The invention regards a frame for glasses, in which one rod includes a compartment suitable for containing objects or supplementary lenses, and ideally supplied with a system to detach the rods from the front part holding the lenses, so that the rods can be replaced with other types to obtain a modern frame fit for specific requirements.

Background art The experts in this field know that there are glasses with different shapes, the frames of which are, however, only designed for holding the lenses and, in addition, for aesthetical-decorative effects. Glasses, the frame of which has additional functions, in particular frames which may contain small objects, are not known.

The known frames have the drawback that small commonly used objects (e.g. pens, cosmetics, perfumes, etc.) must be kept in separate containers, such as bags or pockets, even though they could easily be kept in the frame. This is even more a problem in summertime, especially on the beach, but also in other situations when, for example, light dresses are worn, and carrying often necessary objects is particularly irritating.

This is also particularly awkward when corrective lenses have to be replaced with sunlenses, as other accessories must be added to the traditional frame to replace one type with the other or attach the one over the other.

Disclosure of invention This model principally aims at supplying a frame for glasses which acts as a support and at the same time includes containers on its rods for carrying small objects or supplementary lenses which are used in place of or in addition to the original lenses by taking them out of the container on the rod and possibiy by detaching the front part holding the lenses, so that the rods can be changed and the more suitable rods can be used according to specific requirements.

This target has been reached with the model by realizing the idea of a frame for glasses which has the features described in the characterising sections of the separate claims.

Other features of the frame are the object of dependent claims.

The advantages of this model essentially consist of the possibility to carry commonly used small objects (pens, perfumes, etc.) inside the frame of glasses without using bags or similar; of the fact that the small door of the container can be supplied with a mirror allowing the user to look at him- or herself whenever he or she wants; that, according to the lenses mounted on the frame, supplementary corrective lenses or sunlenses can be kept in the rod's container, and can be taken out and used when necessary; that the front portion holding the lenses can be detached from the rods and

these can be used with the supplementary lenses; that the glasses can be renewed by changing the rods whenever the user wishes and replacing them with new ones; that, every time the user wants to change the lens-holding structure, for necessity or for the purpose of fashion only, it is not necessary to replace the whole frame but it is sufficient to change the front of the glasses; that single broken parts, such as the front portion or the rods, can be replaced separately without having to remake the whole frame.

These and other advantages and characteristics of this model can be appreciated by every expert in this field by reading the following description and looking at the drawings enclosed, which must be considered as a practical example of the invention and not limited to it.

Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the figures of the drawings enclosed, a frame for glasses with a rod including a container for small objects or supplementary lenses, and with its front portion detachable from the rods according to the invention, comprises: - means for containing small objects or supplementary lenses inside the rod, with a frame of any shape (1), one or both rods (2) supplied with a container or compartment (3) with a cover (8), in which small objects, cosmetics, supplementary lenses or similar can be kept in compliance with the invention's dimensions and corresponding with the specific structural and commercial requirements;

- means for opening and closing the container with a door (4) or similar supplied with a built-in locking mechanism or another suitable system; - means for detaching the front of the frame from the rods, with the front (19) which can be hooked on and unhooked from the rods thanks to a groove-and-tongue joint (20, 21) or another suitable system.

Expediently, both rods, or only one of them, are thicker in the section near the lenses, whereas the other part, resting behind the ears, is thinner and easy to wear.

Another advantage consists in the fact that the rods have a compartment (3) in their thicker portion, which can be closed and contain small objects. The above-mentioned container can have any shapes and dimensions. The effective space can therefore be of various sizes, while the compartment's profile is preferably full (18, 19).

The said compartment can be suitably supplied with a cover of various types, sliding or built-in, or in the form of a door as the example shown on the tables enclosed. The door opens by pivoting upwards (4) thanks to two hinges (or another suitable system), although other forms and systems for opening and closing may be used.

Expediently, the two rods can be of a traditional type or preferably supplied with a special hinge or similar, to also allow them to rotate by 90° outwards, forming a straight angle of 180 with the lens, thus facilitating the access to the inner compartment (5).

Another advantage lies in the fact that the container on the rods can be used to contain an infinity of small objects and the compartment may have various types of aperture to facilitate its use and make it attractive. For example, minipackages of cosmetics, even supplied with a small brush, or small bottles of perfume can be kept inside the rods, so that they are always in reach; a mirror can also be attached on the inner wall (7), or on the outside of the compartment's door placed on the rod (8), or on one single rod, so that the user can look at him- or herself. The compartment, according to the invention, may contain small notebooks for note taking, or pillboxes, may contain several internal compartments to keep the various objects separate. The container may also contain accessories for the same glasses inside its compartment, such as a cloth for wiping the lenses, a screwdriver to mount the frame, or supplementary corrective lenses to be used together with sunlenses, or other things.

According to the invention, the containers of the rods can suitably contain supplementary lenses (9) which may be used by opening the rods at 1800 (10) and sliding the supplementary lenses toward tne main lenses, using tne protecting part or the joint as a lever. Once this operation is completed, the rods must only be set back to a right angle by bending the joint (11), so that a double lens (12) is obtained which protects against sunlight and improves vision at once. By bending the said joint (11), the hinge (or similar) of the rod is also bent.

Naturally, the lenses may be inverted, so that the glasses are normally provided with corrective lenses and supplementary sunlenses.

Another advantage consists in the fact that the lenses inside the container can be taken out in another way, i.e. without opening the rod at 180°. According to this embodiment, the supplementary lens is contained in the rod's compartment; it is therefore sufficient to open the container's (13) door and remove the supplementary lens which is fixed to the rod inside the compartment with a support (14) by holding it firmly and allowing it to rotate on a pin (17) until the right position for a perfect sight (15) is reached, i.e. until the lens adheres to the main lens. Once the lens has been taken out, the user simply has to close the door (16) to reset the glasses in function.

According to this invention, the front of the frame, with the main lenses (19), can be detached from the rods, and only the supplementary lenses placed inside the compartment can be used; this possibility is particularly advantageous for sunglasses with supplementary corrective lenses used at home when the eyes do not require protection against sunrays.

Expediently, this separation is obtained with a hinge fixed at one end (20) to the front portion holding the lenses (19) and the other end to the rod with a groove-and-tongue system (21), a built-in or another suitable system.

Another advantage consists of the possibility to detach the front portion with the lenses from the rods, so that the latter can be replaced by other types of rods as required,

and, when the lenses have to be replaced, the front portion can be replaced without replacing the whole frame.

Various kinds of accessories can be inserted in the rod's compartment; our list provides a few examples only.

The compartment can also be located in other positions along the rod or on its outside, still remaining within the range of this invention. The solution proposed as an example has been chosen because of its aesthetical effects, although different solutions are possible.

This also applies to the materials, shapes and sizes which may vary according to manufacture and market requirements.

As the invention has been described taking one of its embodiments as an example and not limited to it, with the aim of illustrating its essential characteristics, it is understood that it may undergo numerous variations according to industrial and commercial requirements, and may use other systems and means still remaining within its range.

It is therefore understood that the application for a patent right includes every application of these ideas and every equivalent product manufactured and/or using one or more of any characteristics listed in the following claims.

Brief description of drawings - Figure 1 is a schematic drawing on a scale of 1:2, giving an axonometric view of the invention composed of a frame consisting of the lenses (1), the rods (2), one of them or both supplied with a compartment (8) suitable for containing various kinds of objects.

- Figure 2 is also an axonometric view showing a container, (3) supplied with a cover (4) and full walls (18, 19), in which small objects can be kept.

- Figure 3 shows a possible use of the compartment as a container for cosmetics (6) and with its door open (7) to take out the objects contained in it. The example proposed has a rod containing face powder and a brush for its application to the person's face.

- Figure 4 shows the rod open at 180 compared to the lenses thanks to the hinge or similar (5) which connects it with the lenses.

- Figures 5, 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the invention and an alternative use of the compartment on the rod which contains supplementary lenses to be used combined with sunlenses or conversely. In particular, Fig.5 shows the supplementary lens (9) inserted in the rod's compartment.

Figure 6 shows the rod open at 180 to facilitate the sliding of the supplementary lens (9) which moves thanks to the joint (10). Finally, Figure 7 shows the supplementary lens placed under the main lens (12), and the joint bent (11) for a perfect use of the glasses. The three figures on Table 3/5 show one single lens and one single rod, although the said mechanism is present on both parts of the frame.

- Table 4/5 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the inner compartment is used as a container for a supplementary lens which can be extracted, pivoted and placed on the main lens without rotating the main lens as shown on Table 3/5. In particular, Figure 8 shows the compartment with

the door open (13). Figure 9 shows the supplementary lens pivoted on the main lens (15), the support connecting it with the rod's container (14) and the joint (17) bent at 90°.

Finally, Figure 10 shows the door closed (16) once the lens has been withdrawn, and the glasses ready for use.

- Figure 11 shows the glasses with the front portion (19) detached from the rods thanks to a special hooking and unhooking mechanism (20, 21) with a built-in connection, a hinge or another suitable system.