Adjustable eyeglass frames

• US 5,187,503 A
• Filed: 02/04/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carole T. Hilton
• Original Assignee: Carole T. Hilton
• Inventors: Hilton, Carole T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Application Number:
  US07/650,087
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 351/128, 351/124, 351/136, 351/137
• US Class Current: 351/128
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/18 Adjustment ridges or notches
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/045 for varying the horizontal distance of the lenses

Abstract

An adjustable eyeglass frame includes a face bar with opposite ends and a pair of lens subframes each mounting a nose pad assembly and a temple. The lens subframes are adjustably mounted on the face bar by mounting structures slidably received in channel portions. The lens subframes can be locked in place with respect to the face bar by interlocking lands and grooves, by crimping or by frictional engagement. An alternative or modified embodiment eyeglass frame includes nose pad assemblies which are slidably, adjustably mounted on the face bar. In another alternative or modified eyeglass frame, the lens subframes include top-mounted tubes for telescopically receiving end portions of the face bar.

Claims

1. An eyeglass frame, which comprises:

(a) a face bar with a pair of opposite ends, a front, a back, a top, and a bottom;

(b) a pair of lens subframes, each including;

(1) lens mounting means for mounting a lens;

(2) an inner side; and

(3) an outer side;

(c) a pair of nose pad assemblies each mounted on one of said face bar and a respective lens subframe in proximity to a respective lens subframe inner side;

(d) a pair of temples each mounted on a respective lens subframe outer side; and

(e) selectively adjustable lens subframe mounting means longitudinally slidably adjustably mounting said lens subframes on said face bar, said lens subframe mounting means comprising;

(1) channel means extends longitudinally with respect to said face bar and having opposite end portions each associated with a respective face bar end, said end portions being substantially longitudinally aligned with respect to each other and with respect to said face bar;

(2) each said lens subframe having a guide strip longitudinally slidably received in said channel means in proximity to a respective end portion thereof in an adjustable configuration of said eyeglass frame; and

(3) lens subframe locking means for locking said guide strip in said channel means in a permanent fixed configuration of said eyeglass frame by deforming one of said face bar and said guide strip.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said channel means end portions are discrete and separate.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said channel means extends continuously between said face bar opposite ends.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said channel means includes an inner receiver and an access slot open at said face bar back.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein each said lens subframe includes:

(a) a guide strip connecting leg connected to said guide strip and longitudinally, slidably received in said access slot.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein:

(a) each said guide strip has a greater height than a respective guide strip connecting leg.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said lens subframe mounting means includes lens subframe locking means for locking said lens subframes on said face bar.

8. The invention of claim 1, which includes:

(a) a pair of nose pad assemblies; and

(b) nose pad assembly mounting means for longitudinally, slidably, adjustably mounting said nose pad assemblies on said face bar.

9. An eyeglass frame, which comprises:

(a) a face bar with a pair of opposite ends, a front, a back, a top, and a bottom;

(b) a pair of lens subframes, each including;

(1) lens mounting means for mounting a lens;

(2) an inner side; and

(3) an outer side;

(c) a pair of nose pad assemblies each mounted on one of said face bar and a respective lens subframe in proximity to a respective lens subframe inner side;

(d) a pair of temples each mounted on a respective lens subframe outer side;

(e) adjustable lens subframe mounting means longitudinally slidably adjustably mounting said lens subframes on said face bar, said lens subframe mounting means including;

(1) channel means extends longitudinally with respect to said face bar and having opposite end portions each associated with a respective face bar end; and

(2) each said lens subframe having a guide strip longitudinally slidably received in said channel means in proximity to a respective end portion thereof;

(f) said channel means including an inner receiver and an access slot open at said face bar back, said channel access slot being cross-sectionally restricted with respect to said channel inner receiver;

(g) each said lens subframe including a guide strip connecting leg connected to said guide strip and longitudinally, slidably received in said access slot, each said guide strip having a greater height and a respective guide strip connecting leg; and

(h) said lens subframe mounting means including lens subframe locking means for locking said lens subframes on said face bar, said lens subframe locking means including;

(1) said face bar having alternating lands and grooves within said inner receiver;

(2) said guide strip having alternating lands and grooves;

(3) a slide position with respective face bar and guide strip lands and grooves disengaged; and

(4) a lock position with respective face bar and guide strip lands and grooves intermeshing.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said face bar back is crimped forwardly with said subframe mounting means in its locked position.

11. An eyeglass frame, which comprises:

(a) a face bar with a pair of opposite ends, a front, a back, a top, and a bottom;

(b) a pair of lens subframes, each including;

(1) lens mounting means for mounting a lens;

(2) an inner side; and

(3) an outer side;

(c) a pair of nose pad assemblies each mounted on one of said face bar and a respective lens subframe in proximity to a respective lens subframe inner side;

(d) a pair of temples each mounted on a respective lens subframe outer side;

(e) adjustable lens subframe mounting means longitudinally slidably adjustably mounting said lens subframe on said face bar;

(f) a pair of nose pad assemblies; and

(g) nose pad assembly mounting means for longitudinally, slidably, adjustably mounting said nose pad assemblies on said face bar, said nose pad assembly mounting means including;

(1) each said nose pad assembly having a mounting bar and an arm with an upper end connected to the mounting bar and a lower end, each said nose pad assembly further having a nose pad connected to said arm lower end; and

(2) said face bar having a longitudinally-extending receiver slidably adjustably receiving said mounting bars.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said adjustable lens subframe mounting means comprises:

(a) each said lens subframe including a longitudinally extending bore slidably, adjustably receiving a respective face bar opposite end.

13. The invention of claim 12 which includes:

(a) said face bar having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration; and

(b) each said face bar opposite end including a plurality of spaced, annular ridges.

14. An eyeglass frame, which comprises:

(a) a face bar with a pair of opposite ends, a front, a back, a top, and a bottom;

(b) a pair of lens subframes, each including;

(1) lens mounting means for mounting a lens;

said lens subframe mounting means comprising a lens retainer at least partially encircling the lens;

(2) an inner side; and

(3) an outer side;

(c) a pair of nose pad assemblies each mounted on one of said face bar and a respective lens subframe in proximity to a respective lens subframe inner side;

(d) a pair of temples each mounted on a respective lens subframe outer side;

(e) selectively adjustable lens subframe mounting means longitudinally slidably adjustably mounting said lens subframes on said face bar, said lens subframe mounting means comprising;

(1) channel means extending longitudinally with respect to said face bar and having opposite end portions each associated with a respective face bar end, said end portions being substantially longitudinally aligned with respect to each other and with respect to said face bar;

(2) said channel means including an inner receiver and an access slot open at said face bar back, said channel access slot being cross-sectionally restricted with respect to said channel inner receiver;

(3) each said lens subframe having a guide strip fixedly secured to a respective lens retainer and longitudinally slidably received in said channel means in proximity to a respective end portion thereof in an adjustably configuration of said eyeglass frame; and

(4) lens subframe locking means for locking said guide strip in said channel means in a fixed configuration of said eyeglass frame; and

(f) each said lens subframe including;

(1) a guide strip connecting leg connected to said guide strip and longitudinally, slidably received in said access slot; and

(2) each said guide strip having a greater height than a respective guide strip connecting leg.