Foldable spectable frame having a retractable bridge and retractable temples

[0002] The present invention relates to improvements in foldable spectacle frames.

[0003] There exist various foldable spectacles, which can be received within containers, such as glasses bags, for easy carriage as that disclosed in ROC (Taiwan) Patent Publication No. 282840, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,185.

[0004] It is disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,035 another type of spectacle frame comprising lens frames and temples, wherein the temples are foldable to a thin form in substantially a same plane as the lens frames without lapping over the lens frames.

[0005] The present invention provides a spectacle frame, in a combination, including a retractable bridge that connects a pair of frames and a pair of retractable temples, such that after folding, the spectacle frame is stored in a rigid, thin, rectangular shape container.

[0006] An object of this invention is to provide a spectacle frame that includes a retractable bridge that connects a pair of frames so as to reduce its size in folding.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a spectacle frame that includes a pair of retractable temples of stable constructions.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a rigid, thin, rectangular container for such foldable spectacle frame thereby preventing the spectacle frame from and increasing the protection thereof against accidental occurrences of squeezes and damages.

[0009] The structure and features of the present invention can be readily realized by those skilled in the art with reference to the description of the preferred embodiment accompanied with the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a retractable bridge of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 in its expanded state;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 in its retracted state;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of foldable spectacle from of the present invention with retractable temples under their expanded state;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the foldable spectacle frame of FIG. 4 with retractable temples under their retracted state

[0015] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, exploded view showing another embodiment of the retractable temple of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, assembled view showing the embodiment of FIG. 6;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a foldable spectacle of this invention with the retractable temples of FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0018] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, exploded view showing another embodiment of the retractable temple of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the assembled view of the retractable temple of FIGS. 9; and

[0020] FIG. 11 is a perspective showing a spectacle frame of this invention being stored in a thin, rectangular shaped container.

[0021] The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0022] For the ease of explaining the structural design of this invention, the horizontal plane to which the specification refers, refers to the plane on which the temples are rested on after being expanded.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 1, an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a retractable bridge 20 of the present invention is illustrated. The bridge 20 connects two opposing frames 12 (FIG. 4) each having an inner end and an outer end.

[0024] The retractable bridge 20 has an adjustable length, which can be frictionally retained between a smallest folded position and a largest normal position.

[0025] In this particular embodiment, the bridge 20 includes a bridge piece 22, a fixed connecting piece 24, and a sliding piece 25. The bridge piece 22 includes a first end and a second end and is substantially formed in to a laterally oriented U-shaped configuration so as to form a guiding slit 221 along a body portion of the bridge piece 22.

[0026] The fixed connecting piece 24 includes a connecting portion connecting between the inner end of one of the lens frame 12 and the first end of the bridge piece 22.

[0027] The sliding piece 25 has a first end and a second end; the first end is provided with a moving connecting piece 26 connecting to the inner end of the other lens frame 12. The sliding piece 25 is adapted to be sliding in the bridge piece 22 by inserting the second end of the sliding piece 25 from the second end of the bridge piece 22 with the moving connecting piece 26 traveling along the guiding slit 221.

[0028] A retaining means is provided for slidably retaining the sliding piece 25 within the bridge piece 22, the retaining means includes an end cap 261 being inserted into the second end of the bridge piece 22 while the first end of the sliding piece 25 is inserted through the second end of the bridge piece 22, a recess 251 formed on the sliding piece 25 and adjacent the moving connecting piece 26, and a spring member 252 received in the recess 251.

[0029] After the sliding piece 25 is inserted into the guiding slit 221 through the second end of the bridge piece 22, the end cap 261 is inserted to the second end of the bridge piece 22 such that the moving connecting piece 26 is retractable towards and away from the fixed connecting piece 24 along the guiding slit 221 for retracting or expanding the bridge 20. Frictional contact between the spring member 252 and an inner wall of the connecting piece 22 allows adjustment of the retracted or expanded distance. When spaced apart by the smaller distance, the lens frames are positioned in place for storage, as shown in FIG. 3; when spaced apart by the largest distance, the lens frames 12 are positioned in place for the respective pupils of the wearer, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a pair of foldable spectacle frame 1 according to this invention under an expanded state. The spectacle frame 1 comprises two frames 12, two hinge devices 15, two temples 14, a retractable bridge 20 of FIGS. 1-3, and two nose pad devices 16, wherein the two frames 12 are provided for retaining two lenses 121 therein and the two hinge devices 15 integrally formed or secured to the outer sides thereof have pivotal axes normal to the horizontal plane.

[0031] The retractable temples 14 as illustrated in FIG. 4 enable the spectacle frame 1 to be folded into a smaller volume. The temples 14 illustrated in FIG. 4 each comprise a retractable temple member 141 and a stationary temple member 142. The temples members 141, 142 are each formed with a first sliding slot 1411 and a second sliding slot 1421 between opposite ends thereof. One end of the retractable temple member 141 is provided with a connecting device 1412 for clinching into the second sliding slot 1421 of the stationary temple member 142. The stationary temple member 142 has a free end being provided with another connecting device 1422 for clinching into the first sliding slot 1411 of the retractable temple member 142 such that the retractable temple member 142 can be frictionally and slidably positioned within the second sliding slot 1421 of the stationary temple member 142.

[0032] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the connecting devices 1412, 1422 are, respectively, a template catch button and a bolted screw.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a temple pad 143 is attached to an inner side of the end of the retractable temple member 141 so as to enhance comfort while wearing.

[0034] To receive the foldable spectacle frame 1 of FIG. 4, the connecting devices 1412 of the retractable temples 14 are each firstly slid along the second sliding slot 1421 of the stationary member 142. The two frames 12 are then moved towards each other by means of the retractable bridge 20. Finally, the retracted temples 14 are inwardly folded about the pivotal axes of the hinge devices 15 provided the outer sides of the frames 12 toward the frames 12. The spectacle frame 1 are thus folded into a substantially thin, and rectangular configuration and can then be received into a rigid, rectangular container 40, as shown in FIG. 11. The completely folded spectacle is substantially flat and thin in size so as to be conveniently carried by a user.

[0035] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, exploded view showing another embodiment of the retractable temple of the present invention; FIG. 7 is an enlarged, assembled view showing the embodiment of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a foldable spectacle of this invention with the retractable temples of FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, the retractable temple 140 comprises a retractable temple member 1410, a stationary temple member 1420, and a retaining block 1430.

[0037] The stationary temple member 1420 is hinged to the outer end of each of the lens frames 12. The retractable temple member 1410 includes a front section and a rear section, wherein the front section is formed with a sliding slot 1411.

[0038] The retaining block 1430 connects the front section of the retractable temple member 1410 to the stationary temple member 1420 by inserting and retaining the retaining block 1430 within the sliding slot 1411 to the stationary temple member 1420 so as to enable the retaining block 1430 to relatively move along the sliding slot 1411.

[0039] In this embodiment, the retaining block 1430 is formed of a substantially T-shaped cross-section with a projecting bottom 1431. The projecting bottom 1431 passes through the sliding slot 1411 to be secured to an indent 1423 at a free end of the stationary temple member 1420 by means of a bolt 1440 so as to form a pair of rails 1433 in cooperation with the stationery temple 1420. The rails 1433 receive the temple ring 1413 for guiding retraction and expansion of the retractable temple 1410.

[0040] As such, the retractable temple 1410 can be retracted and expanded along the rails 1433 in a stable manner, where a larger length the retaining block 1430 results in a more stable construction.

[0041] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, exploded view showing another embodiment of the retractable temple of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the assembled view of the retractable temple of FIGS. 9.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 9, the retractable temple 140 comprises a retractable temple member 1410 and a stationary temple member 1420.

[0043] The stationary temple member 1420 has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is hinged to the outer end of each of the lens frames 12 through a threaded hole 1424. The stationary temple member 1420 is a tubular body formed with a longitudinal sliding slot 1421.

[0044] The retractable temple member 1410 has a first end and a second end, and includes a retaining piece 1414 projects radially outwards from the first end of the retractable temple member 1410.

[0045] The retaining piece 1414 connects the retractable temple member 1410 to the stationary temple member 1410 by inserting the first end of the retractable temple member 1410 into the second end of the stationary temple member 1410 and retaining the retaining piece 1414 through the sliding slot 1421 so as to enable the retaining piece 1430 to relatively move along the sliding slot 1411.

[0046] After the first end is inserted through the second end of the stationary temple member 1420, the second end of the stationary temple member 1420 is deformed to prevent disengagement of the retractable temple member 1410 from the stationary temple member 1420. A further bushing 1415 may be provided between the retractable temple member 1410 and the stationary temple member 1420 so as to enhance frictional force between the two members.

[0047] In this embodiment, a spring mean 1450 is retrained within the first end of the stationary temple member 1420 such that the temple 140 may be easily folded while the user applies minute force.

[0048] As such, the retractable temple 1410 can be retracted and expanded along the sliding slot 1421, where the tubular configuration of the stationary temple member 1420 results in a more stable construction.

[0049] By combining the retractable bridge, the retractable temples, and a thin, rectangular shaped container, a combination of foldable spectacle frame and thin, rectangular container is formed to allow convenient carriage by a user.

[0050] Aforementioned explanation is directed to the description of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. Various changes and implementations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical concept of the present invention. Since the present invention is not limited to the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiment except those that may be within the scope of the appended claims, changes to certain features of the preferred embodiment without altering the overall basic function of the invention are contemplated.