Spectacles with a pivotable and translatable temple arm

• US 6,679,604 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nelson David Bove, Steven Benjamin Walmsley
• Original Assignee: Nelson David Bove, Steven Benjamin Walmsley
• Inventors: Bove, Nelson David, Walmsley, Steven Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US10/219,259
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 381/153, 381/41, 162/28
• US Class Current: 351/153
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/22 Hinges pivotal connection in general F16C11/00

Abstract

Spectacles having a lens frame and a temple arm attached to the lens frame. Means are provided for pivotably and translatably mounting the temple arm to the lens frame such that the temple arm and lens frame are relatively pivotable with respect to one another and the temple arm and lens frame are relatively translatable with respect to one another.

Claims

1. Spectacles comprising:

a lens frame;

a temple arm attached to said lens frame; and

means for pivotably and translatably mounting said temple arm to said lens frame, said temple arm and said lens frame being relatively pivotable with respect to one another, said temple arm and said lens frame being relatively translatable with respect to one another, wherein said temple arm and said lens frame translate with respect to each other into a locked position wherein at least a portion of said temple arm is biased toward said lens frame.

2. The spectacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for pivotably and translatable mounting comprises a hinge pivot extending through at least a portion of said lens frame and through at least a portion of said temple arm.

3. The spectacles as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for pivotably and translatably mounting further comprises a void in one of said lens frame and said temple member, said void having one end and an opposite end, said temple member and said lens frame being relatively pivotable with respect to one another about said hinge pivot when said hinge pivot is positioned substantially at said one end of said void, said temple member and said lens frame being relatively translatable with respect to one another along the longitudinal direction said void, said temple member and said lens frame occupying said locked position when said hinge pivot is positioned substantially at said opposite end of said void under a detent condition.

4. The spectacles as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hinge pivot is mounted to said lens frame and further wherein said temple member comprises said void.

5. Spectacles comprising

a lens frame;

a temple arm attached to said lens frame;

an elongated void in at least one of said lens frame and said temple arm, said elongated void partially defined by a pivot end and a lock end oppositely disposed of said pivot end; and

a hinge pivot in at least one of said lens frame and said one end of said temple arm, said temple arm and said lens frame being relatively pivotable with respect to one another about said hinge pivot between an substantially open position and a closed position inclusive when said hinge pivot is positioned substantially at said one end of said elongated void, said temple member and said lens frame being relatively translatable with respect to one another along the longitudinal direction said elongated void, said temple member and said lens frame being translatable with respect to one another into a locked position when said hinge pivot is positioned substantially at said opposite end of said elongated void.

6. The spectacles as claimed in claim 5, wherein a portion of said temple arm jams between a portion of said lens frame and said hinge pivot to establish said locked position.

7. The spectacles as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elongated void is partly defined by a projection of said temple arm, said projection providing a detent behind which said hinge pivot becomes trapped to establish said locked position.

8. The spectacles as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lock end of said elongated void is smaller than said pivot end of said elongated void so as to frictionally engage said hinge pivot in detent to establish said locked position.

9. The spectacles as claimed in claim 5, wherein a portion of said temple arm jams between said a portion of said lens frame and said hinge pivot, and further wherein said opposite end of said elongated void is smaller than said pivot end of said elongated void so as to frictionally engage said hinge pivot in detent to establish said locked position.

10. The spectacles as claimed in claim 5, wherein said temple arm further comprises an ear portion biased toward said lens frame when said temple arm and said lens frame occupy said locked position.

11. The spectacles as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ear portion of said temple arm is biased directly against said lens frame.

12. The spectacles as claim in claim 5, wherein said hinge pivot comprises a hinge pivot mounted into at least one of said temple arm and said lens frame.

13. The spectacles as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hinge pivot comprises a hinge pivot integrally formed into one of said temple arm and said lens frame.

14. The spectacles as claimed in claim 5, wherein said spectacles is effective for clipping an article between said temple member and said lens frame.

15. Spectacles comprising:

a lens frame having shoulder with a hinge pivot extending at least partially therethrough; and

a temple arm having a pivot end mounted to said shoulder of said lens frame, said pivot end of said temple arm having a slot therein, said slot being defined by a pivot end and a lock end generally opposite said pivot end, said temple arm being pivotable between a substantially open position and a closed position inclusive when said pivot end of said slot is aligned with said hinge pivot, said temple arm and said lens frame being translatable with respect to one another when said temple arm is substantially in said closed position, wherein said hinge pivot is relatively translatable into said lock end of said slot such that said temple arm and said lens frame occupy a locked position with respect to one another.

16. The spectacles as claimed in claim 15, wherein a portion of said temple arm jams between a portion of said lens frame and said hinge pivot to establish said locked position.

17. The spectacles as claimed in claim 16, wherein said slot is arcuately shaped and is partly defined by a projection of said temple arm, said projection providing a detent behind which said hinge pivot becomes trapped to maintain said locked position.

18. The spectacles as claimed in claim 15, wherein said lock end of said slot is smaller than said pivot end of said slot so as to frictionally engage said hinge pivot in detent to establish said locked position.

19. The spectacles as claimed in claim 15, wherein said temple arm includes an ear portion, said ear portion being biased directly against said lens frame, whereby said spectacles is effective for clipping an article between said temple member and said lens frame.