GB2281979A

GB2281979A - Joints for spectacles sides

Info

Publication number: GB2281979A
Application number: GB9324211A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eiichi Nakanishi
Original assignee: Nakanishi Optical Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nakanishi Optical Co Ltd
Priority date: 1993-09-21
Filing date: 1993-11-25
Publication date: 1995-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-25
Also published as: JPH0723320U; GB9324211D0; GB2281979B; JP2527243Y2; TW302079U

Abstract

A joint for articulatingly mounting a side 5 of a pair of spectacles has a pivotal member 6 fixed to an end-piece 8 secured to an outer edge of a lens rim 2 with an annular groove 7 formed in and extending around the outer periphery of the pivotal member 6. A free end 9 of the end-piece 8 may extend upwards beyond the pivotal member 6 to form a stop 9 for the side 5. A front end of the side 5 is curved to form a C-shaped arcuate member 10 which rotatably engages in the annular groove 7 in the pivotal member 6. The stop 9 on the retainer abuts against and stops the arcuate member 10 when it has rotated a predetermined angular distance. Such a joint does not need any minute hinge bolts and can be of various shapes to improve its ornamental value. Pivotal member 6 may comprise an integral annular lug (13, Fig. 9) and arcuate member 10 may have a corresponding circumferential groove (14, Fig. 9). <IMAGE>

Description

JOINTS FOR SPECTACLES SIDES The invention relates to a joint for articulatingly mounting a side of a pair of spectacles.

One of the most popular joints currently employed for spectacles sides is a hinge which comprises a pair of butterfly wings, wherein one of the wings is attached to an end-piece secured to an outer edge of a lens rim, with the other wing attached to the side. The butterfly wings are connected one to another by a minute bolt so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

The minute bolt however tends to loosen and often becomes rickety during use of the spectacles. The wings of spectacles hinges cannot be shaped freely, thus imparting undue limitation to an ornamental variation thereof.

According to the invention there is provided a joint for articulatingly mounting a side of a pair of spectacles and comprising; a pivotal member, secured to one of an end-piece of a lens rim and a front end of the side; an annular groove or lug formed integral with and around the pivotal member; and an arcuate member secured to the other of the front end of the side and the end-piece of the lens rim and rotatably engaging with the annular groove or lug of the pivotal member.

Such a joint need include no bolt and can afford an improved ornamental design.

The joint may further comprise a stop which is provided on either the end-piece or the side so as to delimit the extent of rotation of the side.

The joint of such a structure enables the arcuate member to rotate around the outer periphery of the pivotal member so that the side can be opened and closed. The design of the pivotal member can be varied in appearance.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of spectacles incorporating joints according to one embodiment of the invention to mount sides; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the spectacles of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing a part of the spectacles of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view showing partly in cross-section, said part of the spectacles of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of another embodiment of a joint according to the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a joint provided in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-section of the joint of Figure 6;; Figure 8 is a plan view of a joint according to a still further embodiment shown partly in horizontal cross-section; and Figure 9 is a vertical cross-section of the joint of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a pair of spectacles having a pair of right and lefthand lens rims 2 each fitting around a respective lens 4 and connected by a bridge 3 one to another.

A respective side 5 is rotatably secured to the outer edge of each rim 2 in a manner different from prior art hinged structures.

A pivotal member 6, spherical in this embodiment, is mounted at an outer edge of the lens rim 2. An annular groove 7 is formed around and in the outer periphery of the pivotal member 6. In detail, the outer edge of the lens rim 2 is adjoined to one end of a small length of wire, ie an end-piece 8. The other end of the end-piece 8 is adjoined to the pivotal member 6 and extends upwards beyond it so as to function as a stop 9 for the side 5 as detailed below. The side 5 is also made of a length of thin wire, and a curved front end of this wire is C-shaped so as to provide a arcuate member 10. This arcuate member 10 (serving as an integral annular lug) rotatably engages with the annular groove 7 of the pivotal member 6. Thus, each of the temples 5 can rotate with respect to and around the member 6 to adopt a closed position shown by broken lines in Figure 2.When the eyeglasses are used, each side 5 can be rotated towards its open position until stopped by the stopper 9 of the end-piece 8, as illustrated by solid lines in Figures 1 and 2. The reference numeral 11 denotes earpieces which are made of a Celluloid (a Registered Trademark) or the like so as to rest on ears of a user.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment, wherein the pivotal member 6 is a short columnar piece of disc. The end-piece 8 in this case penetrates the centre of the pivotal member 6 and is secured thereto.

The shapes of and connection between the pivotal member 6 and end-piece 8 can be modified so that a variety of designs are available to the temples 5 and their connected portions.

Figures 6 and 7 show a further embodiment, in which a step 12 is formed in the bottom of the annular groove 7 which extends around the pivotal member 6. A frontal end 10a of the arcuate member 10 will click over the step 12 serving as a stopper, when the side 5 is rotated to its open position. Such a stop mechanism simplifies the spectacles in their structure and can render them smart and slim in appearance.

Retainers 8 to join each pivotal member 6 to the lens rim 2 in this case are made integral with the member 6.

Figures 8 and 9 show a still further embodiment, wherein an annular lug 13 is formed integral with and around the pivotal member 6.

Correspondingly, a circumferential groove 14 is formed in the inner periphery of the arcuate member 10. The member 10 is again formed integral with the front end of the side 5, and the groove 14 rotatably fits on the annular lug 13. A radial protrusion 15 extends outwards from the annular lug so as to serve as a stop delimiting the rotation of the temple 5.

In the described embodiments, the pivotal member 6 is attached to the rim 2, with the arcuate member 10 being formed as a front part of the side 5. Alternatively, the pivotal member 6 may be formed on the side 5 and the arcuate member 10 may extend from the lens rim 3.

Further, an annular arcuate member may substitute for the C-shaped one 10 of the illustrated embodiments.

It will now be apparent that the joint provided herein to secure spectacles sides can be composed of a smaller number of parts and can be simpler in structure, so that the spectacles can be manufactured more easily and at a lower cost, as compared with prior art hinged structures of the sides.

In addition, the pivotal member as well as the arcuate member can be designed freely and in varied manners so as to improve the ornamental value of the spectacles.

Claims

1. A joint for articulatingly mounting a side of a pair of spectacles and comprising; a pivotal member, secured to one of an end-piece of a lens rim and a front end of the side; an annular groove or lug formed integral with and around the pivotal member; and an arcuate member secured to the other of the front end of the side and the end-piece of the lens rim and rotatably engaging with the annular groove or lug of the pivotal member.

2. A joint according to claim 1, further comprising a stop which is provided on either the end-piece of the temple so as to delimit the extent of rotation of the side.

3. A joint for articulatingly mounting a side of a pair of spectacles substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.