Glasses with interchangeable lenses

Abstract

A pair of glasses, which includes: a front frame, which has a frame ring for holding a lens, the frame ring for holding the lens has an upper frame ring part and a lower frame ring part, the upper frame ring part and the lower frame ring part extend to surround the contour of the lens and have corresponding free ends facing each other in an open area of ​​the frame ring; a side end member, which is connected to a rod member and is connected to the lower frame ring part in a manner that allows it to rotate around a first pivot axis and is connected to the upper frame ring part in a manner that allows it to rotate around a second pivot axis, the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are parallel to each other, and the first pivot axis is laterally spaced apart from the second pivot axis on a side facing the rod member, the end member is configured to rotate around the pivot axis between a closed position and an open position of the frame ring, and the end member and the upper frame ring part cooperate with each other in the closed position to hold the upper frame ring part and the lower frame ring part therebetween.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to eyeglasses with interchangeable lenses. Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to spectacles, whether or not they are fitted with graduated lenses for vision correction and / or are designed for protective purposes, such as protection against the sun, provided with a frame supporting interchangeable lenses.

[0003] In this specific field, spectacles are usually fitted with a lens-retaining ring or clip formed with an open profile, wherein the upper and lower ring parts have respective free ends facing each other at an interruption of the profile. For example, the profile can be interrupted at a side end piece designed to allow the connection of a respective rod to the frame.

[0004] The advantage of this type of glasses with interchangeable lenses is that a system for keeping the lenses closed with the frame ring is provided as an alternative to the classic mechanisms with a so-called threaded "tubular piece" structure, in which clamping screws are used, which are intended to hold together pairs of tubular pieces, which are respectively connected to corresponding frame parts.

[0005] Systems and mechanisms for closing the frame without the use of clamping screws have been proposed in the prior art to make the operation of opening and closing the frame for retaining the lens easier, faster and more convenient for the user to insert or remove the lens, thereby facilitating the interchangeability of the lenses, while ensuring sufficient retention of the lens in the frame for retaining the lens.

[0006] A first example of spectacles having the above mentioned properties is known from US2350338.

[0007] In the system described in this article, the side end part connecting the rod to the frame is intended to be formed as a whole with the lower part of the frame ring for holding the lens, and the end part is connected to the upper frame ring part by means of a double connecting arm, wherein one of the ends of the double connecting arm is hinged on the end part, and the other end is hinged on the upper part of the frame ring for holding the lens by means of an appendage protruding from the upper part.

[0008] According to this configuration, the movement of the upper frame part away from the lower part - which movement is necessary for opening the frame - requires a combination of two consecutive movements, namely a first movement that roughly translates the lower frame part in a lateral direction relative to the front frame, and then, after the arm is released, a second movement of the lower part is directed vertically downwards to achieve a determined spacing between the two frame parts.

[0009] This movement can be achieved by acting directly on the end piece, but it does not seem to be obtainable by acting on the lever, since it is not possible to cause the necessary lateral movement of the upper bezel part as a first movement to open the bezel by manipulating the lever. In the case of a lightweight frame of particularly slender design, which has lateral end pieces of reduced size, it may be inconvenient and rather difficult to act with one's fingers on an end piece of reduced extension, i.e. on a gripping or supporting area on said end piece which extends only slightly.

[0010] A second example of spectacles is described in US 9,632,330.

[0011] In the system described in the document, the side end piece for connecting the rod to the frame is hinged to the upper part of the frame ring for holding the lens in the first connection part and is hinged to the arm part in the second connection part, and the arm part is hinged to the lower frame ring part. The hinge structure is configured so that: the end piece rotating in one direction or in the opposite direction around the hinge point respectively makes the frame ring parts approach or move away accordingly, thereby closing or opening the frame ring.

[0012] Although this configuration allows the movement to be controlled by acting on the lever when opening or closing the frame, in particular by lowering or raising it relative to the front frame, it involves a certain structural complexity; in fact, it requires the presence of three pivot axes and the placement of as many hinge pins between the mutually articulated parts of the frame. Summary of the invention

[0013] The main purpose of the present invention is to create a pair of glasses with interchangeable lenses designed to overcome the functional limitations and / or structural complexities highlighted with reference to known solutions and, in particular, designed to allow the opening or closing of the frame that retains the lenses with a simple and fluid movement directly caused by moving a lever.

[0014] This object, and others that will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by spectacles made in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] According to a first aspect of the invention, the glasses include: a front frame having a frame ring for holding lenses, the frame ring for holding lenses having a peripheral contour with an open outer contour, the frame ring for holding lenses including an upper frame ring part and a lower frame ring part, the upper frame ring part and the lower frame ring part extending to surround the contour of the lens intended to be held on the frame ring for holding lenses, and the upper frame ring part and the lower frame ring part supporting corresponding free ends facing each other in the open area of ​​the peripheral contour of the frame ring; and a side end component, which connects the relevant rod to the frame ring for holding lenses, the end component is connected to the lower part of the frame ring for holding lenses in a manner that can rotate around a first pivot axis and is connected to the lower part of the frame ring for holding lenses in a manner that can rotate around a second pivot axis. The upper part of the frame ring for holding the lens, the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are parallel to each other, and the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are laterally spaced apart on the side facing the rod member, and the end part is therefore constructed to rotate around the pivot axis between the closed position and the open position of the frame ring for holding the lens, so as to move the upper frame ring part and the lower frame ring part closer together or otherwise move separately at the corresponding free ends of the upper frame ring part and the lower frame ring part, respectively, and a retention device and a corresponding retention device are provided between the end part and the upper part of the frame ring for holding the lens, and the retention device and the corresponding retention device cooperate with each other in the closed position to hold the upper part and the lower part of the frame ring for holding the lens between the retention device and the corresponding retention device.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the lower part of the bezel holding the lenses comprises, at its free end, an appendage adapted to be housed in a first seat obtained in the end piece, said appendage being rotatable in the first seat about a second pivot axis.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the appendage is fork-shaped with a pair of arms hinged in the first seat about a first pivot axis.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the glasses comprise a rod-shaped element which is structurally independent of the end piece and adapted to be formed integrally with the end piece, the rod-shaped element extending inside the first seating portion at a position between the arms of the accessory, and the rod-shaped element being connected to the arms in a manner capable of rotating around a first pivot axis.

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, the rod-shaped element extends outside the first seating portion of the end component to a free end of the rod-shaped element, which is accommodated in a second seating portion obtained in the upper part of the frame ring for holding the lens, and the free end of the rod-shaped element is hinged in the second seating portion around a second pivot axis.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, the retention device and the corresponding retention device include a protrusion on one of the end member or the upper frame ring part and a corresponding recess on the other of the end member or the upper frame ring part, and the protrusion is configured to engage with the recess in a roughly shape-fitting manner in the closed position to maintain the relative mutual retention between the upper and lower parts of the frame ring for the lens.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the recess is obtained in a lower surface portion of the lower bezel portion, and the protrusion is provided in a portion of the end member adapted for surface coupling with said lower portion.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, the recess is obtained in the upper portion of the lens-holding bezel at a position above the second pivot axis.

[0023] According to one aspect of the present invention, the recess is obtained on the inner side of the upper portion of the lens-holding frame, that is, on the side facing the user's head when wearing the glasses.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the lever element is connected to the end piece in an articulated manner about a hinge axis.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the second pivot axis is arranged opposite the hinge axis of the lever relative to the first pivot axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example of spectacles manufactured according to the present invention,

[0028] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A side elevation view of the glasses in FIG.

[0029] - Figure 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional perspective view of the eyeglasses of the aforementioned figures with separated components;

[0030] - Figure 4 is a perspective view with separated parts of a detail of the spectacles of the preceding figures;

[0031] - Figure 5 and Figure 6 is an enlarged partial side elevation view of a detail of the eyeglasses shown in corresponding and different operating positions of the eyeglasses of the preceding figures;

[0032] - Figure 7is an enlarged partial perspective view of a detail of the aforementioned drawing;

[0033] - Figure 8 and Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view with separated parts of a variant embodiment of a detail of a pair of spectacles according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] With reference to the cited figures, reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a pair of glasses with interchangeable lenses, manufactured according to a first example of the invention, comprising a front frame 2 having a pair of lens-retaining rims 3 for retaining corresponding lenses 4, the rims being connected by a central bridge extending in the nose support area.

[0035] Each lens-retaining frame ring 3 is designed to form a lens-retaining peripheral edge contour for each lens 4, wherein the peripheral edge contour has an open, selectively reclosable outer contour.

[0036] Due to the similarity in structure and function, only one of the lens retaining rings of the frame is described in detail below. It is understood that for ease of description, similar structural details of each lens retaining ring are marked with the same reference numerals, even if the similar structural details have a symmetrical configuration.

[0037] Each lens retaining frame comprises an upper frame portion 6 and a lower frame portion 7, wherein the upper frame portion 6 extends essentially at the brow arch and the lower frame portion 7 extends along the remaining portion of the contour, the portions extending to jointly surround the contour of the associated lens 4 intended to be retained on the corresponding lens retaining frame, and the portions support corresponding free ends 6a, 7a facing each other in the open area of ​​the peripheral contour of the frame.

[0038] For each lens-retaining ring, the spectacles also comprise an associated lateral end piece 8 connecting an associated lateral bar 9 (for supporting the spectacles on the head) to the corresponding lens-retaining ring.

[0039] In the example described, the rod 9 is shown as being connected in an articulated manner to the corresponding end piece 8 about an articulation axis X. However, other variant embodiments are also possible; for example, it is possible to envisage glasses in which the rod 9 is rigidly connected to the corresponding end piece 8 without any articulated connection. In this configuration, the glasses can conveniently be formed with side rods obtained in one piece with the corresponding side end piece.

[0040] The end piece 8 is connected to the lower part 7 of the frame 3 for holding the lens in a manner that allows it to rotate around a first pivot axis denoted by Y1, and the end piece 8 is also connected to the upper part 6 of the frame for holding the lens in a manner that allows it to rotate around a second pivot axis denoted by Y2. These pivot axes Y1, Y2 are configured parallel to each other and the first pivot axis Y1 is laterally spaced apart from the second axis Y2 on the side facing the lever 6.

[0041] The end part 8 is configured to rotate around the pivot axes Y1, Y2 between a closed position and an open position of the lens holding frame 3 so as to move the upper frame part 6 and the lower frame part 7 closer to each other or further away from each other at the corresponding free ends 6a, 7a of the upper frame part 6 and the lower frame part 7, respectively.

[0042] In the closed position, the lens 4 is firmly held on the lens retaining ring, while in the open position, the mutual separation of the lower and upper parts allows the lens to be removed and inserted relative to the ring.

[0043] The glasses according to the present invention also include a retention device and a corresponding retention device arranged between the end component 8 and the upper part 6 of the frame ring for holding the lens. The retention device and the corresponding retention device cooperate with each other in the closed position to keep the upper part and the lower part of the frame ring for holding the lens between the retention device and the corresponding retention device in the closed position.

[0044] In more detail, the lower bezel portion 7 comprises, at its free end 7a, an appendage 10 which projects laterally from the bezel contour and which is configured to be housed in a first seat 11 obtained in the end piece when the bezel is in the closed position.

[0045] Said appendage 10 has a fork-like body supporting a pair of parallel arms 12, spaced apart and hinged about a first pivot axis Y1 in a seat 11. For this purpose, the arms are provided with corresponding through holes, coaxial with each other and suitable for engaging in rotation with a pivot pin 10a, which in turn is hinged in the seat 11 of the end piece by means of a corresponding hole formed in the end piece.

[0046] A rod-like element is indicated by 13, which is structurally independent of the end piece 8 and is suitable for being formed integrally with said end piece, for example by interlocking one end 13a of said element 13 in an associated blind cavity 8a obtained in the end piece.

[0047] The rod-shaped element 13 is configured to extend partially inside the seat 11, so that it is placed between the arms 12 of the fork-shaped appendage 10, so as to be coupled between the arms in a rotatable manner around a first pivot axis Y1. This articulation is obtained by means of a rotatable engagement of a pin 10a which forms the pivot axis Y1 in a hole passing through the rod-shaped element 13.

[0048] Said element 13 further extends outside the seat 11 beyond the pivot point about the axis Y1 to a free end region 13b adapted to be housed in a second seat 15 obtained in the upper bezel portion 6. Said end 13b of the element 13 is articulated with said portion 6 inside said seat about a second pivot axis Y2. For this purpose, an articulation pin 16 is provided which is rotatably coupled to a hole 13c passing through the end 13b and which is rotatably housed in a pair of coaxial holes provided in the seat 15.

[0049] The rod-shaped element 13 is hinged around a first pivot axis Y1 at a position between the opposite ends 13a and 13b of the rod-shaped element. The configuration and relative position of the element 13 relative to the pivot point about the axes Y1 and Y2 determine the swinging movement of the end part (and the rod part integral with the end part) relative to the frame ring parts 6, 7 between the above-mentioned open position and closed position.

[0050] Figure 5 The closed position of the bezel is illustrated, wherein the lower and upper parts have their respective ends 6a, 7a pressed against each other, which configuration is suitable for retaining the lens inside the lens-retaining bezel.

[0051] Figure 6 The open position of the frame ring is illustrated after a swinging movement of the end part 8 around the pivot axes Y1, Y2, wherein the ends 6a, 7a of the corresponding parts are moved away from each other to a maximum relative distance, which configuration is suitable for allowing the lens to be removed from the frame ring (and subsequently inserting a new lens into the frame ring in the case of replacement).

[0052] It should be noted that rotational movement of the end piece about the pivot axis can also be easily performed by acting on the side bars 9 (preferably when swinging relative to the front frame in the open position), the bars thus acting as levers suitable for causing and transmitting rotation of the end piece.

[0053] Reference Figure 6 , by a downward rotational motion (along Figure 5 The rod 9 is moved in the direction of the arrow A in the middle, which easily and conveniently causes the end member to move in the direction of the open position ( Figure 6) and conversely, by lifting the lever upwards from the open position (along Figure 6 The closed position can be easily reached by moving the handle in the direction of arrow B.

[0054] It should be noted that, in the open position, the state of maximum relative distance between the arms 6a, 7a is reached when the rear side of the arm 12 of the fork-like appendage 10 comes into contact with the inner wall of the seat 11. In other words, the abutment between the inner wall against which the arm 12 of the seat 11 abuts and the arm 12 respectively determines the "end of travel". Therefore, the choice of the geometry of the inner wall of the seat 11, in particular the choice of the slope, helps to determine the maximum expansion allowed for the lower frame part relative to the upper frame part.

[0055] In order to ensure the relative retention between the lower frame part and the upper frame part in the closed position, the retention device and the corresponding retention device include a protrusion 18 on one of the end parts or the upper frame part and a recess 19 on the other of the end parts or the upper frame part. The protrusion 18 is configured to engage with the recess 19 in a roughly shape-fitting manner in the closed position to maintain the relative mutual retention between the upper part and the lower part of the frame for the lens.

[0056] In the example described, the recess 19 is obtained in the lower surface portion 20 of the upper frame part 6, and the protrusion 18 is provided in the portion of the end piece 8 suitable for surface coupling with said lower portion. More specifically, the recess 19 is obtained in the upper part 6 at a position above the second pivot axis Y2, for example at Figure 5 and Figure 6 Clearly shown in.

[0057] Furthermore, a recess 19 is obtained on the inner side of the upper bezel portion 6, namely, on the side facing the user's head when the glasses are worn.

[0058] The recess 19 and the projection 18 are configured so that the mutual coupling is obtained after (during the rotation of the end piece) causing the movement of the projection (sliding with the relative surface) past a suitably shaped wall 21 of the part 6, due to the overall elastic deformation of the parts in mutual surface contact. When the projection has passed the wall 21, the projection 18 is housed in the recess, inside which the inner surface 22 of said recess acts as an abutment for said projection, thereby ensuring that the projection is retained inside the recess.

[0059] To disengage, by a reverse rotational movement, the projection 18 is disengaged from the recess 19 in a similar manner by passing over the wall 21 due to the elastic deformation of the components in surface contact, until the projection is brought to a state in which it is completely removed from the recess.

[0060] In order to guide the coupling movement of the protrusion into the recess, the wall 21 is shaped with an inclined outer surface 21a to facilitate movement in sliding contact with the protrusion 18. In a similar manner, the surface 22 of the recess is shaped with a predetermined slope intended to facilitate disengagement of the protrusion while ensuring that the protrusion is retained in the closed position.

[0061] In a variant embodiment ( Figure 8 and Fig. 9 ), the recess 19 is configured as a blind cavity with a groove-shaped profile, and the projection 18 provided on a portion of the end piece is shaped in a corresponding manner. In addition, in this case, inclined surfaces 23, 24 are provided, which are suitable for mutual surface overlap and which are obtained on the upper part 6 and the end piece 8, respectively.

[0062] An advantageous aspect of the invention lies in the fact that the operation of opening and closing the frame that holds the lens can be performed by means of a movement applied to the lever, and the lever provides the user with an extended gripping surface, and the user can then also select the most suitable lever arm on the lever to drive the rotational movement around the connecting part.

[0063] The connection is also configured so that, in the opening situation, by simply moving the rod downwards (ie towards the space below the frame), this movement is directly converted into opening of the frame ring, wherein the lower part is generally in the vertical direction (see Figure 6 ) moves away from the upper portion so that the movement is direct and smooth when passing between the open position and the closed position.

[0064] In addition, since the rod-shaped element connects the connecting portion of the mechanism, the element is designed to be structurally independent of the end parts of the frame and the frame ring for holding the lens, and this element can be made of a material such as metal that is different from the material used for other parts of the frame, such as plastic, thereby improving the strength characteristics in the hinge area of ​​the connecting portion.

[0065] The provision of the retaining means and the corresponding retaining means also ensures that the lower frame ring portion and the upper frame ring portion are relatively stably retained in the closed position without affecting the smoothness of the swinging movement of the end piece around the pivot axis.

[0066] The invention thus achieves the proposed objects by achieving the advantages described compared to known solutions.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses, comprising: - a front frame, the front frame having a lens-retaining frame (3), the lens-retaining frame (3) having a peripheral contour with an open outer contour, the lens-retaining frame comprising an upper frame portion (6) and a lower frame portion (7), the upper frame portion (6) and the lower frame portion (7) extending to surround the contour of the lens (4) intended to be retained on the lens-retaining frame (3), and the upper frame portion (6) and the lower frame portion (7) supporting respective free ends facing each other in the open area of ​​the peripheral contour of the lens-retaining frame (3), - lateral end pieces (8) connecting corresponding rods (9) to the lens-retaining frame (3), It is characterized in that The side end member (8) is connected to the lower frame portion (7) of the lens holding frame in a manner that allows it to rotate around a first pivot axis (Y1), and the side end member (8) is connected to the upper frame portion (6) of the lens holding frame (3) in a manner that allows it to rotate around a second pivot axis (Y2), the first pivot axis (Y1) and the second pivot axis (Y2) being parallel to each other, and the first pivot axis (Y1) and the second pivot axis (Y2) being laterally spaced apart on a side facing the rod (9), The side end member (8) is thus configured to rotate about the first pivot axis (Y1) and the second pivot axis (Y2) between a closed position and an open position of the lens retaining frame (3) so as to move the upper frame portion (6) and the lower frame portion (7) closer to each other or away from each other at their respective free ends, respectively. And wherein, the glasses include a retention device and a corresponding retention device between the side end member (8) and the upper frame portion (6) of the lens retaining frame, and the retention device and the corresponding retention device cooperate with each other in the closed position to retain the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion of the lens retaining frame (3) between the retention device and the corresponding retention device, The retention device and the corresponding retention device include a protrusion (18) and a corresponding recess (19), wherein the protrusion (18) is located on one of the side end member or the upper frame portion, and the recess (19) is located on the other of the side end member or the upper frame portion, and the protrusion (18) is configured to engage with the recess (19) in a shape-fitting manner in the closed position for relative mutual retention between the upper frame portion (6) and the lower frame portion (7) of the lens retaining frame (3), The lower frame part (7) of the frame (3) for holding the lens comprises an accessory (10) at the free end (7a) of the lower frame part (7), wherein the accessory (10) is suitable for being accommodated in a first seat (11) obtained in the side end part (8), and the accessory (10) can rotate around the second pivot axis (Y2) in the first seat (11), Therein, the appendage (10) is in the shape of a fork having a pair of arms (12), and the arms (12) are hinged in the first seat (11) around the first pivot axis (Y1).

2. The glasses according to claim 1, comprising a rod-shaped element (13), which is structurally independent of the side end piece (8) and is suitable for being formed as a whole with the side end piece, the rod-shaped element (13) extending inside the first seating portion (11) at a position between the arm portions (12) of the accessory (10), and the rod-shaped element (13) is connected to the arm portion in a manner that allows it to rotate around the first pivot axis (Y1).

3. The glasses according to claim 2, wherein: The rod-shaped element (13) extends outside the first seating portion (11) of the side end member to a free end portion (13b) accommodated in a second seating portion (15), wherein the second seating portion (15) is obtained in the upper frame portion (6) of the frame (3) for retaining the lens, and the free end portion (13b) of the rod-shaped element is hinged in the second seating portion (15) around the second pivot axis (Y2).

4. The glasses according to claim 1, wherein: The recess (19) is obtained in a lower surface portion (20) of the upper bezel portion (6), and the protrusion (18) is provided in a portion of the side end piece adapted for surface coupling with the lower surface portion.

5. The glasses according to claim 4, wherein: The recess (19) is obtained in the upper frame portion (6) of the lens retaining frame (3) at a position above the second pivot axis (Y2).

6. The glasses according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein: The recess (19) is obtained on the inner side of the upper frame portion (6) of the lens retaining frame (3), that is, on the side facing the user's head when wearing the glasses.

7. The glasses according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The rod (9) is connected to the side end piece in an articulated manner about a hinge axis (X).

8. The glasses according to claim 7, wherein: The second pivot axis (Y2) is arranged relative to the first pivot axis (Y1) opposite to the hinge axis (X) of the lever.

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