Resilient hinge for spectacles

• US 5,959,715 A
• Filed: 10/27/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comotec SA
• Original Assignee: Chevassus S.A.
• Inventors: Jaffelin, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US08/957,932
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 351/111, 351/113, 351/114, 351/119, 351/121, 351/153, 16/228
• US Class Current: 351/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/10 Frame or frame portions made from wire
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/22 Leaf spring
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/008 Spectacles frames characterized by their material, material structure and material properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/2254 comprising elastic means other than coil spring

Abstract

The present invention relates to a resilient hinge for spectacle frames. The hinge includes an inner male or female knuckle fixed to the end of a frame lug extending in a direction and an arm substantially in the extension of the lug and abutting against the lug when the arm is in its normal open position. The inner side of the arm is connected to the knuckle by means of a rigid return device which can rotate freely about the knuckle and operating by bending. The pivot point of the return device about the swivel pin of the knuckle or the swivel pin of the knuckle itself is flowing and able to move between two extreme positions respectively corresponding to the normal open position and to an additional position in which the arm is moved beyond the normal open position. The knuckle and the end of the lug are placed side by side so as to create an outer recess, so that when the arm is moved beyond its normal open position, it rests pivotingly against the end of the lug acting as a stop, thus subjecting the return device to a bending stress, which tends to bring the arm into the normal open position.

Claims

1. A resilient hinge for spectacle frames, comprising;

an inner male or female knuckle fixed to the end of a frame lug which extends in a direction, and an arm substantially in the extension of the lug and abutting against the lug when the arm is in its normal open position, wherein the inner side of the arm is connected to the knuckle by means of a rigid return device which can rotate freely about the knuckle and operating by bending, and wherein a pivot point of the return device about the swivel pin of the knuckle or the swivel pin of the knuckle itself is flowing and able to move between two extreme positions, respectively corresponding to the normal open position and to an additional position in which the arm is moved beyond the normal open position, the knuckle and the end of the lug being placed side by side so as to create an outer recess, so that when the arm is moved beyond its normal open position, it rests pivotingly against the end of the lug acting as a stop, thus subjecting the return device to a bending stress, which tends to bring the arm into the normal open position.

2. A resilient hinge according to claim 1, wherein the return device forms a ramp and is floating about the knuckle by a pivot point, and the two extreme positions are determined by the looped shape given to the end of the return device around the swivel pin of the knuckle.

3. A resilient hinge according to claim 2, wherein the end of the return device has the form of an open loop wound around the swivel pin of the knuckle, the width of the opening of the loop being less than the diameter of the swivel pin of the knuckle.

4. A resilient hinge according to claim 3, wherein the knuckle has a form making a cam on which the arm rests when opened and closed, which defines, together with the return device, two stable rest positions, the normal open position and the closed position, respectively, where the arm is folded back against the front part of the frame.

5. A resilient hinge according to claim 3 wherein the return device is selected from the group consisting of a straight blade and an arc-shaped blade.

6. A resilient hinge according to claim 3, wherein in the normal open position, there is substantially perfect continuity between the arm and the lug.

7. A resilient hinge according to claim 2, wherein the end of the return device has the form of a closed loop wound around the swivel pin of the knuckle.

8. A resilient hinge according to claim 7, wherein the knuckle has a form making a cam on which the arm rests when opened and closed, which defines, together with the return device, two stable rest positions, the normal open position and the closed position, respectively, where the arm is folded back against the front part of the frame.

9. A resilient hinge according to claim 7 wherein the return device is selected from the group consisting of a straight blade and an arc-shaped blade.

10. A resilient hinge according to claim 7, wherein in the normal open position, there is substantially perfect continuity between the arm and the lug.

11. A resilient hinge according to claim 2, wherein the knuckle has a form making a cam on which the arm rests when opened and closed, which defines, together with the return device, two stable rest positions, the normal open position and the closed position, respectively, where the arm is folded back against the front part of the frame in a closed position.

12. A resilient hinge according to claim 2 wherein the return device is selected from the group consisting of a straight blade and an arc-shaped blade.

13. A resilient hinge according to claim 2, wherein in the normal open position, there is substantially perfect continuity between the arm and the lug.

14. A resilient hinge according to claim 1, wherein the swivel pin of the knuckle which is floating and the two extreme positions are defined by a slot making a ramp, provided in the knuckle.

15. A resilient hinge according to claim 14, wherein the slot is inclined in relation to the axis of the lug at an angle of between about 0°

and 60°

.

16. A resilient hinge according to claim 14 wherein the return device comprises a rod folded into two sections, the elbowed ends of which are closed and are formed as a swivel pin of the hinge for the knuckle.

17. A resilient hinge according to claim 16, wherein in the normal open position, there is substantially perfect continuity between the arm and the lug.

18. A resilient hinge according to claim 14, wherein the knuckle has a form making a cam on which the arm rests when opened and closed, which defines, together with the return device, two stable rest positions, the normal open position and the closed position, respectively, where the arm is folded back against the front part of the frame.

19. A resilient hinge according to claim 14 wherein the return device is selected from the group consisting of a straight blade and an arc-shaped blade.

20. A resilient hinge according to claim 14 wherein the return device comprises a rod folded into two sections, the elbowed ends of which are closed and are formed as a swivel pin of the hinge for the knuckle.

21. A resilient hinge according to claim 14, wherein in the normal open position, there is substantially perfect continuity between the arm and the lug.

22. A resilient hinge according to claim 1, wherein the knuckle has a form making a cam on which the arm rests when opened and closed, which defines, together with the return device, two stable rest positions, the normal open position and the closed position, respectively, where the arm is folded back against the front part of the frame in a closed position.

23. A resilient hinge according to claim 22 wherein the return device is selected from the group consisting of a straight blade and an arc-shaped blade.

24. A resilient hinge according to claim 22, wherein in the normal open position, there is substantially perfect continuity between the arm and the lug.

25. A resilient hinge according to claim 1 wherein the return device is selected from the group consisting of a straight blade and an arc-shaped blade.

26. A resilient hinge according to claim 1, wherein in the normal open position, there is substantially perfect continuity between the arm and the lug.