GB2582324A

GB2582324A - Spectacles

Info

Publication number: GB2582324A
Application number: GB1903733.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Snelgrove John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-19
Filing date: 2019-03-19
Publication date: 2020-09-23
Also published as: GB201903733D0

Abstract

A pair of spectacles (glasses) comprising a frame (10, figure 10) has brow bar 12 and two side arms 18 wherein two hinges 24 (22, figure 10) are provided to hingedly connect each end of the brow bar 12 to a first end of each of the respective side arms 18, the hinges comprising an interlocking helical hinge 24 (22, figure 10). The interlocking helical hinges 24 (22, figure 10) may be formed from the interlocking of helical curves 14 (16, figure 1) of brow bar 12 with the respective helical curves 20 of side arms 18. The assembled interlocking helical hinges 24 (22, figure 10) may be torsion springs. The helical curves 14 (16, figure 1) may have 1.5 turns. The spectacles may comprise a wire which may have a rectilinear, square, or hexagonal cross-section.

Description

SPECTACLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to spectacles. More specifically, this invention relates to a hinge for hingedly connecting a brow bar to a side arm of a pair of spectacles. Further this invention relates to a pair of spectacles including the hinge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Around 65% of the world's population needs vision correction -creating a global eyewear market worth $102.7 billion in 2015 (growing to $184 billion by 2024). Over 85 million spectacles are sold every year in Western Europe and a further 80 million in the US. Over 50% of the West's population have access to corrective eye-wear. By contrast, the Developing World has very low access to vision correction -only 15% of China, 8% of India and less than 3% of Africa's population.

According to Vision Aid Overseas: -1.2 billion people worldwide can't see properly simply because they need glasses * 12 million children worldwide struggle to learn simply because they need glasses * 55% of visually impaired people are women * 89% of visually impaired people live in low and middle-income countries * 75% of all visual impairment is preventable or curable * $200 billion worth of productivity is lost every year because so many people do not have the glasses they need to see clearly Unlike the West, the Developing World doesn't have the infrastructure to diagnose, prescribe and manufacture spectacles for its people. Especially in rural areas. Approximately 200 million people who live on less than $2.50 per day require spectacles or have eye conditions which make them dependent on their families. A number of charities and NGO's are directly trying to increase the number of disadvantaged people who have access to prescription glasses. These organizations are limited by the spectacles donated by every-day wearers in developed countries.

The spectacles in the prior art require professional manufacturing with specialist equipment. The manufacturing processes of the prior art ensure the spectacles are manufactured specifically to a person's eyeglass prescription. To ensure longevity, the spectacles are manufactured such that it is difficult or impossible to alter their original fit, without using the specialist equipment. The spectacles in the prior art are therefore limited to a single person, or at least to people with a particular eyeglass prescription. The manufacturing processes are also expensive, as they require specialist equipment.

In developing countries, many people cannot work due to vision defects and poor access to eye care professionals. Despite charitable drives to donate spectacles to the developing world, the spectacles may only be donated to a person with the same eyeglass prescription. Furthermore, remanufacturing the spectacles in the developing country to create spectacles with the correct eyeglass prescription is not possible without the specialist equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of spectacles comprising a frame having a brow bar and two side arms wherein two hinges are provided to hingedly connect each end of the brow bar to a first end of each of the respective side arms, the hinge comprising an interlocking helical hinge.

Preferably the brow bar comprises a wire.

Preferably each of the side arms comprises a wire.

Preferably each end of the brow bar comprises a wire.

Preferably the first end of each of the side arms comprises a wire.

Preferably the first end of each of the side arms is provided with a helical curve. Preferably the helical curve has 1.5 turns.

Preferably the wire of the first end of each of the side arms is provided with a helical curve.

Preferably the helical curve has 1.5 turns.

Preferably each end of the brow bar is provided with a helical curve. Preferably the helical curve has 1.5 turns.

Preferably the wire of each end of the brow bar is provided with a helical curve. Preferably the helical curve has 1.5 turns.

Preferably the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms interlocks with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.

Preferably the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms is configured to interlock with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.

Preferably the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms cooperates with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.

Preferably the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms is configured to cooperate with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.

Preferably the interlocking helical hinge comprises a torsion spring.

Preferably the wire is of rectilinear cross-section. In one alternative the wire is of rectilinear polygon cross-section. In one alternative the wire is of square cross-section, preferably the wire is of square cross-section with rounded corners. In another alternative the wire is of polygon cross-section, preferably of hexagonal cross-section, preferably the wire is of hexagonal cross-section with rounded corners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a brow bar according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a top plan view of a brow bar according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a brow bar according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a brow bar according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a side arm according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates a top plan view of a side arm according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a side arm according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 illustrates a front view of a side arm according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates a front view of a frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 illustrates a top plan view of a frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of a frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 illustrates a side view of a frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 illustrates a magnified cross-section through A-A of Figure 10; Figure 14 illustrates a magnified view of D of Figure 10; Figure 15 illustrates a magnified view of E of Figurel 1; Figure 16 illustrates a front view of a brow bar according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 17 illustrates a top plan view of a brow bar according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 18 illustrates a perspective view of a brow bar according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 19 illustrates a side view of a brow bar according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 20 illustrates a cross-section through A-A of Figure 16; Figure 21 illustrates a side view of a side arm according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 22 illustrates a top plan view of a side arm according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 23 illustrates a perspective view of a side arm according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 24 illustrates a front view of a side arm according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 25 illustrates a cross-section through A-A of Figure 21; Figure 26 illustrates a front view of a frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 27 illustrates a top plan view of a frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 28 illustrates a perspective view of a frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 29 illustrates a side view of a frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 30 illustrates a magnified cross section through A-A of Figure 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 to 4 illustrates brow bar 12 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Brow bar 12 is formed from a wire of hexagonal cross-section with rounded corners. Each end of the brow bar 12 is provided with a helical curve 14, 16. Each helical curve 14, 16 has 1.5 turns.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrates side arm 18 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Side arm 18 is formed from a wire of hexagonal cross-section with rounded corners. One end of the side arm 18 is provided with a helical curve 20. The helical curve 20 has 1.5 turns.

Figures 9 to 15 illustrate an assembled frame 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The frame 10 has brow bar 12 and two side arms 18 wherein two interlocking helical hinge hinges 22, 24 are provided to hingedly connect each end of the brow bar 12 to a first end of each of the respective side arms 18. The respective interlocking helical hinges 22, 24 being formed from the interlocking of respective helical curve 14, 16 of brow bar 12 with the respective helical curve 20 of first and second side arms 18. The assembled interlocking helical hinges 22, 24 formed are torsion springs.

Figures 16 to 20 illustrate brow bar 112 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Brow bar 112 is formed from a wire of square cross-section with rounded corners. Each end of the brow bar 112 is provided with a helical curve 114, 116. Each helical curve 114, 116 has 1.5 turns.

Figures 21 to 25 illustrate side arm 118 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Side arm 118 is formed from a wire of square cross-section with rounded corners. One end of the side arm 118 is provided with a helical curve 120. The helical curve 120 has 1.5 turns.

Figures 26 to 30 illustrate an assembled frame 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The frame 110 has brow bar 112 and two side arms 118 wherein two interlocking helical hinge hinges 122, 124 are provided to hingedly connect each end of the brow bar 112 to a first end of each of the respective side arms 118. The respective interlocking helical hinges 122, 124 being formed from the interlocking of respective helical curve 114, 116 of brow bar 112 with the respective helical curve 120 of first and second side arms 118. The assembled interlocking helical hinges 122, 12 formed are torsion springs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pair of spectacles comprising a frame having a brow bar and two side arms wherein first and second hinges are provided to hingedly connect each end of the brow bar to a first end of each of the respective side arms, the first and second hinges comprising an interlocking helical hinge.
2. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 1 wherein the brow bar comprises a wire.
3. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each of the side arms comprises a wire.
4. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each end of the brow bar comprises a wire.
5. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first end of each of the side arms comprises a wire.
6. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first end of each of the side arms is provided with a helical curve.
7. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 6 wherein the helical curve has 1.5 turns.
8. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wire of the first end of each of the side arms is provided with a helical curve.
9. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 8 wherein the helical curve has 1.5 turns.
10. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each end of the brow bar is provided with a helical curve.
11. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 10 wherein the helical curve has 1.5 turns.
12. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wire of each end of the brow bar is provided with a helical curve.
13. A pair of spectacles as claimed in claim 12 wherein the helical curve has 1.5 turns.
14. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 6 and claim 10 wherein the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms interlocks with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.
15. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 6 and claim 10 wherein the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms is configured to interlock with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.
16. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 6 and claim 10 wherein the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms cooperates with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.
17. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 6 and claim 10 wherein the helical curve at the first end of each of the side arms is configured to cooperate with the helical curve of the respective end of the brow bar to form the interlocking helical hinge.
18. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the interlocking helical hinge comprises a torsion spring.
19. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire is of rectilinear cross-section.
20. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire is of rectilinear polygon cross-section.
21. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire is of square cross-section,
22. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire is of rectilinear cross-section with rounded corners.
23. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire is of polygon cross-section.
24. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire is of hexagonal cross-section
25. A pair of spectacles as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire is of hexagonal cross-section with rounded corners.