EP0932848A1

EP0932848A1 - Method for linking a branch and front part of spectacles and spectacle hinge

Info

Publication number: EP0932848A1
Application number: EP97942169A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hugues Fauveau
Original assignee: L'Amy SA
Current assignee: L'Amy SA
Priority date: 1996-10-21
Filing date: 1997-10-17
Publication date: 1999-08-04
Also published as: JP2001502442A; FR2754914B1; WO1998018041A1; FR2754914A1; AU4395197A

Abstract

In the method for linking a branch and front part of a pair of spectacles, the function of fixing the branch of the front part and the rotation function of the branch relative to the front part are distinct and dissociated. Similarly, in the spectacle hinge, the axis for fixing the branch (5) on the front part (1) is distinct and dissociated from the rotation axis of the branch (5) relative to this same front part (1). The rotation axis is provided by a spheric pair to which the branch (5) is attached. This spheric pair, made of a particularly hard and strong material, such as natural or artificial ruby, ceramic, spinel, silicon carbide, zirconium, can be shaped like a spherule (40) or a double cone element with common base, and is located between a double flange (20, 22).

Description

METHOD OF LINKING BETWEEN A BRANCH AND A EYEWEAR FRONT AND EYEGLASS HINGE

The present invention relates to a method for connecting a branch to a facade of spectacles, and more particularly to a spectacle hinge comprising a ball joint for ensuring the rotation of the branch relative to the facade, distinct from the member for attachment of the branch on the facade.

In known hinges of the traditional type, a branch knuckle, male or female, cooperates with a knuckle of complementary face so as to allow rotation of the branch. This rotation takes place around an axis, generally embodied by a screw, which also acts as a fixing axis between the branch and the post.

With such hinges, we often encounter the same difficulties, namely that after a certain period of use of the glasses, the arms tend to be too free to rotate, which induces a decrease in comfort for the wearer. glasses and some inconvenience in handling the frame.

This problem is mainly due to the double role of the rotation axis and the fixing axis that the screw plays. Indeed, depending on the direction of the threading of the latter, the repeated opening or closing of the branch tends to cause its unscrewing in the long run. Once the screw is sufficiently unscrewed, this one, although still playing its role of axis of rotation, no longer fulfills its fixing mission, which means that the branch no longer holds by itself in a position, open or closed, but tends to "toss".

On the other hand, in such a hinge, apart from the fact that the screw tends to unscrew, wear of the parts in contact requires frequent readjustment of the tightening force of the screw to counterbalance the loss of adhesion which results.

The adjustment of such a hinge also requires considerable skill. Indeed, a too weak screwing of the screw causes a limited tightening which does not generate sufficient retention of the branch, but then in this case, the risk of unscrewing the screw by successive manipulations is low.

Conversely, a significant screwing of the screw causes a strong tightening which generates a too powerful support of the branch; the unscrewing of the screw is then quick. When the tightening caused by the screw is really too strong, the branch then becomes difficult to handle, hence the risk of deformation, or even breakage thereof.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the problems mentioned by proposing a hinge for spectacles which makes it possible to maintain constant rotation of the spectacle branch while preventing the parts in contact from wearing out too quickly.

These goals are achieved by a method of linking a branch and a spectacle frame front, by which the function of fixing the branch on the facade and the function of rotating the branch relative to the facade are distinct and dissociated. , and to a spectacle hinge for connecting a branch to a spectacle frame front, in which the axis of attachment of the branch on the façade is distinct and dissociated from the axis of rotation of the branch with respect to this same facade.

This embodiment makes it possible to overcome the problem mentioned of unscrewing the fixing axis caused by the rotation of the branch.

In a first embodiment, the ball joint has a blind hole which receives a stud fixed to the branch, which can allow the branch to be easily joined to the ball.

In a second embodiment, the ball joint has a blind hole which receives a stud integral with the facade stud, which can allow the facade to be easily joined to the patella.

Preferably, the axis of rotation of the branch relative to the facade is materialized by a ball joint of particularly hard and resistant material, such as natural or artificial ruby, ceramic, spinel, silicon carbide, zircon. The use of a hard material overcomes the rapid wear of the axis of rotation, and therefore limits the appearance of play on the hinge.

Preferably, the ball joint is a ball, or advantageously a double cone element with a common base.

According to a preferred embodiment, the ball joint takes place partly or entirely between two parts, each in the form of a flange, acting as a double flange and arranged between the front end of the branch and the front, these two superimposed parts being assembled with a space between them, and so as to be integral with the facade and to block the branch in position.

With this double flange carrying the axis of rotation, the ball joint can be considered as a male knuckle and the double flange as a female knuckle.

Preferably, the fixing axis consists of at least one assembly or fixing member of the screw or rivet type which cooperates with the flange-shaped parts carrying the axis of rotation so as to hold them strictly motionless in relation to the facade.

There is indeed in the hinge according to the invention a distinction and a dissociation between the fixing axis and the axis of rotation, which makes it possible to solve the problem of unscrewing the axis of rotation mentioned for the traditional type hinges. .

Advantageously, the flange-shaped parts are arranged between the front end of the branch and a stud secured to the facade, one of the two flange-shaped pieces preferably being permanently secured to the stud, or advantageously fixed in rotation relative to the tenon.

Thus, any risk of rotation of the double flange is avoided, a risk which could arise, despite the dissociation between the axes of rotation and fixing, in the event of rough manipulation of the branch.

Preferably, the two flange-shaped parts are assembled by means of assembly and fixing means, such as screws or rivets, and acting respectively at the tenon and at the front end of the branch, or by welding, such as soldering. In this case, the hinge thus assembled cannot be removed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the flange-shaped parts each have a circular opening of substantially identical diameter, the superposition of these two openings when the two flange-shaped parts are assembled serving as housing for the ball joint, these parts in form of flange being metallic, at least at the level of the portions of openings directly in contact with the patella.

The contact between a ball joint of particularly hard and resistant material and a portion of double metal flange makes it possible to obtain minimum wear of the parts in contact, thus making it possible to avoid as much as possible the appearance of play at the level of the hinge.

Advantageously, the spacing between the two flange-shaped parts once assembled and fixed to the post is determined on one side by the thickness of the post and on the other side by a spacer, this spacer acting on the other hand branch opening stop, thus delimiting its maximum opening position. This spacer can just as easily be an insert as it is an integral part of one of the two flange-shaped parts.

Advantageously also, the nipple of the branch intended to be received in the blind hole of the ball joint has a diameter slightly greater than the thickness of the spacer.

This embodiment of the stud, associated with the shape of the circular openings, makes it possible, when the hinge is assembled, to keep the branch in position, that is to say in its longitudinal displacement.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the ball joint takes place in a hollow element in the shape of a hemisphere or portion of hemisphere provided with a rectilinear groove and disposed between the front end of the branch and the facade, the branch being made integral with the ball joint by means of a free nut at its front end cooperating with a threaded rod integral with the ball joint. Advantageously also, the rotational guidance of the ball joint is provided by a tongue protruding from its surface and acting in the groove, the ends of the groove then acting respectively as stops for closing and maximum opening of the branch.

The invention will be better understood from the study of embodiments taken on a non-limiting basis and illustrated in the following figures.

In Figures 1 to 7, the invention is more particularly illustrated in relation to the first embodiment cited above, in which it is the branch which is immobilized relative to the ball joint. The post which takes place in the blind hole of the ball joint is integral with the branch.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the hinge according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the hinge in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an external front view of the hinge in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the hinge of FIG. 1, the branch moving from its open position to its closed position,

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the ball joint of the hinge according to the invention, FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the hinge according to the invention,

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the element for housing the ball joint in the alternative of FIG. 6.

It should nevertheless be clearly understood that the invention covers both the second embodiment mentioned, in a way the "symmetrical" solution or

"reverse", in which it is the facade which is immobilized with respect to the ball joint.

The post which takes place in the blind hole of the ball joint is then secured to the front post:

- this is precisely the object of Figure 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the spectacle hinge according to the invention connects a branch 5 of spectacles to a tenon 12 of a frame integral with a facade 1, and comprises a ball joint acting as an axis of rotation, in l 'occurrence a ball 40, taking place between two superimposed flange-shaped parts spaced apart, an upper part 20 and a lower part 22, these two parts once assembled acting as a double flange for the ball 40, as clearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3.

To this end, two circular openings 35, 36, of substantially identical diameters, are respectively formed on the upper part 20 and on the lower part 22. The ball 40 is housed between these two openings 35, 36 when the parts in the form of flange 20 and 22 are assembled by being superimposed. Each of the openings 35, 36 has for this purpose a chamfer on their portion in contact with the surface of the ball in order to best conform to its shape.

Depending on the diameters of the openings 35, 36, the ball 40 can take place entirely between the two parts 20, 22, that is to say not protrude from their external surfaces, or else, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 only take place partially between these two parts: in the latter case, the ball 40 protrudes from the external surface of one of the two flange-shaped parts or both.

Each of the parts 20, 22 is made of metallic material, at least the portion of each opening 35, 36 in contact with the ball 40. This ball 40 is itself made of hard and resistant material, such as natural or artificial ruby, ceramic, spinel, silicon carbide, zircon.

The ball 40 is pierced with a blind hole 42 which can receive a stud 9 from the front end of the branch 5, the rear end of this branch coming to rest on the wearer's ears.

The tenon 12 has, near its rear end, that is to say its end furthest from the facade 1, a through hole 13, intended to cooperate with two corresponding through holes 25, 27 made in the thickness of the parts in the form of a flange 20 and 22. A fixing and assembly member 33, such as a screw or a rivet, comes to fix each of the parts 20, 22 on the tenon 12 and assemble them at this level, a shaped part. flange coming into contact with the upper part of the post and the other part in the form of a flange with the lower part of the post. One of the two flange-shaped pieces 20,22 is secured to the stud 12, for example, by brazing, which means that these pieces 20,22 assembled in double flange are held strictly stationary relative to the facade 1. On the other hand, in the case of assembly by screws, at least one of the through holes 25, 27 is threaded.

Through holes 26,28, arranged in a manner substantially symmetrical to the holes 25,27 with respect to the openings 35,36, are formed respectively in the thickness of the flange-shaped parts 20,22. At this level, a spacer 30, of thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the tenon 12 and of the branch 5, and in any case not less than the thickness of the latter, takes place between the two flange-shaped parts. 20.22. This spacer is crossed by an assembly member 32 of the same type as that 33 used on the side of the lug and ensuring on the side of the branch the assembly of the hinge. This spacer makes it possible to adjust the parallelism between the two flange-shaped parts 20, 22 when the hinge is assembled, as clearly visible in FIG. 3.

It should be noted on the one hand that the spacer 30 can very well be produced in the mass, at the same time as one of the pieces in the form of a flange 20, 22, and on the other hand that instead assembly and fixing means 32,33, the two flanges can be joined together then to the stud by welding, such as brazing. In this case, such a hinge is not removable.

The hinge once assembled, the branch 5 is locked in position, that is to say that it can no longer move longitudinally, due to the particular shape of its pin 9. In fact, it has a diameter slightly greater than the thickness of the spacer 30, and is followed towards the rear of a groove 8. Thus, the branch 5 is kept in longitudinal displacement at this level by the edges of the openings 35, 36 when the hinge is Assembly.

On the other hand, the branch 5 has a bent portion 7 intended to cooperate with the spacer 30. In fact, this spacer also plays a role of stopping the opening of the branch, the bent portion 7 abutting against the spacer 30 to limit the opening angle of the branch, as clearly visible in FIG. 4.

This FIG. 4 also illustrates well the fact that, with the hinge according to the invention, the function of fixing the branch to the facade and the function of rotation of the branch relative to the facade are distinct and dissociated. Indeed, when the branch passes from an open position to a closed position, it can be seen that the flange-shaped parts 20, 22 have not moved, the rotation of the branch having been made possible by the mere rotation of the ball 40.

Numerous improvements and alternatives can be made to this method of connection between a branch and a front of glasses and to this ball hinge for glasses within the scope of the claims.

In particular, in another embodiment, and as illustrated in FIG. 5, the ball 40 can be replaced by an element 50 with a double cone with a common base, made of the same material as the ball, and also pierced with d 'a blind hole 52. In this case, the diameters of the openings 35,36 are made accordingly.

It is also possible to envisage an embodiment of the hinge in which one of the two flange-shaped parts 20, 22 is not secured to the stud 12, for example by soldering. In this case, it is advisable to provide a groove on the post in which a tongue of the part in the form of a flange in question comes to engage, or vice versa, a tongue on the post engaging in a groove in this same part. This embodiment makes it possible in another way to avoid a risk of rotation of the hinge at the level of the fixing means 33 during the rotation of the branch 5.

One can also consider that the rotation of the branch is not done by the rotation of the ball joint but by the rotation on the ball joint, the latter then remaining stationary. In this case, it is the ball which is secured to the post, for example by welding, and the front end of the branch is fixed to the two flange-shaped parts assembled. The latter are moreover no longer made integral with the post, and therefore free with respect to it.

Thus, when a rotary movement is imparted to the branch, it is the double flange which is driven in rotation around the ball, fixed.

In another embodiment not shown, the ball can advantageously be replaced by a cylinder bearing against the bottom of a blind hole made in place of the circular opening in each of the flange-shaped parts. As with the ball joint embodiment, the nipple of the spectacle branch comes to take place in a blind bore of the cylinder.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the eyeglass hinge according to the invention. In this variant, the two flange-shaped parts are replaced by a hollow hemispherical element 58 or in a hemispherical portion 68.

In this embodiment, a rectilinear groove 60.70 is produced over the entire thickness of the element 58.68, and over part of its periphery.

On the external surface of the ball 40 takes place a member comprising a guide tongue 55 surmounted by a threaded rod 54. The thickness of the guide tongue is substantially equal, and in any case not greater, to the height of the groove 60, 70, and greater than the diameter of the threaded rod 54. The latter is intended to cooperate with a free nut 59 disposed at the front end of the branch 5.

More precisely, the ball 40 comes to take place against the internal walls of the element 58, 68, the groove 60, 70 being arranged towards the inside of the frame in a horizontal plane. The tongue 55 is inserted into the groove 60,70, the threaded rod 54 then protruding from the external surface of the element 58,68. This threaded rod 54 is screwed into the free nut 59 to secure the branch to the facade 1, the stud 12 itself being fixed, for example by welding such as soldering, to the external surface in correspondence of the element 58.68. A hole 62,72 can be made in the element 58,68 to receive the stud 12, the brazing being able to take place at this level.

With such an assembly, when the branch 5 is manipulated to open or close the glasses, the ball 40, as an axis of rotation, pivots, carrying with it the tongue 55, which abuts against the ends of the groove 60.70. The length of this groove 60,70 therefore defines the maximum closing and opening stops of the branch.

In this latter embodiment, the ball joint can just as easily be the element 50 with double cone with aforementioned common base. In another alternative, it is entirely possible to envisage a hinge directly connecting the branch 5 to the facade 1, without the intermediary of the tenon 12.

FIG. 8 finally represents a second embodiment, "symmetrical" from the first, and illustrates the opposite situation with respect to that which has been presented in FIGS. 1 to 3 in particular; here, the facade is made integral with the ball joint. For a better understanding, the reference numbers used in this figure correspond to those used previously and the elements fulfilling equivalent functions or playing the same role bear the same numbers, whatever their actual position.

Claims

1. Glasses hinge used to connect a branch (5) to a facade (1) of spectacle frame, in which the axis of attachment of the branch (5) on the facade (1) is distinct and dissociated from the axis of rotation of the branch (5) relative to this same facade (1), this axis of rotation of the branch (5) relative to the facade (1) being materialized by a ball to which the branch (5 ) or the front (1), characterized in that the ball joint has a blind hole (42,52) which receives a stud (9) secured to the branch (5), respectively a stud secured to the front stud (1).

2. Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the ball joint is of a particularly hard and resistant material, such as natural or artificial ruby, a ceramic, spinel, silicon carbide, zircon.

3. Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ball joint is a ball (40) or an element (50) with a double cone with a common base.

4. Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ball joint (40.50) takes place partly or entirely between two parts (20,22), each in the form of a flange, acting as a double flange and arranged between the front end of the branch (5) and the facade (1), these two superimposed parts (20,22) being assembled with a space between them, and so as to be integral with the facade ( 1) and to block the branch (5) in position.

5. Hinge according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the fixing axis consists of at least one assembly and fixing member (32) of screw or rivet type which cooperates with the flange-shaped parts (20,22) carrying the axis of rotation so as to keep them strictly stationary relative to the facade (1).

6. Hinge according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the flange-shaped parts (20,22) are arranged between the front end of the branch (5) and a stud (12) integral with the facade (1 ).

7. Hinge according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the two flange-shaped parts (20,22) is definitively secured to the stud (12), or in that one of the two flange-shaped parts (20,22) is fixed in rotation relative to the stud (12).

8. Hinge according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the two flange-shaped parts (20,22) are assembled by means of assembly and fixing means (32,33), such as screws or rivets, and acting respectively at the tenon (12) and at the front end of the branch (5), or by welding, such as soldering.

9. Hinge according to one or more of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the flange-shaped parts (20,22) each have a circular opening (35,36) of substantially identical diameter, the superposition of these two openings ( 35,36) when the two flange-shaped parts (20,22) are assembled serving as a housing for the ball joint (40,50).

10. Hinge according to claim 9, characterized in that the flange-shaped parts (20,22) are metallic, at least at the level of the opening portions (35,36) directly in contact with the ball joint (40,50 ).

11. Hinge according to one or more of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the spacing between the two flange-shaped parts (20,22) once assembled and fixed to the stud (12) is determined on one side by the thickness of the tenon (12) and on the other side by a spacer (30).

12. Hinge according to claim 11, characterized in that the spacer (30) acts as an opening stop for the branch (5).

13. Hinge according to one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the two parts acting as double flange (20,22) are arranged on each side of the ball joint.

14. Hinge according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the stud (9) has a diameter slightly greater than the thickness of the spacer (30).

15. Hinge according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the ball joint (40.50) takes place in a hollow element (58,68) in the form of a hemisphere or portion of hemisphere provided with a rectilinear groove (60,70) and disposed between the front end of the branch (5) and the front (1).

16. Hinge according to claim 15, characterized in that the branch (5) is made integral with the ball joint (40.50) by means of a free nut (59) at its front end cooperating with a threaded rod (54 ) integral with the ball joint (40.50).

17. Hinge according to claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the rotational guidance of the ball joint (40.50) is provided by a tongue (55) protruding from its surface and acting in the groove (60.70).