Spectacle frame with mutually rotating frames

Abstract

A spectacle frame of the type comprising a front frame consisting of a first frame (2) and a second frame (3) for supporting the lenses and possibly a nose bridge (1) connecting the frames (2, 3) wherein the frames (2, 3) are separated by a cutting surface (T) and wherein at least one pivoting means (6) is also provided, the frame (2, 3) is adapted to be rotatable relative to one another by at least 180 DEG about an axis of rotation (R). The pivoting means (6) are formed between a first rod (8) and a second rod (9), which are superimposed to the first frame (2) and the second frame (3), respectively, and are fixed to the first frame and the second frame at the back of the front frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to eyeglass frames with mutually rotating frames. In particular, this invention relates to an eyeglass frame that provides excellent protection for the lenses from impact or friction when the glasses are not worn and are placed in a closed position on any supporting surface, without the need for storage in a case. Background Technology

[0002] As we all know, in the daily use of eyeglasses, whether sunglasses or prescription glasses, it is often necessary to take them off and put them back on depending on the usage or environmental conditions.

[0003] When glasses are removed, they are usually placed on the first available horizontal surface, such as the top of furniture or a table, an armchair, or a bed. Therefore, few people have the time and effort to gently and correctly place glasses in a position—whether closed, i.e., with the folded temples in contact with the supporting surface, or unfolded, lying flat on the surface by the lower edge of the frame and the ends of the temples, or more stably, upside down on the surface by the front and the upper edge of the temples—so that the lenses do not come into contact with the supporting surface in any of these cases, and therefore there is no risk of them being damaged by the supporting surface.

[0004] In fact, more often than not, glasses are left lying around due to haste, carelessness, or negligence, so the lenses are often at risk of being damaged by impact or friction with the supporting surface itself or surrounding objects.

[0005] Existing technology In the name of the same applicant, EP-3224667 discloses a solution that is particularly effective for this problem, which is attributed to an eyeglass frame having frames that rotate relative to each other along a pivoting device about an axis of rotation, the pivoting device being located in an asymmetrical position relative to the bridge of the eyeglass frame, the axis of rotation being located in a plane passing through the center of the two frames and perpendicular to the frames.

[0006] Because of this structure, when the glasses are finished wearing, the two frames can be rotated 180° relative to each other to achieve the desired configuration, with the temples of the glasses positioned on opposite sides of the glasses, thus providing excellent protection for the lenses when folded.

[0007] The specific location of the pivoting device and associated axis of rotation disclosed herein allows a very comfortable folding method that effectively protects the lenses to be extended to any type of eyeglasses or sunglasses, regardless of the frame type and the pivot point of the temples on the frame. This method had previously been applied only occasionally to eyeglasses with low-prescription lenses and temples hinged at the center of the lenses (i.e., typically presbyopic glasses). For example, US-6257720 discloses a conventional solution of the latter type, in which the pivoting device is housed inside the nose bridge of the eyeglasses.

[0008] Eyeglasses manufactured according to the teachings of patent EP-3224667 immediately gained widespread public acceptance, enabling rapid improvements in their production and addressing specific aspects of key structural issues. These key issues primarily concerned the location of the pivoting mechanism between the two frames, which was integrated into the thickness of the frames, particularly in the frame near the bridge base. This inevitably resulted in a structural thickness with a very significant impact.

[0009] This arrangement is crucial for the proper operation of the frames rotating relative to each other, thus limiting the stylist's design freedom to some extent, especially in terms of the width of the bridge, the thickness of the frames, and the position of the front frame cut surface. This effectively disrupts the continuity of one of the two frames in the pivot area.

[0010] Furthermore, in actual use of the glasses, it has been found that the 360° rotational freedom between the two frames, which is a feature of the embodiment of the patent, still brings some drawbacks. In particular, when putting on and taking off the glasses, unexpected resistance may cause the glasses to start rotating unnecessarily or in the opposite direction to the desired direction.

[0011] Technical issues Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an eyeglass frame in which the mutual pivoting device of the two frames of the eyeglasses is positioned in such a way that it allows the stylist greater freedom in the style design of the eyeglasses, while maintaining the condition that the two frames are arranged in accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned patent and rotate about the axis of rotation.

[0012] Against the backdrop of this technical problem, the first object of the present invention is to provide an eyeglass frame in which the width of the bridge and the thickness of the frame—particularly the thickness of the lens frame—can be determined independently of the dimensions of the pivoting device.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an eyeglass frame in which the cut surface of the front frame can be selected independently of the position of the pivoting device.

[0014] Finally, the ultimate objective of this invention is to provide an eyeglass frame in which the two frames can rotate relative to each other by a maximum angle of 180°, i.e., from the normal use position to the fully flipped position. Summary of the Invention

[0015] This technical problem is solved and these objectives are achieved by an eyeglass frame having the features defined in claim 1 appended herein. Other preferred features of such an eyeglass frame are defined in the dependent claims. Attached Figure Description

[0016] However, further features and advantages of the eyeglass frames according to the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, which are given by way of non-limiting example only and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame according to the invention, viewed from the inside, wherein the temples are fully extended in their working position; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A stereoscopic view of the eyeglass frame as seen from the outside, with the temples fully extended in their working position; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The front view of the eyeglass frame as seen from the outside, with the temples fully folded in their usual idle position; Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The front view of the eyeglass frame as seen from the outside, with the temples fully extended in their working position, and the frame and associated temples rotated approximately 90° from their normal working position about an axis of rotation parallel to the front frame. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A view of an eyeglass frame, wherein the frame and associated temples are further rotated 90° about the axis of rotation; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A view of an eyeglass frame, with two temples folded in their idle position; Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A plan view of the eyeglass frame; Figure 8 It has components that can be disassembled. Figure 1 Similar views; Figure 9 It has components that can be disassembled. Figure 2 Similar views. Detailed Implementation

[0017] As shown in the accompanying drawings, the eyeglass frame according to the invention, when in use, looks the same as any other eyeglass frame currently used on the market, and is not limited to a specific design of the frame, bridge, or temples. Therefore, this eyeglass frame includes all the common components of conventional eyeglasses, particularly: a front frame consisting of two frames 2, 3 connected at the center by a bridge 1, and corresponding temples 4 and 5 connected to the outer portions of the frames 2, 3 by a pivoting device.

[0018] According to the teachings disclosed in the aforementioned patent EP-3224667, the mutual pivoting device 6 between frames 2 and 3 is not formed at the center of the front frame (i.e., corresponding to the nose bridge 1), but rather at an asymmetrical position relative to said nose bridge 1. More precisely, in order to provide optimal performance in terms of lens protection and the compactness of the arrangement of the eyeglasses in the rotational position, the pivoting device 6 must be positioned such that the associated axis of rotation R passes through as close as possible to the center of frames 2 and 3. In particular, the axis of rotation R is parallel to the line segment connecting the centers of frames 2 and 3, and preferably lies in a plane perpendicular to frame 2 and corresponding to or as close as possible to the center of frames 2 and 3, passing through the front frame of the eyeglasses. When frames 2 and 3 do not have a regular circular shape, the term "center of the frame" 2 and 3 herein refers to a point located inside frames 2 and 3, equidistant from the farthest upper and lower points of the frame.

[0019] In fact, as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, by arranging the axis of rotation R in the manner described above, a 180° rotation of frame 3 relative to frame 2 does not result in a significant (or only slight) vertical misalignment of the same frame 3 relative to frame 2, and this allows for perfect protection of the lenses housed within the temples 4 and 5. Simultaneously, this condition also allows the eyeglasses to maintain a very compact configuration in the flipped-up position, thanks to the perfect lateral alignment of the two frames in their respective planes (which, when referring to the normal position of the frames under reference conditions, is a substantially vertical plane), and also thanks to the opposing arches (slender S-shapes) of the front frame when viewed from above, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the two frames and associated lenses have curved surfaces facing opposite sides.

[0020] According to the innovative features of the present invention, and as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown in more detail, the pivoting device 6 is formed in an external structure different from the front frame and stably fixed to the front frame, rather than being formed inside the front frame body (i.e., one of the frames 2, 3 or the nose bridge 1) as taught in the aforementioned cited prior art. In a preferred embodiment, this structure includes a first rod 8 and a second rod 9 adjacent to each other along a contact line, extending to cover portions of the frames 2, 3, which are fixed to the first rod and the second rod on the back of the front frame. The first rod 8 corresponds to the contact line with the second rod 9 carrying the male end portion 6m of the pivoting device 6, while the second rod 9 corresponds to the same contact line with the first rod 8 carrying the box 7 that accommodates the female end portion 6f of the pivoting device 6 and the spring mechanism 7m. Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the spring mechanism 7m causes the pivoting device 6 to move between stable positions in discrete steps in a manner known per se, preferably offset from each other by 90°, to achieve a maximum rotation of approximately 180°.

[0021] Rods 8 and 9 are made of materials with high mechanical resistance, such as metals or composites based on plastics and reinforcing fibers, allowing them to be manufactured with low thickness and weight, thus providing a pleasing aesthetic effect on the eyeglasses with negligible impact on their weight, while ensuring sufficient mechanical strength to guarantee the long service life of the pivoting device 6. As an example, rods 8 and 9 consist of a thin rectangular cross-sectional profile, i.e., a profile with a thickness less than its height, thus forming a shape similar to the frames 2 and 3 in the overlapping area. Rods 8 and 9 can be simply stacked on the frames 2 and 3, or they can also be embedded therein, as shown in the figures, and they extend over at least a portion, and preferably the entire upper portion, of the frames 2 and 3. Rods 8 and 9 are fixed to the frames 2 and 3 by any known means, such as screws or adhesives, and are positioned to each other in such a way that the corresponding male end portion 6m and female end portion 6f constituting the pivoting device 6 precisely engage. The box 7 housing the pivoting device 6 remains visible on the inner part of the glasses, directly above the nose pad of the second frame 3, and thus in an area outside the normal field of vision, so that the user of the glasses will not detect its presence. From an aesthetic point of view, as Figure 3 As shown, it can also be noted that when the main body of frames 2 and 3 has a low thickness, the second rod 9 can be seen from the outside corresponding to the box 7. In this case, as shown in the figures, preferably, the first rod 8 is shaped to be completely symmetrical with the rod 9 near the nose pad, not for a specific technical purpose, but to give the eyeglasses frame a balanced and pleasing aesthetic appearance.

[0022] Finally, it is worth noting that, according to an important feature of eyeglass frames with the structure shown above, the cutting plane T between the first frame 2 and the second frame 3 does not necessarily need to be aligned with the contact line between the first rod 8 and the second rod 9. A slight misalignment between the cutting plane and the contact line actually allows the eyeglasses to produce an additional feature: the contact area between the rotating frame 3 and the portion of the first rod 8 protruding from the cutting plane T. Figure 5 This contact area thus provides a very stable limiting stop for the rotation of the frame 3.

[0023] As can be clearly seen from the foregoing description, the eyeglass frame according to the invention fully achieves all the intended objectives. In fact, forming the pivoting device 6 in an external structure different from the front frame, as a pivoting device consisting of a pair of rods 8 and 9, rather than in the front frame body, effectively frees the nose bridge 1 and the frames 2 and 3 from the obstruction of the pivoting device 6, thus giving the stylist greater design freedom, thereby achieving the first objective of the invention. As emphasized above, using a pair of rods 8 and 9 on the outside of the front frame as support for the pivoting device 6 allows the cutting plane T of the front frame to be set in an area not aligned with the contact line between the rods 8 and 9, thus again expanding the stylist's design freedom, thereby also achieving the second objective of the invention. Then, this last identical feature makes it easy to form the mechanical contact area of ​​the second frame 3 against the first rod 8, thereby also achieving the third objective of the invention.

[0024] The eyeglass frame of the present invention also achieves some important additional advantages, such as: - Because the thickness of the frame edges can be reduced as needed, the size of the lenses can be increased while keeping the total width of the front frame the same; - The cutting plane can be moved between the two frames of the glasses as needed, thereby avoiding the possible positioning of the cutting plane corresponding to the area where the glasses are mounted on the nose; - Because the first rod 8 is superimposed behind the unsightly "light" caused by the cutting plane T of the eyeglass frame, it can cover this light, which interrupts the continuity of the eyeglass frame.

[0025] It should be understood that the present invention should not be considered as limited to the specific arrangements shown above, which are merely exemplary embodiments thereof. Within the scope of what is possible for those skilled in the art, various variations may be made without departing from the scope of protection of the invention itself as defined only by the claims, particularly with respect to the configuration of the pivoting device 6 and the rods 8 and 9.

Claims

1. A type of eyeglass frame, comprising a front frame consisting of a first frame (2) and a second frame (3) for supporting lenses, and a nose bridge (1) possibly connecting the frames (2, 3), wherein, The frames (2, 3) are separated by a cutting plane (T), and the frames are further provided with at least one pivoting device (6) adapted to allow the frames (2, 3) to rotate about a rotation axis (R) at least 180° relative to each other, characterized in that the pivoting device (6) is formed in an external structure different from the front frame and is stably fixed to the front frame.

2. The eyeglass frame according to claim 1, wherein, The external structure, which is different from the front frame, includes a first rod (8) and a second rod (9), which are respectively superimposed on the first frame (2) and the second frame (3) and fixed to the first frame and the second frame on the back of the front frame.

3. The eyeglass frame according to claim 2, wherein, The first rod (8) includes the male end portion (6m) of the pivoting device (6) at its end facing the second rod (9), while the second rod (9) carries a box (7) that accommodates the female end portion (6f) of the pivoting device (6) at its end facing the first rod (8).

4. The eyeglass frame according to claim 3, wherein, The first rod (8) and the second rod (9) extend on at least a portion of the upper part of the first frame (2) and the second frame (3), respectively.

5. The eyeglass frame according to claim 3, wherein, The first rod (8) and the second rod (9) are partially embedded in the first frame and the second frame (2, 3).

6. The eyeglass frame according to claim 3, wherein, The first rod (8) and the second rod (9) are made of metal or a composite material based on plastic and reinforcing fibers.

7. The eyeglass frame according to claim 6, wherein, The first rod (8) and the second rod (9) are composed of a low-height rectangular cross-sectional profile.

8. The eyeglass frame according to claim 3, wherein, The first rod (8) and the second rod (9) are fixed to the first frame and the second frame (2, 3) by screws and / or adhesives.

9. The eyeglass frame according to claim 3, wherein, The cutting plane (T) between the first frame (2) and the second frame (3) is offset relative to the contact line between the first rod (8) and the second rod (9).

10. The eyeglass frame according to claim 9, wherein, An abutting area is provided between the rotating second frame (3) and the portion of the first rod (8) protruding from the cutting plane (T).

11. The eyeglass frame according to any one of the preceding claims further includes a spring mechanism (7m) housed in the case (7), the spring mechanism causing the pivoting device (6) to rotate in discrete steps between stable positions offset from each other by 90°.

12. The eyeglass frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The axis of rotation (R) is parallel to the line segment connecting the center of the frame (2, 3) and lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the frame (2, 3) and passes through the center of the frame (2, 3).

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