RIMLESS EYEGLASSES Technical Field

The present invention relates to rimless eyeglasses. In particular, the present invention relates to rimless eyeglasses, i.e., to eyeglasses in which the lateral temples and the central bridge are fixed directly to the lenses, which have no rim. Background Art

Rimless frames for eyeglasses are known in which the lenses are connected to each other at the corresponding nose edges by means of a central bridge which is also provided with two contact nose pads, and are connected at the temple region to two lateral temples suitable to allow the eyeglasses to be worn correctly.

Currently, the mechanism for fixing the lenses to the lateral temples and to the nose bridge occurs by milling the lens in order to provide through holes in which the engagement elements are inserted. Such elements are then locked generally by means of small bolts.

This system causes the drawback that the surface of the lens is not free, due to the presence of the bolt, which protrudes with respect to the surface of the lens, causing a bulk which is visually unpleasant and inconvenient when cleaning the lenses. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing rimless eyeglasses in which the coupling between the lenses and the frame of the eyeglasses formed by the lateral temples and the nose bridge is provided by way of engagement elements and fixing screws which do not protrude and are arranged within the lens, allowing easier cleaning thereof.

The above aim is achieved by rimless eyeglasses according to claim

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the eyeglasses according to the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed exemplifying and non-limiting description of two embodiments thereof, referred to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 a is a front view of a nose bridge which supports an element for engaging eyeglasses according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure Ib is a side view of the bridge of Figure Ia; Figure 2a is a front view of an engagement element associated with a lateral temple according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2b is a side view of the engagement element of Figure 2a;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the engagement elements associated with a side of the nose bridge and with a lateral temple according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the engagement elements associated with the nose bridge according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a pair of lenses and of the nose coupling element provided with fixing screws according to the present invention;

Figure 6a is a view of an engagement element, which is partially inserted on one side in the appropriately provided seats formed in the lenses, and of the corresponding fixing screw, which is arranged on the opposite surface of the lens;

Figure 6b is a view of an engagement element which is rigidly coupled to the lens by means of the fixing screw according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the fixing screw according to the present invention.

Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, rimless eyeglasses according to the present invention comprise two lenses 2 and 2\ which are connected to each other, at the respective nose edges, by means of a bridge 3 which is optionally provided also with two nosepad arms 4 and 4' and are connected, at the temple region, to two lateral temples which allow the eyeglasses to be worn correctly.

On each lateral temple and on mutually opposite ends of the nose bridge there are engagement elements 6 for engaging said parts with the lenses which comprise a base portion 61 which is shaped substantially like a parallelepiped with preferably rounded short sides.

In a region of the base portion there is a preferably cylindrical pivot 62 which is adapted to enter a corresponding through hole 21 , which is formed within the contour of the lenses on the nose and temple side. Further, on the bridge 3, at the engagement elements, which are provided preferably monolithically with the bridge, there are two preferably cylindrical stabilizing protrusions 63 for coupling to the lens which are adapted to enter at least partially recesses 22 provided in the edge of the corresponding lens. Further, an engagement support 64 for engaging the edge of the lens and an articulated coupling mechanism 65 for the temple of the eyeglasses are provided on each of the engagement elements associated with the lateral temples. Said pivots can be located in a substantially intermediate region of the base portion (as in the embodiment of Figures 1- 3) or substantially at the ends thereof (as in the embodiment of Figure 4). According to a characteristic of the present invention, the engagement elements associated with the nose bridge can have a channel 631 which is recessed longitudinally and runs along most of the base portion and advantageously also along part of the protrusions 63 and inside which the ends 41 and 41' of the two nosepad supporting arms 4 and 4' are fixed. Further, the pivots 62 are perforated and the walls of said holes have

an internal thread 621.

According to the present invention, a fixing screw 7 can be associated with the engagement elements and enters the through holes of the lens and accordingly the threaded holes of the pivots. The fixing screws comprise a substantially cylindrical body 71 , which is externally threaded, and a head 72, which is also preferably cylindrical and externally threaded. One or more notches 73, adapted to allow the turning of the screw with a conventional tool, are provided on the upper surface of the head of the screw. The threaded body 71 of the screw is adapted to enter and screw into the pivot 62, while the head is adapted to self-tap on the walls of the hole 21 of the lens, by virtue of the fact that the pivot is provided with such dimensions as to enter the through hole of the lens 21 , leaving a portion free for the self-screwing of the head of the screw. In this manner, double fixing (screw-lens and lens-pivot) is ensured, fixing the frame and the lenses to each other stably and safely.

Moreover, according to a non-exclusive characteristic of the present invention, the head can have a first thread pitch and the body can have a second thread pitch which is different from the first one, allowing an advancement of the screw in the pivot which is greater than the advancement within the lens.

According to a characteristic of the present invention, the ends 41 and 41' of the nosepad supporting arms are inserted in the channels 631 and are arranged in a functional position below the pivots 62; when the screw is completely screwed into the pivots, its end abuts against said ends of the nosepad supporting arm 4 and 4', keeping them firmly within the channels and thus contributing to their fixing on the nose bridge 3.

According to a farther advantageous characteristic, the present invention can be adapted for the fixing of lateral temples and central bridge both in the front part and in the rear part of the lenses.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. GE2006A000069 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.