Spring hinge for eyewear

This application constitutes a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/909,618 Aug. 12, 1997, now abandoned which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/098,121 Jul. 27, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,107 and discloses further modifications and improvements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a spring hinge for eyewear, that enables to open the temples of eyeglasses beyond the regular position of use and that is intended for use with the temples of eyeglasses with the characteristics set forth in the introductory clause of claim 1.

2. Description of the Related Art

From patent EP 90 107 388 are known spring hinges for eyewear that allow the opening of the temples beyond the regular position of use and that are intended for use with the temples of eyeglasses. Such a hinge spring is provided with a locking element having a U-shaped cross section, presenting a projection on the first of its legs on its free end toward the outside, in which the locking element is lodged in a sliding element and in a first recess of same in such a manner, that its two legs point away from the axis of the hinge. The locking element abuts in a spring-loaded manner the shoulder of a second recess with its projection, thus constituting a stop for a spring plunger.

Furthermore, from GB-2 248 121 A is known a spring hinge for eyewear, in which a cylindrical locking element is provided with a circular shoulder, wherein the locking element is diametrically divided by a slot. The shoulder engages in a recess provided in the temple of the glasses.

A disadvantage of such a design of the spring hinge is that the locking effect by the locking element can be obtained only by a spring tension acting upon the locking element, since the locking element is spread by the spring itself or by a spring plunger. A further disadvantage is that a spring guide pin must preload the required spring to ensure that the locking effect is attained. This, in turn, has the disadvantage that the assembly is relatively costly and difficult.

The present invention has the task to further develop the known hinge, so that an interlocking of the locking element with the frame is automatically attained.

In accordance with the invention, this task is solved by the object of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are objects of the subclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The spring hinge according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the locking element presents at least one snap-in pin bent in direction of the wall of the recess. Because of the bent, spring snap-in pin occurs an automatic locking of the snap-in pin in the stepped recess. Therefore, no additional preloading is required, which reduces the assembly costs.

In the case of a locking element designed in one piece, the snap-in pin or the snap-in pins can be produced at the same time as the locking element is prepared and/or manufactured. Therefore, the manufacture of the snap-in pin together with the locking element does not require any additional components that must be connected to the locking element.

In the case of a locking element that presents a top from which extend the snap-in pins, and in which a sliding element is installed in a slidable manner between the snap-in pins, on one hand, such locking element ensures the locking and, on the other hand, the locking element itself guides the sliding element.

Therefore, the locking element has two operational functions. This design of the locking element minimizes the number of elements making up the spring hinge.

If the locking element is designed in such a manner that it presents a recess into which the snap-in pin can be lowered, the dimensions of the locking element or of the recess in the temple of the glasses, respectively, are reduced, since the snap-in pin is lowered into the recess at the time of its assembly, and it snaps into the second recess after having reached it from the recess in the locking element.

The snap-in pin or snap-in pins, respectively, can be produced from a lamina, that is a stamped metal part. This design has the advantage that the locking element can be manufactured in a simple manner, which makes it cost-effective. The snap-in pins are then bent away from the lamina. The bending angle is less than 90°.

In order to prevent the danger of breaking, it is advantageous if the locking element is made out of a T-shaped blank, whereby the top of the T-shaped blank is bent partly cylindrically. This has the advantage that, e.g., in the case of spring hinges with a recess in which is installed a spring guide pin, the spring guide pin extends along the cylindrical part of the locking element, which would obviate the need of manufacturing an opening for the spring guide pin.

The two legs of the T-shaped blank are advantageously designed at a angle to each other. After the blank is bent, a locking element with a slot for a guide pin. The slot is of such dimensions, that the locking element rests with play on the guide pin. The bent locking element presents a tilted plane opposite the longitudinal axis of the spring hinge, so that, because of the effect of a spring resistance, the snap-in pin engages into the recess.

Prior art spring hinged eye glasses or spectacles have the disadvantage that the spring is fully compressed when the bows are spread apart substantially beyond their normal position. This extended out-turning of the bows can result in damage of the spring or other parts of the spring hinge.

The prior art structures use stops which limit the outward movement of the bow beyond a normal position. Such structure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,258 and in German Utility Model G11417. For example, in the German Utility Model there is disclosed an external stop for preventing excessive outward movement of the bow. The difficulty with this construction utilizing an external stop is that a manufacturer is not able to guarantee the proper function, since the function mostly depends on the work of the frame manufacturer who links the middle part or frame and the bow by the spring hinge.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,258 the spring hinge disclosed uses an internal stop. However, this solution is complicated and requires a number of additional parts. It lacks simplicity.

It is an object of the improvement here to provide a spring hinge having a stop which is easily fabricated and which enables the manufacturer to guarantee the function of the stop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The figures describe the further advantages and characteristics of the spring hinge according to the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1

shows a longitudinal view of an operable spring hinge;

FIG. 2

shows a top view of the spring hinge according to

FIG. 1

with a portion broken away;

FIG. 3

shows a longitudinal view of a second embodiment of a spring hinge;

FIG. 4

shows a top view of the spring hinge according to

FIG. 3

with a portion broken away;

FIG. 5

shows a longitudinal view of a third embodiment of an operable spring hinge;

FIG. 6

shows the top view of the spring hinge according to

FIG. 5

;

FIG. 7

shows a single-piece locking element with a snap-in pin;

FIG. 8

shows a two-piece locking element with a snap-in pin;

FIG. 9

shows a second embodiment of a two-piece locking element with a snap-in pin;

FIG. 10

shows a locking element with a snap-in pin;

FIG. 11

shows a locking element with two snap-in pins;

FIG. 12

shows a first embodiment of the blank for a locking element;

FIG. 13

shows the blank for the snap-in pin according to

FIGS. 8 and 9

;

FIG. 14

shows another embodiment of the blank for a locking element;

FIG. 15

shows a front view of a locking element according to

FIG. 14

;

FIG. 16

shows a lateral view from the left of a locking element according to

FIG. 14

;

FIG. 17

shows a top view of a spring hinge with a locking element according to

FIG. 15

;

FIG. 18

shows a front view section of the spring hinge according to

FIG. 17

;

FIG. 19

shows the view from the left of the spring hinge according to

FIG. 18

;

FIG. 20

shows a front view of another embodiment of a locking element;

FIG. 21

shows a lateral view from the left of a locking element according to

FIG. 20

;

FIGS. 22 and 23

show a partial bow, in cross-section;

FIG. 24

shows a portion of a bow;

FIG. 25

is an end view of the bow shown in

FIG. 24

;

FIG. 26

is a side view of the bow of

FIG. 24

, taken along section line A—A;

FIG. 27

is a side view of a locking element;

FIG. 28

is a rear view of the locking element of

FIG. 27

;

FIG. 29

is a bottom view of the locking element of

FIG. 27

;

FIG. 30

is a perspective view of the locking element of

FIG. 27

;

FIG. 31

is a top view in partial cross-section of a bow incorporating the locking element of

FIG. 27

;

FIG. 32

is a top view in a partial cross-section of the bow of

FIG. 31

, in a bent position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1

to

6

show a spring hinge for eyewear, that enables to open the temples beyond their regular position of use, and that is intended to be used with a temple [of eyeglasses]

1

. The temple

1

presents at its front end, closer to a center part of a frame for eyeglasses (not shown) when assembled, a first longitudinal recess

2

in which is located a second recess with a stepped rim at its end closer to the center part when assembled.

The spring hinge consists of a hinge center piece

4

that is provided to be fastened to the center part of a frame for eyewear, and of a temple hinge

5

that can be connected with the hinge center piece

4

swiveling around a hinge axis

6

.

The temple hinge

5

presents a sliding element

7

, that engages into the recess

2

. The sliding element

7

is connected with a spring guide pin

8

. This spring guide pin

8

presents a stop

9

at its end facing the sliding element

7

. The spring guide pin

8

passes through a spring

10

. A locking element

11

is provided between the sliding element

7

and the spring

10

. The locking element is provided with a through-hole

12

, through which extends the spring guide pin.

FIGS. 1 and 2

show a first embodiment of a locking element.

FIG. 11

shows the locking element by itself.

The locking element is of cylindrical shape. However, this is not absolutely necessary. It is possible to use also other geometries. The cross sectional geometry of the locking element

11

is preferably adapted to the cross sectional geometry of the recess

2

or vice-versa.

As it can be seen from

FIG. 11

, the cylindrical locking element

11

presents a top

13

provided with an axial bore hole

12

. The guide pin

8

passes through the bore hole

12

. The front plane

14

serves as limit stop for the spring

10

.

The cylindrical locking element presents a recess

15

, into which engages, at least partially, the sliding element

7

. The recess

15

, of essentially rectangular cross section, of which the geometry is adapted to the sliding element

7

, forms two outwardly bent snap-in pins

16

that extend in axial direction from the head. These snap-in pins are spring mounted.

The spring hinge is assembled in such a manner that the locking element

11

is placed on the temple hinge

5

with its sliding element

7

. Subsequently, the spring guide pin

8

with the spring

10

and the stop

9

is connected to the sliding element

7

. This connection can be obtained, e.g., by means of a screw connection, for which a taphole can provide in the sliding element, while the spring guide pin

8

presents an outside thread. The temple hinge

5

with its sliding element

7

and the spring guide pin can also be designed in one piece. The thus produced component is subsequently pushed into the spring saddle

1

until the snap-in pins

16

audibly engage into the recess

3

.

The sliding element

7

, that is provided inside the locking element

11

, can slide a determined distance out of the first recess

2

against the spring resistance of the spring

10

. Hereby it is advantageous, that the sliding element

7

be moved over the total distance in the sliding element

11

, over which the sliding element

7

can slide out, since the sliding element

7

shortens the bending point of the snap-in pin

16

, whereby an improved reliability is obtained.

FIG. 2

illustrates the recess

3

in the recess

2

only in the area of the snap-in pins

16

. This is not necessary. The recess

3

can be channeled around recess

2

. A continuous recess is preferable if the locking element

11

with its snap-in pins

16

can be installed in the temple of the eyewear regardless of its position. This would be the case, e.g., if the sliding element

11

had a circular cross section.

In the below description of the

FIGS. 3

to

6

are used the same numbers for the same components.

The spring hinge, as illustrated in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, differs from the spring hinge according to

FIGS. 1 and 2

in the design of the locking element

11

and of the recess

3

.

The recess

3

is provided only in a certain area of the recess

2

.

FIG. 9

shows a separate illustration of the locking element according to FIG.

3

.

The locking element

11

is made up of two parts. It consists of a first part

11

a

and of a second part

11

b.

The part

11

a

is of cylindrical shape and presents a bore hole

12

for the insertion of the spring guide pin

8

. In part

11

a

is provided a recess

15

extending in an axial direction, in which is guided the sliding element

7

in its assembled condition. The top

13

of the part

11

a

presents a recess

17

extending in an axial direction. The dimensions of the recess

17

essentially correspond to the width and the thickness of the snap-in pin

16

. The recess

17

extends in an axial direction.

The recess

17

serves for the positioning of the part

11

b

and also to facilitate the assembly, since during the assembly of the spring hinge, the inside surface of the recess

2

slides on the snap-in pin

16

, thus pressing the snap-in pin

16

into the recess

17

. After the snap-in pin

16

reaches the recess

3

, it snaps from recess

17

into the recess

3

.

FIG. 13

illustrates a blank for the part

11

b.

The blank is T-shaped. The top of the T-shaped blank is bent round. The front surface

14

of part

11

b

serves as support for spring

10

.

A shoulder can be provided at the top

13

of the part

11

a,

of which the outside diameter corresponds to the inside diameter of part

11

b.

The part

11

b

can then be slipped over part

11

a,

so that the locking element becomes a one-piece component.

The spring hinge, as illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, differs from the presentation of the spring hinge in

FIGS. 3 and 4

in the placing of part

11

b

on part

11

a

of the locking element

11

.

FIG.8

shows the presentation of the locking element

11

.

The locking element

11

is made up of two parts and consists of a part

11

a

and a part

11

b

The part

11

b

according to

FIG. 8

corresponds to part

11

b

in FIG.

9

.

Part

11

a

is cylindrical and presents a bore hole

12

for the insertion of the spring guide pin

8

. The cylindrical part

11

a

presents a recess

15

extending in an axial direction for the insertion of sliding element

7

.

The lateral surface of part

11

a

is provided with a recess

17

, of which the dimensions with respect to length, width and depth essentially correspond to the dimensions of the snap-in pin

16

.

As it can be seen from

FIG. 8

, the periphery of recess

17

is offset approximately 90° with respect to recess

15

. This, however, is not necessary. It is decisive that the snap-in pin

16

is installed in such a manner that the recess

15

does not partly overlap it. Such arrangement is of particular advantage if, as it can be seen from

FIG. 5

, the transversal extension of sliding element

7

is so large that there is insufficient space to install the snap-in pin

16

.

FIGS. 7 and 8

illustrate two other embodiments of the locking element

11

.

FIG. 7

shows a one-piece cylindrically shaped locking element

11

. The locking element

11

is provided with a recess

15

for the insertion of a sliding element

7

. Partly overlapping the recess

15

is provided a snap-in pin

16

, that extends from the head

13

to the open end of the recess

15

. The snap-in pin

16

is outwardly bent. The locking element

11

is provided with a bore hole

12

for the insertion of a spring guide pin

8

, as well as a front surface

14

to support a spring

10

.

FIG. 10

illustrates a locking element

11

with a snap-in pin

16

. From the head

13

extend parallel running flaps

18

, that are tip-stretched at the head

13

.

FIG. 10

shows another embodiment of a locking element

11

. The locking element is a turned/milled piece.

FIG. 12

illustrates a blank, that could be a stamped metal piece. The blank presents a lamina

19

with an opening

20

through which can pass the spring guide pin

8

after it is assembled. At the periphery of the lamina

19

is provided at least one flap extending in a radial direction which, after bending, serves as a snap-in pin. According to

FIGS. 8

or

9

, the lamina

19

can be placed, for example, at part

11

a,

replacing part

11

b.

FIG. 13

shows a blank for part

11

b.

It is understood that it is not necessary that the illustrated locking elements be cylindrical. The outside geometry of the locking elements

11

can be adapted to the geometry of the recess

2

.

Also the recess

15

, that is provided as guide for the sliding element

7

, can present different geometries. Decisive herein is that the recess

15

is provided as guide for the sliding element

7

.

FIG. 14

shows a second embodiment of a blank for a locking element component

11

b.

The blank for the locking element component

11

b

according to

FIG. 14

differs from the blank for the locking element component

11

b

according to

FIG. 13

in that the two legs

21

a,

21

b

of the T-shaped blank are designed so as to form an angle a to each other.

After bending the blank, one obtains a locking element component

11

b

as shown in

FIGS. 15 and 16

. After bending, the locking element component

11

b

presents a through-hole

23

through which passes a guide pin

22

in its assembled condition. The through-hole

23

must be dimensioned in such a manner that the locking element component

11

b

can rest with play on the guide pin

22

. The bent locking element component

11

b

presents a tilted plane

25

with respect to the longitudinal axis of a spring hinge, so that due to the effect of a spring resistance the snap-in pin

16

can engage in a recess

3

. In that, the spring effect pushes out the part of the locking element.

The locking element according to

FIGS. 20 and 21

differs from the locking element according to

FIG. 14

in that the locking element is made out of a tube. The manufacturing process is through a metal cutting. The locking element presents two essentially parallel planes

26

,

27

facing each other. The planes are tilted at an angle &bgr; with respect to the axis of the hollow section, so that because of the spring resistance action the snap-in pin

16

can engage in a recess

3

.

FIG. 17

illustrates an assembled spring hinge with a locking element component

11

b

according to FIG.

14

.

The spring hinge is provided with an oblong guide housing

26

that is mounted on a temple [of eyeglasses]

1

. The housing

26

is provided with an oblong recess

2

in which is located a second recess

3

with a stepped rim and, when assembled, closer to the end of the center part. Into the recess

2

engages a sliding element

7

that is connected with a spring guide pin

8

. The spring guide pin

8

is provided at the end facing the sliding element

7

a stop

9

. The spring guide pin

8

passes through the spring

10

. Between the sliding element

7

and the spring

10

is mounted the locking element component

11

b.

the locking element component

11

b

is provided with a snap-in pin

16

, that engages into the second recess

3

.

In the presentation according to

FIG. 17

, the snap-in pin

16

of the locking element component

11

b

engages into the recess

3

. This is attained by the spring action of spring

10

, insofar as the latter lifts the locking element component

11

b.

One end of the spring

10

abuts the locking element component.

The sliding element

7

is provided with a recess

27

in which is engaged the snap-in pin

16

while the spring is not under tension.

FIGS. 22 and 23

show a spring hinge in a first position and in a second position, respectively.

The spring hinge comprises a sliding element

101

, a locking element

103

and a housing

105

.

The locking element

103

is provided with a snap-in element

107

which snaps into a recess

109

of the housing

105

. The locking element

103

supports one end of a spring

111

. The other end of the spring

111

is supported by holding means

113

fixed on a spring guide pin

115

of the sliding element

101

. In a preferred embodiment, the function of the holding means

113

is achieved by the pin

115

itself, which will be flattened or pinched in order to support the spring

111

.

As shown in

FIGS. 24

,

25

, and

26

, the sliding element

101

is provided with a recess or groove

117

which has at least one shoulder

119

.

As shown in

FIG. 27

, or in the perspective view of

FIG. 30

, the locking element

103

is provided with an arm

121

, which arm is extended in a longitudinal direction of the spring hinge and which arm is fixed to the locking element with an end adjacent to the opening of the housing

105

. The free end

123

of the arm

121

lies on the opposite side of the opening of the housing

105

.

The free end

123

of the arm

121

is bent inwardly as shown in FIG.

30

.

The stop means of the spring hinge consists of the recess

117

with the shoulder

119

of the sliding element

101

and the arm

121

with a free end

123

. As shown in

FIG. 23

, the movement of the sliding element

101

against the force of the spring

111

is limited by the shoulder

119

and the recess

117

, which strikes the free end

123

of the arm

121

which is bent inwardly into the recess

117

.

In

FIGS. 31 and 32

, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the spring hinge also comprises a sliding element

101

and a locking element

103

which is locked into the housing

105

by a locking pin or tongue

107

.

The sliding element

101

is provided with a groove or recess

117

having a shoulder

119

. This shoulder

119

cooperates with a shoulder

123

provided on the upper side of the locking element

103

.

The movement of the sliding element

101

in the direction of the arrow P is limited by the shoulder

119

which strikes the shoulder

123

, as shown in FIG.

32

.

The stop means can also comprise a tongue provided on the sliding element and the recess provided in the housing, whereby the movement of the sliding element is stopped by the tongue which snaps into the recess and strikes the shoulder of the recess.