AU2005239697A1 - Improvement for eye glass frame adapted for the removal and insertion of lenses - Google Patents

Description

I~~mp~~te forWS mmdOfI vemou ImeB04u Io~ b~ J. weld Of MWe i rsn netion' relates o an important T hpr V O e t P r e n t e e l s s f in w h i c h a l t c h i g roehali~ n ap i d tn eyess pormf of the frame to per~ im the apetol tO~ rrplacement of the enses ~n the frame in priel the present ~eto I no v td e s fa m c io r Pe c r e t i c u Sl ar t o r e t i nl t h e l e n s e s i n tep r avi es a llM ys slightlY Or cut lenses t e i s r e ane raed# and1w cls it such a way that the f rame ill not accidentally open.

2. We ,lt~dftLr At US, Patent 6273564 describes. an eyecjl.8 9 frms o h remvalandinsertion of lenses that provides for a portion of the frame removably coupled to h oyo the fraenses permit the insetiol' removal Or replacement of telne t deirale o povide f Or a inl the frame-. It wold best OO eeirae o thtth rm secure lsure of the frame eteor 3cepene thatfae Portion which could be Opened Is able to aclpenses a have been cut elOe~iS, ye stilhe ale t securelYl prevent accidental realeale ytos. be abset be aslYopened with readilY aalbetoS h rsn bne etiflY .rvO for such a feature.

The rincpalobject of the PrOBS@t invention provides a modification of the deignt Of US "at 627356 inep ovhrizhea moescure Closure is Provided that. ilace toerized mese n n o cidentallY open which could be into the current designl in the aforementoe;aet This Invention importantly provides for tilizinlg a cam arm made from a plitably elastic metal with a wae-haped or cuvdportionl adapted to fit on top of or within a recess ocutedtpo the upper portion Of the eyewire closure ok soe that tfhe frame eywire is securely closed in order to retain the lenses- The, wave shaped cam arma, when made with suitably elatlOmetlcan accept enses that have been cut slightly easti inal t rms of having a longer circu mference than the inesie i t yewire. hen closed, the Cam arma will eert a constant force to hold the upper and lower clouebok togthe, wi~hprovides for a mors secure fit. The design togltherVt~ whciet ease, yet can, be easily opened using readilY available tools. In addition fewerpat r required, and standard m~anufactur~ing Processes can be used.

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Fig. I shows a partial front view Of the latching mechanism Of the frame;I rig. 2 shows a Partial rear view of the latching mechanism Of the partial sectional view in a closed poiion; Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the latching mechanism of the frame taken along the lines 3-3 of EIG. 21 Fig. 4 shows an elevated rear view taken along lines 4- 4 of Fig. 3 showing the cam arm is closed along with the closed upper and lower closure block* of the frame; Fi. is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the cam arm and hinge pin,. and the recesses in the upper and lower closure blocks; Fig. 6 showis a top view taken Along lines 6-6 of rig. 4 showing the frame in the closed position;i 1-ig. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 Of Fig. 5 of the latching mechanism of the frame shown from the opposite side of Fig. 3; Fig. B is a rear view of the latching mechanism of the frame in an open positionl showing the gap created in the closure blocks and eyewire; Fig. 9 is a sectional view along lines 9-9 of Fig. 8 in the open position; Fig. 10 is a top view along lines 10-10 of Fig. 8 in the open position showing the top of the hinge pin and the recess in the top closure block; and Fig. 11 is an exploded view of the latching mechanism of the frame.

DZTAZL DZ19.Z1T=0 07 MN P1DUDRI ShOD' Referrinlg to the drawings of Figures 1-11, the present invention provides a substantial modification to the designi in US Patent 6,273,564 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 1 a latching cam lock 616 is provided f or an eyeglass f rame. The cam lock 616 has a top can arm portion 813 that is curved or wave-shaped to fit into a recess in the top of the upper closuare block 805.

Fig. 7 shows the same View as Fig.3 but from the other side.

The cam arm 612 is made of a suitable elastic material such as spring steel, the purpose of which is by providing a cam arm with the aforementioned wave-shaped portion and made of a suitable elastic material enables the cam arm 612 to latch even if the Iens circumference is slightly larger than ideal. This enables the lenses to be over-cut up to 0.25mm (or more) and still be able to enable the cam arm 612 to closelsee Fig. 4)r even if the lenses are cut with a larger circumfe rence than optimal; (ii) exert a load in order to keep the upper closure block 805 and lower closure block 510 (which corresponds roughly to elements 605 and 610 in US Patent 6,273,564) mated together; (iii) enable the cam lock to provide a more secure closure to prevent accidental opening; and (iv) enable the cam lock to be opened using readily available tools such as a small, slot-blade

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screwdriver.

The suitable elastic material for the cam arm 612 is .strong enough to hold the cam arm 612 in place once it has been securely set, but enables some degree of give in the event that the lens is over-cut. Spring steel is a good material to use for this application, although other suitably elastic material can work. The elasticity in the cam arm 612 also provides for clamping force to keep the closure blocks 805, 812 securely together.

The hinge pin is a non-threaded pin 617 (see Figs. and 7) to eliminate the need for a threaded post. This enables a reduction in the overall height of the design, and insures proper alignment of the cam arm 612 and'the groove cut into the back of the upper and lower closure blocks, 805 and 810, respectively.

By securing the cam arm into the recess on the top of the upper closure block 805 the cam arm is securely locked in place which ensures that the frame closure blocks are not accidentally opened which can cause the release of the lens.

Instead the closure blocks are held together under load (see FIG. 3) thereby preventing the lenses from dropping out of the frame unintentionally.

Fig. 8 shows a portion of the frame in the open 6

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posti~l. ig.9 shows the cam ar! 612 rotating f roO the oes 0 iti. Fi solid lines) tovard the closed positon' (dotted lines) Fig. 10 is a top vewothhiepni.

11 is an exploded view showing the mechanlism for the present Invenltion-.

While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of the disclosures nwiflerous changes in the arrangemen5ft of method ste Ips and apparatus parts can be made by those skilled in the art. Such changes are *encompassed within the Spirit of the invention as def ined by the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. An eyeglass f rams having lenses and a lower eyewire closure block and an upper eyewire closure block comprising a camn mechanism including a cam lock formed of a pair of can heads connected to an arm of said cam lock, a hinge pin extending through a hole in a closure block of said frame, said pair of cam heads being pivotally connected to said hinge pin and to said lower eyewire closure block by a pivot point so that when said can arm is moved in a f irst direction said cam heads rotate away from said lower eyewire closure block and cause said lover eyewire closure block and said upper eyewire closure block to separate a distance thereby opening said frame eyewire for a lens to be removed, inserted or replaced; and said arm being moved to a second position opposite said first position which Cause maid cam heads to rotate back into engagement against said lower eyewire closure block thereby causing said lower eyewire closure block to come together with said upper eyewire closure block and said frame to close, the improvement comprising: said cam arm including a rounded or wave-shaped portion adapted to be fitted on top Of Or within a recess in said upper eyawire closure block of said frame to Provide for a more secure closuire of said frame while making allowance for said lenses being slightly Over cut and to prevent accidental opening Of said frame.

2. ?he frtame according to claiI1 wherein said cam arm is made from a suitable elastic material to enable said frame to lock securely even if said lens is over-cut and to provide clamping force to keep the upper and lower eyewire closure blocks pressed together.

3. The frame according to claim 2 wherein said suitable elastic material is spring steel.

4. The frame according to claim 1 wherein said frame further includes a non-threaded hinge pin to insure proper alignment of said cam arm and a groove cut into said upper and lower eyewire Closure blocks.