no further abutment is required.
Preferably the threaded groove comprises at least one full revolution
in order to allow a secure retention by the coil and in order to ensure equal distribution
of the forces affecting the hinge body.
The invention in a second aspect provides a hinge as recited in claim 4.
This hinge is simple in manufacturing and easily combines with various types of
eyeglass frames, in particular eyeglass frames with wire temple bars. This hinge
also achieves the advantages enumerated above.
Advantageous embodiments appear from the claims dependent from claim 4.
The invention in a third aspect provides an eyeglass as recited in claim 7.
This provides an eyeglass with a high quality hinge that creates a high quality
tactile feel and operation and that is completely stable in operation over long
time spans. This eyeglass achieves the advantages enumerated above. Advantageous
embodiments appear from the claims dependent from claim 7.
The invention in a fourth aspect provides a method of manufacturing a hinge according
to claim 10. This provides a simple method of manufacturing a high quality
hinge that easily integrates with the eyeglass frame front and with the temple
bars. This method permits easy adaptation of hinge qualities such as a hinge attitude
and friction retention.
Preferred embodiments of this method appear from the dependent method claims.
When fitting a hollow member about a hard core, the components should be matched
to achieve a positive retention with no possibility of mutual rotation. This may
be achieved by various methods known in the art such as by including resiliently
tensioned elements and by providing barbs and cooperating recesses or by other means.
Further features and advantages of the invention will appear in further detail
from the description of advantageous embodiments given below with reference to
the drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of part of an eyeglass as seen from the front,
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of part of an eyeglass as seen from the rear,
FIG. 3 is an enlargement of a detail from FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of basic components of the hinge in assembled state,
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the components from FIG. 4,
FIG. 6 is an axial section of the hinge components shown in FIG. 4,
FIG. 7 is an enlargement of a detail from FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 is a different axial section of the hinge components shown in FIG. 4,
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing an alternative embodiment of
the hinge,
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a detail from FIG. 8, and
FIGS. 11
a-11
g depicts a component of the hinge in a set
of views from all sides as well as in sections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
All figures are schematic and not necessarily to scale and show only details
essential for enabling those skilled in the art to practice the invention, while
other details are omitted for the sake of clarity. In all figures the same references
are used about identical or similar items.
Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which shows part of an eyeglass
1,
said part basically comprising one glass
2, one hinge
5 and part
of the eyeglass frame front
4 as well as part of the temple bar
7.
The complete eyeglass
1 generally comprises frame
3 and glasses
2,
the frame being constituted by frame front
4, temple bars
7 and hinges
5. The complete eyeglass has not been illustrated as the completion of the
details shown and explained so as to implement the eyeglass is considered to lie
wholly within the capabilities of those skilled in the art.
As may be seen in FIGS. 1,
2 and
3, the hinge
5 basically
comprises temple coil
8, pivot core
13 and body or barrel
16.
In the embodiment shown in Figures the temple bar
7 comprises a piece
of
wire, of which an end section is wound into a coil
8. This coil interacts
with the barrel
16 in order to permit swinging the temple bar from the open
position ready to use as illustrated in the Figures and into the folded position
where the temple bar is situated closely against the rear side of the eyeglass
frame
3 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
On swinging outward the temple bar
7, one coil end face
9 strikes
on abutment
15 which provides a positive stop for the movement.
The coil winding of a resilient wire may be integrated with one of the frame
front or the temple bar. The body with a threaded groove may be integral with the
other one of the frame front or the temple bar.
The barrel
16 is fitted about pivot core
13 which is integral with
a structural member referred to as the hinge base
10. Hinge base
10
is an elongated member connected to an extension
6 of the frame front
4
by any means as known to those skilled in the art, e.g. by gluing, casting, or
press fitting.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 and 5 for an explanation of further details
concerning the hinge and in particular concerning hinge base
10.
As will be evident from FIGS. 4 and 5, the hinge base
10 comprises a piece
of material which as been cut and bent into the shape illustrated in FIGS. 4 and
5. The hinge base
10 comprises a lug
11 adapted for being integrated
into the frame front entension (refer also to FIG.
3). The hinge base
10
further comprises arm
12 with an extension bent in order to provide the
pivot core
13.
In order to assemble the parts, the barrel
16 is fitted about the pivot
core
13, and the temple coil
8 is fitted about the barrel
16.
As an alternative, the temple coil may be fitted about the barrel and the combination
subsequently fitted about the pivot core. Fitting of the lug
11 into the
frame front extension may be undertaken prior to the assembly of the hinge or subsequent
to the assembly of the hinge as is considered convenient.
Reference is now made to FIG. 11 for a description of the barrel
16.
FIG. 11 shows a barrel according to a first embodiment in views from above, from
below, from the front, from the side, in sections with the lines A—A and
B—B and in isometric view. As will appear the barrel basically comprises
a member with an axial opening
17 and with an exterior thread comprising
groove
19 and ridge
20. The groove
19 is rounded with a shape
adapted to match the windings of the temple coil. The thread basically comprises
about 2½ full revolutions. The thread defines axis
25 which is the
hinge axis.
The axial opening
17 has a rectangular section. Adjacent the top the recess
is widened to etablish ledges
21. In the barrel lower portion there is a
rounded recess
18 to one side.
In other embodiments the axial opening
17 may have a uniform cross section
outwardly, i.e. without the ledge
21.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 6 and 7 which illustrate a section through
the hinge. Thus, these figures show barrel
16 fitted about pivot core
13
and supporting the temple coil
8.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pivot core
13 comprises
barbs
14. On fitting the barrel on the pivot core these barbs form indentations
in the barrel opening and thus provide retention of the barrel.
Prior to assembly the temple coil is wound to a diameter somewhat smaller than
that of the barrel exterior in order that the temple coil is resiliently expanded
on fitting the coil about the barrel. Thus the temple coil serves to secure the
barrel against the pivot core and the barbs.
The resilient tension of the temple coil serves to ensure a good grip with no
play in the hinge, with accurate control of the temple attitude in all directions
and with a stable degree of friction resistance in turning the pivot.
As may be seen in FIGS. 6,
7 and
8 the pivot core
13 does
not protrude above the barrel
16. At the hinge lower portion, the bend connecting
the arm
12 with the pivot core
13 is completely concealed in the
recess
18 in order that the lower side of the arm
12 is flush with
the lower side of the barrel
16. Thus, the pivot components are virtually
completely concealed by the temple coil.
In opening the temple bar
7 the temple coil end face
9 engages
abutment
15 which basically is a face on the arm
12 (refer FIG.
3).
Preferably these cooparating faces are both planar and oriented along the axis
of the hinge. This provides the advantage that the temple coil end face rests solidly
against the abutment with no bias tending to displace the temple coil end face
from the abutment and thus no tendency to distort the components.
Preferably the temple wire comprises a titanium wire with round cross
section. A titanium wire of a diameter of 1.1 mm has been found well suited. The
hinge base
10 may comprise a piece of titanium that has been stamped and
bent into the shape illustrated.
The barrel may comprise a hard polymer such as polyacetal with reinforcements
of carbon fibres or glass fibres. Admixings of polytetraflour ethylene may be used
for superior sliding properties. A polymer named RTP 881 TFE 10 DEL Acetal Homopolymer
Carbon Fiber PTFE Lubricated from RTP Company, Winona, Minn. USA, has been found
well suited. Other types of suitable materials are a polymere A3WC4 from BASF in
germany or. RMKU 2-2511 from Bayer Corporation in Germany.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 9 and 10 for illustration of a barrel according
to a second embodiment.
In the second embodiment the barrel
22 inside the axial opening
17
comprises an internal bead
23 adapted for cooperation with a neck
24
on the pivot core
13 so as to provide retention of the barrel on the pivot
core. Other details are similar to those of the first embodiment.
Although specific embodiments have been explained above for the illucidation
of the invention, these embodiments are in no way considered to limit the scope
of the invention which may be varied in many ways by one skilled in the art within
the scope of the appended claims.
*
