The present invention relates to a frame for corrective eyeglasses and sunglasses.

Eyeglasses are usually constituted by a frame, often made of plastics or metal, which is mainly constituted by two eyepieces or lens mounts, two arms, and a bridge and/or a nosepiece.

The bridge is the connection between the eyepieces or lens mounts, and is arranged at the upper part of the eyepieces in line with the eyebrows.

The nosepiece is the connection of the eyepieces or lens mounts in an intermediate position, in contact with the nose.

The eyepieces accommodate previously-produced lenses that have been cut to size on the basis of the geometry of the eyepiece or lens mount proper.

Very often, eyeglasses are not positioned correctly on the face of the user because the size of the nosepiece of the eyeglasses is not adapted to the size of the nose of the user.

The part of the face that most influences the fit of an eyeglass frame, except for rare cases, is the nasal bridge which is different in shape and size for each individual.

Even the more or less trapezoidal shape of the cross-section of the nasal bridge determines the fit of the eyeglass frame.

The variability of sizes and shapes of nasal bridges creates difficulties for makers, who for each model of eyeglasses have to make as many frames (with different nosepiece measurements) as there are possible measurements of customers nasal bridges.

Currently for each model of eyeglasses, frames are made with two or three different sizes of bridges or nosepieces, so as to obtain some correspondence with the different sizes of nasal bridges.

In this way a segment of sizes of nasal bridges has been covered, but it is still a long way off from the ideal situation of adapting the eyeglass frame to the faces of all possible users, since all intermediate positions between one size of the nosepiece and the next are not covered.

From the industrial point of view, making, as currently happens for the known art, the same model of eyeglasses with several sizes of nosepiece entails a sharp increase in costs for producing the items and for managing production.

To meet customers needs quickly requires the production of stocks of all sizes of nosepiece with a major financial commitment and, sometimes, also resulting in a lot of unsold stock.

The aim of the present application is therefore to resolve the above mentioned technical problems, by eliminating the drawbacks in the cited known art and hence providing an invention that makes it possible to adapt the eyeglass frame to the size of the nasal bridge of every user.

Within the above aim, an object of the invention is to provide an invention that makes such adaptation possible rapidly and simply as a function of the specific morphological shape structures of the user.

Another object is to provide an invention that enables an optician to improve the service to his/her customers by offering them an eyeglass frame that is structured as a function of the specific facial characteristics of the customer, thus giving the perception that the eyeglass frame has been especially made for his/her face by taking account of the shape structure of his/her nasal septum.

Another object is to provide an invention that is structurally simple and low cost and can be made with the usual conventional plants.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a frame for corrective eyeglasses and sunglasses which is characterized in that it is constituted by a first support and a second support for a lens, which are interposed and interact selectively with a bridge provided with means for axial adjustment of the distance of the optical centers. Advantageously, such axial adjustment means comprise means for engagement, according to preset positions along a longitudinal axis of such nosepiece, for elastically deformable grip means associated with said first and second supports.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a three-quarters side view of the frame;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the frame in the previous figure;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the frame taken along the line III-III in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a three-quarters side view of a variation of the frame;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the frame in the previous figure;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the frame taken along the line VI- VI in

Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a three-quarters side view of a variation of the frame;

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the frame in the previous figure;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the frame taken along the line IX-IX in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a front elevation view of a different embodiment;

Figure 11 shows a detail of the previous figure;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along the line XII-XII in Figure

10.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

Moreover, it should be noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a frame for corrective eyeglasses and sunglasses which is constituted by a first and a second support or eyepiece or lens mount 2, 3 for a lens 4, 5; the first and second supports 2, 3 are interposed and interact selectively with a nosepiece 6 which is the connection of the eyepieces or lens mounts in an intermediate position in contact with the nose.

The nosepiece 6, which has a substantially parallelepipedal and axially hollow shape, is constituted by a first arm 7 and by a second arm 8 which protrude, in mutually opposite directions, from the mutually facing outer lateral surfaces 9a, 9b of the first and second supports 2, 3.

Associated with the end of the first arm 7 and of the second arm 8 means are provided for axial adjustment of the optical axes, such means being constituted by a first slider 10 and by a second slider 11 which protrude radially from the ends, arranging themselves, or not, along the same axis 30 that is substantially parallel to the plane of arrangement of the first and second supports 2, 3.

The axis 30 in addition to being a single straight axis can also be, as an alternative, a discontinuous axis according to the shape structure of the nosepiece 6.

Alternatively the first and second sliders 10, 11 can lie on planes that are mutually staggered both on a horizontal plane and on a vertical plane.

Each one of the first and second sliders 10, 11 has at one end an elastic fork 12a, 12b that is composed of a first tab and a second tab 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, substantially shaped like an inverted V and arranged one above the other; at the vertex of each one of the first and second tabs 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d grip means are provided for engagement means present in the nosepiece 6.

The grip means are constituted by a tooth 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d that is arranged at the vertex of each one of the first and second tabs 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, each one of the teeth being directed toward the outside of the first and second tabs 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d.

The size and shape of the first and second tabs 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, together with their deformability, are such as to allow their insertion/extraction within the cavity 15 that is provided axially with respect to the nosepiece 6.

The cavity 15 can rest on a same axis or on axes that are distinct.

The engagement means are constituted by a plurality of first seats 16 that pass through the entire thickness of the nosepiece 6 along an axis that is perpendicular to the upper lateral surface 17 of the nosepiece 6.

The shape of the first seats 16 is such as to allow the selective positioning of the teeth 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d which are forced into the first seats by the elastic deformability of the first and second tabs 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d.

Means are furthermore present for locking the teeth 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d within the selected seats among the first seats 16, such means being constituted by a pair of screws or cylinders 18a, 18b, which are threaded externally and can be associated within one of adapted and complementarily threaded second seats 19 that are provided at right angles to the lateral surface 20 of the nosepiece 6.

In this particular embodiment, six first seats 16 and six second seats

19 are shown, but their number can vary as a function of specific requirements.

The size of the second seats 19 and of the cylinders 18a, 18b are such that the insertion of the cylinders 18a, 18b entails their positioning in a pair between the first and second tabs 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d at the teeth 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d; in this condition the mutual positioning of the first and second sliders 10, 11 and the nosepiece 6 is fixed.

The user can thus initially, once the cylinders 18a, 18b are loosened so as to render the cavity 15 free, act on one and/or the other of the first and second sliders 10, 11, positioning them more or less inside the nosepiece 6; once the desired position is found and thus the teeth 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d are positioned in the desired seats among the first seats 16, such position can be fixed by tightening the cylinders 18 a, 18b.

Thus it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, a frame having been obtained that makes it possible to be adapted to the actual size of the nasal bridge of every user, such adjustment being capable of being carried out rapidly and simply as a function of the specific morphological shape structures of the user.

The optician can thus improve the service to his/her customers by offering them an eyeglass frame that is structured as a function of the specific facial characteristics of the customer, thus giving the perception that the eyeglass frame has been especially made for his/her face by taking account of the shape structure of his/her nasal septum.

Furthermore the invention, by acting on the size of the nosepiece, determines the distance of the optical centers of the frame and therefore, in prescription eyeglasses, is capable of making it coincide with the interpupillary axe, which differs from individual to individual; the latter function is very important because it eliminates the problems that can be correlated to such aberration (non-coincidence of the optical axes with the pupillary axes).

The illustrated solution can also be useful in the event that, in an eyeglasses frame that is already fitted with lenses, an error is found in the distance of the optical centers in the prescription lenses owing to an error in cutting the lenses or of mounting them in the frame.

Obviously the invention can be implemented both in plastics eyeglasses and in metal eyeglasses.

For plastics eyeglasses, by way of example, the nosepiece 6 can be overmolded, taking care to protect the cavity 15 and the first and second seats 16, 19.

The present invention thanks to the solution adopted in order to obtain the axial adjustment of the lens mounts makes it possible to limit production of a same model to just one frame, with considerable reduction of industrial costs and easier management of production, in that fewer codes need to be managed.

Opticians, too, will appreciate a great commercial benefit because they will no longer have to maintain stocks for each nosepiece.

The perfect adaptation to the face is obtained thanks also to the double adjustment that can be achieved by carrying out two distinct adjustments, which can be performed on the right and/or left sides of the axis of the eyeglass frame; discrete and non-arbitrary positions of the teeth 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d can be obtained on the first seats 16, thus correctly setting the length of the nosepiece of the eyeglasses at an optimal position.

It follows from this that the adjustment can occur separately by acting both on the first slider 10 on the left and on the second slider 11 on the right and therefore an asymmetric adjustment can also be carried out, should it be necessary.

Once the optimal configuration of the frame to the face of the user has been found it is possible to maintain it by acting on the cylinders 18a, 18b.

Obviously the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention may be more relevant according to specific requirements.

Thus, for example, Figures 4 to 6 show a further embodiment in which, associated with the end of the first arm 107 and of the second arm 108 means are provided for axial adjustment of the optical axes, such means being constituted by a first slider 110 and by a second slider 111 which protrude radially from the ends, arranging themselves along a different or same axis 130 that is substantially parallel to the plane of arrangement of the first and second supports 102, 103.

The axis 130 in addition to being a single straight axis can also be, as an alternative, a discontinuous axis according to the shape structure of the nosepiece 106.

Each one of the first and second sliders 110, 111 has, at one end, an elastic fork 112a, 112b that is composed of a first tab and a second tab 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d, which have a substantially linear shape and are arranged one above the other; at each one of the first and second tabs 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d there are grip means for engagement means provided in the nosepiece 106, the grip means being constituted by a tooth 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d that protrudes from each one of the first and second tabs 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d and is directed toward the outside of the first and second tabs 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d.

The size and shape of the first and second tabs 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d, together with their deformability, are such as to allow their insertion/extraction within the cavity 115 that is provided axially with respect to the nosepiece 106.

The cavity 115 can rest on a same axis or on axes that are distinct.

The engagement means are constituted by a plurality of first seats 116 that pass through the entire thickness of the nosepiece 106 along an axis that is perpendicular to the upper lateral surface 117 of the nosepiece 106.

The shape of the first seats 116 is such as to allow the selective positioning of the teeth 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d which are forced into the first seats by the elastic deformability of the first and second tabs 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d.

Means are furthermore present for locking the teeth 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d within the selected seats among the first seats 116, such means being constituted by a pair of screws or cylinders 118a, 118b, which are threaded externally and can be associated within one of two or more adapted and complementarily threaded second seats 119 that are provided at right angles to the lateral surface 120 of the nosepiece 6.

The dimensions of the second seats 119 and of the cylinders 118a, 118b are such that the insertion of the cylinders 118a, 118b entails the locking of the teeth 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d within the selected seats among the first seats 116.

Such solution also achieves the set aim and objects.

Thus, for example, Figures 7 to 9 show a further embodiment in which, associated with the end of the first arm 207 and second arm 208 means are provided for axial adjustment of the optical axes, such means being constituted by a first slider 210 and by a second slider 211 which protrude radially from the ends, arranging themselves along a different or same axis or a discontinuous axis 230 that is substantially parallel to the plane of arrangement of the first and second supports 202, 203.

Each one of the first and second sliders 210, 211 has, at one end, an elastic fork 212a, 212b that is composed of a first tab and a second tab 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d, which have a substantially linear shape and are arranged one above the other, in the first and second tabs 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d there being grip means for engagement means provided in the nosepiece 206, the grip means being constituted by arc-like tabs 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d, which are present at the ends of the first and second tabs 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d, which are directed along the same axis of the cavity 215.

The size and shape of the first and second tabs 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d, together with their deformability, are such as to allow their insertion/extraction within the cavity 215 that is provided axially with respect to the nosepiece 206.

The cavity 215 can rest on a same axis or on axes that are distinct.

The engagement means are constituted by a plurality of first seats 216 that pass through the entire thickness of the nosepiece 206 along an axis that is perpendicular to the upper lateral surface 217 of the nosepiece 206.

The shape of the first seats 216 is such as to allow the selective positioning, at one of them, of arc-like tabs 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d which are forced into the cavity 215 by the elastic deformability of the first and second tabs 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d. Means are furthermore present for locking the arc-like tabs 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d within the selected seats among the first seats 216, such means being constituted by a pair of screws or cylinders 218a, 218b, which are threaded externally and can be associated within one of two or more adapted and complementarily threaded second seats 219 that are provided at right angles to the lateral surface 220 of the nosepiece 206.

The dimensions of the second seats 219 and of the cylinders 218a, 218b are such that the insertion of the cylinders 218a, 218b entails the locking of the teeth 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d within the selected seats among the first seats 216.

Such solution also achieves the set aim and objects.

In a different embodiment, the first and second arms 307, 308 are each constituted by a hollow body 321a, 321b that is integral with and protrudes at the first and second supports or eyepieces or lens mounts 302, 303 and by a substantially T-shaped slider 330 that is slideably associable, adjustably, between the hollow bodies 321a, 321b.

Each hollow body 321a, 321b is substantially C-shaped in transverse cross-section, being provided at the base 322 with a hole 323 that is threaded internally and connected to a circular lip 323a that is likewise holed and threaded.

At the mutually facing ends of the wings 324a, 324b of each one of the hollow bodies 321a, 321b, hollow regions 325 are defined that are adapted to constitute a temporary engagement seat for complementarily shaped grip means that are constituted by a tooth 326 that is associated with and protrudes at the slider 330.

Slideably associated within each each hollow body 321a, 321b are the free ends of the slider 330, the latter having, proximate to the ends, axial cutouts or seats 327, slot-shaped, which are open outwardly so as to define an elastically deformable fork structure.

Each tooth 326 protrudes toward one of the hollow regions 325 and, thanks to the deformability of the fork, allows the insertion of the slider 330 to the desired extent, presettable, within each hollow body 321a, 321b.

The temporary locking, to be used as a solid and permanent fixing, of the slider 330 at a desired point of each one of the hollow bodies 321a, 321b is made possible by way of a locking screw 328 whose threaded shank 329 interacts with the complementarily threaded hole 323 that is defined on the base 322 of each hollow body 321a, 321b, the threading continuing so as to affect all of the lip 323 a.

The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or similar, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2013A000123 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.