ES2299399A1 - Connecting mechanism for accessories of glasses and spectacle frames, includes magnet that defines magnetic axis, where out-of-parallelism anchor point of magnet is provided as magnetic axis, which has another magnet - Google Patents

Abstract

The connecting mechanism includes a magnet that defines a magnetic axis. An out-of-parallelism anchor point of the magnet is provided as the magnetic axis, which has another magnet. A retention unit is provided for covering an area of support, which forms an angle of less than ninety degrees with the magnetic axis.

Description

Connection mechanism for glasses and accessories corresponding glasses frame.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a mechanism of connection for glasses accessories and to a frame of glasses that It has a connection mechanism for eyewear accessories.

State of the art

It is known to fix the mounts of glasses some accessories, such as related items with mobile telephony (microphones, headphones, etc.), visors or protectors, devices for detecting states of drowsiness (for example, while driving, while driving of dangerous machinery, etc.), etc. These accessories are fixed to the glasses by means of encircling mechanisms or similar more or less sophisticated that, however, all have a series of inconvenience On the one hand it is usually difficult to fix the accessory to the mount while the user is wearing the mount since usually requires precise positioning of various accessory elements, which is difficult to do without being Looking at the accessory. On the other hand, curling usually requires perform a certain force, which is usually also difficult to do if the user is wearing the mount. Additionally, in the in case the frame wears some lenses with a certain prescription, there is the paradox that the user must see well to attach the attachment to the mount and, however, must be removed the glasses to be able to mount it. In general, the use of both hands, and a certain manual ability. Finally, it is not easy to remove the accessory with one hand and without taking off your glasses, thing that it would be highly desirable to be able to do it, for example, while driving

Examples of these connection mechanisms are can be found in documents FR 2,452,121, US 3,721,490 and WO 05/01/1983.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims to overcome these inconvenience This purpose is achieved through a mechanism of connection of the type indicated at the beginning characterized by it comprises: [a] a magnet, where the magnet defines a magnetic axis, [b] a misaligned anchor point of the magnet along the magnetic axis, and [c] retention means comprising a support surface which forms an angle less than 90º with the magnetic axis.

Effectively the mechanism according to the invention allows to solve all the above inconveniences. He Having a magnet allows simple assembly and not requires high precision, since the attractive strength of the magnet exerts a "self-centering" function, that is, during the approach of the attachment to the mount, the magnet will exert a force that will tend, on its own, to center it on the surface That corresponds to him. This surface can be a material ferromagnetic although preferably it will be another magnet.

The attachment could be attached to the mount by a single magnet and nothing else. However, in many cases this type of joint would not prevent the accessory from rotating on itself in the direction of the magnetic axis of the magnet. While in some cases This may be irrelevant, usually this will not be admissible. By the mechanism according to the invention comprises, additionally, a misaligned anchor point of the magnet according to the magnetic axis of it. Sure enough, this anchor point misaligned, prevents rotation of the accessory around the shaft magnetic. This misaligned anchor point can be of various forms, for example, can be a second magnet that, preferably, It has its magnetic axis parallel to the magnetic axis of the first magnet. Another way to configure the misaligned anchor point is by means of a geometry that defines a busty or similar that defines surfaces not perpendicular to the magnetic axis. These surfaces may serve as a stop so as to prevent a turn around the magnetic axis. In this sense, preferably the misaligned anchor point comprises a conical surface, in particular a conical surface of revolution whose axis is parallel to the magnetic axis (but is displaced, that is, misaligned, with respect to the magnetic axis). Other preferred geometry of the point of misaligned anchor comprises a cylindrical surface whose Generatrix is parallel to the magnetic axis. It should be understood that both the cylindrical surface as the conical surface are in a broad sense, that is, the conical surface is a surface generated with a line that has a fixed point (the vertex of the cone) and that runs a straight line, broken and / or any curve, while the cylindrical surface is a generated surface with a line that runs through another straight, broken and / or curved line anyone staying parallel to herself. Both surfaces conical like cylindrical surfaces can be protruding, Starters, or even a combination of both.

The mechanism also includes means of retention. Indeed, the fixation by means of a magnet has the drawback that it is inefficient to avoid displacements in direction perpendicular to the magnetic axis of the magnet (as it is not very effective to avoid turning around the magnetic axis of the magnet, as previously stated). Therefore the mechanism must have a means of retention that avoid these movements in direction perpendicular to the magnetic axis of the magnet, which is achieved by providing the mechanism with retention means that they comprise a support surface that forms an angle less than 90º With the magnetic axis. Indeed, this support surface may exert resistance forces perpendicular to the axis magnetic that avoid perpendicular displacements to the axis Magnetic magnet Preferably the mechanism is designed of such that the anchor point and retention means are a  same thing, that is, the same geometric element that meets both  functions. Thus, for example, a circular cylindrical or conical nipple, with its axis parallel to the magnetic axis (and misaligned thereof), they can simultaneously fulfill both functions if they are embedded in adequate accommodation.

In short, the connection mechanism could have only one magnet and nothing else. However, the accessory could rotate along the magnetic axis and a jolt (or your own force of gravity) could move the accessory in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic axis. This solution is, so So much unsatisfactory. To prevent the accessory from rotating around the magnetic axis it is necessary to provide the mechanism of connection of a misaligned anchor point with the magnet according to the magnetic axis, that is, that the anchor point is not on the magnetic axis or that does not have a geometry of revolution with respect to the magnetic axis. This anchor point can be a Second magnet The second magnet would prevent the rotation of the accessory and, in addition, it facilitates the self-centering of the mechanism again, that is,  when mounting the mechanism on the spectacle frame, it will tend to position correctly thanks to the attractive forces of The magnets. However, if the connection mechanism has only the two magnets, there is still the possibility that the accessory moves perpendicularly with respect to the axis magnetic. To correct this problem, it could be replaced by For example, the second magnet by a stud, stem or the like. This bumper will prevent the rotation of the accessory, and also prevent perpendicular displacements to the magnetic axis. However, yes The connection mechanism has only one magnet and one stud (or similar) mounting the mechanism on the mount is no longer as simple as it is necessary to position the pin in the corresponding housing. The optimal solution is to have two magnets not aligned in the mechanism and, additionally, surfaces that prevent displacement of the accessory (and that make up the means of retention). These surfaces can be those of a stem, busty or similar that combines both effects (the one to avoid the turn and the one of avoid displacement).

In general the connection mechanism is a part of a connection set for eyewear accessories consisting of two parts A first part will correspond to the mechanism indicated above, while the second part will be "the negative "of the first part. That is, the second part will be the that has a ferromagnetic material opposite to the magnet and, if it is the case, to the second magnet, where the ferromagnetic material can be replaced by another magnet. The second part will also be the one have, if necessary, a suitable geometry to fit with the anchor misaligned and / or with the retention means. Said of otherwise, the second part will be complementary to the first part. One of the two parts will be attached to the accessory, while the other of the two parts will be fixed to the frame of the glasses. Preferably the part that is fixed to the frame of the glasses it will be as small as possible and will be integrated into the design of the mount, so that the mount can be carried without any accessory without presenting an unpleasant aesthetic effect. From done, if the second part also has a magnet, both parties will be, each separately, an agreement mechanism with the invention

The object of the invention is also a spectacle frame, comprising two rods, where at least one of the rods comprises, in turn, a connection mechanism according to the invention. Another possible solution consists of a glasses frame, comprising two rods, where one of the rods comprises, in turn, the second part of a set of connection, in case the connection set is formed by the mechanism according to the invention and by a second part that is the "negative" mechanism.

When the mechanism is integrated in a rod, the misaligned anchor point advantageously comprises an entrant at least partially conical, where preferably this entree is conical of revolution with an axis parallel to the axis magnetic. Alternatively the misaligned anchor point can comprise an at least partially cylindrical inlet whose Generatrix is parallel to the magnetic axis. These geometries are particularly easy to manufacture (either by injection, by mechanized, or by other means) and are easier to hide aesthetically that in the case of conical and / or cylindrical surfaces outgoing

Preferably the rod comprises a housing, suitable for housing the magnet, and a bezel, preferably of ferromagnetic material, which has a opening and that is suitable to be mounted on the housing of so that the opening faces the housing. This so the magnet is retained between the rod and the trim No need to be glued.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features of the invention they are appreciated from the following description, in which, without no limitation, preferential modes of embodiment of the invention, mentioning the drawings that are accompany. The figures show:

Fig. 1, an exploded perspective view, of a device for the detection of drowsiness states.

Figs. 2 and 2A, top floor views and bottom of the device housing of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, a view in longitudinal section, according to line III-III, of the device housing Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5, views in plan and elevation front of a battery compartment cover of the device Fig. 1.

Fig. 6, a longitudinal section view, according to line VI-VI, of the lid of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7, a perspective view of the cover of Fig. 4.

Figs. 8 and 9, views in plan and elevation front of a magnet of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10, a perspective view of the magnet of the Fig. 8.

Figs. 11 and 12, an exploded view, in view side and perspective, respectively, of a flashlight or point of light according to the invention.

Figs. 13 and 14, views in plan and elevation side of the flashlight front cover of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15, a longitudinal section view, according to line XV-XV, of the front cover of the Fig. 13.

Fig. 16, a perspective view of the lid front of Fig. 13.

Figs. 17 and 18, views in plan and elevation side of the back cover of the flashlight of Fig. 11.

Fig. 19, a longitudinal section view, according to line XIX-XIX, of the back cover of the Fig. 17.

Fig. 20, a cross-sectional view, according to line XX-XX, of the back cover of Fig. 17.

Fig. 21, a perspective view of the lid rear of Fig. 17.

Figs. 22 and 23, a plan and elevation view front of a spectacle frame rod according to the invention.

Fig. 24, a cross-sectional view, according to line XXIV-XXIV, of the rod of Fig. 22

Fig. 25, the view of Fig. 24 including the corresponding accessory

Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

In Figs. 1 to 10 a first example is shown of embodiment of a glasses accessory with a mechanism of connection according to the invention. The accessory is a device for the detection of drowsiness states.

The device comprises a housing 5 in which inside a sensor element, a battery and an element are housed emitter of an alarm sound, not shown in Figs. Understands, in addition, regulation means 7 and a switch 9, among others elements. The device is closed by a set consisting of a first cover 11 and a second cover 13. Additionally, the device has a placket 15 to access the compartment of the drums.

Both the housing 5 and the placket 15 have, each of them, a U-shaped partition 17 lying down, whose free end has a widening 19. Inside the U it can accommodate a magnet 21 that has a cross section substantially H-shaped, so that the soul 23 of the H fits into the gap left by the widening 19.

In this exemplary embodiment, the two magnets make up two anchor points misaligned with each other (with respect to the magnetic axis 24 of the magnets), and the part of the H protruding from partition 17 simultaneously forms a partially cylindrical surface 25 whose generatrix is parallel to magnetic axis 24 of the magnets and a support surface 27 that it forms an angle less than 90º with the magnetic axis 24. That is, the same surface simultaneously fulfills the functions of anchor point and retention means. In fact, the point of anchor simultaneously presents a second magnet 29 and a surface  cylindrical 25 which is the side surface of the magnet 29 itself.

A second is shown in Figures 11 to 21 exemplary embodiment of a glasses accessory with a connection mechanism according to the invention. In this case the Accessory is a small flashlight or point of light. Flashlight it comprises a reflector 31, an LED 33, an aluminum tube 35 that conforms the flashlight body, a support 37 for the reflector 31 and LED 33, a front cover 39, a rear cover 41, a switch mechanism 43, an insulating element 45 and batteries 47

As regards the connection mechanism, the solution that shows the flashlight is very similar to the one presented the device of Figs. 1 to 10. In the case of the flashlight, both the front cover 39 and the rear cover 41 have, each of them, a U-shaped partition 17 lying down, whose free end It has a widening 19. Inside the U you can accommodate a magnet 21 that has a cross section substantially H-shaped, so that the soul 23 of the H fits into the gap left by the widening 19. How can see, the magnet 21 shown in Figs. 8 to 10 serves, therefore, also for the flashlight.

As in the previous example, the two magnets they form two anchor points misaligned with each other (with respect to magnetic axis 24 of the magnets), and the part of the protruding H of partition 17 simultaneously forms a partially surface cylindrical 25 whose generatrix is parallel to the magnetic axis 24 of the  magnets and a support surface 27 that forms an angle at less than 90º with the magnetic axis 24. That is, the same surface meets simultaneously with the anchor point and media functions retention. Also in this case the anchor point presents simultaneously a second magnet 29 and a cylindrical surface.

These accessories (both the device for the detection of drowsiness states like the flashlight) are, in general, known to a person skilled in the art so only the aspects have been detailed in this description related to the connection mechanism.

In Figs. 22 to 24 a rod with a connection mechanism according to the invention. Rod 51 It has a trim 53 mounted on it. Between the bezel 53 and the rod 51 forms a gap that defines a housing 55 suitable for housing a flattened magnet 57. Embellisher 53 features an opening 59 through which the magnet is directly accessible flattened 57. Embellisher 53 has a lip 61 that bends the opening 59 and which prevents the flattened magnet 57 from coming out of housing 55. Additionally, lip 61 has a internal surface 63 which is the "negative" surface cylindrical 25 and that does the same functions as the surface cylindrical 25. In the concrete example of Figs., the surface internal 63 is not cylindrical (although it could be) but has a frustoconical end and sides that are flat faces with a slight inclination Additionally, a magnet 21 has been represented arranged on top of the flattened magnet 57, in the position it will adopt once the accessory is mounted on top of the rod (the rest of the accessory has not been represented).

This construction is repeated twice along of the rod 51, so that two anchor points are defined misaligned with respect to the magnetic axis 24 of the magnets flattened 57.

When mounting one of the accessories above described on the connection mechanisms arranged on the rod 51 of Figs. 22 to 24, magnets 21, 29 will contact the flattened magnets 57, fixing the accessory to the rod 51. The attractive force between magnets 21, 29 and flattened magnets 57 will prevent the accessory from detaching in one direction perpendicular to rod 51, and will prevent the accessory from rotating about itself around one of the magnetic axes 24 of the magnets 21, 29. On the other hand, the part of the H that protrudes from the partition 17 is housed between the inner surface 63, so that the cylindrical surface 25 and the internal surface 63 are in contact with each other, thus performing the anchor point functions and of retention means.

Preferably, the connection set for eyewear accessories comprises two facing surfaces 65, one of them in the first part, that is, in the mechanism of connection, and the other in the second part, that is, in the mechanism complementary. The two facing surfaces 65 are the close enough to each other so that they prevent the connection mechanism can rotate around a perpendicular axis to magnetic axis 24 enough to disengage. Indeed, without the presence of these facing surfaces 65, the mechanism may have blocked the possibility of disengage in the direction of the magnetic axis 24 (on its own magnet force 21), the possibility of rotation may be blocked around the magnetic axis 24 (thanks to the anchor point misaligned) and may have blocked the ability to scroll perpendicular to the axis of magnet 21 (thanks to the means retention), but can rotate around a perpendicular axis to the magnetic axis 24, which could disengage the magnet 21. Indeed, as can be seen in Fig. 25, the accessory is relatively bulky and heavy (in fact, it's about device for detecting states of sleepiness described above), so, apart from being convenient to have retention means, it is also convenient to have some facing surfaces 65 close to each other that prevent the rotation of the accessory around, for example, an axis perpendicular to paper (according to the view shown in Fig. 25). Ideally, the facing surfaces 65 are in contact with each other. But nevertheless, Due to manufacturing tolerances, this is very difficult to get. It is preferable that the magnet 21 make good contact with the ferromagnetic material or with the flattened magnet 57 and that enters both facing surfaces 65 there is some slack. The size of the slack will depend on, among other things, the strength of the magnet 21 (in fact, of the set of magnets 21 and 57), of the weight of the accessory and the size of the facing surfaces 65, but the determination of the maximum allowable slack size is a action that an expert in the field can easily determine by trial and error from the above considerations.

Preferably, one of the surfaces facing 65 is immediately following the surface of support of the retaining means of the connection mechanism (it is say, of the first part of the connection set), and the other facing surface 65 is in the corresponding place of the Second part of the connection set.

Claims (11)

1. Connection mechanism for eyewear accessories characterized in that it comprises: [a] a magnet (21, 57), where said magnet (21, 57) defines a magnetic axis (24), [b] a misaligned anchor point (25 , 29, 57, 63) of said magnet (21, 57) along said magnetic axis (24), and [c] retaining means (27, 63) comprising a bearing surface that forms a smaller angle (a) 90º with said magnetic axis (24). 2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said misaligned anchor (25, 29, 57, 63) comprises, in turn, a second magnet (29). 3. Mechanism according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said misaligned anchor point (25, 29, 57, 63) comprises an at least partially truncated conical surface (63). A mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least partially conical surface (63) is a conical surface of revolution whose axis is parallel to said magnetic axis (24). A mechanism according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said misaligned anchor point (25, 29, 57, 63) comprises an at least partially cylindrical surface (25) whose generatrix is parallel to said magnetic axis (24). A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said anchor point (25, 29, 57, 63) simultaneously defines said retention means (27, 63). 7. Eyeglass frame, comprising two rods, characterized in that one of said rods (51) comprises, in turn, a connection mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 6. 8. Frame according to claim 7, characterized in that said misaligned anchor point (25, 29, 57, 63) comprises an at least partially tapered recess (63). 9. Frame according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least partially conical recess (63) is a conical revolution recess whose axis is parallel to said magnetic axis (24). 10. Frame according to claim 7, characterized in that said misaligned anchor point (25, 29, 57, 63) comprises a recess at least partially cylindrical whose generatrix is parallel to said magnetic axis (24). 11. Frame according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that said rod (51) comprises a housing (55), suitable for housing said magnet (21, 57), and a trim (53), preferably of ferromagnetic material, which It has an opening (59) and is suitable for being mounted on said housing (55) so that said opening (59) is faced with said housing (55).