Hinge for spectacles

Abstract

Hinge (1) for spectacles, wherein the spectacles comprise a front portion (2) and a pair of side-members (4), the front portion (2) having a hole (3) and each side-member (4) having a respective hole (5), the front portion (2) and the side-members (4) being coupled together by a pair of inserts (7, 8), an upper insert (7) that fits into the hole (3) of the front portion (2) and a lower insert (8) that fits into the hole (5) of the side-members, the lower insert (8) and the upper insert (7) being coupled together by fixed coupling means (9).

Description

[0001] HINGE FOR SPECTACLES

[0002] The present invention concerns a hinge for spectacles. More particularly, the invention concerns a hinge for spectacles in which the front frame and the side-members are preferably made of thin metal sheet.

[0003] As is known, the side-members of a pair of spectacles are attached to the spectacles themselves (to the front frame of the spectacles) by hinges that allow the side-members to be rotated from an open position in which the spectacles can be worn by the user to a closed position in which the sidemembers are folded down on the front frame, when the spectacles are not in use.

[0004] In the case of spectacles with front frames made of thin metal sheet and side-members also made of thin metal sheet, i.e. in the case of a minimalist design style, it is important for the hinge that connects the side-members to the front frame to be as unobtrusive as possible in terms of visual impact and also above all to be lightweight.

[0005] Furthermore, the hinge must allow a rotation of approximately 90°, without any externally visible mechanism for preventing over-rotation.

[0006] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a hinge for spectacles that has a rotation of approximately 90° with respect to the front frame of the spectacles and that does not have an externally visible mechanism.

[0007] In the context of this purpose, one objective of the present invention is to provide a hinge for spectacles that can be used in spectacles in which the front frame and side-members are made of thin metal sheet.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hinge for spectacles that has a limited number of components and that is easily assembled and disassembled.

[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a hinge for spectacles that has no particular mechanism to limit the rotation of the sidemembers with respect to the front frame to 90°. Not least among the objectives of the present invention is to provide a hinge for spectacles that is highly reliable and relatively simple to manufacture at competitive cost.

[0010] This purpose, as well as these and other objectives which are set out more clearly below, are achieved by a hinge for spectacles, in which the spectacles comprise a front portion and a pair of side-members, said front portion having a hole and each side-member having a respective hole, said front portion and said side-members being coupled together by a pair of inserts, an upper insert that fits into the hole of said front portion and a lower insert that fits into the hole of said side-members, said lower insert and said upper insert being coupled together by fixed coupling means, said sidemember being rotatable by approximately 90° about said lower insert.

[0011] Further features and advantages of the invention are set out in the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a hinge for spectacles according to the present invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the attached drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge according to the present invention, used to connect a side-member to a front frame of a pair of spectacles;

[0013] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hinge in Figure 1 in an assembled state;

[0014] Figure 3 is a top view of the hinge according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3, of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the hinge illustrated in Figure 4;

[0016] Figure 6 is a side view of the hinge according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line VII-VII in Figure 6, of the hinge according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 8 is another cross-sectional view, taken along the line VIII- VIII in Figure 6, of the hinge according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a variant of the embodiment in Figures 1-8;

[0018] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the variant in Figure 9;

[0019] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of another variant of the embodiment in Figures 9 and 10.

[0020] With reference to the figures, the hinge according to the present invention, denoted as a whole by reference number 1, comprises a front portion 2 preferably made of thin metal sheet or another material commonly used to manufacture spectacle side-members, provided with a suitably shaped hole 3 and a side-member 4 also provided with a suitably shaped hole 5 with a shape complementary but opposite to the hole 3. The side-member is also preferably made of thin metal sheet. Alternatively, the side-member may be made of a metal material commonly known for the manufacture of spectacles.

[0021] The spectacles therefore consist of the front portion 2 and a pair of sidemembers 4, all of which are preferably made of thin metal sheet.

[0022] Where appropriate, the material used may be CTX, which is an alloy composed of 3% titanium and 97% copper. This unique combination combines the best of both metals: high strength, corrosion resistance and lightness of titanium, together with the excellent machinability and flexibility of copper. The result is a durable and efficient material that adapts well to all environments while ensuring a long life.

[0023] CTX stands for Copper Titanium X, a new high-performance alloy that combines the heat resistance of titanium with the flexibility of copper.

[0024] Unlike traditional materials such as copper or titanium, CTX offers superior durability without sacrificing comfort. It is easily polished for superior aesthetics, making it an attractive choice for those looking for style and performance. This innovative material sets a new standard for high performance spectacles, combining cutting-edge technology with sophisticated design to meet the needs of today's most demanding consumers.

[0025] A washer 6, preferably made of plastic or bio-plastic material or steel, is interposed between the front portion 2 and the side-member 4.

[0026] The front portion 2 and the side-member 4 are coupled together by an upper insert 7 which fits into the hole 3 and a lower insert 8 which fits into the hole 5, and the two inserts are fixed together by fixed coupling means, preferably screws 9 or rivets. The coupling means are at least partially visible.

[0027] Where the fixed coupling means are screws, the seats of the lower insert 8 and / or the upper insert 7 are threaded.

[0028] Where the fixed coupling means are rivets, said threading of the seats is no longer required and the tip of the rivet is peened and visible.

[0029] The upper insert 7 may have a blind hole to accommodate the fixed coupling means 9 (see Figures 1-8), or this hole may be a through-hole, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

[0030] As mentioned above, the upper insert 7 fits into the hole 3 and its geometric shape is such that the insert is blocked in the hole and cannot rotate with respect to it.

[0031] Conversely, the lower insert 8 fits into the hole 5 of the side-member 4, which is shaped to enable a relative rotation of about 90°.

[0032] Basically, the lower insert 8 has a protuberance 10 that allows it to rotate within the hole 5 so that the insert can rotate up to approximately 90° within that hole.

[0033] The insert 8 and the insert 7 are then suitably shaped so that there is a stable form fit between them, and therefore no relative rotation between the two inserts 7, 8.

[0034] The rotation instead occurs between the side-member 4 and the lower insert 8. In other words, the coupling between the upper insert 7 and the lower insert 8 is fixed and the side-member rotates around the protuberance 10 of the lower insert 8, limiting its rotation to approximately 90°.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the hole 3 of the front portion 2 is shaped and / or dimensioned differently but mirrored in relation to the hole 5 of the side-member 4 in order to allow the side-member to rotate approximately 90°. In an alternative embodiment, the hole 3 of the front portion 2 has the same shape as the hole 5 of the side-member 4, these holes being mirrored in relation to one another.

[0036] In a further embodiment, illustrated in Figure 11, the fixed coupling means comprise a screw 9 with a peening seat 12 at the end of the shaft, in such a way that hammering the end of the screw blocks the vertical movement of the screw 9, thereby preventing the screw from being unscrewed. This also maintains constant friction for the hinge. In this and the preceding embodiments, the washer 6 can be made from materials such as plastic, bioplastic or stainless steel.

[0037] In practice, it has been found that the hinge according to the present invention fully fulfils the purpose and the objectives set, since it allows the side-member to rotate only 90° with respect to the front frame and above all without the mechanism for limiting the rotation being aesthetically visible, thereby making the hinge perfectly suitable for use with spectacles with front frames and side-members made of thin metal sheet.

[0038] Numerous modifications and variations can be applied to the hinge thus designed, all of which fall within the scope of the attached claims.

[0039] Furthermore, all of the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0040] In practice, any materials and any specific dimensions and shapes may be used, as required and depending on the state of the art.

[0041] The content of Italian patent application 102024000025842, the priority of which is claimed in the present application, is incorporated as reference.

[0042] Where the technical features in the claims are followed by numerical references and / or initials, said numerical references and / or initials have been added with the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and therefore said numerical references and / or initials do not have any effect on the scope of each element identified purely by way of example using these numerical references and / or initials.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Hinge (1) for spectacles, wherein the spectacles comprise a front portion (2) and a pair of side-members (4), said front portion (2) having a hole (3) and each side-member (4) having a respective hole (5), said front portion (2) and said side-members (4) being coupled together by a pair of inserts (7, 8), an upper insert (7) that fits into the hole (3) of said front portion (2) and a lower insert (8) that fits into the hole (5) of said side-members, said lower insert (8) and said upper insert (7) being coupled together by fixed coupling means (9).

2. Hinge according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said side-member (4) can be rotated approximately 90° about said lower insert (8).

3. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a washer (6) made of plastic, bio-plastic or steel is interposed between said front portion (2) and said side-member (4).

4. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper insert (7) fits into the hole (3) in said front portion (2) and is prevented from rotating in said hole (3).

5. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower insert (8) and said upper insert (7) are shaped to allow a form fit.

6. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower insert (8) has a protruding portion (10) and said side-member (4) rotates about said protruding portion (10) of said lower insert (8), when said lower insert (8) is fixedly coupled with said upper insert (7).

7. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower insert (8) and said upper insert (7) are fixedly coupled together by screw means (9) which are at least partially visible.

8. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed coupling means are a rivet and are at least partially visible.

9. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixed coupling means are a screw with a shaft provided with a peening seat (12) at the end.

10. Hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said washer (6) is made of stainless steel.

11. Spectacles, comprising a front portion, a pair of lenses and a pair of side-members, characterized in that said front portion (2) has a hole (3) and each side-member (4) has a respective hole (5), said front portion (2) and said side-members (4) being coupled together by a pair of inserts (7, 8), an upper insert (7) that fits into the hole (3) of said front portion (2) and a lower insert (8) that fits into the hole (5) of said side-members, said lower insert (8) and said upper insert (7) being coupled together by fixed coupling means (9).

12. Frame, comprising a front portion and a pair of side-members, characterized in that said front portion (2) has a hole (3) and each side-member (4) has a respective hole (5), said front portion (2) and said side-members (4) being coupled together by a pair of inserts (7, 8), an upper insert (7) that fits into the hole (3) of said front portion (2) and a lower insert (8) that fits into the hole (5) of said side-members, said lower insert (8) and said upper insert (7) being coupled together by fixed coupling means (9).

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