Spring temple for eyewear

• US 5,666,181 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luxottica Leasing S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Conway, Simon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US08/631,769
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 351/119, 351/118, 351/111, 351/113, 351/115, 351/114, 351/121, 351/158, 351/41
• US Class Current: 351/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/22 Leaf spring
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/16 resilient or with resilient parts
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2254 comprising elastic means other than coil spring

Abstract

A spring-action temple having two main front and rear temple segments. The front temple segment attaches to the eyewear front at a front end thereof and forms includes a leaf spring at the rear end thereof. The rear temple segment includes an opening at the front end thereof which forms a channel which telescopingly receives the leaf spring of the front temple segment. The front and rear temple segments pivotally attach to each other at a point adjacent the opening of the channel such that the rear temple segment may pivot further outwardly, thereby biasing the leaf spring within the channel to accommodate a larger head size while providing a secure yet comfortable fit.

Claims

1. A temple for an eyewear having a front frame, said temple comprising:

a) an elongated rear temple segment having opposite front and rear ends, said rear temple segment front end including an elongated, internal channel extending for a predetermined distance within said rear temple segment, said elongated, internal channel being defined by an inner channel wall;

b) an elongated front temple segment having opposite front and rear ends, said front temple segment front end being pivotally connected to said eyewear front frame and thereby defining a first pivot axis, said front end of said rear temple segment being pivotally connected to said rear end of said front temple segment and thereby defining a second pivot axis spaced rearwardly of said first pivot axis along said temple, said front and rear temple segments being movable together as a single unit about said first pivot axis between a closed position approximately parallel to said eyewear front frame, and a normally open position approximately perpendicular to said front frame; and

c) an elongated spring having opposite first and second ends, said spring first end attached to and extending from said front temple segment rear end, said spring second end extending within said elongated channel of said rear temple segment,

whereby said temple may be pushed further outwardly with respect to said front frame beyond said normally open position through the pivot action of said rear temple segment with respect to said front temple segment about said second pivot axis thereby causing said spring to elastically deform within said channel and biasing said rear temple segment in the inward direction, toward said front frame.

2. The temple of claim 1 wherein said spring is a leaf spring, said leaf spring and said elongated, internal channel both being arcuately shaped, said front and rear temple segments each including an inside and outside surface, said inside surfaces facing the wearer'"'"'s head upon placing the eyewear on the head.

3. The temple of claim 2 wherein said elongated, internal channel tapers gradually inwardly from said rear temple segment front end towards said rear temple segment rear end, and said leaf spring abuts said rear temple segment adjacent said outside surface of said front end of said rear temple segment.

4. The temple of claim 3 wherein a space is formed between said leaf spring second end and the end of said channel located opposite said rear temple front end when said leaf spring is unbiased, said leaf spring second end being freely movable within said channel to close said space upon said leaf spring being urged into the biased condition.

5. The temple of claim 2 wherein said pivotal connection point between said front and rear temple segments is located along said inside surfaces.

6. The temple of claim 1 wherein said spring is integrally formed with said front temple segment.

7. The temple of claim 1 wherein said spring is a cable spring.

8. The temple of claim 1 wherein said spring is a leaf spring and said rear end of said front temple segment includes first and second parallel fingers between which said first end of said leaf spring is secured.

9. The temple of claim 1 wherein said spring means is an elongated spring having first and second, opposite ends, said spring first end being secured to said rear end portion of said first temple segment adjacent said second pivot axis.

10. A temple for an eyewear having a front frame, said temple comprising:

a) a first temple segment having opposite front and rear end portions, said front end portion being pivotally connected to said front frame and thereby defining a first pivot axis;

b) a second temple segment having opposite front and rear end portions, said front end portion of said second temple segment being pivotally connected to said first temple segment adjacent said rear end portion thereof and thereby defining a second pivot axis which is substantially parallel to said first pivot axis, said first and second temple segments being movable together about said first pivot axis between a normally closed position and a normally open position with respect to said front frame; and

c) spring means secured adjacent said rear end portion of said first temple segment, said spring means being operable to bias said second temple segment in a first direction upon application of a force to said second temple segment in a second direction opposite said first direction which moves said second temple segment beyond said normally open position.

11. The temple of claim 10 wherein said spring means has first and second, opposite ends, said spring first end being fixedly secured to said rear end portion of said first temple segment.

12. The temple of claim 11 wherein said spring means is integrally formed with said first temple segment.

13. The temple segment of claim 12 wherein said spring means is a single leaf spring.

14. The temple of claim 10 wherein said spring means is removably connected to said first temple segment.

15. The temple of claim 14 wherein said rear end portion of said first temple segment includes first and second, parallel prongs between which a portion of said spring means is secured.

16. The temple of claim 10 wherein said spring means is an elongated spring having first and second, opposite ends, said spring first end being secured to said rear end portion of said first temple segment, said spring second end freely extending within a channel formed in said second temple segment beginning at said front end portion thereof.

17. The temple of claim 16 wherein said channel is defined by an inner channel wall and said second temple segment has opposite inner and outer facing surfaces which lie toward and away from the head when said eyewear is worn, respectively, a first side of a portion of said spring abutting said inner channel wall adjacent said outer facing surface when in the unbiased condition.

18. The temple of claim 17 wherein a second side of said portion opposite said first side of said spring abuts said inner channel adjacent said inner facing surface of said second temple segment when said spring is in said biased condition, and thereby defining the full pivotal movement of said second temple segment with respect to said first temple segment about said second pivot axis.

19. The temple of claim 10 wherein said spring means is a cable spring.

20. The temple of claim 10 wherein said front end portion of said first temple segment forms a positive stop with said front frame to define said normally open position of said temple.

21. The temple of claim 10 and further comprising a connecting member which interconnects said front end of said first temple segment to said front frame.