TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an attaching device for decorating an elongated body, more particular a device for decorating frames that are worn on the head, for example a spectacle, an orthodontic headgear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Young children who have to wear a spectacle or orthodontic headgear are often teased. One option for these children to positively distinguish themselves from children who do no wear a spectacle of orthodontic headgear is decorating the arms of the spectacle or orthodontic headgear with attractive and cool gadgets.

It is desirable in the art to miniaturize the means of attaching decorative features so that only the decorative feature is visible. It is important from an aesthetic viewpoint that only the decoration is visible, the decoration maintains proper orientation, and the decoration does not slide horizontally on the eyewear temple in normal use. Also, it is important that the decoration can be removed quickly and interchanged with another decoration based on the desires of the wearer. Finally, ease of removal and putting in place are important features to include in a design.

US7591554B2 discloses an interchangeable eyewear adornment accessory. A circular elastic band has to be stretched, looped around the eyewear temple and finally hooked around a hooking structure.

GB2472120A discloses a releasable attachment to spectacles. The end of the arm is simply inserted through the apertures formed by elastic band portions and a bracket. The arm is pushed along the arm to the required location.

In both documents when the attachment is attached to the spectacle, a diagonal force is acting on the arm. As a consequence assuming that the arm is positioned horizontally, the arm is forced to move vertically in a position relative to attachment wherein the upper side of the arm has a fixed distance from the upper side of the attachment irrespective of the height of the arm. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative attaching device for decorating an elongated body, more particular, an alternative attaching device for decorating an arm of a spectacle or orthodontic headgear.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an attaching device for decorating an elongated body having the features of Claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further ways of carrying out the invention may be attained by the measures mentioned in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, an attaching device for decorating an elongated body comprises a first portion of a hard plastic material and a second portion of a resilient plastic material, the first portion and the second portion forming a space for receiving the elongated body. The first portion comprises a flat platelike body part comprising a surface configured for attaching a decoration and an opposite surface facing the resilient plastic material. The second portion is configured to generate when the device is attached to the elongated body, a force on the elongated body which is perpendicular to the flat platelike body part. The attaching device is easily attachable to an elongated body. There is no deed to stretch a circular elastic band, loop the band around the elongated body and finally hook the elastic band over a protrusion. This action requires particular skills of a user. With an attaching device according to the invention, the user only has to position the elongated body in the space defined by the first and second portion. When positioning the elongated body in the space, the second portion of resilient plastic material is at least partially compressed. This compression generates a force action on the elongated body to attach the device on the elongated body. The resilient plastic material has a non-sliding surface by which the device in combination with the force reduces movements in longitudinal direction along the elongated body and rotation around the elongated body. Furthermore, as the force acting on the elongated body is perpendicular to the flat platelike body part, the elongated body is not forced to be moved vertically as described in the background art. As a consequence, a user decorating his spectacle could centre the decoration relative to the longitudinal axis of the arm. In this way, the decoration has a more attractive position on the arm which is independent of the dimensions of the arm.

In an embodiment, the second portion comprises a ring-shaped section which encircles two holes in the second portion. A strip-like section of the second portion is positioned between the two holes. The strip-like section extends from one side of the ring-shaped section to an opposite side of the ring-shaped section. The ring-shaped section is coupled with the first portion and the strip-like section is configured to move away from the first portion when receiving the elongated body. In this embodiment, the attachment device is attached to the elongated body by inserting an end of the elongated body through the two holes. The strip-like section is then stretched by which the device is clamped on the elongated body.

In an embodiment of the invention, the strip-like section comprises halfway a projection directed towards the first portion. These features enable the device to be attached to elongated bodies having different thickness wherein the forces acting on the surface of the elongated body are sufficient to prevent rotation around a thin round elongated body.

In an embodiment, the ring-shaped section has a height which gradually decreases with increase of distance to the strip-like section. This feature provides a preference orientation of the attachment device when attached to the elongated body.

In an alternative embodiment, the first portion further comprises two arms projecting out from the platelike body part. The two arms form with the flat platelike body part the space to receive the elongated body. An end of each of the two arms comprises a raised edge configured to secure the elongated body in the space. The second portion is located between the two arms and the platelike body part. The arms form hooks behind which the elongated body is hooked. The second portion prevents that in normal use the elongated body could become detached. In an embodiment, the device forms a bayonet like coupling structure. This feature has the advantage that the attaching device could be attached to an elongated body by one push - rotate movement.

In an embodiment, a surface of the second portion facing away from the platelike body part comprises raised strips. These features improve the ease of mounting by reducing the surface having contact with elongated body and thus the frictional forces. The compressed part of the raised strips further provides sufficient forces to stabilize the device on the elongated body.

In an alternative embodiment, the first portion comprises an arm projecting out from the platelike body part, the arm forms with the flat platelike body part the space to receive the elongated body, and wherein the second portion is at least partially located between the arm and the platelike body part. Optionally, an end of the arm comprises a raised edge configured to secure the elongated body in the space. The arm forms a hook behind which the elongated body is hooked. The resilience of second portion ensures that in normal use the elongated body could become detached from the hook. In an embodiment, the arm comprises a grove in a surface facing the flat platelike body part. The grove is perpendicular to a length axis of the arm. The second portion is coupled to the flat platelike body part and the space to receive the elongated body is between the arm and the second portion. In a further embodiment, the second portion comprises two strip-like raisings which extend perpendicular from the platelike body part and parallel to the arm of the first portion, which raising reaches to next to the arm. These features make the attachment device suitable to be mounted to both spectacles as orthodontic headgear. The metal elongated body of the headgear is positioned in the groove. The second portion ensures that the attachment device could not rotate around the metal elongated body.

In an embodiment, the device is made by an overmolding process. Overmolding is a process where a melt processible elastomer like a TPE is molded directly onto a rigid component, known as the insert or substrate. A bond may be achieved by several methods including: mechanical lock, melt and/or chemical adhesion or any other combination of these. Overmolding allows manufacturing cost effective the attachment device. It is advantageous when the first and second portion are designed such that the device could be manufactured by a two shot moulding process. In this case, one mould is used to manufacture the device in one run.

It will be clear that the various aspects mentioned in this patent application may be combined and may each be considered separately for a divisional patent application. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, various features of preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other aspects, properties and advantages of the invention will be explained hereinafter based on the following description with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or comparable parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the second portion of the first embodiment; FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the first portion of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line V - V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of the first portion of the second embodiment;

FIG. 8B shows a perspective view of the second portion of the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the first portion of the third embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the second portion of the third embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows a front view of the third embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows a side view of the third embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line XVI - XVI in

FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line XVII - XVII in

FIG. 15; and,

FIG. 18 shows a spectacle decorated with an attaching device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A first exemplary embodiment of an attaching device 1 for decorating an elongated body will be described with reference to the FIGs 1 - 5. FIGs 1, 2A and 2B show perspective views of the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a front view of the first embodiment, FIG. 4 shows a side view of the first embodiment and FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line V - V in FIG. 3. The attaching device could for example be attached to the arm of an orthodontic headgear that in use extends along the cheek of a face. The attaching device could also be attached to any rod-like body, for example the wheel spokes of a bicycle. A front view in the context of the present description shows the side of the device which in use is decorated. A rear view in the context of the present description shows the side which is opposite to the side which in use is decorated and which is provided with the means to attach the device to an elongated body.

The attaching device 1 comprises a first portion 2 of a hard plastic material and a second portion 4 of a resilient plastic material. The attaching device could be manufactured by an overmolding process. Overmolding is a process where a Melt Processible Elastomer (MPE) like a ThermoPlastic Elastomers (TPE) is molded directly onto a rigid component, known as the insert or substrate. Bond may be achieved by several methods including: Mechanical Lock, Melt and/or Chemical Adhesion.

Mechanical Lock is a design where the soft material encapsulates or flows into holes and undercuts in the rigid component before solidifying providing the connection between the overmolded rubber and the rigid substrate. With proper design a mechanical lock can provide very high bond strength. It also provides the greatest latitude in the selection of the soft overmold material. As long as the overmolded polymer does not require processing temperatures too high for the substrate to tolerate, almost any TPE may be molded over any rigid substrate, including non-plastic substrates. Since the rigid substrates are generally higher melting than the TPEs, that is seldom a limitation. Overmolded parts should be designed to derive as much contribution to the bond from mechanical lock as possible.

Melt and/or Chemical Adhesion: Alternatively, the bond may be derived entirely from melt and/or chemical adhesion between the surfaces of the rigid component and the component of MPE. A bond by melt adhesion requires both a close match in the melting points of the two components and some degree of similarity in chemical nature wherein the two components mutually solvate at the interface and form a bond. A bond by chemical adhesion depends entirely on a very high degree of chemical compatibility. A chemical reaction occurs at the material interface to form the bond. The specific requirements of these bonding techniques sharply narrow the choices of which TPEs can be adhered to which rigid substrates. Often the nature of the forces holding the two components together is complex and may actually have contributing elements of all three types of bond.

Overmolding processes that could be used to manufacture the attaching device are: Insert Molding, Two-Shot Molding and Co-Injection Molding. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate a perspective view of the second portion and first portion, respectively. The first portion 2 is the rigid component in the overmolding process and consequently the rigid part of the attaching device 1. The second portion 4 is the rubber-like component in the overmolding process and forms the resilient parts of the attaching device. The first portion and the second portion form a space 6 for receiving the elongated body. The first portion comprises a flat platelike body part 21 comprising a first surface 22 configured for attaching a decoration. The decoration could be in the form of a sticker, for example a doming sticker. A raised edge 22A limits at least partially the first surface 22. The raised edge facilitates the attachment of a sticker. The flat platelike body part 21 further comprises a second surface 23 parallel and opposite the first surface 22. The second surface 23 faces the second portion 4 of resilient plastic material and touches a corresponding surface 41 of the second portion 4.

The first portion 2 further comprises two arms 24 projecting out from the platelike body part 21. The two arms 24 encompass with the flat platelike body a space 6 to receive the elongated body. An end 28 of each of the two arms comprises a raised edge 27 configured to secure the elongated body in the space 6.

The second portion 4 of resilient thermoplastic material is essentially located between the two arms 24 and the platelike body part 21. Located between in context of the present description means the seen in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 22, the part of the second portion providing a force on the elongated body is located between a plane defined by the ends 28 of the two arms 24 and the surface 23 facing the ends 28 of the arms 24.

The second portion 4 comprises raised strips 42 on a surface 43 facing to the arms 24 and facing away from the platelike body part 21. In the embodiment shown the raised strips 42 are circular. However, the raised strips 42 could also be straight raised strips or curved strips. To fixate the attaching device it is important that when an elongated body is positioned in the space 6, the raised strips are compressed. The second portion 4 is positioned in a cavity of the platelike body part 21. In the embodiment shown, a part 44 of the material of the second portion 4 extends along two sides of the platelike body part 21 from the second surface 23 up to the first surface 22. This enables to provide an improved bond between the first portion 2 and the second portion 4.

The second portion is configured to generate when attached to an elongated body a force on the elongated body which is perpendicular to the flat platelike body part. A force perpendicular to the flat platelike body part could be generated as the arms 24 of the first portion 2 form partially a boundary of the space 6 to receive the elongated body, wherein the boundary comprises a surface 25 which is parallel to the opposite surface 23. The cross sectional view in FIG. 5 clearly shows that the second portion is located between the platelike part 21 and the end part 28 of arms 24.

The attaching device has a bayonet like coupling structure. As the arms 24 are point symmetrical with respect to a centre point, the device has to be rotated to attach the device to an elongated body. In another embodiment the arms are positioned parallel. In this embodiment the device has to be shifted on the elongated body. When attaching the device to an elongated body, the elongated body enters the opening between the end of an arm and the surface of the second portion 4 comprising the raised strips 42. By means of the slanted surface 26, when moving to the space 6 to receive the elongated body, at least the raised strips 42 of the second portion 4 will be compressed. By compression of the second part 4, the elongated body could enter the space 6 wherein the twisting out of shape of the first portion 2, in particular the arms 24, is minimal. This ensures that the probability of breaking off the arms is reduced significantly. When the elongated body passes the raised edge 27, the compressed raised strips 42 force the elongated body in the space behind the raised edge 27 to abuts the elongated body against the surface 25 which is parallel to the surface 23 of the flat platelike body part 21. In this way, the second portion generates when the device is attached to an elongated body a force on the elongated body which is perpendicular to the flat platelike body part 21.

The second portion 4 of resilient material has a non-sliding surface. In use the elongated body is clamped between the arm 24 and the second portion 4. The non- sliding surface reduces movements of the device along the elongated body. By compression of the second portion 4, the force acting on the elongated body increases and the surface touching the elongated body increases. Both increase the static friction between device and the elongated body to which the device is attached.

A second exemplary embodiment of an attaching device for decorating an elongated body will be described with reference to the FIGs 6 - 10. FIGs 6, 8 A and 8B show perspective views of the device, first portion and second portion, respectively. FIG. 7 shows a side view of the second embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a front view of the second embodiment and FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the second embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment.

Similar to the first embodiment, the attaching device 1 according to the second embodiment comprises a first portion 2 of a hard plastic material and a second portion 4 of a resilient plastic material. The device could be manufactured by similar processes as the first embodiment. The first portion comprises a flat platelike body part 21 comprising a first surface 22 configured for attaching a decoration. The decoration could be in the form of a sticker, for example a doming sticker. A raised edge 22A limits at least partially the first surface 22. The raised edge facilitates the attachment of a sticker.

The first portion 2 further comprises an arm 242 projecting out a platelike body part 21. The arm 242 and flat platelike body part 21 form a structure with a space which encompasses the space 6 to receive the elongated body. The arm 242 has a body axis which a parallel to a flat surface 23 of the platelike body part 21. Optionally, an end 282 of the arm 242 comprises a raised edge 272 configured to secure the elongated body in the space 6. In an advantage embodiment, the space to receive the elongated body is wider than the dimensions of the elongated body received in the space 6. This ensures that the probability of breaking off the arm from the platelike body part is reduced. The second portion 4 is at least partially located between a virtual plane of the arm 242 and the platelike body part 21.

The second portion 4 of resilient material in the second embodiment comprises two L-shaped profiles. FIG. 8B shows the two L-shaped profiles. Each L- shaped profile comprises a base plate part 452 which is attached to the flat platelike body part 21 and an upright part 462 which form two strip-like raisings 462 which extend perpendicular from the platelike body part 21 and parallel to the arm 242 of the first portion 2. The upright part 462 has a bended edge which reaches to next to the arm 242. In this way, the arm 242 is partially positioned between the two upright parts. FIG. 7 shows that the top of the bended edge reaches to substantially the same level as the top side of the arm 242. Optionally, the second portion comprise additional strip-like raisings which extend parallel to the upright parts 462.

In this embodiment, the device functions as a clip which can be shifted on an elongated body, for example the arm of a spectacle. The arm enters the space 6 between the arm 242 and the platelike body part 21. When entering the upright parts 462 will bend away from the arm 242 making space for entering the space 6. As the upright parts 462 are made of resilient material, they will exert together a force on the elongated body which is substantially perpendicular to the platelike body part 21. By using a striplike upright part 462, the force acting on the elongated body is less dependent on the thickness of the elongated body. The construction allows attaching the device to a very thin elongated body. The bended topside of the upright parts 462 and the non-slip surface of the upright parts 462 touching the elongated body will provide sufficient forces to keep the device in position on the elongated body.

The arm 242 further comprises a grove 292 in a surface 252 facing the flat platelike body part 21. The grove 292 is perpendicular to a length axis of the arm 242. The grove 292 facilitates the positioning and alignment of the attaching device to an arm of an orthodontic headgear that in use extends along the cheek of a face.

A third exemplary embodiment of an attaching device 1 for decorating an elongated body will be described with reference to the FIGs 11 - 17. FIGs 11, 12 and 13 shows perspective views of attaching device 1 as a whole, the first portion 2 of hard plastic material and the second portion 4 of resilient plastic material, respectively. FIG. 14 shows a front view of the third embodiment. FIG. 15 shows a side view of the third embodiment. FIG. 16 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line XVI - XVI in FIG. 15 and FIG. 17 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line XVII - XVII in FIG. 15.

Similar to the first embodiment and second embodiment, the attaching device 1 according to the third embodiment comprises a first portion 2 of a hard plastic material and a second portion 4 of a resilient plastic material. The device could be manufactured by similar processes as the first and second embodiment.

The first portion comprises a flat platelike body part 21 comprising a first surface 22 configured for attaching a decoration. The decoration could be in the form of a sticker, for example a doming sticker. A raised edge 22A limits at least partially the first surface 22. The raised edge facilitates the attachment of a sticker.

The first portion 2 and the second portion 4 form a space 6 for receiving an elongated body. The space 6 is an opening between a flat platelike body part 21 of the first portion 2 and a strip-like section 423 which is attached at its ends to opposite sides of the platelike body part 21. The flat platelike body part 21 comprises a surface 22 configured for attaching a decoration and an opposite surface 23 facing the resilient plastic material of the strip-like section 423. The second portion 4 is configured to generate when attached to the elongated body a force on the elongated body which is perpendicular to the flat platelike body part 21.

The second portion 4 further comprises a ring-shaped section 413 which encircles two openings 9 in the second portion 4 and forms the ends of the strip-like section 423. The strip-like section 423 is positioned between the two holes 9. The striplike section 423 extends from one side of the ring-shaped section 413 to an opposite side of the ring-shaped section 413. The ring-shaped section 413 is coupled with the first portion 2. The strip-like section 423 is configured to move away from the platelike body part 21 of the first portion 2 when receiving the elongated body. This is due to the fact that the surface 423 C of the strip-like section 423 is located in a cavity of the first portion 2 and thus below an circular edge 21 A of the first portion.

The strip-like section 423 is in the form of a thin strip 423 A with halfway a projection 423B directed towards the first portion 2. Thus the projection 423B forms a part of the strip-like section 423 which is thicker than the two neighbouring parts 423 A. The projection ensures that the two neighbouring parts are stretched sufficiently when a thin elongated body is inserted in the space 6 for receiving the elongated body, to provide sufficient force on the elongated body to prevent movement of the attaching device.

The ring-shaped section 413 has a height which gradually decreases with increase of distance to the strip-like section 423. This is illustrated in more detail in FIGs 15 - 17. Reference numeral 425, the top surface of the second portion 4. The top surface is corresponds to the surface of the strip-like section 423 facing away the first portion 2. This is the part of the ring-shaped section 413 with the greatest height or thickness. Reference numeral 426 indicates the part of the top surface of the ring-shaped section having the smallest height of thickness. This feature enables one to align the device 1 when attached to the arm of a spectacle.

In the first embodiment the clamping force acting on the elongated body is generated by compression of the resilient material of the second portion. In the second embodiment the clamping force is generated by a combination of compression and bending of the resilient material of the second portion 4. To enable this, the first portion comprises a platelike body part 21 and one or two arms which structure forms a space between the part 21 and the one or two arms wherein resilient material of the second portion is provided. In the third embodiment, the clamping force acting on the elongated body is generated by stretching the resilient material of the second portion 4. When the arm of a spectacle is inserted through the space 6 between the platelike body part 21 and the striplike section 423, the strip-like section is stretched, resulting in a clamping force to keep the device in place on the arm of the spectacle.

FIG. 18 shows a spectacle decorated with attaching devices which are provided with a sticker.

It should be noted that the embodiments shown are designed to be manufactured by a two-shot moulding process. This requires that the first portion comprises some openings in the platelike body part 21. An advantage of an overmolding process is that the first and second portion 2, 4 could be bond in the same process without use of an adhesive. However, it is also possible to manufacture the two portions of the attaching devices separately and to assemble the device in a subsequent processing step. This could be done by using adhesive materials. It might also be possible that the first platelike body part comprises groves or indentation and the second portion comprises corresponding protrusions. The resiliency of the second portion is then used to stretch the material and to position the protrusions in the corresponding groves or indentations of the first portion. In this way a mechanical bond is provided between the first portion and the second portion. The device could also be made by additive manufacturing technology or 3D-printing.

The measures described hereinbefore for embodying the invention can obviously be carried out separately or in parallel or in a different combination or if appropriate be supplemented with further measures; it will in this case be desirable for the implementation to depend on the field of application of the device. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Changes can be made without departing from the idea of the invention.