HOUSING FOR A SPRING HINGE OF EYEGLASSES, EYEGLASS PART WITH SUCH A HOUSING, AND EYEGLASSES WITH SUCH A EYEGLASS PART

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a housing for a spring hinge of eyeglasses, an eyeglass part with such a housing, and eyeglasses with such an eyeglass part.

[0002] Such a housing for a spring hinge for eyeglasses comprises a housing body with a receiving recess designed to accommodate a spring hinge mechanism. The housing is open at least partially at one end face of the housing body, thus having at least one opening at the end face that communicates with the receiving recess. This at least one opening is specifically designed to allow passage of a part of the spring hinge mechanism, in particular at least one hinge eye of the spring hinge mechanism, to connect it pivotally to another hinge part. The receiving recess has a cross-section along a longitudinal extension of the housing body, from the at least one opening to a receiving end facing away from the end face, which is suitable for arranging the spring hinge mechanism.

[0003] In known spring hinge housings, the housing body extends far beyond the receiving end along its longitudinal axis, away from the at least one opening. Particularly when the receiving recess is machined into the housing body using conventional methods, the relatively large tools used for this purpose, especially saws and / or milling cutters, create areas that serve solely as tool run-outs and have no further function for the spring hinge. For example, saws that create linear guide slots for the spring hinge mechanism require a run-out whose length corresponds to their diameter. This run-out, however, no longer serves to receive or guide the mechanism.In particular, the receiving recess in the area of ​​the tool exit has a cross-section, especially a reduced height, that is no longer suitable for accommodating the spring hinge mechanism. As a result, the end of the receiving recess and / or the housing body facing away from the end face extends comparatively far beyond the receiving end. This is problematic, firstly, because it requires an unnecessarily large amount of material for the housing, and secondly, because it negatively impacts its aesthetic appearance, as the housing must always be longer than is actually required for the spring hinge to function. Finally, this also restricts design freedom.

[0004] Document WO 2008 / 087050 A2 describes a known spring hinge mechanism.

[0005] The invention aims to further develop a housing of the type discussed here in such a way that the aforementioned disadvantages do not occur. The invention further aims to create a spectacle component with such a housing, as well as spectacles with such a spectacle component, without the aforementioned disadvantages occurring.

[0006] The problem is solved by creating the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments result from the dependent claims.

[0007] The problem is solved in particular by further developing a housing of the type discussed here by manufacturing the housing body in one piece using a metal powder injection molding process.

[0008] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the invention, the housing body is provided to end at a distance of no more than 1.15 mm behind the receiving end along its longitudinal extent.

[0009] In addition, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the receiving recess behind the receiving end is limited in the longitudinal direction by an inner wall which forms an angle of at least 88° to at most 92° with the longitudinal extent.

[0010] Using metal powder injection molding, the guide area of ​​the housing can be designed with relatively sharp edges, especially since the receiving recess is formed during the injection molding process itself, eliminating the need for machining. This allows the housing to be made correspondingly short without requiring additional material for a tool runout. The housing body can therefore advantageously end a short distance from the receiving end, so that the housing is essentially as long as, or only slightly longer than, required for the spring hinge mechanism to function. The receiving recess can be limited by a steeper inner wall compared to conventional housings, which also effectively reduces the housing length.In particular, it is possible to reduce the case length to a minimum, thus creating increased design freedom with regard to the case, the glasses part and the glasses themselves.

[0011] Particularly preferred is the housing body, in particular the housing, free from a tool runout; the housing body, in particular the housing, therefore has no tool runout.

[0012] Preferably, the housing is manufactured as a single piece using a metal powder injection molding process.

[0013] Preferably the housing body, in particular the housing, is made of stainless steel, in particular of high-strength stainless steel.

[0014] The housing body preferably ends along its longitudinal extent at a distance of at most 1.1 mm, preferably at most 1.05 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, preferably at most 0.96 mm, preferably at most 0.94 mm, behind the receiving end.

[0015] A longitudinal extension / longitudinal direction of the housing body is preferably understood to be a direction of the longest extension of the housing body, and / or a direction of action of the spring hinge mechanism, in particular a direction along which a bracket part of the spring hinge mechanism is displaced as intended and / or a spring element of the spring hinge mechanism is compressed or stretched in the housing depending on the actuation of the spring hinge mechanism.

[0016] The fact that the receiving recess behind the receiving end is limited in the longitudinal direction by the inner wall means that the receiving recess is limited by the inner wall on a side facing away from the end face along the longitudinal extent of the housing body.

[0017] In general, the term "behind" is used here to mean that an element positioned "behind" another element has a greater distance from the end face in the longitudinal direction than the element behind which it is positioned. In this sense, the housing body also terminates at the specified distance behind the receiving end, ending at a greater distance from the end face than the distance of the receiving end from the end face.

[0018] The receiving recess is preferably limited by the inner wall immediately behind the receiving end, or at a distance of no more than 0.4 mm, preferably no more than 0.35 mm behind the receiving end.

[0019] The inner wall can be straight or rounded when viewed along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent.

[0020] It is particularly preferred that the longitudinal extension is perpendicular to the inner wall, so that it forms an angle of 90° with the longitudinal extension.

[0021] A spring hinge mechanism is generally understood to be a mechanism that, in a manner known per se, allows a temple arm to be pushed beyond a wearing position relative to the central part of the spectacles in a direction away from a folded rest position. Such a spring hinge mechanism preferably comprises a spring element that can be arranged in the housing and a temple part that interacts with the spring element, wherein the temple part is designed to be displaceable relative to the housing and is partially arranged within the housing. In particular, the temple part protrudes from the at least one opening on the front face of the housing body with at least one hinge eye when mounted.Preferably, the spring hinge mechanism has a U-shaped bracket with two legs, each leg having a hinge eye, and the spring element is arranged between the legs of the U-shaped bracket. The spring element is preferably designed as a separate, loose compression spring.

[0022] The fact that the receiving recess, extending along its longitudinal extent from the at least one opening to the receiving end, has a cross-section suitable for accommodating the spring hinge mechanism, means in particular that the height and width of the receiving recess, measured perpendicular to its longitudinal extent, are large enough in this area to accommodate the spring hinge mechanism. It is possible that the receiving recess terminates directly at the receiving end, and in particular that the inner wall defining the receiving recess is located directly at the receiving end.However, it is also possible that the receiving recess extends beyond the receiving end, in which case the cross-section, particularly the height and / or width of the receiving recess, is reduced between the receiving end and an end of the receiving recess that is limited, in particular, by the inner wall, so that the spring hinge mechanism can only be inserted into the receiving recess up to the receiving end. Particularly preferably, the receiving recess—except for any functional recesses, for example, for locking the spring hinge mechanism—has a constant height and / or width from the at least one opening to the receiving end.

[0023] According to the invention, the housing body has a rear wall behind the receiving end, which is oriented transversely to its longitudinal extent. The rear wall has a wall thickness of at most 0.8 mm, preferably at most 0.75 mm, preferably at most 0.7 mm, preferably at most 0.65 mm, preferably at most 0.6 mm, and preferably at most 0.59 mm. The fact that the rear wall is oriented transversely to its longitudinal extent preferably means that it is oriented obliquely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent, preferably forming an angle of at least 88° to at most 92° with the longitudinal extent. Particularly preferably, the rear wall is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal extent, i.e., the longitudinal extent is perpendicular to the rear wall. The rear wall particularly forms the inner wall that delimits the receiving recess.The fact that the rear wall is oriented in the angular range mentioned here, preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal extent, means in particular that the housing, especially the housing body, has no slanted outlet, especially no tool outlet.

[0024] The housing body has the rear wall preferably located directly behind the receiving end, or at a longitudinally measured distance of no more than 0.4 mm, preferably no more than 0.35 mm, from the receiving end.

[0025] The back wall has a constant wall thickness along its height.

[0026] With the rear wall oriented transversely, preferably perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent, the housing can be very short.

[0027] According to the invention, the housing body, preferably the housing, has a length of at most 7.8 mm, preferably at most 7.75 mm, preferably at most 7.7 mm, preferably at most 7.65 mm, preferably at most 7.6 mm along its longitudinal extent. The housing can thus be very short overall and, in particular, have a minimum length required for the function of the spring hinge mechanism.

[0028] According to a further development of the invention, the housing has an end wall at its front face, the end wall itself having two openings corresponding to the receiving recess, these two openings being the at least one opening communicating with the receiving recess according to the preceding embodiments, wherein an end wall center section is arranged between the two off-center openings, which is designed as an abutment for the spring hinge mechanism. The housing, with the end wall center section designed as an abutment, is particularly suitable for forming a pre-assembled unit with the spring hinge mechanism, in particular the bracket part and the spring element, especially by pre-tensioning the bracket part and the spring element against the abutment within the housing.The housing can then be attached to a spectacle part in a particularly simple way, pre-assembled, in particular by welding, preferably by laser welding, in particular by heat conduction seam welding.

[0029] The fact that the two openings are arranged off-center means, in particular, that they are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of the housing and offset from the center of the housing body, and in particular symmetrically to a median plane of the housing in which the longitudinal direction runs. The lateral direction of the housing extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and, in particular, parallel to an imaginary hinge axis of the spring hinge mechanism. The height of the housing extends, in particular, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the imaginary hinge axis of the spring hinge mechanism. The height of the housing and the longitudinal direction together define the aforementioned median plane to which the lateral direction is perpendicular.

[0030] According to a further development of the invention, an outer surface of a top wall of the housing body slopes downwards from the front face in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the housing body – away from the front face to the rear. This sloping surface of the top wall allows for more material to be arranged in the area of ​​the front face, thereby strengthening, in particular, the central section of the front wall and thus the abutment for the spring mechanism. Preferably, the housing as a whole, and especially the housing body, has a slightly wedge-shaped contour that slopes downwards to the rear.

[0031] The top wall defines the upper boundary of the receiving recess. The housing body also preferably has two side walls that define the sides of the receiving recess. The aforementioned rear wall defines the rear boundary of the receiving recess. The front wall preferably defines the front boundary of the receiving recess.

[0032] According to a further development of the invention, the outer surface of the ceiling wall forms an angle of at least 0.8° to at most 1.2°, preferably 1°, with its longitudinal extent. The ceiling wall thus has a slight wedge shape.

[0033] Preferably, the material thickness of the ceiling wall decreases from the front face towards the rear – preferably continuously. This results, in conjunction with the sloping outer surface, particularly when the internal height of the recess – except for the aforementioned functional recesses – is constant.

[0034] According to a further development of the invention, the receiving recess is open at the end face. In this case, the central end wall section or the end wall itself is omitted. This housing configuration is particularly suitable for soldering to a spectacle component. When soldering as a fastening method, pre-assembly of the spring hinge mechanism in the housing is not feasible because the heat input would be too high, potentially damaging the spring mechanism during soldering, especially causing the spring element to overheat and become annealed. Therefore, in this case, the housing is first soldered to the spectacle component, and then the spring mechanism is positioned in the receiving recess. For this purpose, the receiving recess is open at the end face, allowing the spring mechanism to be inserted into the receiving recess from the end face.Since the abutment, which is formed integrally with the housing body, is missing in this case, a separate locking element must be provided. This locking element preferably engages in a detent recess in the top wall of the housing body when assembled, thus being supported in this detent recess. Such designs are known in themselves, so they will not be discussed in further detail here.

[0035] According to a further development of the invention, the housing body has a central recess on its end face, in the area of ​​which a injection point for manufacturing the housing body is located. In the area of ​​the central recess, the surface of the end face recedes backward, so that in the assembled state of a spring hinge, there is no contact between the mating hinge part and the housing. If the injection point is located in the central recess, any material residues and interfering contours that may remain from the sprue removal process do not impair the function of the finished spring hinge. The cams of the mating hinge part preferably extend laterally alongside the central recess on the end face of the housing.

[0036] Preferably, only one injection point is provided for metal powder injection molding of the housing, wherein this is arranged in the area of ​​the central recess.

[0037] The central recess is specifically designed as a recess in the end face. Preferably, the central recess is designed as a cylindrical wall section, with one axis of the imaginary cylinder oriented vertically in the housing body, i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions.

[0038] If the housing has a central end wall section, the central recess is preferably formed on an outer side of the central end wall section.

[0039] If, on the other hand, the receiving recess is open at the front, the central recess is preferably formed at the front against the ceiling wall.

[0040] The problem is ultimately solved by creating a spectacle component that includes a housing according to the invention or a housing according to one of the previously described embodiments. In connection with the spectacle component, the advantages already explained in connection with the housing are realized in particular.

[0041] The housing body is preferably attached to the spectacle part by laser welding. This is particularly preferred for a housing which has an end wall with a central end wall section on its front face.

[0042] Alternatively, the housing body is preferably attached to the spectacle part by soldering. This is particularly the case with a housing where the mounting recess is open at the front.

[0043] The spectacle part is preferably designed as a temple or, alternatively, as the center part of spectacles. The temple design is particularly preferred.

[0044] According to a further development of the invention, the housing body is attached to the spectacle part by laser welding, with the laser welds being arranged exclusively on the side walls of the housing. In particular, the housing is welded to the spectacle part on both sides in the area of ​​the lower edges of the side walls. This is sufficient for a stable attachment of the housing to the spectacle part.

[0045] Alternatively, laser welds can be applied exclusively to the side walls and the rear wall of the housing. In this case, the housing is also closed at the rear when mounted to the eyeglass component, thus providing particularly effective protection against dirt and moisture ingress.

[0046] The end wall of the housing body is preferably free of laser welds. Therefore, preferably no laser weld is arranged in the area of ​​the end wall. Nevertheless, in the housing proposed here, the central section of the end wall, which serves as an abutment, can be manufactured to be sufficiently robust to absorb the forces acting during the use of the spring hinge mechanism, particularly if the housing, and especially the housing body, is made of high-strength stainless steel. Furthermore, the rearward-sloping outer surface of the top wall can contribute to ensuring sufficient material thickness for the housing body in the area of ​​the abutment, which further increases its resistance. The fact that no laser weld is provided in the area of ​​the end wall, in turn, leads to a particularly simple, quick, and cost-effective attachment of the housing to the spectacle part.

[0047] The problem is ultimately solved by creating a pair of glasses that includes a spectacle part according to the invention or a spectacle part according to one of the previously described embodiments. In connection with the glasses, the advantages that have already been explained in connection with the housing on the one hand and the spectacle part on the other become particularly apparent.

[0048] Preferably, the glasses comprise two spectacle parts according to the invention or two spectacle parts according to one or more of the previously described embodiments. In particular, the glasses preferably comprise two housings according to the invention or two housings according to one or more of the previously described embodiments.

[0049] The housing variant, which has the end wall and the end wall center section, as well as the other housing variant, in which the receiving recess is open at the end, can preferably be produced in the same injection molding tool, whereby a tool insert can be used to produce the variant open at the end, by which the casting volume otherwise available for the end wall and / or the end wall center section is blocked.

[0050] Because of the central recess, a snap cam of a three-lobed hinge part of a pair of glasses, which acts as a counter-hinge part, only runs on the two outer lobes on the front of the case in the housing proposed here.

[0051] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a housing for a spring hinge of eyeglasses from a first viewpoint; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the first embodiment of the housing according to Figure 1 from a second perspective; Figure 3 a third representation of the first embodiment of the housing according to the Figures 1 and 2 in a view from below, and Figure 4 shows a representation of a second embodiment of a housing for a spring hinge.

[0052] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a housing 1 for a spring hinge of eyeglasses, wherein the housing 1 comprises a housing body 3 with a Figure 2 has a recognizable receiving recess 5. The receiving recess 5 serves to receive a Figure 3 spring hinge mechanism shown 7.

[0053] As again in Figure 1As shown, the housing 1 has at least one opening 11 communicating with the receiving recess 5, here two openings 11, on an end face 9 of the housing body 3.

[0054] Again in Figure 2 It is evident that the receiving recess 5, extending along a longitudinal dimension of the housing body 3 from the at least one opening 11 to a receiving end 13 facing away from the end face 9, has a cross-section suitable for arranging the spring hinge mechanism 7. Viewed along the longitudinal dimension behind the receiving end 13, the cross-section of the receiving recess decreases, in this case in particular by rounded corners 15, over which side walls 17 of the housing body 3 transition into a rear wall 19, but also by a rounding over which a top wall 21 transitions into the rear wall 19.

[0055] The housing body 3 is manufactured in one piece using a metal powder injection molding process, preferably from stainless steel, in particular from a high-strength stainless steel.

[0056] The housing body 3 terminates along its longitudinal extent at a distance of at most 1.15 mm, preferably at most 1.1 mm, preferably at most 1.05 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, preferably at most 0.96 mm, preferably at most 0.94 mm, behind the receiving end 13 with a housing body end 23. Alternatively or additionally, the receiving recess 5 behind the receiving end 13 is longitudinally bounded by an inner wall 25 which forms an angle of at least 88° to at most 92°, preferably 90°, with its longitudinal extent.

[0057] The housing 1 is therefore very short and in particular only has a length that is necessary for the functioning of the spring hinge mechanism 7.

[0058] The rear wall 19, which the housing body 3 has behind the receiving end 13, is preferably oriented transversely, in particular at an angle of at least 88° to at most 92°, preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal extent. The rear wall 19 preferably has a wall thickness of at most 0.8 mm, preferably at most 0.75 mm, preferably at most 0.7 mm, preferably at most 0.65 mm, preferably at most 0.59 mm.

[0059] The housing body 3 has a length of at most 7.8 mm, preferably at most 7.75 mm, preferably at most 7.7 mm, preferably at most 7.65 mm, preferably at most 7.6 mm along its longitudinal extent.

[0060] In particular, based on Figure 1It becomes clear again that the housing 1 preferably has an end wall 27 at its front face 9, wherein an end wall central section 29 is formed between the two openings 11 in the end wall 27, which serves as an abutment for the spring hinge mechanism 7. This first embodiment of the housing 1, as designed in this way, is preferably welded to a spectacle part, in particular by laser welding. The spring hinge mechanism 7 can be pre-assembled in the receiving recess 5, in particular by being supported on the end wall central section 29, which serves as an abutment.

[0061] When welding the housing body 3 of this first embodiment to a spectacle part, laser welds are preferably formed only on the side walls 17, or only on the side walls 17 and the rear wall 19. The end wall 27, on the other hand, preferably remains free of a laser weld.

[0062] The housing 1 is preferably attached to a part of the glasses designed as a temple or as the middle part of glasses.

[0063] An outer surface 31 of the ceiling wall 21 slopes down from the end face 9 in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the housing body 3. In this way, the material thickness can be increased, particularly in the area of ​​the central section 29 of the end wall, and thus this section can be stabilized. The abutment for the spring mechanism 7 can be sufficiently stable, even if there is no fixation by a laser weld in this area.

[0064] In the first embodiment shown here, the end wall center section 29 has a central recess 33 on its outer side, which here in particular has the shape of a cylinder wall section, wherein the imaginary cylinder axis extends in the vertical direction of the housing 1. A injection point for manufacturing the housing 1 is in particular arranged within this central recess 33.

[0065] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows – as already explained – another view of the first embodiment of the housing 1. Identical and functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures, so that reference is made to the preceding description in each case.

[0066] In Figure 2 The receiving recess 5, the openings 11 communicating with it, and the front wall central section 29 are particularly easy to see.

[0067] Fig. 3Figure 1 shows a view of the first embodiment of the housing 1 from below. As already mentioned, the spring mechanism 7, which comprises a bracket 35 and a spring element 37, is also shown here. The bracket 35 is specifically U-shaped with two legs 39, with the spring element 37 arranged between the legs 39 of the bracket 35. The bracket 35 projects from the housing 1, specifically from the receiving recess 5, through the openings 11 by means of two hinge eyes 41. The spring element 37 rests against the end wall center section 29 as a support.

[0068] In Figure 3It is clearly evident that the spring hinge mechanism 7 projects into the receiving recess 5 only as far as the receiving end 13, with the rear wall 19 and, in particular, the inner wall 25 being arranged at a distance from the receiving end 13 and thus from the spring hinge mechanism 7. However, it is also possible to design the housing 1 such that the inner wall 25 is arranged directly against the receiving end 13, so that the spring hinge mechanism 7 abuts the inner wall 25 in its unloaded, relaxed, or pre-tensioned state.

[0069] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a representation of a second embodiment of the housing 1. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment according to the figures shown. Figures 1 to 3by the fact that the receiving recess 5 is open at its end face, and in particular the central end face section 29 is not present. This design of the housing 1 is specifically intended for soldering to a spectacle part. The spring hinge mechanism 7 can then be inserted into the receiving recess 5 through the open end face 9 after the housing body 3 has been soldered to a spectacle part.

[0070] In this embodiment, the central recess 33 is arranged on the end face of the ceiling wall 21. In this case as well, the injection point for manufacturing the housing 1 is located in the central recess 33.

[0071] The housing 1 is preferably part of a pair of glasses, which in particular has a spectacle part to which the housing body 3 is attached.

Claims

1. Housing (1) for a spring hinge of spectacles, comprising - a housing body (3) having a receptacle recess (5) for receiving a spring hinge mechanism (7) in the receptacle recess (5), wherein - the housing (1) has at least one opening (11) on a front face (9) of the housing body (3) which communicates with the receptacle recess (5), wherein - the receptacle recess (5) has a cross-section suitable for arranging the spring hinge mechanism (7) along a longitudinal extension of the housing body (3) from the at least one opening (11) to a receiving end (13) facing away from the front face (9), wherein - the cross-section of the receptacle recess (5) decreases behind the receiving end (13), wherein - the housing body (3) is manufactured in one piece using a metal powder injection moulding process, wherein - the housing body (3) ends along the longitudinal extension at a distance of at most 1.15 mm behind the receiving end (13), wherein - the housing body (3) has a length of at most 7.8 mm along the longitudinal extension, wherein - the housing body (3) has a rear wall (19) behind the receiving end (13), which is oriented transversely to the longitudinal extension, wherein the rear wall (19) has a wall thickness of at most 0.8 mm, wherein the housing body has the rear wall at a distance of at most 0.4 mm from the receiving end (13) measured in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the rear wall has a wall thickness that is constant along its height.

2. Housing (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the receptacle recess (5) behind the receiving end (13) is bounded in the longitudinal direction by an inner wall (25) which forms an angle of at least 88° to at most 92° with the longitudinal extension.

3. Housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rear wall (19) is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal extension.

4. Housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (1) has a front wall (27) on the front face (9) with two openings (11) which communicate with the receptacle recess (5), wherein a front wall centre section (29) is arranged between the two off-centre openings (11), which is designed as an abutment for the spring hinge mechanism (7).

5. Housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an outer surface (31) of a ceiling wall (21) of the housing body (3) slopes downwards from the front face (9) in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the housing body (3).

6. Housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterised in that the receptacle recess (5) is open on the front face7. Housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing body (3) has a central recess (33) on the front face (9), in the area of which an injection point for the manufacture of the housing body (3) is arranged.

8. Spectacle part, with a housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the housing body (3) is preferably attached to the spectacle part a) by laser welding, or b) by soldering.

9. Spectacle part according to claim 8, characterised in that the housing body (3) is attached to the spectacle part by laser welding, wherein laser welds are formed only on side walls (17), or only on side walls (17) and on the rear wall (19) of the housing body (3).

10. Spectacles, with at least one spectacle part according to one of claims 8 or 9.