Background Art Hinges for eyeglasses, constituted by a metallic body joined to a first portion (the frontpiece or the temple) of a pair of eyeglasses for example by means of an anchor-like element embedded in the material, which is usually plastics, are already known and are used mainly for sports eyeglasses.

A female fork-like element protrudes from the body, and a male element is inserted between its wings; the male element protrudes from a body which is joined to a second portion (the temple or the frontpiece) of the pair of eyeglasses.

In this case also, the coupling is usually provided by embedding the anchor-like tab that protrudes from the body in said second portion of the eyeglasses.

The female element and the male element are associated one another by a retainer, which passes through appropriately provided holes thereof.

The drawbacks noted in this type of hinge is due to the fact that upon closure in order to arrange the eyeglasses in the compact inactive configuration, the temple tips touch the lenses.

Over time, this contact causes abrasion of the surface of the lens, with a corresponding abrasion of any deposits due to surface treatments such as antiglare coating, tinting or the like.

Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above cited drawback of the known art.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses having a particularly simple structure composed of a small number of elements.

Another object is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that can be used in a

plurality of eyeglasses having different shapes.

Another object is to provide a hinge for eyeglasses that can be obtained with conventional equipment and systems.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a hinge for eyeglasses comprising a fork-like female element which protrudes from a body which is joined to a first portion (frontpiece or temple) of a pair of eyeglasses, a male element being inserted between the wings of said female element, said male element protruding from a body which is joined to a second portion (temple or frontpiece) of said pair of eyeglasses, the female element and the male element being associated one another by a pivot which passes through appropriately provided through holes thereof, said hinge being characterized in that said male element has at least one portion which constitutes a retainer for the mutual rotation of the parts during the closure of the temple with respect to the frontpiece, said portion being arranged so as to prevent the temple from touching the frontpiece in the closed configuration.

Brief description of the Drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of two embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a top view of a pair of eyeglasses made of plastics, in the open configuration, provided with a hinge according to the invention, in a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a top view of the eyeglasses of Figure 1, in the closed configuration; Figures 3 to 7 are multiple views of the hinge of the eyeglasses of Figure 1, the first two views showing the eyeglasses in the open configuration, the last three views showing the eyeglasses in the closed configuration; Figure 7 is a sectional view of the hinge;

Figures 8 to 10 are multiple views of a second embodiment of the hinge for metallic eyeglasses.

Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to Figures 1 to 7, a pair of eyeglasses is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and is composed of a frontpiece 11 which is joined to temples 13, by means of hinges 12 according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Each hinge 12 comprises a fork-like female element 16 which protrudes from a body 14 joined to a first portion 15, the frontpiece 11 or the temple 13; a male element 18 is inserted between the wings 17 of the female element 16 and protrudes from a body 19 joined to a second portion 20, the temple 13 or the frontpiece 11, of the eyeglasses 10.

The coupling between the bodies 14 and 19 and the corresponding parts of the eyeglasses 10 is obtained by embedding respective anchor-like tabs 21 and 22 in the material of the corresponding first portion 15 and second portion 20, which in this case are made of plastics.

The female element 16 and the male element 18 are associated one another by means of a screw-type pivot 23, which passes through appropriately provided coaxial through holes thereof.

According to the invention, the body 19 of the male element 18 defines, at right angles thereto, at least one wall portion and preferably two opposite co-planar flat walls 24, which constitute retainers for the mutual rotation of the closing parts of the temple 13 with respect to the front 11.

The walls 24 are in fact arranged so as to impact against the edge of the wings 17 of the female element 16 for the preset angle of mutual rotation, so that the corresponding temple 13 is prevented from touching the front 11 in the closed configuration.

As shown in the figures, in this case the walls 24 are perpendicular to the axis of the first portion 15 and second portion 20, which are straight and arranged in succession when the eyeglasses are open.

With reference now to Figures 8 to 10, a hinge 112 in an embodiment for metal eyeglasses comprises a fork-like female element 116 which protrudes from a body 114 joined to a first portion 115; a male element 118 is inserted between the wings 117 of said female element and protrudes from a body 119 joined to a second portion 120.

The mutual coupling of the bodies 114 and 119 and of the corresponding parts of the eyeglasses is achieved by soldering (for example spot soldering) in a manner known per se.

The female element 116 and the male element 118 are associated one another by a screw-type pivot 123 which passes through appropriately provided coaxial through holes thereof.

According to the invention, the male element 118 has, on its edge, a lug 121, which constitutes a retainer for the mutual rotation of the parts during closure of the temple with respect to the frontpiece.

The lug 121 is in fact arranged so as to impact against a chamfer 122 formed in the body 114 of the female element 116.

Therefore, for a preset mutual rotation angle there is a retainer and the corresponding temple 113 does not touch the frontpiece in the closed configuration.

In practice it has been found that the intended aim and objects of the present invention have been achieved.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. PD2000U000105 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.