Hinge for eyeglasses and eyeglasses with hinge

Abstract

A hinge (1) for eyeglasses, which comprises a pair of joints (2, 3) which are adapted to be coupled to the ends of two prongs (4, 5) of a temple (6) of the eyeglasses, the joints (2, 3) being in turn adapted to be inserted into an opening (31) defined in a front (50) of the eyeglasses, the opening (31) being provided with teeth (19, 20) for locking the joints (2, 3).

Description

[0001] HINGE FOR EYEGLASSES AND EYEGLASSES WITH HINGE

[0002] The present invention relates to a hinge for eyeglasses. More specifically, the invention relates to a hinge for eyeglasses that allows a simple coupling between temple and frame.

[0003] As is known, the coupling between temple and frame of a pair of eyeglasses occurs by means of a hinge that allows the articulation of the temple with respect to the frame, or front, of the eyeglasses.

[0004] Normally, the hinge is an element that can be subject to breakage and therefore it must be capable of being replaced as needed, rapidly and simply.

[0005] Conventional hinges sometimes require screws for assembly and therefore require the use of tools to attach and remove the temples to / from the front of the eyeglasses.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that offers rapid assembly between temple and frame, or front, without the aid of tools.

[0007] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that allows a certain flexibility of the temple with respect to the frame, or front, of the eyeglasses.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that has a reduced number of components and which has no screws or other fixing components, for the purpose of making the hinge aesthetically pleasing.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that is highly reliable, is easily and practically implemented, and at low cost.

[0010] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a hinge for eyeglasses, characterized in that it comprises a pair of joints which are adapted to be coupled to the ends of two prongs of a temple of the eyeglasses, said joints being in turn adapted to be inserted into an opening defined in a front of the eyeglasses, said opening being provided with teeth for locking said joints.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the hinge for eyeglasses according to the present invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0012] Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a pair of eyeglasses with a pair of hinges according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the eyeglasses of Figure 1;

[0014] Figure 3 is a side view of the eyeglasses of Figures 1 and 2;

[0015] Figure 4 is a partially cutaway side view of eyeglasses in the previous figures;

[0016] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge according to the present invention and the front and temple of the eyeglasses;

[0017] Figures 6 to 10 show the steps of attaching the temple to the front of the eyeglasses by means of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the front of the eyeglasses and the temple hinged thereto by means of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 12 is a vertical cross-sectional partial view of the eyeglasses with the hinge according to the present invention.

[0020] With reference to the figures, the hinge for eyeglasses according to the present invention, generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises an upper hinge portion 2 and a lower hinge portion 3, which are respectively adapted to be coupled to a pair of prongs 4 and 5 of an eyeglasses temple 6, wherein the prongs 4 and 5 are elastically flexible so that they can be pushed toward each other and are conveniently provided, at the ends adapted to be coupled with the upper hinge portion 2 and with the lower hinge portion 3, with teeth 7 and 8.

[0021] The two prongs 4 and 5 are conveniently spaced apart from each other so that they can be elastically pushed together, as mentioned above.

[0022] The upper hinge portion 2 and the lower hinge portion 3 are conveniently provided with a gap 11 so that the upper hinge portion 2 and the lower hinge portion 3 can, respectively, be fitted onto the prongs 4 and 5, which have a sunk area or recess 12, 13 located adjacent to the respective tooth 7, 8, so that the upper hinge portion 2 and the lower hinge portion 3, once fitted onto the prongs 4 and 5, will fill the space of the recess 12, 13 and therefore be flush with the upper and lower surface of the body of the temple 6. The teeth 7 and 8 fit into through holes 10a which are defined at the ends of the slots or gaps 11.

[0023] Each upper hinge portion 2 and lower hinge portion 3 is further provided with a portion 15, 16 that extends from the main body of the upper hinge portion 2 and of the lower hinge portion 3, i.e. the body part that defines substantially a C-shape with the slots 10 and 11.

[0024] The portions 15 and 16 are conveniently provided with a hole 17, 18.

[0025] Fixing means are moreover provided for fixing the portions 2 and 3 to the respective prongs 4, 5.

[0026] Such fixing means comprise a washer 21 and a complementary washer 22 which are substantially T-shaped.

[0027] The T-shaped washer 21 has a head 21a with a hole 21b and a portion of cylindrical pivot 21c, protruding from the head 21a.

[0028] The head 21a is adapted to be accommodated in a seat 15a of the portion 15 so that the cylindrical pivot 21c enters the hole 17 and protrudes from it.

[0029] The T-shaped complementary washer 22 on the other hand is adapted to be accommodated in a seat 16a of the portion 16 and has a head 22a and a hollow pivot 22c with a hole 22b.

[0030] The portions 15 and 16 are such as to receive, respectively, the head of the washer 21 and the head of the complementary washer 22 in such a manner that the heads do not protrude from them. The cylindrical pivot 21c is adapted to be mated with the hole 18 of the portion 16, when the two prongs 4 and 5 are pushed close together, and with the hole 22b of the pivot 22c of the complementary washer 22, in a male-female configuration.

[0031] The front 50 is conveniently provided, at the region where the temple 6 is intended to be coupled to the front, with an opening 31 which is provided internally with teeth 19 and 20.

[0032] The teeth 19 and 20 are arranged in axial alignment and mutually facing.

[0033] The hinge is completed by a spacer 30 which is conveniently provided with a fork 32 which is adapted to be inserted between the two prongs 4 and 5 of the temple 6, and to interlock, by virtue of its shape, around the cylindrical pivot of the washer 21.

[0034] The spacer 30 comprises a front portion which is designed to protrude from the front of the front 50 of the eyeglasses.

[0035] Such front portion could also be made so as to be flush with the surface of the front 50.

[0036] Conveniently, the T-shaped washer and complementary washer 21 and 22 can be made of a combination of metal and plastic, where the part in metal can for example be the head of the washer, with the hole allowing the insertion of the washer into the teeth 19 and 20 of the opening 31 of the front 50, and the part in plastic can be the underlying part of the T-shaped washer and complementary washer.

[0037] The spacer 30 can be conveniently provided, on its face intended to be directed outward from the front 50 of the eyeglasses, with a logo, with a decoration or the like and / or in general with a customization.

[0038] The spacer 30 is coupled in the opening or gap 31 of the front 50 with an interlocking coupling of the “click-in” type, interlocking around the cylindrical pivot 21c.

[0039] The upper hinge portion 2 and the lower hinge portion 3 constitute two rigid joints which are adapted to be coupled to the prongs 4 and 5 of the temple 6 and constitute an extension of the temple.

[0040] Conveniently, the front 50 and the temple 6 can be made of metal.

[0041] The assembly of the hinge according to the present invention is as follows.

[0042] First of all, the upper hinge portion 2 and the lower hinge portion 3 are coupled onto the prongs 4 and 5 of the temple 6.

[0043] The teeth 7 and 8 of the prongs 4 and 5 are inserted into the holes 10a of the portions 2 and 3.

[0044] The washer and complementary washer 21 and 22 are inserted into the seats 15a and 16a of the portions 15 and 16 of the upper and lower hinge portions 2 and 3 (Figure 6).

[0045] The two prongs are then pushed together (Figure 7) so that they touch each other and can be inserted into the opening or gap 31 in the front 50.

[0046] With the prongs held together, the cylindrical pivot 21c of the washer 21 is mated with the complementary washer 22, so enabling the ends of the two prongs to touch each other.

[0047] At this point, with the prongs 4, 5 brought together, the temple 6 is inserted with its front end into the opening 31 (Figure 8). The prongs 4 and 5 are then released so that the teeth 19 and 20 will engage the holes of the heads of the T-shaped washer 21 and complementary washer 22 (Figure 9).

[0048] In this manner, the elastic nature of the prongs 4 and 5 ensures that the holes of the washers 21 and 22 will mate with the teeth 19 and 20 of the opening 31.

[0049] Finally, the spacer 30 is coupled (Figures 9 and 10) so that the fork 32 is inserted between the two prongs 4 and 5 by snap or "click-in" coupling.

[0050] The hinge is now assembled.

[0051] The present invention also relates to a pair of eyeglasses, made by means of the hinge described above, as well as a temple, so as to have each one of the two prongs 4 and 5 provided with a tooth 4 and 5 and with a recess 12 and 13 which is adapted to be filled by the hinge portions 2 and 3, as previously described.

[0052] In practice it has been found that the hinge according to the present invention fully achieves the set aim and objects, in that it makes it possible to assemble in a rapid and simple manner, without the use of any tools, the hinge so as to couple the temple 6 to the frame or front 50 of the eyeglasses.

[0053] As seen, the T-shaped washer and counter- washer 21 and 22 make it possible on the one hand to enable coupling with the teeth 19 and 20 of the opening 31 , and on the other hand they make it possible to keep the upper and lower hinge portions 2 and 3 coupled with the respective teeth 7 and 8 of the prongs 4 and 5 of the temple 6.

[0054] The hinge, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0055] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0056] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and to the state of the art.

[0057] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102023000018639 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0058] Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and / or signs, those reference numerals and / or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and / or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and / or signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hinge (1) for eyeglasses, characterized in that it comprises a pair of joints (2, 3) which are adapted to be coupled to the ends of two prongs (4, 5) of a temple (6) of the eyeglasses, said joints (2, 3) being in turn adapted to be inserted into an opening (31) defined in a front (50) of the eyeglasses, said opening (31) being provided with protruding portions or teeth (19, 20) for locking said joints (2, 3).

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said joints (2, 3) comprise an upper hinge portion (2) and a lower hinge portion (3), each of said hinge portions (2, 3) being provided with a slot (11) with a hole (10a) for coupling to said prongs (4, 5), each of said prongs having a tooth (7, 8) which protrudes with respect to said prong (4, 5) and is adapted to be mated in said hole (10a).

3. The hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said upper portion (2) and said lower portion (3) of said hinge comprise further portions (15, 16) which are provided with a seat (15a, 16a) and with a hole (17, 18) adapted to allow the coupling of fixing means.

4. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing means comprise a washer (21) and a complementary washer (22) which are substantially T-shaped and have a head (21a, 22a) with a hole (21b, 22b) adapted to couple with said teeth (19, 20) of said opening (31) of the front (50) of the eyeglasses.

5. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a spacer (30) adapted to be coupled within said opening (31) of the front (50) of the eyeglasses, and provided with a fork (32) adapted to be inserted between said prongs (4, 5) of the temple (6), in order to keep said prongs (4, 5) mutually spaced apart and the holes (21b, 22b) of the heads (21a, 22a) of the washer (21) and complementary washer (22) engaged with the teeth (19, 20) of the opening (31).

6. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims,characterized in that said T-shaped washer (21) and complementary washer (22) have at least one cylindrical body (21c, 22c), said cylindrical bodies (21c, 22c) being adapted to mate to each other in a male-female configuration during the assembly of the hinge, mounted on the temple (6) of the eyeglasses, on the front (50).

7. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spacer (30) comprises a front portion adapted to protrude from said front (50) of the eyeglasses and adapted to bear a logo, a decorative and / or personalization element, or the like.

8. Eyeglasses, comprising a front (50) and a pair of temples (6) adapted to be coupled to said front, characterized in that they comprise a pair of hinges (1), wherein each of said hinges comprises a pair of joints (2, 3) which are adapted to be coupled to the ends of two prongs (4, 5) of a temple (6) of the eyeglasses, said joints (2, 3) being in turn adapted to be inserted into an opening (31) defined in a front (50) of the eyeglasses, said opening (31) being provided with protruding portions or teeth (19, 20) for locking said joints (2, 3).

9. A temple (6) for eyeglasses, comprising a body of the temple (6) which ends, at one end, with a pair of prongs (4, 5) which are mutually spaced apart by a gap, each of said prongs (4, 5) bearing at the end a respective tooth (7, 8), a recess (12, 13) being provided adjacent to said tooth (7, 8) of each prong (4, 5).

10. A front (50) of eyeglasses, characterized in that it comprises, at a region where a temple (6) of the eyeglasses is intended to be coupled to the front (50), an opening (31) which is provided internally with teeth (19, 20).

11. Eyeglasses, characterized in that they comprise a pair of temples (6) and a front (50) according to claims 9 and 10.

12. Eyeglasses, characterized in that they comprise a pair of temples (6) and a front (50) according to claims 9 and 10 and a pair of hinges (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, which are adapted to couple saidtemples (6) to said front (50).

13. A method for assembling a temple (6) of eyeglasses to a front (50) by means of a hinge (1) according to one more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - mounting said joints (2, 3) on the prongs (4, 5) of said temple (6), and inserting said washer (21) at said upper hinge portion and said complementary washer (22) at said lower hinge portion;- moving said prongs (4, 5) mutually closer and inserting said temple (6) into said opening (31) of the front; - releasing said prongs (4, 5) so that said washer (21) and said complementary washer (22) engage with said teeth (7, 8) defined in said opening (31);- inserting, frontally with respect to said front (50), said spacer (30) so as to keep said prongs (4, 5) mutually spaced apart.

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