Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to resilient hinges for pair of spectacles having a flat frame. The resilient hinge comprises two flat members, one being an integral part of the frame, the other being an integral part of the spectacle arm, wherein one of the flat members comprises a slot to accommodate a stud and a resilient member and the other member comprises a stopper, both members coupled to one another by a linking pin. In a preferred embodiment, the slot comprising member is an integral part of the spectacle arm and the stopper comprising member is an integral part of the frame. In a particular embodiment the resilient hinge further comprises a positioning guide to control the movement of the resilient member and stud in the slot with respect to the other member.

Description

Below is a further explanation on the present invention with reference to the attached drawings and embodiments.

Figures 1 to 5 show one embodiment of the resilient hinge of the present invention, i.e. comprising two flat members (1) and (2), one (2) having a slot (10) to accommodate a resilient member (spring) (8) and a stud (3), the other (1) having a stopper (6), both members rotationally coupled to one another by linking means (7, 5). The flat members as used herein are typical between and about 1,5 to 0,5 mm thick, and in particular about 0,8 mm thick.

To accommodate the resilient member, the slot typically comprises at one end, means (11) to secure the resilient member in the slot, such as for example a circular pillar, a square pillar or a flat pin (11) in case of a spring (8), wherein said spring is fitted over the pillar or pin. In a particular embodiment of the present invention the means to secure the resilient member consists of a flat pin (11). As is evident to the skilled artisan, the dimensions of the means to secure the resilient member are determined by the dimensions of slot (10). The flat pin will typically have the same thickness as the flat member (typical between and about 1,5 to 0,5 mm thick, and in particular about 0,8 mm thick), the width and the length of the pin will depend on the resilient member used and as shown in the examples, in the particular embodiments of the present invention the width is between and about 0,2 to 4,0 mm width; in particular between and about 0,5 and 1,5 mm width; more in particular about 0,6 mm width. In the particular embodiments of the present invention the length of the flat pin between and about 0,2 to 4,0 mm long; in particular between and about 1,0 and 3,0 mm width; more in particular about 2,3 mm long. In one embodiment of the present invention, said means (11) to secure the resilient member in the slot, is at the distal end vis-a-vis the linking means (7, 5).

As shown in Figure 4, and explained in more detail hereinafter, the end portion of said means (11) to secure the resilient member, will, in combination with the size and shape of the stud (3), act as a stopper and determine the degree of over-open position that can be tolerated by the resilient hinge presented herein.

At the opposite end the resilient member is secured in the slot by means of a removable stud (3) (Figure 5 A - 5C), shaped to fit the slot at said end. Given the flat shape of the slot comprising member (2), the stud consist of a flat structure (typical between and about 1 ,5 to 0,5 mm thick, and in particular about 0,8 mm or 0,5 mm thick), shaped to fit the slot and optionally comprises protrusions (12), like knuckles, rims, flanges or hooks, which serve to fix the stud in the slot under the resilient action of the resilient member (spring), i.e. by pressing the stud against the proximal end of the slot. The stud further comprises means (13) to hold the resilient member in position, such as for example a circular pillar, a square pillar or a flat pin (13) in case of a spring (8), wherein said spring is fitted over the pillar or pin. In a particular embodiment of the present invention said means to secure the resilient member at the end of the stud consists of a flat pin (13). As is evident to the skilled artisan the dimensions of means (13) to hold the resilient member are similar, in particular identical to the dimensions of the means (11) to secure the resilient member in the slot. In one embodiment of the present invention, the stud is shaped to fit the slot at the proximal end vis-a-vis the linking means (5, 7). In analogy with the flat pin (11), the stud will typically have the same thickness as the flat member (supra), and slide-able fits in its width, with the width of the slot (10) at said end (typical between and about 0,5 to 5,0 mm width, in particular about 0,5 mm or 2,5 mm width, more in particular about 1,4 mm width).

A further feature of the slot is that it extends beyond and fits over the stopper (6) at the other flat member (1) of the resilient hinge, and has a curvature end shape at the proximal end of the linking pin.

In its combination, the size and shape of the means (11) to secure the resilient member in the slot; the size and shape of the stud (3), with in particular the size and shape of the means (13) to secure the resilient member at the distal end of the stud; and the stopper (6) at the other flat member (1) of the resilient hinge; determine the degree of over-open position that can be tolerated by the resilient hinge presented herein. As shown in Figure 5 A, in case both means (11, 13) to secure the resilient member consist of a flat pin, the end portions of said pins will be pressed against one another and act as a stopper, preventing further stretch of the resilient hinge in the over-open position (Figure 5A). In said over-open position, the stopper (6) will be pushing the stud (3) towards the distal end of the slot (distal vis-a-vis the stopper (6)).

The stopper (6) can consist of any material such as a screw, rivet, or bolt and may even consist of protrusion as an integrated part of flat member (1). The stopper is positioned aside the positioning hole (14) that accommodates the linking means (7, 5), such that it fits within slot (10). In closed position (Figure 5C), the slot (10) touches the stopper (6) at its curved proximal end, and the latter accordingly restricts further closure of the hinge. When opened, the slot slides in its movement over the stopper (6), until the proximal end of the stud (3) touches the stopper (6). At this point (Figure 5B), a first resistance under the resilient action of the resilient member (8), is observed. Further opening of the hinge results in the over-open position (Figure 5A), as mentioned above. A-

The two members are rotationally coupled to one another by any means known to the skilled man and include in a particular embodiment the screw (7) and tube (5), as exemplified herein. Any material can be used, but the linking means is typically of metallic material such as titanium, titanium alloy, copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, iron or ferroalloy etc. The members (1), and (2), that constitute the spectacle frame and arm(s), can be manufactured in different plastic, metallic or ceramic materials known in the field, and can be produced according to different manufacturing techniques known to the skilled artisan, such as for example injection, sintering, cutting and folding.

As already mentioned hereinbefore, in a particular embodiment the resilient hinge further comprises a positioning guide (9) to control the movement of the resilient member and stud in the slot with respect to the other member. The positioning guide is positioned at the opposite end of the slot-comprising member (2), when compared with the position of the stopper comprising member (1). Together with the latter it accordingly flanges part of the slot (10), and creates a chamber to restrict vertical movement of the stud (3) in the slot (10). The positioning guide could have any shape fitting said purpose, and in particular consist of a puck (9) with a diameter that covers the curved proximal end of slot (10). It is typically between 1 ,0 and 0,2 mm thick, in particular about 0,5 mm thick, with a diameter ranging from 10,0 to 5,0 mm. In a further embodiment the positioning guide could be an integrated part of the linking means, for example when the screw head of the screw(7) has a diameter that covers the curved proximal end of slot (10), such as for example with a diameter a about 10,0 to 5,0 mm. Optionally, the hinge further comprises two sliding pucks (4), situated at either side of the slot comprising member (2) with one opening (15) to accommodate the stopper (6), and one opening to accommodate the linking means (7, 5). These sliding pucks, not only improve the sliding of two members of the resilient hinge vis-a-vis each other, it also plays a guiding role to maintain the stability of the specific movement of the resilient member and stud in the slot with respect to the other member. The sliding pucks typically have a slightly smaller diameter as compared to the positioning guide (9), such as for example about 8,0 to 4,0 mm. The accompanying drawings show schematically, and by way of example, one embodiment of hinges according to the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front (upper panel) view and top view (lower panel) of one embodiment of the flat member(s) resilient hinge according to the present invention. Fig. 2A is a top view of the spectacle arms consisting of the slot (10) comprising member of the resilient hinge according to the present invention.

Fig.2B is a top view of the spectacle frame consisting of the stopper comprising member of the resilient hinge according to the present invention. Only the orifice to hold the stopper (6) is shown. Fig. 3 is side view of one embodiment of the resilient according to the present invention.

Fig.4 is a schematic drawing of a stud according to the invention, having a flat pin (13) to hold the spring and hook like protrusions (12), to fix the stud in the slot under the resilient action of the spring.

Fig. 5A - 5C are top views of three operational positions of the hinge, i.e. the closed position (Fig. 5C), the normal open position (Fig. 5B), and the over-open position (Fig. 5A).

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.