The present model relates to a cleaning tool, particularly for cleaning lenses of spectacles, optical instruments, photographic instruments, and the like.

In particular, it relates to a tool that includes a pliers like frame provided with two pads made of elastic material that are meant to wash the lenses.

A tool of the above type is known in which the pads are made of spongy material and are mounted on disk-like plates formed on the opposite ends of the pliers.

To clean a lens, the user interposes it between the pads, moving the disk-like plates mutually closer and making the pads adhere to the opposite surfaces of the lens; then he performs a rotary and translatory motion of the tool to clean the entire surface.

For better cleaning and grease removal, the pads must be preferably moistened with a detergent solution. In this case, however, it is necessary to dry the lenses immediately if one wishes to avoid leaving thereon halos that can impair vision.

_{A d} raw _b ack of known cleaning tools resides in difficult control of the pressure of the user's fingers on the pliers. If this pressure is excessive, it may damage the

surfaces of the lenses and/or of the frame, especially those made of plastic and/or provided with surface treatments. Moreover, the pad supporting plates may interfere with the frame, preventing complete cleaning of the lenses close to the edges.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a tool that is simple to use and allows to perfectly and fully clean the lenses without damaging them.

This aim and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a tool of the type defined in the introduction, which includes a pliers-like frame that is provided with a pair of pads made of flexible material that are meant to wash the lenses, characterized in that it includes a second pair of pads, separate from the first one, for drying the washed lenses.

By virtue of this arrangement, the tool according to the invention allows to wash and dry the lenses, leaving them perfectly clean and transparent.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a tool according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool according to the

invention during use;

Figure 2 is a side view of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of a detail of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the detail shown in Figure 4, taken along the line V-V;

Figure 6 is a sectional view in a slightly enlarged scale of another detail of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a schematic top view of a second embodiment of the tool according to the invention used to protect a pair of spectacles.

With reference to the above figures, a tool according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, includes a frame that is shaped like a double pliers composed of two levers 2, that are identical and mutually interchangeable and are mutually pivoted proximate to their central portion.

Each lever 2 extends in a main plane having trace P, which is substantially perpendicular to the pivoting axis, and in this plane has an approximately S-shaped shape, defined by two bent arms 3, 3' which have a substantially T-shaped

cross-section, tapered towards the free ends which extend from a central stud 4.

The stud 4 has an approximately cylindrical shape, the width thereof being equal to about the half of the width of the arms, said stud being located at a side with respect to the main development plane P and presenting a central bore for the passing of a pivot pin 5 which has an axis t. After the assembly of the levers 2 with the pivot pin 5,two pairs of arms 3, 3' in mutually facing position will result.

A first pair of pads 7, 7', made of flexible material and meant to wash the lenses, is detachably anchored at two adjacent free ends 6, 6" of a first pair of arms 3, 3' arranged in a facing position.

The pads 7, 7' of the first pair are arranged in mutually facing positions and can be moved mutually closer or further apart by acting on the arms 3, 3' of the frame.

According to the invention, there is a second pair of pads

8, 8• , separate from the first pair 7, 7• , for drying the washed lenses. This second pair of pads 8, 8' is mounted, like the first one 6, 6', at the other adjacent free ends

9, ₉ ' of the second pair of arms 3, 3' arranged in a facing position. In this manner, the two pairs of pads, respectively 7, 7• and 8, 8' , are in symmetrical positions with respect to the pivot 5.

According to the invention, each stud 4 has, in preset positions of the outer edge, a pair of radial protrusions 10, 11 that form stroke limiting abutments for complementarily shaped surfaces that are formed on the other arm and are meant to lock the ends of the arms at a preset mutual distance.

These protrusions 10, 11 limit the maximum closure of the arms 3, 3' to prevent, during use, excessive pressure of the user on the arms from damaging the lenses. Furthermore, the protrusions 10, 11, appropriately positioned, can also limit the maximum opening of the arms 3, 3'.

A quick coupling means for the pads 7, 7' and 8, 8' is provided at each one of the free ends of the arms 3, 3'; the means includes mushroom-shaped parts 12, 12' with expanded heads 13, 13' that protrude from respective plates 14 that are rigidly coupled to the end of each arm 3, 3' along respective axes a_, a_^ which are substantially perpendicular to said arms. The heads 13, 13 • can have slightly rounded circular edges to aid a quick snap-in coupling in a complementarily shaped seat of the pads 7, 7' and 8, 8' .

The plate 14 has a maximum diameter d that is smaller than the diameter D of the pads to prevent any accidental contact thereof with the frame of the lens during use of the tool 1.

The pads 7, 7' and 8, 8 ¹ are preferably substantially equal

and cylindrical and can be constituted by a rigid supporting annular element 15 to which a first layer of spongy material is applied; this first layer is covered by a second outer layer 17 of fabric or hide that is anchored to the base 15 along the edges 18. The washing pads 7, 7' can be covered with fabric, whereas the drying pads 8, 8' can be covered with buckskin or the like.

Each base 15 includes a seat 19, which is shaped substantially complementarily with respect to the heads 13, 13' of the mushroom-shaped parts 12, 12' to allow its snap- together coupling, and a recess 20 that is suitable to cooperate with radial protrusions 21, 21' that are formed along the stems of the mushroom-shaped parts 12 to prevent the mutual rotation of the pads with respect to the levers.

The rounded edge heads 13, 13' will enable a limited oscillation of the pads so as to automatically fit the tilting thereof to the lens curvature during the cleaning operation.

It is possible to provide an elastic means to apply to the levers 2 a contrast force that tends to keep the arms 3, 3' normally in the maximum opening position. This means can include a helical or spiral spring 22 that is inserted coaxially to the pivot 5 in an appropriately provided seat 2 ₃ formed in the central region of the studs 4 with its ends fixed thereto.

During use, the washing pads 7, 7' are initially wet or

spayed with water or detergent liquid, which is retained in the spongy layer 16.

The user interposes the lens between the two moistened pads 7, 7' and grips the tool, applying pressure to the arms 3, 3' and combined rotary and translatory motions so as to compress the pads on the opposite faces of the lens, washing their entire surface. Finally, the user turns the tool around, compressing the drying pads 8, 8' against the lens, so as to fully remove the washing liquid.

The tool according to the invention is highly effective to perform perfect cleaning of the lenses of spectacles and the like even along the edges that are adjacent to the frame with no risk of damage. Its limited size allow to insert it in a case that can be the same one used for the spectacles, facilitating its transport, for example in the pocket of a jacket.

In a slightly modified second embodiment, shown in Figure 7, the levers 2 of the tool are shaped so as to present, proximate to the central pivoting portion, a recess with respect to the main development plane P. It is possible to use this tool on a pair of spectacles G at rest or replaced in a case, avoiding the interference with the bridge and the swings of the frame and with the pads in contact with the lenses. Thus, it is possible to use the tool not only to clean the spectacle lenses, but also to protect said lenses against possible shocks and damages caused by projecting objects.

The tool according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept defined in the accompanying claims. The materials and the dimensions may vary according to the specific requirements. All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent ones that are understood to be protected by the present invention.