Hinge for eyeglasses

Abstract

A hinge (1) for eyeglasses, which comprises a first body (2) which is integral with the front (5) of the eyeglasses and a second body (4) which is integral with the temple (3) of the eyeglasses, the first and the second body (2, 4) being coupled to each other by means of respective complementary cam-like profiles (6, 7), rotation and locking means (8, 9) being adapted to mate the first and the second body (2, 4) to each other and to ensure a rotation between the first and the second body (2, 4).

Description

[0001] HINGE FOR EYEGLASSES

[0002] The present invention relates to a hinge for eyeglasses. More specifically, the invention relates to a hinge for eyeglasses with capacity for bi- stability and extra-flex.

[0003] The term "eyeglasses" also includes mask-type eyeglasses such as for example mask-type eyeglasses for skiing or mask-type eyeglasses for work and / or other known types of mask-type eyeglasses.

[0004] As is known, hinges for eyeglasses make it possible to couple the temples of the eyeglasses to the front of the eyeglasses, while allowing each temple to rotate with respect to the front.

[0005] Hinges exist on the market, termed "extra-flex", which allow the temple to be opened beyond a position of 90° with respect to the front, and hence capable of over-rotation.

[0006] This makes it possible to prevent the user from breaking the hinge when he or she inadvertently opens the temple too far with respect to the front, and it further enables a superior adaptability to the face of the wearer and therefore a superior level of comfort in use, even if prolonged.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that allows the temple of the eyeglasses to be moved with fluidity and stability, while keeping the operating tension of the hinge constant.

[0008] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses wherein keeping the operating tension of the hinge constant can prevent the hinge from loosening with use.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that affords an extra-flex to the temple with respect to the front.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses of the bi-stable type.

[0011] The bi- stability of the hinge makes it possible to keep the temple of the eyeglasses frame stationary and stable in whichever operating position it is, i.e. open or closed, while preventing it from being inadvertently moved against the will of the user, thus causing annoyance to him or her.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that is highly reliable, relatively easily implemented, and at low cost.

[0013] This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a hinge for eyeglasses, characterized in that it comprises a first body which is integral with the front of the eyeglasses and a second body which is integral with the temple of the eyeglasses, said first and said second body being coupled to each other by means of respective complementary cam-like profiles, rotation and locking means being adapted to mate said first and said second body to each other and to ensure a rotation between said first and said second body.

[0014] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the hinge for eyeglasses according to the present invention, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a plan view from above of a first configuration (open) of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hinge of Figure 2;

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hinge in the configuration of Figure 2;

[0019] Figure 5 is a plan view from above of a second configuration (closed) of the hinge according to the present invention, according to its first embodiment;

[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the hinge in the configuration of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view from above of a third configuration (extraflex) of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the hinge in the configuration of Figure 7;

[0022] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the hinge of Figure 9;

[0024] Figure 11 is a plan view from above of the hinge of Figures 9 and 10;

[0025] Figure 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hinge of Figures 9-11;

[0026] Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the hinge according to the invention;

[0027] Figure 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hinge of Figure 13.

[0028] With reference to the figures, the hinge for eyeglasses according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a first hollow body 2 which is connected integrally to a front 5 of the eyeglasses, and a second hollow body 4 which is connected integrally to a temple 3 of the eyeglasses.

[0029] The first and the second hollow body 2, 4 are adapted to be mated together by means of the presence of respective, conveniently-contoured end surfaces, respectively 6 and 7, with a radial circular cam-like contouring.

[0030] The first and the second body 2 and 4 have respective cavities 11, 12 which are adapted to accommodate rotation and locking means, which comprise a screw 8 and a compression spring 9 into which the screw 8 is inserted, with the spring 9 therefore coaxial to the screw 8.

[0031] In substance, the compression spring 9 is accommodated in the cavity 11 of the first body 2 and the screw 8 is inserted in the spring 9 and is screwed into the cavity 12 of the second body 2, which is threaded and is blind (but it does not have to be blind, as long as it is threaded), while the cavity 11 is through.

[0032] Conveniently, the screw 8 is a screw of the shoulder type, with only the lower end threaded.

[0033] The cavity 11 of the first body 2 is contoured with a different diameter, i.e. a first portion of the cavity has a larger diameter for the placement therein of the screw of the compression spring 9, and a second portion has a cavity of a diameter smaller than that of he first portion, for the passage of the shank of the shoulder screw 8.

[0034] The shoulder screw 8 accommodated within the cavities 11, 12 of the first and of the second body 2 and 4 allows the rotation of the hinge.

[0035] The coupling of the cam-like profile 6 of the first body 2 and of the cam-like profile 7 of the second body 4, in combination with the spring, make it possible to stabilize the temple 3 in the open or closed position, or to make the temple 3 return to the open position if it happens to be brought to the extra-flex position.

[0036] The shoulder screw 8 allows the two hinge elements to rotate, i.e. the first body 2 and the second body 4, without separating from each other.

[0037] The cam-like profiles described above make it possible to pass from the position in which the temples are open to the position in which the temples are closed, or to the position in which the temples are over-rotated i.e. in extra-flex, as illustrated in the accompanying figures.

[0038] The rotary motion of the temples 3 with respect to the front 5 occurs with click-stops. The bi-stability of the hinge allows the temples to pass from the completely open position to the completely closed position with such click-stop movement.

[0039] The extra-flex position is when the temple 3 is in the position such that the internal angle between the temple 3 and the front 5 of the eyeglasses is greater than 180° with respect to the portion of front that is perpendicular with respect to the front part of the front proper. Such over-extension is therefore allowed by the hinge according to the present invention.

[0040] The hinge according to the invention is of the bi-stable type. The bistability of the hinge makes it possible to keep the temple of the eyeglasses frame stationary and stable in whichever operating position it is, i.e. open or closed, while preventing it from being inadvertently moved against the will of the user, thus causing annoyance to him or her.

[0041] Figures 9-12 show a second embodiment of the hinge according to the present invention, wherein a mask-type front is shown, but the solution illustrated also applies to fronts of the conventional type. In this embodiment, the temple 3 can rotate 360 degrees with respect to the front 5.

[0042] In the second embodiment with a mask-type front the first body 2 is a first body 2 made of two parts 2a, 2b and is rendered integral with the front 5 by being inserted into a hole 20 in the front, at the face of the front 5 that is adapted to be directed toward the eyes of the user. The first part 2a of the first body 2 is the part adapted to be inserted in the hole 20 of the front, while the second part 2b acts as a stop element of the part 2a and is located on the opposite face of the front 5.

[0043] In substance, in this embodiment the part 2b of the first body 2 is the part into which the shank of the screw 8 is screwed. The cavity 11 of the first body 2 is therefore subdivided between the first part 2a and the second part 2b.

[0044] In this second embodiment, the temple 3 can rotate 360 degrees with respect to the front, as it is not limited in its rotation.

[0045] The structure of the second embodiment also applies to fronts of the conventional type and in this case the first body 2 is again a single body as in the first embodiment, but the temple 3 can still rotate 360 degrees, as described above.

[0046] Figures 13 and 14 show the third embodiment of the hinge according to the invention. In this embodiment the first body 2 connected integrally to the front 5 of the eyeglasses is formed by two hollow bodies 2a, 2b, mutually spaced apart, of which the lower body 2b is provided with a radial circular cam-like profile, adapted to accommodate the second body 4 which has a profile in a downward region that is complementary thereto and is inserted between the two bodies 2a, 2b.

[0047] Also present in this embodiment are the shoulder screw 8 and the spring 9 which is coaxial to the screw 8.

[0048] In practice it has been found that the hinge according to the invention fully achieves the set aim and objects, in that it makes it possible, by virtue of the presence of the complementary cam-like profiles of the first and the second body and of the shoulder screw, as well as of the compression spring, to use the temple in the open or closed position, or to make it return to the open position if the temple is brought to the extra-flex position.

[0049] The hinge thus described allows the temple to be moved with fluidity and stability, while keeping the operating tension of the hinge constant, which prevents the hinge from becoming loosened over time.

[0050] The hinge thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0051] 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.

[0052] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000016066 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0053] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hinge (1) for eyeglasses, characterized in that it comprises a first body (2) which is integral with the front (5) of the eyeglasses and a second body (4) which is integral with the temple (3) of the eyeglasses, said first and said second body (2, 4) being coupled to each other by means of respective complementary cam-like profiles (6, 7), rotation and locking means (8, 9) being adapted to mate said first and said second body (2, 4) to each other and to ensure a rotation between said first and said second body.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and said second body (2, 4) are each provided with a cavity (11, 12), the cavity (11) of said first body (2) being a through cavity, the cavity (12) of said second body (4) being blind.

3. The hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said rotation and locking means (8, 9) comprise a screw (8) and a spring (9) adapted to be arranged coaxial to said screw, said spring (9) being adapted to be accommodated in said cavity (11) of said first body (2).

4. The hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that said cavity(11) of said first body (2) is a cavity having two different diameters, the larger diameter of said cavity accommodating said spring (9) and part of said screw (8), the smaller diameter of said cavity accommodating the end of the shank of said screw.

5. The hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that said cavity(12) of said second body (4) is provided with a thread adapted to accommodate a thread of the end of the shank of said screw (8).

6. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said screw (8) is a shoulder screw, with the threaded end adapted to engage in the thread of the cavity (12) of said second body (4).

7. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said complementary cam-like profiles (6, 7) of said firstand said second body are radial circular cam-like profiles.

8. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said radial circular cam-like profiles (6, 7) of said first and said second body (2, 4) define clicked movements of said temple (3) with respect to said front (5).

9. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mating between said first body (2) and said second body (4) allows the temple (3) a 360-degree rotation with respect to said front (5).

10. The hinge according to claim 9, characterized in that said first body (2) is provided in two parts which are adapted to mate with each other and are arranged at opposite faces of said front (5), when said front is a mask-type front.

11. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said screw (8) allows a mutual rotation of said first and said second body (2, 4).

12. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first body (2) is formed by two hollow bodies (2a, 2b), mutually spaced apart, said lower body (2b) being provided with a radial circular cam-like profile, adapted to accommodate said second body (4) which has a profile in a downward region that is complementary thereto and is inserted between said two bodies (2a, 2b).

13. Eyeglasses, comprising a front (5) and a pair of temples (3) coupled to said front by means of respective hinges, characterized in that said hinges are hinges (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims.

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