Secondary frame couplable to a main frame and assembly comprising the secondary frame and the main frame

Abstract

Secondary frame attachable to a main frame comprising a front, the front having a shape extending along a longitudinal direction, and having at least a first main seat, and a first endpiece and a second endpiece placed at ends that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction, the secondary frame comprising a mounting having at least a first secondary seat, a first lateral coupling element and a second lateral coupling element, made of an elastically deformable material, supported by the mounting and couplable to the front so that the secondary frame is attached to the main frame and that the first secondary seat lies at least partially in front of the first main seat along a transversal direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, characterized in that at least the first lateral coupling element and the second lateral coupling element are couplable respectively to the first endpiece and the second endpiece.

Description

[0001] SECONDARY FRAME COUPLABLE TO A MAIN FRAME AND ASSEMBLY

[0002] COMPRISING THE SECONDARY FRAME AND THE MAIN FRAME

[0003] The present invention relates to a secondary frame attachable to a main frame, and to an assembly comprising such secondary frame and main frame.

[0004] In the technical field of glasses, secondary frames supporting secondary lenses have been known for some time, which can be temporarily attached to the glasses, and in particular to the front of the main frame thereof, to allow the wearer of such glasses to take advantage of the (usually screening) properties of the secondary lenses without having to give up the (usually refracting) action of the main lenses mounted on the main frame. An example of such secondary frames is represented by clip- on masks with sunglass lenses, such masks being able to be attached if needed to the prescription glasses so that the sunglass lenses lie in front of the corresponding prescription lenses, and then to be uncoupled from the prescription glasses and removed once the use is finished. Indeed, it is known that the term clip-on refers to a kind of reversible coupling between the main frame and the secondary frame that allows the same to be easily connected and disconnected to each other, depending on the needs.

[0005] Currently, two different types of reversible coupling are diffused to attach the secondary frames to the main frames of the glasses. A first type of coupling involves employing permanent magnets mounted on the main frame and on the secondary frame, so that bringing the two frames close to each other generates an attractive force between the magnets capable of blocking and keeping the secondary frame in position with respect to the glasses. Although practical and convenient in mounting, such solution has some drawbacks. Firstly, a secondary frame characterized by such coupling system can be attached only to glasses having a main frame on which the corresponding magnets are mounted. Furthermore, the attractive force generated between the magnets is often insufficient to firmly keep the secondary frame in position when the wearer of the glasses moves intensely, as in the case of children, or engages in sports activities, unless particularly large magnets are used which would negatively impact the aesthetics of the secondary frame.

[0006] Instead, the second type of coupling currently employed to attach the secondary frames to the main frames of the glasses is mechanical and involves using hooks or coupling portions made of metal or plastic rigidly connected to the secondary frame and placed on the lens contour thereof, such hooks or coupling portions being engageable with the main frame of the glasses, in particular with the front thereof, to position and block the secondary lenses in front of the main lenses. However, this second solution requires certain manual skills for mounting and dismounting operations and poses the risk of breaking and detaching those parts that engage the main frame. Furthermore, the hooks or coupling portions, being rigid and protruding, can injure the person handling the secondary frame, and can also damage the main frame during mounting or dismounting.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and, in particular, to make a secondary frame that is simple to attach to the main frame of the glasses, firmly couplable to it, safe for the wearer, and free of parts that could be detached.

[0008] This and other results are achieved according to the present invention by making a secondary frame as set forth in claim 1 and an assembly of secondary frame and main frame as set forth in claim 10.

[0009] Further features of the secondary frame are the object of the dependent claims.

[0010] The present invention will now be described, by way of illustration, but not limitation, according to its preferred embodiments, with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

[0011] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a secondary frame according to the invention;

[0012] - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the secondary frame of Figure 1 and of glasses to which such secondary frame is attachable;

[0013] - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the secondary frame of Figure 1 attached to the glasses of Figure 2;

[0014] - Figure 4 is a top view of Figure 1;

[0015] - Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 1;

[0016] - Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Figure 5;

[0017] - Figure 6B is a sectional view taken along the line VIB-VIB of Figure 5;

[0018] - Figure 7 is a front view of Figure 3;

[0019] - Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- VIII of Figure 7;

[0020] - Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 8 included in the circle indicated by IX.

[0021] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a secondary frame attachable to a front F of glasses OC is overall indicated by 1. As known, the glasses OC comprise a main frame M that supports a first main lens LI and a second main lens L2. More specifically, the main frame M firstly comprises a front F having an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal direction X: such front F has a first main seat and a second main seat adapted to respectively house the first main lens LI and the second main lens L2, and has a first endpiece T1 and a second endpiece T2 placed at the opposite ends of the front F along the longitudinal direction X. The front F is also delimited by an upper profile PS and a lower profile PI opposite to each other along a sagittal direction Y that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, so that such profiles PS, PI are delimited at the respective ends along the longitudinal direction X by the endpieces T1 and T2. In detail, the main lenses LI, L2 are mounted on the front F so that they are side by side along the longitudinal direction X, placed between the endpieces Tl, T2 and between the profiles PS, PI, and so that they extend substantially on a plane identified by the longitudinal X and sagittal directions Y. Alternatively, the main seats can also not house any main lens, the main frame having a purely aesthetic purpose.

[0022] The main frame M also comprises a first temple Al and a second temple A2 respectively connected to the first endpiece Tl and the second endpiece T2 to allow the glasses OC to be worn: the first temple Al and the second temple A2 extend parallel to a transversal direction Z that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and to the sagittal direction Y, i.e., substantially perpendicular to the extension plane of the main lenses LI, L2. The first temple Al and the second temple A2 can be connected to the respective endpieces T1 and T2 with the interposition of a hinge, so that they can rotate relative to them around axes substantially parallel to the sagittal direction Y, or with the interposition of elastic elements that still allow a movement of the temples Al, A2 with respect to the front F.

[0023] With reference to Figure 1, the secondary frame 1 comprises a mounting 20 having a first secondary seat 201 and a second secondary seat 202 in which a first secondary lens 3 and a second secondary lens 4, which can consist, for example, of sunglass lenses or, in the less frequent case where the main lenses LI, L2 are sunglass lenses, of ophthalmic lenses, can be respectively housed. In an alternative not illustrated embodiment, the secondary seats can also not house any secondary lens, the secondary frame covering the front for purely aesthetic purposes.

[0024] The secondary frame 1 also comprises a first lateral coupling element 21 made of an elastically deformable material and supported by the mounting 20: the first lateral coupling element 21 is placed at one end of the mounting 20, and is couplable to the first endpiece T1 so that the secondary frame 1 is attached to the front F and that the first secondary seat 201 and the second secondary seat 202 lie at least partially respectively in front of the first main seat and the second main seat along the transversal direction Z, i.e., so that the first secondary lens 3 and the second secondary lens 4, in case they are housed in the secondary seats 201, 202, lie respectively in front of the first main lens LI and the second main lens L2, in case they are housed in the main seats, along the transversal direction Z. In Figure 3, the coupling configuration in which the secondary frame 1 is attached to the front F can be seen: the secondary lenses 3, 4 are placed in front of the corresponding main lenses LI, L2.

[0025] The elastically deformable material is advantageously a rubber, preferably non-toxic, of one of the different typologies known in the state of the art.

[0026] With reference to Figure 5, the first lateral coupling element 21 advantageously has a C-shaped profile, and extends, when coupled to the first endpiece Tl, along the transversal direction Z: it thus defines a first groove 210 elastically deformable in order to house at least partially the first endpiece Tl. Indeed, the first groove 210 is conformed so that it has linear dimensions, along the longitudinal direction X (width) or the sagittal direction Y (height) or preferably along both, which at rest, i.e. when the first groove 210 is not deformed (undeformed configuration), are less than the linear dimensions of the first endpiece Tl along the same directions: in this way, when the first endpiece Tl is inserted into the first groove 210, the latter is deformed, due to the elastic properties of the material it is made of, along the longitudinal direction X or the sagittal direction Y or preferably along both, enclosing the first endpiece Tl and making the coupling between the secondary frame 1 and the front F particularly stable.

[0027] Still with reference to Figure 1, the secondary frame 1 also comprises a second lateral coupling element 22 made of said elastically deformable material and supported by the mounting 20: the second lateral coupling element 22 is placed at the opposite end of the mounting 20 with respect to the first lateral coupling element 21, and is couplable to the second endpiece T2, collaborating with the first lateral coupling element 21, when it is coupled to the first endpiece Tl, to attach the secondary frame 1 to the front F.

[0028] Still with reference to Figure 5, the second lateral coupling element 22 also advantageously has a C-shaped profile, and extends, when coupled to the second endpiece T2, along the transversal direction Z: it thus defines a second groove 220 elastically deformable in order to house at least partially the second endpiece T2, similarly as described in relation to the first lateral coupling element 21.

[0029] With reference to Figure 4, the secondary frame 1 also comprises a first upper projecting portion 23, a first lower projecting portion 24, a second upper projecting portion 25, and a second lower projecting portion 26, which are anchored to the mounting 20, are made of said elastically deformable material and can be engaged respectively by parts of the upper profile PS and the lower profile PI of the front F, collaborating with the first lateral coupling element 21 and the second lateral coupling element 22, when they are coupled respectively to the endpieces Tl, T2, to attach the secondary frame 1 to the front F.

[0030] With reference to figure 6, the first upper projecting portion 23 and the first lower projecting portion 24 respectively have a first upper furrow 230 and a first lower furrow 240 that are elastically deformable in order to facilitate the housing, when the first lateral coupling element 21 and the second lateral coupling element 22 are coupled respectively to the endpieces Tl, T2, of corresponding parts of the upper profile PS and the lower profile PI of the front F. Indeed, the first upper furrow 230 and the first lower furrow 240 are conformed so that they have linear dimensions, along the longitudinal direction X (width) or the sagittal direction Y (height) or the transversal direction Z (length) or preferably along all three directions X, Y, Z, which at rest, i.e. when the first upper furrow 230 and the first lower furrow 240 are not deformed (undeformed configuration), are less than the linear dimensions of the upper profile PS and the lower profile PI along the same directions: in this way, when the upper profile PS and the lower profile PI are partially inserted respectively into the first upper furrow 230 and the first lower furrow 240, the latter are deformed along the longitudinal direction X or the sagittal direction Y or the transversal direction Z or preferably along all three directions X, Y, Z, enclosing the profiles PS, PI and making the coupling between the secondary frame 1 and the front F further stable. Such particular conformation is noted in figures 7, 8, and 9. Similarly, with reference to figure 6B, the second upper projecting portion 25 and the second lower projecting portion 26 respectively have a second upper furrow 250 and a second lower furrow 260 that are elastically deformable in order to house, when the first lateral coupling element 21 and the second lateral coupling element 22 are coupled respectively to the endpieces Tl, T2, corresponding parts of the upper profile PS and the lower profile PI of the front F. Advantageously, as seen in figure 5, the first lower projecting portion 24, the first lateral coupling element 21, and the first upper projecting portion 23 are contiguous and form a first coupling structure that is structurally continuous, made of the elastically deformable material and configured to enclose the entire end portion of the front F that comprises the first endpiece Tl. Similarly, the second lower projecting portion 26, the second lateral coupling element 22, and the second upper projecting portion 25 are contiguous and form a second coupling structure that is structurally continuous, made of the elastically deformable material and configured to enclose the entire end portion of the front F that comprises the second endpiece T2.

[0031] Advantageously, with reference to figures 4 and 5, the first coupling structure and the second coupling structure are separate from each other, leaving an area of the mounting 20 corresponding to the bridge 203 thereof placed between the first secondary seat 201 and the second secondary seat 202 free of coupling elements and projecting portions: in this way, when the secondary frame 1 is coupled to the front F, the donning of the glasses OC is not modified.

[0032] Advantageously, the mounting 20 is made of a second material having greater rigidity than the elastically deformable material, such as nylon or other polyamides. This allows the secondary lenses 3, 4 to be attached to the secondary frame 1 with great stability. In such case, the lateral coupling elements 21, 22 and the projecting portions 23, 24, 25, 26 can be made by over-injecting the elastically deformable material onto the mounting 20. Using the secondary frame 1 is particularly simple. In use, in order to attach the secondary frame 1 to the front F, it is sufficient to bring it close to the front F so that the secondary seats 201, 202 are positioned in front of the respective main seats, and then exert a slight force on the secondary frame 1 directed towards the front F so that the endpieces Tl, T2 and the related parts of the profiles PS, PI can be inserted respectively into the corresponding grooves 210, 220 and the corresponding furrows 230, 240, 250, 260.

[0033] Therefore, it is clear that the present invention is perfectly capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the state of the art described above. In particular, the secondary frame 1 is simple to attach to the front F, even if handled by inexperienced users, and ensures a safe and stable coupling even in the case of sudden movements or deformations of the main frame M: in the latter case, indeed, the coupling structures made of the elastically deformable material undergo a deformation similar to that of the main frame M, maintaining the coupling. Furthermore, the secondary frame 1 has protruding parts that are made of an elastically deformable material, which makes them particularly robust and safe for those handling them, and such that they do not damage the main frame M during mounting and dismounting .

[0034] The present invention has been described, by way of illustration, but not limitation, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that variations and / or modifications can be made by a person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the related scope of protection as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Secondary frame (1) attachable to a main frame (M) comprising a front (F), said front (F) having a shape extending along a longitudinal direction (X) and having at least a first main seat, and a first endpiece (Tl) and a second endpiece (T2) placed at ends that are opposite to each other along said longitudinal direction (X), said secondary frame (1) comprising a mounting (20) having at least a first secondary seat (201), a first lateral coupling element (21) and a second lateral coupling element (22) made of an elastically deformable material, supported by said mounting (20) and couplable to said front (F) so that said secondary frame (1) is attached to said main frame (M) and said first secondary seat (201) lies at least partially in front of said first main seat along a transversal direction (Z) that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (X), characterized in that at least said first lateral coupling element (21) and second lateral coupling element (22) are couplable respectively to said first endpiece (Tl) and second endpiece (T2).2) Secondary frame (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first lateral coupling element (21) and second lateral coupling element (22) define respectively a first groove (210) and a second groove (220) elastically deformable in order to house at least partially respectively said first endpiece (Tl) and second endpiece (T2).3) Secondary frame (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said first lateral coupling element (21) and second lateral coupling element (22) have C-shaped profiles and extend, when they are coupledrespectively to said first endpiece (Tl) and second endpiece (T2), along said transversal direction (Z), said first groove (210) and second groove (220) being defined by said profiles so that they have respective linear dimensions, as measured along said longitudinal direction (X) and / or along a sagittal direction (Y) that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (X) and transversal direction (Z), that, when said first groove (210) and second groove (220) are in an undeformed configuration, are less than respective linear dimensions, as measured respectively along said longitudinal direction (X) and / or along said sagittal direction (Y), of said first endpiece (Tl) and second endpiece (T2).4) Secondary frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first upper projecting portion (23), a first lower projecting portion (24), a second upper projecting portion (25) and a second lower projecting portion (26) made of said elastically deformable material and couplable respectively to parts of an upper profile (PS) and of a lower profile (PI) of said front (F), said upper profile (PS) and lower profile (PI) being opposite to each other along a sagittal direction (Y) substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (X) and transversal direction (Z).5) Secondary frame (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said first upper projecting portion (23), first lower projecting portion (24), second upper projecting portion (25) and second lower projecting portion (26) have respectively a first upper furrow (230), a first lower furrow (240), a second upperfurrow (250) and a second lower furrow (260) that are elastically deformable in order to respectively house, when said first lateral coupling element (21) and second lateral coupling element (22) are coupled respectively to said first endpiece (Tl) and second endpiece (T2), said parts of said upper profile (PS) and lower profile (PI) of said front (F).6) Secondary frame (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said first upper furrow (230), first lower furrow (240), second upper furrow (250) and second lower furrow (260) have linear dimensions, as measured along said longitudinal direction (X) and / or along said sagittal direction (Y) and / or along said transversal direction (Z), that, when said first upper furrow (230), first lower furrow (240), second upper furrow (250) and second lower furrow (260) are in an undeformed configuration, are less than respective linear dimensions, as measured respectively along said longitudinal direction (X) and / or along said sagittal direction (Y) and / or along said transversal direction (Z), of said parts of said upper profile (PS) and lower profile (PI).7) Secondary frame (1) according to any of the claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said first lower projecting portion (24), said first lateral coupling element (21) and said first upper projecting portion (23) are contiguous and form a first coupling structure that is structurally continuous, and said second lower projecting portion (24), said second lateral coupling element (21) and said second upper projecting portion (23) are contiguous and form a second coupling structure that is structurally continuous.8) Secondary frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mounting (20) has a second secondary seat (202) which, when said first lateral coupling element (21) and second lateral coupling element (22) are coupled to said first endpiece (Tl) and second endpiece (T2), lies at least partially in front of a second main seat of said front (F) along said transversal direction (Z).9) Secondary frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastically deformable material is a rubber.10) Assembly comprising a main frame (M) in turn comprising a front (F), said front (F) having a shape extending along a longitudinal direction (X), having at least a first main seat, and a first endpiece (Tl) and a second endpiece (T2) placed at ends that are opposite to each other along said longitudinal direction (X), said assembly also comprising a secondary frame (1) according to any of the preceding claims attached to said main frame (M) so that said first secondary seat (201) lies at least partially in front of said first main seat along a transversal direction (Z) that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (X).

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