The present invention relates to a spectacle frame presentation device for presenting spectacle frames in a predetermined number of presentation positions in a presentation environment, such as in a shop or at a fair, wherein the device is suitable for an attractive presenta ^¬ tion and easy removability of the spectacle frame. The present invention also relates to a lock-in assembly for use in a spectacle frame presentation device according to the present invention. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a spectacle frame presentation device according to the present invention.

In the selling of spectacles and spectacle frames in the retail trade use is often made of columns for presenting the spectacle frames thereon. Such columns are embodied partially as secured columns and partially as unsecured columns. The security measures in the columns are intended to limit removal of the spectacle frame from the column at the retail trade selling location to situations where salespersons are present.

The manufacture of the prior art presentation columns imposes complex requirements and is labour- intensive since the columns are provided with supporting elements for carrying the spectacle frames and since ex ^¬ isting security measures require complex constructions.

In order to improve this prior art the present invention relates to a spectacle frame presentation device for presenting spectacle frames in a predetermined number of presentation positions in a presentation environment, such as in a shop or at a fair, wherein the device is preferably suitable for an attractive presentation and easy removability of the spectacle frame, the device comprising :

- a column body wherein the column body has an elongate form and in a position of use has a relatively narrow front aspect relative to a relatively wide side as ^¬ pect,

- a predetermined number of recesses, such as cut-away portions, for forming respective presentation positions therein, wherein the recesses are preferably formed as side portions cut out of the column body,

- wherein the column body is a uni-body, preferably formed by means of manufacturing processes for form ^¬ ing an internal space.

An advantage of a spectacle frame presentation device according to the present invention is that it can be embodied in highly compact dimensions, such as so nar ^¬ row that it fits between the bridges of a pair of glasses or between the lenses at the edges of the lenses. The spectacle frame can hereby be arranged in the recesses made in the column.

A further result of such a column compared to the prior art is that it can have a very sleek appearance and thereby forms an attractive display in itself. Also an advantage is that such a column, without external features such as support elements for carrying the spectacle frame or visible elements for securing the spectacle frame, places greater emphasis on the spectacle frame to be presented.

A further advantage is that, with a small size of the column such as with the relatively narrow front as ^¬ pect, a comparatively great stiffness can be realized.

Within the context of the present invention an internal space is defined as the circumscribed space in any aspect of the column body or within continuous maximum dimensional lines of the column body, wherein the volume of the recesses forms part of the internal space.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the spectacle frame presentation device comprises a lock-in assembly, such as a security assembly, for locking the spectacle frame in the recesses, wherein the lock-in as ^¬ sembly comprises a movable lock-in member wherein the lock-in member is movable from a closed position to an opened position via intermediate positions forming a path of movement and wherein at any position the lock-in member is arranged inside the internal space of the elongate body .

A conspicuous advantage of such a preferred em- bodiment is that a locking is realized for the spectacle frame while no components of the lock-in assembly are vis ^¬ ible in the opened position. A significant drawback of columns with prior art security measures is hereby obviated, i.e. that attention is distracted from the presented spectacle frames by visible parts of the security.

A further advantage of such a column according to the present invention is that the security assembly, in particular the lock-in member, because it is invisible does not form a physical obstruction when the spectacle frame is picked up and replaced. This is particularly ad ^¬ vantageous for the persons to which the spectacle frame is being presented during comparison of different spectacle frames .

In a further preferred embodiment the internal space in the spectacle frame presentation device is de ^¬ fined as being arranged within circumscribed lines in any aspect of the elongate body. Explicitly defined hereby is that the security assembly and the lock-in member visible in the closed situation are arranged inside the body, thereby achieving the stated advantages.

The column member is more preferably formed by means of an extrusion process, preferably from a metal suitable therefor such as aluminium or a plastic suitable therefor. A column member is hereby realized in advanta ^¬ geous manner which is manufactured from attractive materi ^¬ als imparting a high degree of stiffness in the form of a uni-body, or a hollow. It is a particular insight of the present inventor that, with the exception of the recesses, a body enclosed in top view for the purpose of a column member for the present application particularly imparts an advantageous stiffness, while assembled columns are sub ^¬ ject to friction between parts forming the assembly. A further advantage of such a process is that guide elements for guiding for instance the security assembly can be man ^¬ ufactured applying a suitable mould without additional operations .

In a further preferred embodiment the recesses are manufactured by means of milling, more preferably sawing or cutting. A specific advantage of milling is that by means of one operation, when laid flat, all parts to be removed are removed uniformly, whereby the recesses in both side walls are the same.

The column body more preferably forms substan ^¬ tially a rectangle or an oval in top view. A column of such a desired form is hereby provided which has a great stiffness .

A spectacle frame presentation device according to the invention more preferably comprises a rear side at ^¬ taching member, preferably embodied as a channel or groove, for attaching sidepiece holders thereto, prefera ^¬ bly by means of a rotation snap coupling or bayonet cou- pling, and/or for attaching a wall connection thereto and/or for attaching a control assembly thereto.

An advantage hereof is that such a provision can be manufactured in suitable manner without additional op- erations while during regular use it is out of sight and while the stated functionalities are therefore provided in unobtrusive manner.

In a further preferred embodiment the column body comprises coupling means for coupling to a control assembly. Hereby realized is that different forms of operation can be coupled in advantageous manner to one and the same column by means of the coupling means. Great ad ^¬ vantages can hereby be gained in production efficiency, stock control and in the marketing chain.

The control assembly is therefore preferably suitable for manual operation or for motorized operation of the spectacle frame presentation device. Manual operation can be controlled by means of a key with an actuating handle, while a motorized operation can be controlled by means of pushbutton control or by means of a remote control .

Such methods of control for columns for present ^¬ ing spectacle frames are per se known, although the pre ^¬ sent invention adds to the prior art that the control as- sembly can be manufactured, distributed and later mounted independently of the column. It is also possible according to the present invention to convert a column initially supplied as manually operated column to a remotely controllable column by means of relatively simple replacement of the control assembly.

Drive means preferably integrated into the con ^¬ trol assembly are more preferably arranged outside the column body for driving the lock-in assembly. In alternative manner the uni-body is formed by means of welding and/or glueing two elongate body parts to each other.

A further aspect according to the present inven- tion relates to a lock-in assembly for use in a spectacle frame presentation device according to one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising:

- a frame for arranging in an internal space of the column body,

- a lock-in member movable relative to the frame,

- a displacing member arranged movably relative to the frame for the purpose of displacing the lock-in member, and

- coupling means for coupling displacing members of lock-in assemblies arrangeable adjacently relative to each other.

Using such a lock-in assembly it becomes possible according to the present invention to apply an array of such lock-in assemblies in a column member according to the present invention, wherein it is only necessary to provide an actuation for the movement from one side. Re ^¬ pair or replacement of a lock-in assembly is relatively simple because the array of lock-in assemblies can be eas- ily removed from the column.

According to a preferred embodiment the lock-in assembly comprises positioning means for relative positioning of lock-in assemblies arrangeable adjacently relative to each other. A precise relative orientation of the displacing members can be realized by means of such posi ^¬ tioning means .

The lock-in assembly more preferably comprises fixation coupling means for fixing the lock-in assembly relative to the column body and/or a recess thereof by means of coupling with a lock-in assembly fixation member. Simple fixation of the lock-in assembly relative to the column body can hereby be realized in advantageous manner. A method of assembly hereby also becomes possible wherein, by means of simple snap-in of the fixation coupling means following correct positioning of the lock-in assembly, a lock-in assembly or a complete array of lock-in assemblies can be fixed in simple manner.

The lock-in assembly more preferably comprises guide means, such as guide openings, for guiding and supporting the lock-in member. Reliable operation is on the one hand hereby realized by means of movement of the dis ^¬ placing member. High security is on the other hand hereby realized in that in the closed position thereof the lock- in assembly is held on the underside and the upper side in firm manner in the guide openings. The spectacle frames are hereby located securely in the spectacle frame position when the lock-in member is in the closed position.

For the purpose of manufacturing the displacing member in advantageous and sturdy manner a forming process such as injection moulding is more preferably applied, wherein during and/or by means of the forming process the lock-in member is preferably fixed to the displacing mem- ber. The displacing member with the lock-in member arranged and fixed therein can hereby be provided as a component during assembly of the lock-in assembly. A firm mounting of the lock-in member on the displacing member can also hereby be realized.

A further aspect according to the present invention relates to a spectacle frame presentation device com ^¬ prising a lock-in assembly according to the present invention . In a further preferred embodiment the coupling means of a lower or upper lock-in assembly are connectable to the control assembly. Hereby made possible in advanta ^¬ geous manner is that the control assembly is coupled func- tionally to the column body with the lock-in assemblies arranged therein. The stated advantage of the interchange- ability of manually operated or motor-operated control as ^¬ semblies is hereby also realized.

Damping means are more preferably provided for damping a movement in the path of movement. It hereby becomes possible to apply a biasing member so that a manually operated column can also open or close in controlled manner .

The spectacle frame presentation device more preferably comprises releasable cylinder lock holding means. It is envisaged here that the user of the device can him/herself easily arrange a cylinder. This provides very great advantages because cylinders can be supplied separately of the rest of the device, whereby individual keys can be applied or advantageous key closing plans can be applied instead of simply a standard key for stock con ^¬ trol of per se known built-in cylinders. In the case of an incident calling for this measure, such as loss or theft of a key, the user can hereby also replace one or more cylinders. It also becomes possible for instance by means of a key closing plan to give determined employees access to determined columns and to give determined employees access to other columns or all columns.

A further preferred embodiment comprises a lock- in assembly fixation member for fixing a lock-in assembly relative to a respective recess.

The spectacle frame presentation device more preferably comprises a spectacle frame support member ar- rangeable relative to a recess, wherein the spectacle frame support member is preferably integrated with the lock-in assembly fixation member.

Using these latter preferred embodiments a lock- in assembly can be fixed in advantageous manner during as ^¬ sembly. It is also possible to change the shape of the spectacle frame support member by placing a different one. By replacing one or more spectacle frame support members a distinction can be made between different columns in a shop, or a shop as a whole can be provided with a distinctive character while the advantages of the spectacle frame presentation device according to the present invention are retained .

A further aspect according to the present inven- tion relates to a method for manufacturing a spectacle frame presentation device according to one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for:

- forming a uni-body with an internal space, preferably by means of an extrusion process, more prefera- bly by means of an injection moulding process,

- arranging recesses such as portions cut away from a side, preferably by means of a milling process or a cutting process.

Advantages of this aspect relate to the realiz- ing of a compact but very stiff column member construction as well as realizing many advantages of other aspects according to the invention as described in the foregoing.

According to a further preferred embodiment the method comprises steps for:

- providing an array of lock-in assemblies for the purpose of enabling locking of respective recesses,

- placing the array of lock-in assemblies into the internal space, - fixing the array of lock-in assemblies by means of at least one lock-in assembly fixation member.

Following the forming, steps are more preferably implemented for performing a surface treatment such as lacquering, enamelling, anodizing, this step preferably being performed prior to arranging of the recesses.

Hereby realized in advantageous manner is that it is not necessary to take into account the later positioning of the recesses when the surface treatment is carried out.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow on the basis of one or more preferred embodi ^¬ ments with reference to the accompanying figures. Similar, though not necessarily identical, components of different preferred embodiments are designated with the same refer ^¬ ence numerals. With the object of limiting the number of views different aspects of different preferred embodiments are shown combined.

Fig. 1 shows a partially cut-away isometric view of a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention with a manual control.

Fig. 2 shows a partially cut-away isometric view of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention with a motor control.

Fig. 3 shows a partially cut-away isometric view of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention .

Fig. 4 shows a partially cut-away side view of the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 2.

Fig. 5A-D show four views of the embodiment ac ^¬ cording to Fig. 2 at different stages of movement of the lock-in member. Fig. 6A-B show two views of the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 1 in partially cut-away state.

Fig. 7A-C show three views of a preferred embod ^¬ iment of a lock-in assembly according to the present in- vention.

A first preferred embodiment (Fig. 1) according to the present invention relates to a spectacle frame presentation device 1. This comprises a column body 4 provided with a recesses 3 for receiving spectacle frames (not shown) . Arranged for each recess 3 on the rear side of the column body is a sidepiece support 72 for supporting the sidepieces of the spectacle frames to be present ^¬ ed. Arranged on the underside of column body 4 is a con ^¬ trol assembly which, depending on the preferred embodi- ment, is a manually operated assembly (Fig. 1) or a motor- operated assembly (Fig. 2) . The control assemblies are de ^¬ scribed in greater detail hereinbelow. Arrangeable in the column body is an array of lock-in assemblies 11 which are described in greater detail with reference to Fig. 7.

The column body is manufactured by means of an extrusion which realizes an inner space enclosed by walls 6, 7, 9. Realized on walls 7, 8 in the inner space is a guide edge 92 for the purpose of guiding and/or positioning a lock-in assembly or an array thereof. A mounting channel is realized on the rear side of column body 4 by means of wall extensions 7', 8' and edges or wall parts 17, 18 extending substantially perpendicularly thereof. This mounting channel serves for mounting of sidepiece supports 72.

Fig. 4 shows a modified arrangement of an array of a number of lock-in assemblies 11 with omission of the column body. The mounting channel also functions for the purpose of fixing the control assembly by means of a mounting block 51 comprising a screw opening and a screw 52. This mounting method functions for both the manual and the motor variant. A further point of attachment of the control assembly is by means of a screw in screw openings 53 in wall 8, the screw extending in mounting opening 47'.

Fig. 5 shows three situations of the lock-in as ^¬ semblies in combination with the motor variant of the control assembly. Fig. 5A shows a closed position of the lock-in assembly. Fig. 5B shows an intermediate position between the closed position and the opened position. Fig. 5C shows an opened position of the lock-in assembly. Fig. 5D shows another view of the situation of Fig. 5A.

A drive member 40 for driving the lower lock-in assembly is shown in Fig. A, D while being omitted in Fig. 5B and Fig. 5C. This drive member serves to couple the spindle 54 to the lower lock-in assembly. Drive member 40 comprises for this purpose a frame 43, a coupling opening

41 on the upper side thereof and a spindle coupling block

42 provided internally with thread. Motor 55, which is mounted on printed circuit board 64, is coupled to the spindle by means of a gear assembly 56, 57. The motor is also provided with a transmission 66.

Frame 43 is provided with an actuator arm 61 which extends through a slot 59 of printed circuit board 64. Sensors 62, 63 for the purpose of controlling the mo ^¬ tor are provided at the ends of slot 59. The distance between the locations of the sensors corresponds to the distance the lock-in members 5 move.

Lock-in assembly 11 (Fig. 5, 7 in greater de- tail) comprises a frame, i.e. a frame part 13, and a dis ^¬ placing member, i.e. a moving part 12. Frame part 13 serves for the purpose of arranging lock-in assembly 11 in column body 4. The frame part comprises a vertical element 121 with supports 123, 123' extending therefrom for supporting a lower side of a substantially C-shaped frame element 122. Situated on the upper side of vertical element 121 are substantially horizontally arranged supports 124, 124' for forming a connection to substantially the upper side of the substantially C-shaped frame element 122.

The substantially C-shaped frame element 122 has two lock-in member guide openings 129, 129' arranged respectively on the lower side and the upper side. The strength of a locking is realized by the lock-in member 5 engaging in the closed situation on both the lower guide opening 129 and the upper guide opening 129'. The locking is further improved in that the lock-in member engages in the closed situation on guide openings 99, 99' of fixation element 15.

Provided for co-action with the lock-in assembly fixation member 15 are coupling slots 128, 128' which co- act with coupling protrusions 92 thereof. Also provided are guide grooves 91, 91' for co-action with guide edges 92 arranged on the inner side of walls 7, 8 of the column body .

Vertical element 121, a vertical part of the C- shaped element, supports 123, 123', 124, 124' form in top view a guide channel for a vertical element 134 of the moving part 12. This vertical element 134 has a stop 139 protrusion which for the purpose of assembly can be moved or pressed aside by means of a bridge 138. This stop protrusion 139 co-acts with stop spaces 131, 131' of supports 123', 124'.

The moving part 12 also comprises an arm 135 which is horizontal during use and has a mounting block 136 with an opening 137 for holding lock-in member 5. The moving part comprises a coupling protrusion 132 at the bottom and a coupling opening 133 at the top. A coupling protrusion 132 of a moving part arranged higher in the column body co-acts when assembled with a coupling opening 133 of an adjacent moving part arranged in lower position. Coupling protrusion 132 of the lower moving part in a column body co-acts with opening 132' of drive member 40. It is envisaged in alternative manner that a coupling opening 133 can co-act with a drive assembly arranged above the column .

The control assemblies arranged on the underside of the column each have an outer housing 53 and a frame 40 arranged inside this outer housing. This frame serves to support the components of the control assemblies and for coupling thereof to column body 4 by means of the de- scribed means 51, 51 and opening 47'. The outer housing is slidable forward off the frame 55 and has for this purpose an open rear side not visible during use. A fixation bolt 51 co-acting with an opening (not shown) in the underside of the outer housing serves for fixation of the outer housing.

Fig. 6A shows frame 55 for the hand-operated variant which has a cylinder housing 42 for placing therein of the cylinder lock 23 with a cylinder housing 32. This cylinder housing has a rotation-limiting protrusion 26 on the underside thereof for co-action with a rotation- limiting slot 26 on the underside of cylinder housing 42 of the frame. Arranged substantially close to the rear side of cylinder housing 42 are two throughfeed channels 27 for placing therethrough fixation parts 43, 43' of a mounting spring 31. When mounting spring 31 is arranged with fixation parts 43, 43' in throughfeed channels 27, the cylinder lock can be placed and immediately fixed by sliding the cylinder housing in the cylinder housing. Dur- ing this operation the chamfered spring-displacing surfaces 28 urge the fixation parts 43, 43' of the spring outward, wherein fixation parts 43, 43', when slid further, snap into the respective slots of the cylinder housing to complete the mounting of the cylinder locks. The cylinder locks can then only be removed after removal of the outer housing and after the fixation parts 43, 43' held under bias have been urged apart mechanically. Hereby realized is that cylinders can be easily placed and can be replaced or exchanged as required.

The control assembly according to Fig. 6 also comprises a drive member 40 for driving the lock-in assem ^¬ bly by means of coupling to protrusion 132' of the lower moving part 12 by means of opening 41'. Drive member 40 is connected for this purpose to handle 44 by means of a cou ^¬ pling frame 45. When the key of the cylinder lock is rotated the cylinder actuator 48 is retracted, whereby drive member 40 can move freely up and downward. Push spring 46 then pushes frame part 44' downward in the direction of arrow A, whereby the lock-in assemblies open and each respective lock-in member moves downward. This movement is braked by the rotating decelerating assembly 49 which is coupled by means of a gear wheel to a linear toothing (not shown) on drive member 40. When handle 46 is moved manual- ly upward, the assembly moves in the direction of arrow A' and the spring is once again placed under bias.

Control assembly according to the present invention comprising a placing position for a cylinder lock comprising preferably engaging means for a fixing member such as a clamping spring, a fixing member arrangeable relative to the placing position for the cylinder lock, wherein the control assembly is suitable for mountably re ^¬ ceiving the cylinder lock by means of a slide-in opera- tion, wherein during the slide-in operation the fixing member is brought into engagement with the engaging means of the cylinder lock.

Control assembly as above wherein the fixing member is arranged under bias and wherein during placing of the cylinder lock the fixing member gives way counter to the bias under the influence of the engaging means, and more preferably engages in snap-fixed manner on the engaging means under the influence of the bias.

Within the understanding of the skilled person and in the context of the present invention a uni-body is a fused unit which cannot be separated into individual mountable components.

The present invention has been described in the foregoing on the basis of several preferred embodiments. Different aspects of different embodiments are deemed de ^¬ scribed in combination with each other, wherein all combinations which can be deemed by a skilled person in the field as falling within the scope of the invention on the basis of reading of this document are included. These preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.