ELASTIC HINGE ELEMENT FOR SPECTACLES FRAME

• US 20110185538A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visottica Industrie S.P.A. (Costruzioni Nord Srl (Treviso))
• Original Assignee: Comotec SA
• Inventors: Mathieu, Francois, Donjon, Jean-Marc, Hotellier, Christophe, Bussod, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/228
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/16 Frame or frame portions made from rubber
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/008 Spectacles frames characterized by their material, material structure and material properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2236 comprising a sliding hinge member and a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2245 comprising a sliding box containing a spring
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2254 comprising elastic means other than coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49959 Nonresilient fastener

Abstract

An elastic hinge element for a glasses frame includes a box (100) that includes a guiding cavity (101), a slide (200) that includes a body (201) moving in the guiding cavity (101), and at least one elastic piece (204) that works with the box to produce an elastic reaction that opposes the extraction of the slide from the guiding cavity (101), in which the slide body (201) includes an inside cavity that accommodates the elastic piece. The hinge element includes a holding clip for locking a proximal end of the elastic piece relative to the box (100), with the holding clip including flexible arms that extend in a distal direction and holding element (207a) that work with the box (100).

Claims

1-45. -45. (canceled)

46. An elastic hinge element for a glasses frame that comprises:

a box (100, 110, 120) that comprises a guiding cavity (101),

a slide (200) that comprises a body moving in the guiding cavity (101), and

at least one elastic piece (204, 237, 241, 242, 271) that works with the box (100) to produce an elastic reaction that opposes the extraction of the slide from the guiding cavity (101),

characterized in that the slide body (201, 221, 231) comprises an inside cavity that accommodates the elastic piece,

and in that it comprises a holding clip (207) for locking a proximal end of the elastic piece relative to the box (100), with the holding clip comprising flexible arms that extend in a distal direction and holding means (207a, 207b) that work with the box (100).

47. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein:

the slide body (201, 221, 231) comprises slots (206) made on opposing sides of the latter,

walls of the guiding cavity (101) comprise longitudinal grooves (103a, 103b, 121a, 121b),

the flexible arms of the holding clip engage in the slots (206) of the slide body and in the longitudinal grooves of the guiding cavity to ensure the guiding of the slide in the box.

48. The hinge element according to claim 47, wherein the length of the slots (206) is greater than that of the arms.

49. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the holding means of the holding clip comprise lugs (207a, 207b) that are arranged on the flexible arms and that are provided for fitting into transverse recesses (102a, 102b) that are made on the walls of the guiding cavity (101).

50. The hinge element according to claim 49, wherein the lugs are equipped with an anchoring angle.

51. The hinge element according to claim 49, wherein the lugs (207a, 207b) have an inclined surface and are designed to act as an end-of-travel stop by resting on the end portions (206′

) of slots (206), with the inclined surfaces making it possible to use a longitudinal traction force for locking the lugs by compression in their transverse hollows of the guiding cavity (101).

52. The hinge element according to claim 49, wherein the lugs (207a, 207b) are designed to engage in the end portions (206′

) of slots (206) shaped with a connecting elbow that serves to transform a longitudinal traction on the slide into a pressure action of the lugs toward the respective transverse hollows of the guiding cavity (101).

53. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the clip (207) is obtained from a thin metal plate.

54. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the clip has essentially a U shape or a non-symmetrical H shape.

55. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the box (100) that is equipped with the guiding cavity is in the form of a base, and the clip holds the slide in the base to allow an assembled delivery of the hinge element before mounting the hinge element on a support.

56. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the slide body is essentially in the shape of a prismatic, cylindrical or truncated cylindrical elongated box, and the inside cavity of the slide body has a suitable shape for accommodating the elastic piece (204, 237, 241, 242, 271) with precision.

57. The hinge element according to claim 56, wherein the slide body has a width that is at least double its height.

58. The hinge element according to claim 56, wherein the slide body is manufactured by injection of polymer material, by injection of plastic material, or by molding and injection of metal (MIM).

59. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the slide comprises at least one pierced link (202, 232a, 232b) that makes possible the articulation with a hinge end piece.

60. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the elastic piece (3) comprises a helical spring or a pair of helical springs placed side by side.

61. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the elastic piece (237) comprises a solid or alveolar elastomer material.

62. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the elastic piece (271) is integral with the elastic clip (270), and the two elements form a single piece.

63. The hinge element according to claim 62, wherein the unit (270) of the elastic piece and the elastic clip is obtained by cutting out a thin metal plate.

64. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein the slide body comprises at least one opening for inserting the elastic element.

65. The hinge element according to claim 64, wherein the elastic element rests on a distal part of the slide body.

66. The hinge element according to claim 64, wherein the distal part of the slide body on which the elastic element rests comprises one of the following elements:

a pin, a screw, a tightened or soldered end piece, and a ring or an elastic plate.

81. The hinge element according to claim 46, wherein said slide (2, 20) has a prismatic box body portion (2b, 20b) that has outer surfaces that can slide with precision into said sliding cavity (1a) and an inside recess (2b′

, 22a) that can house said elastic piece (3), and in addition, thereby, a holding clip (6, 61, 600), to be inserted into said inside cavity (2b′

, 22a) through oblong openings (5, 51) made on the opposing sides of the prismatic body (2b, 20b).

82. The hinge element as in claim 81, wherein said clip has arms with a portion (6a) that extends from said oblong openings (5, 51), whereby the latter have a sufficient length to allow the longitudinal sliding of said extending portions (6a) over the entire elastic length of the slide in the housing (1).

83. The hinge element as in claim 81, wherein said oblong openings (5, 51) have a sufficient length to allow the transverse insertion of the clip in the inside recess (2b′

, 22a) of the slide.

84. The hinge element as in claim 81, wherein said clip (6, 6a) is in the form of a U-shaped foot that is arranged with the arms that extend in the direction opposite to the eyelet head (2a) and that can work by traction.

85. The hinge element as in claim 81, wherein said clip (61, 600) is the form of a U-shaped foot that is arranged with the arms that extend in the direction of the eyelet head (2a) and that can work by compression.

86. The hinge element as in claim 81 , wherein said prismatic box body portion (2b, 20b) has a terminal opening at the distal end for the longitudinal insertion of an elastic piece into said inside recess (2b′

).

87. The hinge element as in claim 86, wherein said terminal opening has stop elements (4, 23) for one end of the elastic piece (3).

88. The hinge element as in claim 81, wherein said prismatic box body portion (2b, 20b) has a longitudinal opening (22) on a bottom side for the lateral insertion of an elastic piece into said inside recess (22a).

89. The hinge element as in claim 88, wherein said longitudinal opening (22) and said inside recess (22a) are produced by milling a solid prismatic body.

90. The hinge element as in claim 81, wherein said elastic piece (3) is in the form of a pair of elastic pieces that are placed side by side.

91. The hinge as disclosed in claim 81, wherein said elastic piece is in the form of an injected elastomer mass.

67. A process for manufacturing an elastic hinge element for a glasses frame, whereby the hinge element comprises a box (100, 110, 120) that comprises a guiding cavity (101), a slide (200) that comprises a body that moves into the guiding cavity (101), and at least one elastic piece (204, 237, 241, 242, 271) that works with the box (100) to produce an elastic reaction that opposes the extraction of the slide from the guiding cavity (101), the process comprising:

providing an inside cavity in the slide body (201, 221, 231),

producing a holding clip (207) for locking a proximal end of the elastic piece relative to the box (100), whereby the holding clip comprises flexible arms that extend in a distal direction and holding means (207a, 207b) that work with the box (100),

arranging the elastic piece in the inside cavity, and

arranging the holding clip in the elastic hinge element.

68. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, further comprising:

providing slots (206) on opposing sides of the slide body (201, 221, 231),

providing longitudinal grooves (103a, 103b, 121a, 121b) on walls of the guiding cavity (101), and

arranging the holding clip in the slide element in such a way that the flexible arms of the holding clip engage in the slots (206) of the slide body and in the longitudinal grooves of the guiding cavity to ensure the guiding of the slide in the box.

69. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, comprising the stages that consist in:

providing lugs (207a, 207b) on the flexible arms of the holding clip,

providing transverse recesses (102a, 102b) on the walls of the guiding cavity (101), and

arranging the holding clip in the slide element in such a way that the lugs fit into the transverse recesses (102a, 102b).

70. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the clip (207) is produced from a thin metal plate.

71. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the clip is produced in such a way as to have essentially a U shape or a non-symmetrical H shape.

72. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the box (100) that is equipped with the guiding cavity is produced in the form of a base and comprises a stage for mounting the slide in the base and a stage for holding the slide by means of the elastic clip, followed by a stage for assembled delivery of the hinge element before mounting the latter on a support.

73. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the slide body is shaped in the form of a prismatic, cylindrical or truncated cylindrical elongated box, the inside cavity of the slide body is produced in such a way as to have a suitable shape for accommodating the elastic piece (204, 237, 241, 242, 271) with precision, and at least one opening is provided in the slide body for inserting the elastic element.

74. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the slide body is manufactured by injection of polymer material, by injection of plastic material, or by molding and injection of metal (MIM).

75. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the slide is produced in such a way as to have at least one pierced link (202, 232a, 232b) that makes it possible to articulate with a hinge end piece.

76. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the elastic piece is produced from a helical spring or a pair of helical springs that are placed side by side.

77. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the elastic piece (237) is produced from a solid or alveolar elastomer material.

78. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, wherein the elastic piece (271) and the elastic clip (270) are produced in a single piece.

79. The manufacturing process according to claim 78, wherein the unit (270) of the elastic piece and the elastic clip is produced by cutting out a thin metal plate.

80. The manufacturing process according to claim 67, comprising a stage for producing, on a distal part of the slide body, the elastic element from a support element, starting from one of the following elements:

a pin, a screw, a tightened or soldered end piece, and a ring or an elastic plate.