Adjustable anatomical spectacle framework systems and methods

• US 5,323,189 A
• Filed: 10/20/1992
• Issued: 06/21/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Occm Expansion Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Occm Expansion Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Contreras, Oscar F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARSONS, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/963,879
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/42, 351/107, 351/111, 351/115, 351/116, 351/118, 351/119, 351/120, 351/124, 351/128, 351/158, 351/227
• US Class Current: 351/118
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 13/001 Assembling; Repairing
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/10 Frame or frame portions made from wire
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/045 for varying the horizontal distance of the lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/146 having special front end
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/20 adjustable, e.g. telescopic

Abstract

Adjustable pairs of eyeglasses are disclosed which retain the precise adjustments during long periods of wear. Apparatus and methods are provided for so adjusting rim separation at the bridge of the frame of the eyeglasses and for so adjusting the effective length of temples between shoulders and bow of the frame. Two embodiments of a special tool used in the adjustment processes is also provided

Claims

1. An adjustable pair of eyeglasses comprising:

a pair of lens frames of opposite hand separated from one another at those portions of said frames which would normally form the bridge of the eyeglasses;

an adjustable coupler for joining said pair of lens frames at the bridge, said coupler comprising;

first and second inserts, each insert securely affixed to one of the lens frames at a bridge site juxtaposed the other insert;

means which threadably attach to each said first and second insert for symmetrically and precisely adjusting spatial separation of said frames, one relative to the other;

means which glide within each first and second insert for maintaining a fixed spatial orientation of one of said frames relative to the other as the coupler is adjusted;

wherein said means for symmetrically and precisely adjusting comprises a part interposed between the first and second inserts which rotates in one direction to increase the separation of the pair of lens frames and rotates in the opposite direction to decrease separation of the pair of lens frames and a tool for rotating said part.

2. An adjustable pair of eyeglasses according to claim 1 wherein said eyeglasses comprise holder means for concealably retaining said special tool on said frame for facile acquisition.

3. An adjustable pair of eyeglasses according to claim 1 wherein said interposed part comprises at least one transversely disposed aperture which receives the tool to accommodate precise rotation from one stable eyeglass separation state to another stable eyeglass separation state.

4. An adjustable pair of eyeglasses comprising:

a pair of lens frames of opposite hand separated from one another at those portions of said frames which would normally form the bridge of the eyeglasses;

an adjustable coupler for joining said pair of lens frames at the bridge, said coupler comprising;

first and second inserts, each insert securely affixed to one of the lens frames at a bridge site juxtaposed the other insert;

means which threadably attach to each said first and second insert for symmetrically and precisely adjusting spatial separation of said frames, one relative to the other;

means which glide within each first and second insert for maintaining a fixed spatial orientation of one of said frames relative to the other as the coupler is adjusted;

wherein said coupler comprises a frangible assembly tab temporarily employed as a stabilizing implement prior to use and broken away and discarded at the time of initial use.

5. An adjustable coupler for joining a pair of lens frames at an eyeglass frame bridge, said coupler comprising;

a pair of inserts, each insert securely affixed to one of the pair of lens frames at a site juxtaposed the other insert at the bridge;

means which threadably attach to each said insert for symmetrically and precisely adjusting and securely affixing spatial separation of said frames, one relative to the other;

means which slidably glide within each insert for maintaining a fixed spatial orientation of one of said lens frames relative to the other as the coupler is adjusted;

a frangible assembly tab temporarily employed as a stabilizing implement prior to use and broken away and discarded at the time of initial use.

6. A method for precisely joining two eyeglass frame members of opposite hand together in a manually adjustable relationship comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of lens frames of opposite hand separated from one another at those portions of said frames which would normally form the bridge of the eyeglasses;

providing a coupler comprising a first coupler insert and a second coupler insert;

inserting into a first of said lens frames, the first coupler insert at a first predetermined bridge site;

installing means which threadably attach to each said first and second insert for symmetrically and precisely adjusting spatial separation of said frames, one relative to the other;

introducing into each insert means which glide within each first and second coupler insert for maintaining a fixed spatial orientation of one of said frames relative to the other as the coupler is adjusted;

using a tool to rotate the spatial separation adjusting means in a predetermined direction to precisely adjust said joined eyeglass frame members relative to each other to a first desired separation.

7. A method according to claim 6 comprising the additional step of using the tool to rotate the spatial separation adjusting means in another predetermined direction to precisely adjust the joined eyeglass frame members to a second desired separation of one frame member relative to the other frame member.

8. A method for precisely joining an eyeglass frame member to a temple member in a manually adjustable relationship comprising the steps of:

providing a lens frames separated from the temple member at a shoulder of the lens frame;

providing a coupler comprising a first coupler insert and a second coupler insert;

inserting into the lens frames at a site juxtaposed the shoulder a first coupler insert at a predetermined site;

inserting into a site for juxtaposed connection with said first coupler insert, a second coupler insert into the temple member;

installing means which threadably attach to each said first and second inserts for symmetrically and precisely adjusting spatial separation of said shoulder and said temple member, one relative to the other;

introducing into each insert means which glide within each first and second insert for maintaining a fixed spatial orientation of one of said frames relative to the other as the coupler is adjusted;

using a tool to rotate the spatial separation adjusting means in a predetermined direction to adjust said joined shoulder and temple member relative to each other to a first desired separation and therefore effective length of said temple member to an auricular site.

9. A method according to claim 8 comprising the additional step of using the tool to rotate the spatial separation adjusting means in another predetermined direction to adjust the joined shoulder and temple member relative to each other to a second desired separation.

10. A method according to claim 8 comprising the additional step of acquiring the tool from a holder on the frame.

11. A method for providing a precisely and stably manually adjusted pair of eyeglasses comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of eyeglasses comprising means for manually precisely and stably adjusting the separation of one rim of the frame of said eyeglasses relative to the other rim of the frame the eyeglasses at the bridge of the eyeglasses and a breakaway tab which hides the adjusting means from view and use;

providing a tool for adjusting the adjusting means;

removing the breakaway tab to reveal and provide access to the adjusting means;

using the tool to act upon the adjusting means to precisely manually increase or decrease the separation of the rims;

when the precise adjustment has been accomplished, removing the tool, thereby leaving the rims and associated frame of the eyeglasses in a precisely adjusted and stable wearing and use orientation.

12. A method according to claim 11 comprising the additional steps of:

providing a means for precisely and stably adjusting the distance of a bow of a temple of said eyeglasses relative to a rim of the frame;

removing any breakaway tab to provide access to the bow distance adjusting means;

using the tool to act upon the bow distance adjusting means to precisely manually increase or decrease the separation of the bow from the rim;

when the precise adjustment of the bow relative to the rim has been accomplished, removing the tool, thereby leaving the relative distance of the bow to the rim in a precisely adjusted and stable wearing and use orientation.

13. A method of forming a precisely adjustable stable eyeglass frame comprising the steps of:

providing a mold for the eyeglass frame comprising at least one means for incorporating at least means for manually expanding a portion of the frame as part of the molded product;

providing the at least one expansion member which accommodates precise and stable expansion and contraction of said portion of said frame;

molding said frame;

concurrent with the molding of said frame, molding a breakaway tab about said at least one expansion member to limit access and operation of said frame portion expanding means until distributed for use.

14. An adjustable pair of eyeglasses comprising:

a pair of lens-carrying frame members of opposite hand separated from one another by an adjustable bridge coupling member;

each frame member comprising bore receptacle structure comprising a threaded bore, the two threaded bores being oppositely threaded and aligned with each other;

the adjustable bridge coupling member comprising shaft structure comprising oppositely directed threads at oppositely extending shaft ends, the two threaded shaft ends oppositely threadedly engaging the threads of the threaded bores respectively such that rotation of the shaft structure in one direction turns each threaded shaft end into the associated frame member threaded bore to shorten the bridge distance between the frame members and rotation of the shaft structure in a second direction turns each threaded shaft end out of the associated threaded frame member threaded bore to lengthen the bridge distance between the frame member;

the adjustable bridge coupling member further comprising guide and support structure located adjacent to the shaft structure and comprising opposite ends which are respectively oppositely and reciprocably disposed within the two bore receptacle structures;

at least one frame member comprising two parts interconnected by length adjustable structure, the length adjustable structure comprising a threaded shaft structure which turns into and out of threaded bores in the two parts to shorten and lengthen the frame member, the length adjustable structure further comprising guide and support structure disposed adjacent the threaded shaft structure and comprises opposite ends respectively oppositely and reciprocably disposed in the two parts.