Biased eyeglass hinge

• US 4,351,086 A
• Filed: 09/22/1980
• Issued: 09/28/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Obe Ohnmacht & Baumgartner GMBH & Co., KG
• Original Assignee: Obe Ohnmacht & Baumgartner GMBH & Co., KG
• Inventors: Drlik, Gunther
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Falik, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US06/189,037
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 16/128 A, 16/190, 16/228, 351/113
• US Class Current: 16/228
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2245 comprising a sliding box containing a spring

Abstract

This invention relates to a spring hinge for eyeglasses having plastic or metal bows. The hinge includes a first hinge member which is adapted to be connected to a bow, and a second hinge member which is adapted to be connected to a frame center part, both hinge members being pivotally interconnected. The first hinge member is connected to an elongated U-shaped slider which extends into and is guided in a flat receptacle provided at the end of the bow. A spring member fitted on a rod is received in the slider for urging the same into the receptacle. The first hinge member has a portion overlapping the receptacle adjacent to the open end thereof. Between the slider and the overlapping portion, the first hinge member is further provided with a bevelled surface for engaging the outlet edge of the receptacle when the hinge is retracted so that there is no backlash during the movement of the bow from the inturned position to the normal open position.

Claims

1. In a spring hinge for use in an eyeglass frame having a frame center part and two bows, each of which having an inner end comprising a metal portion,

said spring hinge comprising,

a sub-assembly including a receptacle having an open end and adapted to be secured to one of said bows at said inner end thereof,

a first hinge member having an end portion extending into said receptacle,

a plunger rigid with said first hinge member and extending into said receptacle,

spring means urging said plunger into said receptacle, and

a second hinge member pivoted to said first hinge member and secured to said frame center part,

the improvement comprising,

said receptacle comprising a flat box embedded in said bow and secured to said metal portion so that said open end of said receptacle is disposed near said inner end of said bow,

said plunger comprising a U-shaped slider, which has a bight disposed in said receptacle and two legs axially guided in and extending out of said receptacle,

a rod disposed in said receptacle and extending between the legs of said slider,

a spring retainer disposed in said receptacle near the open end thereof, between the legs of said slider, and axially rigid with said rod, and axially fixed to said metal portion,

said spring means comprising a coil spring, surrounding said rod, and disposed between the legs of said slider, and retained between said spring retainer and said bight, and urging said slider into said receptacle toward a position in which said rod is clear of said bight,

said slider movable into said receptacle against the force of said coil spring until rod engages said bight,

said first hinge member secured to said legs of said slider outside said receptacle, and comprising an overlapping portion which overlaps said receptacle on the outside thereof adjacent to said open end, and

said first hinge member formed with a bevelled surface disposed outside said receptacle, between said overlapping portion and said slider, and facing said open end of said receptacle, whereby, when said hinge is retracted, said bevelled surface engages the outlet edge of said receptacle, at said open end thereof, so that there is no backlash during the movement of said bow from the inturned position to the normal open position.

2. An improved spring hinge as set forth in claim 1, wherein said U-shaped slider is fitted with predetermined lateral clearances in said receptacle.

3. An improved spring hinge as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring retainer has a shoulder, and when said spring retainer has been inserted into said receptacle against the force of said spring, the shoulder is adapted to be locked in position by means of a locking member which is engageable with the shoulder and adapted to be locked into said metal portion.