Spectacles with elastic hinges

Abstract

The invention relates to spectacles (10) with elastic hinges comprising two temples (14) and a frame (12) suitable for holding lenses (16), each temple extending along a longitudinal direction between a distal end at a distance from the frame and a proximal end connected to the frame, the proximal end of the temple comprising a flexible portion (40) which has an inner face (46) arranged so as to be oriented towards the head of a user when the spectacles are being worn. The spectacles also comprise, for each temple, a removably-attached elastic insert (62) in the vicinity of the inner face of the flexible portion, the elastic insert determining the tightness of the temples against the head of the user when the spectacles are being worn.

Description

Glasses with elastic hinges. technical field

[0001] This disclosure relates to glasses with elastic hinges. Previous technique

[0002] It has been proposed that glasses have a frame designed to hold lenses and two temples connected to the frame by elastic hinges. Such elastic hinges eliminate the need for pivot hinges. They are generally configured to push the temples together, tightening against the wearer's head when the glasses are worn. This allows the glasses to fit snugly on the wearer's head.

[0003] However, when the dimensions or the tightness of the glasses are not well adapted to the user, the pressure caused by the elastic hinges can generate uncomfortable pressure points on the user's head.

[0004] In addition, the aging of glasses can generate a loss of elasticity in the elastic hinges, so that the proper retention of the glasses on the user's head may degrade over time.

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is, in particular, to mitigate all or part of the aforementioned disadvantages. Summary

[0006] To this end, glasses with elastic hinges are proposed, comprising two temples and a frame adapted to hold lenses, each temple extending in a longitudinal direction between a distal end away from the frame and a proximal end connected to the frame, the proximal end of the temple comprising a flexible portion which has an inner face arranged to be oriented towards the head of a user when the glasses are worn, the glasses further comprising, for each temple, an elastic insert which is removably fixed in the vicinity of the inner face of the flexible portion, said elastic insert determining the tightness of the temples on the head of the user when the glasses are worn.

[0007] Thus, the insert determines the flexibility of the flexible sections. When several inserts are available with different elastic properties, the glasses can be adapted to different uses, to users with different head widths or preferences, while remaining comfortable and ensuring a secure fit. Furthermore, when the elastic insert ages and loses some of its elasticity, it may be possible to replace it, thereby extending the lifespan of the glasses.

[0008] The features described in the following paragraphs may optionally be implemented, independently of each other or in combination with each other:

[0009] - the elastic insert is fixed by fitting it onto the said flexible portion of the branch;

[0010] - the elastic insert comprises a first tenon, a second tenon and a longitudinal body extending between the first tenon and the second tenon, the first and second tenons being fitted on either side of the flexible portion so as to be able to exert traction on the longitudinal body the arms are spread apart from each other;

[0011] - the first and second tenons are fitted into cavities formed in the flexible portion;

[0012] - the cavities are open towards the inner face of the flexible portion;

[0013] - each tenon includes at least one shoulder extending towards the longitudinal body, engaged in a groove extending the corresponding cavity under a rim of the corresponding branch;

[0014] - a portion of each cavity is left free by the tenon so as to allow sufficient movement of the tenon in the cavity to free said shoulder from the corresponding groove;

[0015] - in the vicinity of each cavity, the longitudinal body is received in a groove, said groove being open towards the inner face of the flexible portion, said groove extending along the longitudinal direction;

[0016] - the flexible portion comprises an outer wall and a series of bosses projecting from said outer wall towards the inner face, said bosses being aligned along the longitudinal direction and forming teeth which extend parallel to the inner face to delimit a channel, the insert being adapted to be fitted into said channel;

[0017] - all the teeth extend in the same direction, and the canal is open parallel to the inner face;

[0018] - the frame includes a curved portion extending between the temples and the temples extend in continuity with the curved portion of the frame, the glasses having a rounded shape adapted to fit around the head of a user;

[0019] - the frame and temples are made of a thermoplastic polyamide, and the insert is made of an elastomer material. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Other features, details, and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below and analyzing the attached drawings, on which:

[0021] Figure 1 schematically represents a perspective view of an example of glasses.

[0022] Figure 2 schematically represents an exploded perspective view of the example glasses in Figure 1.

[0023] Figure 3 schematically represents a top view of the example glasses in Figure 1.

[0024] Figure 4 schematically represents a perspective view of a detail of a branch that can be implemented in the example of glasses in figure 1.

[0025] Figure 5 schematically represents a view from a different perspective of the detail in Figure 4.

[0026] Figure 6 schematically represents a detail of figure 4.

[0027] Figure 7 schematically represents a perspective view of an elastic insert that can be implemented in the glasses of Figure 1.

[0028] Figure 8 schematically represents a perspective view of the detail of figure 4 with the elastic insert of figure 5.

[0029] Figure 9 schematically represents a view from a different perspective of the detail in Figure 4 with the elastic insert in Figure 5.

[0030] Figure 10 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of the detail of Figure 4 with the elastic insert of Figure 5. Description of the implementation methods

[0031] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of glasses 10. The glasses 10 essentially comprise, as illustrated, a frame 12 and two temples 14. The frame 12 is designed to allow the attachment of lenses 16. The lenses 16 may be, in particular, corrective lenses, sun protection lenses, or clear lenses. The temples 14 extend on either side of the frame 12 to allow the wearer to wear the glasses 10.

[0032] The frame 12 and the temples 14 can be formed here as a single piece, simplifying the manufacture of the glasses 10. The frame 12 and the temples 14, as described above, are made of a rigid material, for example, a polyamide thermoplastic. The material could, for example, be Grilamid®, produced by the company EMS-GRIVORY.

[0033] Here, the frame 12 may include a curved portion 18 connecting the two temples 14 and a nose pad 20 extending perpendicularly to the curved portion 18, substantially at the center of the curved portion 18. The curved portion 18 extends along the user's forehead when the glasses 10 are worn. The nose pad 20 may include two fingers 22, giving it a substantially "Y" shape, to fit onto the user's nose.

[0034] As more clearly seen in Figure 2, in the particular example shown, the curved portion 18 may include a receiving area 23 for the lenses 16. Two projections 24 may project from the receiving area 23 to engage respectively in two openings 26 formed in the lenses 16. In addition, the nose pad 20 may include an upward-opening hook 28, into which a lower edge of the lenses 16 may be inserted. Therefore, the The lenses 16 can be fixed to the frame 12 by fitting the edge of the lenses 16 into the hook 28 of the nose pad 20 and by inserting the openings 26 of the lenses 16 into the projections 24 of the frame 12. The lenses 16 are thus removable and can easily be replaced, in the example considered.

[0035] Each arm 14 extends in a longitudinal direction from the frame 12. Each arm 14 has a proximal end connected to the frame 12 and a distal end intended to be in the vicinity of a user's ears when the glasses 10 are worn.

[0036] The temples 14 extend here in a substantially curved manner towards the inside of the glasses 10, that is, towards the user's head when the glasses 10 are worn. The curvature of the temples 14 helps to exert pressure on the user's head to ensure that the glasses 10 stay securely in place. Here, each temple 14 extends in line with the curved portion 18 of the frame 12. Thus, viewed from above (see Figure 3), the glasses 10 have a substantially rounded shape adapted to fit snugly around the user's head.

[0037] A stem 30 can be attached to the distal end of each temple 14, extending in line with the temples 14. The stems 30 are designed to rest on the user's ears. The stems 30 can be made of elastomer to increase user comfort when wearing the glasses 10. The stem 30 may, for example, include a housing 32 and a groove 34, adapted to cooperate with a tab 36 and a rib 38 formed on each temple 14.

[0038] As more clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5, the proximal end of each arm 14, near the frame 12, has a flexible portion 40. The flexible portion 40 forms an elastic hinge allowing the arms 14 to rotate relative to the frame 12, substantially around an axis of rotation X. The flexible portion 40 forces the arms 14 inwards towards the glasses 10, allowing the arms 14 to rest elastically on either side of the user's head.

[0039] The flexible portion 40 here comprises a series of bosses 42 aligned along the longitudinal direction of the corresponding arm 14. The bosses 42 project from an outer wall 44 of the flexible portion 40, opposite the user's head when the glasses are worn, to an inner face 46 of the flexible portion 42, facing the user's head when the glasses 10 are worn. The gaps between the bosses 42 provide flexibility to the flexible portion 40.

[0040] Each boss 42 here forms a tooth 48 extending parallel to the axis of rotation X. Here, the teeth 48 extend downwards when the glasses 10 are worn. All the teeth 48 are parallel to each other, so that the teeth 48 define a channel 50 extending along the longitudinal direction of the temples 14. The channel 50 is open parallel to the inner face 46 of the flexible portion 40 (here downwards), to receive by interlocking a longitudinal body 68 of an elastic insert 62, as illustrated in Figures 7 to 10.

[0041] The elastic insert 62 is made of a flexible material, specifically elastomer.

[0042] The longitudinal body 68 can be rectangular in cross-section, here square, but any other cross-section could be considered. The longitudinal body 68 is inserted into the channel 50 (here from below) to rest at the bottom of the channel 50, held in place by the teeth 48. The channel 50 can have a width (perpendicular to the inner face 46) corresponding to the width 11 of the longitudinal body 68, to receive it with virtually no play.

[0043] The channel 50 defined by the teeth 48 can be extended on either side of the flexible portion 40 by two grooves 54 formed in the corresponding arm 14 (see Figures 4 to 6). Each groove 54 is open towards the inner face 46 of the flexible portion 40 (i.e., towards the inside of the lenses 10). The groove 54 is thus adapted to retain the longitudinal body 68 parallel to the aforementioned inner face 46. The groove 54 can have a height (parallel to the inner face 46) corresponding to the height H1 of the longitudinal body 48, so as to receive it with substantially no play.

[0044] The end of the groove 54 opposite the series of bosses 42 opens into a cavity 52 formed in the arm 14. The cavities 52 are open towards the inner face 46 of the flexible portion 40 (i.e. towards the inside of the glasses 10).

[0045] The cavities 52 receive, by means of a fitting, tenons 64, 66 provided at opposite ends of the elastic insert 62 (see figures 7 to 10). The tenons 64, 66 bear against the ends of the cavities 52 near the grooves 54, to tension the longitudinal body 68 of the elastic insert 62. This tension causes an elastic force on the arms 14 towards each other, substantially rotating about the axis of rotation X.

[0046] The tenons 64, 66 have a height H1, measured parallel to the inner face 46, which is greater than the height H2 of the longitudinal body 68. Each cavity 52 can have the same height H1 as the tenons 66, 68, so as to receive the tenons 66, 68 substantially without play in height (i.e. parallel to the axis of rotation X).

[0047] As can be clearly seen in figures 4 to 6, each cavity 52 can extend on either side of the corresponding groove 54 by grooves 61 parallel to the inner face 46, delimited between the outer wall 44 and the edges 60 of the branch 14.

[0048] These grooves 61 receive by fitting corresponding shaped shoulders 70 tenons 64, 66 (figures 7 to 10), so as to retain the tenons 64, 66 in the cavities 52 perpendicular to the inner face 46.

[0049] An opening 63 extending parallel to the axis of rotation X can be formed in the branch 14 at the level of each cavity 52 to allow the molding of the grooves 61.

[0050] As shown in Figures 6 to 10, each cavity 52 may have a main portion 56 in which the corresponding tenon 64, 66 can slide along the longitudinal direction of the arm 14. This portion 56 has a length L1, along the longitudinal direction of the arm 14, which is greater than or equal to the length L2 of the tenon 64, 66 (including shoulder 70), so as to allow the tenon 64, 66 to be placed in the cavity 52 when mounting the elastic insert 62 or to be extracted from the cavity 52 when dismantling the elastic insert 62 for example in order to replace it.

[0051] When the elastic insert 62 is mounted, a portion of the cavity 52, opposite the groove 54, is left free. This free portion not only allows the tenon 64, 66 to translate and release the shoulders 70, but also allows a tool to be inserted under the tenon 64, 66 to facilitate its extraction by leverage.

[0052] Optionally, the cavity 54 may include an end portion 58 that extends the main portion 56 opposite the groove 54, further facilitating the insertion of such a tool. This end portion 58 may optionally be pointed, converging opposite the groove 54.

[0053] The length of the elastic insert 62, measured along the longitudinal direction of the arm 14, can be between 20 and 30 mm. However, any other length of the elastic insert 62 could be considered. The length of the elastic insert 62 can be chosen to adjust the force applied by the elastic insert 62 to the flexible portion 40 of the frame 12.

[0054] The elasticity of the elastic insert 62 can also be chosen to adjust the stress applied by the elastic insert 62 on the flexible portion 40 of the frame 12.

[0055] Thus, particularly when several types of elastic inserts 62 (of different lengths and / or elastic properties) are available, it is possible to adjust the tightness of the temples 14 on the user's head to optimize wearing comfort and / or the fit of the glasses. The elastic inserts 62 can also be replaced, especially if the user wants to change the intended use of the glasses (e.g., leisure / sports) or wishes to adjust the tightness of the temples 14 for any other reason, or to replace worn elastic inserts 62 with new ones.

Claims

Demands

1. Glasses (10) with elastic hinges comprising two temples (14) and a frame (12) adapted to hold lenses (16), each temple (14) extending in a longitudinal direction between a distal end away from the frame (12) and a proximal end connected to the frame (12), the proximal end of the temple (14) comprising a flexible portion (40) which has an inner face (46) arranged to be oriented towards the head of a user when the glasses (10) are worn, the glasses (10) further comprising, for each temple (14), an elastic insert (62) which is removably fixed in the vicinity of the inner face (46) of the flexible portion (40), said elastic insert (62) determining the tightness of the temples (14) on the head of the user when the glasses (10) are worn.

2. Glasses (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elastic insert (62) is fixed by snap-fit ​​to said flexible portion (40) of the temple (14).

3. Glasses (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic insert (62) comprises a first tenon (64), a second tenon (66) and a longitudinal body (68) extending between the first tenon (64) and the second tenon (66), the first and second tenons (64, 66) being fitted on either side of the flexible portion (40) so as to be able to exert traction on the longitudinal body (68) when the temples (14) are separated from each other.

4. Glasses (10) according to claim 3, wherein the first and second pins (64, 66) are fitted into cavities (52) formed in the flexible portion (40).

5. Glasses (10) according to claim 4, wherein the cavities (52) are open towards the inner face (46) of the flexible portion (40).

6. Glasses (10) according to claim 5, in which each tenon (62, 64) comprises at least one shoulder (70) extending towards the longitudinal body (68), engaged in a groove (61) extending the corresponding cavity (52) under a rim (60) of the corresponding temple (14).

7. Glasses (10) according to claim 6, wherein a portion of each cavity (52) is left free by the tenon (64, 66) so as to permit sufficient movement of the tenon (64, 66) in the cavity (52) to free said shoulder (70) from the corresponding groove (61).

8. Glasses (10) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein, in the vicinity of each cavity (52), the longitudinal body (68) is received in a groove (54), said groove (54) being open towards the inner face (46) of the flexible portion (40), said groove (54) extending along the longitudinal direction.

9. Glasses (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible portion (40) comprises an outer wall (44) and a series of bosses (42) projecting from said outer wall (44) towards the inner face (46), said bosses (42) being aligned along the longitudinal direction and forming teeth (48) which extend parallel to the inner face (46) to delimit a channel (50), the insert (62) being adapted to be fitted into said channel (50).

10. Glasses (10) according to claim 9, wherein all the teeth (48) extend in the same direction, and the channel (50) is open parallel to the inner face (46).

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