A spectacle frame

The present invention relates to a spectacle frame which, for predominantly aesthetic reasons, is to be produced with the use of thin laminas of metallic material suitably shaped and juxtaposed in a layered or "sandwich" arrangement. This arrangement is used to stiffen one of the laminas which, for aesthetic reasons, has to be visible from the exterior but, because of its structure, requires stiffening.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a spectacle frame which is strong and at the same time light and aesthetically pleasing.

This and other objects and advantages which will be explained further below are achieved, according to the present invention, by a pair of spectacles having the features defined in Claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a pair of spectacles according to the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the spectacles of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawings, a spectacle frame according to the present invention comprises a front portion 10 and two arms 20. The front portion 10 is composed of three thin metal laminas 11, 12, 13 produced by blanking from a thin sheet of steel or other metallic material (for example, titanium), suitably shaped and bent in corresponding manner. The three laminas are juxtaposed in a "sandwich" arrangement and held together by a number of spaced-apart rivets 30. The same arrangement is also provided for with respect to the arms 20 each of which comprises three laminas 21, 22, 23 joined together by rivets.

The central or inner lamina 12 of the front portion 10 has a peripheral frame 14 which

encloses a structurally weak portion 15 which is to be rendered visible for aesthetic reasons. The peripheral frame 14 forms lens-holding rims 16, a bridge 17, and appendages (not shown) for supporting pads 18, only one of which is visible in the drawings. In the embodiment illustrated, the weak portion (or "decorative" portion) 15 is made of thin parallel strips 19 also formed by blanking from the same steel sheet which forms the peripheral frame 14.

The inner lamina 12 is reinforced by virtue of the attachment of the front lamina 11 and of the rear lamina 13 which extend along the front and rear sides of the upper portion of the frame 14 of the inner lamina 12, and which leave the decorative region 15 exposed and hence visible, at least from the exterior, when the spectacles are worn. The three laminas 11, 12, 13 have opposite ends 11a, 12a, 13a which are bent towards the rear to allow the front portion to be connected to the arms by means of hinges 40.

It will be appreciated that, according to the desired design, the front and rear reinforcing laminas 11 and 13 may adopt shapes other than that shown in the appended drawings; for example, they may have a shape matching that of the peripheral frame or rim 14. In any case, the reinforcing laminas 11, 13 will be shaped so as simultaneously to perform the dual function of reinforcing the inner lamina 12 and leaving one or more decorative regions 15 thereof exposed. It is therefore possible to produce reinforcing laminas having respective peripheries which substantially match that of the inner lamina or which follow only a portion thereof, as in the embodiment shown.

In the embodiment shown, the reinforcing laminas 21 and 23 of the arms have respective peripheries matching that of the inner lamina 22 and form elongate openings 24 which leave the decorative regions 25 thereof exposed.

The reinforcing laminas advantageously extend continuously from one end to the other of the front portion and of the arms to give the inner laminas the strength necessary to withstand the stresses to which a pair of spectacles is normally subjected.

An important feature of the invention is that the attachment of the laminas by means of

rivets avoids welding which, if it were applied to thin laminas, would cause local weakening thereof with inevitable permanent deformation which would have unacceptable aesthetic effects. Connection by means of rivets also avoids galvanic treatments or coatings for covering the defects resulting from welding.

As shown in Figure 1, rivets 30 are also used for attaching the hinges 40 to the arms 20 and to the front portion 10.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment described and illustrated herein which should be considered as an example of the construction of the frame; rather, the invention may be modified with respect to the shape and arrangement of parts, constructional details and materials used. For example, in a variant, not shown, the front portion of the frame may be formed by the joining, by means of rivets, of only two laminas; the lamina which has the weakened portion will be reinforced by a single reinforcing lamina preferably applied to the outer side thereof. Finally, the material of which the inner or decorative lamina 12 is made may be other than steel, for example, it may be a non-metallic material such as carbon fibre which is strong enough to support the lenses but requires stiffening.