US005818568A
`5,818,568
`(11) Patent Number:
`115
`United States Patent
`
`Onagaet al.
`145] Date of Patent:
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`[54] EYEGLASS FRAME ASSEMBLY HAVING
`SCREW-LESS HINGES
`
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Nikaido, Marmelstein, Murray &
`Oram LLP
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Mikio Onaga; Chikao Uchida;
`Yoshikazu Takahashi, all of Fukui-ken,
`Japan
`
`[73] Assignees: Eye-Protor Kobayashi Inc.; Kabushiki
`Kaisha Onaga Megane, both of
`Fukui-ken, Japan
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Disclosed is an improved eyeglass frame assembly having
`.
`“
`ns
`;
`screw-less hinges. It comprises a front comprising two rims
`each embracing a lens “L” and a bridge connecting these
`rims “R”by their inner sides; and a pair of temples “T” each
`rotatably connected to the outer side of each rim. Each rim
`“R” is an open-loop metal wire having two holding projec-
`tions 1, 1 formedat its opposite open ends. Each temple “T”
`[21] Appl. No.: 852,414
`has an are-like hook 31 formedat its end, and the hook 31
`:
`has a vertical stopper 32 formed at
`ils end. The frame
`[22]
`Filed:
`May7, 1997
`6
`assembly further comprises two holder pieces 2, 2, each
`having two holes 21, 21 to accomodate the two parallel
`~ nf “a i3Sieh,aeLeo.1698
`[52] is ° > holding projections 1, 1. The arc-like hook 31 embraces each
`[58] Field of Search oer 351/111, 113,
`holder piece 2, permitting the temple “T”to rotate aboutthe
`351/119, 116, 121, 106, 153, 89; 16/228
`holder piece 2 until the vertical stopper 32 abuts against the
`‘
`portions of the holding projections 1, 1 projecting from the
`References Cited
`holder piece 2. The screw-less, rim rock-and-temple hinge
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`structure facilitates the assembling and disassembling of
`8/1992 Linberg etal
`eyeglasses, giving a neat shape to the eyeglasses.
`5,135,296
`Primary Examiner—Huy Mai
`
`[56]
`
`sear06
`
`6 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1028
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`APPLE 1028
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`1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,818,568
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`5,818,568
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`FIG. 5
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`5,818,568
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`FIG. 9
`
`4
`
`

`

`5,818,568
`
`1
`EYEGLASS FRAME ASSEMBLY HAVING
`SCREW-LESS HINGES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`10
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`15
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`*
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`The present invention relates generally to an eyeglass
`frame assembly, and particularly to an eyeglass frame
`assembly which is easy to be assembled, and is simple in
`structure and neat in appearance. Usually such an eyeglass
`frame assembly has rim lock-and-temple hinge meansinte-
`grally formed therein.
`2. Description of Related Art
`There has been an increasing demand for light eyeglass
`frames, not permitting their rims to cause any hindrance to
`the sight, expanding the field of sight, still assuring that
`comfortable feeling is given to persons wearing such eye-
`glasses. Thus, the rim and temple of the frames has been
`reduced toward a possible minimum thinness. As a matter of
`fact, however, there is a certain limit to reduction in slim-
`ming the framestructure. Specifically as the rim and temple
`is reduced in size, associated rim-locking pieces and hinges
`need to be reduced in size because otherwise, they would
`give an awkward appearance to the eyeglasses, but such
`parts are verydifficult to reduce their sizes; their sizes have 2
`reached to practically possible minimum.
`As is well known, a conventional rim locking part uses
`very small-sized screwsto close and fix the opposite ends of
`the open-loop rim. Also, a conventional hinge uses a screw
`as a pivot. Therefore, reduction of rim locking parts and
`hinges cannot be attained without reducing the size of
`associated screws. Such screws, however, are reduced to
`practically possible minimum, and further reduction would
`be next to impossible. Also, disadvantageously use of such
`minimum screws makes it difficult to assemble associated
`parts,
`thus not facilitating the changing of lenses. Still
`disadvantagcously such minimum screws are liable to
`loosen. Further reduction of such parts even if possible,
`would be undesirable from these points of view.
`
`40
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`45
`
`In view of the above onc object of the present invention
`is to provide an eyeglass frame assembly having screw-less
`hinges, more particularly screw-less, rim lock-and-temple
`hinge units, thereby providing a pleasing neat appearance
`for the eyeglasses.
`To attain this object an eyeglass frame assembly having
`screw-less hinges comprising a front comprising two rims
`each embracing a lens and a bridge connecting these mms by 5
`their inner sides; and a pair of temples each rotatably
`connected to the outer side of each rim, is improved accord-
`ing to the present invention in that: each of said rims is an
`open-loop metal wire having two parallel holding projec-
`tions formed at its opposite open ends; cach of said temples 5
`has a majorarc-like hook formed atits end, said hook having
`a vertical stopper at its end; and said eyeglass frame assem-
`bly includes two holder pieces, each having two holes to
`accomodate said two parallel holding projections, allowing
`said major arc-like hook to embrace each holder piece,
`thereby permitting said temples to rotate about said holder
`pieces until said holding projections abut against the vertical
`stoppers of the major arc-like hooks.
`The present invention can be applicd to suspender-type
`eyeglasses which has a pair of lenses suspended by strings
`such as nylon threads. Specifically, each rim comprises an
`upper rim half of metal wire and a lower rim half, which is
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`60
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`65
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`2
`in the form ofstring for suspending the lens from the upper
`rim half. The upper rim half has a holding projection formed
`at its outer end, and the suspending string has a holding
`projection boundto its outer end. Each temple has a major
`arc-like hook formed at its end, and the hook has a vertical
`stopper integrally connected to its end. The frame assembly
`includes two holder pieces, each having two holes to acco-
`modate the holding projections of the upper and lower rim
`halves, allowing the major arc-like hook to embrace each
`holder piece, thereby permitting the temples to rotate about
`the holder pieces until the holding projections abut against
`the vertical stoppers of the major arc-like hooks.
`Each holder piece may have an annular groove made on
`its circumference for permitting the major arc-like hook to
`be press-fitted therein.
`The holder pieces may be made of a synthetic resin
`material, and two parallel holding projections may be
`detachably inserted into the holes of each holder piece.
`Other objects and advantagesof the present invention will
`be understood from the following description of cycglass
`frame assembly according to preferred embodiments of the
`present invention, which are shown in accompanying draw-
`ings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 'THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a front view of an eyeglasses whose frame
`assembly has screw-less, rim lock-and-temple hinge means
`according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the rim
`lock-and-temple hinge means;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rim lock-and-temple
`hinge means;
`FIG. 4 is a plane view of the rim lock-and-temple hinge
`means in the temple-folding position;
`FIG. 5 is a similar plane view of the rim lock-and-temple
`hinge means in the temple-opening position, in which the
`temple is opened perpendicular to the front of the frame;
`FIG. 6 is a similar plane view of the rim lock-and-temple
`hinge means, showing that the temple is opened beyond the
`normal temple-opening position;
`FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of a rim lock-
`and-temple hinge means according to a second embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rim lock-and-temple
`hinge means;
`FIG. 9 is a front view of a suspender-type eyeglasses
`whose frame assembly uses rim lock-and-temple hinge
`means according to a third embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of the rim
`lock-and-temple hinge means; and
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rim lock-and-temple
`hinge means.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The first, second and third embodiments of the present
`invention are described below with reference to these draw-
`
`ings.
`FIGS. 1 to 6 show the first embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIGS. 7 and 8 show the second embodiment; and FIGS.
`9 to 11 show the third embodiment.
`
`5
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`

`5,818,568
`
`3
`Eyeglass Frame Assembly having Screw-less, Rim Lock-
`and-Temple Hinge Means according to the First Embodi-
`ment:
`
`Referring to FIG, 1, it comprises a front comprising two
`rims “R” each embracing a lens “L” and a bridge connecting
`these rims “R” by their innersides; and a pair of temples “T”
`each rotatably connected to the outer side of each rim “R”.
`As best seen from FIG. 2, each lens “L” has a groove “LC”
`made its circumference. A round metal wire is bent into an
`
`a
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`10
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`15
`
`open loop shapeto be in conformity with the lens shape, and
`the opposite ends of the open loop hole are bent to form two
`parallel straight ends 1, 1. Each lens “L” has the open-loop
`wire press-fitted in its circumferential groove “LC”, allow-
`ing the parallel straight ends 1, 1 to extend outward. These
`parallel straight ends 1, 1 can be used as holding projections.
`A holder piece 2 is a cylindrical body of polyurethane. It
`has upper and lower through holes 21, 21 and an annular
`groove 22 between these through holes 21, 21. These two
`holes 21, 21 are same distance apart from each other as the
`space between the parallel holding projections 1, 1, thus 7
`permitting the holding projections1, 1 to be inserted into the
`holes 21, 21 of the holder piece 2. The annular groove 22
`permits the hook 31 of the temple “T”to rotatablyfit on the
`holder piece 2, as described below.
`As seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, each temple “T” has a major
`are-like hook 31 formed at
`its end. The hook 31 has a
`
`vertical stopper 32 soldered thereto in the form of laid “T”.
`In assembling,first the holder piece 2 is combined with
`each temple “T” by press-fitting its major arc-like hook 31
`in the annular groove 22 ofthe holder piece 2 to embrace the
`same. Then, the front is combined with each temple “T” by
`inserting the holding projections 1, 1 into the through holes
`21, 21 until their ends appear at the opposite side. Some
`details are as follows.
`
`the major arc-like hook 31 of the temple “T” is
`First,
`detachably press-fitted in the annular groove 22 of the holder
`piece 2, thereby permitting the holder piece 2 to function as
`the pivot of the hinge. The major arc-like hook 31 has a
`diameter somewhat shorter than the diameter of the annular
`
`groove 22, thereby causing a significant resistance to the
`opening and closing of the temple “T” relative to the front,
`which significant resistance is caused by the bending clas-
`ticity of the hook 31 and the friction between the polyure-
`thane cylinder 2 and the temple wire.
`Then, the open-loop rim “R”is press-fitted in the circum-
`ferential groove “LC” of each lens “L”, and the holding
`projections 1, 1 are detachably attached to the holder piece
`2 by inserting them in the through holes 21, 21 of the holder
`piece 2 until their ends come out of the opposite side. Thus,
`the lens “T.” can be positively held by the rim “R”, which is
`fastened with lock. Each through hole 21 has a diameter
`somewhat shorter than the diameter of the holding projec-
`tion 1, thereby positively gripping the holding projection 1
`by the elasticity of the polyurethane cylinder 2 and the
`friction between the polyurethane cylinder 2 and the holding
`projection 1, as described above.
`As seen from FIGS. 3 to 5, the holder piece 2 along with
`the holding projections 1, 1 lock the rim “R”, and at the same
`time, the temple “T” is hinged to the rim “R”, allowing the
`holder piece 2 to function as a pivot, about which the temple
`“T” can rotate. As seen from FIG. 5, the opening of the
`temple “T” is prevented by the stopper 32 when the temple
`“T” reaches a predetermined opening angle.
`As seen from FIG. 6, the excessive opening of the temple
`“T” is prevented bythe resilient resistance to further open-
`ing beyond a certain angular limit, whichresilient resistance
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`65
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`4
`is caused as a counter force to the forcedly expanding and
`deforming of the major arc hook shape after the stopper 32
`abuts against the holding projections 1, 1. Even if undesired
`external force is applied to the temple “T” to makeit to open
`wide beyond the certain limit, such undesired external force
`can be absorbed by the major arc-like hook 31, thereby
`preventing the concentration of such undesired external
`force on the rim “R”. Thus, the deformation of the rim “R”
`and hence the breaking of the lens caused thereby can be
`avoided.
`
`In this particular embodiment the holder piece 2 has an
`annular groove 22 made on its circumference for guiding
`rotation of the major arc-like hook 31, but
`this annular
`groove 22 can be omitted. Specifically as seen from FIG. 3,
`the major arc-like hook 31 is between the parallel holding
`projections 1, 1, thereby preventing the major arc-like hook
`31 from being displaced vertically. Whether such annular
`groove 22 is made or not in the holder piece 2 depends on
`how large the space is available betweenthe parallel holding
`projections 1, 1 or upper and lower through holes 21, 21.
`In this particular embodiment the annular groove 22 is
`circular, but it can take any other shapein cross section. For
`instance, it can be polygonal, and then, the hook 31 can be
`polygonal to be in conformity with the polygonal shape of
`the groove. Then, the temple “T” can rotate step by step
`about the pivot of holder piece 2, clicking and making a
`stable stop for each step.
`the screw-less
`As may be understood from the above,
`locking-and-hinging structure according to the first embodi-
`ment permits the locking of the rim “R” embracing the lens
`“L” and the hinging of the temple “T”to the rim “R” simply
`by press-fitting the hook on the holder piece, and by insert-
`ing the parallel holding projections into the through holes of
`the holder piece. No screws are required in rim locks and
`hinges, and therefore, the assembling work is mucheasier
`than conventional frames, and the manufacturing cost can be
`substantially reduced.
`The disassembling and removing of the lenses from the
`frame is easy, too. As seen from FIG. 6, it suffices that the
`temple “T” is made to open wider beyondthe openinglimit,
`which is defined by abutment of the stopper against the
`parallel holding projections 1, thereby making the hook-to-
`temple transition part to depart far apart from the stopper 32,
`thereby releasing the holder piece 2 from the embracing by
`the hook 31. Thus, the changing of the lens can be effected
`with ease.
`
`The rim lock and the hinge are combined by the holder
`piece 2. This contributes to the simplifying and sliming of
`the eyeglass frames, and to the neat-designing thereof.
`Eyeglass Frame Assembly having Screw-less, Rim Lock-
`and-Temple Hinge Means according to the Second Embodi-
`ment:
`
`Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, each rim “R” has a “V”-
`shaped groove made inside, and two parallel holding pro-
`jections 1, 1 are formedin the vicinities of the opposite open
`ends of the rim “R”. These holding projections 1, 1 can be
`formed to be somewhat oblique to the front plane in which
`the rim “R” embracesthe lens “L” rather than coplanar with
`the front plane as in the first embodiment. The direction in
`which the holding projections extend from the loop hole of
`the rim “R” can be determined in consideration of an angle
`whichthe holding projections form with respect to the front
`plane or of the position in which the stopper 32 is formed.
`The hook 31 is formed by bending a given terminal length
`of temple wire as in the first embodiment, but the hook shape
`is different from that of the first embodiment. Specifically
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`6
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`

`5,818,568
`
`5
`the hook comprises upper and lowerarc-sections 31 inte-
`grally connected bya vertical stopper 32.
`As seen from FIG. 8, the hook is detachably attached to
`the holder piece 2 by permitting the upper arc-section 31 to
`wind around the holder piece 2 between its upper and lower
`through holes 21, 21 and by permitting the lower arc-section
`31 to wind aroundthe holder piece 2 below its lower through
`hole 21. Thus, the temple “T” can be rotatablyfixed to the
`holder picce 2, using the holder picce 2 as a pivot. The
`opposite open ends of the loop hole can be locked to
`positively embrace the lens “TI.” simply by inserting the
`holding projections 1, 1 into the upper and lower through
`holes 21, 21 of the holder piece 2.
`In this particular embodiment the holder piece 2 has no
`annular groove;
`the upper and lower arc-sections 31 are
`interlaced with the upper and lower holding projections 1, 1,
`thereby preventing vertical deviation of the hook 31 on the
`holder piece 2. The double winding of the hook around the
`holder piece has the ettect of providing a good friction
`therebetween and hence a comfortable resistance to the *
`opening of the temple “T” relative to the front.
`Eyeglass Frame Assembly having Screw-less, Rim Lock-
`and-Temple Hinge Means according to the Third Embodi-
`ment:
`
`10
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`15
`
`
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`6
`cost is low, compared with a conventional eyeglasses. Also,
`advantageously use of the screwless rim lock-and-temple
`hinge means permits the neat designing of eyeglasses.
`Whatis claimedis:
`1. An eyeglass frame assembly having screw-less hinges
`comprising: a front having two rims each embracing a lens
`and a bridge connecting said rims by the inner sides of said
`rims; and a pair of temples each rotatably connected to the
`outer side of each rim, wherein each of said rims is an
`open-loop metal wire having two parallel holding projec-
`tions formed at the opposite open ends of said open-loop
`metal wire; each of said temples has a major arc-like hook
`formed at one temple end, said hook having a vertical
`stopper integrally connected thereto; and said eyeglass
`frame assembly includes two holder pieces, each having two
`holes to accommodate said two parallel holding projections,
`allowing said major arc-like hook to embrace each holder
`piece, thereby permilting each of said temples to rotate about
`the holder piece until
`the vertical stopper of the major
`are-like hook abut against
`the portions of the holding
`projections projecting from the holder piece.
`2. An eyeglass frame assembly having screw-less hinges
`according to claim 1, wherein each of said holder pieces has
`an annular groove made on the circumference of said holder
`piece for permitting the major arc-like hooksto fit therein.
`3. An eyeglass frame assembly having screw-less hinges
`accordingto cither onc of claims 1 or 2, wherein said holder
`pieces are of a synthetic resin material, said holding projec-
`tions being detachably inserted into the holes of each of said
`holder pieces.
`4. An eyeglass frame assembly having screw-less hinges
`comprising: a front having two rims each embracing a lens
`and a bridge connecting said rims by the inner sides of said
`rims; and a pair of temples each rotatably connected to the
`outer side of each rim, wherein each of said rims comprises
`an upper rim half of metal wire and a lower rim half, which
`is in the form of string for suspending the lens from the
`upper rim half, said upper rim half having a holding pro-
`jection formed at the outer end of said upper rim half, said
`lower rim half having an another holding projection con-
`nected to the outer end of said lower half rim; each of said
`temples has a major arc-like hook formed at one temple end,
`said hook having a vertical stopper integrally connected to
`the end of said hook; and said eyeglass frame assembly
`includes two holder pieces, each having two holes to accom-
`modate said holding projections, allowing said major arc-
`like hook to embrace each holder piece, thereby permitting
`eachof said templesto rotate about the holder piece until the
`vertical stopper of the major arc-like hook abut against the
`portions of the holding projections projecting from the
`holder piece.
`5. An eyeglass frame assembly having screw-less hinges
`according to claim 4, wherein each of said holder pieces has
`an annular groove made on the circumference of said holder
`piece for permitting the major arc-like hooksto fit therein.
`6. An eyeglass frame assembly having screw-less hinges
`accordingto either one of claims 4 or 5, wherein said holder
`piecesare of a synthetic resin material, said holding projec-
`tions being detachably inserted into the holes of each of said
`holder pieces.
`
`;
`
`FIGS. 9 to 11 show a suspender-type of eyeglasses having
`two lenses “L” suspended by oylonstrings. It is equipped
`with screw-less rim lock-and-temple hinge means according
`to the third embodiment of the present invention. Specifi-
`cally each rim comprises an upper rim half “R,” of metal
`wire and a lowerrim half “R,”, which is in the form ofstring
`“B”for suspending the lens “L”. Each lens “L” has a groove
`“LC” made on its circumference, and the wire and string
`rim-halvesare fitted in the circumferential groove “LC” of
`the lens “I.”. The upper rim half “R,” has a holding 3
`projection 1 formed at its outer end by bending a given
`terminal length of rim wire at a right angle whereas the
`lowerrim half “R,” has an “L”-shaped holding projection 1
`connected to the end of the string suspender “B”. Specifi-
`cally the “L”-shaped holding projection 1 has very small
`holes “r’” made on one leg thereof, and the end ofthe string
`suspender “B”is threaded in the very small holes “r” of the
`“L”-shaped holding projection 1 for binding thereto.
`As seen from FIG. 11, the hook 31 of the temple “T” is
`press-fitted in the annular groove 22 of the holder piece 2
`between the upper and lower holding projections 1, 1,
`thereby permitting the temple “T” to rotate about the holder
`picce 2, which functions as a pivot. The lens “L” can be
`positively held by inserting the upper and lower holding
`projections 1, 1 into the upper and lower through holes 21,
`21 of the holder piece 2, thereby tightly stretching the wire
`and nylon string rim halves around the lens “L”.
`As may be understood from the above, a screw-less rim
`lock-and-temple hinge means according to the present
`invention can positively hold the lens simply bypress-fitting
`the laid “T’’-shaped, hook-like end of the temple on an
`associated holder piece and byinserting the holding projec-
`tions in the through holes of the holder piece,
`thereby
`simultaneously locking the loop hole of the rim and hinging
`the temple to the rim without using any screws. The assem-
`bling of eyeglasses is easy and quick, and the manufacturing
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