MONTURE DE LUNETTES COMPORTANT AU MOINS UN ORGANE FONCTIONNEL

SPECTACLE FRAME WITH AT LEAST ONE FUNCTIONAL BODY

FIELD GENERAL FOR TECHNICAL AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates to the field of spectacle frames and, in particular, frames called "ringed" around the peripheral edge of the glasses.

Conventionally, a pair of eyeglasses consists of a spectacle frame in which are mounted sunglasses, view or fancy. The spectacle frame comprises a main frame adapted to receive said lenses, and two arms mounted at the lateral ends of said main frame. Each branch is connected to the main frame via a hinge which allows mainly to expand / collapse the branch. In addition, the main frame comprises a nose bridge on which are mounted the nose pads adapted to improve the comfort of the user when wearing the frame. In practice, the nose bridge is formed in the same material as the main frame, in particular acetate, while the nose pads are made of another material and adhesively secured by different more or less long and binding processes.

Given the large number of components, a spectacle frame is long and complex to be assembled by a manufacturer or an optician, which increases the cost. In addition, an eyeglass frame being a fashion accessory, it is necessary to design a variety of frame styles to satisfy all the desires of the users, which has another disadvantage.

The invention therefore aims to remedy at least some of these drawbacks by proposing a new mount, the assembly is easy and whose appearance can be adapted conveniently while having a reduced manufacturing cost.

OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a spectacle frame having a main frame comprising two apertures adapted to receive respectively two lenses, at least one opening comprising an inner peripheral edge adapted to cooperate with an outer peripheral edge of a glass, the eyeglass frame comprising at least one functional member. The frame is characterized in that the inner peripheral edge of said opening has at least one housing in which is mounted said operating member, said operating member being configured to be locked in position by said glass during the glass assembly in said opening. By functional element is meant any member suitable for being connected to said main frame in order to perform a function, in particular, a branch, a nose pad support, an additional face to the main frame, a chip timing, etc.

Thus, just a single mounting step to lock in position and the glass / functional members, thereby significantly limit of a frame assembly time. In addition, the functional member is mounted in a natural manner without the use of fixing insert. Advantageously, the main part has a function of "tool carrier" and is used to connect a simple manner a large number and a wide variety of functional organs.

Preferably, said functional member is detachably mounted in said housing. We can evolve the aesthetics and ergonomics (sizes and shapes of functional units) of a spectacle frame in time. In addition, the mounting of the functional member is fast and does not require a gluing / sealing step.

Advantageously, the use of a functional member of the timing chip type adjusts the mounting game when the opening of the main frame is too large relative to the dimensions of the glass. Using a thicker functional body changes the glass from the peripheral edge and allows editing. In the prior art, it was necessary to manufacture new glass of appropriate dimensions, which presented an additional cost. Preferably, said functional member comprising an attachment portion adapted to be mounted in said housing, the attachment portion comprises a closing face adapted to ensure the continuity of the peripheral edge of the opening when the fastening part is mounted in its housing .

With the closure face, the opening of the frame is similar to that of a traditional frame when the attachment portion is mounted in the slot. An optician can then mount the traditional way glass, which is advantageous. Preferably, said inner peripheral edge of the opening having a main groove, the closing face comprises an auxiliary groove. Thus, the glass is held securely in a peripheral groove.

Preferably, the grooves are aligned to form a continuous overall groove similar to a mounting groove of a frame according to the prior art.

Preferably, the attachment portion of the functional member and said housing have complementary shapes so as to limit the play and facilitate assembly.

Preferably, the attachment portion has a circular or dovetail but it is understood that other cross-sectional shapes could be used.

According to one aspect of the invention, the inner peripheral edge of the opening comprises at least two recesses in which are respectively mounted two functional elements, preferably, a plate member and a leg member. Preferably, the inner peripheral edge of the opening has only two housings. According to one aspect of the invention, each aperture has an inner peripheral edge having at least a housing in which is mounted a functional organ. Thus, all of the frame openings can be equipped with a functional organ. The main frame has a rear face intended to face towards the user and a front face opposite the rear face. Preferably, said functional member is adapted to be mounted in the rear housing toward the front. Thus, a simple translation to mount a functional member. The complementary shapes of the fastening portion of the functional member and said housing can maintain stable operating member into its housing prior to its locking by the glass.

According to one aspect of the invention, said housing is traversing back and forth. Thus, the functional body is visible on the front of the frame, which can help improve the aesthetics.

According to another aspect of the invention, said housing has an abutment front wall adapted to block said functional member. Thus, the attachment portion of the functional element is hidden by the abutment wall, only the frame is visible on the front panel. Such abutment wall is advantageous for limiting the translation of the functional element during its assembly in the housing.

Preferably, said functional member comprises an abutment portion adapted to come into abutment with the main frame during mounting of said functional member. Such an abutment portion is advantageous for limiting the translation of the functional member when the housing is through.

In one aspect, said functional element is a leg member. Thus, the branch can be mounted to the main frame as a modular component, which allows to freely choose its form, color and size.

According to another aspect, said functional member is a support member of nose pad. Thus, the wafer carrier can be mounted to the main frame as a modular component, which allows free choice of shape, color and size. Advantageously, it is not necessary to secure the welding nose pads as in the prior art, which presents a significant time savings. The invention further concerns a pair of glasses comprising a mount such as presented above and at least one lens mounted in said opening and locking in position said functional member. The invention also relates to a method for mounting at least one lens in a spectacle frame as set forth above, the method comprising:

- a step of inserting the functional member in said inner peripheral edge of the housing of said opening; and

- a step of mounting a glass in said opening to lock said operating member in position.

Thanks to the invention, just a single mounting step to lock in position and the glass / functional members (branch nose pad support, etc.), which allows to significantly limit the time mounting of a frame

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be better understood from reading the following description given purely by way of example, and referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a spectacle frame according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a closer view of a support member of the nose pad;

- Figures 3A-3B are sectional views of mounting the nose pad supporting member in a main frame;

Figure 4 is a closer view of a leg member;

Figures 5A-5B are sectional views of the mounting of the leg support member in a main frame;

- Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a portion for attaching a leg member;

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment for mounting a functional element in a main frame housing; - Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a second form of mounting a functional element in a main frame housing;

- Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment for mounting a functional element in a main frame housing; and - Figure 10 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment for mounting a functional element in a main housing frame.

Note that the figures expose the detailed invention to implement the invention, said figures can of course be used to better define the invention if necessary.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a rimmed frame 1 comprising a main frame 2 comprising two housing 3 adapted to receive lenses respectively 4. In this example, each aperture 3 has an inner peripheral edge 30 adapted to cooperate with an edge outer peripheral of a glass 4. such an opening is also known to those skilled in the art under the designation strapping. Still referring to Figure 1, the frame 1 comprises two leg members 5 and 6 two nose pad support members which are designated subsequently, functional members. For brevity, the nose pad support 6 bodies are designated to as "wafer bodies 6". In this embodiment, the inner peripheral edge 30 of each aperture 3 has two slots 31 in which are mounted two functional elements, in particular, a branch member 5 and a plate member 6. The functional members 5, 6 are configured to be locked in position when mounting a glass 4 in the opening 3 as will be discussed subsequently.

In this example, the functional units 5, 6 are removably mounted in order to be replaced by simple and convenient way to change the mount over time. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the functional units 5, 6 may be permanently mounted, for example, by use of glue, mounting the glass 4 to secure the assembly.

Thanks to the invention, the frame 1 has a modular structure comprising a plurality of independent components (main frame 2, leg members 5, wafer members 6, etc.). Also, if one has a collection of main frames 2, a collection of bodies branch 5 and pads 6 members, can be assembled a frame 1 of original aesthetic appearance by combining several of said components collections.

In addition, the frame assembly 1 is very simple to achieve since the mounting of the glasses 4 to lock the functional members 5, 6 concomitantly. Advantageously, mounting the glasses 4 is similar to the prior art and can be carried out quickly and conveniently by opticians.

The various components of the spectacle frame 1 will now be presented in detail.

In this example, still referring to Figure 1, the main part 2 has two openings 3 adapted to receive glasses 4. The main frame 2 is in this example made of acetate but it is understood that other materials could be suitable in particular, any metal or plastic material. As illustrated in Figure 1, the main frame 2 is substantially planar but it goes without saying that it could be different, in particular curved.

In known manner, the main frame 2 has a rear face intended to face towards the user and a front face opposite the rear face. The terms "rear" and "front" will be used subsequently in accordance with this definition. Each opening 3 comprises an inner 30 adapted to cooperate with an outer peripheral edge peripheral edge of a glass 4. In this example, still referring to Figure 1, the inner peripheral edge 30 includes a main groove 32 to enable to lock a glass 4 stably in the holder 1. Preferably, the main groove 32 has a section having a V-shape to facilitate the glass assembly 4. However, it is obvious that the groove section 32 could have a different shape.

As indicated above, each inner peripheral edge 30 comprises two recesses 31 in which are mounted two functional members 5, 6. In other words, the housing 31 form discontinuities in the inner peripheral edge 30. As a result, the groove 32 the peripheral edge 30 also includes internal discontinuities. Advantageously, when the functional units 5, 6 are introduced into the housing 31, the peripheral edge 30 is again continuously as will be discussed subsequently.

In this example, each aperture 3 has a housing 31 at its outer side end for mounting a leg member 5 and a housing 31 at its inner side end for mounting a plate member 6 as shown in FIG 1.

It goes without saying that the housing 31 can be placed at other locations of the peripheral edge of the opening so as to form the original frames. In this example, with reference to Figures 2 to 5A-5B, each housing 31 is open from the rear so as to enable mounting a functional element 5, 6 in a housing 31 by translation from the rear to the before. Such an arrangement is simple to achieve in a short time. In particular, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 5A, each housing 31 is passing through from front to back. Thus, when a functional element 5, 6 is mounted in a housing 31 thereof is visible on the front face of the main frame 2 as shown in Figure 1. In other words, the functional elements 5, 6 can participate in improving the visual appearance of a frame 1.

According to another embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 3B and 5B, a housing 31 may comprise an abutment front wall 33 adapted for locking said operation member 5, 6 at its forward translation. Such abutment wall 33 also helps to hide the functional element 5, 6 when located in its housing 31. In other words, when a functional element 5, 6 is mounted in a housing 31 having an abutment wall 33, the latter is not visible on the front face of the main frame 2 of the frame 1.

Any type of glass 4 can be used in said frame 1 in particular, a corrective lens, tinted or fancy or a lens. Each glass 4 has an outer peripheral edge, preferably beveled as shown in Figures 3A-3B and 5A-5B in order to cooperate with the groove 32 of the openings 3 of the frame 1.

In this example, each functional member 5, 6 comprises an attachment portion 7 intended to be housed in a housing 31. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 5A-5B, the attachment portion 7 of a functional element 5, 6 has a shape complementary to the housing 31 in which it is mounted in order to facilitate its insertion and allow accurate mounting, that is i.e., devoid of functional play likely to generate vibration. Preferably, a mortise and tenon connection between the functional element 5, 6 and the housing 31 is particularly suited and simple to implement.

As illustrated in Figures 7 to 10, the attachment portion 7 of a functional element 5, 6 may have a shape of tenon and mortise (Figure 7), half of the tenon and mortice (Figure 8), dovetail ( Figure 9) or T-shaped (Figure 10). Nevertheless, it is obvious that other shapes could be used.

Preferably, with reference to Figures 2 to 6, the attachment portion 7 has a closure face 70 adapted to ensure the continuity of the peripheral edge 30 of the opening 3 when the fixing part 7 is mounted in its housing 31. The closure face 70 is preferably curved to match the shape of the outer peripheral edge of the glass 4.

In addition, preferably, as shown in Figure 6, the closure face 70 has an auxiliary groove 71 to cooperate with the outer peripheral edge of the lens 4. Preferably, the auxiliary groove 71 of the closure face 70 s extends in the extension of the main groove 32 of the inner peripheral edge 30 of the opening 3 to form an overall peripheral groove in which can be mounted crystal 4 as illustrated in Figure 7. preferably, in reference to figures 3A , 3B, each functional member 5, 6 comprises an abutting portion 8 adapted to abut against the rear face of the main frame 2 in order to limit the displacement of the fixing portion 7 at its forward translation in the housing 31.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3A-3B, the wafer members 6 each have a fixing portion 7. Said attachment portions 7 are respectively inserted into the housings 31 located at the inner side ends of the openings 3. Each plate member 6 comprises further a nose pad. Similarly, with reference to Figures 4 and 5A-5B, the leg members 5 each comprise a fixing part 7. Said attachment portions 7 are respectively inserted into the housings 31 located at the outer side ends of the openings 3. Each member branch 5 further comprises a hinge to allow the folding of the leg. Advantageously, thanks to the invention, the main frame 2 does not necessarily have a support post branches as in the prior art, reducing the manufacturing cost.

Preferably, one can have a collection of branch members 5 and 6 plate bodies of shapes, sizes and different aspects in order to adapt to the morphology and aesthetic preferences of each user.

It was introduced functional organs in the form of a branch member 5 and an insert member 6 but it is obvious that the functional bodies could be of different kinds. For example, a functional member may be in the form of a support member adapted to connect auxiliary components on the front face of the main frame 2, for example, conventional or special sunscreens, professional filters or specific leisure, a small-sized camera, microphone, lighting means (LED, etc.), nasal or temporal protection against the sun (glasses for glacier). In other words, in the manner of a tool holder, the support member used to connect various auxiliary components, preferably in a removable manner. For this purpose, the additional element has a front portion comprising attachment means extending over the front face of the main frame 2 and a rear portion forming the attachment portion, which is clamped between the glass 4 and the peripheral edge 30 of the opening 3. the fixing means of the support member may be mechanical but also magnetic.

A functional member may also be in the form of a dunnage pad adapted to make up an excessive fitting clearance between a glass 4 and the opening 3 for receiving the glass 4. Thus, when the opening 3 machined in the main frame 2 is greater than the glass 4 that is to be received, it suffices to use a pellet of timing between the edge of the opening 3 and the glass 4 to make up any assembly clearance and allow optimum fitting . It is thus no longer necessary to make a new drink 4 adapted to the dimensions of the opening 3.

A lens mounting method 4 in the glasses frame 1 will now be presented. In this exemplary implementation, an optician selects first of all the components of the frame 1 that will be assembled, i.e., the main frame 2, the organs of branch 5 and the wafer 6 bodies. it goes without saying that the leg members 5 or the plate members 6 of the same frame 1 may be the same or different. Advantageously, the nose pads plates, used in the case of high myopia, can be integrated into any type of main frame 2.

Then, the optician inserts each functional member 5, 6 in the housing 31 of the openings 3. For this purpose, it translates the fixing portions 7 of the leg 5 members from the rear forwards into the housing 31 located at outer side ends of the openings 3 of the main frame 2. in the mounted position, the closing face 70 of the attachment portion 7 extends in continuity with the inner peripheral edge 30 of the opening 3 in which it is mounted as shown in figures 4 and 5A-5B. The plate members 6 are similarly mounted in the housing 31 located at the inner side ends of the openings 3.

Once the functional units 5, 6 mounted, the inner peripheral edge 30 of each aperture 3 is continuous. In this example, it further comprises a comprehensive peripheral groove which is formed in part in the main frame 2 and partly on the closing faces 70 of the functional elements 5, 6.

The optician then performs a step of mounting a glass 4 in the opening 30 to lock said functional units 5, 6 mounted in said opening 30. The mounting of the glass 4 is made similarly to the prior art, which is convenient. The second glass 4 is mounted in the frame in a similar manner.

Thanks to the invention, a pair of personalized glasses can be mounted quickly and conveniently by an optician. The cost of a mount is limited while maximizing customization possibilities.

The invention has been presented for a main frame having openings with a peripheral edge formed in the main frame, but the invention also applies to a main frame called "half-moon" in which the aperture is formed in part by a stretched cable, in particular nylon.