EYEGLASS FRAME WITH MAGNETIC HINGES

MONTURE DE LUNETTES A ARTICULATIONS MAGNETIQUES

English Abstract

.cndot. An eyeglass frame with magnetic hinges comprises a frame body
for supporting a pair of lenses, and a pair of arms. The
frame body has 1 middle bridge portion and 2 side extension
portions. Each side extension portion has a concave recess
and comprises a U-shaped ferromagnetic element securely
attached to the concave recess of the side extension portion.
Each arm comprises a cylindrical magnetic element securely
attached to the proximate end of the arm. The cylindrical
magnetic element of each arm is capable of hingedly engaging
with the U-shaped ferromagnetic element of each side
extension portion of the frame body by a magnetic attraction
force. This invention relates to eyeglasses, and the
principal use of the invention is for prescription
eyeglasses, sunglasses and safety goggles.

Claims

Claims
.cndot. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An eyeglass frame, comprising:
~ a frame body for supporting a pair of lenses, having 1
middle bridge portion and 2 side extension portions,
each side extension portion having a concave recess and
comprising:
~ a U-shaped ferromagnetic element securely attached
to the concave recess of the side extension portion;
and
~ a pair of arms, each arm comprising:
~ a cylindrical magnetic element securely attached to
the proximate end of the arm;
the cylindrical magnetic element of each arm being capable of
hingedly engaging with the U-shaped ferromagnetic element of
each side extension portion of the frame body by a magnetic
attraction force.
2. An eyeglass frame as defined in claim 1, in which the
cylindrical magnetic element of each arm is rod shaped.
3. An eyeglass frame as defined in claim 1, in which the
cylindrical magnetic element of each arm is ring shaped.
4. An eyeglass frame as defined in claim 1, in which the
cylindrical magnetic element of each arm is made of a rare-
earth permanent magnet.
4

Description

CA 02321318 2005-07-04
0024 Description 07/03/2005 04:53 PM
Description
Title
~ Eyeglass Frame With Magnetic Hinges
Technical Field
~ This invention relates to eyeglasses, more particularly to an
eyeglass frame with magnetic hinges.
Background Art
~ There are many instances where it would be desirable to be
able to avoid breakage of an eyeglass frame at the hinges
between an eyeglass frame body and arms when an excessive
physical force is applied.
~ A number of patents disclose eyeglass frames having magnets
for attaching clip-on auxiliary lenses to a primary eyeglass
frame, e.g., EasyClip (Trade Mark), etc.
~ U.S. Patent 5 682 222 discloses "Spectacle frame having
magnetic coupling". This prior art has a spectacle frame
which includes two extensions extended from the side portions
and each having a magnetic member.
~ U.S. Patent 5 321 442 discloses "Eyeglasses with detachable
lenses, sidebars, and adjustable earpieces". This prior art
has a plurality of interchangeable, removable or replaceable
lenses, temple side bars, temple ornaments, colour beaded
lenses and adjustable earpiece.
~ Some eyeglass frames use a shape-memory material based on
nickel-titanium alloy for their bridge and arms, e.g., Flexon
(Trade Mark), Memoflex (Trade Mark), etc.
~ These prior art arrangements do not have eyeglass frames with
magnetic hinges in order to avoid breakage when an excessive
physical force is applied.
Description of the Iaveation
~ It is a primary object of the invention to provide an
eyeglass frame whose hinges do not break when an excessive
physical force is applied.
~ It is another object of the invention to provide an eyeglass
frame whose hinges do not loosen over time.
~ It is another object of the invention to provide an eyeglass
frame which uses magnetic hinges.
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~ An eyeglass frame with magnetic hinges comprises a frame body
for supporting a pair of lenses, and a pair of arms. The
frame body has 1 middle bridge portion and 2 side extension
portions. Each side extension portion has a concave recess
and comprises a U-shaped ferromagnetic element securely
attached to the concave recess of the side extension portion.
Each arm comprises a cylindrical magnetic element securely
attached to the proximate end of the arm. The cylindrical
magnetic element of each arm is capable of hingedly engaging
with the U-shaped ferromagnetic element of each side
extension portion of the frame body by a magnetic attraction
force.
Brief Description of the Figures in the Drawings
~ In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
o Figure 1 marked "Prior Art" is an exploded perspective
view of a conventional eyeglass frame;
o Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of one
embodiment of an eyeglass frame according to the
invention;
o Figure 3 is a sectional view of the invention along line
II-II of Figure 2;
o Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of another
embodiment of an eyeglass frame according to the
invention;
o Figure 5 is a sectional view of the invention along line
II-II of Figure 4; and
o Figure 6 is a sectional view of the invention along line
I-I of Figure 2 and along line I-I of Figure 4.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
~ One conventional eyeglass frame shown in Figure 1 marked
"Prior Art" comprises a frame body 1-0 for supporting a pair
of lenses, and a pair of arms 2-0.
~ The frame body 1-0 has 1 middle bridge portion 1-1 and 2 side
extension portions 1-2.
~ A bolt 1-4 mechanically engages a hinge element 1-3 of each
side extension portion 1-2 with a hinge element 2-1 of each
arm 2-0, forming a mechanical hinge, as indicated by the
arrows in the figure.
~ Each arm 2-0 is capable of rotating around the mechanical
hinge, making an angle between 0 radian (0 degree) and pi/2
radian (90 degree). The mechanical hinge loosens over time.
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Moreover, the mechanical hinge breaks when an excessive
physical force is applied.
~ In one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, an
eyeglass frame comprises a frame body 3-0 for supporting a
pair of lenses, and a pair of arms 4-0. Figure 3 shows a
sectional view of the eyeglass frame along line II-II of
Figure 2 in which one arm is open, and the other arm is
folded.
~ The frame body 3-0 has 1 middle bridge portion 3-1 and 2 side
extension portions 3-2. Each side extension portion 3-2 has a
concave recess and comprises a U-shaped ferromagnetic element
3-3 securely attached to the concave recess of the side
extension portion 3-2.
~ Each arm 4-0 comprises a cylindrical magnetic element 4-1
securely attached to the proximate end of the arm 4-0.
~ The cylindrical magnetic element 4-1 of each arm 4-0 is
capable of hingedly engaging with the U-shaped ferromagnetic
element 3-3 of each side extension portion 3-2 of the frame
body 3-0 by a magnetic attraction force, forming a magnetic
hinge, as indicated by the arrow in the figure.
~ Each arm 4-0 is capable of rotating around the magnetic
hinge, making an angle between 0 radian (0 degree) and pi/2
radian (90 degree). Each arm 4-0 detaches from the frame body
3-0 by magnetic decoupling when an excessive physical force
is applied to the magnetic hinge.
~ Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of another
embodiment of the eyeglass frame. Figure 5 shows a sectional
view of the eyeglass frame along line II-II of Figure 4 in
which one arm is open, and the other arm is folded.
~ In this embodiment of the invention, each side extension
portion 3-2 of the frame body 3-0 extends rearwardly in order
to support the arm 4-0 when the arm 4-0 is open.
~ Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the eyeglass frame along
line I-I of Figure 2 and along line I-I of Figure 4 in which
the arms are removed.
~ The U-shaped ferromagnetic element 3-3 of each side extension
portion 3-2 may be made of metallic alloys containing iron
(Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), etc.
~ The cylindrical magnetic element 4-1 of each arm may be rod
shaped or ring shaped.
~ Preferably, the cylindrical magnetic element 4-1 of each arm
4-0 is made of a rare-earth permanent magnet.
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Representative Drawing