HAND TOOL FOR USE WITH SPRING-HINGE SPECTACLE FRAMES
The present invention relates, in general, to han tools for use in connection with repair or adjustment o spectacle frames and the like, and more particularly to hand tool for use with spring-hinge type spectacles wherei the temple piece is coupled to the lens frame portion by spring-hinge coupling structure, wherein the too facilitates insertion or extraction of the temple screw.
Heretofore considerable difficultly has bee encountered in replacing the temple screw connecting th temple pieces of spectacles with the eye glass frames, wher a spring-hinge type connection is employed. Typically, th temple pieces at the front end portion thereof include hinge component incorporating a spring structure whic accommodates a limited amount of flexible movement of th associated temple member relative to the frame for th lenses beyond the normal range allowed by the temple screw the spring hinge component being removably connected to th hinge component fixed to the lens frame by a tiny templ screw. Usually, the assistance of another person to hol the components in appropriate position during insertion o extraction of the temple screw, or the use of a complex an expensive special vice, has been required to achieve suc insertion or extraction of the temple screw. This i because insertion of the tiny temple screw in such spring hinge type spectacles requires precise proper alignment o the temple and lens frame while maintaining sufficien pressure to overcome the tension of the spring within th hinge structure during the screw insertion procedure. An object of the present invention is the provision o a convenient hand tool which holds the temple and lens fram of spring-hinge type spectacles in proper alignment and wit proper pressure maintained to overcome the tension of th spring structure, allowing only one hand to be used for th tool while leaving the operator's other hand free to inser or extract the hinge screw.
Other objects, advantages and capabilities of th present invention will become apparent from the followin
detailed description, taken in conjunction with th accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment o the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hand tool embodyin the present invention for supporting and maintaining prope position and pressure on the lens frame and templ components of spring-hinge type spectacles during hing screw insertion or extraction procedures; FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof; FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view thereof; FIGURE 4 is a top plan view thereof; FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the hand tool;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, wherein like referenc characters designate corresponding parts throughout th several figures, the spring-hinge type spectacle supportin hand tool of the present invention is indicated generally b the reference character 10, and comprises pistol shape casing 12 having an upper gripper-housing slide channe portion 14, and a handle formation 15 having a trigger 1 pivoted therein on a pivot pin 17. Projecting forwardl from the transition portion 18 -of the casing between th upper slide channel portion 14 and handle formation 15 is rigid support arm 19 having a threaded stud or stub shaft 2 on the forwardmost end thereof. A lens and lens fram supporting subassembly 21 is supported for angula adjustable movement on the stub shaft 20 of the support ar 19, including a brace pad supporting post 22 apertured a its lower end, as indicated at 22a, to receive the stu shaft 20 therethrough and having a clamp nut 23 threaded o the end of the stub shaft 20. A supporting bracket o collar 24 for the lens holding subassembly embraces and i slidable on the post 22 and can be fixed at variou positions of vertical adjustment along the longitudinal axi of the post 22 by a clamp nut 25. The bracket or collar 2 supports a concave lens-engaging pad 26 carried on the meta
backing dish 27 and an associated pendulous support arm having a front leg 28a spaced outwardly from and extendi substantially from just outwardly of the perimeter of t lens engaging pad 26 to substantially sustain the axi center thereof, spaced an appropriate distance from t concave face of the pad 26 to receive the lens of the le frame component of the spectacles between the support a portion 28a and the pad 26.
The slide channel portion 14 of the tool casing includes, in the illustrated embodiment, a channel shap bushing member 30 having a bottom 30a, vertical forward converging sides 30b and a pair of top flange members 30 30d defining a truncated triangular, upwardly openi entrance throat 31 which is aligned with the similar shaped slideway opening 32 in the rearwardly opening chamb 32a of the slide channel portion 14. The slide chann defined between the sides 30b of the bushing member 30 is shaped that the side walls are disposed in planes whi converge toward the brace pad 26, as shown in Fig. 3, a slideably support gripper pad members 33. Each gripper p 33 comprises a flat backing panel and a solid pad wi ribbed edge 34 of flexibly deformable plastic or rubb webbing or similar sheet material, for example, with t gripping ribbed edge 34 of one pad 33 converging with t gripper ribbed edge 34 of the other pad 33. The backi panels of the gripper pads 33 have slide pins 36 projectin outwardly therefrom through registering slots 37a and 37b i the side walls of the channel member 30 and the slid channel formation 14, to be received in elongated slots 3 of rocker arms 38 which are fixed at their lowermost ends t the pivot pin 17. A stop member 39 is carried at th forwardmost end of the slide channel portion 14 of the mai body 12 having an upwardly opening elongated slot 39a fo receiving the temple piece, indicated at broken lines in 40 of spectacles, indicated at 41, to be supported an positioned by the hand tool. The trigger 16 which is als keyed or otherwise fixed to the pivot pin 17 to rotate th pivot 17 and rocker arm 38 about the axis of the pivot pi
17. upon movement of the trigger 16, includes an extension 16a projecting above the pivot pin 17 and connected at its upper end to a spring 16b which resiliently biases th trigger to return to the position shown in Fig. 1. To operate the tool, one of the eye glass or spectacles temple pieces is placed in the slot 39 and the slideway opening 32 of the chamber 32a communicating therewith an between the confronting edges 35 of the gripper pads 32 in the chamber 32a. The adjacent lens of the eyeglass fram component 42 is then carefully inserted under the pendulous support arm 28a overlying the rearwardly facing concave surface of the brace pad member 26, making sure that th front surface of the eyeglass lens is resting against th pad 26. It will be noted that the brace pad 26 and its associated metal backing 27 are adjustable, by loosening th screws 25 and 23 associated with the collar 24 and lower en of the post 22, freeing the post 22 to be swung to the righ or left and freeing the brace pad 26 to move up or down wit adjustment of the collar 24 along the post 22. Thes adjustments should be made so that the lens is centered o the brace pad 26. The screws 23 and 25 should then b tightened, clamping the brace pad 26 in the properl adjusted position, and the trigger 16 is then squeezed b one hand of the operator, causing the rocker arms 38 t swing in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 17 t slide the pin 36 forwardly in its associated slots 37b an carry the gripper pads 33 forwardly toward the brace pad 26. Due to the convergence of the sides 30b of the bushin member 30 in the channel 32a, the gripping edges 35 of th gripping pads 32 are forced towards each other, causing the to grip and secure the temple piece positioned between th gripper pads 33. While holding the tool in this manner an applying continuous squeezing pressure on the trigger 16 the hinge screw may then be removed from the spring hing structure, while the holes for the hinge screw ar maintained in proper alignment and the spring-hinge i maintained under appropriate pressure.
The procedure for replacing the hinge screw involve placing the eyeglass frame component 42 in place against th brace pad 26 behind the pendulous support arm 28 and placin the relevant eyeglass temple piece in the slot 32 define between the gripper pads 33. The temple piece is slidabl moved by hand to dispose the forwardmost, hinge connectin portion thereof as close as possible to the eyeglass fram component 42, the hinge ear components are manually aligne and the trigger 16 is squeezed to move the gripper pads 3 into gripping position and hold the eyeglass lens frame an temple piece components in proper relative position. Th hinge screw is then inserted, the trigger 16 is release whereupon the spring 16b returns the trigger in a clockwis direction to its normal release position, moving the grippe pads 33 rearwardly in the direction of divergence of th inclined vertical sides 30b and retracting the gripper pad 33 from each other to release the temple piece, enabling th spectacles to be removed from the tool.