WO2003062904A1

WO2003062904A1 - An improved spectacle frame and spectacles including the frame

Info

Publication number: WO2003062904A1
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000661
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vittorio Tabacchi
Original assignee: Safilo SpA
Current assignee: Safilo SpA
Priority date: 2001-12-31
Filing date: 2001-12-31
Publication date: 2003-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2004-06-30

Abstract

A spectacle frame is described and comprises a pair of lens-holding rims (3) shaped for at least partially encircling respective lenses (4) and a corresponding pair of supports for respective nose pads (8), in which each of the supports comprises a respective appendage (9) which extends integrally from the corresponding rim (3) and which can be fitted in a respective pocket (10) of the corresponding pad so that the pad (8) is at least partially fitted on the appendage (9), coupling means being provided between the appendages (9) and the pads (8) for restraining each pad in the fitted position on the respective appendage. A pair of spectacles including the above-mentioned frame is also described.

Description

An improved spectacle frame and spectacles including the frame Technical field

The present invention relates to an improved spectacle frame according to the preamble to main Claim 1. Technological background

In known spectacle frames, each of the nose pads in the region which bears on the nose typically has a shank which is generally incorporated in the pad and is connected to the free end of a support which in turn is fixed, for example, by welding, to the lens-holding rim of the frame. A structure of this type normally requires different and separate processing both of the support and of the nose pad, which render the construction process quite laborious and consequently expensive as well as difficult to apply to light frames, for example, of the type made entirely of plastics material. Description of the invention The main object of the present invention is to facilitate and simplify the production and fitting of the nose pads on spectacle frames, particularly for spectacles with frames made entirely of plastics material.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the removal of the pads for various purposes. Yet another object is to provide a frame which enables the fit of the pad to be adapted to the users' different facial morphologies.

Yet another object is to provide a frame, and a pair of spectacles including the frame, which are versatile and which can be produced at low cost.

These objects and others which will become clear from the following description are achieved by the invention by means of a spectacle frame formed in accordance with the appended claims. Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a pair of spectacles including a frame formed in accordance with the invention, - Figures 2 and 3 are a front elevational view and a side elevational view of the frame of Figure 1 , respectively,

- Figure 4 is a partial view of a detail of the frame of the preceding drawings, with parts separated and on an enlarged scale, - Figures 5 and 6 are front elevational views of different embodiments of the detail of Figure 4,

- Figures 7 and 8 are partial front elevational views of the frame of the preceding drawings, in two different configurations,

- Figures 9 and 10 are partially-sectioned side and front elevational views of respective variants of the detail of Figure 4, and

- Figures 1 1 to 14 are partially-sectioned side and front elevational views of further variants of the detail of Figure 4.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

With reference initially to Figures 1 to 3, a frame, generally indicated 1 , for a pair of spectacles 2, includes a pair of lens-holding rims 3 each of which can encircle a respective lens 4. Respective arms 5 are articulated to the ends of the frame in conventional manner and have respective soft rubber end elements 6 fitted on their opposite free ends. The lens-holding rims 3 are connected, in a central nasal support region, by a bridge 7 in the region of which nosepieces, in the form of respective pads 8 made of soft and deformable plastics material, for example, of a silicone rubber, are identified.

Corresponding supports are provided for supporting the pads 8, each support including a respective appendage 9 extending integrally from the corresponding rim 3 and, in particular, projecting towards the inner side of the frame, that is, the side which faces the user in use.

Each of the appendages 9 is made, as is the frame itself, of a plastics material stiffer than that of the corresponding pad, and is also preferably produced simultaneously with the moulding of the lens-holding rims so as to be formed integrally therewith. Moreover, each appendage 9, which is shaped substantially as a prismatic tab, can be fitted in a respective pocket-like seat 10 formed in the corresponding pad 8 so that the latter is fitted on the appendage. Each pad 8 is defined by opposed first lateral surfaces 8a, 8b one of which is intended to bear on the user's nose in contact therewith, and which are connected to second opposed surfaces 8c, 8d, one of which (the surface 8c in the drawings) comprises the mouth of the pocket 10. The pocket also extends axially inside the pad along an axis (axis K in Figure 4) which is advantageously inclined to a first median plane of the pad (defined by the axis X of Figure 4). The size of the angle of inclination A between the axes X and K is selected so as to ensure a comfortable fit and support of the pads on the nasal area with regard to the positioning of the frame on the user's face. A second median plane, perpendicular to the plane of axis X is also defined in each pad 8. This second plane is identified by an axis Y shown in Figures 5 and 6. According to a further characteristic of the invention, the pocket-like seat 10 is formed in a position out of alignment with the second median plane. In particular, a first pad 8 is formed with a pocket 10 out of alignment and offset towards the lateral surface 8a and a second pad 8 is formed with a pocket out of alignment to the same extent but offset towards the opposite lateral surface 8b. The first and second pad configurations are indicated 8L (left-hand pad) and 8R (right-hand pad), respectively, in Figures 5 and 6. The offset of each pad, defined as the distance between the median plane of the pocket (defined by an axis L) and the second median plane of the pad (axis Y), is indicated D in the same drawings.

The provision of two distinct pads 8L and 8R enables their positioning on the respective appendages of the frame 1 to be reversed so as to vary the distance between the pads and to achieve two different configurations of fit thereof in order to adapt the fit to the different morphologies of the user's face. Figure 7 shows a first configuration with the pads 8L, 8R fitted on the appendages 9 in an arrangement such as to achieve the maximum distance apart, whereas Figure 8 shows a second configuration with the pads reversed, with a positioning such as to achieve the minimum distance apart. In order to secure each pad on the respective appendage, in a first embodiment, friction coupling means are also provided for achieving coupling by the fitting of the appendage 9 in the corresponding pocket 10 with pressure. To facilitate this securing by fitting with pressure, respective surface projections 1 1 a, 11 b are formed inside the pocket 10, preferably along opposed walls 10a, 10b, for increasing the friction between the mating surfaces, securing them better relative to one another.

In a variant of this first embodiment, the coupling means comprise one or more sets of surface knurling or teeth 12, advantageously formed on the surfaces of the appendages 9 (Figures 9 and 10) but, alternatively or in addition, also inside the pocket 10, to increase the pressure between the mating surfaces. The knurling 12 is preferably provided on a pair of opposed surfaces of the appendage 9. In a second embodiment, the coupling means for restraining each pad 8 on the respective appendage 9 are snap-coupling means, that is, they comprise projections 13 formed on one of the appendage (Figures 12 and 14) and the pocket (10) (Figures 11 and 13) to be snap-housed in respective seats 14 formed in the other of the appendage and the pocket. The invention thus achieves the objects set, affording many advantages over known solutions.

A first advantage consists of the fact that the frame and the spectacles according to the invention permit a simplification of the construction and fitting of the nose pads on the frame, in particular on frames made entirely of plastics material, as well as easier removal of the pads.

A further advantage is that the frame according to the invention permits adjustment and easy adaptation of the fit of the pads to different morphological configurations of users' faces.

Not the least advantage is the provision of frames, and of spectacles equipped with the frames, which are versatile and can be produced at low cost.

Claims

1. A spectacle frame comprising a pair of lens-holding rims (3) shaped for at least partially encircling a respective lens (4) and a corresponding pair of supports for respective nose pads (8), characterized in that each of the supports comprises a respective appendage (9) which extends integrally from the corresponding rim (3) and which can be fitted in a respective pocket (10) of the corresponding pad so that the pad (8) is at least partially fitted on the appendage (9), coupling means being provided between the appendages (9) and the pads (8) for restraining each pad in the fitted position on the respective appendage.

2. A frame according to Claim 1 in which the appendages (9) and the corresponding rims (3) are made of plastics material.

3. A frame according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each pad (8) is restrained releasably on the corresponding appendage (9).

4. A frame according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the coupling between each appendage (9) and the corresponding pad (8) is snap coupling.

5. A frame according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the coupling between each appendage (9) and the corresponding pad (8) is coupling with pressure, by friction.

6. A frame according to Claim 5 in which the coupling means comprise surface projections (11a, 11 b) extending on the appendages (9) or in the corresponding pocket (10) in order to increase the forces bringing about securing with pressure by surface friction.

7. A frame according to Claim 6 in which the coupling means comprise knurling (12) located on mutually mating surfaces of the appendages (9) and/or of the pocket (10).

8. A frame according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the pocket (10) formed in the pad is out of alignment with a median plane of the pad.

9. A frame according to Claim 8 comprising one of the pads (8L) having the corresponding pocket (10) out of alignment with a preselected offset relative to the median plane, and another of the pads (8R) out of alignment with the offset to the opposite side of the said median plane, each of the pads being fitted interchangeably on one or on the other of the corresponding appendages (9) of the frame so as to achieve two different configurations in which the pads are positioned on the frame at different distances from one another.

10. A pair of spectacles including a frame according to one or more of Claims 1 to 9.