JP7492688B2 - Elastic connection structure between front frame and temples in eyeglasses-type frame and eyeglasses-type frame equipped with said elastic connection structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spectacle frame that is worn on the face of a user, and in particular to an elastic connection structure that elastically connects the front frame and temples that make up the spectacle frame, and to a spectacle frame equipped with this elastic connection structure.

One example of a spectacle frame is a spectacle frame equipped with lenses for vision correction. In such spectacle frames, spring hinges that connect the front frame and temples are known to make them easier to put on and take off, and to improve the fit of the temples on the user's head (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

JP 2000-147438 A JP 2001-290110 A JP 2003-185981 A

However, with the spring hinge described in the above document, when a user wears the eyeglasses-type frame on their face, the left and right temples rotate around the spring hinge as a fulcrum to match the width of the user's head, and open diagonally relative to the front frame. This means that when the eyeglasses-type frame is worn on the face, a forward force acts on the face, which can cause problems such as the user looking down when wearing the glasses, or the eyeglasses-type frame moving forward due to vibrations when worn, causing the front frame to slip off.
Spring hinges are intended to prevent such slipping by clamping the side of the user's head from both the left and right sides, but even if the spring force is increased to improve the effect of preventing slipping, the forward force mentioned above also increases, so not only is the effect of preventing slipping not significantly improved, but making the spring force stronger also creates the problem of putting pressure on the side of the user's head, placing excessive strain on the user's head.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and its purpose is to provide an elastic connection structure between the front frame and temples of an eyeglass frame, which improves the fit of the eyeglass frame by fitting firmly to the temples of the user without placing a large burden on the user's head, and which effectively prevents the eyeglass frame from slipping down by suppressing the generation of forward force caused by the temples expanding diagonally, and an eyeglass frame equipped with this elastic connection structure.

To achieve the object of the present invention, the inventor of the present invention reviewed the structure of conventional temples that open while rotating diagonally around a spring hinge, and discovered that it would be sufficient to connect the temples to the front frame so that the left and right temples open in parallel directions. Figure 1(a) is a diagram that shows a schematic diagram of the principle for opening the left and right temples in parallel directions. Note that in the following Figures 1(a) and 1(b), only one of the left and right temples connected to both ends of the front frame is shown, and the other is not shown.

In order to allow the left and right temples T to open in a parallel direction relative to the front frame F, the temples T and the front frame F can be connected by a connecting structure 1A composed of a diamond-shaped (parallelogram) link mechanism, as shown in Figure 1(a), for example.
This connecting structure 1A has a fixed arm 10a having one end fixed to the front frame H and extending in the same direction as the temple T, a rotating arm 10b having one end rotatably supported by a fulcrum 11b relative to the fixed arm 10a, and a rotating arm 10c having one end rotatably supported by the front frame H by the fulcrum 11a. The other ends of the two rotating arms 10b and 10c are rotatably connected to the temple T by fulcrums 11c and 11d, respectively. In other words, the rotating arms 10b and 10c and the temple T are connected to each other by the fulcrums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d to form a rhombus (parallelogram) link mechanism based on the fixed arm 10a.

Such a connecting structure 1A works as follows. That is, when a user puts on the eyeglass frames and the temple T comes into contact with the side of the user's head, a biasing force P acts on the middle part of the temple T, tending to spread the left and right temples T apart. This biasing force P causes the left and right temples T to move in the spreading direction, but this movement is based on the deformation of a rhombus (parallelogram) caused by the rotation of two rotating arms 10b and 10c with fulcrums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d as shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. 1(a). Therefore, the left and right temples T do not tilt relative to the front frame F, but move in parallel directions while maintaining their initial position with the fixed arm 10a as the reference.

The principle of moving the left and right temples T in parallel directions with each other has been described above with reference to Fig. 1(a). However, since the connecting structure 1A in Fig. 1(a) does not have springiness (elasticity), the temples T cannot pinch the side of the user's head, making the eyeglass frame unstable when worn.
Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1(b) in connection structure 1B, two diagonal fulcrums (e.g., fulcrums 11a and 11c) are connected by biasing means 12 such as a compression spring, so that fulcrums 11a and 11c are always attracted to each other, that is, the diamond shape of connection structure 1B is always biased in the direction of crushing. When connecting fulcrums 11b and 11d, a biasing means such as a tension spring is used. A rotating elastic member such as a helical spring may be provided on fulcrums 11a to 11d so as to always bias the diamond shape in the direction of crushing. A connection structure in which such a biasing force acts is referred to as the "elastic connection structure" in this specification (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as the "connection structure").
In this way, when the biasing force P is applied, the biasing means 12 applies a resilient force to the temple T against the biasing force P. This resilient force generates not only a force I in a direction that pinches the side of the user's head from the left and right, but also a force II in a direction that pulls the front frame F backward (toward the face). Therefore, not only is the left and right temples T spread apart in parallel directions to prevent slipping, but the pulling effect of the force II can further increase the effect of preventing the eyeglass frame F from slipping.

The elastic connection structure of the present invention based on the above principle, as described in claim 1, is an elastic connection structure between a front frame and temples in an eyeglass frame having a front frame and temples connected to the front frame, the elastic connection structure having a first member that is arranged on the side of the head of a user wearing the eyeglass frame, one end of which is connected to the front frame and the other end of which is connected from a base end of the temple toward the tip , and a second member that is arranged on the opposite side of the head of the user with respect to the first member, one end of which is connected to the front frame and the other end of which is connected to the base end of the temple , the first member and the second member forming a diamond shape, and the first member and the The second member is connected at one end thereof so as to be freely rotatable relative to one another, and is provided with a spring means for generating a spring force in a direction to return the first member and the second member against the spring force when a spring force acts on the temple when the eyeglass frame is worn, the spring means being composed of the first member having elasticity and the second member having elasticity, and when the spring force acts on the temple, the first member and the second member elastically deform in a bending direction, thereby springing the temple in a direction against the spring force, and generating a counter-rotational force in a direction that cancels out the rotational force generated in the temple by the spring force, thereby moving the temple parallel to the opening direction .
Here, the "diamond" in this specification refers to a basic form such as connecting structures 1A and 1B in FIG. 1. However, in this specification, the "diamond" does not necessarily mean a geometrical "diamond" but also includes a shape that allows the left and right temples T to be moved in parallel directions as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and (b), and also includes a shape as shown in FIG. 2.

The elastic force of the biasing means 12 that resists the biasing force P can also be generated by forming each of the fixed arm and the rotating arm in Fig. 1 from an elastic member that elastically deforms in the bending direction when the eyeglass frame is attached. In this case, the separate biasing means 12 as shown in Fig. 1(b) is not necessary. Fig. 2 is a diagram that shows a schematic diagram of the principle of a connecting structure 1C in which the fixed arm and the rotating arm in Fig. 1(b) are replaced with elastic members, with Fig. 2(a) showing the state before the biasing force P is applied and Fig. 2(b) showing the state when the biasing force P is applied.
In the connection structure 1C of FIG. 2, of the fixed arm 10a, the rotating arm 10b, and the rotating arm 10c which form a diamond shape in the connection structure 1B of FIG. 1, the fixed arm 10a and the rotating arm 10b are replaced with a single elastic member 10d, and the rotating arm 10c is replaced with an elastic member 10e.

2, one end of member 10e may be fixed to the front frame F, or may be rotatable about a fulcrum 11e relative to the front frame F. The connection between one end of the second member and the front frame may be configured as a rotation fulcrum. As described in claim 2, the first member and the second member may be connected to the front frame via a bridge, and one end of the second member may be rotatably connected to the first member by a rotation fulcrum.
The above-mentioned fulcrums 11a to 11e may be shafts, bolts, or a combination of a recess and a protrusion to rotatably support the rotating arm, etc. , but one end of the second member and the front frame may be connected by an S-shaped knuckle joint that engages with each other. By using such a knuckle joint, the structure of the fulcrum (11e) that rotatably connects one end of the second member and the front frame can be made compact.

In order to make it possible to fold the temples relative to the front frame, one end of the first member may be rotatably connected to the front frame via a hinge or the like via a piece , as described in claim 3. Such hinges are common in eyeglass frames in which the left and right temples can be folded or unfolded. When the first member is rotatable by such a hinge, one end of the second member is connected to the front frame via the piece of the first member.

As described in claim 4 , the first member may be curved from the one end to the other end, and the other end of the first member may be connected to the temple so as to come into contact with the temple from a direction in which a tangent to the curve is parallel to the temple . Also, as described in claim 5 , the second member may have a first portion with a high elastic modulus and a second portion with a low elastic modulus, and the first portion may be disposed from the base end of the temple to one end side. As described in claim 6, the first member and the second member may have a thin portion or a leaf spring portion.
The eyeglass frame of the present invention, as set forth in claim 7 , is characterized in having the above-mentioned elastic connection structure.

As the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to enhance the fit of the eyeglass frame by firmly fitting it to the side of the user's head without placing a large burden on the user's head. In addition, by eliminating the forward force caused by the temples expanding diagonally, it is possible to effectively prevent the eyeglass frame from slipping down, and also to generate a force pulling the front frame backward, resulting in an elastic connection structure that is more effective at preventing the eyeglass frame from slipping down.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
3(a) is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the connecting structure of the present invention, FIG. 3(b) is an exploded plan view of the same, FIG. 3(c) is an assembled perspective view of the same, FIG. 4(a) is an assembled plan view of the same, FIG. 4(b) is an assembled bottom view of the same, FIG. 4(c) is an assembled front view of the same, FIG. 4(d) is an assembled left side view of the same, FIG. 4(e) is an assembled right side view of the same, FIG. 4(f) is an assembled back view of the same, FIG. 5(a) is an assembled perspective view when the temple moves in the opening direction due to the application of a biasing force, FIG. 5(b) is an assembled plan view of the same, FIG. 5(c) is an assembled bottom view of the same, FIG. 5(d) is an assembled front view of the same, FIG. 5(e) is an assembled left side view of the same, FIG. 5(f) is an assembled right side view, and FIG. 5(g) is an assembled back view.
In each figure, the connecting structure between the front frame and the temples is shown only on the left side of the eyeglass frame, but since the right side is similar, illustrations and detailed explanations are omitted.

The connecting structure 1 of this embodiment connects temples T and a front frame F (see Figs. 1 and 2) via end pieces Fa at both ends of the front frame F.
In this embodiment, the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 are formed of an elastic resin plate or metal plate, and the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 form a "diamond" shaped connecting structure 1. In this specification, "elasticity" means a property of elastically deforming in a bending direction due to a biasing force acting on the temple T when the eyeglass frame is worn by a user.

[First Elastic Member]
One end of the first elastic member 12 is rotatably connected to the end piece Fa, allowing the left and right temples T to be foldable relative to the front frame F. A groove Fc is formed in the end piece Fa, and a piece 122 to be inserted into this groove Fc is formed on one end of the first elastic member 12. The temples T are rotatably connected to the end piece Fa around a bolt Fb that is inserted from above the end piece Fa through a through hole formed in the groove Fc and the piece 122 and screwed into the end piece Fa.
The other end of the first elastic member 12 is fixedly connected to the temple T from the base end Ta of the temple T toward the tip of the temple T to which an end piece or the like is attached. As this connection means, known means such as bolts, adhesives, welding, brazing, etc. can be used.
In this embodiment, a step 125 is formed at the other end so as to prevent interference with the other end of the second elastic member 13 .

Between the one end and the other end is an elastic portion 123 formed in a plate shape. This elastic portion 123 elastically deforms in the bending direction when a biasing force P is applied to the temple T, generating a reaction force against the biasing force P. In addition to metals such as titanium alloys such as β-titanium, stainless steel, and spring steel that generate such elastic forces, resins such as polyetherimide (for example, product name Ultem) and Grilamid (TR-90) can be used. The elastic force in the bending direction can be adjusted not only by selecting such materials, but also by the thickness and shape of the elastic portion 123. In this embodiment, the elastic portion 123 is set to an appropriate thickness, and is curved to form a gentle S-shape as shown in FIG. 4(b) when a biasing force P is applied to the temple T. The shape (magnitude of the radius of curvature) and direction (position of the center of curvature) of the curve are set so that the other end of the elastic portion 123 contacts the temple T from the tangent direction of the curve as much as possible.

The first elastic member 12 mainly generates a reaction force against the biasing force P, and the contact between the other end of the first elastic member 12 and the temple T may be a point contact. However, it is preferable that the contact between the other end of the first elastic member 12 and the temple T be a surface contact as shown in the figure, so that when the biasing force P acts on the temple T, not only the reaction force but also a counter-rotational force that cancels the rotational force acting on the other end of the first elastic member 12 is generated.

[Second Elastic Member]
The second elastic member 13 is paired with the first elastic member 12 to form a generally diamond-shaped connecting structure 1, and one end of the second elastic member 13 is rotatably connected to one end of the first elastic member 12. The other end of the second elastic member 13 extends in the longitudinal direction from the base end Ta of the temple T and is fixedly connected to the base end Ta. As for this connecting means, as with the connection between the first elastic member 12 and the temple T, known means such as bolts, adhesives, welding, brazing, etc. can be used.
Examples of means for rotatably connecting the second elastic member 13 and the first connecting member 12 include an axis such as a bolt or engagement of projections and recesses, but in this embodiment, the first connecting member 12 and the second elastic member 13 are connected by engaging S-shaped knuckles 121, 131 formed on one end each of the first connecting member 12 and the second elastic member 13. Such a knuckle joint has the advantage that it can rotatably connect the first connecting member 12 and the second elastic member 13 even if they are small in size, and that its structure is simple and not easily broken.

At least the portion of the second elastic member 13 between the one end and the base end Ta is an elastic portion 133 formed in a plate shape. This elastic portion 133 is elastically deformed in the bending direction when the urging force P is applied to the temple T, and like the first elastic member 12, it can be made of metals such as titanium alloys such as β-titanium, stainless steel, and spring steel, as well as resins such as polyetherimide (for example, trade name Ultem) and Grilamid (TR-90). When the urging force P is applied to the temple T, the base end Ta of the temple T tries to rotate around the connection part with the first elastic member 12 as a fulcrum, but the elastic portion 133 lifts the base end Ta and generates a counter-rotational force in a direction against the rotation. In this way, when a spring force P acts on the temple T, the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 cooperate to generate a reaction force (resilient force) that resists the spring force P, suppresses rotation of the temple T, and moves the left and right temples T at both ends of the front frame F in the opening direction while maintaining their parallel state.
The elastic force of the elastic portion 133 in the second elastic member 13 in the bending direction can be adjusted not only by the selection of the material but also by the thickness and shape of the elastic portion 133, as in the elastic portion 123 of the first elastic member 12. In this embodiment, the elastic portion 133 is formed so that the thickness decreases from one end side toward the base end Ta, with a thick portion 133a on one end side that is difficult to bend and a thin portion 133b on the base end Ta side that is easy to bend. Also, it is formed so as to be curved in an arch shape from one end toward the base end Ta.
When the biasing force P acts on the temple T, the elastic portion 133 of the second elastic member 13 elastically deforms as the temple T moves, but if the counter-rotation force acting on the temple T due to the elastic deformation of the elastic portion 133 is too strong or too weak, it will rotate the temple T. Therefore, by adjusting the ratio of the lengths of the thick portion 133a and the thin portion 133b, or by adjusting the thicknesses of these portions, the left and right temples T can always be moved in parallel directions within the movable range of the temple T.

In addition, in this embodiment, the other end of the second elastic member 13 contacts the base end Ta of the temple T and extends to the vicinity of the connection between the first elastic member 12 and the temple T. The magnitude of the counter-rotation force can also be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the length of attachment (or the position of attachment/connection) between the other end of the second elastic member 13 and the base end Ta of the temple T.

The operation of the connecting structure 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the initial state, no load is applied to the connecting structure 1 constituted by the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13, and the diamond constituted by the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 is in a closed state. When a user of the eyeglasses-type frame wears the eyeglasses-type frame on his/her face, the left and right temples T come into contact with the sides of the user's head, and a biasing force P acts in a direction that pushes the left and right temples T apart.
When this biasing force P acts, a reaction force against the biasing force P and a counter-rotation force that prevents the temple T from rotating act on the temple T through cooperation of the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13, causing the left and right temples T to open in parallel directions without rotating. As the temples T open, they move forward toward the front frame F.

As the left and right temples T move in parallel directions, the elastic force of the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 always acts on the side of the user's head from a perpendicular direction, making it difficult for the eyeglass frame to slip forward and preventing the front frame F from slipping down. Furthermore, as the left and right temples T spread while moving forward toward the front frame F, a backward force is applied to the side of the user's head by the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13, which also makes it difficult for the eyeglass frame to slip forward and enhances the effect of preventing the front frame F from slipping down.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above description.
For example, in the above embodiment, the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 are described as being formed from an elastic material, but the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 are not limited to such a configuration. For example, as shown in Fig. 6(a), the first elastic member 12' (and/or the second elastic member) is divided into a plurality of members 12a', 12b'... as shown in the figure, and adjacent members 12a', 12b'... are connected by leaf springs 12c' to maintain elasticity between the members 12a', 12b'..., or as shown in Fig. 6(b), one or more thin-walled portions (recesses 12d'') are formed in the middle of the first elastic member 12'' (and/or the second elastic member) to form it so as to have elasticity as a whole.

The present invention has a front frame and temples and can be widely applied to eyeglass frames that are worn on the user's face. It is not limited to those for attaching lenses such as eyeglass lenses or magnifying lenses, or face shields for splash protection, but can also be widely applied to those for attaching various tools and equipment such as LEDs or other lighting sources, medical magnifying glasses, and wearable computers.

1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the principle of moving a temple in a parallel direction. FIG. 1(b) is a diagram showing the principle of an elastic connection structure 1C in which the fixed arm and the rotating arm in FIG. 1(b) are formed from an elastic material, where (a) shows the state before a biasing force is applied, and (b) shows the state after a biasing force is applied. FIG. 3(a) is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a connecting structure of the present invention, FIG. 3(b) is an exploded plan view of the same, and FIG. 3(c) is an assembled perspective view of the same. 4(a) is a plan view of the assembly, FIG. 4(b) is a bottom view of the assembly, FIG. 4(c) is a front view of the assembly, FIG. 4(d) is a left side view of the assembly, FIG. 4(e) is a right side view of the assembly, and FIG. 4(f) is a rear view of the assembly. FIG. 5(a) is an assembly perspective view when the temples are moved in the opening direction by the application of a biasing force, FIG. 5(b) is a plan view of the same assembly, FIG. 5(c) is a bottom view of the same assembly, FIG. 5(d) is a front view of the same assembly, FIG. 5(e) is a left side view of the same assembly, FIG. 5(f) is a right side view of the same assembly, and FIG. 5(g) is a rear view of the same assembly. 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the first elastic member and the second elastic member.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Connection structure 12 First elastic member (first member)
121 Knuckle 122 Link 123 Curved portion 124 Elastic portion 125 Step 13 Second elastic member (second member)
131 Knuckle 133 Elastic portion 133a Thick portion 133b Thin portion F Front frame Fa End piece Fb Bolt Fc Groove T Temple Ta Base end portion

Claims (7)

In an eyeglass frame having a front frame and temples connected to the front frame, an elastic connection structure between the front frame and the temples is provided,
a first member disposed on the side of the head of a user wearing the eyeglass-shaped frame, one end of which is connected to the front frame and the other end of which is connected from the base end of the temple toward the tip end;
a second member disposed on the opposite side of the temporal region of the user with respect to the first member, one end of which is connected to the front frame and the other end of which is connected to a base end of the temple;
having
The first member and the second member form a diamond shape,
The first member and the second member are connected at the one end thereof so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to each other,
a spring means for generating a spring force in a direction to return the first member and the second member against a spring force acting on the temple when the eyeglass frame is worn ,
the resilient means is composed of the first member having elasticity and the second member having elasticity, and when the urging force acts on the temple, the first member and the second member are elastically deformed in a bending direction, thereby resilienting the temple in a direction against the urging force, and generates a counter-rotational force in a direction that cancels the rotational force generated in the temple by the urging force, thereby translating the temple in the opening direction;
An elastic connection structure between a front frame and temples in an eyeglass frame, characterized by the above. The elastic connection structure between the front frame and temples in an eyeglass frame as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first member and the second member are connected to the front frame via a bridge, and one end of the second member is connected to the first member by a rotation fulcrum so as to be freely rotatable . 3. The elastic connection structure between the front frame and the temples in an eyeglass frame according to claim 2 , wherein one end of the first member is rotatably connected to the front frame via the bridge. An elastic connection structure between a front frame and a temple in an eyeglass frame as described in any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the first member is formed curved from the one end to the other end, and the other end of the first member is connected so as to contact the temple from a direction in which a tangent to the curve is parallel to the temple. An elastic connection structure between a front frame and a temple in an eyeglass frame as described in any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the second member has a first portion with a high elastic modulus and a second portion with a low elastic modulus, and the first portion is disposed on one end side from the base end of the temple. An elastic connection structure between a front frame and temples in an eyeglass frame as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first member and the second member have a thin-walled portion or a leaf spring portion. An eyeglass frame having the elastic connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

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