Improved mount for spectacles Technical field

The present invention concerns a mount for spectacles having the characteristics listed in the preamble of main claim 1. Technological background

The invention lies within the technical field of application of heat- sensitive materials to parts of mounts for spectacles. Such materials have the capacity of reversibly changing their coloration or intensity of coloration when the temperature of the means with which they come into contact varies. Typically, such effects are obtained by coupling two different materials, one superposed on the other, and one of which is heat-sensitive, normally having a predetermined coloration, non-transparent, and capable of becoming gradually transparent when a characteristic colour change temperature is reached. In this way the underlying layer of material is rendered visible, indifferent to the temperature, and distinguished by a different coloration.

Examples of applications of such materials are described in the abstracts of the Japanese documents JP63193128 and JP2004125888. These documents are directed at frame parts of the mount that are covered by coatings or varnishes of thermochromatic material in order to obtain effects of different coloration of same when the thresholds of thermal colour change of the materials used is reached. Description of the invention

In this field of application in the spectacle industry of such materials sensitive to temperature variation, a first aim of the invention is that of providing mounts for spectacles, whether for corrective spectacles, sunglasses, sports glasses or ski goggles or those for other sporting practices, in which an indication is provided of the temperature detected in

one or more parts of the face with which the mount comes into contact, or the external ambient temperature is rendered visible. Although the provision of temperature sensors of conventional type fitted to mounts for spectacles is known, see for example US 5664578, such solutions however include the limitation of a certain structural complexity and bulk, besides the fact of not providing in any way for the use of heat-sensitive materials.

Another aim is that of providing mounts for spectacles of the aforesaid type in which are made available means for indicating and signalling particular emotional and/or stress states, which are well known to be associated with predetermined surface temperatures reached on the body.

Another aim is that of making selectively visible in the mounts for spectacles of the aforesaid type, markings intended for a more general meaning, such as for example inscriptions or patterns for decorative purposes or distinctive markings.

These and other aims which will become clear in the following are achieved by the invention by means of a mount for spectacles produced in accordance with the claims which follow. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of some preferred exemplary embodiments thereof illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mount produced in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the mount in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the detail of Figure 2 in an

alternative embodiment,

Figure 4 is a view of the detail of Figure 2 in a further alternative embodiment,

Figures 5 and 6 are partial views in side elevation of the detail of Figure 2 in a further variant of the invention. Preferred ways of implementing the invention

With reference to the drawings mentioned, the reference 1 indicates as a whole a mount for spectacles that is produced in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood that the mount according to the invention is equally directed towards corrective spectacles or sunglasses and sports glasses, also in the form of goggles, such as ski goggles or those for other sporting practices.

The mount comprises a front frame 2 capable of retaining a pair of lenses and articulated to side arms 3, by means of corresponding articulation lugs. In one of the arms 3, provision is made for applying a thermometric scale, indicated as a whole by 4, including a sequence of numerical symbols 5a-5g, each indicating a temperature value, as illustrated in Figure 2, where values in degrees centigrade from 32 ⁰ C to 44 ⁰ C are shown. Each area (rectangular in shape) involved with the respective numerical temperature value is covered by a respective layer 7a-7g made of heat-sensitive material, the colour change temperature of which corresponds to that of the numerical symbol which it covers. Such materials, generally having a polymeric matrix including liquid crystals, are configured in a double layer, in a conventional manner £er se, with a lower layer indifferent to the temperature and an upper superposed layer characterized by a specific colour change temperature, at which the material changes in coloration or intensity of coloration, for example

becoming gradually transparent. In this way, at the colour change temperature, the temperature indicating symbol 5a-5g becomes visible to the user, therefore displaying the temperature reached in the area of contact of the thermochromatic material with the means of which it is desired to measure the temperature. In this regard such materials are disposed on the inner side of the arm 3 suitably in areas of contact of same with the regions of the head which extend in the area round the ear and/or close to the temples. In this way the temperature measured and displayed corresponds to that of the skin in the area of contact with the thermochromatic material.

By suitably selecting the heat-sensitive materials 7a-7g, applied as a covering for the respective temperature indicating symbols 5a-5g, a thermometer device is therefore produced, in which there is displayed to the user the specific temperature measured in the area of contact with the skin. By selecting a minimum value and a maximum value for the temperature values to be detected, a thermometric scale is provided, the length of which is such as to cover, preferably, the body surface temperature values that are reasonably measurable, in the various physiological conditions of the human body (for example between 32 ⁰ C and 44 ⁰ C). The device may obviously be incorporated by the application of a numerical scale, in other units of measurement, different from degrees centigrade. Its length will be coherent with the temperature field in which the scale of thermochromatic materials is sensitive.

From the constructional standpoint, the thermochromatic materials can be applied in the form of injection moulded pressings, or as surface coatings (for example varnishes) or, as a further alternative, as a sort of "label" or film of any desired shape and size, suitably provided with an adhesive layer for fixing to the mount. Such configurations have the

undoubted advantage of reduced bulk on the arm of the spectacles, together with ease of application.

In the areas of application of the heat-sensitive materials, suitable seats may further be provided, such as surface depressions in the arms 3, for at least partially receiving the materials 7a-7g within the mount, obtaining a good aesthetic result in addition to greater ease of application of the materials themselves. The thermochromatic material 7a-7g may in fact be applied in such a way as to have its outer surface flush with that of the part of the mount 2 on which it is fixed, or in such a way as to protrude from the mount itself, for example in order to facilitate contact with the exposed surfaces of the user's head.

The device for measuring and displaying the temperature may further be provided on only one arm, but the possibility of it being fitted to both arms of the mount is not excluded. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 3, provision is made for each indicator symbol 5a-5g of the thermometric scale to have associated with it in a contiguous (but not superposed) position, the respective layer of heat-sensitive material 7a-7g, having a colour change temperature corresponding to that of the indicator symbol associated therewith. In such a case, the scale of temperature values will always be visible, but the specific temperature measured will be highlighted by the heat-sensitive material contiguous with that value, which will be heat- activated when the corresponding thermal colour change threshold is reached. The temperature will be highlighted for example by the different coloration of the heat-activated material with respect to the other materials, or by the different coloration of the arm part visible beneath the activated material, when the latter becomes transparent at the moment of the colour change.

The measurement of the body surface temperature may be used for example for the following purposes: as an indirect measurement of the internal body temperature (linked for example to febrile states) provided that a relationship is established between this temperature and that detectable on the outer surface of the head, as a measurement of the body surface temperature, linked to the external ambient conditions (for example in the case where it proves useful to monitor the heat emitted by the skin exposed to the sun, for the purpose of preventing possible sunstroke or heat-stroke), as an indication of the state of fatigue due to physical activity, or of the whole of the physiological changes due to emotional stress.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated in

Figure 4, provision is made for the application to the arm 3 or to another part of the mount 2 of a single thermochromatic material 8, without the provision of any thermometric scale. The material is selected to have a colour change temperature which may correspond to a body temperature qualitatively indicative of an emotional state of the user, for example of a state of fatigue or stress or of an agitated, disturbed or simply calm state of mind. Provided that each of such emotional states can be associated with a specific temperature detected on the body surface, in particular in regions of the head which are in contact with the mount 2, it is possible to provide

' symbols, inscriptions or messages correlated with such emotional states and capable of being covered by a preselected heat-sensitive- material 8 having a colour change temperature equal to that associated with the aforesaid emotional state, such that said symbol (or inscription) is rendered visible to the user when the temperature in the heat-sensitive material 8 reaches the colour change temperature, and the covering material becomes

transparent. The symbol or the alphanumeric inscription may for example be formed by the letters of a word or by the words of a warning phrase or one signalling the specific emotional state attained.

Such an application may obviously be provided for also in the case where it is desired to signal explicitly to the user of the spectacles when a predetermined surface temperature is exceeded (in this case the symbol may be constituted by a numerical value indicating the threshold temperature).

The heat-sensitive material may be applied on a symbol obtained conveniently by means of tampography, and is characterized by the fact that it is opaque at ambient temperature with the capacity of changing to transparent in the case of an increase in the temperature.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, in a further variant of the invention, the provision on the mount 2 of a symbol 9 covered by a thermochromatic material 10 is intended to obtain a particular chromatic/decorative effect. Provision is in fact made for the thermochromatic material to be placed as a covering for any desired decorative pattern or distinctive symbol or manufacturer's trademark. The thermochromatic material is in this case characterized in that it is opaque and concealing at ambient temperature, with the capacity of changing to transparent in the case of an increase in the temperature. The underlying decorative symbol 9 may be constituted by a logo, or by the text of any desired message (for example of a jocular or well-wishing nature). When the heat-sensitive material 10 is subjected to heating, it reaches the thermal colour change threshold, becomes transparent and the decorative symbol 9 becomes visible for the time during which the characteristic colour change temperature of the selected material is maintained. The source of heat may be constituted for example by the warmest parts of the hands

(such as the ends of the fingers) or by electromagnetic radiation (infrared rays).

Figures 5 and 6 respectively show the arm including the thermochromatic material before and after the thermal colour change threshold has been reached, with consequent displaying of the symbol 9.

In the examples described, the heat-sensitive materials are limitedly applied to some areas of the arm; however, provision is made for these heat-sensitive materials to be able to be applied also to the whole surface of the arm, on the inner side and/or on the outer side of the arm itself. The same applies to the other parts of the mount or of the goggles to which the heat-sensitive materials will be applied, such as, for example, the front.

The invention achieves the aims proposed, obtaining the advantages indicated with respect to the known solutions.